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"Hmph! You should worry about yourselves right now!"
Misty spoke dismissively as Team Rocket and Kaz Gym members looked up from the pit with dawning concern. People were beginning to gather around the trap.
These were the citizens of Dark City. After watching these troublemakers destroy their town day after day, they felt immense satisfaction seeing the bullies finally caught. They approached with determined expressions, surrounding the pit.
Seeing this development, the previously arrogant trainers swallowed nervously. Though they typically relied on their Pokémon to intimidate others, their current predicament made it impossible to release their partners. The growing crowd of angry citizens quickly diminished their bravado.
Meanwhile, Yas Gym's followers had pursued the three children into a narrow alley. The passage grew increasingly confined as they advanced.
The small children navigated the tight space easily, but the adults found themselves uncomfortably cramped.
Just as they reached the center of the alley, the three children suddenly dropped to the ground. The Yas Gym members barely had time to register confusion when—
WHAM!!!
From above, an enormous sandbag nearly as wide as the entire alley swung down on ropes. The confined space left them nowhere to escape.
CRASH!!!!
"AAAHH!!!" The sandbag struck with tremendous force, sending the front row flying backward into those behind them. Like dominoes, they collided with each other in a chaotic chain reaction.
As the last person was about to scramble out of the alley, something struck them from behind—a large net.
When the trailing members crashed into it, the net tightened automatically, enveloping the entire group. In seconds, all of Yas Gym's followers were thoroughly immobilized.
Brock emerged from the alley entrance, eyes in their characteristic squint. He had anticipated the Yas Gym members' pursuit path and prepared this elaborate trap. Everything had been carefully calculated using the local children's knowledge of the city streets.
"Ash, it's your turn now!" Brock called out, glancing toward the distance.
On the other side of town, Yas and Kaz had finally caught up, arriving just in time to see Misty and the captured trainers surrounded by citizens. Both gym leaders were startled by the gathering crowd.
Kaz's expression darkened when he saw his followers trapped, and he spoke menacingly:
"What do you think you're doing? Release my people immediately!"
"Hmph! Kaz, are these the trainers you rely on? How pathetic! They expect to compete with us for official Gym certification?" Yas sneered with malicious delight.
"You..." Kaz fumed, momentarily speechless with rage.
Just then, Brock emerged from the alley. Behind him, his Onix dragged a rope attached to a large bundle—the captured Yas Gym members, thoroughly entangled in netting and unable to move. Seeing this, Yas's expression shifted instantly from smugness to shock. Kaz, spotting his rival's dismay, returned the earlier mockery.
"Ha! Looks like your followers aren't any better!"
Originally intending to belittle Kaz, Yas now found himself equally embarrassed. Realizing the pointlessness of their bickering, he turned his anger toward the interlopers.
"You've got some nerve! Our Yas Gym is about to become an officially League-certified gym. How dare you interfere!"
"Don't delude yourself, Yas. When it comes to League certification, Kaz Gym is the only choice!" Kaz shouted defensively, prompting Misty to laugh.
"Gentlemen, you might want to calm down! What's coming next will make you even angrier." Misty smiled slyly, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"What are you talking about, girl?" Assuming Misty was mocking them, both leaders reached for their Poké Balls, but she remained unfazed.
"Don't get worked up. Just look over there!" Misty pointed behind them. Confused, the gym leaders turned to follow her gesture.
In the distance, thick columns of smoke rose into the cloudy sky from two separate locations. Seeing this, Yas and Kaz's faces drained of color.
"That's—!"
"My gym!!"
They shouted in panic, immediately forgetting about their captured followers and the children. Without another word, they sprinted toward their respective facilities.
"Let's follow them!" Misty exchanged glances with Brock, who nodded. They quickly hurried after the gym leaders.
Meanwhile, both gyms were engulfed in flames, with dense smoke billowing skyward. Outside Yas Gym, a figure recalled a Pokémon.
"Great job, Charmeleon. Thanks for your help!"
It was Ash. He returned the Fire-type to its Poké Ball after it had accomplished its mission. While Misty and Brock had distracted the gym members, Ash had executed the more direct approach.
Although setting fire to the gyms wasn't exactly noble, Ash considered it fair retribution. These self-proclaimed gyms had destroyed countless homes and terrorized the city. Besides, the Pokémon League would never recognize facilities established through such underhanded methods.
After recalling Charmeleon, Ash walked back toward the main intersection. The two gyms were positioned across from each other at the crossroads ahead.
He reached the intersection just as two frantic figures came running toward their respective buildings. Seeing them, Ash stopped and waited.
"Don't bother going back! It's too late—just wait for the firefighters to arrive," Ash announced calmly, hands in his pockets.
Hearing this, both leaders halted abruptly. They hadn't paid attention to Ash earlier, but his statement immediately drew their focus.
"Did you do this?" Kaz demanded through clenched teeth.
It was clearly pointless to rush to their gyms now, but the realization that someone had deliberately destroyed what they had worked so hard to build pushed their anger to its limit.