"All of you criminals, listen carefully! I am Moore, Gym Leader of the Lavaridge Gym. You are completely surrounded. If you value your lives, recall your Pokémon immediately and throw away your PokeBalls!"
Surrounded by League personnel, Mr. Moore slowly stepped forward from the crowd. Straightening his still-sturdy back, he spoke in a loud, commanding voice.
Who was Mr. Moore?
The former Fire-type Elite Four member of the Hoenn League. Because he despised evil and was known for treating ordinary people kindly, his reputation throughout Hoenn was extraordinarily high.
To an evil organization like Team Magma, Mr. Moore was both someone they hated to the core and a legendary figure capable of striking fear into their hearts.
For a moment, Team Magma's morale suffered a devastating blow.
They had only just defeated the ferocious Steelix, only for an even more terrifying tiger to appear immediately afterward. There was hardly anything more crushing to their fighting spirit.
Seeing themselves completely surrounded by League personnel, some of the more timid Team Magma grunts began obeying Mr. Moore's command. They recalled their Pokémon into their PokeBalls, tossed the balls toward the League members opposite them, and then crouched on the ground with their hands over their heads.
"Surrender? Don't make me laugh. Ninetales, Camerupt, Magmortar—use Flamethrower on those spineless cowards."
Courtney could tolerate incompetent subordinates, but she would never tolerate betrayal.
The moment she saw some Team Magma members surrendering voluntarily, murderous intent surged within her. Without the slightest hesitation, she ordered her Pokémon to attack one of the surrendering grunts.
The next instant, Ninetales, Camerupt, and Magmortar unleashed Flamethrower simultaneously.
The defenseless Team Magma grunt was engulfed in the scorching flames and burned alive.
"What a vicious woman. I won't forgive you! Typhlosion, use Flame Charge!"
Witnessing Courtney execute someone who had just surrendered, Mr. Moore flew into a rage and immediately sent Typhlosion into battle.
Typhlosion was one of the few Elite-Four level Pokémon Mr. Moore still possessed. Although old age had weakened it considerably, it still possessed strength far beyond that of ordinary Elite-Four level Pokémon.
As soon as Mr. Moore finished speaking, blazing white flames erupted from Typhlosion's back, and it charged straight toward Courtney.
"Ninetales, use Attract."
Rather than showing fear, Courtney revealed a cold smile, as though her scheme had succeeded.
At her command, Ninetales cast a seductive glance at the charging Typhlosion. Simultaneously, a pink heart-shaped mass of energy flew out and instantly struck it.
"Oh no! Typhlosion, show your fighting spirit as a Fire-type Pokémon! Don't let yourself be bewitched!"
The moment Mr. Moore saw Typhlosion struck by Attract, he knew something was wrong and shouted desperately.
"Camerupt, Stone Edge! Magmortar, Hyper Beam!"
At the very same moment, Courtney seized the opportunity and ordered her remaining two Pokémon to unleash powerful attacks.
Although Typhlosion had fallen under the effects of Attract, the deep bond between it and Mr. Moore manifested at that critical moment.
Its eyes instantly cleared.
Just before Stone Edge and Hyper Beam reached it, Typhlosion swiftly dodged aside.
The white flames on its back flared up once more, and with a beautiful zigzag movement, it slipped past Camerupt and Magmortar before charging directly toward Courtney.
Ninetales reacted immediately.
All nine of its tails became coated in a metallic sheen as it whipped them sideways with a powerful Iron Tail.
However, Typhlosion simply lowered its body, ducked beneath the devastating strike, and then slammed headfirst into Ninetales' waist with a tremendously powerful Double-Edge.
In an instant, both Ninetales and Courtney were sent flying.
The physical capabilities of an Elite-level Pokémon were in an entirely different league from ordinary Pokémon.
The collision produced the sickening sound of bones shattering. By the time Ninetales crashed to the ground, it had already lost the ability to battle.
Courtney was also thrown from Ninetales' back. Although she remained conscious, one of her loyal subordinates quickly helped her back to her feet.
---
While Courtney and Mr. Moore clashed, the remaining Team Magma members who refused to surrender descended into a chaotic melee against the League forces.
However, after Courtney was knocked down by Mr. Moore's Typhlosion in only a few exchanges, the remaining resistance completely lost heart.
One after another, they attempted to break through the encirclement and flee.
Every Team Magma member knew perfectly well that the crimes they had committed were enough to keep them imprisoned for life.
Although surrendering voluntarily could reduce their sentences, by the time they were released they would already be old men completely disconnected from society.
Unless absolutely necessary, none of them was willing to surrender without resistance.
Cornered like desperate beasts, the fleeing Team Magma members erupted with strength greater than ever before.
"Quick! Capture Professor Cozmo!"
Seeing large numbers of Team Magma members fleeing in panic, Courtney realized the battle was lost.
She had to save herself.
Immediately, she shifted her attention to Professor Cozmo, who was trembling helplessly off to one side.
At this moment, the Pokémon Professor—now left completely unguarded—looked utterly miserable. His clothes were covered in dust, and his thick glasses had disappeared somewhere during the battle.
Unable to distinguish friend from foe, he could only crouch on the ground with his head covered, waiting desperately for rescue.
However, Professor Cozmo recognized Courtney's voice immediately.
The instant he heard her order, he understood exactly what she intended to do.
He hurriedly scrambled to his feet and ran in the opposite direction from where her voice came.
Unfortunately, after only a few steps, he tripped over a rock and fell heavily to the ground.
By then, two Team Magma elites still loyal to Courtney had already rushed over with their Pokémon.
Just as the Professor was about to be captured once again, a young man dressed as an ordinary Team Magma grunt suddenly stepped between him and the two elites.
"Damn it! Machamp, knock him out of the way!"
One of the Team Magma elites panicked.
Every second mattered now.
Without hesitation, he ordered his Machamp to launch a fierce attack against the disguised grunt.
Unfortunately, before Machamp could even strike, an intense wave of psychic power erupted.
Its enormous body was suddenly hurled backward before crashing onto the ground, instantly losing its ability to battle.
At the same time, the two Team Magma elites found themselves completely restrained by overwhelming Psychic, unable to move a single muscle.
Moments later, a Kadabra radiating tremendous psychic power slowly descended from the air.
"Professor, hello. My name is Tyler. I'm a League operative who has been undercover here. You're safe now."
"Oh—and here are your glasses."
After directing Kadabra to subdue the two Team Magma elites, Sato turned toward the terrified Professor.
Using telepathy to explain the situation, he handed the professor a pair of glasses whose lenses had been slightly cracked.