The moment the alpha Golem roared, Rex's eyes hardened.
Without hesitation, he pushed his thumb onto the button of the Poketrix.
The Poké Ball symbol burst open, the dial spinning rapidly as Rex twisted it to a random silhouette before slamming the dial down.
A blinding red light exploded outward.
Daisy instinctively raised her arm to shield her eyes. Proton narrowed his gaze, clicking his tongue.
Behind the rocks, Tia and Dan gasped, the camera shaking slightly in Dan's hands.
Rex felt his body expand violently. Muscles bulged and layered over one another, his frame growing broader and taller. He groaned as two extra arms tore free from his shoulders, power flooding his veins. A sleek black bodysuit formed over his transformed body, the Poketrix emblem locking itself at his waist on the belt.
When the light finally faded— Everyone froze.
Standing there was a towering, four-armed Pokémon, fists clenched and radiating raw power.
"Machamp!" Rex roared, flexing all four arms as the ground beneath him cracked. 'Let's Take them down fast.'
He snapped his head toward Zorua. "Zorua! Keep Crobat busy—don't let it breathe!" Zorua barked sharply in response, dark energy flickering around its eyes as it turned back toward Crobat.
At that same moment, Proton smirked.
"Weezing—self-destruct—"
"Too slow!" Rex bellowed. He vanished forward, the sheer force of his movement blasting air outward and cracking the ground as he appeared right in front of Weezing.
"Dynamic Punch!"
His glowing fist smashed straight into Weezing's body.
The Poison-type didn't even get a chance to react—its eyes spun wildly as it was launched like a cannonball, slamming into the cave wall with a deafening boom before dropping unconscious to the ground.
Daisy didn't waste a second.
"Golem, Rock Tomb—now!"
The two Rocket grunts barely had time to scream.
"WAIT—!"
"HEY—!"
Massive rocks crashed down around them, trapping them completely.
"Wartortle, Aqua Jet!"
Wartortle spun forward like a living torpedo, smashing straight into Houndour before it could fire Flamethrower, sending it flying into Arbok.
"Golem—Body Slam!"
Daisy's Golem leapt high and crashed down like a meteor, knocking both Pokémon out cold in one crushing impact.
She exhaled sharply. "Good. Now help Zorua!"
Wartortle rushed over, blasting Crobat with Water Pulse while Zorua clawed and snapped at its injured wing with Fury Swipes. Daisy's Golem shifted position, blocking the cave exit entirely—Proton had nowhere to run.
Meanwhile—Rex turned towards the real threat.
The Alpha Golem, its body wrapped in writhing black aura, red eyes burning with madness.
'You're in pain… and they did this to you.' Rex clenched all four fists. "I'll end this fast."
"Low Sweep!"
He slid forward, smashing Golem's legs out from under it. Before it could recover, Rex's arms lit up.
"Close Combat!"
Four fists slammed into Golem's back, ribs, and shoulders in rapid succession, each blow echoing like thunder.
The Alpha Golem roared and slammed its fists into the ground, using Earthquake.
The entire mountain shook violently. Rocks fell from the ceiling as Rex staggered in pain.
"Tch—!"
He planted his feet and surged forward instead of retreating.
"Drain Punch!"
His fist connected, green energy flowing into him as he ripped strength directly from Golem's body.
It became a brutal war of attrition.
Rock Tombs shattered under Rock Smash.
Rollout was stopped mid-charge by crushing punches.
Earthquakes were endured, answered by relentless Drain Punches.
The Alpha Golem's roars slowly turned hoarse—pain, exhaustion, rage all blending together.
Rex saw the opening.
"Now!"
He grabbed Golem's massive body with all four arms, leaping high as he spun through the air.
"Seismic Toss!"
The Alpha Golem crashed down with a deafening impact, the black aura flickering and weakening as it groaned weakly.
Before it could recover with the shadow aura—"Now, Daisy!" Rex shouted.
Daisy didn't hesitate.
She hurled a Poké Ball.
The Alpha Golem was swallowed in red light, the ball shaking violently… once… twice…
Click.
Silence.
Rex exhaled heavily.
He turned slowly.
Proton stood frozen, sweat rolling down his temple. Crobat lay unconscious under Wartortle's paw, Zorua growling low beside it. Daisy's Golem still blocked the exit like an immovable wall.
Rex stepped forward.
Proton tried to step back.
Rex grabbed his shoulders with two arms, lifted him effortlessly—and with a swift motion—Chop.
Proton went limp instantly.
Rex used his remaining arms to swiftly confiscate everything: cash, communicator, data chips, papers.
Behind them, the researcher and remaining grunts were terrified, hands raised high, trembling as Daisy turned her gaze toward them.
"D-Don't—please—we surrender!" the researcher stammered.
The cave fell silent, broken only by the distant drip of water and the soft whirr of the still-recording camera hidden behind the rocks.
Some time later, police arrived and arrested the two grunts, the scientist, and Proton. They loaded all four of them into the van, heavy restraints snapping shut around their wrists.
Outside, eight Arcanine took formation, flames flickering around their fangs as they began running alongside the vehicle.
Officer Jenny of Vermilion City stepped forward and gave a sharp salute to Rex and Daisy.
"Thank you for your help," she said firmly. "If you hadn't stepped in, things could've gone very wrong. You're doing a great job, Hero!"
Rex blinked and pointed at himself. "…Me?"
Jenny only smiled faintly before turning back. The convoy soon drove off, sirens fading into the distance.
Daisy then raised her phone and turned the screen toward Rex.
The internet was on fire.
Every major site was filled with clips of Rex's battle against the giant Team Rocket robot in Pewter City—his Greninja transformation frozen mid-strike as the machine exploded behind him.
"MYSTERY HERO NAMED REX SAVES PEWTER CITY FROM TEAM ROCKET!"
"POKÉMON POWERS INSIDE A HUMAN BODY?!"
"WHO IS THIS REX DUDE?"
"IS HE HUMAN OR POKÉMON?"
Comments flooded the screen.
'Is this guy a new Gym Leader?'
'How can a human turn into Pokémon?!'
'What's his superhero name?'
'Pokéman? PokéHero? RexMan? DexMan?'
Rex let out a long sigh. "…Being popular is so troublesome."
Daisy glanced at him sideways, unimpressed.
"I might've believed you," she said dryly, "if you weren't smiling like an idiot right now."
Rex immediately wiped his face.
"I am not smiling!"
"…You absolutely are."
The two got into the jeep, Daisy starting the engine as they drove off down the road.
Behind them, still hidden behind a cluster of rocks, Dan slowly removed the tape from the camera.
He stared at it.
Then at Tia.
Their eyes widened at the same time.
"WE'RE RICH!!!"