Auron Vale and the others were still chatting and laughing as they reached the beach volleyball court when, in the distance, a few figures came surfing in from the open water.
They only gave the newcomers a glance and didn't think much of it—people were out surfing on the sea every day.
They took their positions. Arcanine butted the volleyball upward with its head; then Charmander leapt high and slapped its paw across the ball.
The ball arced toward the bikini-clad ladies on the opposite side. One of them dove and popped the ball back up just before it could hit the sand.
Another bikini-clad lady moved in perfect sync to set the ball, sending it higher, and the last of the trio sprinted forward to spike it back.
Darumaka had already read the trajectory. It scuttled to the predicted spot and… let the ball bounce off its face, popping it up again.
"Darumaka!"
Serena Elm cried out when she saw Darumaka nearly get driven into the sand by that one hit.
Only when the little troublemaker bared its wide grin and scrambled back to its feet did she exhale—exasperated, amused, and relieved all at once.
The rally went on the same way: Arcanine keeping the ball aloft, Charmander pressing the attack. This time, Charmander's slap landed at a devilishly precise angle—just out of reach for the other side's momentary scramble.
Sure enough, the bikini-clad ladies missed that one.
While the Pokémon side cheered, a voice drifted across the surf.
"Mm, just as I thought—two Shiny Charmander and a Milotic. Not bad at all. Move in!"
Before anyone could react, a net whistled through the air and cinched around the two Charmander.
An instant later, attacks targeted Auron and his friends.
A [Water Pulse] and two [Aurora Beam]s slipped toward them, but Snorlax reacted—tilting its bulk and stepping in front of the group, taking the hits head-on with its own body.
Auron's attention had been fixed on the net; only when Snorlax absorbed the attacks did he wrench his gaze from the trapped Charmander and turn toward the source.
Out on the water stood three people with three Pokémon. The trio wore matching blue uniforms with a sharp S-shaped emblem stamped over the right chest.
The one in the middle looked like their leader. He wore a somewhat comical Sharpedo mask—comical mainly because it seemed too large, covering his whole face so completely that not a single feature showed.
While Auron took stock of them, they were sizing up Snorlax.
"Ha. A happy surprise. That Snorlax looks good too—bag it with the others."
"Yes." "Yes."
Seeing Snorlax, the leader sounded almost excited. He gave curt orders to the two at his sides: bring the Snorlax as well.
As soon as his subordinates answered, the Blastoise beneath the leader's feet and the Dewgong under the other two started attacking again.
"Crobat—[Air Slash]!"
Auron didn't waste breath. No need to ask pointless questions—just beat them, capture them, and there'd be plenty of time for answers later.
Watching the three enemy Pokémon launch another volley, even mild-tempered Snorlax let a snarl tug at its jowls.
Flames burst over Snorlax's fists. With both arms it smashed the oncoming twin [Aurora Beam]s to pieces, while Crobat's [Air Slash] clipped the incoming [Scald], shearing its path aside so the steaming blast splashed into the sand next to Snorlax instead.
It takes a while to describe, but it all happened in a blink.
Only after another exchange did the people on the sand snap out of their shock at the sudden attack.
The bikini-clad ladies, who'd still been sighing over the lost point moments earlier, broke into panic. One of them—apparently the one in charge—forced herself calm.
"Xiao Hong, call the police. Tell them Team Splash is at the beach. Keep your distance. Everyone else, with me—back it up. Get clear first."
With someone giving orders, the four bikini-clad ladies quieted and slowly retreated.
The ladies withdrew—but others rushed forward.
"Arcanine—[Flamethrower]!"
Jace Rowan moved first. Arcanine was sly; it didn't aim the [Flamethrower] at the Pokémon, but at the people standing on their backs.
"Dragonair—[Hyper Beam]!"
"Milotic—[Dragon Breath]!"
"Cloyster—[Rock Blast]!"
"Haunter—[Thunderbolt]!"
"Mismagius—[Thunderbolt]!"
Everyone sprang into action, commanding their Pokémon to strike the enemy.
They weren't stupid. Hearing the bikini-clad ladies talk about calling the police, it was obvious these newcomers weren't good people. So they moved fast—no hesitation.
Seeing so many Pokémon suddenly open fire on them, the leader's mask shifted ever so slightly, as if his brow creased beneath.
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He tossed another Poké Ball. A Mantine fanned into being in front of him. The other two did the same.
Their new calls were a Quagsire and an Azumarill.
The three freshly released Pokémon moved as one. Mantine glided into place and absorbed both [Flamethrower] and [Hyper Beam].
Quagsire hopped forward, soaking up the twin [Thunderbolt]s with its body, then braced as Cloyster's [Rock Blast] pelted across its hide.
Azumarill stepped in to take the last attack—Milotic's [Dragon Breath].
Just like that, the wave of coordinated moves had been blunted with ease.
"Don't drag this out. Make it quick."
At the leader's words, the two subordinates at his sides immediately had their Pokémon press the attack again.
Auron and the others fell back a bit, opening a safe distance so they wouldn't become liabilities and drag their Pokémon down.
After several more back-and-forth exchanges, impatience crept into the leader's voice. He muttered a curse under his breath.
"Weren't they supposed to be fresh high-school graduates? Why are they this troublesome… If I'd known, I'd have brought more people."
He hadn't expected that a group who'd just graduated high school could tie them down this long with their Pokémon. And he was getting antsy, because he could see the two Charmander—thanks to Swablu and Darumaka's help—already worrying the net apart.
"I said make it quick! Didn't you hear me?"
He barked again and released yet another Poké Ball. An Octillery burst out and slid into the surf, joining the fray at his command.
But juggling three Pokémon stretched even him thin. Worse, the Mantine and Octillery didn't seem to be his own, which left him repeatedly exposing openings while he tried to coordinate.
Auron's group picked up on that immediately and pressed, driving hard at every slip.
With chinks opening in their combined defense, the enemy line began to buckle. Auron's side only got more excited and more confident as the momentum shifted.
After all, any one of the opponent's Pokémon, taken alone, was stronger than their best—Snorlax or Crobat.
But with Auron's side coordinating, their team was actually suppressing the other's. How could that not get the blood pumping? Yes, numbers were part of it, but those were minor details—not worth dwelling on.
"Young master! We should retreat!"
The warning snapped the leader back to himself. He too could hear the faint wail of police sirens from somewhere along the coast road.
He had his Pokémon fire a final volley to force some space, then turned toward Auron and the others and gave a small bow—a gentleman's salute.
"My apologies for the imposition this time. But those two Charmander have caught my eye. Be seeing you~"
"Move!"
With that, he recalled his Pokémon and wheeled away without a second thought.
Only then did Auron and the others let out the breath they'd been holding.
Just then, Torkoal finally came chugging into view, clearly worked up—late to the scene and anxious.
(End of this chapter)