"Litten, use Flame Charge on the Houndoom! Believe in yourself!"
Feng Che's voice rang out with encouragement, though worry gnawed at his gut. Litten was a staggering 27 levels behind the Houndoom, and its stamina was already flagging from the previous skirmishes. Against a battle-hardened Houndoom, this was a crushing mismatch.
"Froakie, focus your Water Pulse on the Pinsir!"
"Arbok, use Glare on the Fearow!"
Feng Che's mind raced. He had to stall the assassins at any cost. Based on the timeline, Dr. Fuji and his escort should be arriving any moment.
Inside the shop, Yue clutched Ai tightly, shielding her eyes. Though she maintained a stoic face for her daughter, her trembling hands betrayed her terror.
Outside, Litten became a pillar of rushing fire, charging headlong into the Houndoom's Flamethrower. The heat was so intense it left a scorched trail on the pavement. The two fire attacks collided, erupting into a violent gale of soot and smoke.
Froakie launched two spinning spheres of water at the Pinsir. The massive beetle's horns glowed with a sharp white light, cleaving the pulses in two. Though the damage was minimal, the splash momentarily halted Pinsir's advance.
Meanwhile, Arbok-Ditto fared better. As the Fearow spiraled down with a Drill Run, Arbok locked eyes with it, flashing a terrifying Scary Face. Golden sparks of paralysis crackled across the bird's wings, forcing it to bank away sharply.
As the smoke cleared, Litten lay sprawled on the ground, immobile. The Houndoom, sporting minor scorch marks, let out a primal roar of fury at being wounded by a mere kitten. It bared its fangs, turning into a black blur as it lunged for the finishing bite.
Flash!
A red beam struck Litten. Feng Che recalled it into the ball just as the Houndoom's jaws snapped shut on empty air, leaving it biting a mouthful of dirt.
The Houndoom turned its murderous gaze toward Feng Che, letting out a Roar so powerful the gravel on the ground vibrated. Feng Che's ears rang with a sharp, piercing pain.
Dammit, no choice. I have to use the Thunder-Burst Grenade, Feng Che thought, reaching for his storage ring. It's a League-restricted weapon, and using it will bring a mountain of questions, but I can't let them reach the shop.
"Gloom, use Stun Spore!"
Just as Feng Che was about to pull the trigger, Xiangtai burst onto the scene. He commanded his Gloom to release a cloud of golden powder over the Pinsir. The beetle stiffened, paralyzed.
Suddenly, the shadow of a massive Charizard swept over the backyard.
"Tch! The opportunity is gone," Shengmu cursed, looking up at the Charizard carrying Tyrone and Dr. Fuji. "That brat ruined everything."
Shengmu fixed a hateful glare on Feng Che, memorizing every detail of his face. "Kid, we aren't done." He recalled his Pokémon and vanished with One-Eye into the chaotic streets.
"Safe... finally," Feng Che exhaled, though he felt a pang of regret that the assassins had escaped.
Dr. Fuji didn't wait for the Charizard to land fully before jumping off and sprinting to Yue and Ai. "Amber! Yue! Thank God... I almost lost you."
"Feng Che protected us," Yue whispered, her voice shaking. "I don't even know why they came for us."
"Tyrone, find out who did this. Now!" Fuji's voice was cold with rage.
"I will, Doctor. You have my word," Tyrone replied. He glanced at Feng Che, recognizing him as the recruit he had scouted. Is it a coincidence he was here, or something else? he wondered. He immediately messaged Giovanni: Fuji's family attacked. Feng Che intervened.
Rocket HQ
Giovanni's desk shattered under his fist. "Incompetent fools! They nearly ruined the entire project!"
Ryan 'Fire Wolf' rushed in to find the Boss bleeding from splinters in his hand. "Who was responsible for the guard detail?" Giovanni growled.
"Proton's (Lambda's) men, sir," Ryan stammered.
"Tell Proton to report to me immediately. And that island we just discovered? Send every man from that guard detail there to fight wild Pokémon until they drop. Except for Xiangtai—he did his duty. He stays."
Celadon City
Erika, the Celadon Gym Leader, was surveying the damage to her gym. "They hit us and vanished. A hit-and-run just to liberate their prisoners," she sighed, clutching her bow. "But they've crossed a line. Tell the League: Celadon Gym is joining the anti-Rocket task force."
At the Herb Shop
"Thank you, Feng Che. I owe you my family's lives," Fuji said. He looked at the fallen Beedrill and recognized it as a specialized assassin's tool.
"Yue, move to Viridian City with me," Fuji pleaded. "It's the heart of the organization's territory. You'll be safe there."
"I... I have my Senior exam soon," Yue hesitated, reluctant to leave her home.
"Yue, listen to him," Feng Che added. "That Beedrill was meant for a one-hit kill. They might come back."
Fuji nodded vigorously at Feng Che's support, though Yue remained undecided.
Late Night
Feng Che, now cloaked and wearing a smiley-face mask, walked through the dark. He was heading to the Celadon Underground Market.
Rookidee was at its limit. The white light of evolution was flickering constantly. If it evolved now without the proper "Potential Potion," its growth would plateau. He was missing two specific herbs that only the black market would carry.
The Celadon Underground wasn't Rocket-controlled; it was run by local syndicates. Even Rocket members kept a low profile there to avoid being ambushed.
He reached the entrance: an "abandoned" power plant on the outskirts. In reality, the equipment still hummed, attracting swarms of Magnemite and Magneton.
As Feng Che stepped into the facility, he was immediately surrounded by a hovering, crackling wall of magnets.
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