----
Kai and Ash exchanged glances. Given the situation, Quackenpoker's advice seemed like the best course of action to target the Mecha-Gyarados' underbelly.
The group nodded in agreement.
"Charizard, use Flamethrower!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Starmie, use Swift!"
"Marill, use Bubble Beam!"
The four Pokémon unleashed their attacks in unison. A fiery blaze, a surge of electricity, a barrage of glowing stars, and a stream of bubbles converged on the same point.
BOOM!
The Mecha-Gyarados' armour shattered instantly, revealing its exposed interior. Not only did the powerful blast pierce its hull, but it also damaged the energy system within.
In the next moment—
KABOOM!
The once-mighty Mecha-Gyarados exploded violently.
Inside the cockpit, Team Rocket barely had time to react before being blasted into the night sky.
"Looks like we're blasting off agaaaain—!!"
Their voices faded into the distance as they disappeared in a twinkle. Ash and the others let out a breath of relief but the crisis wasn't over yet.
BOOM!
The containment unit inside the Mecha-Gyarados ruptured, triggering a chain reaction of explosions.
The captured Magikarp were hurled into the air hundreds of them rained down, their bodies twisting midair, creating a surreal storm of Magikarp.
"Uh-oh…"
Quackenpoker's face turned pale.
He hadn't anticipated this outcome. If the Magikarp were too injured, it could disrupt their once-a-year evolution cycle.
Fortunately, they hadn't taken direct damage from the explosions just the impact of being launched skyward.
And then—
A brilliant pillar of light erupted from the lake.
Then a second.
Then a third.
And soon—
Dozens of dazzling beams pierced the night sky.
The entire Lake of Birth and Evolution shone like a celestial beacon, illuminating the forest, the camp, and even the cliffs surrounding Rind Island.
"They're finally evolving!" Quackenpoker's eyes widened in excitement.
He rushed back to his equipment, eager to document the phenomenon.
Ash, Misty, and Tracey watched in awe.
Every pillar of light signalled the evolution of a Magikarp into a Gyarados.
Tracey murmured, "No experience, no training required… this is the power of the Lake of Evolution."
Charizard and the others returned to Kai's side, their eyes also locked on the breathtaking scene. But as Kai observed closely, he noticed something was off.
The light faded and the newly evolved Gyarados horde emerged from the lake. Instead of calm, majestic creatures, their expressions twisted with fury. Their red eyes gleamed with a primal rage.
Quackenpoker, still absorbed in his notes, failed to notice the shift in the atmosphere. But Kai, Ash, and the others sensed it immediately.
"Kai…" Misty's voice shook slightly.
She was the most familiar with Water-type Pokémon and something about these Gyarados terrified her.
"Why do they look… so angry?"
Kai let out a weary sigh.
"Think about it. They just struggled up waterfalls, barely made it to the lake, got captured, were blasted into the air, and then crash-landed back down."
"If I were them, I'd be even angrier."
As if responding to his words—
The Gyarados horde turned their burning gazes toward them.
The pure, unfiltered wrath in their eyes sent a chill down everyone's spine.
"Oh no…" Tracey muttered. "They've locked onto us."
Ash's face paled.
"Wait, wait—are they blaming us for what Team Rocket did!?"
There was no time to debate.
The Gyarados reared back their massive heads.
Kai's eyes widened, 'They're charging an attack…'
"MOVE!" Misty screamed.
"They're using Hyper Beam!"
At least a dozen Gyarados—
All charging Hyper Beam at once.
Kai grabbed Sabrina's wrist and yanked Misty along, sprinting away at full speed.
Ash, Tracey, and Quackenpoker followed, their Pokémon retreating with them.
The roars of the enraged Gyarados echoed across the island and then, with a blinding flash, their Hyper Beams unleashed in unison. A wave of destruction surged forward, engulfing the entire camp in its path.
Kai clenched his teeth, "We have to stop them before they destroy everything!!"
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