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Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, a giant black mechanical spider with four steel-clawed limbs crawled out from the side of the mountain.
Although the distance was too great to make out the figure clearly, Kai and the others could faintly see someone operating it from a control platform atop the machine. Even without seeing the face, it was obvious this had to be the Iron-Masked Marauder!
As expected, what was bound to happen could not be avoided.
When he couldn't find a way into the Sanctuary, the Iron-Masked Marauder had created one himself.
He truly lived up to his title as Team Rocket's top executive his methods were certainly his own.
And worse still, following behind the mechanical spider, over a dozen Team Rocket Grunts in black uniforms, each armed with specialized weapons, leapt out of the cave after him.
The Elder frowned deeply.
"Go! You must protect the peace of the Dragon's Sanctuary! I'm too old now and can no longer fight like I once did… The rest is up to you!"
"You can count on us. We'll handle this!"
Lance gave the Elder a firm nod, then turned to Kai and Clair.
As the most experienced and level-headed Trainer among them, it was only natural that Lance took command of the situation. Without hesitation, he began issuing instructions.
"I didn't expect them to bring so many. We'll split up. I'll take on the Iron-Masked Marauder. You two deal with the Grunts don't let a single one reach the Sanctuary's inner sanctum!"
Clair frowned. "No! I want to help you deal with that Pokémon hunter too!"
"Don't be reckless." Lance raised his hand, motioning her to calm down. "The Iron-Masked Marauder has Dark Balls that can steal other Trainers' Pokémon. We can't just rush him without a plan. I'll keep him busy while you take care of the Grunts. Once they're handled, come and back me up."
Then, he turned to Cab. "You and Dragonite stay here to protect the Elder. If any of them slip past us, you can't let them get away!"
Lance's orders were clear and logical. With time running out, no one objected.
He wasted no time summoning his Dragonite, he leapt onto its back and flew straight toward the mechanical spider.
Seeing this, Clair released her Charizard and charged toward the Team Rocket Grunts.
The two soared off in different directions, quickly vanishing from sight.
Before taking action himself, Kai turned to Sabrina. "Let's split up too."
"Oh?" Sabrina tilted her head. "You don't need my help?"
Kai smiled. "Those grunts aren't much trouble not enough to trouble the Gym Leader of Saffron City. But the Iron-Masked Marauder... he's different. With Poké Balls that can steal other Trainers' Pokémon, even Lance might struggle. I'd feel better if you backed him up."
"Understood."
Sabrina nodded. Her psychic power surged, and without even moving her body, she lifted into the air.
Just as she was about to fly off, Kai called out one last time. "Be careful. Best not to use any Pokémon just rely on your psychic powers."
She gave him a soft, warm smile. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
With that, she floated off in the direction of the mechanical spider, and Kai climbed onto Charizard, flying toward the Team Rocket Grunts.
The valley was vast, but with flying Pokémon, it only took moments to cross.
By the time Kai arrived, Lance had already engaged the mechanical spider, directing his Dragonite to attack its limbs, clearly attempting to limit its movement.
Cautious of the Dark Balls, Lance had refrained from releasing any other Pokémon. Even with Dragonite, he kept it at a safe distance, attacking from afar.
Clair was already fighting the Grunts.
Facing so many enemies, she had called out not just Charizard, but also her Dragonite, Salamence, and Altaria. The four Dragon Pokémon soared through the skies, swooping down to launch waves of attacks at the Rocket Grunts.
But of course, Team Rocket wasn't about to go down without a fight. Clearly prepared for this encounter, they released hordes of Golbat and Weezing, two species that practically symbolized Team Rocket's field forces.
Dozens of Pokémon clashed mid-air, beams and explosions flashing all around it was absolute chaos.
Wild Pokémon nearby were terrified by the battle, scattering in all directions and vanishing from the scene.
Even with her strength, Clair was outnumbered. Her Pokémon were forced to dodge waves of attacks from the Golbat and Weezing, while the Grunts fired capture nets from their weapons, keeping her team constantly on the defensive.
Kai narrowed his eyes and leapt off his Charizard.
Raising both arms, he summoned all his remaining Pokémon excluding the Legendary Birds, Venusaur, and Scyther.
"Let's go! No holding back take them down!"
With a burst of blue light, Gyarados, Crystal Steelix, Jolteon, Dratini, and Gardevoir appeared, joining Charizard for a full six-Pokémon team.
Gyarados roared, its voice thundering through the valley and sending a wave of fear through every Pokémon on the battlefield. Everything paused for a moment under its terrifying pressure.
But before Gyarados could even move, the impatient Jolteon had already darted into battle.
Crackling with electricity, every strike from Jolteon left Golbat paralyzed and tumbling from the skies.
Then came Charizard and Crystal Steelix, launching themselves into the fray. Even Dratini, with its nimble body, danced around the edges of the battle, picking off isolated enemies.
Finally, Gyarados lumbered into action slow on land, but still devastating once it joined the fight.
With Kai's team entering the battle like a pack of apex predators, the tide turned instantly. Clair's Pokémon finally got a breather and could go on the offensive again.
Meanwhile, Gardevoir stepped back rather than charge forward. Loyal as ever, she remained by Kai's side, watching over both him and Clair with unwavering devotion, ready to protect them at all costs.
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