An Undeserved Disaster

Pokémon were attacking Verdanturf Town?

The four of them started in alarm and hurried outside.

Not far from the villa, a middle-aged man was running toward them anxiously.

Chen Shi recognized him. He was Uncle Buka, a resident of Verdanturf Town who was on good terms with Chen Shi's family.

Grandpa Chen hurried forward and asked, "What happened?"

"Did I hear you shouting something about Pokémon attacking Verdanturf Town?"

Buka caught his breath before answering, "Yes! A group of Aggron came out of Rusturf Tunnel for some reason, and they're attacking everyone they see."

"The mayor and Officer Jenny can't stop them at all."

"Uncle Chen, could you please help?"

Grandpa Chen's expression darkened. Why would the Aggron herd attack Verdanturf Town out of nowhere?

But this was no time to ponder that. Grandpa Chen made a quick decision.

"Gardevoir, go bring Salamence and Garchomp here."

"Garde~"

Gardevoir was as efficient as ever. In less than a minute, Salamence, Garchomp, and Chen Shi's Drakloak had all been brought over.

Grandpa Chen was about to step forward, but his grandson stopped him.

"Grandpa, I'll take them there. You should rest."

Grandpa Chen paused, then smiled with pride at the determination in his grandson's eyes.

"Be quick!"

"Will do." Chen Shi walked up to Salamence and said, "Sorry for the trouble again."

Salamence said nothing, merely lowering its body to let him climb on.

Chen Shi smiled and jumped onto Salamence's broad back.

"Wait, I'm coming too," Steven said.

Chen Shi paused, then nodded. "Hurry and get on."

As he spoke, he held out his hand to Steven.

Looking at the hand before him, Steven suddenly felt an unfamiliar emotion stir within him.

"All right."

On the side of Verdanturf Town near Rusturf Tunnel, seven Aggron and more than twenty Lairon were wreaking havoc.

Verdanturf Town's mayor, Mr. Nakajima, and three Officer Jennys were battling them with their Pokémon.

"Arcanine, use Sunny Day!"

One quick-thinking Officer Jenny immediately ordered her Arcanine to use Sunny Day.

The entire area grew scorching hot.

"Flamethrower!"

"Awooo~"

Mr. Nakajima laughed heartily. "Blaziken, Breloom, Hitmonlee, we can't lose to these youngsters!"

"Let's go together!"

"Blazi~"

"Bre~"

"Hit~"

"Fire Blast, Mach Punch, High Jump Kick!"

Violent explosions rang out as Nakajima and Officer Jenny joined forces to knock out seven or eight Lairon.

But this thoroughly enraged the Aggron herd.

Several Aggron at the back immediately began gathering Steel-type energy in their mouths.

"Oh no, it's Flash Cannon! Hurry, use Protect!"

Mr. Nakajima shouted in alarm.

Officer Jenny and the Pokémon Trainers who had volunteered to help reacted immediately, ordering their Pokémon to use Protect.

The Aggron fired several blue-white beams, their powerful shock waves reducing everything in their path to rubble.

Boom!

After the tremendous blast, Blaziken was the only Pokémon on Verdanturf Town's side still barely standing.

All the other Pokémon lay on the ground, clearly unable to battle.

Nakajima gave a bitter laugh. "How is this Aggron herd so strong?"

Unfortunately, the Aggron gave him no time to lament. Steel-type energy gathered in their mouths once more.

"Run!!!"

Nakajima shouted, recalling his three Pokémon and preparing to flee.

The nearby Pokémon Trainers scattered in terror as well.

Just then, a voice rang out from the sky.

"Salamence, Garchomp, Flamethrower!"

"Metagross, let's use Flash Cannon too!"

Two streams of scorching flame and a beam of light surged forth, instantly overpowering the Aggron's Flash Cannons.

Boom!

This explosion was far louder than the last.

Six Aggron were severely injured by the attack, collapsing unconscious in a crater nearly five meters deep and over ten meters across.

Chen Shi quickly told Steven, "Have Metagross take care of the Lairon nearby."

"We can't let them keep destroying things."

"No problem!" Steven agreed immediately.

"Graa~ Roar~"

Just then, a three-meter-tall steel behemoth roared at the sight of its fallen companions and prepared to attack again.

Chen Shi frowned. "Garchomp, Brick Break. Help it cool its head first."

Garchomp gave a quiet huff. Since you've been so considerate, kid, I'll do you this favor.

Garchomp flew straight at Aggron, gathering Fighting-type energy around its claw before slamming it into Aggron's body.

The terrifying blow sent Aggron flying dozens of meters, yet it somehow forced itself back to its feet.

This surprised Chen Shi. This Aggron had only just reached Elite Four level.

Yet it could still stand after taking a Brick Break from a Garchomp at the peak of Elite Four level.

Is that quadruple weakness to Fighting-type attacks of yours a lie?

"Do it again!"

Garchomp had no intention of putting up with its stubbornness, either. Another Brick Break hammered down onto Aggron from above.

The terrifying force embedded its entire body in the ground, shattering the earth all around it.

This time, it failed to get back up.

Meanwhile, Steven's Metagross had been knocking out the Lairon with one punch each and had already finished up.

After Salamence landed, Chen Shi and Steven climbed off its back and sighed softly at the devastation around them.

Mr. Nakajima approached them and said gratefully, "So it's little Shi and Mr. Steven! We really owe you both this time."

"Without your help, who knows how many people would have been hurt?"

Chen Shi waved a hand. "Please don't say that, Mr. Nakajima. I'm part of Verdanturf Town too."

"How could I sit back and watch our home being destroyed?"

Steven added, "Any proper Pokémon Trainer would step in when faced with something like this."

Chen Shi glanced at the Aggron herd, puzzled.

"Mr. Nakajima, why did the Aggron herd suddenly attack Verdanturf Town?"

"They aren't vicious Pokémon."

Steven was equally confused. He owned an Aggron himself and knew Chen Shi was right.

These Pokémon weren't vicious by nature. They wouldn't attack humans on such a scale without a particular reason.

Nakajima snorted. "It's all because of those damned Pokémon Hunters."

"They stole the Aggron leader's child and a large number of Aron. Of course the herd was furious."

"We were caught up in a disaster that had nothing to do with us."

Understanding dawned on Chen Shi and Steven. So that was what had happened. It made sense now.

"But what should we do with this Aggron herd?"

Looking at the large crowd of Lairon and Aggron around them, all three fell silent.

Blaziken