The base was still rising. Xia You had no idea what Team Rocket was plotting, but there was no time to lose. Knowing he could not let them succeed, he quickly ordered Gengar and Gardevoir to attack.
Ash and the others followed suit, each ordering their Pokémon to attack.
Ash's Pikachu and Heracross, Ritchie's Pikachu named Raine and his Charmander, Misty's Poliwhirl, Erika's Leafeon, and the Forretress Brock had caught in Johto all rushed forward. A barrage of different moves flew straight at Team Rocket.
Faced with such an assault, Cassidy and Butch could not hold their ground and could only retreat step by step.
Pokémon fell one after another as they were hit, but the pair did not panic. Their main task, after all, was to stall for time. As long as they held out until all the data and researchers had been transferred, they would have won.
The base was still rising rapidly. In just a minute or two, their surroundings had grown increasingly bright. Through the windows, they could even see the faint glimmer of sunlight piercing the sea's surface. Clearly, at this rate, the base would surface before long!
Meanwhile, up on the surface, Shuichi was waiting anxiously in the speedboat.
He leaned his head out over the side, his eyes fixed on the sea out of nervousness and worry. Though he knew he could not see anything at all, it was the only way he could ease his anxiety.
Just then, the seawater suddenly began to churn and roil, as though something was about to emerge from beneath it!
Startled by the sight, Shuichi hurriedly steered the speedboat away to keep the currents from capsizing it.
Splash!!
The seawater shot high into the air as though it had exploded, and beneath the spray, a base