The flames churned with my tangled thoughts, parting in the middle as a dark figure sprang out.
"Roooar!!!!!"
"Sneasel, Fury Swipes!"
I remembered that figure.
It was Houndoom.
Back when I first met A Zhen and ran into that shady shop at the flea market...
"Cha!"
Sneasel was knocked to the ground, at a disadvantage.
With such an unfavorable type matchup, why had he sent Sneasel out?
"Sneasel!" my brother shouted again.
Houndoom dodged Sneasel and charged toward my brother.
"Little Eevee, help too!" Little Eevee, beside me, changed into an evolution with the advantage.
"Woof!"
Little Eevee's body gradually swelled, its fur shortening as smooth blue skin covered it.
"Water Gun!"
Houndoom nimbly dodged, darting from my left to my right as it continued charging toward my brother.
A voice rang out through the flames: "Thunderbolt!"
A flash struck Houndoom, slowing its steps.
"Sneasel, again!"
Seeing this, my brother continued directing Sneasel.
Sneasel immediately got up and brushed past Houndoom's body.
Then it raised its clenched right claw.
"Xunzhe! Are you all right?"
A boy arrived with the lightning.
"Oh! Jia Xi, A Zhen!"
They were the Pokémon trainers I hadn't seen in ages-Jia Xi and A Zhen.
My brother spotted them and waved excitedly.
"Why do you always turn up somewhere dangerous?" Jia Xi shook his head.
"You know why, right?" My brother grinned slyly.
"I'll give you a hand this time."
"Buy me three minutes." My brother adjusted his glasses, apparently having thought of something.
"Never mind three minutes. Even ten would be easy," A Zhen said.
...Their idle chatter gave Houndoom more than enough time to call for reinforcements.
"Roooar!!!!!"
Houndoom roared, its voice reverberating throughout the entire floor of the mall.
A huge swarm of Zubat and Woobat gradually blanketed the ceiling; Gothita and Salandit