"Okay."
The two reached an agreement and prepared to retreat quietly.
But the instant they turned around...
A Golbat flew out of the darkness, coming face-to-face with them.
Yushu and Riley froze for a moment.
So did Golbat.
The two sides stared at each other from less than three meters apart.
(Just one look of affirmation from you gives my love meaning~)
"Take it down!"
Both men barked in low voices almost simultaneously, but they were still half a beat too slow.
Golbat suddenly opened its mouth and let out an incredibly piercing screech:
"Skree!!!"
The sound exploded through the silent tunnel like a sharp knife slicing through the night sky.
"Someone's here!"
"Up there! I see them!"
"After them! Don't let them get away!"
"Run!"
Yushu's expression changed, and he turned and ran.
Hurried footsteps and shouts came from behind them, drawing closer and closer like a swarm of disturbed Beedrill.
"Stop! Don't run!"
"Split up and cut them off! Don't let them escape!"
The two fled madly through the passages, but Team Galactic clearly knew the area better.
"Skree!!"
A Golbat rushed out ahead of them, opening its mouth to reveal sharp fangs as it lunged at Yushu.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
Lucario reacted swiftly, bringing its hands together. An Aura Sphere formed instantly, and it thrust it forward.
Boom!
Golbat was blasted backward into the wall, then slid to the ground, unable to battle.
But that delay had allowed their pursuers to catch up.
Three Team Galactic members caught up from behind.
"Give yourselves up! You're not getting away!"
The member in the lead sneered and casually tossed out three Poké Balls.
White light flashed, and three Mightyena appeared before them, crouching low with deep growls rumbling in their throats.
Then four more Golbat flew in, blocking the space above them.
"Mightyena! Flamethrower!"
"Golbat! Air Slash!"
The Mightyena opened their mouths simultaneously, spewing scorching flames that wove into a net of fire.
The Golbat flapped their wings, sending several Air Slashes cutting down from above.
Attacked from front and rear, with no escape overhead!
Riley said, "We can't escape! Then we fight! Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
"Luxray! Discharge!"
Yushu called out Luxray as well.
" Luca!"
Lucario fired repeatedly with both hands, sending several Aura Spheres howling through the air. They collided with the Air Slashes, bursting into flares of energy.
"Roar!"
Electricity flashed all over Luxray, and powerful currents erupted from its body, forming a net of electricity that met the Flamethrowers head-on.
Boom, boom, boom!!!
The two forces collided in midair, unleashing dazzling light and a deafening blast.
Smoke spread, blurring their vision.
"Wild Charge!"
Yushu's voice rang out from the smoke.
A streak of blue electricity burst out of the smoke. It was Luxray.
Bzzzt-bam!
Wrapped in electricity, it slammed head-on into a Golbat like a blue meteor.
"Skraa!"
The Golbat had no time to react. Luxray's Wild Charge struck it head-on, and it crashed heavily to the ground, its wings twitching a few times.
One down.
"Damn it! Golbat! Use Venoshock!"
Another Team Galactic member cursed.
The remaining Golbat opened their mouths and spat purple venom at Luxray.
"Mightyena! Crunch!"
The Mightyena lunged at Luxray from several directions at once, their jaws wide open to reveal sharp teeth.
"Luxray! Discharge!"
"Vespiquen! Use Air Slash!"
Yushu called out Vespiquen too.
"Roar!"
Electricity erupted all over Luxray, blue currents spreading outward to vaporize the Venoshock in midair and force the three Mightyena back a step.
"Bzzz!"
Then Vespiquen appeared in midair. With a sweep of her arm, dozens of Air Slashes whistled out, pelting the airborne Golbat like a torrential downpour.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Two Golbat were struck on the spot and plummeted to the ground, screeching.
"Lucario! Bone Rush!"
At the same time, Lucario formed a bone club in its hands. Swinging it in a sweeping strike, it sent an oncoming Mightyena tumbling away.
"Machamp! Submission!"
Riley sent out Machamp as well.
"Machamp!!"
With its four powerful arms, Machamp seized the other two Mightyena, then exerted a sudden burst of strength and rolled across the ground with them in its grasp.
With an invincible pinwheel spin, it hurled the Mightyena away, leaving them dazed from the impact.
In just two minutes, all the Mightyena and Golbat had been defeated.
"Hurry and call for help. I can see more people back there," Yushu said, panting heavily.
Riley quickly took out his phone and called Officer Jenny.
He briefly explained the situation: Team Galactic activity had been discovered on Iron Island, they were suspected of conducting some sort of secret operation, and urgent backup was needed.
Riley had only just hung up, but more footsteps were already approaching from behind.
"Stay right there!"
"Keep running."
Without looking back, Yushu took off, not forgetting to unleash another volley of moves before he ran.
"Vespiquen! Air Slash! Luxray! Discharge!"
"Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
The three Pokémon attacked simultaneously, their energy exploding through the tunnel and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Their pursuers were temporarily held back, their vision obscured by smoke.
Taking advantage of the opening, the two men sped up their escape.
Just as they were about to make it out through the exit, a woman blocked their path.
She had red hair and wore the same silver-gray Team Galactic uniform, though hers was more finely designed. Looking at them, she said flatly:
"Getting in is easy. Getting out is another matter. We can't let the Pokémon League know what's happening here yet."
Yushu's heart sank.
He recognized the woman at a glance.
Mars, one of Team Galactic's three commanders.
She was one of Team Galactic's top fighters, nothing like those grunts.
"You think you can stop us alone? I'd advise you to move aside. I don't like hitting women."
Unaware of Mars's identity, Riley was still showing off his gentlemanly manners.
Mars chuckled at his words. "Don't lump me in with that bunch of useless fools. They couldn't even catch two people, so I had to come myself."
She casually tossed out a Poké Ball.
White light flashed, and a huge cat appeared before her.
It was a plump feline Pokémon covered in purplish-gray fur, with two broad, purplish-pink ear flaps. Its thick, long, curled tail wound around its waist like a belt.
Despite its bloated figure, it had an extremely overbearing presence.
Purugly.
Yushu swept his gaze over it, and its data appeared before his eyes.
[Purugly] [Type: Normal] [Ability: Thick Fat] [Moves: Fake Out, Slash, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, Iron Tail, Charm, Hypnosis, Assurance, Play Rough, Giga Impact...] [Strength: Early Quasi-Elite Four!]