Koga laughed loudly, his mocking tone cutting through the air. "Hahaha! Young man, they say the only thing worse than a strong enemy is a foolish ally. Seems you've got one of those. Care to explain your plan now?"
His words brought laughter from the Rocket grunts behind him, their jeers echoing through the cave.
Satoshi's expression darkened. He clenched his fists, glaring at Misty's unconscious form. "Why do you have to give it away for free? And so quickly?" he muttered under his breath.
He let out a frustrated sigh. "The plan was simple: defeat the Rhydon, show these guys they're no match, and then leave in style. But now, thanks to you, Misty, it looks like I'll have to salvage what's left of this disaster."
Satoshi turned his focus back to Koga. The Rocket Executive, with a smug grin, issued another command. "Rhydon, use [Horn Drill]—finish them off!"
The newly evolved Rhydon roared, its massive horn spinning as it charged directly toward Frogadier.
Satoshi smirked. "Perfect timing. Frogadier, [Ice Beam]! Everyone else, get ready to attack!"
Frogadier, unfazed by the incoming attack, took a step back and aimed at the ground in front of Rhydon. A sharp beam of icy energy froze the terrain under Rhydon's feet.
Koga's confident expression faltered. "What? You're freezing the ground? Rhydon, stop immediately!"
But it was too late. Rhydon's momentum carried it forward, its massive weight causing it to slip uncontrollably on the icy surface.
"Roar?!" Rhydon's confusion was evident as its legs flailed beneath it.
With a loud crash, Rhydon toppled forward, sliding helplessly across the frozen path.
"Now's our chance! Attack together!" Satoshi commanded.
Frogadier continued firing [Ice Beam], targeting Rhydon's hands and feet to keep it immobilized. Meanwhile, Charmeleon and Riolu rushed forward, their tails glowing brightly as they prepared [Iron Tail].
"Charmeleon, aim for its head! Riolu, target its abdomen!"
The two Pokémon attacked in perfect sync, their glowing tails slamming into Rhydon's vulnerable spots. The force of the blows pushed Rhydon back, causing it to slip further on the icy ground.
Koga's frustration boiled over. "Rhydon, use [Stomp]! Regain your balance and counterattack!"
But Rhydon couldn't comply. Frogadier's precise use of [Ice Beam] had frozen its limbs, making it impossible for the Pokémon to stabilize itself.
Satoshi wasn't done. "Grovyle, [Giga Drain]!"
Grovyle leaped into action, absorbing Rhydon's energy with a powerful green beam. Though the level gap dulled the move's effectiveness, it still chipped away at Rhydon's strength.
Rhydon let out a guttural roar, but it was clear the Pokémon was reaching its limit.
Satoshi's eyes narrowed. "Frogadier, finish this. [Hydro Pump]!"
Frogadier's mouth filled with a pressurized surge of water. With precise aim, it unleashed the powerful attack directly at Rhydon.
The combination of super-effective moves and repeated strikes proved too much. Rhydon let out one final cry before collapsing to the ground, its massive body trembling as it fainted.
Pokédex Alert:
"Ding! Charmeleon gained experience, level +1, reached level 32!"
"Ding! Frogadier gained experience, level +1, reached level 32!"
"Ding! Riolu gained experience, level +2, reached level 30!"
"Ding! Grovyle gained experience, level +2, reached level 30!"
Satoshi took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as the adrenaline faded. He glanced down at the unconscious Rhydon, then back at Koga, whose expression had soured.
The room fell silent.
End of the Chapter.