Kai remained calm as Quackenpoker hesitated.
Though the Pokémon Watcher was clearly distressed about the captured Magikarp, he was not a battler. His experience in these situations was likely limited to scaring off small-time poachers not engaging with an organized criminal group like Team Rocket.
Unfortunately, Team Rocket wasn't waiting for him to decide.
The Magikarp submarine extended a large mechanical net, sweeping through the water and capturing more Magikarp. The struggling fish were scooped into the submarine's mouth, disappearing into its metallic interior.
Quackenpoker couldn't take it anymore.
His hesitation vanished as he turned to Kai and the others.
"Please, you have to stop them! Save the Magikarp!"
"You don't even have to ask!" Ash declared, flipping his hat backwards. "Let's go, Pikachu! Thunderbolt that sub!"
"We're helping too!" Misty and Tracey joined in.
Misty sent out Starmie, using it as a floating platform for Pikachu to stand on.
Tracey released Marill, the water-and-fairy-type Pokémon already bouncing eagerly.
Kai nodded. "Charizard, let's go!"
With a burst of light, Charizard took to the skies, flames flickering at the corners of its mouth.
Quackenpoker, however, wasn't convinced.
"These Pokémon seem… too small to fight a machine like that," he muttered worriedly.
Tracey smiled. "Don't worry. Pikachu, Marill, and Starmie are stronger than they look!"
Kai didn't blame the old researcher for being sceptical. To an outsider, it must have seemed strange that they weren't sending out bigger or more aggressive Pokémon.
But in truth, this was more than enough.
Pikachu launched a Thunderbolt.
Starmie spun rapidly toward the sub, using Rapid Spin.
Marill charged in with a Tackle.
Attacks slammed into the Magikarp submarine. Though the steel hull held, deep metallic thuds echoed across the lake.
Inside the cockpit, alarms blared as the submarine shook from the repeated impacts.
Jessie's hands gripped the controls. "They're stronger than expected! We need to take care of them fast!"
James winced as another hit rocked the sub. "Ugh! Even with our upgrades, we're still getting shaken up?"
Seeing their usual tactics failing, Team Rocket activated a new feature.
The Magikarp sub extended two mechanical arms, swiping at Pikachu and Marill in an attempt to grab them.
The two Pokémon dodged easily, but the submarine was clearly equipped for battle.
Kai frowned, 'They've upgraded… but how much?'
Inside the sub, Meowth's frustration peaked.
"Enough of this! It's time to use our secret weapon!"
His paw slammed a red button on the control panel.
The entire submarine began to shift and transform.
The Magikarp shape changed, metal panels rearranging, expanding outward.
The submarine transformed into a mechanical Gyarados.
"W-What?!" Ash gaped. "It can transform?!"
Tracey stared in disbelief. "They came prepared for this…!"
From the speakers, Jessie cackled triumphantly.
"That's right! You're not the only one who can evolve! Behold, our magnificent Mecha-Gyarados!"
The mechanized Gyarados roared, its artificial jaws snapping menacingly.
It could fire electric currents into the water, turning the lake into a hazard for Pikachu and Starmie.
Its mechanical arms allowed it to grab opponents.
Its waterproof plating made it resistant to most attacks.
Even Charizard's Flamethrower was ineffective the machine simply doused itself in water to negate the flames.
Tracey gritted his teeth.
"They thought ahead for this battle. We can't beat it with brute force!"
Misty watched as her Starmie struggled, caught in a shockwave of electricity.
"We need to get them onto land!" she realized. "They have the advantage in the water!"
"Easier said than done!" Ash growled. "It's staying put!"
Team Rocket knew their best bet was to remain in the lake, where they could keep using electric attacks to their advantage.
Kai's Charizard swooped down, launching another Flamethrower But Mecha-Gyarados submerged itself, extinguishing the flames instantly before resurfacing.
Kai's brows furrowed.
They've really done their homework.
Another surge of electricity spread across the lake.
Pikachu and Marill dodged.
Starmie wasn't as lucky it took a direct hit and fell backwards into the water.
"There has to be a weak spot!" Tracey muttered, scanning the machine.
Quackenpoker's sharp eyes lit up.
"There!" he shouted, pointing at the machine's underbelly.
Everyone turned to look.
"What do you see?" Kai asked.
Quackenpoker explained, "That section looks bloated probably where they're holding the captured Magikarp! If we break it open, they'll be forced to release them!"
Misty clenched her fists.
"Alright, everyone attack the lower section!"
The battle wasn't over yet But now, they had a plan.
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