Just as a group of Golbat swooped down from above, aiming straight for Silver, Shu's Chinchou sprang into action.
With a spark of electricity, it puffed its cheeks and launched a wide web of current into the air. The Golbat, too close to avoid it, flew right into the trap.
They shrieked in pain as the electricity surged through their wings, halting their advance. Reeling from the shock, they abandoned their target and redirected their fury toward Chinchou instead.
Despite trembling slightly, Chinchou didn't back down. It stood firm, protecting Shu and Silver to the best of its ability.
Ash, eyes flicking across the battlefield, leaned closer to Kai. "Shouldn't Misty and the others be moving in by now?"
Kai glanced at Gengar by his side. "How long has Brock been gone?"
Gengar didn't hesitate. "Close to an hour."
Kai did a quick mental calculation. That's not quite enough time to return, but if we stall a little longer…
He nodded. "Send the signal."
Gengar obeyed, forming a shadowy [Shadow Ball] in its palm and hurling it high into the sky.
The orb exploded mid-air with a blast of dark energy that bloomed like black fire across the blue sky unnatural, ominous, and highly visible even from miles away.
Attila and Hun noticed immediately from atop the submarine.
They smirked at the strange "signal flare."
"Calling for backup?" Hun scoffed. "On this deserted island? From who?"
"Even if they tried calling the rangers on Blue Point Isle," Attila added, "they wouldn't arrive before we're gone. Let them signal all they want."
Still, they weren't stupid. The longer this dragged on, the higher the risk of something unexpected.
"Push forward!" Attila barked. "Full force!"
Then she and Hun leapt off the sub and onto the beach, joining the fray themselves.
Hun released Primeape and Hitmontop two aggressive Fighting-types. Primeape bellowed with rage while Hitmontop spun like a gyroscopic weapon.
Attila unleashed her own duo: the dark-type hound Houndour, and the sinister ghost-type Sableye, its jewel-like eyes glinting with mischief.
Kai took quick mental notes. He recognized Primeape and Houndour immediately. But Hitmontop and Sableye he'd only read about them. This was his first time seeing them in person.
Still, he stayed calm. Advanced grunts, maybe… but manageable.
What wasn't manageable? The sudden swarm of even more grunts behind them, each unleashing fresh Pokémon into the already chaotic battlefield.
The situation began to spiral. Even with Gardevoir, Charizard, Scyther, and Ash's team holding the line, they were being pushed to their limits.
And then explosions echoed from the forest edge.
Attila and Hun turned sharply toward the sound.
From the treelines of the north, northeast, and northwest, a second wave of Pokémon suddenly stormed onto the beach, catching Team Rocket completely off guard.
They were reinforcements.
Flanking from three sides, Misty, Erika, and Ritchie stepped out behind their Pokémon, now leading a full counteroffensive.
Kai smirked from atop his rocky perch. "Took your time."
Attila narrowed her eyes. "So… the others never left. They were in hiding all along."
Hun clenched his fists. "A baited ambush."
The Rocket grunts faltered momentarily, stunned by the sudden assault.
Of course, it wasn't enough to end the battle. Not yet. Team Rocket still had superior numbers and those reinforcements, while helpful, didn't completely turn the tide.
They just bought time.
Exactly as Kai had planned.
From his perch, he remained composed, even as a rogue Weezing launched itself toward him only to be crushed mid-air by Gardevoir's [Psychic].
The ambush had been carefully staged.
From the start, Kai had positioned Misty, Erika, and Ritchie deep within the forest, far enough to avoid detection. Their orders: only return once they saw Gengar's flare.
It wasn't just about surprise it was about psychological warfare.
Let Rocket think they were winning.
Let them get overconfident.
But even that wasn't the whole plan.
Kai's true objective wasn't to defeat them outright—it was to keep them here.
Because one hour ago, he had sent Brock to the nearest island town to call for backup.
No signal meant no calls. So he'd handed Brock a written directive with two emergency contacts:
Officer Jenny of Silver Rock Isle.
And for added assurance: direct lines to Anabel and Looker, two International Police agents.
Rocket thought they were the hunters.
They had no idea they'd already walked into a snare.
And with the time gap closing, the jaws were about to snap shut.
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