Ash rushed over and planted himself in front of Ryuuske, arms spread protectively as he shielded Gary, who was still lying motionless on the ground.
Ryuuske rolled his eyes, silently eyeing that Ash really knew how to pick his timing—only stepping in after he'd finished beating Gary up. Where was this protective instinct during the fight?
This guy… he's actually kind of sneaky.
"Leave me alone!"
Gary, still facedown on the grass, snorted.
He and Ash had always been at odds. Even when Ryuuske had been hammering him with the Friendship-Shattering Fist, Gary had stubbornly refused to make a sound. But the second Ash showed up, he instantly reverted to his tsundere self.
"Calmed down now?" Ryuuske asked, looking down at him.
Gary nodded.
"Can you talk like a normal person again?"
Another nod.
"Then get up."
Ryuuske extended a hand. After a brief hesitation, Gary slowly lifted his head and grabbed it, letting Ryuuske yank him to his feet.
"Pfft—"
Leaf couldn't help but laugh when she saw Gary's face—swollen like a pig's head. She quickly covered her mouth, realizing how rude that was, but the amusement in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Gary, who had no particular respect for women, shot her a glare before closing his eyes again.
"So… where do we go next?"
Rubbing his bruised face, Gary spoke in a low voice. Unconsciously, he—like Ash—had started treating Ryuuske as the leader. He knew now wasn't the time for tantrums. When faced with a crisis, the priority was solving it, not complaining or shifting blame.
Ryuuske didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out his Pokédex and activated its internet function. As expected, the web was in chaos. A single tap on any news video brought up frantic reporting.
"This is the Pokémon Association's special correspondent, reporting live from Saffron City! The Kanto-based terrorist organization Team Rocket has launched the largest attack in history! They've seized Silph Co. headquarters, overrun the Saffron Gym, and taken control of the city's transportation, communications, and other critical infrastructure—this is an outright war on Saffron!"
"The streets are flooded with Team Rocket operatives and fleeing civilians. It appears Team Rocket has mobilized their entire force—and though I hesitate to say it, Saffron has already fallen!"
The shaky footage showed the reporter and cameraman running for their lives. Screams of terror, car alarms, shattered storefronts, and littered streets filled the background. Local trainers attempted to fight back, but against Team Rocket's overwhelming numbers—tens of thousands—resistance was futile. Those who weren't captured were left severely wounded, waiting for death.
Though Team Rocket seemed uninterested in harming civilians—merely ordering them to hide in shelters or stay indoors—casualties were inevitable in the chaos. The footage revealed Saffron, Kanto's largest metropolis, now eerily silent. The streets, once bustling, were deserted—completely under Team Rocket's control.
There were no soldiers with rifles, no trenches, no tanks or armored vehicles. But Team Rocket's patrol squads, flanked by Pokémon and armed with Poké Balls, were the most terrifying weapons this world had ever seen.
Even the Pokémon Center had been seized, its healing machines now Team Rocket's property. With these machines and a shift system, their combat potential was nearly limitless—so long as their members and Pokémon weren't killed on the spot.
Ryuuske had never experienced war in this world, but he knew it was fundamentally different from his old one. Battles between powerful trainers were practically superhero clashes.
"You've seen it. Saffron is gone. Geographically and strategically, once Team Rocket digests the city's resources, their next target has to be Celadon. If they take both of Kanto's largest cities, the domino effect will ensure the entire region's fall is only a matter of time."
He showed the footage to Ash and Gary, both of whom clenched their fists in silent fury.
"Saffron was built as Kanto's central stronghold, surrounded by protective cities. No external force could easily breach it—but the founders never imagined it'd fall from within."
Ryuuske's tone was mocking as he scrolled through more videos, searching for intel.
"—Oh my god! What is that?! A massive energy barrier is enveloping the entire city! This must be the Psychic-type move Light Screen!"
The screen showed a dome-like shield—forty kilometers in diameter—slowly sealing Saffron off. The sheer scale meant thousands of Psychic-types had to be working in unison.
Just then, Ryuuske's Pokédex vibrated. After glancing at Ash and Gary, he accepted the call.
"Ryuuske!! I've heard about Pallet Town! I'm in Sinnoh right now—I can't return to Kanto immediately, but I'll get there as fast as possible! Are Gary and Ash with you? Listen—head to Saffron first and try to rescue the Pallet Town residents, including Daisy! Don't engage Team Rocket directly! Wait for me to return!"
Professor Oak's furious roar blasted through the speaker. The usually gentle old man was livid, ready to roll up his sleeves and fight himself.
"Yeah, Ash and Gary are here. Understood—we'll prioritize the rescue. Don't worry, we'll avoid direct confrontation if possible. But I can't guarantee how Team Rocket will react."
After a few more instructions, Ryuuske hung up.
Simultaneously, messages from Erika, Misty, and Blaine flooded in. The Pokémon League's Supreme Chairman had appointed Erika as Kanto's acting commander, granting her full authority over the region's forces. Gym Leaders were already mobilizing trainers, preparing to surround Saffron from all sides.
Even if they couldn't liberate the city yet, they had to prevent Team Rocket from expanding further.
"You've heard the situation. Gary, your sister Daisy's been captured. Ash, your mom and the entire town are hostages. I doubt either of you plans to sit around doing nothing."
"The Gym Leaders can only offer limited support. If we want to save them, we're on our own. Of course, neither of you is stupid—you know this is Team Rocket's trap, forcing us to walk right in."
Ryuuske tossed his Pokédex lightly, tilting his chin up with calm certainty.
Though he had no personal stake in this fight, his feud with Team Rocket was already irreversible. If he didn't strike now—while they were public enemy number one—he'd never have peace again.
This was the perfect chance.
To end Team Rocket.
And to finally break Sabrina.
"To save Pallet Town and my mom… I'll follow your lead, Ryuuske!"
Ash adjusted his cap firmly.
Beside him, Gary said nothing—but his darkened expression made his agreement clear.
To be continued…