There was no time to consider what had happened.
David chose to trust his sixth sense, immediately twisted his body, and fell sideways to the ground.
"Bang... bang bang!"
Just as he turned sideways, several gunshots rang out in quick succession, and several bullets narrowly grazed David's body.
The most dangerous bullet even grazed David's arm, leaving a bloody mark.
If it hadn't "coincidentally" deflected slightly at the last moment, it would have likely pierced his chest.
If David hadn't trusted his sixth sense and reacted in time, he would probably be riddled with holes by now, and even with his current physical conditioning, he would likely have lost the ability to move.
And the one who ambushed David was none other than Mr. K.
Mr. K, who had been walking in front, had now turned around, and a wisp of smoke still floated from the muzzle of the pistol in his hand.
"Damn it!"
David clutched the scraped area on his arm, cursing in a low voice.
He knew he must have exposed himself somewhere. This guy had already realized something was off about him but hadn't shown it directly.
Instead, he waited until now, when his guard was down, to spring a surprise on him.
Looking at the scratch on his arm, David couldn't help but reflect that ever since becoming a Trainer, his life had been too smooth.
Coupled with easily taking down this hunter's temporary base just now, not only rescuing all the captured Pokémon, but also capturing all the poachers in one fell swoop.
Constant success had made him underestimate these criminals!
He was just making things up as he went along, daring to trick these terrorists without even a detailed plan. This time he only suffered a minor injury, but next time he might lose his life.
"I still can't get arrogant!" David thought to himself. He didn't want to become complacent.
Just then, a wave of dark purple ghostly fire surged violently toward Mr. K, its momentum suggesting it wanted to burn the opponent directly to ashes.
Then, in the next second, Zorua's figure appeared in front of David as if flashing, protecting him behind it, a hint of killing intent in its eyes as it glared fiercely at Mr. K.
"Zorua!!!"
As if influenced by Zorua's emotions, a massive wave of resentment immediately enveloped the surroundings. Amidst the gloomy clouds, countless vengeful spirits seemed to be faintly wailing.
The moment Mr. K launched his sneak attack, it was too swift, and he and David were too close together, making it difficult for Zorua maintaining the illusion to stop him.
It could only watch helplessly as the bullets flew toward its Trainer. Zorua could hardly believe it—what would it do if David were to suffer any harm!
Intense anger nearly made it lose its mind. All it wanted to do now was burn that damned guy to ashes.
"Calm down, I'm fine, Zorua."
At this moment, David had completely cast aside the slight self-satisfaction in his heart.
David stood up again. He had fully learned this lesson, but lessons aside, the most important thing now was naturally to get his own back.
The ghostly fire just now dispersed, revealing the scene within. As expected, Mr. K did not simply die in Zorua's Payback, and he didn't even have a single scratch.
Similarly, a Pokémon stood in front of him—a barrier glowing with green light, completely blocking the sea of fire.
"This is..."
David and his Pokémon looked in surprise at the figure before them—it was a Magmortar, a Pokémon that is usually quite rare.
Name: Magmortar
Type: Fire
Gender: ♂
Energy Level: 50 (Professional Stage Two · Gym Level)
Aptitude: Purple
Ability: Flame Body
Held Item: Charcoal
Moves: Ember, Fire Punch, Lava Plume, Low Kick, Scary Face, Confuse Ray, Sunny Day, Work Up, Fire Spin, Fire Blast, Mach Punch, Dynamic Punch, Iron Tail, Heat Wave, Protect, Heavy Slam, Stomping Tantrum, Weather Ball...
What appeared before them was a Magmortar that had reached the Gym level.
"Indeed, he's from a major organization! He really seems different from those cobbled-together poacher bosses."
David couldn't help but exclaim. This Magmortar was not just a little bit stronger in aura than Brother Qian's Linoone from before.
Simply standing there, the difference was almost like an ant compared to a dragon.
Just a two-level difference wouldn't account for such a disparity, even from Professional Stage One to Professional Stage Two!
It was likely that in terms of aptitude, combat experience, and initial foundation, there was a world of difference between these two Pokémon.
That's why the Linoone was easily defeated when facing Pyroar, but if it were this Magmortar, it would probably be a tough fight.
At this moment, Kirlia and Lucario, who had returned to their Poké Balls to disguise themselves as poachers, also ran out of their Poké Balls.
Lucario similarly stood in front of David, while Kirlia, with a look of concern, gently lifted David's arm and examined the wound on it.
A rich, soft white light shone again, and soon, under Kirlia's Heal Pulse, the not-so-deep wound completely vanished.
David gently moved his arm. Pokémon caught in Poké Balls, unless the Poké Ball is locked from the outside, can freely choose whether or not to come out.
However, a Trainer like David naturally has one hundred percent trust in his Pokémon, but that's not necessarily true for poachers.
Many of their Pokémon were stolen from others or forcibly caught from the wild, unlike normal Trainers who have a partner or even family-like relationship with their Pokémon.
Their relationship is more one of forced capture or mutual exploitation.
"How did you discover me?"
David curiously asked Mr. K. After attacking him, the other party just stood there as if waiting for him to release his Pokémon.
"You disguised yourself very well, almost perfectly. But what you don't know is that Quin, that idiot, never remembers the detailed information of the Pokémon he catches. Remembering the number is already good."
"Just now, I merely mentioned it in passing, wanting him to hand over the records kept by his subordinates. But you said too much."
Mr. K's low voice came from beneath his mask.
"Although I don't know why the bullets just now didn't take your life, it seems Qian and his crew must have fallen into your hands."
"Heroes emerge in youth! But didn't anyone tell you that being a hero isn't that easy?"
"Today, you'll stay here!"