The scorching air distorted the vision, and a stench of scorched protein mixed with the smell of fabric turning to ash rushed into the nostrils.
From the corner of his eye, Ariel saw the Team Rockets member beside him, who had just been gasping for breath, along with his struggling Pokémon, had now become an indistinguishable lump of charcoal. Black ash was swept up by the heat wave and drifted down again.
Death was close at hand.
Tabitha's face, hidden in the shadows, must have been twisted in a smile.
"Jie jie..."
Magmortar's cannon-like arm aimed at Ariel once more. Another Fire Blast condensed at the muzzle, its blinding firelight nearly swallowing the entire rooftop.
There was no time to hesitate!
"Malamar, Protect!" Ariel's voice was calm, without a single ripple.
The energy shield expanded instantly, and almost at the same moment it formed, the massive fire character smashed into it violently!
"Crack—"
A crisp shattering sound, more piercing than breaking glass.
The Protect barrier was like an eggshell struck by a hammer; spiderweb-like cracks instantly covered it before it exploded with a bang!
The residual fire energy turned into a shockwave, sweeping toward Ariel!
Even with the energy reduction after smashing the Protect, the force would still be unimaginable if it hit Ariel directly.
Ariel's command did not pause for a second.
"Krokorok, follow up!"
Almost the instant Malamar's shield shattered, another Protect barrier rose from the ground, accurately blocking the path in front of Ariel and stopping all the remaining fire aftershocks.
A perfect transition; this was a level of chemistry that could only be achieved through countless training sessions.
But Ariel's heart sank.
A single attack required two Pokémon to use 'Protect' alternately just to barely block it.
How could he even fight this?
Ariel immediately had Malamar take him and flee toward the rooftop above!
"Roar!"
Seeing its attack blocked twice in a row, Magmortar was completely enraged.
It raised both arms high. The scorching energy no longer condensed into a shape but turned into a violent pillar of fire, frantically blasting the rooftop without any pattern!
Boom! Boom!!
The concrete floor beneath his feet groaned under the strain, cracks spreading like venomous snakes.
With a loud bang, the rooftop under Ariel's feet suddenly sank, and a huge hole was forcibly blasted open!
Rubbles and rebar fell downward, revealing the pitch-black void of the floor below.
Ariel stumbled back, narrowly steadying himself, his forehead already soaked with cold sweat.
He was pushed to the edge of the rooftop, with nowhere left to retreat.
Tabitha's Magmortar stopped its indiscriminate destruction and aimed its muzzle once again at the cornered Ariel. This time, it began to charge up, preparing to unleash a final Eruption!
The firelight gathered in its mouth, growing brighter and brighter, casting Ariel's solitary figure long, very long, against the broken walls.
Was it despair?
No.
Ariel's breathing actually steadied. He looked at the overbearing Magmortar, and a cold sneer actually pulled at the corner of his mouth beneath the mask.
For such an important operation, how could he not have prepared a trump card?
He was just waiting.
Waiting for the most suitable moment.
At the very instant the firelight in Magmortar's mouth was about to spew forth—
A blindingly bright light suddenly tore down from the pitch-black night sky, like a holy sword, accurately projecting between Ariel and Magmortar!
That light was so dazzling that everyone present, including the enraged Magmortar, subconsciously narrowed their eyes.
"Woo—"
A sharp whistling sound followed as a massive Crobat spread its wings, hovering in mid-air.
Immediately after, a figure leaped directly off the Crobat's back.
No parachute, no cushioning measures; he jumped straight down from a height of dozens of meters!
Thud!
A dull sound.
The man's feet landed steadily on the cracked rooftop. His crisp deep-blue suit didn't have a single wrinkle, and even his hairstyle wasn't messed up.
After landing, he didn't look at the enemy first. Instead, he reached out with his white-gloved hand and unhurriedly straightened the buttons on his cuffs, as if he had just stepped down from a single stair.
"Really,"
The man spoke, his voice carrying a sort of cynical complaint,
"You only think of me at these critical moments."
He looked around at the mess and the damp air, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Besides, the place you chose is way too humid. It'll wrinkle my suit. Do you know how long it takes to get a custom suit like this?"
The newcomer was none other than Laic.
As early as when Ariel decided to head to the Weather Institute, he had sent a request for support to this Superior.
After all, this was an operation concerning the organization's important plans. It was never wrong to have an extra layer of preparation.
Laic's appearance caused Tabitha's pupils to shrink suddenly.
"Another one coming to die!"
Tabitha shouted sharply, but the irritability in his tone betrayed his state of mind.
Laic finally turned his gaze to the Gym Leader Level Magmortar. He adjusted the non-existent glasses on the bridge of his nose, a frivolous smile hanging on his face.
"Gym Leader Level? Hmm, barely enough for me to warm up."
Before his voice finished, light flashed repeatedly in front of him!
A burly Machamp with four thick arms, peak Superior-level, Level 49!
A Gyarados over ten meters long with a fierce aura, peak Superior-level, Level 48!
Plus the Crobat circling behind him, peak Superior-level, Level 49!
Three powerful Pokémon infinitely close to Gym Leader Level instantly reversed the atmosphere of the battlefield!
Laic didn't even personally direct them; the Machamp had already proactively met the Magmortar. Its four arms swung, bringing gusts of wind from its punches, actually fighting the Gym Leader Level Magmortar to a standstill!
The battle was instantly split.
Laic blocked the strongest Magmortar, then turned his head and shouted to Ariel:
"Hey, that Camerupt is yours."
His voice carried a hint of matter-of-fact teasing.
"Don't tell me you can't even handle a big dumb cow that only knows how to spit lava!"
Ariel took a deep breath, and the frustration in his chest was swept away.
He looked at the Camerupt not far away, which was also a bit at a loss due to Laic's appearance, and his gaze became sharp again.
Indeed, the biggest threat had been intercepted.
Now, it was his turn.