Landrick Appears

At this time, the Team Rocket grunts arrived and surrounded the rescuers and protectors. Each of them called out their pokemon as Golbats, Weezings, Arboks, and Raticates appeared with menacing looks.

The protectors also called out their pokemon as Hitmonlees, Hitmonchans, Primeapes, Machokes, and Hitmontops appeared and let out their own cries.

Naturally, Folker and Chelsea joined the battle with Scizor and Charmeleon. As for Lucario, it would occasionally send some [Aura Sphere] against the enemies to disrupt their battle rhythm, especially on the Raticates who were instantly knocked-out when hit due to the type disadvantage.

The grunts had the numbers advantage but the Dojo members are stronger overall. As for Farlan, he went with the Rescuers and the released captives as they looked for their pokeballs.

Slash! Bang! Boom!

Sounds of clashing moves spread on the battlefield as the Dojo members faced off against the Team Rocket grunts.

"Scythe, use [Bullet Punch]!" Folker said as he raised his hand.

Scizor then let out a [Bullet Punch] on an opposing Arbok and knocked it out of the battle. Its trainer then called it back to its pokeball as he sent out another pokemon, a Weezing.

"Weezing, use [Smokescreen]!" the grunt said as he grit his teeth.

Weezing then released an obscuring cloud of smoke on the battlefield, making the place even more chaotic.

"Hey, watch it! We can't see them either!" another grunt complained as he glared at the grunt who ordered Weezing to use [Smokescreen].

"Sorry!" the grunt apologized as he scratched the back of his head.

The Dojo members frowned as they tried to find their pokemon. As for Folker, he recalled his Scizor back to its pokeball and decided to let Lucario do its thing under the cover of the smokescreen.

"Luca, spam [Aura Sphere] on the remaining Raticates" Folker said with a frown.

Lucario then whirled its fists and spammed [Aura Sphere] on the Raticates, instantly knocking them out until the Raticates were wiped out of the battlefield. [Smokescreen] didn't affect Lucario's vision one bit as it switched to using Aura to locate its opponents.

It was at this moment that the battlefield was cleared out of [Smokescreen] and the grunts called out their fainted pokemon and resumed the battle as they called out their other pokemon.

None of the grunts noticed that the Raticates were wiped out from the battlefield.

"Luca, stay back and watch out for reinforcements" Folker said as he called back Scizor on the battlefield once again.

Lucario just nodded as it closed its eyes with its ears vibrating.

The chaotic battle continued for a while when suddenly, Lucario said to Folker in telepathy that three figures were heading their way.

From the looks of it, these three seemed stronger and more dangerous than usual. Folker frowned when he heard Lucario's words.

"We should finish this battle before they arrive." Folker said as he looked at his fellow Dojo members.

Folker then called out Magneton on the battlefield as he commanded Scizor and Magneton to battle at the same time.

He didn't realize that his lips curled up to a wide smile as sweat flowed from his face.

"Not good. They're here" Lucario warned as it opened its eyes.

Three figures in black uniforms appeared with menacing looks. The one in the middle was a green-haired man. His uniform didn't seem to be any different from the one the grunts were wearing but when they saw him, a hint of fear could be seen from their eyes.

"You have the numbers advantage yet you were the ones losing?" Landrick said with a frown on his face. The grunts lowered their heads in embarrassment and lack of self-confidence. Nevertheless, they didn't stop the battle.

The Dojo members saw Landrick's arrival but they didn't pay any heed to him and just treated him as if he was just some higher-ranking Team Rocket member.

Landrick then grabbed a pokeball from his pocket and called out his pokemon. Suddenly, a large, bipedal, purple mammalian Pokémon with distinct reptilian features appeared on the battlefield and let out a loud roar, catching the attention of the surrounding trainers and pokemon.

Folker's danger senses were alarming him while frowning as he looked at Landrick's figure.

'This guy.. he gives off the same level of danger as that hunter back in Viridian Forest' Folker thought to himself as he grit his teeth.

It was at this moment that Lucario turned his head and saw the arriving figures of the captives and the rescuers who had pokeballs on their hands.

Folker heaved a sigh of relief when he noticed that the captives were carrying their pokeballs, which means that they can help out with the battle. But his sense of safety didn't last long when he realized that since the captives were captured, their pokemon must not be in full shape, or at least for some.

"Stand back, you guys are no match for that guy" Koichi said as he pointed to Landrick's figure.

"It's you again. Haven't you learned your lesson?" Landrick said with a grin as he looked at Koichi's figure.

"That was a dirty trick you pulled off back then. This time, I'm not falling for it" Koichi replied with a wide smile as he called out his pokemon.

A humanoid Pokémon with four well-muscled arms appeared on the battlefield as it let out a cry as fearsome as Nidoking. It has bluish-gray skin, red eyes, and pale yellow lips.

"Machamp!"

Machamp flexed its muscles as it looked at Nidoking with a provoking glare while Nidoking's expression turned sour as it looked at Machamp with anger.

Folker looked at Koichi's figure with a hint of respect from his eyes. He recalled his battle with Koichi back then and found out that he was still holding back when he saw Machamp's figure.

He couldn't help but let out a bitter smile as he sighed before he composed himself and hurriedly approached Farlan and Chelsea.

"This guy, remember the hunter back in Viridian Forest? He gives out a dangerous feeling as that guy. We have to be careful" Folker said as he looked at Chelsea.

Farlan wasn't there with Chelsea and Folker at that time but he heard stories of how Chelsea found her pokemon egg so he wasn't completely clueless at Folker's words.

"Indeed, watch out for tricks. Team Rocket isn't known for playing fair, after all" Farlan said as he rubbed his belly.