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Aerial Ace struck Aya's Venonat with perfect accuracy, a Flying-type move particularly effective against Bug-type Pokémon like Venonat. The attack's power knocked Venonat directly to the ground, where it lay in pain.
"No!! Return, Venonat!!" Aya gritted her teeth and reluctantly recalled her defeated Pokémon.
"So, am I qualified to challenge the Gym Leader now?" Pidgeotto slowly descended next to Ash, folding its wings before perching on his shoulder. Ash gently stroked its feathers while looking expectantly at Aya.
Aya clenched her teeth, but before she could respond, they heard a rumbling sound. A Voltorb suddenly rolled into view from somewhere across the floor, appearing before everyone.
"Ah!! It's a Voltorb?!" Misty, still frightened from their earlier encounter, displayed a fearful expression upon seeing the spherical Pokémon.
BOOM!!!
The moment the Voltorb appeared, electric current sparked across its surface before it used Self-Destruct. The explosive power spread outward, and smoke instantly engulfed the entire area.
A dark shadow materialized behind Aya.
"Aya, you were far too careless. Didn't I teach you never to underestimate your opponent, regardless of the situation?"
A stern voice cut through the haze. As the smoke dissipated, a man wearing a dark blue ninja outfit appeared before them. He appeared to be in his thirties.
His penetrating gaze conveyed natural authority, yet his aura remained restrained and understated, as if he had melded with the surrounding environment.
"Brother! I'm sorry! I was too careless." When Aya saw the newcomer, she turned and knelt on one knee respectfully.
"Brother? So he is..." Misty looked at the man in surprise. If he was Aya's brother, then he must be the Gym Leader they sought.
"So you're Miss Aya's brother! My name is Brock..." Brock immediately stepped forward, speaking politely. Ash couldn't help but shake his head. It seemed that regardless of which world they were in, Brock's strategy was always to win over a girl by first impressing her family.
"Enough already! Stop trying to make connections here." Misty, unable to tolerate Brock's behavior, pulled him away.
"Young man, your strength is impressive, but if you want to earn the Soul Badge, you must defeat me first!" Koga paid no attention to the interruption, focusing seriously on Ash instead.
He had been observing their battle. Even if his sister had been careless, a trainer who could defeat her so easily shouldn't be underestimated, especially one so young.
"I'm here for the Badge, and I'll accept any challenge," Ash responded calmly.
"Excellent! The battle will be limited to two Pokémon each. When either trainer has no Pokémon left able to fight, the match will be over. Is that acceptable?" Koga appreciated Ash's composed demeanor as he explained the rules of the upcoming battle.
"No problem!"
With that settled, Aya stepped aside, preparing to serve as referee. Though she no longer underestimated Ash, she secretly hoped her brother would avenge her defeat.
CRASH!!!
Suddenly, a loud noise came from above as the ceiling collapsed, sending dust and debris everywhere.
"What's happening?" Koga frowned slightly and glanced at Aya.
"I... I don't know! I didn't set up any mechanism like this!" Aya looked confused by the unexpected development.
"What's going on, you ask? Since you've asked so sincerely!"
"We'll tell you with great benevolence!"
Prepare for trouble!
And make it double!
To protect the world from devastation!
To unite all peoples within our nation!
To denounce the evils of truth and love!
To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie!
James!
Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!
Surrender now, or prepare to fight!
Meowth!
That's right!
"Not them again!!" Though the tone was distinctive, Ash and his friends were tired of hearing these lines. The last time they had encountered this trio, they had survived a similar dramatic entrance unscathed—they were truly like indestructible cockroaches.
As the smoke gradually cleared, two figures holding paper umbrellas slowly turned around. Their faces were heavily painted with theatrical makeup as they performed their routine not far away. Ash's eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"Enough! Don't butcher opera with those ridiculous lines! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Ash was genuinely annoyed. He wished they would just say their piece without the theatrical nonsense. Though people in this world might not know what opera was, these cultural elements had somehow spread across regions.
While this world featured regions similar to Japan, it was organized into a Pokémon League without distinct nations. The intruders had likely adopted the operatic style unintentionally, but hearing them deliver their lines in this manner was truly aggravating.
"Pika-CHUUUUUU!!!"
Hearing Ash's command, Pikachu attacked without hesitation, releasing a powerful electric current directly at the intruders.
"AAAHHH!!" The two humans and their cat Pokémon were suddenly enveloped in crackling electricity, letting out pitiful cries before being blasted into human-shaped silhouettes. Misty and Brock watched with satisfaction.
"You brat, do you have any idea how much effort we put into preparing our introduction? How dare you interrupt us!" After recovering, the two stood up, removed their singed wigs, and shouted angrily at Ash.
"Who are these people?" Aya asked, witnessing the scene with confusion.
"They're Team Rocket, criminals who go around stealing other people's Pokémon!" Misty explained.
After hearing this, Aya regarded Team Rocket with open hostility.
"Who wants to see your ridiculous performance? Don't get in my way!" Ash was angry not only at their antics but also because they had interrupted his gym challenge—the most unforgivable offense.
"Are you kidding? Now that we're here, of course we're going to capture Pikachu and all the Pokémon in this gym!" Jessie and James removed what remained of their costumes and sneered at Ash.