Jubilife City's Northern Suburbs, Coastline
Wayne, Lucario, and Metagross kept low, advancing toward the coastline.
The Hyper Beam that had struck Drakloak moments ago came from that direction.
Wayne, positioned at a higher elevation, had a clear view. He lay on the ground, observing the coastline where a boat was docked.
The previously calm coastline had become extremely noisy, and the Wingull that had been soaring over the sea had also flown away.
Many people wearing special combat suits and tactical goggles were pursuing a Pokemon.
"Don't let it escape!"
"Golbat, Hypnosis!"
"Dragapult, another big catch!"
"Dragapult and Drakloak—both can be sold for a good price! Hahaha!"
What reached Wayne's ears were the rampant laughter and shouts of the Pokemon Hunters.
Wayne recognized the leader at first glance: Pokemon Hunter D.
He was part of Hunter J's organization, both at the captain level.
Wayne had encountered him during his travels, but that time, with only Lucario, Wayne couldn't prevent Hunter D from escaping.
At this moment, Dragapult stood protectively in front of Drakloak, warily watching the Mightyena, Houndoom, and other Pokemon below.
"Houndoom, Flamethrower!"
"Mightyena, Fire Fang!"
On the beach below, there was a Pokemon that resembled a ball of grass running frantically.
Wayne recognized this grass ball as Shaymin in its Land Forme at a glance.
"Metagross, Flash Cannon!"
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!"
"Aim for that boat!"
To catch the thief, first catch the leader. To shoot a person, first shoot the horse!
To capture all these Pokemon Hunters in one fell swoop, they had to destroy their means of transportation first.
Flash Cannon and Flamethrower intertwined, forming a white and red tornado that rapidly propelled the azure Aura Sphere forward!
Bang—
The Pokemon Hunters' attention was completely focused on Dragapult and Shaymin.
The sudden attack from the cliff edge above was clearly completely unexpected.
The moment the explosion sounded, Wayne quickly commanded, "Lucario, split up—you go save Shaymin!"
Only three ordinary hunters with their Pokemon were pursuing Shaymin, and Lucario could easily handle them.
"Luca!"
"Metagross, Arcanine, let's go down!"
The violent explosion was deafening.
The shockwave from the blast also sent the nearest hunters flying outward like startled fish.
Flames ignited, thick smoke rose from the boat, and the dense fog obscured their vision.
"What's happening?!"
"Damn it! Who's there? Show yourself!"
Hunter D calmly commanded, "Hoothoot, clear the fog!"
At the same time, the Pokemon Hunters pursuing Shaymin instinctively looked back because of the explosion.
However, a shadow suddenly appeared in the sky, causing them to unconsciously look upward.
Between Lucario's palms, a bone staff approximately one meter long suddenly materialized.
There was no time to dodge now.
Bang, bang, bang—
The two staffs rapidly struck the hunters' heads, sending two hunters flying in opposite directions.
The last hunter was met with Lucario's direct frontal strike!
As the tactical goggles shattered, the Pokemon Hunter slowly fell, collapsing prone on the ground like a corpse.
The entire process took less than two seconds.
After special training with Cynthia's Lucario, Lucario was no longer what he once was.
Lucario's strength had reached the Master Level!
After knocking down the three hunters, Lucario's movements didn't cease at all. Lightning sparked from his palms as he knocked out each Golbat with a single punch!
Facing the last Houndoom, Lucario used a Close Combat sequence, leaving Houndoom unable to retaliate.
At the final moment, the bone staff reappeared in his palm, striking Houndoom's forehead with a precise blow!
"Woo~" Houndoom emitted a short whimper from its throat before collapsing weakly to the ground.
At this point, the three hunters and three Pokemon were completely incapacitated.
Shaymin stood stunned, momentarily forgetting to flee.
Lucario nodded at Shaymin.
(You're safe.)
(Tha... thanks.)
(Come with me. I'll protect you.)
Shaymin could accurately judge whether the person and Pokemon before it held good intentions.
"Shaymin!"
Only after cradling Shaymin in his arms did Lucario realize how serious its injuries were.
As Hunter D commanded Hoothoot to clear the dense fog, siren sounds echoed in the distance.
"Damn it! Officer Jenny's here!"
"The problem is what's in front of us!"
"A shiny Metagross!"
"And an Arcanine—is he a police officer or an investigator?"
The hunters, having dispelled the fog, finally saw the true identity of their attacker.
Wayne, wearing a high-neck sweater and a winter cotton jacket that didn't appear bulky, along with black sunglasses.
Drakloak and Dragapult flanked him on his left and right, while Metagross and Arcanine stood before him.
"Just an ordinary Breeder."
Looking at the damaged boat behind him and hearing the sirens growing closer, Hunter D made a decisive decision.
"Since that's the case, I'll have to use you to escape. I apologize for making you a hostage."
Wayne's lips curled into a slight smile. "It's not certain who the hunter is yet."
Wayne noticed the armored launcher on Hunter D's left hand—that was the Pokemon Hunter's secret weapon.
The beam fired from this launcher could petrify Pokemon, even Mythical Pokemon like Shaymin.
Pokemon Hunters used this very method to capture rare Pokemon everywhere.
"Arcanine, Fire Blast."
"Drakloak, Dragon Pulse."
"Metagross, Psychic."
Wayne didn't need to command Dragapult. Having survived in the wild for twenty years, she possessed extensive combat experience.
A deep purple orb condensed in Dragapult's mouth—it was Shadow Ball!
"Kangaskhan, Hyper Beam!"
"Drapion, Cross Poison!"
Hunter D's strength was respectable, but the other Pokemon Hunters were quite ordinary.
Amidst the explosions, a beam of light suddenly shot out.
Hunter D's tactical goggles had the function of accurately capturing the target's location through infrared.
Before that beam was fired, Wayne had already given instructions. "Dodge left and right!"
Wayne didn't fully understand this beam's mechanics and was unsure if Protect, Light Screen, and Reflect would be effective against it, so he wouldn't gamble on it.
Seeing that the petrifying beam missed, Hunter D couldn't help but frown. "How is that possible..."
"Metagross, destroy his launcher."
"Meta!"
Metagross used Psychic to manipulate the surrounding rubble, his advanced brain constantly calculating.
(Dodge route... movement resistance... calculation successful!)
Metagross nodded toward Dragapult.
"Meta!"
(I need your Helping Hand.)
"Grulu!"
(No problem!)
Glancing at the hunters around him, clutching their wounds and wailing, Hunter D was already planning his escape.