Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 56: Throwing the Ball at the Red Gyarados – Under Siege Again

A scorching Flamethrower burst from Charizard’s mouth.

The Red Gyarados, which had fled to the shore and hadn’t noticed it was being targeted, took the full brunt of the attack.

"ROAR~" It screamed in agony within the flames, firing back with Hyper Beam.

But Charizard had overwhelming advantages in both level and move proficiency—the Red Gyarados couldn’t compete. After another direct hit, it was on the verge of collapse. At that moment, Rio threw a Poké Ball.

With a flash of light, the Red Gyarados was drawn in. After three shakes, the capture was successful.

"Excellent." Rio’s face lit up with joy. He signaled Charizard to land so he could retrieve the Poké Ball.

Capturing the Red Gyarados had not been easy. But in the end, he’d secured it.

However—

"Put that Poké Ball down!"

Just as Rio picked up the ball containing the Red Gyarados, a shout came from the nearby woods. He turned to see a group of Team Rocket members charging out of the trees. Leading them was a man with a mushroom-shaped haircut, small glasses, and wearing a researcher’s uniform.

"Dr. Sila?" Rio raised an eyebrow, recognizing him by his attire.

If he remembered correctly, this man was a significant figure in Team Rocket. Besides developing the Evolution Wave, he had also created a device related to Raikou.

"Kid, put that Poké Ball down and leave. Do that, and Team Rocket will overlook what happened today. Otherwise, you’ll be making an enemy of the entire organization. Even if you escape today, you’ll be placed on our wanted list and hunted down," Dr. Sila threatened coldly.

Rio laughed at the threat. An enemy of Team Rocket? Wanted? He’d probably been on that list for a while now—first for interfering with their attempt to steal from Mr. Fuji, then for thwarting the invasion of Lavender Town and sending dozens of Rockets to the Pokémon Police.

"Then by all means, send your people after me. I’ll be waiting." Rio smiled, pocketed the Red Gyarados’s Poké Ball, and climbed onto Charizard’s back.

At that moment, a cold voice came from behind him: "Kid, today neither you, that Poké Ball, nor Team Rocket are going anywhere."

He turned to see Lance and Dragonite. Lance was completely red from head to toe, his burns making him look particularly grim. Dragonite glared at him with furious eyes, also covered in wounds—especially a large gash running from its rear all the way up to its neck, which stood out prominently.

"As expected of Lance’s ace—it took a direct hit from Precipice Blades and still hasn’t fainted," Rio marveled internally. This was the first Pokémon he’d seen that could survive a divine move from Munchlax’s Metronome.

"The phenomenon on the lake earlier—that was your Munchlax’s Metronome, wasn’t it?" Lance continued.

"Yep, you guessed it," Rio shrugged.

Lance’s expression twisted into something even more ferocious. After he and Dragonite barely escaped the boiling lake, he had realized something was off. At first, he thought a powerful Pokémon was hiding there and their battle had provoked it, but nothing appeared. Then it hit him—the Munchlax’s Metronome.

"Today, I’ll make you pay dearly," Lance growled through clenched teeth. He couldn’t stand the thought that an Elite Four member like himself had nearly been defeated—nearly killed—by a Munchlax’s Metronome. It was humiliating.

"We’ll see if you have what it takes," Rio said with a raised eyebrow, maintaining a calm exterior.

Inside, however, he was strategizing. The Rockets and Lance were clearly teaming up against him. His best option was to escape. But he couldn’t—not yet. Primeape was still rampaging in the lake. If he recalled it before it had vented its anger, it might break out on its own and turn on him.

As he thought, Rio glanced at the lake and saw Primeape swimming furiously toward them—clearly, there were no more opponents left in the water, so it was coming ashore to find more.

In a flash, Rio had a plan.

"Ampharos, Dragon Pulse!"

"Houndoom, Flamethrower!"

"Sneasel, Icy Wind!"

...

The Rockets struck first, unleashing a barrage of attacks from multiple Pokémon.

"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Rio commanded, signaling Charizard to move toward Primeape.

Charizard spread its wings and soared upward, its Flamethrower clashing with the Rockets’ attacks. But Charizard could only fend off one side—Lance gave his own order: "Dragonite, Aqua Tail!"

Dragonite rose into the air and swung its massive tail like a tidal wave, slamming into Charizard. Unable to defend against both fronts, Charizard was sent crashing toward the ground.

The Rockets quickly directed their Pokémon to attack the spot where Charizard was about to land.

Feeling the freefall, Rio clung tightly to Charizard and shouted: "Hold on, Charizard! Don’t forget—you’re a genius, a one-in-a-million Charmander! Aren’t you ashamed of being ganged up on by these nobodies? A genius like you shouldn’t be taken down so easily! Fly! Fly, damn it!"

His shouts ignited something in Charizard like a fuse.

"ROAAR~!"

With a furious roar, just before hitting the ground, Charizard gritted its teeth and flapped its wings hard—executing a 360-degree spin and soaring back into the air, dodging the Rockets’ follow-up attacks.

"That’s it, Charizard—that’s my genius!" Rio shouted through the nausea.

"Roaar~" Charizard responded excitedly, flying over the Lake of Rage while evading Dragonite’s pursuit, and reached Primeape.

"Quick—turn back!" Rio recalled Primeape the moment they were close and gave the order.

"Roaar~" Charizard immediately turned, narrowly passing Dragonite—which had come at it with Thunder Punch—and shot back toward the shore.

Rio pressed Primeape’s Poké Ball again, right in the middle of the Rockets’ encirclement. With a flash of light, Primeape reappeared—right in the center of the Rocket formation.

Facing their shocked and confused expressions, Rio shouted: "You like ganging up on people? Now let Primeape show you what it’s like to dance!"

"Primeape—let out all your built-up anger! Beat them within an inch of their lives!"

"Pu-cha~!"