Chapter 292: Ambush and Return

Although Rex and Mai had returned from the inner layers of Meteor Falls, their disheveled appearance didn't attract much attention from the trainers lingering on the outer layers.

Over the past few days, many trainers like them had ventured into the inner layers, overestimating their own abilities, only to return dejected and battered.

The inner layers of Meteor Falls were nothing like the outer layers. The wild Pokémon inside were far more numerous and powerful. As a result, not many trainers dared to explore those depths.

Most of the trainers who remained on the outer layers were just trying their luck. Knowing their Pokémon weren't strong enough to protect them in the perilous inner layers, they opted to dig and explore the outer layers, hoping to find something valuable.

"Ugh, so bright! But it feels good!"

By now, Rex and Mai had exited Meteor Falls. Having spent so much time in a dimly lit environment, their eyes couldn't immediately handle the glaring sunlight outside. Instinctively, both raised their arms to shield their eyes, trying to avoid the sharp sting of the light.

After a few minutes, their eyes gradually adjusted to the outside world. While they still felt slightly uncomfortable, they could now clearly see everything around them.

"Rex, should we head straight back to Professor Birch's research lab, or wait here for Beach and Naruki to come out?"

Mai asked because she noticed that the meeting spot they had previously agreed upon was now occupied by some newly set-up tents. Evidently, other adventurers had recently arrived at Meteor Falls for exploration.

"I'll send Beach a message. He'll see it when they get out. As for us, let's head back to Professor Birch's lab first. There are just too many people here right now."

Seeing the growing number of trainers in the area, Rex was eager to leave as soon as possible. Both he and Mai had Mega Stones with them, and exposing such rare items in a crowded place would inevitably make them prime targets.

Considering how much attention Mega Stones had been garnering recently, it was hard to say that no one would harbor ill intentions and try to take a shortcut by robbing others of their discoveries.

Though Rex was confident in the strength of his and Mai's Pokémon, he didn't see the point in risking unnecessary trouble. If they somehow slipped up, it would be both embarrassing and dangerous.

"Alright, let's go with that plan!"

Mai wasn't a novice when it came to adventuring. Everything Rex had thought of had also crossed her mind, so the two of them quickly agreed to leave immediately.

"Hey, you two brats, hand over whatever you got inside!"

Just as the two were about to summon their flying Pokémon, several thuggish-looking men emerged from behind a large tree nearby. The one who shouted was their leader, a young man wearing a malicious grin.

The group all had the same mischievous and cruel smirk on their faces. Beside the leader stood a Croconaw, radiating a fierce and intimidating aura. Clearly, this Pokémon wasn't weak, which gave the thugs the confidence to stage a roadside robbery.

"Go, Machoke!"

Without wasting any words, Rex sent out his Machoke.

"What the hell? You dare resist? Just wait until my Croconaw beats your Machoke—I'll make you regret it!"

The thug leader's face twisted with anger when he saw Rex refusing to back down. He had absolute confidence in his Croconaw's strength and firmly believed it could take down the Machoke before him.

Thanks to his Croconaw, the thug leader had successfully robbed many trainers since arriving here. This success had inflated his ego, making him think his Croconaw was invincible in this area.

"You little punks, how dare you look down on our boss!"

"Just wait, you'll be sorry!"

The other thugs chimed in, spouting taunts as if they were the ones being wronged.

"Croconaw, charge in and use Crunch!"

Following his leader's command, Croconaw lunged toward Machoke, baring its jaws as it aimed for Machoke's shoulder.

But Machoke effortlessly sidestepped the attack and extended its right leg, tripping Croconaw mid-charge.

"Thud!"

Croconaw's momentum sent it sprawling forward, its mouth filling with dirt from the ground.

Getting back up, Croconaw shook its head to dislodge the dirt and glared at Machoke with eyes full of fury. While the trip hadn't caused any real damage, the humiliation was unbearable for a Pokémon that prided itself as a bully.

At this point, Croconaw no longer underestimated Machoke. It realized the opponent was much stronger than it had initially thought.

"Croconaw, what are you doing? Attack already!"

The thug leader, frustrated by Croconaw's hesitation, barked another command.

But Croconaw's gaze flashed with hostility—not toward Machoke, but toward its own trainer.

Croconaw hadn't been raised by the thug leader; it was something he had purchased from the black market. Because of this, the leader lacked the ability to truly command it.

The only reason Croconaw listened to him was that he provided it with food and opportunities to fight. In unimportant situations, Croconaw would grudgingly give him some face, but clearly, this wasn't one of those times.

Without the leader's interference, Croconaw launched a Sand Tomb attack. The ground around Machoke began to soften and shift, turning into quicksand in an attempt to trap it.

Machoke, however, remained unfazed. With a powerful leap, it freed itself from the quicksand and hurtled toward Croconaw.

In midair, Machoke's arms crossed into an "X" shape before slashing downward with Cross Chop.

Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Croconaw tried to counter with Brick Break, but the disparity in their strength was too great. Machoke's attack easily overpowered Croconaw, sending it flying backward.

"Croconaw, get up!"

The thug leader shouted in panic as Croconaw lay on the ground, motionless. Despite his frantic calls, the Pokémon gave no response.

"Boss, this isn't looking good. Let's retreat!"

One of the other thugs, realizing the situation was hopeless, quickly suggested.

"Run!"

Gritting his teeth, the leader recalled Croconaw into its Poké Ball and turned to flee.

"You're not getting off that easy. Reflect on your actions in jail!"

Rex wasn't about to let them walk away. He instructed Machoke to tie up the thugs and left them at a nearby adventurer campsite.

Before long, the adventurers who had been bullied by the thugs gathered around. These criminals had been terrorizing the area for days, making trouble for everyone.

After asking the victims to take the thugs to Officer Jenny, Rex and Mai mounted their flying Pokémon and headed toward Littleroot Town.

(End of Chapter)