269. Captured

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"What are you going to do?" Misty demanded, her voice sharp with anger as she awoke, her hair still untied.

"Humph! Since the two little brats aren't here, we'll just take their Pokémon instead, Meowth!" Meowth responded with a sinister grin, his tone gloomy.

With that, Meowth pressed a button. The robotic cat's head closed, enclosing the trio inside the massive machine. The robot began advancing toward Misty and the Pokémon.

"Don't even think about it! Everyone, attack now!!" Misty commanded, realizing Team Rocket's intentions and refusing to let them succeed.

"Pikaa... chuuu!!" Pikachu cried as it launched a Thunderbolt. The others joined in, and a combined attack hurtled toward the robot. But inside the machine, the three members of Team Rocket seemed unfazed.

"Humph! This is our Mega Meowth robot, built with incredible effort. It won't be defeated that easily. Activate energy absorption!" James announced smugly, pressing a button on the control panel.

Outside, the Meowth robot's mouth opened, emitting a strong attraction force. The incoming attacks were instantly sucked in and neutralized. Misty stared in shock.

"What?!"

"Pika-Pika!!" Pikachu and the others were equally stunned. From inside the robot came the familiar sound of Team Rocket's wicked laughter.

"Humph! It's not that simple. Time to give you a taste of your own power," Jessie sneered coldly. She pressed a red button, and the golden coin atop the robot's head began to glow.

In the next moment, a brilliant ray of light shot from the coin, slamming into the ground with explosive force. The blast sent shockwaves through the area, shaking the ground and startling everyone present.

Boom!!!

With a deafening roar, a powerful light shot from the gold coin atop the robot's head, striking the ground and causing an immense explosion. The blast sent shockwaves in all directions.

The Pokémon were flung away by the sheer force of the explosion. Misty, who was standing farther back, felt the impact of the violent airflow. She staggered and fell to the ground, shielding herself as debris scattered.

"Huh?!" Ash and Brock, who were by the river, heard the explosion and quickly turned toward the source of the sound. Smoke billowed into the sky in the direction of their camp.

"It's coming from the camp!" Brock said, frowning, his squinted eyes narrowing further in concern.

"Let's go!" Ash exclaimed, his urgency evident. Without hesitation, the two of them started running back.

As Ash sprinted ahead, he suddenly noticed a Poké Ball resting on a rock. He stopped, staring at it for a moment before picking it up.

Whether it comes back or not, this Poké Ball will remain. If it returns, it'll still belong to it. If not, it will remind me that I wasn't strong enough as a Trainer.

He placed the Poké Ball securely in his pocket and continued running with Brock toward the camp.

At the same moment, deep in the forest, a figure stood beneath a fruit tree, holding a half-eaten fruit in its paws. Hearing the distant explosion, it turned its head sharply. Its eyes flicked toward the smoke rising in the sky, and its expression shifted to one of concern. Dropping the fruit, it sprinted toward the source of the smoke without hesitation.

"now!" Meowth smirked as he pressed another button on the control panel. The robot's belly opened, revealing a massive tube that extended outward. A loud vacuum-like noise filled the air.

Before the Pokémon on the ground could recover from the blast, an overwhelming suction force pulled at them. Their bodies lifted into the air, and despite their struggles, they couldn't break free. Within moments, they were drawn into the tube and deposited into the transparent backpack at the robot's back.

"Oh!!" Misty gasped in horror. She could only watch helplessly as Pikachu and the others were captured. Trapped inside the confined space of the backpack, the Pokémon launched frantic attacks, but ordinary moves had no effect on the sturdy container. The risk of using powerful energy moves was too high—they might harm their companions in such close quarters.

Escape seemed impossible.

"Staryu! Starmie, use Water Gun!!"

Desperate to protect the captured Pokémon, Misty sent out her Staryu and Starmie. The two Water-type Pokémon sprang into action, firing synchronized jets of water at the Meowth robot.

The powerful blue streams struck the machine, pushing it back slightly. However, the robot quickly regained its balance.

"Hmph! No need to absorb attacks of this level. Meowth, teach them a lesson," James said with a smug grin. "It's just a free wash for the robot!"

"No problem, meow!" Meowth replied confidently, manipulating the controls. The robot raised its massive palms to block the Water Gun attacks effortlessly before swiping at Staryu and Starmie.

The two Pokémon were smacked aside by the robot's heavy hands, sent flying into a nearby tree. They landed with a thud.

"Starmie! Staryu!" Misty cried out, panic etched on her face.

"Hmph! We'll take them too, Meowth," Jessie sneered as the robot advanced toward the dazed Pokémon. Its claws extended, ready to seize Starmie and Staryu.

"Stop!!" Misty yelled, her voice tinged with desperation. She clenched her fists, her thoughts racing. Ash, Brock, please hurry back!!

Just as the robot's claws were about to grab Staryu and Starmie, a figure leaped from the grass in the forest and landed directly in front of the two Pokémon.

Inside the robot, Team Rocket was beaming with pride at their apparent victory. However, the claws stopped abruptly, frozen in place.

"Huh? What's happening, Meowth?" Jessie asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"I—I don't know!" Meowth stammered, frantically pressing buttons. "Something's blocking the claws, meow! I'll switch the camera!"