Vermilion Gym Challenge—Defeat Means Death!  

Behind Gabite, a dense swarm of Magnemite gave chase. Among them, an Electabuzz charged forward with the same savage disregard for obstacles as Gabite, smashing through everything in its path. Every now and then, it would synchronize with the Magnemite, unleashing crisscrossing bolts of lightning that danced wildly across the ship's interior. 

The narrow, metal-filled corridors were ideal terrain for Lt. Surge. The small Magnemite could weave through gaps, using the conductive metal to amplify their electric attacks. Meanwhile, both Ash and Ryuuske found their movements severely restricted. 

That was why, with just a glance, they had immediately chosen to flee. 

"How are there so many Magnemite?! How is he commanding them all?!" 

Caitlin clung tightly to Ryuuske's neck. Though she hated her own helplessness, being carried in his arms gave her an odd sense of security. As the wind whipped past from Gabite's speed, she still found a moment to glance back—only for her scalp to prickle at the sight of dozens of Magnemite crackling with electricity. 

"Not all of those Magnemite belong to Lt. Surge. Some are under his subordinates' command—he's controlling them indirectly by ordering his men first. The rest are probably wild ones he captured but never trained properly." 

"...Right now, we're fighting an elite Team Rocket unit led by a Gym Leader!" 

Ryuuske's lips thinned as he explained. At that moment, Gabite seized an opening and leaped high, tearing through a weak spot in the ceiling with its razor-sharp claws, carrying Ryuuske to the deck above. 

Even if Gym Leaders typically trained more Pokémon than the average Trainer, there was no way Lt. Surge could have raised dozens of powerful Magnemite on his own. The optimal number of Pokémon a Trainer could effectively command at once was six to twelve—any more, and their overall combat effectiveness would plummet. 

"I heard Lt. Surge used to be a soldier. Coordinated military tactics are his specialty!" 

Indirect command structures—turning Pokémon into a disciplined army—was an art form in itself. Few Trainers excelled at it, but Lt. Surge was undoubtedly among the best. 

"Ash!" 

Ryuuske shouted. Ash instantly understood. Pikachu clung tightly to his shoulder as he leaped recklessly from a high railing. Ryuuske timed it perfectly, grabbing Ash's hand as Gabite propelled them upward. 

"Hyper Beam!" 

"Thunderbolt!" 

The two commands came simultaneously. A massive energy blast, intertwined with crackling lightning, erupted with a deafening roar, blasting a hole through the deck above. Gabite burst through, landing on the open deck of the S.S. Anne. 

Night had fallen, with only a sliver of dawn on the distant horizon. Under the starlit sky, countless jagged bolts of lightning stabbed at the spot where Ryuuske and Ash had just been, piercing straight through the deck. Both broke out in cold sweat—had they been caught in Lt. Surge's Magnemite encirclement, escape would've been impossible. They'd have been electrocuted or impaled. 

The night sky flashed white as Raichu and Electabuzz emerged from below, their bodies wreathed in lightning that lanced toward the heavens. Lt. Surge floated up after them, gripping a Magnemite to hover into view. The two groups now faced off on the S.S. Anne's main deck. 

"HAHAHAHA! So this is where you've chosen to die?! Come on, kid, show me what else you've got! Unlike Sabrina, I don't hold back from the start!" 

The muscular man laughed uproariously, standing between the crackling auras of his Raichu and Electabuzz. Arcing electricity scorched the deck beneath him, leaving behind blackened pits as the air buzzed like a war drum. 

"Hey! Why are you stealing Pokémon?!" 

Ash crouched slightly, hand resting on his Poké Balls as he shouted, trying to divert Lt. Surge's attention. 

"Steal? Poor choice of words. Pokémon are meant to grow strong—yet those fools treat them as mere ornaments! We're saving them, putting them on the right path! And if we make a little profit or run some experiments along the way, even better! HAHAHAHA!" 

Dozens of Magnemite hovered behind Lt. Surge as he laughed triumphantly, clearly convinced of his victory. 

"Gabite, Dragon Pulse!" 

Seizing the moment, Ryuuske suddenly commanded. Gabite understood instantly—instead of aiming at Lt. Surge, it tilted its head skyward and unleashed a deafening draconic roar. 

"ROOOOAR—!" 

The piercing sound forced Caitlin to cover her ears. The earth-shaking bellow echoed across the ocean, drowning out the crashing waves and rattling the S.S. Anne's windows. 

Within moments, lights flickered on across the ship. Distant shouts and clamor rose as passengers awoke. Lt. Surge's expression darkened. 

"...I see. Using Dragon Pulse's sonic waves to wake everyone up—force me to reveal myself." 

"Exactly. Unless Team Rocket is ready to abandon the Gym Leader identity entirely, you can't afford to be exposed. And as long as that title still has value, you'll have to put on an act. A Gym Leader ganging up on Trainers with an army of Pokémon? That's not a good look." 

Ryuuske narrowed his eyes, smirking. 

"Heh! Now I believe you actually beat Sabrina. If you made that terrifying woman back down, you've got some skill." 

With a wave of his hand, Lt. Surge recalled the swarm of Magnemite back through the hole in the deck. 

Just as Ryuuske had said—as long as he wanted to keep his Gym Leader status, he couldn't afford to be seen commanding an overwhelming force against challengers. 

Ryuuske exhaled in relief. A horde of Magnemite alone wasn't scary. But a horde trained by Team Rocket, commanded by a Gym Leader specializing in coordinated warfare? That was a nightmare. Fighting a Gym Leader was hard enough—adding an elite Team Rocket squad to the mix tipped the scales too far. 

"Even without the Magnemite, I'm still the Vermilion Gym Leader! Well then? You came to challenge the Gym, didn't you? Consider this your Vermilion Gym challenge—both of you, against me! No rules. Only one outcome for the loser—DEATH!" 

BOOM—! 

Dark clouds gathered overhead. Thunder roared, and blinding bolts of lightning webbed across the sky. In an instant, the entire deck within a several dozen-meter radius transformed into a storm of electricity!

To be continued…

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