"Magmar, use Flamethrower!"
"Rhydon, use Rock Blast!"
Blazing flames erupted from Magmar's mouth, forming a pillar of fire that shot toward the Dragonair in the sky.
At the same time, Rhydon controlled the hard rocks around it and continuously launched them toward the Dragonair above.
Having lost its rationality, Dragonair quickly used Aqua Tail to counterattack. Only by exerting all its strength did it barely manage to block the combined assault from Magmar and Rhydon.
"Female. Development is average, and her talent leans toward mediocrity. In the end, she's just trash willing to nest in a tiny Safari Zone."
Matsu removed the infrared thermal imaging goggles from his face and pressed the intelligence device on the back of his hand, analyzing the approximate data of Dragonair's earlier move.
"If there's only one Dragonair here, then the other Dratini must be a breed produced after crossbreeding with some Water-type Pokémon."
Matsu couldn't help but frown irritably. He had originally intended to capture a highly talented Dratini and cultivate it into a powerful Dragonite, but he never expected to end up catching two mediocre small fry.
Matsu did not believe that in such a tiny Safari Zone there would be any powerful Pokémon capable of producing excellent offspring with Dragonair.
"Forget it. It's still a Pokémon that can evolve into Dragonite. I won't be too picky." Matsu ordered Magmar and Rhydon, "You two fight on your own!"
Magmar and Rhydon roared at the same time and launched another attack.
Blazing flames formed the shape of a large character as Magmar unleashed the powerful Fire Blast.
Rhydon controlled the sharp stone blades around it, constantly striking toward Dragonair, using Stone Edge.
The furious Dragonair used Aqua Tail once again, but this time it could not withstand the attacks of the two Pokémon. Its body was struck by the blazing flames and the sharp stone blades. With a painful cry, it fell from the sky onto the lake's surface. The pain forced Dragonair to regain its composure, but it no longer had the strength to withstand Matsu's assault.
"Drati—!"
Dratini, which had been hiding beside the unconscious Water-type Pokémon, cried out in grief at its mother's suffering and instinctively exposed its hiding place.
"Venomoth, go catch that Dratini for me!"
Matsu threw the Poké Ball in his hand. The released Venomoth immediately used Telekinesis, controlling the hiding Dratini.
Seeing its child in danger, the injured Dragonair struggled to get up and used Water Pulse to attack Venomoth. However, Venomoth easily dodged the attack and countered with Psybeam, striking Dragonair's body once again.
Dragonair, who was not skilled in combat to begin with, collapsed weakly by the lakeside after suffering continuous attacks. In despair, it watched as its child was about to be captured by Team Rocket.
"Don't worry. Under the cultivation of our Team Rocket, you two will become powerful Dragon-type Pokémon!" Matsu sneered, feeling satisfied with the merit he was about to earn. After all, the Dragonair and its child were no ordinary Pokémon. In the future, they would evolve into Dragonite, quasi-legendary Pokémon of the Kanto Region.
(Damon… it's about time I sat in the position of Supreme Commander.)
Suddenly, a thick water column shot over from the distance. It struck Venomoth's body, and the pain caused Venomoth to loosen its Telekinesis on Dratini. Flapping its wings weighed down by the water, it barely managed to dodge the continued impact of the water column.
"Let me ask you something. Are all of you in Team Rocket this arrogant? This is the Safari Zone, officially protected by the League. It's not a place where your Team Rocket can run wild."
A mocking voice came from behind. Matsu turned his head in displeasure, wanting to see which fool dared interfere with his operation.
What appeared in Matsu's sight was a red-capped boy. The red-capped boy stood on top of a stone pillar, looking down at Matsu and the others. The water column that attacked Venomoth earlier was clearly the work of the Milotic beside the boy.
"A red-capped boy? Could you be Red from Pallet Town?!" Matsu subconsciously stepped back cautiously, his eyes urging his subordinates to quickly send out their Pokémon.
Although they were puzzled why Matsu was so wary of Red, this seemingly "ordinary" boy, the Team Rocket members who were used to obeying orders immediately threw the Poké Balls at their waists.
"Who are you?" Red asked calmly, not showing the slightest tension about the situation.
"Team Rocket Second Division Captain—Matsu!" Matsu replied coldly.
Numerous Pokémon appeared before Red and Milotic. Most of them were Zubat, Spearow, Koffing, and Ekans—minor characters that were hardly worth fearing. At most they could intimidate ordinary Trainers.
Neither Red nor Milotic showed the slightest fear. They calmly looked at the army of Pokémon that had appeared before them.
"I've heard of your 'great reputation' from Damon. I didn't expect that so many of our Team Rocket's plans had your shadow in them. You truly are a 'jinx' that disgusts Team Rocket!"
Matsu said unpleasantly. Recently, whenever Team Rocket carried out a major operation, it would end up being stopped by Red. Many plans had repeatedly failed because of Red's appearance, making him a headache for many high-ranking members of Team Rocket.
Yet their leader Giovanni seemed to turn a blind eye to Red's interference, leaving the other executives unsure how to deal with it. In private, they constantly analyzed the subtle relationship between Red and Giovanni.
"The Lavender Town incident, the Silph Company incident, the Game Corner incident… Red of Pallet Town, your appearance has seriously hindered Team Rocket's sacred plans."
Matsu praised coldly as he signaled the Pokémon army to begin their attack.
"Do you think these small fry can defeat me?" Red said lightly.
"Do you really think you alone can resist my army?" Matsu mocked.
"Do you think I'd be foolish enough to come here alone for support?" Red sneered, ridiculing Matsu's arrogance and ignorance.
Suddenly the ground began to tremble violently.
Before anyone could react, the gray Tauros arrived, leading its Tauros army. They snorted heavily while glaring at Team Rocket ahead.
The Tauros army and the Pokémon released by the Team Rocket members glared at each other, forming two opposing Pokémon forces. The scene faintly resembled rival gangs preparing to fight for territory.
Matsu, who had intended to defeat Red with sheer numbers, froze for a moment. This was completely different from the scene he had imagined.
"Unfortunately, my Tauros happens to be the leader of its herd. Calling over some underlings for a little help is something it can easily manage," Red joked. Then he threw the four Poké Balls at his waist.
Crimson Gyarados, a gigantic Steelix, Scizor, and a Shiny Dratini emerged from the Poké Balls.
After this period of training, Dratini's body length had reached 1.6 meters, nearly reaching the average level of a Dratini.
Although its body had not yet fully matured, the ancient dragon's might it carried naturally caused the weaker Pokémon present to feel fear, not daring to meet Dratini's eyes.
"This is the Dratini I've been longing for!" Matsu exclaimed excitedly, his greedy gaze sweeping repeatedly over Dratini's body.
Dratini snorted disdainfully and spat out cyan dragon breath from its mouth, attacking Matsu who intended to capture it.
Matsu did not panic at all and calmly stood where he was. Rhydon beside him took the initiative to step forward and block Dratini's attack for its master. With a disdainful spread of its arms, it neutralized the power of the dragon breath.