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They got on Officer Jenny's motorcycle and, under her leadership, quickly arrived at the power plant, staring at the large industrial facility before us.
The moment they arrived outside the power plant, another loud noise reached their ears. Moments later, a group of Magnemite emerged from the massive building, their metallic forms shimmering faintly in the low light.
"Huh? It's Magnemite again. Could this really have something to do with them?" Misty questioned doubtfully, watching the Magnemite as they hovered away.
"Magnemite?" Officer Jenny echoed, turning to the group with a puzzled look.
"Yes, we encountered them before," Brock replied, taking the opportunity to recount everything about their previous encounter with the Magnemite.
"So, Magnemite is the culprit?" Officer Jenny asked with a frown after hearing the story.
"We can't be sure yet!" Ash interjected firmly.
"Hmm. Well, let's go take a look first," Officer Jenny decided after a moment of thought. She gave a signal, and the group moved to enter the power plant.
"Why is no one here?" Misty asked uneasily as they ventured into the enormous, dark interior. The shadows cast eerie patterns across the walls, and the lack of light only deepened the unsettling atmosphere.
"Strange. Even during a power outage, the plant should have some auxiliary energy. How could it be completely dark?" Officer Jenny wondered aloud, her expression grave. "This isn't just a simple blackout."
"Hello? Is anyone here?" she called out, her voice echoing eerily in the silence. The response was nothing but the faint hum of distant machinery.
With no other option, the group continued deeper into the facility, tension mounting with every step. Officer Jenny's face grew increasingly anxious. For a city like Gringey, losing power wasn't just inconvenient—it was catastrophic.
"Why haven't we found anyone yet? This doesn't feel right…" Officer Jenny muttered, her apprehension evident.
"Maybe everyone's gone home for the day?" Misty suggested half-heartedly.
"Impossible," Officer Jenny countered. "This power plant is critical to Gringey City's recovery efforts. It operates around the clock, especially since it recently installed a compound purification device to help clean the environment. There should always be staff on duty."
"Purification device?" Ash asked, curiosity piqued.
Officer Jenny nodded. "Yes. Because of the long-term industrial activity, Gringey has suffered severe environmental damage. The device is part of a project to revitalize the city. It's vital, not just for the plant but for the city's future."
The gravity of her words silenced the group momentarily as they pressed forward, their thoughts lingering on the mysteries of the empty power plant and the strange behavior of the Magnemite.
"If we continue like this, just using masks won't stop the pollution here," Officer Jenny remarked grimly. "In the future, we'd need gas masks just to go outside."
She paused, then added, "That's why we've made targeted changes. The Purify device can neutralize pollutants. It's crucial to the city's recovery, and the power plant must remain operational—it's too important to fail."
"Uh-huh!!!"
Before Ash could respond, another noise broke the silence. A shadowy figure emerged from the corridor ahead, gliding ominously. Misty jumped in fright, instinctively ducking behind Ash.
"Huh? Magnemite?"
It wasn't the large group they had seen outside but a lone Magnemite. On closer inspection, it seemed familiar.
"Isn't this the one from earlier?" Brock asked, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.
Officer Jenny glanced between the Magnemite and the group. Based on their reactions, she surmised this was indeed the Magnemite they had rescued earlier.
"Uh-huh!!!"
Magnemite floated closer, its movements erratic, and its eyes filled with urgency. It shook its head furiously, buzzing with energy as it approached Ash. Then it gently nudged him with its metallic body.
"Huh? What's it trying to do?" Misty asked, puzzled.
"There's something ahead... something dangerous," Ash said, his eyes fixed on the dark corridor. He squinted into the shadows, unable to see anything, but Magnemite's behavior was unmistakable. Ash could sense its warning—it had come back to alert them about the danger.
"Dangerous?" Misty's voice wavered as her nerves grew. Despite her fear, she knew leaving the power plant in its current state wasn't an option.
"Griiii!!!"
The sound startled everyone, breaking the tense silence. Magnemite's expression shifted dramatically—it darted behind Pikachu, trembling with fear.
"What's happening now?" Misty asked, her voice high-pitched with worry. Ash scanned the dark corridor ahead, his brows furrowed in concentration.
"Be careful," Ash said firmly, his voice calm but tense. "Something's coming."
In the pitch-black corridor ahead, a pair of menacing red eyes gleamed, cutting through the darkness like a warning. Almost immediately, the air was filled with the putrid stench of sewage.
"This smell…" Ash muttered, his expression tightening. He had an inkling of what was waiting for them in the shadows.
Suddenly, shapes began to writhe out of the gloom, their sluggish movements betraying their identities. A group of Grimer emerged, their gooey, purple forms shimmering faintly under the dim lighting.
"Grimer! There's so many of them!" Misty exclaimed, her voice trembling. She instinctively stepped back, fear etched across her face as she stared at the mass of at least a dozen Grimers oozing towards them.
"It's not just Grimer!" Ash pointed out sharply. His eyes were locked on a much larger figure behind the group. Brock and the others followed his gaze, and their expressions turned to shock as the figure fully emerged.
"That's it!" Brock exclaimed.
Wow!!!!
The stench in the air became overpowering as the massive figure stepped forward. Unlike the Grimers, this Pokémon was significantly larger. Its body was composed of thick, sludgy purple mud, and it bore deeper, darker lines running along its skin.
"This is… Muk?!" Brock gasped, his surprise evident.
Though it bore similarities to Grimer, its sheer size and presence marked it as something far more dangerous—the evolved form of Grimer, Muk. Its commanding stance clearly signified its role as the leader of the pack.
"Why are Muk and Grimer here?" Misty asked, her voice tinged with confusion and unease. "It makes sense for Magnemite to be at a power plant, but Grimer and Muk?"
"I've seen them in the nearby sewage before," Officer Jenny explained, her brow furrowed in thought. "But they've always been peaceful. This kind of behavior is completely out of the ordinary."