Lieutenant Surge shouldered his electromagnetic cannon, firing wildly at Ash.
Countless bolts of electricity pierced the sky, riddling the surrounding buildings like honeycombs with gaping holes. Molten heat wafted from the openings, and the cooled steel-reinforced concrete had crystallized in the aftermath.
Ash had no time to pay attention to Surge's maniacal laughter. The only thing he could do now was run—run as fast as possible!
Getting close was impossible. The speed of Surge's electromagnetic cannon was simply too fast. For Ash's Pokémon to dodge those blasts on land was already pushing their limits. If he tried attacking from the air with Aerodactyl, a single hit would almost certainly be fatal given its current strength. Ash didn't dare gamble with his Pokémon's lives.
From the start of the battle until now, Ash had been running nonstop. Forget counterattacking—he didn't even have a chance to pause. The moment he let his guard down, a barrage of Electro Balls would come crashing down. And these Electro Balls weren't just piercingly powerful—they could also self-destruct!
Surge hadn't even moved from his spot the entire time. He had combined technology and Pokémon power to near perfection, leaving Ash completely helpless.
Ash's clothes were already tattered, and his forehead had been gashed by flying debris earlier, blood streaming down into one eye and blurring his vision. Yet even then, he didn't dare spare a second to wipe the blood away, terrified that a moment's distraction would leave him impaled by an electromagnetic blast.
At first, he had hoped Surge's cannon would overheat from continuous firing, but to his dismay, the barrel was made of "Silph Steel." Though this rare alloy—manufactured by the Silph Company—had once been torn apart by Mewtwo, it was still an incredibly heat-resistant and durable metal. Even after countless shots, there wasn't the slightest sign of melting. And when Ash spotted the two full cases of Poké Balls and Electro Balls behind Surge, he abandoned any hope of outlasting him.
The Zapdos providing electricity seemed to have an endless supply of energy, making Ash wonder if it had once been used to power an entire city. Its energy recovery rate was downright unnatural!
No matter how quick-witted Ash was, there was no room for strategy in a battle where he couldn't even spare a second to think. The only thing he could blame was his own lack of strength—his inability to withstand the electromagnetic barrage and strike back.
Surge, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. He was finally getting revenge for nearly dying aboard the S.S. Anne. As a former soldier, this kind of overwhelming, large-scale firepower was exactly his style.
"Kid, you're just a normal human, not some superhero. Let's see how long your stamina holds up. I've still got half a case of ammunition left—better watch yourself," Surge "kindly" reminded him. His Electabuzz and Raichu were already reloading for him, while a ring of Magneton surrounded him, generating a protective electric field. With the Zapdos perched on his shoulder supplying endless power, Surge was practically a walking fortress.
"Alright, big guy, let's keep this—"
Surge's words were cut short as the Zapdos on his shoulder suddenly shrieked in agitation, tearing free from its wiring and darting straight toward Silph Co.'s headquarters.
"Hey! Zapdos, where are you going?! Damn it, the energy buildup was too fast—I wasn't done yet!"
Surge panicked for a brief moment before quickly regaining his composure, grumbling in frustration.
Seeing the Zapdos fly away, Ash finally let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, if Surge had just commanded Zapdos to attack him directly, Ash wouldn't have been as afraid. But the endless electromagnetic cannon barrage? That had left him completely helpless.
"Lieutenant Surge, now that your Zapdos is gone, what's your next move?"
"Don't get cocky, brat! Losing Zapdos just means no more electromagnetic cannon. The real fight's just starting—hope you don't collapse from exhaustion halfway through!"
Surge tossed the cannon aside. Though he was disappointed he couldn't keep playing with his toy, the sight of Ash—bloodied, battered, and barely standing—made him grin savagely.
Wiping the blood from his forehead, Ash felt his confidence surge despite his exhaustion.
He wasn't afraid of a Pokémon battle. It was those bizarre, underhanded tactics that gave him trouble.
---
Inside Silph Co.'s arena, Green's illusion gradually dissipated, leaving her even more wary of Sabrina.
When the illusion completely faded, Green glanced around and confirmed her suspicions—she had been fighting in a massive, floor-spanning battlefield the entire time. The only oddity was the unfamiliar machine standing beside Sabrina.
"After all this time, the machine is finally fully charged. Three badges are fewer than ideal, but they'll be enough to complete the plan! Little girl, behold—the successor to the 'Eevee Modification Project'—the 'Three Legendary Birds Project'!"
A cold smile curled on Sabrina's lips as she slotted three badges into a circular disk on the machine.
The moment they clicked into place, the entire machine roared to life, gathering an immense surge of energy.
Green's expression darkened. She didn't know what that thing was, but her instincts screamed at her to stop it at all costs.
"Blastoise!"
Blastoise's cannons locked onto the machine, unleashing a torrent of high-pressure water aimed at smashing it to pieces.
"Mol—tres!"
Sabrina raised a hand, and a piercing avian cry echoed from behind her. A massive, flame-wreathed bird spread its wings, spewing a scorching blast of fire from its beak that vaporized Blastoise's Hydro Pump instantly.
'It's okay, it's okay… Green, don't panic…'
Green's pupils shrank at the sight of the colossal bird, her entire body trembling. But she bit down hard on her tongue, using the pain to keep herself from fainting outright.
"Trying to overcome your ornithophobia? Admirable. But what will you do now?"
Sabrina crossed her arms, her icy eyes widening as two more avian cries rang out from beyond the building.
A bolt of lightning shattered the left wall. A wave of freezing air encased the right. Golden electricity and azure frost streaked like meteors toward the flaming bird. The energy gathered by the machine erupted in a flash brighter than a solar flare, forcing Green to shield her eyes. The ensuing shockwave sent her and Blastoise flying.
"SKREEEEE—"
The merged cry of three legendary birds shook the air, their overwhelming pressure solidifying space itself. Lightning, ice, and flames swirled together into a chaotic maelstrom, the sheer density of energy distorting the atmosphere. Tiny bolts of electricity crackled, frigid winds howled, and embers flickered into existence throughout the room.
When Green finally managed to look back, she saw something beyond imagination.
Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno had completely fused into a single, unknown avian entity. It had three heads, and its six wings resembled those of a seraphic being—each composed of lightning, ice, or fire. Three talons, each distinct in shape, gleamed with razor-sharp edges capable of slicing through jade and steel alike.
"See it, little girl? This is the true form of the three legendary birds!!"
Sabrina's expression remained cold and unfeeling as the tri-headed avian spread its six wings behind her. Terrifying energy churned around them, reducing everything in its vicinity to dust before even attacking.
But Sabrina wouldn't get a response from Green.
The moment she saw the three-headed abomination, Green's fear overwhelmed her. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Sabrina stared silently at the motionless girl. Even she hadn't expected Green's ornithophobia to be this severe—to the point of instant knockout.
But she wasn't the type to show mercy. Especially not to Green.
Raising a hand, Sabrina commanded without hesitation:
"...Tri-Bird, Whirlwind."
Lightning, blizzard winds, and flames merged into a spiraling vortex of destruction, surging toward the defenseless Green!
To be continued…