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"Railgun!"
Zzrrr—!
Like the spark of a trigger pulled, golden electricity burst violently into the air.
Brilliant arcs spiraled along the magnetic field, weaving through the atmosphere as dazzling light.
The rapidly spinning button had reached its limit with a thunderous bang, and it was fired out through the precision rifling of Kael's magnetic cannon.
The shriek of air being torn apart mixed with the sharp crackle of current, echoing through the forest as a symphony of storm and lightning.
Like a sword forged of radiant gold, the shot cleaved through the oppressive gloom of dusk.
Whirling, roaring the button had become a streak of pure white light, dragging with it a storm fierce enough to shred anything in its path.
Even Toxicroak, with its vaunted reflexes, could not track the streak.
Its pupils shrank in horror, body trembling.
Shhhk—!
That resilient hide proved worthless.
The instant the white light touched it, flesh was ripped open, and blood turned to vapor under the heat, leaving only wisps of smoke.
For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze.
A gaping hole yawned through Toxicroak's chest, the creature dead before it even realized pain.
Then the delayed wave of heat and current spread outward, etching blackened scars along its body before it crumbled into ash.
But the storm did not stop there.
The magnetic projectile tore onward.
Sos stood frozen, still puzzling why his Toxicroak had ignored his command. His narrow pupils reflected the streak of white fire racing toward him.
BOOM—!
An instant later, his fragile human body, along with every Poké Ball at his waist, was consumed in blinding energy, dissolving into smoke and sparks.
From above, the battlefield was scarred by a deep, flaming trench, stretching from Kael's feet into the distant forest, lined with crackling arcs of gold.
"Hiss—! Damn, that hurts!"
Kael hissed suddenly, clutching his right hand. Dark scorch marks marred his skin.
Even as an Ampharos, with a body far sturdier than before, the recoil and heat of the Railgun had singed him.
Behind him, Max pushed himself upright, leaning on his hands. His dark eyes stared at Kael's yellow form in stunned silence.
Mouth open, mind blank, it took him a long moment to process.
Then, exhaling heavily, he collapsed onto his back, gasping for air. For the first time since landing on the island, relief flickered in his eyes.
But it didn't last.
He suddenly bolted upright, eyes pleading.
"Please," he begged Kael, "help my—"
His words died as a brilliant red flare exploded high above the clouds. A flower of light bloomed across the sky, scattering crimson petals across the horizon.
Max's pupils shrank.
He clenched his fists, reopening wounds that made him hiss in pain.
"Damn it… the transport plane…"
That flare had been his contingency signal. If triggered, it meant the situation had reached the worst possible stage.
The plane wasn't just a ride home, it carried their equipment, supplies, and even their communications hub. If it were lost, the entire operation would collapse.
Max's face darkened again, twisted with fury and despair.
"…Forget it," he rasped, forcing himself to stand. "We have to go back. Now."
But the moment he moved, the injuries from the earlier blast flared. Agony tore through his leg, dropping him to his knees.
He braced for the impact of hitting the ground but it never came.
Opening his eyes, he found himself suspended in midair, cradled gently by an invisible magnetic force.
In front of him, Kael stood tall, shaking his head with a faint sigh.
The Ampharos raised an arm. The magnetic field surged and both man and Pokémon rose swiftly into the sky.
Fixing his gaze on the distant flare's direction, Kael glanced sideways at Max, who floated awkwardly, pale and breathless in midair.
A mischievous smile tugged at Kael's lips.
Golden sparks danced across his body,
The magnetic field is expanding like a storm.
Energy gathered inward, little by little, until the world itself seemed to hum.
Max swallowed hard, sensing it.
Goosebumps prickled across his arms.
An ominous premonition coiled in his gut.
BOOM!
Suddenly, his body lurched forward, dragged by an unseen sling.
Launched like a bullet, he was slammed by roaring headwinds, the cry stuck in his throat.
The gale plastered his black hair flat against his skull. His eyes squeezed shut as dizziness churned in his head.
Beneath the thunderclouds, a streak of gold tore through the heavens, blazing like a meteor as it crossed half the island in seconds.
"Ugh—!"
By the time they landed beside the transport, Max dropped to the ground, heaving and gagging, looking half-dead.
Kael tilted his head, watching him with mild amusement.
'Maybe I overdid it a little' he thought.
Then he chuckled inwardly.
"Still, it was kind of fun. As long as he's not dead."
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