It wasn't until the accident happened that Banks realized something was wrong.
Even then, he didn't take it too seriously—
He was still lost in the thrill of the unknown.
At the same time—
Ash was already deep inside the Tree of Beginning, searching for Pikachu.
Pushing through layer upon layer of obstacles,
He finally reached the middle level of the Tree.
Using Lucario's Aura-sensing ability,
Ash had confirmed Pikachu's location—
at the very top of the Tree.
Knowing where Pikachu was,
a rush of excitement welled up from within him.
There, standing halfway up the Tree of Beginning,
Ash cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted Pikachu's name toward the peak.
Normally, from Ash's position, it would have been impossible for his voice to reach the summit.
But this was Ash.
And the one he was calling was Pikachu.
That single "Pikachu!"
echoed throughout the entire Tree of Beginning.
Deep within the Tree, Pikachu, still fast asleep, suddenly stirred.
It opened its eyes as if it had felt something—
and bolted toward the outer wall.
"Pikachu!"
The audience watching was stunned!
Was Pikachu… actually responding to Ash's call?
At such a distance—
even Incineroar's loudest roar couldn't have reached!
And likewise, Pikachu's answering cry shouldn't have been audible to Ash.
But he heard it.
Clear as day.
"Pikachu's calling to me!"
That sound changed Ash's excitement into pure emotion.
His movements grew wild, desperate.
Instead of following the mountain path—
He was now climbing straight up the cliff face on all fours.
"Rock Climb—activate!"
His speed was so great even Lucario couldn't keep up.
The two of them climbed higher and higher toward the Tree's summit.
Then, as they passed a sloping ridge—
a freezing attack came hurtling straight toward them!
A beam of icy blue light streaked through the air at a strange angle—
right for Ash!
Luckily, Ash's battle instincts were razor sharp.
At the very instant the Ice Beam was about to strike,
he twisted his body aside and barely dodged.
Where the beam hit, thick frost instantly formed—
solid ice several feet deep.
If Ash had taken the hit head-on,
he'd have been frozen into a human-shaped popsicle.
"Who's there?!"
Ash spun around, glaring toward the source of the attack.
From the shadows of the forest,
a Pokémon made entirely of blue ice emerged.
Just like Regirock before it—
this was another of Regigigas's creations, one of the Legendary Titans—
Regice!
In a single day,
they had already encountered two of the Titans.
Clearly, the Tree of Beginning was far more dangerous than it appeared.
It seemed the Titans were acting as its guardians,
defending it from intruders.
And now, Ash and Lucario were being treated as just that.
Missing its first strike,
Regice quickly unleashed another Ice Beam at them.
Lucario didn't hesitate—
he gathered Aura in his palms and hurled an Aura Sphere straight into the oncoming beam.
The Aura Sphere collided with the Ice Beam, the two forces clashing violently.
Lucario seized the chance, grabbed Ash by the arm, and bolted upward.
Regice, seeing its attack thwarted, gave chase.
Feeling danger close behind,
Lucario launched another Aura Sphere, buying them precious seconds.
If the Titans had natural enemies—
then Lucario was it.
Ice, Rock, Steel—
Lucario's Fighting-type techniques countered all three.
Even so, his power was awe-inspiring.
The audience could hardly contain their amazement.
If once might have been luck—
then twice was proof of true strength.
Lucario had overpowered two of the three Titans—
Regirock and Regice!
That meant his strength surpassed even theirs!
Then what about Ash—
Who could go toe-to-toe with Lucario in close combat?
That thought froze the chat.
If Ash, five years later, could master Aura fully—
wouldn't that mean he could solo both Titans himself?!
"The fake one who rivals gods with mortal strength: Lucario."
"The real one who rivals gods with mortal strength: Ash."
The chat exploded.
Bruno: "At this point, I'm not even sure who the real Pokémon is anymore!"
Bea: "If I had a body like Ash's, I'd arm-wrestle my Machamp!"
Korrina: "Sometimes I feel left out for not being as freakishly strong as you all!"
Ash: "Huh? What's so weird? This is normal in Pallet Town!"
Professor Oak: "I—I am NOT! Don't spread rumors! Pallet Town has only normal people!"
Pallet Town—
the most mysterious place in Kanto!
On-screen—
Lucario pulled Ash toward another route.
Dodging Regice's attacks, they met up with May and the others.
Back beneath the Tree,
Jessie and James were running for their lives—
two Titans, Regirock and Registeel, hot on their heels!
The moment they saw Ash and the group,
they ran straight toward them as if seeing their saviors.
Lucario's brows furrowed.
"Go! I'll hold them off!"
Without hesitation,
He charged two more Aura Spheres and hurled them at the Titans.
He had to buy Ash and the others time to escape.
Aura Spheres fired one after another,
even blocking Registeel's Hyper Beam head-on.
Lucario fought like a war god—
single-handedly facing all three Titans!
Korrina: "That Lucario's insane! Endless Aura Spheres! No wonder it's from a thousand years ago—its strength is terrifying!"
Pyramid King Brandon: "My faith in the Titans… it's crumbling! How could they lose so easily?!"
Steven: "He's having a breakdown."
Lance: "Calm down, Brandon. This Lucario fought Ash in melee combat. Being strong is only natural."
Brandon: "…That… actually helps."
Gary: "Haha! Looks like Ash is officially a muscle freak now!"
Cynthia: "I wish my Lucario could learn Aura control like his—that would push it to a new level entirely."
Caitlin: "Then just wait till Ash awakens his own Aura. Have him teach yours!"
Cynthia: "You know what… that actually makes sense!"
Bruno: "I'm catching Lucario right now! Even if I can't awaken Aura myself, mine can! Ash, found your martial arts school yet? I'll be your first disciple!"
Bea: "Count me in!"
Korrina: "Me too!"
Colress: "If that happens, the Battle Pyramid might have to shut down. Imagine everyone with Aura-powered Lucarios firing infinite Aura Spheres… horrifying!"
Brandon: "What the—?!"
"Ash! You've doomed me! If you ever come to the Battle Pyramid, I swear you'll regret it!"
After Lucario blocked Regirock and Registeel,
Ash and the others ran ahead.
Through a long cavern, they reached a narrow stone bridge.
After everyone crossed, Lucario blasted the bridge apart with Aura Spheres,
temporarily halting their pursuers.
He knew it wouldn't last—
the Titans could fly, after all.
The group pressed onward through the tunnels,
but danger wasn't done with them yet.
From deeper within came new foes—
not Titans, but not normal Pokémon either.
They resembled Lileep from before,
yet their bodies were made of glowing orange crystal-like fluid.
One of them lunged at Jessie—
and swallowed her whole.
James shouted in horror.
Without hesitation, he threw a Poké Ball.
"Cacnea, Pin Missile!"
But the attack passed straight through the creature's body,
doing no damage at all.
Within moments,
Jessie's entire body was consumed by the orange mass—
gone without a trace.
Then another orange blob surged toward James.
It enveloped him instantly.
Ash and the others could only watch, helpless.
"Cacnea! Chimecho! Run! Don't worry about me!"
Summoning all his strength,
James managed to force one arm out of the orange slime.
In his hand—
a Poké Ball.
Before the substance swallowed him completely,
the ball popped open—
and Chimecho emerged.
Seeing its beloved Trainer smiling even as he vanished,
the little wind chime cried out.
"Live on… be happy," James whispered,
a serene smile on his face.
Lance: "No way… this isn't the Team Rocket I know! They're supposed to be selfish cowards—why is this scene so emotional?!"
'Handsome' N: "Now I get it. Evil organizations aren't made of evil people. Many still share real bonds with their Pokémon."
Diantha: "Exactly. You can't judge everyone the same. James truly loves his Pokémon—even facing death, his first thought was to protect them."
Jessie: "James~! You're amazing!"
James: "Jessie~! You too!"
Mustard: "Such a touching scene! Genuine emotion, from Team Rocket of all people!"
Domino: "You two! Stop embarrassing the organization!"
Jessie: "Sorry, ma'am! We just couldn't help it! Punish me if you must!"
Domino: "Forget it. The Boss says James did well this time. All prior penalties are canceled—and your funding's been increased by 20%."
Jessie & James: "!!! That's… amazing!!!"
Professor Oak: "But what are those orange things? They're clearly not Pokémon."
Professor Rowan: "If I'm right, they're part of the Tree's immune system. Jessie and James were treated like pathogens."
Professor Oak: "Come to think of it, that adventurer's machines might have triggered the Tree's defense response."
Lance: "Told you! Adventurers always cause trouble!"
On-screen—
Before Ash and the others could even mourn Team Rocket,
The sounds of Regirock and Registeel closing in echoed again.
With attacks raining down,
the group fled deeper into the tunnels,
dodging blasts while the orange "immune cells" flooded in from every side.
Kido quickly scanned the substance and reported the data to Banks.
His analysis confirmed it—
the Tree's immune system treated humans as bacteria.
"So… this Tree is alive?" Kido murmured,
then kept running.
Lucario soon discovered that his Aura Spheres could destroy the orange cells—
and that they ignored Pokémon entirely.
Only humans were seen as intruders.
The group sprinted until they reached a three-way split in the path.
"Ash, let us draw them off. You go on ahead.
Kido, please take care of everyone.
If you find Pikachu—tell him I'm coming."
Ash's eyes blazed with resolve.
The others could only nod.
Trusting Kido's experience as an adventurer,
Ash handed his companions over to her care.
"Got it. This way!"
Kido led the group into one of the tunnels.
Everyone else was gone—
only Lucario stayed behind.
Ash looked at him.
"Lucario, you should go too."
Lucario gazed silently for a moment,
then said:
"Until you find Pikachu, I'll stay by your side."
Their eyes met—
a quiet understanding passing between them.
"Thank you."
"No need. I simply wish to witness your bond.
Until you reunite with Pikachu, I'll clear the path ahead."
Ash smiled.
"Then I won't let you down. I'll prove to you that our bond is unbreakable!"
Korrina: "So all Lucarios are like this! So proud and stubborn! Mine never lets me pet him either—and it's torture! He's such a big dog, who wouldn't want to hug him?!"
Professor Kukui: "Honestly, I kinda wanna try too."
Bruno: "Good dog!!"
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