The moment thunderclouds blanketed the sky, Pikachu lowered its entire body as far as it could.
Seeing Zapdos's movements and the shift in weather above the dome, Pikachu—an expert in lightning if there ever was one—instantly understood what Zapdos intended to do.
Interrupt it.
It had to be interrupted.
Under weather like this, Thunder would be absurdly powerful.
"Pika!"
Pikachu turned its head and called out to Ash, then braced itself, waiting for his command.
Ash met Pikachu's eyes, and the moment their gazes crossed, he sprang into action.
"Pikachu, it's all up to you now!"
As he spoke, Ash turned the brim of his cap backwards—his sign of getting serious.
Facing Zapdos, still gathering power, Ash already had his answer.
They were still inside the Power Plant, and above their heads was its transparent dome.
At Zapdos's current altitude, Pikachu's jump would never reach it.
If that was the case—then they'd have to make a small sacrifice.
"Pikachu! Target the dome supports—Electro Ball!"
Ash pointed toward several pillars holding up the dome above Zapdos.
"Pika! Pikachu!"
Pikachu understood instantly.
Thanks to earlier special training, Pikachu could launch Electro Balls ridiculously fast. In a blink, four Electro Balls shot out and struck the pillars with perfect accuracy.
Zapdos, still communing with the thunderclouds, let out a breath of relief.
Fortunately, that Pikachu's aim seemed a little off.
But before it could celebrate, the sound from overhead drew Zapdos's attention.
It looked up—
And the massive dome came crashing down.
Zapdos: !!!
You insolent child—have you no honor?!
"Amazing work, Pikachu!" Ash pumped his fist in excitement.
Operation: complete success!
Forced by the collapsing dome, Zapdos had no choice but to abandon its Thunder and switch to passive defense.
Electric arcs swirled wildly around it as it blasted upward through the dome's remains and onto the Power Plant's rooftop.
[Denji: As expected of Ash—he can always find a solution, even at a time like this.]
[Gardenia: Did you guys see Zapdos's face? It actually froze! Who even uses environmental hazards like that?!]
[Drayden: Ash's battle IQ is terrifying. If it were me, I might've just used Protect to block that move.]
[Bruno: Heh, that's the difference between ordinary people and Master Ash.]
Audience: The "ordinary people" you're referring to are Elite Four members?!
That's one hell of a baseline!
And thankfully it was you saying that. A normal Trainer's Protect wouldn't block Zapdos's Thunder. That would straight-up kill someone!
…
On screen—
Seeing Zapdos fly out of sight, Ash rushed with Pikachu and Chloe to the top of the Power Plant!
But—
The moment Ash saw Zapdos again, his entire body tensed.
On the rooftop, Zapdos was absorbing electricity directly from the thunderclouds overhead.
Clearly, it had no intention of leaving.
It was waiting for Ash and Pikachu.
Zapdos had already completed its charge for Thunder.
The moment Pikachu appeared, Zapdos spread its wings and let out a shrill cry—
"Zee!!!"
Lightning flashed violently in the clouds above!
From within, a golden beam of electricity several meters thick dropped straight toward Pikachu!
"Ash! Careful!"
Chloe instinctively tried to pull Ash back.
But Ash shook free instantly.
To advance and retreat together with Pikachu—this was Ash's creed.
If a Trainer could abandon their own Pokémon… then they didn't deserve to be called a Trainer.
For Ash, there was only one answer.
"Pikachu! Us too—Thunder!!"
At this moment, any defense would be useless.
So they'd strike back head-on.
It was only Thunder, after all.
Ash didn't believe for a second that his Pikachu would lose to Zapdos in an electric clash.
Besides—the storm clouds weren't Zapdos's exclusive property.
Lightning crashed down, engulfing Pikachu instantly.
Even Ash was caught in the blast radius.
But—
Just like Pikachu—
Ash stood there unfazed.
"Pikachu! Thunder!"
Even the deafening thunder couldn't drown out Ash's shout.
Amid the roaring heavens, a mortal challenged a god.
"Pi! Ka!! Chuuuu!!!"
Baptized in lightning, Pikachu lifted its head proudly.
An electric arc raced along Pikachu's body—
And lightning surged violently from the clouds above!
A lightning pillar even thicker than Zapdos's descended with crushing force!
Zapdos, who had thought it held the advantage, was caught off guard.
"Zee!?"
Someone explain—how is Pikachu launching Thunder while being struck by Thunder, and faster than me??
Am I the thunder god here or is it?!
Unbelievable!
But Pikachu's Thunder would help Zapdos understand.
The lightning pillar slammed directly onto Zapdos!
In that instant, the entire world turned gold.
Thunder roared like the end of days.
[Lillie: Is this really something Pokémon can do?! Getting hit by Thunder then firing back another Thunder?? Have all my previous battles been lies??]
[Lt. Surge: That kid Ash always shocks me! Reversing a battle like that—absolute genius!]
[Wulfric: It's simple. A Trainer shapes a Pokémon. Didn't you notice Ash got struck by Thunder too?]
[Bruno: What's surprising? Master Ash takes Pikachu's Thunderbolt every day. His cells are probably long immune to electricity.]
[Gardenia: That can't be right—every time Pikachu shocks him, he turns into charcoal!]
[Bruno: Are you stupid? Those are newborn surface skin cells. The ones that survive Thunderbolt become the real Ash-body cells.]
[Korrina: That's… horrifying!! Who trains like that?!]
[Bea: So to become as strong as Ash, I need electrotherapy? I need to catch a Pikachu in Kanto!!]
Ash: If I say it's all a misunderstanding, would anyone believe me?
[Sabrina: So Ash's physique was forged like this… impressive.]
[Lt. Surge: I just tried being hit by Raichu's electricity. Nearly died. Don't try this at home.]
[Mustard: Everyone's constitution is different. What gives Ash a strong body will give you a burnt corpse.]
Everyone: …reasonably said.
…
On screen—
Twin lightning pillars shook the rooftop.
Cracks spread through the concrete beneath them.
Neither side wanted to lose.
Watching this, Chloe felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.
She couldn't do anything.
When—when would she be able to help Ash, even a little?
The clash didn't last long.
Zapdos, the so-called legendary thunder god, faltered first.
Its once-golden plumage was scorched pitch black.
It didn't even look like Zapdos anymore.
Same Thunder—very different results.
As Zapdos fell from the sky, the lightning enveloping Ash and Pikachu finally faded.
Compared to Zapdos's misery, Pikachu was merely exhausted.
Seeing Zapdos smoldering on the ground, Ash didn't hesitate—he threw a Poké Ball.
A burst of white light enveloped the Zapdos.
Ash exhaled slightly.
But an instant later—the seams of the Poké Ball shone brightly.
The next moment, it shattered into pieces before his eyes.
Ash had attempted to catch Zapdos—
Zapdos had refused.
[Palmer: As expected. Earning a Legendary's recognition is too hard. Even Ash's performance wasn't enough to subdue Zapdos.]
[Gardenia: Why do I feel like someone's showing off? You caught a few Regis—big deal!]
[Palmer: Ah, you noticed? Palmer—bearing the will of the gods! My name isn't for show!]
[Steven Stone: I had no idea your name had such meaning.]
[Gardenia: Ugh, he walked right into that one! Ash, hurry up and catch Zapdos and slap Palmer in the face for us!]
Gardenia… why are you more anxious than Ash?
If you want to slap Palmer, you could always go catch a Fire-type legendary yourself.
Gardenia: You think I don't WANT to?!
Tch! I just CAN'T!
…
On screen—
Breaking free of the Poké Ball, Zapdos was furious.
"Zee!!"
This brat dared try to capture it?!
Unforgivable!
Even with almost no stamina left, Zapdos rose again.
The thunderclouds above surged into its body in an instant.
A thunder god controlling lightning made sense.
Electric power filled Zapdos's entire being.
Golden electricity enveloped it completely.
It staked its pride on this final attack—
Volt Tackle!
Seeing this, Chloe's heart leapt to her throat again.
Volt Tackle.
A true all-or-nothing move.
Channel all electricity into one suicidal strike.
Ash—what now?!
Chloe gripped her hands tightly, more anxious than Ash himself.
At that moment—
Wrapped in lightning, Zapdos looked like the true thunder god.
Facing its lightning-shrouded dive, the exhausted Pikachu forced itself upright.
"Pikachu!"
This was why Pikachu hated these gods.
You never knew what trick they'd pull to stand up again—like an unkillable cockroach.
Pikachu crouched low, squeezing out every bit of recovery it could in the last few seconds.
If it didn't teach Zapdos a proper lesson, Zapdos would never understand who the real king of Electric-types was.
Just then—
A pair of hands landed on Pikachu's head.
A faint blue aura flowed into its body.
Power surged back through Pikachu—
[Tapu Koko: No matter how many times I see it, it's insane. Who has Aura powers that do THIS much?! Forget Aura Guardian—if someone said Ash was Arceus reincarnated, I'd believe it.]
[Mustard: Hey hey, Ash's Aura talent is none of your business.]
[Professor Magnolia: If it can calm a raging Palkia and restore stamina, this isn't Aura alone. It's a fusion of Aura and the Viridian Force!]
[Lance: Don't overhype it. The Viridian Force doesn't do that. As someone who has it, I assure you—it only boosts affinity and heals injuries.]
[Lorelei: Or maybe you're just weak? Ash grew up next to Viridian Forest. Of course he'd have Viridian Force. Combine that with Aura, and new abilities make perfect sense.]
[Lance: ...]
Lorelei did have a point—but why did it feel like an insult?!
No wonder that woman is almost forty with no boyfriend—her mouth is lethal!
Orange Islands.
"Achoo!"
Lorelei rubbed her nose.
"Lance must be talking behind my back! He's dead when I see him!"
…
On screen—
The exhausted Pikachu felt warm energy swirl through its body—half its stamina returned instantly.
"Pikachu, let's show Zapdos our true strength!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu nodded fiercely.
It wanted this too.
At that moment, the Electrium Z embedded in Ash's Z-Ring flashed—
Then upgraded into the Pikashunium Z!
(Backup chat: ignore garbled line.)
Facing Zapdos's Volt Tackle, Ash flicked his cap.
Pikachu leapt up and caught the cap squarely on its head.
"Pikachu—!"
Gigavolt Havoc—Ten Million Volt Thunderbolt—ready!
You weren't convinced earlier?
Then don't blame us now.
As Ash and Pikachu moved in unison, rainbow light erupted from the Z-Ring and surged into Pikachu.
Pikachu leapt high.
"Pikachuuuuu!!"
Seven-colored electricity burst wildly from its body.
Brilliant—like the light of Mega Evolution.
The source of both: their bond.
Seven bands of rainbow lightning spiraled together, all aimed toward one target—
Zapdos, the thunderclad god-bird.
On one side: Zapdos, glowing gold.
On the other: the rainbow vortex of Ten Million Volt Thunderbolt!
The moment they collided—
The entire screen turned white.
The whole world seemed to hold its breath.
Viewers stared silently.
They had seen Ash defeat one god before.
Now—
They were about to witness the second.
Everyone became a witness to history.
The white light vanished.
The scene returned.
The clash had ended.
Pikachu stood firmly before Ash.
And before them—
Zapdos lay collapsed on the ground.
No word better than "miserable" could describe its state.
Its eyes were full of disbelief.
Never—not once—had it imagined losing in its own domain: electricity.
Was Pikachu too strong? Or had it underestimated them?
Zapdos no longer knew.
As it pondered, its vision dimmed under a looming shadow.
Zapdos lifted its head instinctively.
The boy knelt before it.
His hand gently stroked Zapdos's forehead.
A soft blue Aura flowed from Ash into its body.
Warmth filled its heart.
Such gentle power—
Could a human truly possess this?
It was even healing Zapdos's lingering wounds.
Was this really something humans could wield?
Then—
The boy took out a Poké Ball.
He pressed it lightly to Zapdos's head.
Zapdos dissolved into white light—
And was drawn inside.
End of chapter.
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