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Inside the protective shield, Zapdos could still hear Ash's words. Its eyes were slightly stern, but the intense rage that had driven its earlier attacks seemed to have subsided.
"What?" the man exclaimed, startled by Ash's declaration. As he gazed at the boy and Pikachu before him, a flicker of recognition crossed his face.
"Pikachu? I remember now. Are you the one who caused Ariana all that trouble?"
The man's voice held uncertainty. He had never encountered Ash directly, but rumors abounded about a boy with a Pikachu who had disrupted Team Rocket's plans aboard the St. Anne and brought chaos to the Pokémon Park they exploited for profit.
Ash smirked. "Looks like I've made quite the impression on your team."
"Oh, trust me," the man replied, his grin sharpening. "Team Rocket keeps tabs on rising Trainers with potential. But you? You've gone beyond that, ruining several of our operations!"
The man's expression darkened. "Today is the day we put an end to that streak."
Ash's eyes narrowed. "Then let's see if you're any better than Ariana."
The man said nothing more, only smirking as he retrieved a Poké Ball from behind his back. He signaled to his subordinates, who sprang into action. The hatch of the nearby spacecraft opened, and a beam of light emerged, enveloping Zapdos's protective shield and slowly pulling it toward the ship.
Misty and the others watched in alarm, desperate to intervene. However, Team Rocket agents swiftly blocked their path. Officer Jenny frowned and covertly sent a distress signal, though the chances of backup arriving in time were slim.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded urgently, knowing time was running out.
The man sneered and tossed his Poké Ball into the air. "Houndoom, Flamethrower!"
The Poké Ball burst open with a loud bang, releasing a flash of light. In its place appeared a menacing figure cloaked in black fur.
The Pokémon resembled a fearsome black bulldog, with large, curved goat-like horns crowning its head. Its orange-red snout jutted out, accentuating its sharp, predatory teeth. Around its neck and back were light gray, bone-like structures, including three bony ridges along its spine and a round protrusion at its throat. Its abdomen shared the orange-red hue of its muzzle, and its powerful legs ended in sharp claws, each limb adorned with bone-like bands. A long tail tapered into a triangular tip, completing the intimidating appearance.
This was Houndoom, the evolved form of Houndour, a notoriously fierce Pokémon often found in the Johto Region. Known for its terrifying roars, it had a reputation for striking fear into other Pokémon.
"Roooaaarrr!" Houndoom's thunderous cry echoed as it unleashed a stream of blazing flames, creating a fiery column that surged forward to meet Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
BOOM!!!
The two attacks collided with a deafening explosion, forcing everyone else to shield themselves from the shockwave. Ash and the man stood firm at the center of the chaos, unmoving and resolute. As the smoke began to clear, Pikachu and Houndoom stared each other down. The man's lips curled into a cunning smile.
"Interesting," he said, his tone mocking. "But this strength? It's not enough! Houndoom, use Fire Fang!"
At his command, Houndoom's body radiated heat. Flames flared from the corners of its mouth as it lunged at Pikachu, its jaws blazing with fire.
"Iron Tail!" Ash countered with a decisive shout.
Pikachu sprang forward, its tail gleaming with a metallic sheen as it rushed to meet Houndoom's fiery assault.
BOOM!!!
The two Pokémon clashed with immense force. Houndoom's flaming jaws clamped down on Pikachu's glowing tail but failed to penetrate its Iron Tail defense. The two remained locked in a fierce stalemate, their strength evenly matched.
The man's eyes gleamed with determination. "Houndoom, use Overheat!" he bellowed.
The two Pokémon were locked in close combat when the man barked a new command. Houndoom suddenly opened its mouth, releasing a scorching blast of air that erupted into a high-temperature flame. The fire shaped itself into a massive character before crashing directly into Pikachu.
BOOM!!!
The impact caused an explosive shockwave, sending Pikachu hurtling backward. Ash's Pokémon landed hard on the ground, smoke rising from its singed body.
"Pikachu! Are you okay?" Ash called out, concern etched across his face. He could tell now—this man's strength surpassed Ariana's by a wide margin.
Pikachu groaned but slowly rose, shaking off the dust and glaring determinedly at Houndoom. The man observed them both with a glint of admiration in his eyes.
"You're still standing? Impressive for someone your age. Maybe you really do have the potential to conquer Zapdos," he remarked with a sly grin.
Ash's expression hardened. "You don't need to confirm my strength. What's your real purpose for capturing Zapdos, Apollo? Or should I say… Archer?"
The man chuckled, his grin widening. "Ah, so you know my name. Don't misunderstand—the power of Zapdos isn't what we're after. In fact, Zapdos is just a tool, part of a larger plan. Its capture is purely to assist us in completing some research."
He waved his hand dismissively, as though the legendary bird's immense power was of no consequence to him. Zapdos, a Pokémon most Trainers could only dream of encountering, seemed insignificant in his eyes.
"But you, young man," Archer continued, "you're far more intriguing than Zapdos. To know Ariana and to know me… it's clear you've done your homework. That makes you even more of a prize. It seems necessary to take you with me."
Ash's fists clenched at Archer 's words. He could sense the intensity of the battle was far from over, and his mind raced to formulate a plan. He knew he'd need more than strength alone to prevail against an opponent like this.