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"Come on! Pikachu!!"
When Ash saw this, he immediately charged forward to meet the threat. Pikachu darted ahead upon hearing Ash's command. In front of them, Houndoom unleashed a fiery onslaught, its high-temperature flames forming a massive inferno that hurtled straight at Pikachu.
While Fire Blast is a formidable move, it can usually be dodged. This time, however, Ash made a bold choice to face it head-on.
"Pikachu, let's go!" Ash yelled with determination.
As Pikachu surged forward, orange arcs of electricity began to crackle around its body. Ash's eyes gleamed with resolve as he let out a commanding shout.
In that instant, the bond between Ash and Pikachu intensified. Within the darkened battlefield, a bolt of lightning struck from the heavens, merging Ash and Pikachu's energies into a dazzling thunderclap.
Boom!
Enveloped in an electrified orange aura, Pikachu dashed through the battlefield. The Thunder Armor covering its body glowed fiercely, and with an explosive burst of speed, Pikachu charged directly at the incoming Fire Blast.
"What?!" Archer gasped in disbelief. Even in his time with Team Rocket, he had never witnessed such a display of power.
Boom!
With the Thunder Armor shielding it, Pikachu smashed through the Fire Blast. Flames erupted with tremendous force, scattering fiery embers across the battlefield. Archer's shock deepened as he surveyed the scene.
RRR!!!
Through the fire's glow, Pikachu emerged, unharmed and radiating power. It streaked forward like a bolt of lightning, the electricity around it surging as it closed in on Houndoom.
Boom!
Roar!!!
Houndoom cried out as Pikachu's Zippy Zap attack struck with overwhelming force. The electric charge propelled Houndoom backward, slamming it into a nearby metal wall. The impact was followed by an ear-shattering crash as the metal bent and sparks flew.
Archer froze, staring at the thick smoke. When it cleared, Houndoom's motionless form was revealed, embedded in the wall, its body crackling with residual electricity. The sheer speed and strength of Pikachu's assault left Archer stunned.
Hoo... Hoo...
Though victorious, Ash and Pikachu were clearly fatigued. Pikachu's injuries and energy depletion weighed heavily on both of them, as their shared bond meant Ash also bore the toll.
Breathing heavily, Ash steadied himself as Archer shifted his gaze to the sky. Above them, Zapdos hovered, preparing to enter the spaceship's hatch.
"Well done, but unfortunately, it's still a step too slow!" Archer said calmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
Ash turned his attention skyward. Zapdos was nearly pulled into the spaceship's hatch. His expression tightened in frustration as he pivoted, preparing to intervene.
"Golbat, use Supersonic!" Archer commanded sharply.
Seizing the moment of Ash's distraction, Archer hurled another Poké Ball. It opened with a flash, releasing a Golbat. The bat Pokémon spread its wings wide, and from its gaping mouth came a series of piercing sound waves.
The ultrasonic attack radiated outward, hammering the eardrums of everyone nearby. Ash and his friends instinctively covered their ears, grimacing in pain. The nearby Magnemite, however, fared worse. The disruptive sound waves caused them to fall into chaos, sparking wildly as they collided with one another in confusion.
Ash and Pikachu, their minds intertwined, were better equipped to withstand the assault. The connection they shared bolstered their mental fortitude, but even so, they struggled under the relentless barrage of sound.
Meanwhile, Zapdos was moments from captivity. The spaceship's hatch began to seal shut as the protective energy trapping the Legendary Pokémon flickered and faded. A sudden change caught Archer's attention.
"Huh? What's going on inside the ship?" he demanded into his communicator, his composure faltering. But no response came.
Suddenly, a small figure leaped from the narrowing hatch, landed deftly on the spaceship's hull, and sprang down to the ground. The group stared in surprise.
"Elekid!" Brock exclaimed, his astonishment mirrored by the others. Amid the chaos, Elekid had gone unnoticed, slipping inside the spaceship. Now it was clear: the Electric-type had disrupted the attempt to capture Zapdos from within.
Archer scowled. This unexpected turn of events unnerved him. For someone unaccustomed to failure, the situation was becoming increasingly intolerable.
"Now, Pikachu! Take advantage of the moment—Quick Attack!" Ash called out.
Pikachu responded instantly, its agility amplified by their synchronized bond. With a streak of white light, it dashed forward, targeting not Archer but a nearby Team Rocket grunt. The grunt was the one who had recently fired the rocket launcher at Zapdos.
Ash's sharp eyes had caught a crucial detail—the grunt still held the heavy launcher, and Pikachu aimed to disarm him before he could do any more damage.
Boom!!
Woo!!!
The Team Rocket grunt barely had time to react before Pikachu slammed into him with immense force, sending him flying backward. The rocket launcher he held was knocked into the air, spinning out of control.
"Pikaaa—Chu!!"
Pikachu's battle cry echoed across the field as lightning energy surged through its body, channeling into its tail. The crackling orange electricity condensed into a massive Electro Ball, which Pikachu hurled skyward with precision.
Boom!!!
The Electro Ball collided with the rocket launcher mid-air, detonating it in a fiery explosion. Shards of metal scattered harmlessly in all directions. Simultaneously, the protective device encasing Zapdos disintegrated, its energy field flickering before vanishing entirely.
Zapdos, now free, hovered momentarily, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Its piercing eyes flickered toward Ash, as if recognizing the incredible power and bond he shared with Pikachu. For a brief moment, the Legendary Pokémon hesitated, seemingly awestruck.
"What are you waiting for? Get out of here!!" Ash yelled, his voice cutting through the tension.
Zapdos flapped its wings, its movements deliberate as if still processing the events. It had taken Archer a tremendous effort to capture Zapdos in the first place, and even now, Archer seemed unyielding. The danger was far from over.
Ash's mind raced. Though he had vowed to grow stronger and perhaps one day be worthy of befriending or battling a Legendary Pokémon like Zapdos, now wasn't the time for such ambitions. The priority was to ensure everyone's safety, including Zapdos's escape.
Zapdos gave a thunderous cry, its power surging as it ascended toward the sky. It seemed to acknowledge Ash's resolve, leaving the battlefield with a crackle of thunder and a burst of wind. Ash watched it go, determination etched into his expression.
For now, the battle was won—but he knew this encounter was merely a prelude to greater challenges ahead.