Chapter 67: Asher’s Connections
The video continued playing.
The battle over the Whirl Islands had completely turned around.
Lance’s Dragonite and Cynthia’s Garchomp kept Zapdos firmly suppressed in the air.
"Dragonite, Dragon Claw!"
While Zapdos was occupied with Garchomp, Dragonite struck it with one claw and sent it crashing onto a reef.
Zapdos struggled to take flight again, but Lance’s Dragonite had already landed in front of it and pinned one of its wings beneath its claw.
The red light in Zapdos’s eyes flickered several times before finally fading away.
"The control has been broken."
Lance glanced at the shattered remains of the Dark Stone device on the reef.
"Iron-Masked Marauder, you’ve failed."
On the other side, Steven’s Metagross and Leon’s Charizard also successfully freed Articuno from the control.
"That side is finished too."
Steven dusted off his hands.
Across the sea, the drug-controlled Pokémon army was steadily being overwhelmed by the Champions’ strongest Pokémon.
"Gardevoir, Psychic."
Gardevoir pressed its hands together, and a powerful wave of psychic energy erupted from its body.
The red light in the eyes of every Pokémon struck by the energy flickered simultaneously before disappearing completely.
They looked around in confusion, then turned and swam toward the open sea one after another.
"Hydreigon, Dragon Rush!"
Dragon-type energy enveloped Hydreigon’s entire body as it crashed into the center of the Pokémon swarm like a meteor.
More than a dozen Pokémon were knocked unconscious by the single attack.
"Great job!"
Iris pumped her fist.
Elsewhere, Ash was battling Moltres alone in the sky.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu leaped from Charizard’s back as electricity erupted across its entire body.
A bolt of golden lightning struck Moltres directly.
Moltres’s body stiffened, and the red glow in its eyes began flickering violently.
Charizard seized the opportunity and followed with another Flamethrower, knocking Moltres onto a reef.
"We did it!"
Ash clenched his fist.
"Impossible..."
The Iron-Masked Marauder’s voice trembled.
"This is impossible! I spent so long preparing! How could this possibly—?!"
"Iron-Masked Marauder."
An unfamiliar voice came from the opposite end of the platform.
The Iron-Masked Marauder abruptly turned around.
At some point, a young man with black hair and golden eyes had appeared there.
He wore a simple black coat, and his expression was calm and casual.
"Did you have fun?"
The Iron-Masked Marauder stumbled backward.
"Y-you... Who are you?!"
Raina stood up on Lapras’s back, her eyes instantly lighting up.
"Dad!"
Lance and Cynthia flew over aboard their respective Pokémon.
After landing, Lance looked at Asher helplessly.
"You really are something. You only told us to come help, but you didn’t notify the League at all. I had to complete the paperwork afterward."
Cynthia turned toward Asher, her blond hair fluttering gently in the ocean breeze.
She remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"When did you arrive?"
"I was here the entire time."
Asher shrugged.
"I originally intended to appear earlier, but all of you seemed to be enjoying the battle, so I waited a little longer."
"Well, well~"
Steven also approached.
"You’ve finally shown yourself. I was beginning to think you planned to hide in the background and watch the entire performance."
Diantha teleported over with Gardevoir and shook her head.
"Next time, could you explain the situation clearly in advance? Did such a minor incident really require all of us to come?"
Asher smiled.
"I couldn’t help it. When you’re supporting your daughter, the spectacle has to be suitably impressive."
Cynthia glanced at him without replying, though the corners of her mouth curved upward slightly.
Steven walked over and patted Asher’s shoulder.
"Brother Asher, you owe me a drink for this."
"You already owe me ten."
"What I owe you and what you owe me are completely different matters."
At that moment, Asher’s Dragonite brought Raina over. Ash, Iris, and Leon also arrived.
Ash jumped down from Charizard’s back.
"Raina! Are you all right?"
Pikachu leaped from Ash’s shoulder and into Raina’s arms.
"Pika, pika!"
Raina stroked Pikachu’s head.
"Mm, I’m fine. Thank you, Uncle Ash. Thank you, Pikachu."
Steven put on a wounded expression.
"Raina, aren’t you going to thank me? Uncle Steven worked very hard too~"
Raina smiled.
"Mm. Thank you, Uncle Steven!"
"Raina, you don’t need to pay attention to him."
Asher glanced at Steven.
"He’s different from Ash. He only came after attaching conditions."
Steven stared at him in disbelief.
"Hey, hey, hey! You can’t do that! You’ll ruin my image in my dear niece’s heart!"
Asher ignored him and walked over to Raina, gently rubbing her head.
"Leave this place to the adults. Go and rescue Lugia."
Raina froze, then looked around them.
"But..."
"It’s all right, Raina. Go."
Cynthia was the first to speak.
Lance nodded as well.
"Only you can earn Lugia’s recognition."
After hearing them, Raina nodded.
"I understand."
Raina then released Lapras and headed toward Lugia.
The Iron-Masked Marauder sat collapsed beside a destroyed Dark Stone device, watching the group casually chatting before him.
He had spent months preparing this plan.
He had controlled thousands upon thousands of marine Pokémon, imprisoned Lugia, and seized control of Kanto’s three Legendary birds.
Now, all these Champions were standing in front of him and chatting.
They weren’t even discussing what to do with him.
They were merely exchanging greetings.
He—the Iron-Masked Marauder, former senior officer of Team Rocket and founder of the new Team Rocket—was less worthy of their attention than an ordinary conversation.
Fortunately, he had not yet completely failed.
None of them had noticed that Moltres had not been fully released from his control.
He looked around.
Lance, Steven, Cynthia, Leon, Diantha, Iris, and Ash—he couldn’t defeat any of them.
Only the black-haired, golden-eyed man was unfamiliar.
He was also standing at the outer edge of the group.
He’ll do.
If he captured that man, he would still have a chance to escape!
While everyone’s attention was elsewhere, the Iron-Masked Marauder silently took the final controller from inside his coat and slammed his finger down on the switch.
"Moltres—break through and get me out of here!"
Moltres released a piercing shriek and spread its wings. Flames blazed across its entire body as it dived toward Asher.
It moved like a streak of red lightning, the heat around it distorting the air.
A crazed smile appeared on the Iron-Masked Marauder’s face.
"Hahahaha! This is what you get for looking down on me! Now pay the price!"
Contrary to his expectations, not one of the Champions showed any intention of intervening.
Moltres’s talons were only several meters away from Asher, and the Iron-Masked Marauder’s smile grew even more deranged.
Asher didn’t even turn his head.
An orange figure flashed in from the side.
Dragonite.
It raised its left claw and casually seized Moltres by the neck.
Moltres released an extremely faint whimper, its legs kicking weakly in the air several times.
The smile on the Iron-Masked Marauder’s face completely froze.
He stood rigidly in place like a stone statue.
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"It caught it! Dragonite grabbed Moltres by the neck like it was a baby chick!"
"Moltres: I’m still a Legendary Pokémon! Could you show me a little respect?"
"Dragonite: Legendary Pokémon? You look more like a hand warmer to me."
"The funniest part is that the other Champions continued chatting. They didn’t take Moltres seriously at all."
"Champions: If Asher is here and I still have to intervene, that counts as my loss."
"Iron-Masked Marauder: I thought I had chosen the softest target, but it turned out to be a titanium-alloy wall."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Lance]: That Dragonite... has completely exceeded my expectations.
[Steven]: It seems the title of strongest Dragonite belongs to Brother Asher’s Dragonite.
[Iris]: Um... everyone’s attention is focused on Asher, but after listening to the parallel-world Champions’ conversation, I just realized that Ash and I are apparently Champions too.
[Gary]: ???
[Brock]: She’s right.
[Paul]: ...
[Ash]: Does that mean the parallel-world version of me achieved his dream? That’s amazing, Pikachu!
[Pikachu]: Pika, pika!
[Brock]: Congratulations, Ash.
[Ash]: Thanks, Brock. Although I don’t think it’s something I should be too happy about since it happened in a parallel world, it has made me even more motivated!
[Ash]: Pikachu, we’re doubling tonight’s training!
[Pikachu]: Pika, pika?!