Ash Ascendant: Chapter 34

Hi all, 

Here’s the next chapter. 

Chapter 34

The jeep's engine sputtered to a halt in the open field beyond Fortree's forest. Ash emerged, his eyes scanning the endless expanse of grass that stretched towards the horizon. This place would serve his purposes perfectly.

The doors slammed shut behind his companions. Seven figures arranged themselves around him in a loose circle—his mum, Zinnia, Erika, James, Jessie, Mustard, and Winona. 

"Are you certain about this, love?" Delia asked.

Ash smiled. "I'm ready, Mum."

"You've already qualified to ascend to the third floor." She stepped closer, worry etched in every line of her face. "We could stay on the second or third floor, live comfortably. There's no need to risk yourself."

"I've prepared for this. No measly tribulation is going to stop me."

"There's no need to worry, Delia,” Erika reassured her. “Between the two of us, we could bring Ash back from the brink of death if necessary."

Delia's expression tightened rather than relaxed at Erika's reassurance. She stared at her son for several heartbeats before speaking again. "Alright. I'll say nothing more. Good luck."

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight for a moment before releasing him and walking back towards the vehicle. Jessie fell into step beside her without a word.

"So," Ash said, turning to face the remaining group, "any last words of advice?"

Mustard grunted. "Don't die."

"Is that all you have to say to me, Master?"

"Every tribulation is different." Mustard shrugged. "Even if I told you what to do, it would probably be useless."

James stepped forward. "Focus on defending yourself. Don't take any healing potions whilst the tribulation is ongoing—it will only make things worse. Furthermore, a tribulation is supposed to be a trial of strength and resolve. If you try to avoid the attacks by running or flying away, it will escalate. You're allowed to use your abilities to defend against it, even blocking it, but that's all."

"Understood." Ash nodded. "You mentioned earlier that the tribulation takes on the form of a Pokemon."

Zinnia's dark eyes met his. "The Pokemon isn't real, only an avatar. But its attacks are definitely real.”

"Is there any meaning to the species of the Pokemon that appears?"

"There's some evidence to suggest there is, but some would argue against it," Zinnia said. "For me, a Dragonite appeared. Since I'm a Dragon-kin, with only dragon-type Pokemon, it suggests there's a correlation. I wasn't lucky enough for the whole Dragonite to appear, though."

"What do you mean?"

Winona answered before Zinnia could respond. "The Pokemon doesn't always show itself fully. It's different depending on the cultivator. Usually, the Pokemon is indistinct and cannot be seen properly. It's believed that the Pokemon appears more distinctly with cultivators who have strong foundations and exceptional talent. The number of cultivators who have had a full Pokemon appear during their tribulation doesn't even number a hundred."

"Who cares about that?" Ash dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand. "I'm not here for the glory. Let's hope a Magikarp appears and only uses Splash on me."

"That would be embarrassing."

Winona stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. The embrace lasted longer than expected, and when she pulled back, she pressed her lips briefly against his. Ash stood frozen, eyes wide with surprise, as she wished him good luck and headed for the vehicle.

Zinnia smirked at his expression. "I'm not kissing you. Maybe I'll kiss you if you survive." She punched his shoulder with enough force to make him stumble backwards, then followed Winona.

Erika's hug carried warmth but no words. Soon, all of them had retreated to the vehicle, preparing to drive to a safe distance where they could watch from afar. Being too close to a cultivator’s tribulation could affect it in unusual ways, and it was also dangerous.

Ash released his Pokemon one by one. 

"I'm undergoing my tribulation," he told them. "You need to follow the vehicle and get away from this location."

Each Pokemon responded differently, offering their own form of encouragement. They understood the gravity of the situation—if Ash didn't survive, their bond would be broken. Ash needed to release them from his mind palace, or they could die with him.

Ash sat down cross-legged in the centre of the field, watching the vehicle grow smaller until it became a speck on the horizon. Only when the engine's sound faded completely did he take a deep breath and begin the process.

He reached inward, grasping the peak of his Tempering Realm cultivation and pushing beyond it. 

Storm clouds rolled across the sky with unnatural speed. Thunder echoed across the plains, growing louder with each passing second. The air itself seemed to thicken, pressing down on his shoulders with increasing weight.

Ash stood up and began his preparations. He cast Harden first, feeling his skin grow dense and resistant beneath the technique's influence. Liquid metal flowed from beneath his skin, covering his body in the protective Steelium armour. Finally, he cast Protect around himself—a shimmering barrier that might not nullify a tribulation attack completely, but should provide some defence.

His body had grown naturally tough through cultivation and his Steel-type affinity. Combined with his defensive preparations, he felt confident he could survive the first assault. If not, then luck had simply abandoned him.

Lightning split the sky near his position, the bolt striking the earth close enough to feel its heat. The tribulation's avatar had arrived.

Ash looked up, and his eyes widened.

The Pokemon didn't touch the ground but hovered in the air above him. Not only had it fully appeared with crystal clarity, but it was massive—easily three times the size of a normal Pokemon. The sight that greeted him defied all expectations.

Registeel. The legendary titan hung suspended in the air, its red eyes fixed upon him.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Ash breathed. "Why is it like this?"

He had no time to process the situation. Registeel joined its hands together as Steel-type energy began gathering between them. The concentration of power grew rapidly, light building to blinding intensity as the attack reached saturation point.

Registeel thrust its hands forward, releasing a massive beam of steel-type energy that screamed downward through the air.

Ash braced himself, every muscle in his body tensing for impact. The attack struck with devastating force, instantly shattering his Protect barrier and slamming into his armour. The impact drove him into the earth with bone-crushing weight. A fountain of blood erupted from his mouth as his body absorbed forces that should have liquefied him entirely. The ground beneath his feet cratered instantly, dirt and grass exploding outward in all directions.

He lay there, struggling to draw breath, feeling as though every bone had been compressed and rearranged. His armour had held, preventing his body from sustaining fatal damage, but the trauma was overwhelming. Each attempt to breathe sent spikes of agony through his chest.

When he managed to look up, Registeel was already gathering energy for another attack.

"Give me some fucking time to recover."

Registeel ignored his plea. Energy swirled between its hands, building towards the same devastating technique. Ash struggled to his feet, realising he now stood in a crater that reached nearly to his neck. The first impact had driven him deep into the earth.

"Time to try something different."

He cancelled his armour, allowing the liquid metal to flow off his body in streams. With concentrated effort, he manipulated the Steelium with his mind, lifting it into the air and reshaping it into a dense shield above his head. He continued raising the barrier as the second attack launched downward.

The beam struck his shield with tremendous force, driving it down towards him. Ash angled the shield desperately, deflecting the attack away from his position. The redirected energy shot off across the field, where it exploded against the ground.

Ash collapsed, overwhelmed by the strain of deflecting such raw power. His shield clattered beside him, showing a web of cracks that nearly split the dense metal in two.

Alarm coursed through him as he studied the damage. Even deflecting the attack rather than absorbing it, the second beam had been stronger than the first. His Steelium had barely survived intact.

He looked up, hoping desperately that two attacks would be sufficient. His hopes died as Registeel began gathering energy for a third assault.

Ash said nothing this time. He quickly began repairing his shield, layering additional metal to make it even denser. The shield would barely cover his body when finished, but it wouldn't matter if the attack broke through entirely. 

He winced as the effort took its toll. Controlling Steelium outside his body quickly drained his energy.

The third beam screamed downward with even greater intensity than its predecessors. Ash raised his reinforced shield, angling it to deflect rather than absorb. The impact drove him to his knees, the redirected energy carving a molten furrow across the distant landscape.

When the light faded, Ash stared in horror at his shield. The reinforced metal had shattered completely, leaving him holding useless fragments.

Above him, Registeel began charging its fourth attack.

This time, Ash knew with cold certainty that he wouldn't survive. The gathering energy blazed like a miniature sun between Registeel's hands, promising annihilation. With no shield and depleted energy reserves, he had nothing left to defend himself.

The attack shot downwards. Ash raised his arms instinctively, knowing the gesture was futile.

The beam struck his left arm directly. The limb vanished in an explosion of blood and metal, torn away at the shoulder. Ash screamed as agony beyond description flooded his nervous system. He collapsed onto his side, blood pouring from the empty socket where his arm had been.

Consciousness flickered in and out as shock threatened to claim him. Through sheer willpower, he forced himself to remain aware, struggling to stand despite the devastating injury. Blood continued streaming from the wound, soaking the earth beneath him.

He looked up to see Registeel preparing yet another attack.

Rage consumed him like wildfire. The bastard wouldn't give him any reprieve whatsoever. The next attack would be even more powerful, and he understood with perfect clarity that he couldn't survive it. His vision blurred with fury and blood loss.

"You piece of shit!" he screamed at the hovering titan. "Is this supposed to be fair? Give me a fucking chance!"

Registeel continued gathering energy with indifference.

Ash snarled, his remaining hand clenching into a fist. He called forth streams of Steelium, shaping the liquid metal into a crude replacement arm. The new limb felt alien and unresponsive, but he flexed the metal fingers, testing its functionality.

His mother and friends were watching from a distance. What must they be thinking, witnessing this relentless barrage? Did they recognise the Pokemon he faced? Did they understand the impossible odds?

"Come on then," he shouted, raising his new metal arm in defiance. "Give it to me!"

Something fundamental shifted deep within his core. His Steelium Core began spinning on its own accord. The rotation accelerated rapidly, drawing in and converting all the accumulated Steel-type energy he'd absorbed from the Steelix. Ash sensed the transformation happening inside him but found himself completely unable to influence or direct the process.

Without warning, liquid metal erupted from his skin in massive torrents. The Steelium poured out of every pore across his body, threatening to cascade off him entirely and pool uselessly on the ground below. He concentrated with desperate intensity, pouring his remaining willpower into containing the flowing metal as it continued emerging in unprecedented quantities.

The sheer volume was staggering—easily ten times more than he'd ever managed to produce. The sensation was overwhelming, like his body had become a conduit for some vast reservoir of liquid steel that he'd never known existed within him.

His breathing grew laboured as he struggled to maintain any semblance of control over the chaotic outpouring. Sweat mixed with the metallic streams cascading down his face, and his vision blurred from the strain of trying to direct such an enormous quantity of Steelium whilst simultaneously fighting off the effects of blood loss and exhaustion.

An idea struck him as he watched the blinding light building above him. He looked up at Registeel and grinned viciously.

"Let's see if you like this."

Ash closed his eyes, focusing entirely on gathering the liquid metal around his body and reshaping it. The Steelium grew outward rapidly, taking on a familiar form as his will guided its transformation. Within moments, he stood encased in a massive suit of armour shaped exactly like Registeel itself, with Ash positioned at its centre like a pilot. 

He raised the armoured arms and roared his defiance as the next attack plummeted towards him. The beam struck his metal hands directly. Ash sank into the earth under the tremendous weight, the attack feeling like caged lightning between his palms. Every instinct screamed that the smallest mistake would see him disintegrate completely. For an entire minute, he struggled against forces that threatened to tear him apart.

But slowly, impossibly, he began to adapt. His stance stabilised. The crushing weight became manageable. He straightened up within his metal shell, holding the condensed energy of Registeel's attack in his armoured palms.

Registeel hovered motionless above him, watching him. There would be no sixth attack.

"Have a taste of your own medicine."

Ash raised his armoured hands, feeling the captured energy writhing like a living thing within his grasp. He hurled his arms upward, releasing the beam directly at his tormentor.

Laughter erupted from his throat as the attack struck Registeel dead centre. But the Pokemon simply faded away like a mirage, offering no resistance as the redirected energy continued skyward into the storm clouds above.

Ash didn't witness what happened to the beam. Changes were already cascading through his mindscape as the breakthrough took hold. He was advancing to the Essence Realm at last.

He sat down heavily, allowing the massive armour to collapse and flow back into his body as liquid metal. Only the metal that formed his new arm remained, sealing the wound and preventing more blood loss. He didn’t have the time to process his missing arm.

Despite his serious injuries and complete exhaustion, he couldn't afford to rest. The real work was just beginning.

Ash entered his mind palace, immediately noticing the disturbance rippling through his mental sanctuary. His Steelium Core pulsed erratically, its usual steady rotation becoming increasingly frantic. The core spun faster and faster, blurring until it seemed ready to explode.

The core began to fragment. Silver streams of energy peeled away from the spinning mass, dissolving into pure power that hung suspended in the air around him. The dissolution felt strangely detached from his physical form—had he been experiencing this transformation in his actual body rather than his mind palace, the agony would have been unbearable.

Two distinct spheres of energy began forming from the fragmented remains. One gathered the familiar silver streams whilst the other drew in something else entirely—a darker, more viscous energy that pulsed with an almost predatory hunger. The spheres rotated around each other in a complex dance, gradually solidifying as they absorbed the scattered fragments of his original core.

Ash watched the process with fascination and growing disappointment. He'd expected to choose his second affinity. Instead, the breakthrough proceeded according to its own mysterious logic.

The first sphere reformed into a smaller but more refined version of his original Steelium Core. But the second core commanded his attention completely. As he approached the reforming sphere, information flooded his consciousness with overwhelming intensity.

Greed. His second core carried an attribute rather than an elemental affinity—something far rarer and potentially more powerful. The core gave him many benefits, but it also had several downsides.

His energy reserves would double compared to an average first-stage Essence Realm cultivator. The advantage would compound as he advanced through the realm's stages, each breakthrough widening the gap between his capabilities and those of his peers. More energy meant more techniques, longer battles, and expanded possibilities in every aspect of cultivation. 

The liquid metal he'd relied on throughout the Tempering Realm would undergo a fundamental transformation. No longer would he be constrained by the modest quantities his original core could generate. He could summon vast torrents of Steelium, limited only by his energy reserves. The massive armour he'd created during the tribulation suddenly made sense—his Greed core had been influencing his abilities even before its formation was complete.

His mind palace began expanding around him as the second core finished taking shape. The platforms where his Pokemon resided stretched outward, growing to three times their original size. The storage chambers he'd created with the Mind Treasury technique underwent similar growth, their capacity multiplying exponentially. Even his mental defences strengthened and expanded, adapting to accommodate the increased scope of his mind palace.

The transformation filled him with possibilities. The Essence Realm, the number of bonded Pokemon you could have depended entirely on energy reserves rather than arbitrary limits. Mental cultivation would become significantly easier as well, the expanded mind palace providing a more efficient foundation for converting physical energy into its mental equivalent.

But the excitement faded as the drawbacks of his new core became clear. The Greed attribute demanded balance. His second core would require three times the cultivation energy of his Steelium core. 

In the Essence Realm, cultivators needed to develop both cores. The established wisdom amongst experienced practitioners emphasised maintaining equilibrium between both cores rather than favouring one over the other. 

There were exceptions to this conventional wisdom, of course. Some cultivators possessed unique attributes that allowed them to pursue unorthodox development paths. Others had discovered specialised techniques or inherited ancient methods that deliberately created imbalances for specific purposes. But these cases were extraordinarily rare.

The standard approach existed for good reason. Neglecting either core created dangerous instabilities in a cultivator's energy system. The weaker core would gradually lose synchronisation with its stronger counterpart, leading to internal conflicts that could manifest as anything from minor discomfort to catastrophic cultivation deviation.

Aside from the increased energy demands, Greed also affected his physiological state. His appetite would increase dramatically, including food, drink, money, and physical pleasures. Ignoring these needs would lead to mood swings, physical weakness, and potentially worse consequences.

Ash took a deep breath, surveying his transformed mind palace one final time. The expansion was complete, and his mental defences were properly configured.

He stepped back into the physical world.

The sensation of returning to his body was jarring. He lay flat on his back in the crater his tribulation had carved, staring up at a circle of worried faces. His mother hovered closest, her hands examining his steel arm with barely contained anxiety. The expression on her face made guilt twist in his stomach—he'd put her through hell with his tribulation.

"Are you—" someone started to ask.

Ash raised his remaining flesh hand, cutting off the barrage of questions he could see forming on their lips. His body was still changing, still adapting to the breakthrough to the Essence Realm. He could feel his muscles strengthening, his bones growing denser, and his energy reserves expanding.

The steel arm caught his attention. What had been a crude replacement crafted in desperation was being systematically refined by his body's transformation. Flesh grew at his shoulder, covering the metal junction where his original arm had been torn away. The steel itself was changing, becoming smoother and more refined as his body incorporated the prosthetic as part of itself.

The arm would be permanent, he realised. His breakthrough had mistaken the metal limb for his actual arm, working to integrate it seamlessly with his physiology. He flexed the fingers experimentally, marvelling at the responsiveness. The steel was stronger than flesh and bone, yet retained all the flexibility of his original limb.

An aura of power exploded outward from his prone form, announcing his advancement to the first stage of the Essence Realm. The energy he emanated felt denser than it should for someone who'd just entered the realm—more akin to a cultivator several stages higher. His Greed core's influence was already making itself known.

"Ash, are you alright?" Delia asked.

"Yeah." He sat up slowly. "Things got hairy for a moment there."

Winona crouched beside him, her hands cupping his face with an intensity that made his blood quicken. The concern in her eyes was almost overwhelming.

"What are—" he began.

She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "You almost died."

"Almost being the operative word."

"Why are you always so different from others? You faced a tribulation as challenging as someone breaking into the Spirit Realm."

"Well, I got an amazing new core out of it." He gestured to his steel arm. "All I had to do was sacrifice an arm."

Winona shook her head at his casual dismissal of the danger. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his with a passion that sent heat racing through his veins. He responded instinctively, his Greed core's influence already making itself felt through the intensity of his reaction.

"Hey, I thought I got the celebration kiss," Zinnia interrupted.

Winona pulled back just enough to glare at her. "Shut it. We're having a moment here."

"Are we no longer pretending that we don't have feelings for each other?" Ash asked.

"You'll be leaving for the third floor soon. If I don't say it now, when will I?"

"Gosh, this is so exciting!," Delia exclaimed.

"Can we talk about this later?" Ash asked, acutely aware of the audience surrounding them.

Winona nodded and stood up. 

"Thank god, I thought I was going to hurl," Jessie muttered.

"Will you tell me about the Pokemon you faced?” James asked. “How is it that you faced a legendary Pokemon?"

Ash froze. "Registeel is a legendary Pokemon?"

He was surprised Registeel was a Pokemon at all. He'd been too focused on surviving the tribulation to question why a mech was the avatar he'd faced. But the realisation brought a flood of new questions. The scientists who'd built the mech had based it on an actual Pokemon—and a legendary one at that. Had they seen Registeel before, or interacted with it? Why had they chosen Registeel as their template?

"That's right," James said. "Remember how I told you the fallen legendaries have a presence in the Tower? Well, there's a mural of Registeel and two other legendary Pokemon on the sixth floor. I'm sure the Overseers have information on them as well."

"Has a legendary Pokemon ever appeared for a tribulation before?" Ash asked.

"Not that I can recall," Mustard said. "Better keep quiet about it."

"It caused quite the commotion.” Erika frowned. "Someone else may have seen it."

"Not unless they can deceive my senses," Mustard replied with confidence.

Delia moved closer to Ash, her maternal instincts taking over. "Ash, we need to get you home. You may still have some hidden injuries."

"I'm fine. The advancement to the Essence Realm smoothed things over."

"Really? What about your arm? Last I checked, it wasn't made from steel."

Ash flexed his metallic limb. "It's an aesthetic change. Doesn't it look cool?" 

Delia's expression hardened with determination. "I'm going to find a way to fix it. No matter how long it takes."

"I've never seen someone recreate a limb before," Jessie said.

"As long as it takes," Delia repeated.

Mustard cleared his throat. "I'm heading out now. Winona, there's no rush to return to the cottage. Ash, come see me before you head to the next floor. There are things I need to tell you about your status as my apprentice."

“Sure.”

They returned to the jeep and headed back towards the city. Now that the excitement from his advancement had faded, exhaustion began settling into his bones. Despite the fatigue, his mind buzzed with questions. Why had Registeel appeared as his tribulation? It had to be related to his discovery of the mech. And why had the tribulation been so bloody difficult? It couldn't be solely because he'd gained an overpowered attribute.

His thoughts turned to Winona. They'd been circling each other for months, content with the status quo. But now she'd changed everything, making her intentions clear. Ash wasn't adverse to developing a relationship, as long as she planned to follow him to the third floor. There was still much he didn't know about her. He knew she wasn't originally from this floor, but didn't know where she'd come from. And she was still hiding what had happened between her and the mayor. What did she possess that the mayor wanted, and that required Mustard's intervention to protect her?

When they returned to the city, they found several cars waiting in the parking area beneath the city. The moment James spotted the two older people waiting beside the lead vehicle, he cursed.

The man cut an imposing figure despite his age, his silver hair perfectly styled and his expensive suit tailored to perfection. He carried himself with the bearing of someone accustomed to command. The woman beside him shared his aristocratic features, her elegant dress and jewellery speaking of substantial wealth. Both radiated the controlled power of high-level cultivators.

"I'm guessing you know them," Ash said.

"My parents," James replied through gritted teeth. "I've been ignoring them since the auction. It seems they've run out of patience."

As he spoke, a woman emerged from the second car. She possessed striking beauty, with long violet hair that cascaded past her shoulders and piercing green eyes that seemed to catalogue every detail of her surroundings. There was something predatory in her smile as she spotted James.

"And there's his fiancée," Jessie said with distaste.

"She kind of looks like you," Ash observed.

"Do you want to die?" 

"You should get going," James said. "You don't want to be around for this, as they'll likely drag you into our family drama."

"Your parents are a nightmare, I know," Ash replied.

"They have nothing on Jessebelle," Jessie warned. "This is one girl you don't want to cross."

"I'll take your word for it." Ash paused. "Hey, even your names are similar. Are you sure you're not related to her? Sister, perhaps?"

Ash quickly exited the vehicle before Jessie could climb over the seat and hurt him.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Later that evening, Ash was reading a book on the third floor when he heard a frantic pounding from downstairs. He frowned, glancing at his watch. Who would be visiting this late?

The knocking grew more insistent, echoing through the house with violent urgency. Ash set his book aside and headed downstairs. The noise had awakened the others—his mother emerged from her bedroom, whilst Erika, Zinnia, and Winona appeared from their respective rooms, all looking concerned.

Before they could reach the front door, it burst open with a thunderous crack. Jessie had kicked it clean off its hinges.

"Jessie, what the hell—" Ash began, but the words died in his throat as he took in her appearance.

Blood covered her from head to toe, dark stains soaking through her torn clothing. James hung unconscious across her back, his face pale and drawn. Behind her, Arbok slithered through the doorway, its scales marred with cuts and bruises. James's Victreebel followed, its bell-shaped body sporting several gashes that oozed greenish fluid.

"What happened to you?" Ash demanded.

"No time to explain," Jessie said. "We need a place to hide. Jessebelle knows us too well, so our usual hideouts are likely compromised."

"Jessebelle did this?" Ash's eyes widened. "Did James get into a fight with her?"

Jessie shook her head. "It's much more complicated than that. She betrayed him. His parents are dead, and I barely managed to keep him alive."

Ash’s eyes widened. James's parents—the imposing figures they'd encountered just hours earlier—were dead. 

"Well, I'm happy to help," Ash said, recovering his composure, "but won't she know about this place?"

"Yes, but I need James to get some treatment first, then we'll be out of your hair." Jessie's voice carried a note of desperation. "Delia, can you help?"

"No worries, love," Delia said immediately. "Set him on the couch in the living room."

"Erika, go get your best healing potions," Ash ordered.

Erika nodded and hurried back upstairs.

"Zinnia, Winona, can you keep an eye on things outside?" Ash continued. "It's only a matter of time before we have company. We've got to leave and find a place to hole up until things die down."

“Let’s go to Mustard's place,” Winona suggested

"No!" Jessie exclaimed. "The Overseers are involved in this mess. Mustard won't be able to protect you for long, especially since he went out on a limb to protect you."

Ash considered for a moment, not bothering to ask further questions, given the urgency of the situation. If the Overseers were involved, then the protection of his apprentice's tattoo might not be sufficient. 

"Alright," he said. "I know a place where we can stay, and no one else will find it. Once James is treated, we leave."

Zinnia and Winona headed outside with Arbok and Victreebel to keep watch. 

While Delia began treating James, Ash and Erika worked frantically to pack essential supplies. His thoughts raced as he worked. What trouble had James gotten into? How had Jessebelle orchestrated the murder of his parents? If the Overseers were involved, it meant this wasn't some simple family dispute—it was part of a larger conspiracy.

Was Lucian involved as well? The two brothers weren’t on friendly terms.

Ash froze when he heard a commotion from outside. Shouts erupted from the garden, followed by the distinctive hiss of Arbok's attacks. Suddenly, the great serpent came crashing through the living room window in an explosion of glass and splintered wood. The Pokemon landed heavily on the floor.

James's enemies had already arrived.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Ash and the others hide inside the facility while he investigates more of its secrets.

Thanks for reading.