Ash Ascendant: Chapter 19

Hi all, 

Here’s the first chapter of the week. Ash arrives in the mining town and hatches a plan to deal with some Team Rocket members. 

Chapter 19

Ash's eyes snapped open to a world of pain and confusion. His ears rang with a high-pitched whine that drowned out everything except the muffled sounds of chaos from outside. His skull throbbed where it had struck something during the roll, and when he touched the spot, his fingers came away wet with blood. The metallic smell of it filled his nose, mixing with petrol fumes and burning rubber.

The vehicle lay on its side, smoke curling from the crumpled bonnet. He fumbled with his seatbelt, his fingers clumsy and uncoordinated. Once he was free, he crawled through the shattered window, glass crunching beneath his palms. 

The battlefield stretched before him, half-hidden by clouds of dust kicked up by hundreds of pounding hooves. Overturned vehicles dotted the landscape, some burning from where gasoline tanks had ruptured. Even if they were reinforced, they weren’t made to take so much damage, but to give its occupants a chance to survive. 

Ash summoned his Pokemon and they materialised around him. They didn’t need him to explain; they quickly assessed the situation and got into a defensive formation. Blitz hovered above his right shoulder while Bastion and Blade flanked him on either side. Through their bond, he sensed their eagerness to fight, but he held them back. They were completely outmatched in this fight. Better to let James and the other cultivators deal with it.  

Speaking of James, he and Jessie were front of centre, displaying their abilities to the fullest extent. 

A massive vine erupted from the earth thirty metres away, wrapping around a charging Tauros. James stood at its base, his usual playful demeanour replaced by cold focus. More plants burst from the ground at his command, transforming the grassland into a writhing mass of thorny tendrils.

"Impressive," Ash muttered, watching James direct his plants.

He had figured the man had some a Grass-type affinity, since he could produce roses out of thin air. But this was on an entirely different level. Each movement spawned new growth that he weaponised instantly.

But it wasn’t enough to stem the stampede. James released five pokeballs in rapid succession. His Pokemon materialised in a formation around him—Victreebel, Carnivine, Cacturne, Tangrowth, and Roserade. 

"Now!" James commanded.

His Pokemon responded instantly. Paralysing spores mixed with sweet-scented fog, sweeping through the Tauros ranks. As the Pokemon staggered, vines lashed out from all directions, working in perfect sync with James's own plant constructs. The combined assault lifted several Tauros off their feet before smashing them into the ground. 

Where his created plants ended and his Pokemon's attacks began became impossible to distinguish—everything moved as a single devastating organism. In less than a minute, an entire section of the herd lay defeated.

Jessie fought nearby, moving in perfect sync with her Arbok. Where James's style was controlled, hers was pure aggression. She launched herself at a Tauros, enhanced strength letting her grab its horns and redirect its charge. The Pokemon crashed into two others, sending them tumbling. Arbok struck instantly, its poisonous fangs finding vulnerable points with surgical precision.

Other cultivators joined the battle. A woman wielding dual swords wreathed in fire, each strike leaving burning gashes in Tauros' hide. Her Blaziken fought beside her, their movements perfectly coordinated. Another man’s Nidoking stamped the ground, sending shockwaves through the earth that staggered multiple Tauros.

"We need to split them up!" James shouted. 

He slammed his palm into the dirt, and a massive wall of thorny vegetation erupted in a line across the battlefield. The plants grew with impossible speed, forcing the Tauros herd to divide.

Jessie seized the opportunity. "Arbok, now!"

Her Pokemon's hood flared, unleashing a devastating Gunk Shot. The pressurised blast of poison struck the ground in front of the charging Tauros, exploding into a caustic spray that forced them to recoil. Some lost their footing on the suddenly slick earth, their momentum working against them.

Jessie struck in that moment of chaos. She moved like lightning, flowing between the stumbling Pokemon. Her enhanced strength let her drive precise strikes, each blow powerful enough to drop a Tauros despite their massive bulk. Three bulls crashed to the ground before the others could even register her presence.

The display left Ash in awe. Jessie's martial arts style was built on pure aggression rather than his counterattack approach. Where the Iron Echo Shell relied on redirecting force, her technique focused on overwhelming speed and devastating precision. The gap in their abilities was obvious—her strength, speed, and experience far surpassed his current level.

Watching her fight was a revelation. Though cultivators were technically limited to status techniques, at higher realms that distinction blurred when martial arts was involved. Jessie moved like a force of nature, her enhanced strength letting her trade blows with Pokemon directly.

A flash of movement caught his eye. Two figures darted through the grass beyond the battle, barely visible through the chaos. They vanished before he could focus on them properly.

"James!" Ash called out. "On your left!"

James didn't hesitate. Vines exploded from the ground where Ash had pointed, but found only empty air. The attackers had already moved.

More Tauros broke through their lines. Blitz's magnets spun faster as one charged towards Ash, but he held the Magnemite back. Instead, he shifted into Mountain stance, channelling energy through his meridians.

The Tauros struck his Iron Echo Shell at full speed. The technique wasn't perfect, but it held. Energy rebounded through his framework, sending the massive Pokemon staggering backwards as if it had hit a steel wall. 

Blood filled Ash's mouth, his internal organs protesting the strain of redirecting so much force. The Iron Echo Shell might have reflected the attack, but his body wasn't yet strong enough to handle such power without consequence. 

Before the Tauros could recover, James's vines wrapped around its legs, immobilising it completely.

"Not bad," James said. Despite the chaotic battlefield, his clothes were immaculate. "The old man's training is paying off."

"Where are the Tauro’s coming from?" Ash asked.

"Someone caused a ruckus that startled them into a stampede," James' eyes narrowed as he scanned the battlefield. "But they're staying hidden."

A cultivator cried out as a Tauros caught him with its horns, sending him flying. James cursed and launched himself forward, plants cushioning the man's landing at the last second. 

"We're too exposed," James said, dashing forward to rejoin the battle. "They're wearing us down."

An idea dawned on Ash, and he huddled close to the vehicle to conceal his actions. He couldn’t do much to help in the fight, but he could help in other ways.

He retrieved his mask and robots from his mind palace. The interface materialised instantly, sharpening his senses. He sent the three Giru robots into the air, their forms shimmering into near-invisibility as they activated their cloaking.

"Scout the perimeter," he whispered. "Find our attackers."

The robots zipped away, transmitting their view directly to his mask. He kept one eye on the battle while monitoring their feed.

"They're breaking through on the right!" someone shouted.

Jessie moved to intercept, her body crackling with energy. She met the Tauros charge head-on. Arbok slithered through the chaos, its attacks perfectly complementing its trainer's movements.

Through the Giru robots' feed, Ash spotted movement in the grass. Four figures crouched in strategic positions around the battlefield. They maintained careful distance, using hand signals to coordinate.

"James!" Ash called out. "Two hundred metres south, in the tall grass!"

James responded instantly. The grass itself came alive, wrapping around hidden figures. But they were already moving, flowing away from the attack like water.

"How are you spotting them?" Jessie demanded, not even glancing in his direction. 

"Good eyes," Ash lied. 

The Giru robots tracked the figures as they withdrew from the area. Through one robot's feed, Ash caught a glimpse of a badge on a figure's uniform—a distinctive 'R' symbol. He recognised it immediately as Team Rocket's emblem.

The battle continued as the remaining Tauros thundered through their position. The cultivators brought down several more of the massive Pokemon before the herd finally passed. Ash quickly removed his mask and stored it and the robots away before anyone noticed.

They had survived but they were left with a scene of devastation. Ash looked around, noting that several of the cultivators were lying on the ground, either unconscious or too injured to move. The vehicles were even worse off. 

James took control immediately. "Prioritise the injuries first. Then form a defensive perimeter.”

He used his plant abilities to right the overturned vehicles while one of the cultivators Feriligatr extinguished the flames. 

"I spotted something during the fight," Ash said. "One of the attackers had a Team Rocket badge."

James and Jessie exchanged a glance, seeming unsurprised by the news.

"Is this the competitor you were talking about?" Ash asked.

"Yes," James replied. "Team Rocket must have heard about the ruins and are now moving to take it for themselves."

"Is that why they attacked us?"

"I doubt they were trying to kill us,” Jessie said, kicking the vehicle in frustration. “Or at least, that wasn't their primary objective."

James sighed. "They wanted to delay us by taking out our transportation." 

"Why would they want to do that?" Ash frowned. "If they're already on the second floor, they should have secured the ruins by now."

"I haven't heard of any large force coming to the second floor," James said. "Which means they don't have the manpower to secure the ruins right now and are trying to buy time by sabotaging us."

"Was that what the call warned you about?"

James nodded grimly. "We're racing against their reinforcements now.”

“Wonderful.” Ash turned to Jessie. "I saw you fighting out there."

"Impressed?" She smirked.

"Is that how you're training my mum? No wonder she's always coming home injured."

 Jessie shrugged. "She's tougher than you think, little rat."

Ash wanted to argue further but Marcus, the head engineer and mechanic interrupted them. 

“How many vehicles can you salvage?” James asked. 

"About half," Marcus replied, "but it's going to take time." 

He glanced at Ash. "With the new kid, I should be able to go faster. That's if he doesn't need babysitting."

"Just tell me where you need me." Ash paused. "Don't you have any flying Pokemon? Or riding Pokemon? If we're in a hurry, we should ditch the vehicles."

Jessie snorted. "Do you know how uncomfortable it is to ride a Pokemon?"

"Couldn't you just run there?" Ash asked. "You must be faster than the vehicles."

"We are faster," James confirmed, "but it expends a lot of energy. With Team Rocket out there, it's best not to waste energy unnecessarily."

Ash's curiosity got the better of him. "What cultivation realm are you two at anyway? I only know about five realms in total."

"We're both in the Spirit Realm," Jessie said with a hint of pride.

"After the Tempering Realm comes the Essence Realm,” James explained. “Then the Spirit Realm. Took us a long time to reach it. The tribulations are no joke.”  

Ash frowned, processing this information. Two entire realms separated him from their level—and these weren't small gaps like between stages of the same realm. Each realm represented a fundamental transformation in how energy could be used. No wonder they had made the battle look so effortless. 

The distance between their abilities felt like a chasm. His Iron Echo Shell and basic techniques must seem like child's play to them. Even reaching the Essence Realm would require a lot of dedicated cultivation, and that was assuming he survived the tribulation. The Spirit Realm? That seemed as distant as touching the stars.

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

After six hours of intense work, Ash and Marcus managed to get four vehicles running again. They ignored cosmetic damage like broken windows and dented panels, focusing only on critical systems. Marcus proved to be a skilled teacher, showing him efficient shortcuts while keeping up a steady stream of complaints that Ash treated as background noise.

The convoy set out as evening fell, cramming the supplies and cultivators into the remaining vehicles. Several flying Pokemon patrolled overhead, scanning for potential ambushes. They drove through the night, the armoured vehicles rattling over rough terrain until they reached Geosenge Town in the early hours. The mining town sat against a mountain range that marked the eastern border of the second floor..

They took over the Hotel Marine Snow, a three-story building that had seen better days. After setting up a defensive perimeter with their Pokemon, everyone collapsed into bed. Though they hadn't encountered Team Rocket again, the tension remained high. No one believed the attack at the plains would be their last encounter.

Ash woke up mid-morning and headed outside to explore. 

Geosenge Town sprawled before him, its layout dominated by the distinctive rock formations that jutted from the ground like massive crystals. These monoliths served as foundations for makeshift housing as the town expanded. The original buildings showed signs of decay, crumbling stonework and patched roofs. The town centre retained some of its former character. A Pokemon Centre still operated, though its iconic red roof had faded to a dull pink. 

The mines dominated the mountain behind the town. Currently closed and barricaded, guards patrolled the entrance with serious expressions. Ash found a secluded spot and retrieved his mask and robots from his mind palace. The Giru units slipped past the sentries easily.

Through the robots' feed, Ash watched them navigate deeper into the mountain. The mine tunnels were well-maintained initially, with solid support beams and proper ventilation suggesting recent activity. But as the robots ventured deeper, the destruction became apparent.

Mining equipment lay scattered across the tunnels. Massive drills had been shredded like paper, their metal casings bearing deep gouges. Conveyor belts hung in tatters, and control panels had been ripped from walls, their wiring exposed. The Durants must have swarmed through here, methodically destroying anything and everything.

The elevator car lay crumpled at the bottom of the shaft, its steel frame twisted beyond recognition. The Giru units flew down the shaft, their ability to fly proving invaluable. As they descended, he spotted more damage—the guide rails had been torn away in places, and the emergency ladders had been systematically dismantled.

The Durants’ attack pattern showed disturbing intelligence. The elevator's destruction effectively sealed off the deeper sections of the mine from any large-scale operation to reach the ruins.

In the deepest section, a newly excavated chamber opened into a massive pit. Ash's breath caught as he spotted the ruins—and the hundreds of Durant swarming around its entrance. The Pokemon maintained a defensive formation rather than trying to expand through the mines.

He guided the robots closer to the entrance, studying the exposed walls. Ancient murals covered the stone, their colours remarkably preserved after centuries. The artwork depicted Bug-type Pokemon in various positions. The presence of Durant had initially made Ash suspect another Steel-type ruin. But the Pokemon was a dual-type, being a Bug-type as well. 

As he watched a Durant patrol pass beneath one of the robots, he considered adding one to his team. But he already had plans to add Scyther when he had the ability to bond with it. Once it evolved into Scizor, it would give him the same typing combination as a Durant. Having two Pokemon sharing identical types wouldn’t be the most optimal team composition. 

Still, their numbers could prove profitable. His Steel-type affinity would make capturing them easier, and he'd stocked up on pokeballs specifically for opportunities like this. He'd likely fetch a good price for the Durants. But attempting to capture them while they swarmed together would be suicidal. 

One of the Durant suddenly stopped its patrol, antennae twitching as it turned towards the robots. Despite their cloaking, something had caught its attention. Ash quickly pulled the robots back as the Durant released a high-pitched call that sent its companions into an immediate frenzy.

"Time to go," he muttered.

Instead of returning to the surface, Ash had the Giru units explore the branching tunnels that spread outward from the main shaft. The tunnel network was extensive, with dozens of offshoots that formed a complex maze that made it hard to navigate without becoming lost.

In a side tunnel about fifty metres from the ruins, he spotted light flickering against the walls. He directed Giru One closer while keeping Two and Three in reserve positions at the tunnel junctions. 

Seven Team Rocket members sat around a portable lamp in a makeshift campsite. Empty ration packs and discarded water bottles littered the ground, while bedrolls and backpacks lined the walls.

"The stampede bought us some time," a woman with short black hair said, methodically cleaning a combat knife. "But James and his lot made it to town faster than expected."

A muscular man with cropped grey hair snorted. "Should've hit them harder. Taking out the vehicles was too subtle. We had them surrounded—could have ended this whole operation right there."

"Orders were clear—delay, not destroy," another member cut in. "Besides, I doubt we had the capability to take on both James and Jessie.”

"When are the reinforcements due?" the woman asked.

"Two days, maybe three.”

"That's not enough time," the first man said.

"Then we make it harder for him," the woman replied. She unrolled a detailed map across her lap, weighing down the corners with stones. "I've mapped out the best spots for traps. If we start laying them now we can have the whole approach covered by late evening."

Ash pulled Giru One back, having heard enough. He didn’t want to risk it being discovered. When the robots finally emerged into daylight, Ash removed his mask and stored everything in his mind palace.

He headed back towards the hotel, considering his next move. He had an idea to take out the Team Rocket members and profit at the same time, but he needed to execute it quickly without alerting the others. It would be risky, but the potential rewards would be worth it. 

Before he got started, he needed to recharge the robots and gather some more information. How did Team Rocket get inside the mine with the guards patrolling the entrance? There had to be another way into the mines. 

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

Ash found James and the others hunched over a table in the hotel's dining room. A large map of the mine system sprawled across its surface. Marcus and a heavyset man in mining overalls—the site operator—were pointing out key areas while James made notes.

He joined them silently, studying the map. While his Giru units had recorded significant portions of the tunnels, seeing the entire layout gave him a better perspective. 

"We could send an advance party down the elevator shaft," James said. "I need to check out the current situation in the mines. I don’t want to wait for the elevator to be fixed."

"Hold on," Ash cut in. "If I were Team Rocket trying to delay us, I'd have people in those mines already. Perfect spot for an ambush."

Jessie laughed. "I guess you're not as stupid as you look."

“Wish I could say the same,” Ash muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“How would they get into the mines unnoticed?” James asked. 

Ash shrugged. “The guards at the entrance don’t look very capable. It would be easy enough to get past them with the right abilities.” 

James nodded slowly. "You're right, Ash. We need to plan this carefully. If we get into conflict with Team Rocket down there, we might trigger the Durant."

"Ash and I can work on building a new elevator in the meantime," Marcus said, scratching his beard. "Got the parts we need."

"How long will that take?" James asked.

"Two days, maybe three," Marcus replied. "But it doesn't include fixing the mineshaft itself. The damage is a lot worse than I expected. It could take weeks but I won’t know for sure until I inspect the damage myself. Second-hand accounts aren't enough."

As the group broke up to handle different tasks, he approached the mine operator.

"Mind if I ask you some questions?"

The operator—Dave according to his name tag—shrugged. "Fire away."

"How's the structural integrity in the lower tunnels?"

"Rock's solid enough."

"What about their behaviour patterns?"

Dave frowned. "They stick mainly to the ruins, but they're aggressive. They usually focus on destroying the equipment but they attack humans if they get the opportunity.  Lost three good men several weeks ago before we sealed the mines off."

"Is there another way into the mines?" Ash asked. "Any old tunnels we could use?"

Dave scratched his chin. "There's a collapsed tunnel on the western side of the mountain. Haven't used it in years. Even if we cleared the debris, the whole section would be too unstable. One wrong move and the whole thing could come down."

"Right. Thanks for the help."

Ash headed back to his room. He pulled the Giru units from his mind palace and began recharging their energy reserves using his cultivation power. The robots would be crucial for what he had planned.

The collapsed tunnel might be dangerous, but if Team Rocket used it to get inside the mines, it was good enough for him. He just needed to find it, then he could proceed with his plans. 

Team Rocket wanted to play with traps? Fine. But they weren't the only ones who could set an ambush.

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

Ash spent several hours hiking in the mountain before finding the tunnel Dave had mentioned. The entrance was half-hidden behind scrub growth, but something immediately caught his attention—the collapse had been cleared away, the entrance crudely but effectively restored. Team Rocket had used this as their way in.

"Right then," he muttered to his Pokemon. "Let's make sure they can't use it to get out."

Bastion and Blade worked together, gathering massive boulders from the surrounding area while Blitz kept watch. Bastion’s natural strength made moving the rocks look effortless, while Blade used his tunnelling abilities to loosen chunks of suitable size. 

Using his Pokemon's strength and his own abilities, they constructed a formidable barrier across the tunnel mouth. The boulders interlocked tightly, wedged in place with smaller rocks. It wouldn't hold forever but would delay anyone trying to escape.

Ash donned his mask and sent the Giru robots back to the main entrance. Sending them through this tunnel risked alerting Team Rocket or their Pokemon to his presence. 

As the robots descended through the mine once more, Ash found himself wrestling with what he was about to do. This wasn't self-defence in the heat of battle—it was cold-blooded murder. He would be directly responsible for these people’s deaths. The thought made his stomach churn. Would his mother understand if she knew what he was about to do? Could he look her in the eye afterwards?

But then he remembered how they'd attacked the convoy, how easily they could have killed him and the other cultivators. They were also planning to lay lethal traps, showing no concern for who might die. In this world of cultivators and Pokemon, mercy to your enemies often meant death for yourself or those you protected.

"Sometimes you have to be cruel to survive," he whispered, steeling himself. 

Through the robots' feed, Ash watched the Durant patrol near the ruins. He had the robots sweep close to a group of them, letting their cloaking disappear to catch their attention. The reaction was immediate—the Durant began climbing the walls of the pit, their metal mandibles clicking in agitation. The robots waited until the swarm of Durant caught up to them before they flew through the tunnels.

Ash guided the robot towards Team Rocket's position. The swarm grew larger with each passing moment, drawn by their comrades' agitation. The sound of hundreds of metal legs scraping against stone echoed through the tunnels.

The Team Rocket members barely had time to react. One moment they were sitting at their camp; the next, hundreds of Durant poured into their camp from multiple tunnels. Their Pokemon emerged in flashes of red light—Pangoro, Houndoom, and Machoke materialising in defensive positions. But the tunnel's confined space limited them to the number of Pokemon they could summon. Their curses echoed off the stone walls as they realised their predicament.

"Where did they come from?" someone shouted as Durant scuttled across the ceiling and walls.

The Pokemon fought desperately. Pangoro's Close Combat sent Durant flying while Houndoom's flames filled the tunnel with acrid smoke. Machoke threw punches that dented steel carapaces, but the Durant's numbers were overwhelming. For every one they knocked down, three more took its place.

Three Team Rocket members fell quickly, overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Their screams cut off abruptly as the Durants’ swarmed over them. The survivors broke and ran, heading for the western tunnel exit. Their remaining Pokemon provided covering fire as they fled, but the Durant pursued relentlessly, an unstoppable tide of steel and mandibles.

They reached the blocked entrance, and Ash heard their curses as they discovered the boulder barrier. Their desperation was palpable.

"Break through it!" a woman screamed. "Hurry!"

Their Pokemon attacked the boulders, but they were out of time. Ash winced as screams echoed through the tunnel, mercifully brief. 

When silence fell, he waited thirty minutes to ensure the Durants had withdrawn. Then he had his Pokemon clear the boulders, trying not to think about what he would find.

The scene was grim. Four corpses lay crumpled against the tunnel wall, their bodies showing signs of Durant's savage attack. Several unconscious Pokemon—both Team Rocket and the Durant—were scattered nearby, casualties of the desperate battle.

Working quickly, Ash collected the Pokemon's balls and returned them to their owners. He left them with the bodies—they would be found eventually when the mines reopened. He could potentially take them to sell, but the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.  

He captured the five unconscious Durant without any trouble. Team Rocket had done all the work for him. 

He headed deeper into the tunnel, finding the campsite where the other three members had fallen. He repeated the process—returning Pokemon to their balls and capturing eight more Durant. The camp bore signs of the brief, brutal struggle.

A rapid search of the camp yielded some useful supplies, which he stored in his mind palace. His Mind Treasury technique was already paying dividends, even though he still struggled to store larger objects. Once he was finished, he retreated, not wanting to risk the Durants’ returning or being discovered at the scene.

Thirteen captured Durant would fetch a good price, but as Ash walked away from the tunnel, he knew he'd crossed a line today. He'd chosen to be the killer rather than the killed. That knowledge would stay with him, another price paid for growing stronger in this harsh world. He wondered if this was how cultivators became hardened—one brutal choice at a time, each decision stripping away another piece of their humanity.

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

Ash returned to town and met with James in the hotel. He explained discovering the western tunnel entrance and, upon clearing some fallen rocks, finding the Team Rocket members' bodies inside. He described the scene as if he'd stumbled upon it—their Pokemon returned to their balls, lying beside them. The Durants must have overwhelmed them, he suggested, careful to keep his tone neutral. 

James accepted the explanation without question, more concerned with the tactical advantage the tunnel provided than the deaths of his adversaries.

James quickly organised a team to enter the mines through the tunnel passage, though he remained cautious in his approach. He mentioned calling in some allies who should arrive before Team Rocket's reinforcements. The news gave them some breathing room, but James wouldn't elaborate on who these reinforcements might be.

With Team Rocket cleared from the mines, Ash and Marcus began work on the elevator shaft. They repaired one of the heavy machines first, using it to clear the worst of the debris. 

The real work began once they could access the shaft properly. Marcus proved an excellent teacher, and he was particularly impressed by Ash's Steelium abilities. 

"Bloody useful, that," he commented as Ash formed another specialised tool from liquid metal. "Saves us hauling half a workshop down here."

The following evening after arriving in town, Ash was preparing for bed when his Pokenav buzzed. His mum's voice came through clearly despite the distance.

"Something is happening here, love," Delia said without preamble. "A large group of cultivators just arrived. They're causing quite a stir in the city."

Ash sat up straighter. "Do you know who they are?"

"No, but they're travelling in black vehicles with red 'R's painted on the sides."

Ash's brow furrowed. Team Rocket's reinforcements had arrived ahead of schedule. 

"Stay away from them," he warned. “They won’t stay in the city for too long. Their target is the ruins where I’m currently located.”

“I'm not stupid, love,” Delia replied. “You need to be careful too. Tell James if anything happens to you, I will make it my mission to make his life a living hell.”

“Love you too, mum. How many cultivators are we talking about?"

"At least thirty cultivators, maybe more."

Ash cursed under his breath. The situation had just become significantly more complicated. 

"Thanks, Mum,” Ash said. “I’ll talk to you later.” 

He ended the call and sat back, his thoughts whirling. There was no need to warn James. He would already know about Team Rocket's arrival. The man's network of informants seemed to know everything happening in Fortree City. 

Ash ran a hand through his hair, feeling conflicted. The smart move would be to leave now—he'd signed up to repair mining equipment, not get caught in a conflict with a criminal organisation. 

But the ruins beckoned. If he wanted to have a chance to explore it, he needed to stay. Their window of opportunity was closing fast. Whatever James had planned, he needed to move now. 

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Team Rocket arrives, and Ash heads into the ruins. 

Thanks for reading.