Ash Ascendant: Chapter 16

Hi all, 

Here’s the third chapter of the week. Ash makes an incredible discovery in the ruins and encounters Winona again.  

Chapter 16

Ash ventured deeper into the ruins. 

The tunnel's luminescent fungi cast an eerie glow over murals that stretched endlessly along the walls. Ash studied the artwork as he walked, his footsteps echoing in time with the distant metallic clanging. The images told a story—a vast metropolis of gleaming towers and soaring bridges. The city's inhabitants were depicted as figures wearing strange mechanical suits, their faces hidden behind masks.

"Take a look at this," Ash said, running his fingers over the wall. "An entire civilisation, and not a word about it in any history book. Is this a depiction of an actual civilisation or was it some dreamer’s idea of one?”

The rhythmic sound of metal striking metal grew louder as they ventured deeper. Blitz hovered close to Ash's shoulder while Bastion and Blade flanked him, all three Pokemon alert for danger.

They reached a massive door that blocked their path. Its surface was covered in square tiles, arranged in a grid pattern. The tiles formed a scrambled image that looked familiar.

"That's the Pokemon from the chamber," Ash said, recognising the seven-dot pattern. "It's a sliding puzzle."

Blitz beeped in agreement.

"Do you reckon I need to solve this to open the way?"

Another affirmative beep.

Ash reached for a tile, attempting to slide it into the empty slot. It wouldn't budge. Before he could try again, liquid metal involuntarily formed on his hand and flowed towards the door, surrounding the tile he'd tried to move.

"Surely not?”

He focused on the metal, willing it to move the tile. Controlling Steelium outside his body was still a challenge. When bonded with his flesh, the liquid metal responded instantly to his thoughts, flowing and hardening with perfect precision. But once it left his skin, maintaining that connection became exponentially harder.

The manual outlined a clear progression of mastery. At first, he could only manipulate the metal while it was part of his body. The next stage allowed basic control in its liquid state when separated, though only for short distances. True mastery would allow him to manipulate Steelium at range in both liquid and solid forms, shaping it into complex structures and controlling multiple separate pieces simultaneously. 

Ash had barely scratched the surface of these possibilities. His current limit was moving small amounts of liquid metal within arm's reach, and even that required intense concentration. The metal seemed to resist external control, as if it preferred being bonded to living flesh. 

With considerable effort, the tile shifted into the empty space. Ash wiped the sweat from his forehead. "This is going to take ages."

Over the next several hours, Ash slowly solved the puzzle. By the time the final piece clicked into place, the completed image showed the mechanical Pokemon in perfect detail. He was so exhausted that he wanted to lie down and sleep. The door rumbled and rose into the ceiling. 

Ash caught sight of what lay beyond the door. His exhaustion vanished. "What the hell?”

A massive factory spread before them, the source of the metallic sounds finally revealed. Automated machines filled the cavernous space, their pistons pumping in a hypnotic rhythm. A conveyor belt snaked through the facility, carrying strange objects through various stages of assembly.

Ash approached the production line. Robotic arms worked with precise movements, constructing small mechanical creatures. But at the end of the line, each completed robot was immediately destroyed, and its components melted down to start the process again.

"What's the point?" He watched another robot meet its doom. "Why build them just to destroy them?"

He snatched one of the robots from the conveyor belt before it could reach the melting station. It was spherical, about twice the size of his palm, with tiny limbs and a single glowing red eye. His fingers searched for any obvious controls but found none.

“It’s like a miniature Magnemite,” Ash said. “Except without the magnets.”

Blitz bumped the back of his head, taking offence at the comparison.

The factory's rhythm continued unabated, the machines showing no reaction to his presence. Ash moved deeper into the facility, examining the technology with growing curiosity. 

The centre of the factory housed an immense control room, dominated by a towering crystalline structure. Energy pulsed from the crystal through a network of cables and conduits that spread throughout the facility like metallic veins. The crystal's glow cast dancing shadows across banks of monitors that covered the walls.

"Wait, don't tell me that's an Arceus Fragment?" Ash muttered, studying the crystal's distinctive signature. 

Unlike the fragments he'd encountered on the first floor, this one appeared stable, its energy harnessed rather than running wild. The sheer engineering required to contain and direct such power was staggering.

Banks of monitors lined the walls, their screens displaying streams of incomprehensible data about the factory's operations. Ash spent several minutes examining the controls but decided against experimenting with them.

Ash moved on to explore the rest of the facility. .

The living quarters occupied a sprawling section beyond the main floor. A cafeteria capable of serving hundreds still contained intact tables and chairs, its industrial kitchen equipped with massive ovens and refrigeration units. Steel serving counters stretched along one wall, while dishes remained stacked neatly in cupboards, as if waiting for the next meal service. But there was no food stocked in the refrigerators and pantries. 

The dormitories stretched across multiple levels, each room spartan but functional with basic furnishings and private bathrooms. The air held the musty smell of long abandonment.

Recreation areas included a gymnasium and common rooms with entertainment systems now silent with age. A swimming pool, its water long evaporated, hinted at attempts to maintain normal life underground. The well-stocked medical bay and dead hydroponics gardens painted a picture of a community prepared for years of isolation.

Research laboratories filled another wing. The testing chambers were sealed behind thick glass, observation rooms positioned to monitor whatever experiments they'd conducted. Technical diagrams covered whiteboards with faded markers, their meaning lost to time.

Storage areas contained thousands of spare parts and raw materials, suggesting they'd prepared for years of operation without outside contact. 

"They thought of everything," Ash murmured. “Food, water, medical care. Why go to all this trouble? What were they working on that needed this much secrecy?"

Ash pondered the facility's technological sophistication. Such advanced engineering shouldn't exist on the second floor—he'd seen nothing remotely comparable in Fortree City or the surrounding areas. Why had the builders chosen this location?

Then a staggering thought struck him. Perhaps they hadn't chosen it at all. When Arceus restructured the world into the Tower, it had gathered fragments of civilisation seemingly at random. Could this facility have existed before that cataclysmic event? It would explain the discrepancy between its technology and the second floor's general development level.

The museum chamber seemed to support this theory. Each display case contained mechanical devices far beyond current capabilities, all crafted from the same distinctive metal as his pocket-sized robot. 

An ornate tomb dominated the chamber's rear wall. Ash approached slowly, studying the carved images of the seven-dotted mechanical Pokemon. Its repetition throughout the facility couldn't be coincidental. This being had clearly held immense significance for the facility's inhabitants.

His eyes fell on an inscription carved into the tomb's face. The text was crisp despite its age, as if the metal itself resisted time's erosion:

"Here lies our greatest achievement and our greatest failure. To those who follow, learn from our mistakes. Some doors are better left closed."

The warning sent a chill down Ash's spine. What had these people created? 

An office alcove caught his attention, its shelves lined with preserved documents and data storage devices. Ash began methodically searching through drawers and cabinets, hoping to uncover any information about the facility's true purpose. 

"There has to be something here that explains all this," he said, rifling through another drawer. 

A leather-bound inventory log caught Ash's attention. He flicked through its pages until something made him pause—a detailed entry about a steel mask. The description suggested that it was crafted to match his abilities perfectly, suggesting a connection to the ruins on the first floor.

Ash went in search of the mask. It sat in a display case alongside several other devices. A sleek metal board occupied the neighbouring display, its streamlined design suggesting it was built for speed. 

He lifted the glass and retrieved the mask, turning it over in his hands. Above the eye holes, it bore the same seven-dot pattern he'd seen throughout the ruins. 

He returned to the office and settled into a chair.

"Keep watch," he told his Pokemon. His heart pounded as he raised the mask to his face.

The moment it touched his skin, steel tendrils shot out and latched onto his flesh. Before he could react, his vision went dark, then exploded into clarity. He found himself experiencing someone else's memories, watching through their eyes as chaos erupted around him.

Sirens blared through steel corridors identical to those he'd just explored. Scientists and technicians sprinted past, their faces masks of terror. 

The memory pulled him towards a group of officers gathered around a holographic display showing multiple red dots converging on their location. Their uniforms bore insignias Ash didn't recognise, but their grim expressions needed no translation.

"Malcolm, did you get the weapon operational?" A grey-haired man in a general's uniform demanded. 

His weathered face showed the strain of someone who hadn't slept in days. Behind him, younger officers coordinated evacuation efforts through crackling radios.

Malcolm shook his head. "I told you it was too soon, General. We need several more years of research before we can even think of getting it to work." 

The general's shoulders slumped. Decades of military bearing seemed to drain from him in an instant. "Then, so be it. It seems like the invaders are going to overwhelm us. But we aren't going down without a fight."

Another officer burst into the room. "Sir! They've breached the outer defences. We are being overwhelmed by their Pokemon.”

An explosion rocked the facility, powerful enough to knock several people off their feet. Emergency lights flashed as backup generators kicked in. The screams that echoed through the corridors weren't just of fear—they held a note of absolute horror that made Ash's blood run cold even through the memory.

Malcolm spun and ran towards the sound, pushing past fleeing personnel. Through his eyes, Ash caught glimpses of something moving in the darkness ahead—shapes that seemed eerily similar. Then everything went black.

Ash yanked the mask off, his hands shaking. "Just what was I watching?" 

The mask's implications were staggering. This wasn't just a relic—it was a window into the past, like an imprint of the person who had worn the mask before him. And it had responded specifically to him.

The sirens from the memory seemed to echo in his mind. What invaders had attacked this place? And what weapon had they been trying to complete? Were they referring to the mechanical Pokemon in the tomb?

Ash returned to the inventory log, reading the mask’s description carefully. The name, “Steel Mask’, hardly captured its extraordinary capabilities. If half of what it described turned out to be true, then he had struck gold.  

Ash placed the mask back on his face. This time, no vision appeared. Instead, an interface materialised in his vision, displaying multiple functions that immediately commanded his attention. He could feel the mask slowly siphoning off his energy to maintain its function. 

The idea that something could steal his energy without his approval should have scared him. But he was too fascinated by the technology to care about it.   

He browsed through the functions, using his thoughts to flick through each one. 

The first option amplified meditation by blocking external stimuli completely. When activated, it created a feeling of isolation, freeing him from distractions. 

The second function had the opposite effect. Ash activated it experimentally, and his world transformed. All of his senses sharpened dramatically. 

He looked around him, observing new details he couldn’t see before due to the lack of clarity. Every sound echoed with new clarity, painting a picture of the space around him. Even the factory's distant machinery transmitted subtle vibrations he could now interpret. 

The third function provided control over the factory's robots. Ash focused on his small mechanical companion and activated it. The robot responded instantly, rising to hover at eye level. The interface displayed numerous command options. He tested the stealth mode, watching the robot shimmer until only a slight distortion betrayed its presence. The cloaking technology alone was worth the risk of coming here.

"Stop," he commanded. The robot froze mid-flight, awaiting further instructions with perfect obedience.

Another command allowed him to switch perspectives, giving him the robot's view of the room. It also had a recording function that captured everything it observed. 

He continued to experiment with the different commands, learning the robot's capabilities and limitations.

"These would be perfect for surveillance," Ash murmured. "No one would suspect a nearly invisible mechanical spy."

The interface also revealed the robot's constraints. Its energy reserves were minimal. It could only maintain operations for several hours before he had to feed it energy to refuel it. The robot had been designed to be operated by a cultivator.    

He could operate multiple robots semi-autonomously, but each connection demanded focus to maintain. It would take considerable practice to control more than one effectively. Not to mention the energy cost. 

"I will call you Giru," Ash said, testing its voice recognition.

"Giru!" The robot chirped back, spinning excitedly. At least it responded to verbal commands, even if its vocabulary seemed limited to mimicry.

His continued search of the office yielded a keycard. He'd noticed several locked doors earlier requiring clearance. Each could hide more valuable discoveries, but exploration would have to wait. He had to find a way out. He had already spent several hours here. Mustard would start searching for him if he didn’t return soon.

This facility now belonged to him—an entire underground complex filled with technology beyond anything he'd seen before. His heart raced at the possibilities. The mask alone was a game-changing discovery, but it was likely just the tip of the iceberg.

The automated factory could produce surveillance robots with cloaking capabilities. The research labs might contain other prototypes or abandoned projects waiting to be understood. 

But keeping it secret would be crucial. If word got out about this place, everyone would try to claim it for themselves. 

He needed to be methodical about this. First, secure the facility and ensure no one could track him here. Then catalogue everything properly, starting with the most immediately useful items. Later, he could explore more advanced technology as his understanding grew. With proper planning, it could become his greatest advantage in climbing the Tower.

After searching for several minutes, Ash found an elevator. He swiped the keycard and stepped inside with his Pokemon. The elevator rumbled to life, beginning its ascent towards the surface. Ash wondered where exactly they'd emerge above ground.

A deep rumbling sound from above made him look up sharply. The elevator slowed, then stopped. As the doors slid open, Ash stepped out and froze. Dozens of Diglett surrounded them, their small heads poking up from the earth in an eerily perfect circle.

Blitz, Bastion and Blade immediately moved to defensive positions, but Ash raised his hand. 

"Wait," he said quietly. 

The Diglett made no aggressive moves. They simply watched, as if... waiting for something.

The elevator doors closed behind him with a soft hiss. As it descended, a massive metal hatch he hadn't noticed began to close. The Diglett suddenly burst into action, swarming forward in coordinated waves. They began covering the hatch with dirt, expertly concealing any trace of its existence.

"Am I really seeing this?" Ash asked himself, watching them work. "Are they protecting the facility? That can't be right."

But the evidence was hard to deny. Their earlier actions took on new meaning. Had they deliberately collapsed the ground beneath him? Guided him to the ruins? He shook his head—he must be going mental.

Looking closer at the Diglett, he noticed something odd about their appearance. He pulled out his Pokedex and scanned the nearest one.

"Alolan Diglett," the device reported. "A regional variant characterised by metallic whiskers containing traces of iron sand. These whiskers allow them to sense magnetic fields and communicate over long distances."

Several Dugtrio moved among the smaller Pokemon. What looked like golden hair crowned their heads, making them appear comical. Nature had some strange tastes to design such a Pokemon.  

Ash considered catching one—their connection to the facility made them intriguing. Furthermore, they had Steel-typing. But he decided against it. Their current neutrality might not survive an attempt at capture, and he had enough to deal with already.

"Wait a minute. How am I supposed to get back down there? I can hardly wait around for the Diglett to collapse the ground again."

He pulled the mask from his backpack and placed it against his face. The metal tendrils connected instantly, its interface materialising in his vision. As he browsed through the functions, he noticed something new—an option that hadn't been there before. The display showed a simple command for summoning the elevator.

Were the Digletts going to continue covering up the ground every time he used the elevator? Something to worry about later. 

Checking his map, Ash calculated his position based on his underground journey. When he backtracked to where he'd originally fallen, he found the ground completely restored. If he hadn't experienced it himself, he'd never believe anything had happened there. 

Ash ran a hand through his hair. "This is doing my head in." 

Remembering his original task, Ash quickly gathered the plants Mustard had sent him to find. He needed time to process everything he'd discovered today—the facility, the mask, and now these peculiar Pokemon guarding it all. 

One thing was certain—he'd stumbled onto something far more significant than he'd imagined. He just hoped he could keep it secret long enough to understand what he'd found.

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

The sound of shouts broke the forest's quiet. Ash paused, head tilted as he listened intently. When the noise died away, his hand went instinctively to the mask in his pocket.

The metal tendrils connected smoothly as he placed it against his face. He activated the sensory enhancement, and suddenly the forest came alive with detail. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig echoed with perfect clarity. Still, whatever had caused the earlier commotion remained frustratingly out of range.

Perfect opportunity to test Giru's capabilities. 

He pulled the robot from his bag. As soon as he activated it, Giru sprang to life, zipping into the air with surprising agility. The robot circled his head playfully, its tiny claws catching strands of his hair.

"Stop messing about," Ash ordered, though he couldn't help smiling at the robot's antics. "We've got work to do."

He activated the robot’s stealth mode and the robot shimmered until only a slight distortion betrayed its presence. "Scout ahead. Show me what's happening."

His vision shifted as he connected to Giru's perspective. The robot glided silently through the trees until it reached a small clearing. The enhanced sensory input from the mask made every detail crystal clear.

Through Giru's remote viewing, Ash witnessed a scene of devastation. Half a dozen Rangers lay unconscious, their Pokemon scattered across the clearing in various states of defeat. The remaining five had Winona surrounded, their Pokemon chosen specifically for anti-air combat.

The uniforms showed that two of the Rangers were the squad leader and his second-in-command.

The squad leader had an Electivire beside him while his second-in-command directed a Glalie that radiated waves of freezing air. The remaining Rangers controlled a Zangoose, Heliolisk, and an Aggron—a mix of types that posed a serious threat to Flying Pokemon.

"Final warning," the squad leader called. His hand glowed as he prepared a status technique. "That item belongs to the mayor. Hand it over."

"The mayor has no right to it," Winona shot back, clutching a wrapped bundle to her chest. Her free hand traced a pattern in the air, weaving a protective barrier around herself. "You know what he'll do with it. I won't let that happen."

The squad leader unleashed Screech, the sound-based attack rippling through the clearing. But Winona's barrier held firm. Her Tropius retaliated with Sleep Powder, forcing two Rangers to dive away as green spores filled the air.

"Take them!" the squad leader shouted. Electivire's tails lashed out like whips while Glalie prepared an Ice Beam. The remaining Rangers began casting Thunder Wave in coordinated strikes.

Winona's Pokemon scattered in a practised formation. Her Swellow shot upward, drawing Glalie's Ice Beam into empty air. Skarmory dove at Aggron, forcing it to defend rather than launch an attack on Winona. Tropius unleashed another Sleep Powder, this time catching the Zangoose before it could dodge.

The squad leader's Electivire proved particularly troublesome, its incredible power and battle sense making aerial movement increasingly dangerous. 

Winona cast Calm Mind, the technique visibly strengthening her Pokemon's special attacks. Her Altaria fired a Dragon Pulse. The energy beam scattered the Rangers' formation, forcing them to dive for cover. But Electivire countered instantly, its muscular arms wrapping around a fallen tree and hurling it into Altaria's flight path. The Dragon Pokemon barely managed to dodge.

Ash switched back to his perspective and removed the mask. "What's in that bundle that's so valuable it has them fighting over it?"

Getting involved would be asking for trouble. It sounded like a good way to get himself killed. He felt sorry for the girl but not enough to put his own life at risk. 

Mustard's face flashed through his mind. The old man had some sort of relationship with Winona. If she got hurt and Mustard learned Ash had stood by and done nothing... His training would likely end before it properly began.

“Can’t believe I’m doing this,” Ash muttered. 

He sprinted toward the clearing. When he arrived, he gave his Pokemon clear instructions before engaging in the battle. Ash recognised the disparity in strength between him and the Rangers. He needed to be tactical about this fight. 

Ash rushed into the clearing, drawing attention from some of the Ranger’s Pokemon. He activated Double Team, his illusions charging from multiple angles. They hesitated, unsure which threats were real. In that moment of confusion, Ash's Pokemon struck.

Blade erupted beneath Heliolisk, Metal Claw raking across its scales before disappearing underground again. Bastion's Rock Tomb caught Zangoose as it tried to recover from Sleep Powder, while Blitz engaged Electivire in a battle of speed versus raw power. The Electric-type's attempts to snatch Blitz from the air with its extending limbs kept missing as the Magnemite darted just out of reach. 

The disparity in strength meant his Pokemon weren’t doing any damage, but it was enough to distract them.

The Rangers tried countering with status techniques, but fighting on two fronts disrupted their coordination. A Thunder Wave meant for Winona's Skarmory went wide as Blade's tunnels collapsed beneath the caster's feet.

Electivire roared in frustration, electricity arcing between its antennae as it prepared a massive Thunder attack. But before it could unleash the devastating move, Winona's Skarmory struck from above, its Steel Wing catching the Pokemon across its back. Electivire staggered but didn't fall, its incredible physical strength allowing it to weather the hit.

The battle shifted in their favour. Blitz's constant harassment prevented Electivire from launching any coordinated attacks, its powerful electric moves going wide as the Magnemite's Gyro Ball kept forcing it to dodge.

But the squad leader proved why he held his rank. "Electivire, Motor Drive!" he commanded. 

The Pokemon's body surged with energy as it absorbed Blitz's attacks, its speed increasing dramatically. Before Ash could warn his Pokemon, Electivire's fist connected with Blitz in a devastating Thunder Punch that sent the Magnemite crashing into a tree.

Winona seized the moment of distraction. Her Altaria dove from above, unleashing a Dragon Pulse directly into Glalie. The Ice-type crashed into its trainer, both of them tumbling unconscious to the forest floor.

“Blade, now!” Ash signalled the Pokemon through the bond.

The Drilbur's tunnelling had created an intricate network beneath the battlefield. At Ash's signal, Blade collapsed key support points, causing the ground to give way under two more Rangers and their Pokemon.

Electivire turned its attention to Winona, electricity crackling between its antennae as it prepared another massive attack. 

Bastion, ignored until now, slammed into its legs with a perfectly timed Headbutt. The Electric-type's attack went wide, its thunderbolt carving through empty air as it stumbled.

Altaria soared higher, energy gathering in its throat. The squad leader's eyes widened as he realised their position. With his Pokemon off-balance and his squad in disarray, they had no defence against the incoming attack.

"Retreat!" he shouted, recalling his Electivire. The remaining conscious Rangers followed suit, dragging their incapacitated companions as they fled into the forest.

Winona collapsed to the ground, her strength finally giving out. Ignoring her for the moment, Ash rushed to Blitz, finding his Pokemon unconscious from Electivire's devastating punch.

He returned Blitz to his Mind Palace. Noting Winona's Pokemon watching him warily, he recalled Bastion and Blade as well.

As he approached Winona, he spotted blood seeping through her shirt. Despite her injury, she still clutched the bundle tightly to her chest.

"You can't have this," she said through gritted teeth.

"You're finally speaking to me. Relax, I'm not here to rob you."

He pulled a spare shirt from his bag and began tearing it into strips to use as makeshift bandages.  

"Why did you help me?" Winona asked. 

"Let's just say we have a mutual friend who'd be upset if anything happened to you."

She flinched when he lifted her shirt, revealing an ugly wound across her side. He wrapped the bandages around her waist, working quickly but carefully.

"I need to get you to the Pokemon Centre," Ash said.

Winona's hand shot out, gripping his arm before he could stand. "No, I can't enter the city. They'll be looking for me there. Take me to Mustard."

Even injured, she managed to sound imperious. Ash crossed his arms, refusing to move.

Winona sighed. "Please."

“As the princess demands.” 

Her Skarmory landed beside them, and he helped her onto its back before climbing up himself. He wrapped an arm around her waist, keeping her steady as she swayed. Her skin felt cold and clammy.

Her other Pokemon formed a protective formation around them as Skarmory lifted off. Tropius and Altaria flanked them while Swellow scouted ahead, ensuring their path remained clear.

When they landed by Mustard's cottage, the old man emerged, pipe in hand.

"What are you doing back—?" His words cut off abruptly at the sight of Winona. 

"Get her inside," Mustard commanded, pivoting and returning inside.

Ash pulled Winona down from Skarmory's back and lifted her into his arms. Her entire body went rigid at being carried, but she remained silent, likely too weak to protest. 

Following Mustard's instructions, he laid her on the couch. Her face was pale, but her eyes remained alert, tracking Mustard's movements as he summoned a Chimecho from his Mind Palace.

The Psychic-type Pokemon began treating her wound immediately. Winona sat up, peeling away the blood-soaked bandages from her waist.

Mustard listened intently as she explained what had happened, his expression darkening with each word. When she mentioned leaving to avoid causing him trouble, he cut her off with a sharp gesture.

"I'm not about to abandon you, girl." He turned to Ash, his voice hard. "You stay here and look after her while I pay a visit to the city. Seems I need to have a word with the mayor."

"I can look after myself," Winona protested.

"Silence, girl!" Mustard growled. "Obviously you can't, since you needed Ash's help to dispatch the Rangers." 

Winona's mouth snapped shut, colour rising in her cheeks.

"For once, forget about being so bloody independent," Mustard growled before his voice softened. "Just stay here and rest. I won't be long."

After Mustard left, silence filled the cottage. Winona sat stiffly on the couch, staring at the bundle she still hadn't released, while Ash lingered awkwardly by the door.

"Are you hungry?" he finally asked. "I can cook something up."

Winona glanced up, studying him as if seeing him properly for the first time. The silence stretched for several heartbeats before she nodded. "Thank you. I could eat something."

So, what do you think? A slow end to the chapter. I had another scene planned but the chapter kept growing on me.

Thanks for reading.