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Gardevoir and Jolteon darted past Oakley, ignoring the blonde thief who no longer had any Pokémon to command, and charged straight toward the device.
As trained Pokémon belonging to proper Trainers, they would never attack a human without explicit orders.
The machine ahead of them seemed unguarded but just as they reached it, the massive waterspout shifted, blocking their path.
The tornado of seawater had already inflicted irreparable damage inside the cathedral. Countless tiles were shattered, walls and pillars cracked beneath its violent force.
That the building still stood at all was proof of its remarkable strength. As a seaside city, Alto Mare's architects had clearly designed its structures to endure storms and quakes.
"Go around it!"
At Kai's command, Gardevoir teleported past the raging waterspout, while Jolteon used its incredible speed to slip around from the side.
But in the next instant, two streams split off from the vortex, cutting them off again and threatening to close in from both sides.
The Pokémon counterattacked, but just like before, even when the water was blasted apart, fresh seawater instantly rushed in to replenish it.
With no way forward, they were forced to retreat.
Kai glanced at Ash, only to see him struggling just as hopelessly against Latios's restraints. Thinking quickly, he shouted,
"Forget it we have to get out of here! If this keeps up, the whole cathedral's going to collapse!"
Ash clenched his fists in frustration. He hated to retreat, but knew he couldn't save Latios alone. Reluctantly, he nodded and followed Kai out.
Outside, the battle was already nearing its end. With the help of Kai's three Pokémon, Misty had finally managed to bring down the last of the Fossil Pokémon without injury.
Nearby, Lorenzo and Bianca had been hiding at the edge of the plaza. When they saw Kai and Ash emerge, they hurried to meet them.
"Well? Did you rescue Latios?!"
Before Kai could answer, a deafening crash split the air. The cathedral's great wooden doors exploded into splinters as the enormous waterspout surged out, tearing down half a wall as it roared into the open plaza.
There was no need for an answer now they all knew Latios was still trapped inside.
"Don't just stand there—move!"
Kai snapped the others out of their shock and led them toward the plaza's center, where they regrouped with Misty.
Only now could he clearly see it: countless small streams of water were rushing in from all directions, flooding through Alto Mare's canals and feeding into the cathedral. These flows were what kept the waterspout growing larger and larger.
"Kai!"
They turned at the familiar voice. Misty's Pokémon were pulling a wooden gondola ashore, with Misty and Brock aboard.
The two jumped to land and ran over, relief flooding their faces when they spotted Lorenzo and Bianca.
"You're safe!"
After splitting off earlier, they had commandeered a gondola and used Corsola to tow it along the waterways.
Along the way, they'd fought through metal traps and even battled Fossil Pokémon, arriving only now after a harrowing journey.
"We're fine, but…" Bianca shook her head, her eyes full of worry. "Latios and the Soul Dew are still inside!"
Because of the darkness, Misty and Brock only now noticed the massive waterspout raging in the plaza. Both gasped in horror.
"A waterspout—on land!? And it's enormous!"
Kai's voice was grim. "It's them, Annie and Oakley. They're using Latios and the Soul Dew to generate it. The waterspout is made from seawater. You can't destroy it."
Misty frowned, already grasping the truth.
"Then the only way is to cut off their control!"
"But…" Ash's voice faltered, heavy with frustration. "I tried already. I couldn't break the iron rings holding Latios…"
The others fell silent, the weight of the situation settling in. Misty bit her lip.
"Then what do we do?"
Kai's sharp gaze flicked toward Oakley, who had just emerged from the cathedral. His eyes lit up.
"Now might be our chance. The waterspout is out here—
And so is the blonde one. That means the machine inside is unguarded. If we can sneak in and drag the silver-haired one out, we can stop this!"
He turned to Misty and Brock.
"You two are the only ones they haven't seen. You're perfect for this job."
"I understand!"
Misty and Brock nodded at once. Without wasting another moment, they sprinted off toward the side of the cathedral.
Latias, desperate to save her brother, followed them close behind.
Meanwhile, in the plaza, the waterspout continued to grow. Its unnatural power darkened the skies above, storm clouds gathering until thunder cracked and rain began to pour down.
Rain fed the water, and wind drove it wilder.
The vortex churned like a living hurricane, tearing at the plaza with terrifying force. To anyone else, it would look like a natural disaster. Only Kai's group knew the truth of the danger before them.
Shouting over the roar of wind and rain, Kai gave his next command. "We have to weaken it! Don't let it keep growing!"
Ash and Misty nodded. Their Pokémon launched attacks in unison, striking at the swirling column of water.
The waterspout couldn't be destroyed, but repeated blasts tore holes into it, scattering water in great explosions. With each strike, its size shrank slightly, even as the canals kept pouring in new water.
"It's working!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes bright with hope.
Kai nodded. It wouldn't hold forever, but at least it would buy Misty and Brock the time they needed.
"Keep going!"
As the Pokémon fought, Misty and Brock crept along the cathedral's side.
Luck was on their side no one noticed their approach. Slipping to a shattered window, they exchanged a glance, then climbed inside with Latias following close behind.
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