"Ding ling ling—"
Ash's phone rang sharply, cutting through the tension. With the ominous premonition still choking the air around him, he picked up the call.
"Grandpa, what's happening?" Ash asked, voice strained.
On the other end, Professor Oak spoke quickly, urgency in every word.
"Ash, listen carefully. We're heading toward Shamouti Island in the Orange Islands. Kanto and Johto are both entering a state of extreme danger. According to both Alliances, volcanic activity is erupting everywhere. The seismic readings are unstable—if this continues, half the planet could be at risk!"
Ash's jaw tightened.
"The source of the disaster is Shamouti Island. The Kanto Alliance has already dispatched the Elite Four, and as Kanto's Champion, you must go as well."
Ash understood instantly.
"So it is the Lugia catastrophe from the original storyline… Damn. I knew I was forgetting something important."
He ended the call and immediately stood up.
"Sabrina," he said firmly, turning toward her. "Pack your things. Mewtwo will come pick you up and take you back to Fantasy Island. I have to go. Whatever happens, don't act on your own once you return."
He didn't give her the chance to question him. In the next instant, Ash stepped into the air, vanishing like a blur.
"Kamui."
Space warped. A distorted vortex swallowed him—
and he reappeared three kilometers away before his momentum even dropped.
Combining Moon Step with Kamui, Ash's speed became monstrous, tearing across the sky toward the Orange Islands.
He would've taken Sabrina into his Kamui dimension, but it was still filled completely with seawater—no solid footing to keep her safe.
Mewtwo would need to handle her transport.
Shamouti Island
"Damn it—Cloyster, use Ice Beam!"
Near the ancient altar on Shamouti Island, disaster had already struck.
The Kanto Elite Four were engaged in a brutal battle against Zapdos, one of the Three Legendary Birds thrown into uncontrollable rage.
A brilliant stream of icy light fired from Cloyster's horn—
only to be shattered mid-air by a violent thunderbolt from Zapdos.
"It's no use!" Lance growled. "We still haven't received backup from the Johto Elite Four?"
Koga clicked his tongue. "The Johto Alliance claims they've departed. But at this rate, they might as well be crawling. They're letting Kanto take all the hits first!"
As they spoke, Zapdos screeched, its body wrapped in crackling thunder. Its wings snapped open—
"Move!" Lance shouted.
Zapdos unleashed a massive lightning strike straight toward the Elite Four.
A split-second from impact—
"GET AWAY FROM THEM!"
A voice cut through the storm.
BOOM!!!
A figure blurred into the battlefield.
Ash's heel collided with Zapdos mid-strike, a perfect roundhouse kick amplified by Aura.
Zapdos was launched backward, tumbling through the air as the lightning storm around its body shattered instantly.
The Elite Four stared in shock.
Ash Ketchum had arrived.
"Ash!"
Shiba and the others shouted with relief as the young Champion landed. Ash's power had long surpassed ordinary expectations—his arrival meant their chances of survival had skyrocketed.
"I came as soon as I got Grandpa's call. What's the situation? And where are the Johto Champion and Elite Four?"
Ash glanced around. Aside from the Kanto Elite Four and the Slowking nearby, the battlefield was empty.
"We notified the Johto Alliance ages ago," Agatha said sternly. "But they've been dragging their feet—claiming they 'just departed.' They clearly intend to let Kanto serve as cannon fodder."
Ash's brows pulled together.
"Agatha, you've aged too much…"
He eyed her cane with a rare hint of concern. While Agatha was still one of the strongest trainers alive, managing the Mugino family and her Elite Four duties had worn her down far more than Professor Oak and Samuel Oak.
She snorted.
"Old or not, I'm still a Kanto Elite Four. Save your pity. Focus on the disaster at hand."
Ash nodded. Agatha's iron will was admirable—unlike the Johto officials who preferred hiding behind others.
The Truth Behind the Catastrophe
With Lorelei's explanation, Ash finally pieced together what was happening.
The cause of everything was a wealthy collector named Lawrence.
Using cutting-edge technology, Lawrence had built a massive flying fortress—equivalent to an airship-class Ark. With it, he captured Moltres, one of the Three Legendary Birds.
The moment Moltres was taken, the elemental balance collapsed.
Zapdos and Articuno, sensing the territory's vacancy, fought violently to seize control.
Their battle triggered the unstable elemental surge Ash sensed earlier.
Then, the Kanto Elite Four had followed the ancient legend of Shamouti Island, arriving at an old altar after encountering a Slowking—one who could communicate through telepathy.
Slowking explained that only by placing three special orbs—the "treasures"—in specific locations could Lugia be summoned to calm the chaos.
To Ash, the "treasures" were simply three transparent crystal spheres.
Kanto had already secured two of them. But when Zapdos saw the Elite Four carrying the orbs, it interpreted them as a threat and attacked.
Just as they finished explaining—
"Zzzzzz—!"
"GAAAH!!!"
Zapdos, which Ash had kicked away earlier, suddenly let out a piercing cry. Two glowing rings snapped around its body, electricity crackling violently as it struggled.
The rings tightened.
Then—as if pulled by an invisible force—Zapdos was dragged downward.
A massive floating fortress emerged from the storm clouds below, its metal hull gleaming ominously in the lightning.
Lawrence's flying fortress.
The Legendary Bird was being taken.
And the true crisis was only beginning.