Bzzzzz!
Right at that moment, a low, oppressive hum, as if rising from the depths of some underground abyss, erupted without warning, instantly drowning out all the street noise!
Immediately after, the sky darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye!
This wasn't the gloom of storm clouds rolling in.
It was something far more sinister, an ominous purple glow that began spreading across the sky, distorting and twisting even the sunlight itself into something unnatural!
And high above, a massive black void appeared out of nowhere. The purple radiance was pouring out from within!
"What... is that?"
Ethan froze.
"Woooo! Woooo! Woooo!"
A piercing, eardrum-shattering air raid siren suddenly blared from loudspeakers throughout the city, instantly shattering the peace and order of the entire metropolis!
"What's happening?!"
"The sky! Look at the sky!"
"What is that thing?!"
The pedestrians on the street descended into panic. People looked up in terror, quickly spotting the anomaly in the sky.
At first, everyone was just curious about the bizarre spectacle.
But in the next moment...
Several Pokémon with bizarre forms, like jellyfish made of semi-transparent gel with grotesque flowers blooming at their tips, let out shrill screeches as they dove down from the void. Then they launched their attack!!
The first victim was a man at the intersection.
He was still holding up his phone to record when one of the strange Pokémon floated above his head.
Its soft tentacles shot out at terrifying speed, wrapping around his head and neck like living rope.
The man convulsed violently. His phone clattered to the ground, screen shattering.
His eyes went wide, the light in his pupils rapidly fading until they became as hollow as glass marbles, his face left with nothing but a numb expression.
Then, like a puppet being lifted by strings, he stiffly rose to his feet.
He looked like he'd been parasitized!
These creatures didn't seem to have specific targets.
They were attacking indiscriminately, going after every living thing in sight!
At the same time, a stream of purple dissolving liquid shot from one direction, instantly corroding a large hole through a car's roof.
The acrid smell of melting metal immediately filled the air.
This nightmarish scene unfolded in mere seconds, plunging the entire street into chaos.
Some people sent out their own Pokémon to try fighting back against those things.
However, most couldn't even last ten seconds before being overwhelmed and devoured by the purple tentacles!
This horrifying sight spread like a lit fuse igniting dynamite. Soon, people were screaming and shoving, fleeing in all directions like headless chickens, desperately searching for somewhere safe.
Vehicles clogged the roads. The cacophony of car horns mixed with sirens and crying voices created total pandemonium.
Ethan's heart began pounding violently.
In this moment, he finally understood.
Looking up at that constantly twisting and expanding purple vortex suspended above the city, this obviously wasn't some normal phenomenon.
It was bringing danger to the entire city; otherwise, there wouldn't be a League-wide alert like this!
Just as he was thinking:
"Uwaaah!"
Had these Pokémon gone crazy??
His first instinct, like most people around him, was to run!
Get out of here!
"..." He instinctively gripped his Poké Ball tight and turned to run toward the nearest building.
The community center was out of reach now. He had to find somewhere to hide first!
However, just as he was about to bolt, an even more piercing cry of distress cut through the chaotic noise and reached his ears clearly: "Mommy! I'm scared! Waaah..."
It was Mika! Mrs. Matsumoto's daughter!
Ethan whipped his head around toward the apartment building. Several of those jellyfish-like creatures had already spotted the not-so-tall structure and were converging on it like sharks that had caught the scent of blood!
One of them used its tentacles to easily smash through the stairwell window and slithered inside!
Immediately after, he heard Mrs. Matsumoto's terrified scream and Mika's heart-wrenching sobs coming from the stairwell!
"Mika! Run! Don't worry about Mommy! Ahhh!" Mrs. Matsumoto's voice was filled with despair.
Ethan's feet felt nailed to the spot.
Their home... didn't have any Pokémon capable of battling.
Which meant that if he left now...
Could he really just stand by and watch that little girl who always sweetly called him "Big Brother Ethan," and Mrs. Matsumoto, who'd just invited him for spare ribs, end up like... like his own parents...
The fragmented, hazy memories of the chaotic battlefield where his parents had sacrificed themselves suddenly overlapped with the desperate cries for help coming from that familiar apartment building!
That familiar sense of helplessness and terror that kept him awake at night washed over him again.
Inside Ethan's mind, his rational side was screaming frantically.
Leave! You can't save them! You'll die! Just like your parents!
His body trembled slightly from fear, his knuckles turning white from gripping the Poké Ball too hard.
He should turn around and blend into the fleeing crowd. At least that would be much safer.
But then… Mrs. Matsumoto's warm smile as she brought out the spare ribs, Mika tugging at his sleeve with her curious questions, his father ruffling his hair and saying, "You make me proud, son," and his mother humming softly in the kitchen…
These images flashed through his mind like a slideshow.
"Damn it... damn it all!!!"
A suppressed roar squeezed out from Ethan's throat.
In that instant, his fear of repeating his parents' tragedy was overwhelmed by an even stronger emotion.
He couldn't bear to stand by helplessly again while people who cared about him met with misfortune right before his eyes!
Even if they were just neighbors. Even if he didn't have that much power!
"Let's go!" A flash of resolve crossed Ethan's eyes. He spun around without further hesitation, took off running, and charged toward his apartment building against the tide of panicked, fleeing people!
"Charizard! Prepare for battle!"
As he sprinted, he slammed down on the Poké Ball's button!
Red light flashed. The massive Charizard landed with a boom on the chaotic street.
It seemed to sense Ethan's will and the dangerous atmosphere permeating the area, immediately letting out a deafening roar.
Its orange-red eyes burned with fighting spirit as flames on its tail shot higher!
"Use Flamethrower! Clear the obstacles at the stairwell entrance! Save them!" Ethan pointed at several jellyfish-like creatures trying to pour into the apartment entrance and yelled his command!
A scorching pillar of fire erupted from Charizard's mouth like an enraged fire dragon, striking the stairwell entrance with precision!
Those jellyfish-like creatures clearly hadn't expected such a fierce counterattack.
They were instantly engulfed in flames, letting out pained shrieks as they were temporarily driven back.
"Mrs. Matsumoto! Mika! Get out of here!" Ethan seized the opportunity and rushed into the corridor, spotting the mother and daughter huddled together in the corner, still shaken and crying.
Mrs. Matsumoto had an obvious burn on her arm, clearly having just escaped a close call.
"Ethan!" When Mrs. Matsumoto saw him return, her eyes filled with disbelief, quickly followed by worry. "Why did you come back! Go! It's too dangerous here!"
"No time for that! Take Mika and go out the back! Find a League emergency shelter!"
Ethan pulled up the nearly limp Mrs. Matsumoto, stuffed little Mika into her arms, and positioned his own body between them and the upper stairwell.
Charizard faithfully guarded the corridor entrance, using its massive body and searing flames to temporarily block the other jellyfish-like creatures trying to force their way inside.
However, their counterattack and presence were like a beacon in the darkness, immediately attracting the attention of even more and stronger bizarre Pokémon!
Especially Charizard's Gym Leader-level aura, brimming with life force and powerful energy, stood out incredibly in this city. To them, it seemed like perfect prey!
"Skreee!"
Sharp screeches came from overhead. More than one jellyfish-like creature broke through Charizard's fire line, bursting in simultaneously from the upper stairwell and shattering windows!
Their target was clear: the strongest source of energy, Charizard, and Ethan beside it!
"Charizard! Watch out above!" Ethan cried out.
Charizard reacted lightning-fast, jerking its head up and unleashing another Flamethrower upward, repelling one diving jellyfish-like creature.
But from the other side, several tentacles glowing with purple light lashed out, striking Charizard hard in its side!
"ROAR!" Charizard let out a pained, furious roar. Its body immediately took on a purple tint, with clear corrosion marks left behind. Obviously, it had been poisoned!
But Charizard fought back with all its might, its flame-wreathed claws and tail sweeping through and beating back several more of the bizarre Pokémon.
But there were too many of those jellyfish-like creatures. They moved swiftly with cunning attacks and carried potent neurotoxins.
Though Charizard was valiant, it couldn't fully maneuver in the narrow corridor, and having to protect Ethan behind it while the Matsumoto mother and daughter evacuated, it quickly fell into a defensive position.
Wounds kept accumulating, its movements gradually slowing, its breathing becoming labored.
One jellyfish-like creature seized the opportunity to wrap its tentacles around Charizard's ankle, trying to drag it down!
Another aimed at Ethan, who'd exposed himself slightly out of concern for Charizard, shooting a stream of purple dissolving liquid straight at him!
"Look out!"
Disregarding its own entangled foot, Charizard threw itself sideways, using its broad wing to shield Ethan from the attack!
Its tough wing was instantly corroded by the poison, emitting a sizzling sound.
Charizard let out a pained growl, its massive body swaying before it collapsed heavily to the ground, unable to get back up.
"No! Charizard!" Ethan cried out, his heart filled with regret and despair.
For a moment, he regretted his impulsiveness. If he hadn't come back to save them, Charizard wouldn't have ended up like this.
He looked at the battered Charizard still desperately protecting him, looked at the horrifying wound on its wing,
looked at the increasingly numerous bizarre Pokémon surrounding them with predatory intent...
Under Ethan's cover, the Matsumoto mother and daughter had successfully gotten away, but they were now completely surrounded.
Their escape route was completely cut off.
It's over...
A cold wave of despair surged through him. He slid down with his back against the cold wall until he was sitting on the floor.
Charizard had also exhausted its strength, lying collapsed in front of him, yet still using its last reserves to shield him, letting out warning growls at the approaching enemies.
Ethan lifted his head, looking at those slowly advancing creatures radiating the aura of death, then at Charizard beside him, who refused to abandon him even on the brink of doom. A smile full of bitterness twisted across his lips.
He gently patted Charizard's scarred neck, speaking softly: "I'm sorry, buddy... I dragged you into this... In the end, we still... ended up walking the same path as Mom and Dad..."
He closed his eyes, waiting for the final outcome.
So be it.
At least this time, he hadn't run away. He'd at least tried to protect those he wanted to protect and died alongside his most important partner.
This ending... didn't seem too bad, did it?
However, just as his mind relaxed, as he gave up resistance, as his consciousness was nearly consumed by despair...
He suddenly felt a searing flame erupt from inside his jacket pocket!
It was an indescribable heat emanating from the depths of his soul.
What is this?
He instinctively reached toward his pocket. Time seemed to freeze in this moment!
It was those two stones. They'd become scalding hot now, as if a sun was burning in his palm!
Not only that, the two seemed to be resonating powerfully with each other, both radiating unprecedented brilliant light!
At the same time, Charizard beside him seemed to sense some mysterious power!
A powerful rainbow radiance burst from its body!
This light instantly connected and merged with the glow from the two stones in Ethan's hand, forming a massive pillar of light that completely enveloped the battered Charizard!
Infinite power surged forth along with explosive shockwaves and brilliant light, making the entire corridor tremble!
"What... what's happening?!"
Ethan forced his eyes open in the radiance, watching this phenomenon that defied all logic in disbelief!
Within the pillar of light, Charizard's form began changing dramatically!
Its body was expanding, its color deepening. An energy wave far more powerful, violent, and oppressive than before swept out like a storm!
It stunned the surrounding bizarre Pokémon into pausing for a moment, not daring to advance!
The next moment, the rainbow light dispersed!
What stood before Ethan now was no longer the familiar orange-red Charizard, but something entirely new—larger, more imposing, its body a dark gray-black, its mouth flickering with eerie blue and crimson flames that radiated pure, overwhelming dragon power.
It threw back its head and let out a roar that shook the heavens, the sound filled with power, fury, and a craving for battle!
Powerful shockwaves spread outward with it at the center, nearly making Ethan unable to keep his eyes open!!
"Th–This… this is the stone's power?!"
Ethan stared at this transformation like witnessing a miracle, gazing at this familiar yet strange, powerful partner before him. The despair in his heart was instantly replaced by overwhelming shock!
One jellyfish-like creature, apparently unwilling to let its prey escape, struck first, its tentacles whistling through the air toward the black Charizard!
However, this time the result was completely different!
The black Charizard didn't even use a ranged move. It simply raised its dragon claw, wreathed in dark flames, fast as lightning, and precisely grabbed the incoming tentacle!
Then, amid the jellyfish-like creature's terrified shriek, it roared and flexed its arm, actually swinging that creature like a sandbag and slamming it viciously into the wall!
"BOOM!"
The solid wall instantly exploded into dust.
The creature that previously required Charizard's full effort to barely repel was sent flying through multiple layers of walls with the thunderous sound of exploding air, disappearing into the distant dust!
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