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Rain poured down in torrents as the fierce battle raged on. Enraged, Zapdos continuously released what seemed like an endless supply of electricity, all of which merged into the massive storm cloud above its head.
Then, with a near-roaring cry, the underground city was once again plunged into a brief artificial "daylight." Thick, bucket-sized bolts of lightning rained down wildly from the clouds, ravaging the already devastated ground.
At the same time, countless water spheres crackling with electricity formed around Zapdos. Using Hidden Power (Water), it condensed these orbs and fired them downward like a machine gun, relentlessly sweeping across the battlefield.
Faced with these waves of terrifying lightning attacks, Wattson and the other League members could barely evade them. For a time, they could only hide behind their Ground-type Pokémon.
Although Ground-types could channel electricity into the earth, they could not ignore the extreme heat generated by lightning strikes, nor the water spheres infused with electric power. Worse still, those spheres seemed capable of reducing insulation.
Pokémon like Graveler, Golem, and Onix—lacking Lightning Rod—would suffer not only heavy damage from the water spheres but also secondary Electric-type effects upon impact.
After a prolonged battle, the Ground-type Pokémon of the League forces were covered in charred burns. Many were severely injured, and a large portion had already lost the ability to fight. At this point, it often took five or six people to rely on a single Ground-type Pokémon.
As for non-Ground-types, aside from a few like Manectric, Electrike, Blitzle, and Zebstrika—those with Lightning Rod—most were in dire condition. The majority had already fainted.
Even Wattson and the others, despite wearing highly insulated rubber suits, were struggling.
Each lightning strike generated terrifying heat, gradually melting their protective gear. Many had already been knocked unconscious after their suits lost their insulating properties.
To make matters worse, the wild Pokémon that had been driven back earlier began to stir again upon sensing the League's weakening state. Slowly, they started forming a new encirclement.
"Damn it… this beast is too strong! We can't capture it with our strength alone! Listen up—prioritize the injured! Begin a phased retreat!"
Seeing that fewer than one-third of their forces remained combat-capable, while Zapdos still showed no signs of weakening—and with hostile wild Pokémon closing in—Wattson finally made the painful decision to order a retreat.
The surrounding League members immediately showed expressions of relief. They quickly took out their PokeBalls and began recalling their fallen Pokémon.
"SKREEE—!!!"
Seeing them attempt to retreat, Zapdos—having lost its treasure—was unwilling to let them go. It cried out sharply, summoning another barrage of thunder, then dove down like a fighter jet to attack the retreating forces.
"Hmph! So you finally came down, you ragged bird. Ampharos, teach it a lesson—use Dragon Pulse!"
Riding atop Manectric, Wattson's eyes lit up when he saw Zapdos descending. He immediately ordered his Ampharos—also mounted on a Manectric—to attack.
This Ampharos was clearly his ace, at level 67. Upon receiving the command, it unleashed a massive dragon-shaped energy wave, surging forward toward Zapdos.
"Magnezone, Flash Cannon!"
"Rhydon, Stone Edge!"
"Raichu, Thunder!"
Several of Wattson's capable subordinates halted their retreat and joined the attack, commanding their Pokémon to strike.
But this wild Zapdos, a level 73 Elite-Four tier Pokémon, had already boosted its speed to the maximum using Agility. Combined with its superior flight technique, it moved with ease against the barrage.
Like a slippery eel, Zapdos evaded every incoming attack.
As it dodged, a dazzling white light began to shine from its body. By the time it had avoided all attacks, it had transformed into a gigantic radiant bird—Brave Bird activated.
With a single beat of its wings, it turned into a streak of light and crashed toward Wattson and his forces.
In the next instant, the frontline Trainers and Pokémon were sent flying, collapsing to the ground. This single Brave Bird strike instantly knocked out over a dozen Pokémon above level 50.
Yet Zapdos did not stop.
After executing Brave Bird, it shot upward again, then dove once more, its body once again blazing with blinding white light—clearly intending to repeat the attack.
And its primary target this time—
was Wattson himself.
Wattson had only survived the previous strike thanks to Ampharos's desperate protection. Even so, his thigh had been cut by the air blade generated by Brave Bird, and with his rubber suit damaged, the residual electricity had numbed his entire body.
"Looks like… I'm too old for this. I might really fall here today…"
Seeing Zapdos charging at him again, a trace of despair rose in his heart.
At the same time, with Wattson and the League's key fighters heavily injured, the wild Pokémon lurking at the edges of the battlefield launched another assault under Zapdos's overwhelming presence.
The League forces were now fighting for their own survival—no one could spare the strength to rescue Wattson.
But just as all seemed lost—
A massive blue beam suddenly tore across the battlefield, shooting straight toward the radiant form of Zapdos.
Where the beam passed, raindrops froze instantly into ice particles, revealing the terrifying Ice-type energy within.
Zapdos sensed the immense threat from the beam and was forced to dodge. Though it narrowly avoided the attack, its assault on Wattson was completely disrupted.
Yet just as it thought it could catch its breath—
A Crobat suddenly appeared on its left.
Seeing such an ordinary Pokémon daring to fly before it, Zapdos showed a hint of mockery. With a mere thought, it summoned the immense electrical power from the storm cloud above.
A thick bolt of lightning instantly struck Crobat.
But what shocked Zapdos was—
the "insignificant insect" before it remained completely unharmed. In fact, its aura surged dramatically.
In the next instant, Crobat spread its four wings wide. A violent gale erupted, followed by countless massive white air blades, each several meters long, engulfing Zapdos.