"That Pokémon is undoubtedly the largest creature in this world. Words can't describe it, and it's impossible to imagine just how enormous it truly is."
Bill—an outstanding researcher on par with Professor Oak—closed his eyes as he spoke, recalling the mysterious creature. His voice was deep and magnetic, yet tinged with regret and helplessness.
"No one has ever seen its true form."
"And that Pokémon has been wandering across the world, searching for its companions."
Bill firmly believed in the existence of this Pokémon. To the entire Pokémon world, it was a massive mystery.
"How big is it?" Ash asked.
Gazing toward the lonely lighthouse, Ash tried to picture the Ancient Dragonite in his mind.
He imagined a Pokémon taller than the cliff and the lighthouse combined.
The thought alone felt absurd.
He turned to look at his companions.
Brock and Misty wore similar expressions—faces filled with shock and curiosity.
The largest Pokémon Misty had ever seen was Ash's Shiny Gyarados. She tried to imagine a Pokémon even larger than that, but her imagination had already reached its limit.
"I can't say," Bill replied. Right now, all he wanted was to see that mysterious Pokémon with his own eyes.
"Listen to this sound."
Bill mysteriously pulled out a tape recorder and pressed play.
A strange sound immediately filled the air.
"What kind of sound is that?" Brock asked curiously.
Bill didn't answer right away. Instead, he let the recording continue.
It was a series of urgent cries—but hidden within them was a deep sense of loneliness.
"I want to see you… I want to see you."
Ash guessed that the Ancient Dragonite had been unable to find its companions. That was why it wandered the world, constantly calling out in hopes of hearing a response.
Bill explained the meaning of the recording.
The Ancient Dragonite had even responded to the signal, effectively inviting Ash and the others to witness the largest Pokémon in the world.
But before meeting it, Ash had something extremely important to do—
Get rid of the troublemaking Team Rocket.
Dealing with Team Rocket
Using the excuse that he had left something behind on the beach, Ash took Pikachu with him down the cliff.
Coincidentally, Team Rocket had just arrived there as well.
The old rivals ran straight into each other.
James was walking at the front of the group when he suddenly froze.
His eyes widened as he rubbed them in disbelief.
"Kid! Didn't you go up to the lighthouse already?!"
James shouted in shock, utterly confused.
They had clearly seen Ash enter the lighthouse earlier.
The reason Team Rocket hadn't taken the sloped path up was because they were afraid of running into Ash and blowing their ambush.
Jessie and Meowth stared at the kid suspiciously.
Was he… waiting here for them?
A terrifying realization surfaced in their minds.
"I've been waiting for you," Ash said with a friendly-looking smile.
"Pika-pi!"
Pikachu glared at Team Rocket.
"Waiting for us for what, meow?" Meowth asked, sensing danger in the boy's smile.
"To battle, of course."
Ash casually tossed a Poké Ball in his hand, openly provoking them.
This was too much!
Team Rocket was furious.
So the brat thought he could bully them just because he had strong Pokémon?!
If they didn't show some real power, people would think Team Rocket were pushovers!
Ekans, Koffing, and Meowth formed the trio's main battle lineup.
[Pokémon: Ekans – Lv. 22]
[Pokémon: Koffing – Lv. 23]
After so many encounters with Ash, their Pokémon had grown stronger.
But Ash only smiled.
"Pikachu, I'll leave them to you."
The very Pokémon Team Rocket loved and hated the most stepped forward.
A bolt of lightning descended like divine punishment.
Thunderbolt.
In an instant—
Team Rocket's three fighters were completely wiped out.
"Pikachu seems even stronger than before… meow…"
Meowth's voice trembled weakly.
Its entire body twitched from the electricity. Every strand of fur felt like it was crackling with residual current.
Pikachu had leveled up again.
[Pikachu – Lv. 35]
Thanks to Team Rocket's generous contribution of battle experience.
"Curse you, brat! We'll be back!!"
The familiar Team Rocket retreat line echoed as they blasted off once again.
The Arrival of the Giant
Back at the lighthouse—
"Ash, did you hear some strange noise just now?" Misty asked.
"I didn't hear anything."
"The time is about right," Bill said. "This is when that Pokémon usually responds."
He led Ash and the others to the top of the lighthouse, where a loudspeaker continuously broadcast the recording.
The group stared out at the dark, silent sea.
Their curiosity about the largest Pokémon in the world grew stronger by the second.
"It's here."
Bill's body trembled.
That familiar cry struck straight into his heart, like lightning tearing through the silent night sky.
Ash and the others followed his gaze.
The once-calm sea now revealed a massive shadow slowly approaching.
As the shadow moved forward, even the moonlight seemed to disappear around it, swallowed by darkness.
"Th-That's… a Pokémon?" Misty swallowed nervously, her hands clenched together.
She was clearly terrified by the sight.
So this… was the Ancient Dragonite?
Ash stared intently at the gigantic figure.
Its body was hidden within thick darkness, making only its rough outline visible.
Bill, however, looked thrilled.
His eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight of this unknown creature.
The shadow's cry echoed across the sea as it continued moving closer.
Under the moonlight, its shape gradually became clearer.
The creature's body was colossal—
Like a moving island rising from the ocean.
"Oh my goodness…"
Misty stared in shock.
When the Pokémon stood up from the sea, it was taller than the lighthouse itself.
Brock swallowed nervously.
Was that really… a Pokémon?
Bill's excitement reached its peak.
If the creature moved just a little closer, he would finally see its true form.
Then—
"Wooo…"
The Ancient Dragonite suddenly stopped moving.
It had discovered the source of the broadcast signal.
System Warning
[ Warning: Ancient Dragonite is about to attack.]
Ash received the System alert.
But he had already driven away Team Rocket.
So why was the Ancient Dragonite still attacking?
"ROOOAR!"
The colossal Pokémon raised one enormous claw and struck.
In an instant, the lighthouse's shining lights were smashed apart.
The bright beams scattered through the night sky before plunging into the deep ocean below.
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
Right now, Pikachu had to hold it off.
Even if only for a moment—
Just long enough for Misty and the others to escape the lighthouse.
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