Lt. Surge hefted his electromagnetic cannon, firing relentlessly at Red.
Blinding arcs of electricity tore through the skies, lancing into buildings around them. Towers riddled with holes looked like giant beehives, the edges glowing red with heat before cooling into crystallized steel and concrete.
Red didn't have the luxury to even glance at Surge's manic laughter—he had only one option.
Run. Run as fast as possible!
There was no way to get close. The speed of those electromagnetic blasts was terrifying. For Red's Pokémon to dodge them on land was already an extraordinary feat. If he dared to send Aerodactyl into the air, one single hit would mean instant death. Red would never gamble with his partner's life.
From the beginning of the battle until now, he had done nothing but flee. Forget counterattacking—he didn't even have the chance to pause for breath. The moment he slowed down, another shot from Surge's Voltorb would tear through him, and these Voltorb didn't just fire electromagnetic blasts… they exploded on impact too!
Lt. Surge hadn't moved a step. He had fused technology and Pokémon in perfect sync, turning the fight into one-sided carnage.
Red's clothes were shredded. A nasty cut on his forehead, caused when he tripped on debris earlier, bled freely, streaking across his face and blinding one eye. He couldn't even stop to wipe the blood away, terrified that even the smallest lapse would mean being blown apart.
At first, he hoped Surge's cannon might overheat and melt, but when he realized the barrel was forged from Silph Alloy, his hope died. Even Mewtwo had trouble tearing through this rare metal. Its high melting point and durability meant that no matter how many shots Surge fired, the weapon remained intact. And when Red noticed the crates of Poké Balls and Voltorb stacked behind him, he abandoned any thought of outlasting him.
And then—there was the Zapdos.
Its electricity surged endlessly, powering Surge's entire arsenal like a living generator. Red almost wondered if this Zapdos had once been chained to a power plant. The sheer speed of its energy recovery was absurd.
No amount of wit or strategy mattered when there wasn't even time to think. Red could only curse himself—he wasn't strong enough. He couldn't push forward through those blasts.
Surge, on the other hand, was in ecstasy. The soldier inside him rejoiced at this destructive onslaught. This was the kind of warfare he loved—the kind that reduced entire battlefields to rubble. And now, he was exacting vengeance for nearly dying on the S.S. Anne.
"You're only human, kid, not Superman!" Surge roared with a savage grin. "Let's see how long that little body of yours can last. I've still got half a crate of ammo left—better watch out!"
He wasn't bluffing. Behind him, Electabuzz and Raichu reloaded the cannon while a ring of Magneton generated protective fields around him. And on his shoulder, Zapdos kept the whole machine alive. Lt. Surge was armed to the teeth.
"Alright, everyone—let's keep going—"
But mid-sentence, Zapdos suddenly shrieked in pain. The Legendary Bird thrashed violently, tearing free from its wires before soaring straight toward Silph Co. Tower.
"Wha—?! Zapdos, where are you going?! Damn it, don't tell me it recharged too fast! I wasn't done yet!"
Surge faltered for a moment but quickly regained his composure, muttering with frustration.
For Red, however, the relief was overwhelming. Truth be told, if Surge had ordered Zapdos to attack him directly, he wouldn't have been as afraid. But endless electromagnetic cannon fire? That was hell itself.
"Lt. Surge," Red shouted through ragged breaths, "now that your Zapdos is gone, what will you do?!"
The soldier barked out a laugh. "Don't get cocky, brat. All it means is no more electromagnetic cannon. This battle's only just begun. Let's see if you can last to the end without collapsing!"
With that, he discarded the massive cannon. Though disappointed, he grinned at Red's battered, bloodied figure, his predatory eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle.
Wiping blood from his brow, Red's exhaustion was clear—but so was his determination.
If it was a true Pokémon battle, not some twisted mechanical slaughter, then he had hope.
Meanwhile, inside Silph Co. Tower—
The illusions surrounding Green dissolved at last. She blinked rapidly, now standing in what was unmistakably a massive dueling arena spanning the entire floor of the building. And there, opposite her, was Sabrina… with a strange machine humming at her side.
"At last, it's ready," Sabrina said coldly, inserting three Gym Badges into the circular slot of the machine. "Three is less than I wanted… but it's enough to begin. Behold—the continuation of the Eevee Project… The Tri-Bird Project."
The machine roared to life, surging with raw power.
Green's eyes narrowed. She didn't know what it was, but her instincts screamed at her. Whatever Sabrina was doing—she had to stop it!
"Blastoise—now!"
Twin cannons fired, torrents of pressurized water aimed at the device.
But Sabrina merely raised a hand.
"Moltres!"
The air burned as a massive flaming bird descended, its scorching fire reducing Blastoise's Hydro Pump to steam in midair.
Green's heart nearly stopped. Her lifelong phobia of birds clawed at her, freezing her muscles. She bit down hard on her tongue, forcing herself to remain conscious through the pain.
"Still trying to overcome your fear? Admirable," Sabrina said icily. "But what will you do now?"
As if to answer, two more shrieks echoed outside. Lightning split through one wall, ice through another. Zapdos and Articuno had arrived.
The three birds converged, their powers fusing as the machine unleashed its stored energy. Blinding light erupted like a miniature sun, and the ensuing shockwave flung Green and Blastoise across the arena.
And then—
A cry like no other filled the air.
The three birds had merged into one.
A monstrous avian stood before them, six vast wings of flame, lightning, and ice unfurled like those of a celestial being. It bore three heads, each exhaling its own element, and three taloned legs capable of rending steel. The fused embodiment of storm, fire, and frost—the ultimate hybrid Legendary.
"Look well, girl," Sabrina declared. "This is the true form of the Three Legendary Birds!"
The Tri-Bird screeched, its sheer aura tearing the air apart. Sparks, shards of ice, and flames appeared spontaneously in the atmosphere, warping even the oxygen.
Green's terror spiked. Her body trembled uncontrollably. And at last—her mind gave in.
Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed, unconscious.
Sabrina blinked, momentarily surprised at how severe Green's phobia truly was. But compassion was foreign to her. She raised her hand with merciless precision.
"Tri-Bird—Hurricane Cataclysm!"
The fused creature unleashed a spiraling storm of thunder, frost, and fire, the devastating vortex surging straight toward the fallen Green…
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