In a Black World —
After entering Team Rocket's base, Ash felt like a fish returning to the sea.
This place was vast—but unlike the open ocean, his Aura could scan the entire base in an instant.
"Found them… Lugia, and Hiro's Pokémon. This way."
Less than a second after closing his eyes, Ash opened them again, pointing decisively to the right before leading everyone forward at full speed.
At this point, Togepi had already been returned to its Poké Ball.
Jigglypuff was also recalled and temporarily entrusted to Brock, who still had room for one more Pokémon in his party.
Naturally, Team Rocket's base was not undefended.
On the contrary—security Pokémon were stationed everywhere.
But before Sabrina's hypnosis, none of them could last even a moment.
When Ash and the others finally reached the deepest chamber—Lugia's containment site—the sight before them made everyone's breath catch.
Lugia was trapped inside a cage formed by four glowing pillars, letting out a distorted, agonized cry.
Most of its once pure white body had been dyed jet black.
The calm eyes of the legendary guardian had turned crimson, feathers corroded by darkness. Only its chest and eyes still retained faint traces of white.
Standing guard before Lugia were six Pokémon, positioned like sentries.
Beside a massive machine stood a bald, middle-aged man in a white lab coat, frantically typing while muttering to himself.
"Almost… almost complete…"
"Dark Lugia is nearly finished!"
"When that happens, the entire world will belong to Team Universe—hahahaha!"
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!!"
Ash didn't hesitate.
Golden lightning erupted instantly.
The six guarding Pokémon lunged forward, trying to shield either the man or the machine.
But—
The Thunderbolt curved midair.
A blazing arc of electricity bypassed all six Pokémon and struck the bald man and the machine behind him head-on.
Ash didn't hold back.
The Thunderbolt—already near Elite Four–level—sent the man flying, smoke trailing from his body.
The machine crackled violently, sparks and black smoke pouring out—
BOOM!
The device exploded.
The shockwave slammed the man into the wall, knocking him unconscious.
With the machine destroyed, the four luminous pillars deactivated.
Lugia's agonized cry ceased—but its massive body collapsed limply to the ground, unconscious.
The silver Poké Ball hanging at Ash's neck began to tremble violently.
The young Lugia inside had sensed its mother.
"Easy, Silver," Ash said softly.
"I'll save her. Stay inside for now."
The shaking slowly stopped.
Though their time together hadn't been long, Silver trusted Ash deeply—no less than its mother.
The six Pokémon guarding Lugia, however, roared ferociously, eyes empty of reason.
Hiro stepped forward, trembling.
"Ren… what's wrong? It's me—Hiro!"
"Jiangben, Bobby… don't you recognize me?"
They were Hiro's Pokémon.
But now, they were completely violent—controlled.
"It looks like some kind of control device," Ash said calmly.
"If we find it, this should end."
Hiro tried to recall one of them.
The Poké Ball's red light bounced off uselessly—triggering their aggression instead.
The six Pokémon attacked simultaneously—
Flames, lightning, sandstorms, and more collided in a devastating barrage.
BOOM!
A massive explosion followed—
—but the shockwave was stopped cold by a blue Aura barrier.
Ash lowered his hand, retracting the Aura.
"So standard Poké Balls can't override Dark Poké Ball control…"
"If only Mewtwo were here," he muttered.
"He'd know the mechanism."
Ash had already contacted Lugia of the seas the moment he saw the corruption.
When the guardian learned of its mate's condition, it lost all composure—erecting a barrier around Mewtwo before racing toward Ash's location at maximum speed.
Sabrina stepped in, suppressing the six Pokémon with psychic power.
Ash now had two options:
Wait for Lugia—or tear the base apart.
Before he could decide—
"Dr. Nanba! What happened?!"
"Are you all right?!"
Two familiar voices echoed.
Team Rocket stiffened.
"…Those voices sound familiar."
They turned—
"Amado!"
"Kojiro—no, wait! Kosaburo!"
"Jessie?!"
"James?!"
The arrivals were Amado and Kosaburo—former rivals of the Team Rocket trio.
Unlike Jessie and James, these two were genuine villains.
"So you really defected to Vicious?" Jessie demanded.
"Hah! Better than following a coward who surrendered to the police!"
"Watch your mouth! That's Boss Giovanni, nya!"
Before the argument could escalate—
Ash stepped forward.
Both Amado and Kosaburo were lifted into the air—then slammed down at his feet.
Sabrina restrained the six Pokémon effortlessly.
"Now," Ash said calmly, cracking his knuckles,
"you're going to tell me everything."
Smiling gently, he added:
"Or I can't promise you'll see the sun tomorrow."
They broke instantly.
Through sobs, they confessed:
Dark Poké Balls could not capture Pokémon above mid-Gym Leader level
But once trained, even powerful Pokémon could be controlled
Lugia's corruption came from a potion created by Dr. Nanba, supplied by Vicious
Team Universe was preparing to conquer the world.
Their mistake?
They were discovered.
Ash listened silently.
Then turned to Sabrina.
"Take them. Destroy every Dark Poké Ball in this base."
She nodded.
As they left, Ash stood alone before the unconscious Lugia.
The Aura radiating from its body felt wrong—twisted and vile.
Lugia was a righteous guardian.
This corruption could only be artificial.
"Please arrive soon," Ash murmured.
"God of the Sea…"
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