The dazzling pink energy sphere erupted forward, carrying terrifying momentum as smoke and dust billowed everywhere!
"Ka!"
Seeing danger, Kadabra flicked the spoon in its hand. Its body vanished on the spot—and in the very next instant, it reappeared behind Sabrina.
Teleport!
A signature move of the Abra line.
For most Trainers, Pokémon shield their Trainers.
But Saffron Gym was different.
When things got dangerous—protect the Trainer, because the Trainer was far stronger than the Pokémon.
"Hmph!"
A hint of surprise flashed through Sabrina's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. A brilliant blue light flickered in her gaze, and a pale-blue psychic barrier materialized in front of her.
BOOM—!!
Moonblast slammed into the barrier at point-blank range. Violent Fairy-type energy exploded outward, filling the arena with pink mist.
Yet the psychic barrier didn't budge at all.
Fairy-type power was usually gentle yet deadly—but this Moonblast had gone completely berserk. Even Butterfree's cute face twisted slightly under the strain as the backlash whipped into a violent storm.
"Mi!"
Moonblast!!
"This woman's raw power… is about seventy percent of yours."
Red's voice suddenly echoed inside Ash's soul.
In the game world, he had fought Sabrina before. Aside from being a Psychic-type Gym Leader, she had never displayed this level of personal combat power.
In this world, however—she was terrifying.
If human strength were categorized like Pokémon types, Ash's body would be an elite-tier Fighting-type still in development.
Sabrina, on the other hand, was already a fully matured Psychic-type Elite Four–level combatant.
Psychic beats Fighting.
No matter how strong Ash's body was, Sabrina countered him completely.
Still… even Red hadn't expected that pink Butterfree to unleash such an overwhelming Moonblast.
Is this the power of love…?
"Barely ten percent. Hmph."
A telepathic voice replied disdainfully.
Red smiled but didn't argue.
Seventy percent was an exaggeration—but fifty percent was about right.
Of course, that was before he awakened.
Reality
No matter how violent Butterfree's outburst was, Sabrina remained unmoved.
She clenched her fist.
The psychic barrier suddenly surged forward, shoving the Fairy-type energy straight back.
"Mi…mi…"
Butterfree couldn't dodge in time.
It was struck full-on by its own rampaging power. Already at the brink, it finally collapsed like a withered leaf.
Thud!
Purple smoke rose.
The next instant, Butterfree turned into a lifeless doll, landing right beside Pidgeotto's doll.
Pidgeotto's doll suddenly twitched, sticking out its tiny tongue to touch Butterfree.
Its final act of defiance.
Two motionless dolls lay side by side.
In that moment, they looked like a master's painting—
a tribute to cross-Egg-Group Pokémon pursuing true love and sacrificing everything for it.
If this painting needed a name:
"A Bird Eats a Bug."
"BUTTERFREE!!"
Ash cried out and rushed forward—
—but a leaking wave of Moonblast backlash roared toward him.
Brock tackled Ash to the ground just in time, narrowly avoiding the blast.
Meanwhile, Sabrina rose into the air, blue light enveloping her as she drifted closer, her eyes cold and merciless.
"Run!"
"If there's life, there's still hope!"
Brock and Misty exchanged looks and dragged Ash toward the exit.
Sabrina was like a demon god now—completely unstoppable.
Besides, Butterfree and Pidgeotto weren't dead.
They were just… staying behind to play.
They could come back for them later.
Ash took a deep breath and cast one last look at Butterfree and Pidgeotto before forcing himself to run.
Unless he borrowed Red's power, there was no way he could fight Sabrina now.
And he had promised Red—not to rely on him unless it was truly a life-or-death situation.
Even Pikachu, who had been barely involved, fired off a desperate Thunderbolt to slow Sabrina down—
—but she casually flicked it aside.
"Pika!"
Pikachu used Quick Attack, feinted, and bolted for the exit.
They reached the dark corridor they had passed earlier. The light was dim and hazy, but the exit was right ahead.
Ash rushed forward and pushed—
Only to find the door sealed tight by a layer of glowing blue psychic energy.
He turned.
Sabrina was now less than three meters away.
Her eyes burned with eerie red light.
The doll in her arms rotated its eyes a full 360 degrees before letting out a chilling laugh.
"Hee-hee. You lost… so you have to stay and play with me."
Ash's Pokédex instantly responded:
"Beep. I accept."
Even in absolute despair, it still found time to be a simp.
Just as Sabrina's psychic beam was about to fire—
A shout rang out.
"Stop, Sabrina!"
Her attack halted instinctively.
Ash and Misty spun around.
At some point, a new figure had appeared behind them.
A broad-shouldered man with a beard, wearing a low-pulled cap that hid his face. Judging by his voice, he was middle-aged.
Taking advantage of the opening, he placed a hand on them and activated his power.
Blue light enveloped them.
Whoosh!
They vanished.
Teleport.
Saffron City – Near the Pokémon Center
Three figures suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Nearby pedestrians didn't even blink.
In Saffron City, if you tossed a rock, you might knock out a Psychic-type.
"Pika…"
Pikachu hopped down from Ash's shoulder, finally breathing easier.
Brock and Misty were still shaken, hearts pounding.
The man adjusted his cap and said bluntly:
"You're not locals, are you? Forget Saffron Gym. It's far beyond your level."
Ash clenched his fists.
There was regret—self-blame—but even more unyielding determination.
"I will defeat Saffron Gym! Trainers from Pallet Town don't back down!"
And Butterfree and Pidgeotto were still in there.
"Pallet Town…? Then you—ah, never mind."
The man studied Ash briefly, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately held back.
He had watched the battle.
This boy was still far from ready.
Yesterday's Pallet Town Trainer, though—that one had actually defeated Sabrina, even if barely.
"Say it!"
Ash was practically dying inside.
He hated two kinds of people in his life:
Those who spoke halfway—
And—
"This city is about to change," the man said suddenly.
"Leave Saffron City. Now."
Blue light flared again.
Whoosh.
He disappeared.
Teleport.
Ash and Misty stared at each other, utterly lost.
Normally, there was always someone who explained things to them.
Then they froze.
"Damn it—WHERE'S BROCK?!"
The man had only teleported two people out.
Saffron Gym – Dark Corridor
Sabrina frowned slightly.
"Hmph. They got away. That annoying man again."
Her doll popped out an eyeball and giggled.
"Hee-hee. The handsome Pokédex got away too."
Sabrina: "..."
She turned and returned to the inner chamber.
The corridor fell silent once more.
Then—
In the darkness, a faint white light appeared.
Segmented.
If you looked closely—
Teeth.
Brock: "?"
He stood there blankly, scratching his head.
Apparently, both sides had forgotten him.
Even when Sabrina had been less than two meters away earlier—
As long as Brock kept his mouth shut, no one could perceive him.
In the darkness, his skin tone blended perfectly with the shadows.
Like a spirit of the night—
Mysterious and unfathomable.
"As long as I don't open my mouth, you can't see me."
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