"Ash, take it."
Gary didn't hesitate to place the Heal Ball into Ash's hand.
Ash was stunned.
He might have been called a fool, but he wasn't dumb. Gary had just handed him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture a Legendary Pokémon — without hesitation.
That was a huge deal.
"Why are you hesitating? Hurry up. There's still trouble at the cathedral," Gary urged.
"Okay!" Ash nodded, turned to Latias, and spoke the words countless Trainers dream of:
"Go, Poké Ball!"
Ash threw the Heal Ball.
It traced a clean arc through the air and struck Latias, pulling her into the ball.
The Heal Ball dropped to the floor, shook gently three times… then clicked.
Capture complete. A green glow enveloped the Heal Ball.
"Is it healing her?" Ash asked.
"Yes. It'll be done shortly," Gary replied.
A few seconds later, the healing glow faded — the healing was complete.
"Ash, she's healed," Gary reminded him.
Ash nodded, walked over, picked up the Heal Ball, and pressed the release button.
Latias appeared in a flash of light.
"Woooo!!"
Latias looked around in surprise, feeling her strength fully restored. Although she had long lived in Alto Mare, she'd never been captured, nor had she visited a Pokémon Center. Her recovery had always depended on natural rest. This kind of rapid healing was a first for her.
"There's no time to lose. We need to move fast — if we're late, Lorenzo and Bianca could be in danger," Gary said.
"Right. Latias, let's go save your brother, Mr. Lorenzo, and Bianca!" Ash added.
"Woo!" Latias nodded.
Everyone gathered at the window, ready to exit. But when they looked outside, they discovered that iron bars had been raised throughout the city, sealing intersections. These bars had been absent during the day.
"No — those two women must have activated the device. We need to escape quickly!" Gary urged.
Before they could act, metal bars rose from the nearby building, sealing its windows. Ash and Gary leapt through the open window just before it sealed shut, diving into the canal below. Brock and Misty were trapped inside.
"Ash, Gary — go to the cathedral! We'll catch up!" Brock called from the window.
Gary and Ash nodded.
"Let's get to shore," Ash said.
"Right."
They swam to the canal's edge.
"Charizard, come out!" Gary released his Charizard. "Let's fly!"
Gary and Ash climbed onto Charizard's back, which soared into the air with ease. Latias flew closely behind them.
But it wasn't going to be that easy.
"Gary, look down!" Ash shouted.
A nearly two-meter-tall Kabutops was jumping across the rooftops, chasing after them with unnerving speed.
"Huh?" Gary looked down. He noticed there was no display above the Kabutops — no name, no level.
"It's not a real Pokémon," Gary realized. "It's energy-based — created by the device."
SWOOSH!
Kabutops leapt, matching Charizard's altitude. Its body was enveloped in water as it slashed toward Charizard.
"Pikachu, use 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded instinctively.
"Pika—CHUUU!"
The thunderbolt cut through Kabutops' watery veil, striking it hard. Kabutops crashed down to the rooftop, paralyzed and stunned.
"Ahh!!"
Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, another shape hurtled toward them — Aerodactyl, eyes glowing white.
This Aerodactyl was larger, more muscular than a normal one — like the difference between an average Saiyan and a Super Saiyan.
"Zapdos — handle Aerodactyl!" Gary shouted, tossing a Poké Ball.
"Zaaap!!"
Zapdos emerged and immediately fired a bolt of electricity at Aerodactyl, who skillfully dodged.
"He knows how to dodge... This one has intelligence," Gary observed.
"Zapdos?!" Ash exclaimed. "I thought you didn't bring him!"
—
At the Cathedral:
"What?! Zapdos?!" Annie gasped, watching the live feed from the device.
"Excellent. Zapdos has appeared. I'll take that one too," she grinned. Her greed had no limits.
Suddenly, waves surged from the canal, water rising unnaturally as if alive. It tried to encircle Zapdos.
But Zapdos wasn't interested in fighting. He knew his role — delay them. He darted upward, dodging the water barrier, and struck Aerodactyl with lightning.
Ash and Gary were nearing the cathedral now — but they wouldn't be lucky for long.
Annie noticed them on the monitor.
Water from the river surged ashore, towering into a massive wave that aimed to swallow the sky.
Simultaneously, water walls rose on all sides to trap them.
"Now where will you go?!" Annie said triumphantly, her expression wild with confidence.
But in the next moment — the massive wave froze in place.
"What?!"
Outside the cathedral, the tidal wave suddenly solidified into ice.
CRACK!
An ice wall shattered, and Charizard burst through, followed by a graceful Articuno trailing a pale blue glow.
"Whoa — that's awesome!!" Ash shouted.
At the last second, Gary had released Articuno to freeze the flood, saving everyone from disaster.
Charizard landed at the cathedral's entrance. As it descended, Ash and Gary jumped off and ran inside. From a distance, they could already see the device deep within the hall.
"Ash!"
Lorenzo and Bianca were shocked to see him.
"Mr. Lorenzo!" Ash dashed forward and began tearing away the spider silk binding him, channeling raw strength like a true heroic rookie.
"Hiss!!"
An Ariados appeared on a nearby column and fired a Night Shade at Ash.
"Eevee, Thunderbolt!" Gary shouted.
"Eee--ve!!"
Eevee let loose a Thunderbolt. The electricity ripped through the darkness and struck Ariados directly, knocking it out instantly.