Chapter 23: Subduing the Lightning Bird

Chapter 23: Capturing Zapdos

Zapdos let out a cry and spread its wings, electricity flashing around its body. With a single Thunderbolt, it neutralized all incoming moves.

Xia You couldn't help but praise, "As expected of a Legendary Pokémon! Even when outnumbered, it can still handle everything so calmly!"

However, perhaps finding him too noisy, a bolt of lightning suddenly lunged toward him. Seeing this, Xia You hurriedly ducked behind the doorway, narrowly escaping being scorched.

Peeking out again, Xia You continued to shout, "Kirlia, find a way to restrict its movement!"

Kirlia raised its hands, surrounding Zapdos with invisible psychic energy. But perhaps due to the vast difference in level, strength, and base stats, Zapdos struggled only a few times before breaking free from the restraint.

After gliding in a circle beneath the skylight, Zapdos's body suddenly began to spin, and its long beak began to glow, heading straight for Bulbasaur.

"Oh no, it's Drill Peck! Charmander, use Smokescreen, quick!"

Drill Peck, a Flying-type move, not only had an advantage over Grass-types, but given Zapdos's level, if it hit Bulbasaur, it would be enough to knock it out instantly.

Hearing the command, Charmander opened its mouth, and a cloud of black smoke billowed out, enveloping the room and hiding their tracks.

Losing its target, Zapdos's attack missed in the next second, pecking violently into the ground. However, its power was so immense that it not only smashed a large hole in the floor but seemed to make the entire power room shake.

Seeing that it had missed, Zapdos soared high once more. However, its body, crackling with electricity, acted like a bright lightbulb amidst the smoke, making it exceptionally conspicuous.

Suddenly, a stream of water and a blast of flame pierced through the thick smoke, striking Zapdos from the left and right simultaneously.

Zapdos let out a cry of pain and immediately flapped its wings, dispersing the entire smokescreen.

At that exact moment, two vines flew up from below, soaring into the air and binding Zapdos's wings.

"Bulbasaur! Great job!" Xia You's eyes lit up as he shouted, "Pull it down, now!"

Bulbasaur used all its strength to try and drag Zapdos to the ground, but Zapdos flapped its wings, forcing a stalemate in mid-air.

"Jolteon, use Quick Attack!"

Jolteon's speed suddenly surged. It stepped several times against the wall before leaping into the air, slamming hard into Zapdos.

Despite the name, Quick Attack was a Normal-type move. After colliding with Zapdos, the bird lost control of its body and, with a slip, was dragged down by Bulbasaur's momentum.

"Now's the chance!" Xia You shouted, "All out attack!"

His Pokémon struck in unison, several moves hitting Zapdos simultaneously.

This time, taking the full brunt of the damage, Zapdos let out a mournful cry. But being a Legendary Pokémon, it did not fall after the concentrated fire; instead, electricity instantly covered its entire body, and it unleashed another Thunderbolt!

Violent, frenzied lightning surged wildly through the power room, attacking indiscriminately without regard for targets. In an instant, not only did Xia You's Pokémon scatter to avoid it, but even the facilities within the power station were being destroyed.

When Xia You peeked out from behind the door again, he found that explosions, thick smoke, sparks, and broken machinery had become the main theme of the room.

His eyes scanned quickly to check on his Pokémon. Aside from Jolteon, the others had suffered varying degrees of injury and looked battered, but fortunately, none had fainted. Even Squirtle had used Withdraw to protect itself in that split second.

Zapdos flapped its wings and soared high, staring down at the Pokémon it perceived as weak, its eyes seemingly burning with rage.

Having suffered such humiliation, it was now completely infuriated!

With a furious cry, through the shattered skylight, one could see the sky above the power station suddenly becoming overcast with dark clouds. In just a few seconds, the entire sky was blocked by thick clouds, plunging everything into darkness.

Within the clouds, lightning flashed intermittently, as if a terrifying thunderstorm was brewing.

Swallowing hard, Xia You was about to issue a command when he suddenly received a call from Professor Oak.

Without thinking much, Xia You answered. As soon as he turned on the speakerphone, Professor Oak's urgent voice came through.

"Xia You, are you alright? I thought I heard an explosion just now, and now the entire area, including the research institute, has lost power. What on earth happened?"

Xia You looked up at the dark clouds and gave a bitter smile. "Sorry, Professor, things got a little out of hand here. But I think no matter what the final result is, it will all be over very soon!"

As he spoke, a massive thunderbolt struck down from the heavens, piercing through the skylight and covering the entire power room.

Thunder, an Electric-type move, could sweep through all enemies with massive damage and range. Even if the damage wasn't enough to knock an enemy out, there was a certain chance it would cause paralysis.

At this moment, the Pokémon in the power room had nowhere to hide. However, at this critical juncture, a small figure actually jumped into the air, meeting the thunderbolt head-on.

It was Jolteon!!

There was no time to call out. Accompanied by a deafening roar, the thunderbolt struck Jolteon, erupting in a brilliant light that nearly blinded Xia You.

When the dust settled, Xia You hurriedly looked toward Jolteon. To his surprise, although Jolteon was panting slightly, the lightning had not harmed it in the slightest!

After a moment of stunned silence, he suddenly remembered his Jolteon's ability.

Volt Absorb: A Pokémon with this ability is unaffected by Electric-type moves. When hit by an Electric-type move, it takes no damage and restores a small amount of HP.

"That's amazing! Jolteon!"

In mid-air, Zapdos also hadn't expected this outcome. While it was catching its breath, Kirlia activated its psychic power and Bulbasaur swung its vines, both moves entangling it simultaneously.

"Don't give it another chance to resist!" Xia You shouted, "Everyone, attack together and finish it!"

A kaleidoscope of colorful skills hit Zapdos at once, and this time, it could no longer endure and fell from the sky!

A golden opportunity!

Seeing this, Xia You decisively pulled out a Poké Ball and threw it.

The Poké Ball traced a perfect arc through the air and struck Zapdos. Following a flash of red light, Zapdos was sucked into the ball, but in the very next second, it burst right back out!

It still had stamina!?

"Everyone, give it everything you've got! Keep attacking!"

Several more moves struck Zapdos. The bird let out a mournful cry, but using its last bit of strength, it actually released one more Thunderbolt!

*Zzzzzzt!!*

After the blinding light, Xia You's Pokémon could not withstand the damage and fell one after another, leaving only Jolteon standing!

"Damn it!" Knowing he had reached the most critical moment and could not give up now, Xia You gritted his teeth and shouted, "Jolteon, Quick Attack!!"

Jolteon accelerated violently, slamming into Zapdos with the speed of a meteor!

This time, Zapdos was powerless to resist. With one final low cry, it collapsed to the ground!

At this moment, Xia You's heart was practically in his throat!

He pulled out another Poké Ball and threw it at Zapdos.

After the red light, as Zapdos entered the ball for the second time, the Poké Ball began to shake violently—shake, shake, and shake again—until, several seconds later, it clicked shut with a "thud."

Slowly picking it up and looking at the red-and-white Poké Ball in his hand, Xia You felt a sense of trance.

I actually captured Zapdos!?

(End of Chapter)