Chapter 388: Chapter 70: The Three Rioting Gods
The Three Sacred Birds, already weakened from their previous battles, could no longer withstand the relentless assault of the purple-red aurora.
Their energy shields, once vibrant and formidable, shimmered weakly before finally shattering under the aurora's oppressive force.
Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno faltered, their strength rapidly depleting as they struggled to resist the overwhelming power bearing down on them.
Ash watched helplessly from the ground, his frown deepening as the scene unfolded.
The once-proud gods, now barely clinging to their might, were on the brink of collapse. A gnawing sense of foreboding settled in Ash's stomach, warning him that something far worse was about to occur.
Above him, the aurora painted the night sky in surreal hues of purple and red, its light pulsing ominously through swirling, turbulent clouds.
"Ash…"
A soft, childlike voice echoed in his mind, pulling him from his thoughts.
Startled, Ash turned to see Marshadow materializing before him, its shadowy form surrounded by a flickering energy shield similar to those the gods had conjured.
But unlike the gods' barriers, Marshadow's shield was visibly strained, the effort of maintaining it clearly taking its toll.
"Marshadow!" Ash called, stepping toward the spectral Pokémon.
"What's happening? You know something, don't you?"
Marshadow nodded faintly, though its movements were sluggish. It glanced at Pikachu, surprised to see the Electric-type unaffected by the aurora's strange energy.
Though curious, Marshadow had no time to dwell on this anomaly. The situation was far too dire.
"Altar… ceremony…"
The words came through Marshadow's telepathy, halting and labored as it fought against the oppressive energy of the aurora.
Ash's eyes widened at the implication.
"An altar? A ceremony?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
Marshadow weakly raised a hand, pointing toward Ash's backpack. Even this small motion seemed to drain the Pokémon's remaining energy.
Pikachu quickly caught on, nudging the bag toward Ash.
"You mean the orb?" Ash asked, realization dawning on him as he pulled out the flame orb from his pack.
Marshadow nodded again, its shield flickering dangerously.
"Altar, ritual, orb…" Ash murmured, piecing together Marshadow's cryptic message.
He recalled the themes of the original story, connecting them to the current crisis.
"I understand! I'll find the other two orbs immediately!"
Marshadow's glowing eyes urged him to hurry. Time was slipping away, and the Pokémon's energy was nearly spent.
---
Above, the gods' shields collapsed entirely under the aurora's relentless onslaught. The light of the aurora engulfed them, wrapping their forms in an eerie, oppressive silence.
Moments later, dark purple-red clouds swirled around the three birds. Their once-proud eyes now glowed with a disturbing, unnatural light as chaos erupted among them.
Instead of targeting the spacecraft, which had brought them together, the gods turned their fury on each other and their surroundings.
Moltres, its flames flaring wildly, unleashed streams of fire that scorched the ocean's surface, melting massive sections of ice.
Zapdos, its feathers bristling with lightning, sent bolts of electricity crashing into the water, splitting the frozen terrain into jagged shards.
Articuno, cold fury in its glowing eyes, retaliated with beams of ice that refroze the waters in an instant, creating a chaotic cycle of destruction.
Ice Island trembled under the assault. The cliffs crumbled, sending massive rocks plunging into the sea, while the damaged spacecraft groaned as it shook violently from the battle's fallout.
Amid the chaos, a stray Thunderbolt from Zapdos struck Articuno, who retaliated with a fierce Ice Beam.
The icy blast missed its mark and hit Moltres instead, eliciting a piercing cry of pain. Furious, Moltres retaliated with a blazing Heat Wave, engulfing the other two gods.
The melee intensified, with fire, lightning, and ice colliding in a destructive spectacle fueled by the lingering effects of the aurora.
The gods' exhaustion was evident, but some deep, primal energy seemed to drive them forward, keeping them locked in this frenzied clash.
Ash watched with mounting dread. If the battle continued unchecked, even these legendary beings might destroy themselves—and the world along with them.
---
From his vantage point on the spaceship, Marshadow observed the escalating chaos, its anxiety growing.
Though it longed to intervene, the Pokémon's energy reserves were nearly depleted. The burden of resolving this crisis now rested squarely on Ash's shoulders.
---
Ash sprinted across the icy terrain of Ice Island, weaving through the debris of the spaceship's impact and the ongoing devastation from the gods' clash above.
His heart pounded as he searched frantically for the frozen orb, the treasure he needed to activate the ritual.
"Where is it?!" Ash panted, scanning the landscape for any sign of the orb. The ground beneath him shifted with every explosion, making the search all the more perilous.
"Ash!"
A familiar voice called out through the chaos, causing him to turn sharply.
It was Misty, accompanied by Tracey and Melody, arriving atop Misty's Gyarados.
The massive Pokémon landed beside Ash, and the trio dismounted, rushing toward him.
"Misty! Tracey! Melody!" Ash exclaimed, relief evident in his voice.
"What are you all doing here?"
Misty reached him first, concern etched on her face as she checked him for injuries.
"What's going on?" she demanded, her tone urgent.
"Why are Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno attacking each other?"
The three had witnessed the gods' bizarre behavior and were understandably alarmed.
Melody, in particular, looked shaken. As a native of Shamouti Island, she had grown up hearing stories of the three gods' sacred nature. Seeing them turn on each other was deeply unsettling.
"There's no time to explain!" Ash said, urgency in his voice.
"Melody, do you know where the treasure of Ice Island is?"
Melody's eyes widened with understanding.
"Yes, I know where it is!" she said, her voice firm. "Follow me! I can lead you to it!"
Without hesitation, Ash and the others followed Melody as she navigated the perilous landscape.
Time was running out, and they had to reach the frozen orb before the gods' fury consumed everything.
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