The moment Viper barked the order, other team rocket members commanded their Pokémon in perfect sync.
"Golbat, Air Cutter!"
"Arbok, Acid Spray!"
"Houndoom, Flamethrower!"
Four deadly streaks tore through the air straight at us.
No time to think. Pure instinct kicked in.
I turned toward Kirlia and immediately pulled her tightly against my chest, wrapping both arms around her small body until she was completely hidden against me.
Then the four attacks reached at once. Fire roared across my back. Acid hissed on my skin. Dark energy and cutting winds ripped through the air slamming my back.
Flames, acid, dark energy and slashing winds fused into a single brutal blast. It exploded outward, kicking up a thick cloud of smoke.
"AAAGH…"
My scream echoed through the ruined hall.
Across the atrium, Lopunny and Meowscarada froze mid-fight.
They had been battling nearby Rocket Pokémon.
My scream reached them, cutting through the chaos.
"Lopun?!"
"Meow!"
Their heads snapped toward the rising smoke.
Anger flared in their eyes.
Lopunny moved first.
She launched upward in a powerful leap.
A heartbeat later she came crashing down, her knee driving into the Rocket Pokémon with a brutal High Jump Kick.
The impact slammed the Pokémon into the floor.
At the same moment, Meowscarada blurred forward.
"Nyaaa!"
It slipped past the opposing Pokémon in a flash, claws glowing with dark energy as Night Slash cut across its target.
The Pokémon staggered and collapsed.
Without hesitation, both sprinted toward the smoke.
They aimed for where I had vanished.
But before they could reach, more Team Rocket members stepped in.
They blocked the path, eyes gleaming with greed.
Everyone wanted to capture these two rare Pokémon they had never seen before.
New Pokémon appeared, forming a wall between them and me.
Though Team Rocket had fewer members than the passengers aboard the ship.
Many passengers had no Pokémon at all.
Some had never battled before.
Others stood frozen in fear.
Some gripped their Poké Balls but dared not send them out.
The battle across the atrium was pure chaos.
This big attack drew a lot of attention at first.
But soon, everyone focused on their own fights.
Meanwhile, the smoke slowly began to thin.
I was kneeling in the center of the damage.
My back faced the Rockets.
Most of my shirt back part had been burned away in strips, blackened fabric hanging from my shoulders.
The skin across my back was red and blistered.
Some areas swelled from the burns and cuts.
Every breath made my shoulders shake with pain.
A low groan escaped my lips.
But I stayed upright.
I still blocked the space in front of me.
Kirlia huddled close to my chest, frozen in place.
Tears streamed down her face.
She pressed tighter against me.
"Kir... lia..."
Her voice trembled with fear.
I slowly looked down at her.
My face was pale and slick with sweat.
Yet somehow, I managed a smile.
"Hey..."
My voice came out weak, ragged.
"I'm... okay."
My body swayed slightly.
I felt like I might collapse any second.
"K... Kirlia..."
My breathing grew heavier, each inhale sharp with pain.
"You need to go."
Kirlia shook her head desperately.
"Kirlia!"
I forced the words out again.
"Teleport... away."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Go somewhere safe... okay?"
My smile held, even as vision blurred.
"I'll... be fine."