Chapter 41: The Cyberpunk's Heart, The Vampire's Sparkle, and The Master's Return part-3
"I decided to embrace my nature," Edward smiled, a crooked, dazzling smile. "Sparkling has its uses."
He held out his hand to her. "Do you want to go play baseball? I promise not to hit any home runs into orbit."
Bella took his hand. "Only if you promise to blind the umpire if we are losing."
"Deal."
They walked out, stepping over the moaning "True Vampire" from Ohio.
[Incident Report: World 23][Target: Edward & Bella.][Status: Sparkle Accepted. Emo Villain Blinded.][Reward: 1000 System Points.]
(Okay, that was fun. Now, for the finale. Let us go back to basics. The very beginning of monster catching. But grown up.)
[System Alert: Anomaly Detected.][World Designation: World 24 - The World of Pocket Monsters (Pokemon Universe).][Setting: The World Coronation Series (Adult Championship).][Host: Ash Ketchum.][Age: 25 (Pokemon Master).][Target: Misty (Cerulean Gym Leader).][Villain: "Ace" (Transmigrator - Legendary Hunter).]
(Ash Ketchum. The boy who stayed ten for twenty years. Finally an adult. And still oblivious? Let us hope not.)
[Initiating Transfer...]
.....................….
World 24: The World of Pocket Monsters (Pokemon Universe - Adult Setting)
Ethan arrived in a mind that was surprisingly sharp. Tactical. Battle-hardened.
Ash Ketchum stood in the stadium tunnel. He adjusted his hat—backward, of course. Pikachu sat on his shoulder, looking older, scarred, and tougher.
(Ash. You ready?)
"Born ready," Ash thought back. "Who is the challenger?"
(His name is Ace. He is a Transmigrator. He uses 'Master Balls' that he hacked into reality. He catches Legendaries without battling them. He currently has a Darkrai and a Latios. And he bet Misty that if he wins, she has to go on a date with him.)
Ash stopped walking. "He bet on Misty?"
(Yeah. He told her that a Water Gym Leader needs a 'Real Champion' to guide her. He insulted her Gyarados. He called it a 'glorified worm'.)
Ash's eyes narrowed. Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity.
"No one insults Misty," Ash said. "And no one treats Pokemon like tools."
(Ace does. He doesn't bond with them. He enslaves them with the hacked balls. His Pokemon hate him. If you can show them a true bond... they might turn on him.)
"I got this," Ash said. He walked out into the roaring stadium.
......................
Location: Wyndon Stadium.
The crowd screamed as Ash walked onto the field. Opposite him stood Ace. He wore a black trench coat covered in Master Balls.
Misty was watching from the VIP box, looking furious. She was gripping the railing so hard it was bending.
"Ash Ketchum!" Ace shouted into his microphone. "The washed-up Champion! Prepare to face the power of gods!"
Ace threw a Master Ball. "Go, Darkrai!"
The Nightmare Pokemon emerged. It looked tired. Sad. Its eyes were dull.
"Pikachu," Ash said quietly. "I choose you."
Pikachu leaped onto the field. He was tiny compared to Darkrai.
"Dark Void!" Ace commanded. "Put that rat to sleep!"
Darkrai launched a sphere of darkness.
"Iron Tail," Ash commanded. "Slice it."
Pikachu moved. He was not just fast; he was a blur of yellow lightning. He spun, his tail glowing metallic. He sliced the Dark Void in half.
"What?" Ace gasped. "That is impossible! Dark Void has 100 percent accuracy in my game guide!"
"This isn't a game," Ash said. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt. But... aim for the ball."
"The ball?" Ace blinked.
Pikachu launched a massive bolt of electricity. It didn't hit Darkrai. It curved past the Pokemon and struck the Master Ball attached to Ace's belt—the one controlling Darkrai.
ZAP-CRACK.
The Master Ball shattered.
Darkrai blinked. The dullness in its eyes vanished. It looked at the broken ball pieces. Then it looked at Ace.
"What are you doing?" Ace screamed, hitting his controller. "Attack! I command you!"
Darkrai turned slowly toward Ace. It growled.
"Uh oh," Ace whispered.
Darkrai fired a Dark Pulse. Not at Pikachu. At Ace.
"WAAAAH!" Ace was blasted backward, his coat smoking.
"You see, Ace," Ash called out, his voice amplified by the stadium speakers. "Pokemon aren't data. They are friends. If you force them, they will bite back."
Ace scrambled up. "I have more! Go, Latios!"
He reached for another Master Ball.
(Ash! Use Aura Sphere! Yes, you can do that now!)
Ash didn't use a Pokemon. He stepped forward. He raised his hand. Blue Aura energy gathered in his palm.
"Lucario taught me this one," Ash muttered. "For Misty."
He threw the Aura Sphere. It flew across the field and knocked the remaining Master Balls right off Ace's belt. They scattered on the ground.
Latios burst out of its ball automatically. It looked around, saw the shattered control device, and immediately flew up to nuzzle Ash.
"Traitor!" Ace shrieked. "This is cheating! The code does not allow the trainer to attack!"
"Rules change when you grow up," Ash said.
He looked up at the VIP box. Misty was cheering, tears in her eyes.
"Hey, Misty!" Ash yelled, ignoring the millions of people watching. "When I win this, I am taking you to dinner! And I am paying! No bike repayment needed!"
Misty turned beet red. "You idiot!" she screamed back, smiling. "You better pick a nice place!"
Ash turned back to Ace, who was currently being chased by an angry Darkrai.
"I think you forfeit," Ash said.
The referee waved his flag. "Winner! And still Monarch! Ash Ketchum!"
[Incident Report: World 24][Target: Ash & Misty.][Status: Champion Title Defended. Date Secured.][Villain Status: Chased out of the region by Legendaries.][Reward: 1500 System Points.]
(There is nothing quite like a Pokemon battle to cleanse the palate. But we are not done yet. The multiverse is vast, and there are still many hearts to save.)
Ethan prepared for the next jump, feeling satisfied. From high-tech hackers to sparkly vampires to pocket monsters, love—and common sense—was prevailing.
World 25: The World of Heroes (One Punch Man Universe)
Ethan Hunt felt a sensation of utter boredom the moment he transferred. It was not his boredom; it was the host's. It was a crushing, existential ennui that made even the act of blinking feel like too much effort.
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