271 Fire Pledge

"It's about to start!" Ash said seriously while looking at the robot in front of him.

"Charmeleon, you're up!"

Charmeleon's eyes were blazing, and the familiar feeling was back. The comfort of Ash standing behind him filled his heart with determination.

"You useless little devil, no matter what kind of attack you throw, our Mega Robot can handle it!" Team Rocket jeered from inside their mechanical monstrosity.

Their robot's ability to absorb the energy of its opponent's attacks left Team Rocket confident in their victory. Charmeleon, being a Pokémon, was bound to tire eventually, while their robot would grow stronger with each attack absorbed. Victory seemed assured.

"Ash, be careful! That robot can absorb our attacks and use them to power up its own!" Misty called out urgently, her voice carrying the weight of concern. She had seen what the robot could do earlier when Ash and Brock were away.

Ash frowned at the revelation, realizing this would be a difficult challenge. Although Team Rocket's plans were usually chaotic, their mechanic skills this time were surprisingly effective.

"Roar!" 

At that moment, Charmeleon let out a fierce cry, raising his head slightly. His eyes burned with an intense light, and the flames on his tail surged higher. His entire body began to glow with a vibrant red light.

"Huh? Is this...?" Ash's expression shifted as he observed Charmeleon. With a determined look, Charmeleon turned his head towards Ash, his confidence shining through. Ash nodded in understanding. "Alright, Charmeleon, let's do this!"

Ash didn't fully comprehend what power Charmeleon had awakened, but he trusted him completely. Charmeleon flashed a fierce grin and turned back to face the robot, clenching his claws into fists.

"Charmeleon, give it your all!"

With another deafening roar, flames erupted around Charmeleon, their intense heat cutting through the dampness of the rain-soaked environment. The moisture on nearby plants evaporated instantly, leaving the area filled with a dry, scorching heat.

The ground trembled as Charmeleon crouched low, slamming his claw into the earth with a resounding impact. The flames surrounding him erupted with a thunderous roar, forming a towering pillar of fire that shot into the sky.

Boom! Boom!

The eruption wasn't over. Another fiery pillar burst forth, then another, forming a chain reaction across the battlefield. It was as if the ground itself had become a fuse ignited by Charmeleon's overwhelming power.

"This is... Fire Pledge!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes widening in recognition. Fire Pledge was a move of immense power, capable of creating a sea of fire across the battlefield. Combined with Grass Pledge, it could reshape the terrain and inflict continuous damage to all but Fire-type Pokémon.

Team Rocket stared in shock as the fiery pillars closed in on their Mega Robot. The battle had taken a dramatic turn, and Charmeleon was just getting started.

He had only intended to focus on developing Charmeleon's character lately, but he hadn't expected Charmeleon to master Fire Pledge on his own. Ash could tell that Charmeleon had been working hard behind the scenes to grow stronger.

"This… doesn't feel good!" Meowth exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

"James! What are you standing there for? Absorb that attack, now!" Jessie yelled, her usual composure slipping.

"No can do! Our energy absorption device only works on attacks from the front!" James replied, his voice filled with alarm.

It was true the robot had absorbed earlier attacks without issue, but this onslaught was different. When Fire Pledge reached the robot, the ground beneath it cracked violently. From the fissures, flames erupted, and a blazing pillar of fire shot straight up, engulfing the robot entirely.

"Ahhhh! It's too hot!" Team Rocket screamed from inside their mechanical fortress. Though the flames didn't touch them directly, the oppressive heat in the enclosed space felt like being trapped in an oven.

Alarms blared as red warning lights flashed. The intense heat compromised the robot's structure, causing its internal systems to fail one after another.

Suddenly, with a loud crack, the glass compartment on the robot's back shattered under the pressure. Pikachu and Devileon escaped through the opening, landing safely on the ground. Flames rushed into the robot through the breach, fueling further destruction.

"Everyone, get away from there, quickly!" Ash shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Pikachu and Devileon wasted no time, dashing to safety. Behind them, the robot's body groaned under the strain, emitting a series of explosions.

Boom! Boom! Bang!

With one final, earth-shaking blast, the entire robot exploded like a fiery bomb, sending flames and debris flying. The intense fire spread, engulfing the surrounding area as Team Rocket's signature figures were hurled skyward amidst the chaos.

"Darn it! It was going so well at first!" Jessie shouted, her voice filled with frustration.

"Waaaaah! We're back to paying off debts starting tomorrow!" James lamented, tears streaming down his face.

"This is our life, meow!" Meowth added despondently.

"What a disgusting feeling!" they cried out in unison as they disappeared into the sky.

With Team Rocket gone, the battlefield finally settled. Misty and Brock rushed to put out the flames, calling on their Pokémon to save their campsite from being consumed.

As the last embers died out, the Pokémon gathered around Ash. Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder, nuzzling him happily, while the others turned to Charmeleon, expressing their gratitude.

"Roar!"

Charmeleon roared in response, his heart moved by his companions' enthusiasm. He had once distanced himself from them after evolving, feeling superior due to his newfound strength. Yet, despite everything, they remained as kind and supportive as ever. This realization warmed Charmeleon's heart more than any flame ever could.