Chapter 71: The Interception of the Three Gods

Melody nodded instinctively at Ash's urgency, though her expression betrayed her growing anxiety.

"What time of day is it now? Why are we still chasing after this treasure?" she asked, frustration lacing her voice.

Misty and Tracey exchanged bewildered glances, equally confused by Ash's unrelenting determination amid the chaos unfolding around them.

"We have to find the three treasures now to start the ceremony!" Ash reiterated, his tone resolute. There was no time to explain every detail of the escalating crisis.

"Start the initiation ceremony…" Melody murmured, leading the group forward, though her thoughts raced back to the recent festival. Suddenly, she stopped, realization dawning on her face.

"You mean we need to go to the altar, place the treasures, and play the song dedicated to the gods?"

"That's exactly it!" Ash confirmed, the urgency in his voice growing.

"But… What's the point of all this?" Melody asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't know the details, but that's what Marshadow told me," Ash replied, shaking his head. The mythical Pokémon hadn't provided a full explanation, but Ash trusted its guidance completely.

"Marshadow?" Melody questioned, tilting her head with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

"It's a mythical Pokémon and the messenger of Ho-Oh," Misty explained before Ash could respond.

At the mention of Ho-Oh, Melody's doubts vanished. The legendary bird's revered status on Shamouti Island gave her reason to trust Marshadow's guidance.

---

Following Melody's lead, the group soon arrived at the altar where the frozen orb was stored.

The area was a wonder of nature, encased in thick layers of ice that sparkled under the light. The glacial landscape was breathtaking, but Ash couldn't spare a moment to admire it.

Rushing to a statue resembling Articuno, Ash retrieved the frozen orb nestled within its icy beak.

The orb was stunning—a sphere of pale blue, with swirling patterns resembling delicate snowflakes encased within.

"I've got it!" Ash exclaimed, carefully placing the frozen orb into his backpack.

"Now I need to get to Lightning Island to secure the lightning orb!"

Turning back to his friends, Ash added, "The rest of you need to return to Shamouti Island and wait for me at the altar."

"No!" Misty protested, her voice firm.

Tracey and Melody echoed her refusal, shaking their heads in disagreement.

"You're too slow," Ash said, frustration evident in his tone. "Gyarados might be powerful, but it can't match Charizard's speed."

Though reluctant, Misty and Tracey fell silent, realizing Ash had a point. Gyarados couldn't compete with Charizard's aerial agility.

"I'll go with you," Melody offered, stepping forward with determination. "I know the layout of Lightning Island—I can help you find the treasure faster."

"Alright!" Ash agreed immediately, relieved to have her as a guide.

---

Releasing Charizard from its Poké Ball, Ash quickly explained their mission.

Charizard's eyes flicked to the raging battle among the three gods above, its competitive spirit briefly igniting. But upon hearing Ash's instructions, it refocused on the task at hand, taking to the skies with Ash, Melody, and Pikachu.

Misty watched them depart, a pang of jealousy flickering in her chest before she quickly pushed the feeling aside.

Her primary concern was Ash's safety.

Releasing Gyarados, she resolved to return to Shamouti Island as Ash had instructed, unwilling to be a burden.

---

The purple-red aurora that had caused so much chaos vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, yet the battle among the three gods raged on.

The weather grew increasingly violent—swirling blizzards mixed with falling hail as the environment shifted chaotically.

Charizard's golden flames burned brightly, melting and vaporizing the hail before it could touch them.

"How could this happen?" Melody murmured, her voice tinged with fear as she watched the gods' relentless conflict.

"Someone tried to capture the three gods and almost succeeded, but I stopped them," Ash said grimly, his gaze fixed on the legendary birds.

Even in their weakened state, the power they unleashed was staggering. Ash couldn't imagine how devastating they would be in their prime.

Suddenly, the gods stopped fighting.

With anguished cries, they turned their glowing red eyes toward Charizard and its passengers.

"They've noticed us!" Melody cried, panic flashing across her face.

The malice emanating from the gods was almost tangible.

Zapdos was the first to act, summoning golden lightning that crackled menacingly before hurtling toward Ash and Charizard.

"Pikachu!" Ash called, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Pikachu leapt into action, launching a Thunderbolt to counter Zapdos's attack.

The two bolts collided in a brilliant explosion of light and energy.

Pikachu's attack, though significantly weaker, managed to hold its own long enough to neutralize Zapdos's lightning.

"That's incredible!" Melody gasped, her astonishment evident.

While Pikachu was at a disadvantage, its resolve was unmatched, and its determination left Melody in awe.

"They're in a dormant state," Ash explained. "Their power isn't at full strength right now."

Even so, he urged Charizard to fly faster. Time was of the essence.

---

With Zapdos temporarily thwarted, Moltres and Articuno sprang into action.

Moltres unleashed a torrent of fire, its flames roaring toward Charizard, while Articuno followed with a freezing beam of ice, the two attacks converging on their target.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt again!" Ash commanded, his voice firm.

He knew the strain it would place on Pikachu, but they had no choice.

"Pika…CHUU!" Pikachu cried, summoning every ounce of its remaining strength to launch another powerful Thunderbolt.

The attack collided with the incoming fire and ice, creating a massive explosion that sent shockwaves through the air.

Charizard roared as it powered through the turbulence, determined to protect its passengers and reach Lightning Island.

Ash gripped Charizard's back tightly, his resolve unwavering. With Pikachu's courage and Charizard's strength, he believed they could overcome the gods' wrath and secure the final treasure.

But as the gods regrouped, their combined fury loomed ever closer. The battle for the fate of the world had only just begun.

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