When the spreading fissure finally reached the ground beneath Drapion's feet, the seismic shockwaves accompanying its advance struck the Pokémon with tremendous force, causing its body to stiffen and leaving it completely immobilized.
In the very next instant, a column of magma accompanied by scorching flames erupted from beneath Drapion like a gigantic geyser, launching it high into the air!
"Drapion...!"
Celosia, who had been so arrogant and domineering just moments earlier, stared at Drapion's predicament and the terrifying strength Charizard had displayed. She was so utterly shocked that she couldn't even find the words to speak.
"THUD!"
The pillar of magma vanished, and Drapion came crashing down onto the battlefield like a charred corpse.
Its breathing was shallow and labored. It was impossible to tell whether it was still alive.
"Drapion!!"
Celosia cried out in terror and immediately rushed toward the battlefield.
Being a Pokémon Trainer was a profession built around one of the closest bonds possible between humans and other living creatures. Trainers who treated Pokémon merely as tools for battle, subjecting them to harsh and ruthless treatment, were exceedingly rare among truly capable Trainers.
Whether they were good or evil, the vast majority of Trainers who treated their Pokémon with such cruelty were weak and incompetent. Anyone capable of personally raising Pokémon to Champion-level strength had to invest enormous effort, trust, and emotion into them.
Even villains belonging to evil organizations were no exception. Despite their selfish and ruthless personalities, they often placed great importance on their Pokémon. They trusted them, relied on them, and entrusted them with their deepest feelings.
Celosia was no different when it came to Drapion.
Although she had been incredibly arrogant and domineering toward Ash earlier, the moment Drapion was injured, she immediately rushed forward to check on its condition.
"BOOM!"
However, before she could even reach Drapion, Charizard had already spread its wings and swooped down, landing directly in front of her and blocking her path.
"ROOOOOAR!!!"
Unlike before, when it had deliberately restrained its aura, Charizard now unleashed its full power.
A deafening dragon-like roar erupted from its throat!
The tremendous sound was so powerful that Celosia felt as though her eardrums were about to burst. The violent gust of wind produced by the roar swept over her, whipping her hair into a chaotic mess as though she had been caught in a powerful storm.
Faced with Charizard's terrifying Champion-level aura, Celosia was so frightened that her legs gave way.
She collapsed onto the ground, her eyes rolling back as though she might faint at any moment.
"Tap... tap... tap..."
While Charizard stood guard in front of Celosia, Ash, having finished the battle, left his position as the battle commander and calmly walked over.
He stopped directly in front of her and looked down at her from above.
"You're Celosia, right? Weren't you incredibly arrogant just a moment ago? Didn't you say you were going to teach me a proper lesson? Well, what do you have to say now?"
Looking down at Celosia, who was now in a thoroughly miserable state, Ash spoke with undisguised contempt.
"You... I..."
Hearing Ash's words, Celosia finally recovered from the overwhelming pressure Charizard had unleashed. She looked up at the boy, trembling with anger and humiliation, while tears of frustration threatened to spill from her eyes.
Before coming here, she had never imagined that Ash would possess such a powerful Pokémon.
Now, she had suffered a complete and utter defeat.
Yet, amid her anger and despair, Celosia couldn't help feeling puzzled.
She distinctly remembered that she hadn't introduced herself or told Ash her name. So how had the boy known who she was?
Seeing that Celosia wasn't answering, Ash continued.
"Did your representative send you here simply to challenge my Pidgeot, or were you also planning to steal my Pidgeot and its Mega Stone?"
"How do you know my name? And how do you know about our representative?"
At Ash's words, Celosia's eyes suddenly widened. The confusion she had been feeling moments earlier turned into outright disbelief.
"Heh."
"Am I the one asking you questions, or are you questioning me?"
Ash let out a cold laugh and stared at her with icy eyes.
"ROAR!"
Having worked with Ash on more than one occasion to intimidate members of evil organizations, Charizard understood exactly what was expected of it.
The instant Ash finished speaking, Charizard unleashed its full aura once again and let out another furious roar directly at Celosia.
Caught between the overwhelming pressure from Ash and Charizard, Celosia instinctively shrank back. Her face was filled with unmistakable terror.
"Our representative sent me here to challenge you to a battle against your Mega-Evolving Pidgeot. I wasn't ordered to steal your Pokémon or your Mega Stone."
Outmatched in strength and fully aware that her identity was sensitive, Celosia also understood that the boy in front of her wasn't someone who blindly obeyed League laws or followed conventional rules.
Although she had no idea how Ash had discovered her identity or learned about her representative, she didn't dare conceal anything when faced with his questioning.
She hurriedly explained the purpose of her mission.
"So your only assignment was to challenge me to a battle?"
Ash's voice remained cold.
"Then did your representative also tell you to attack me and my friends?"
"N-No... he didn't."
Celosia didn't dare shift the blame onto her representative. Lowering her head, she avoided Ash's gaze and answered nervously.
"Oh? So you decided to take matters into your own hands?"
Ash gave a faint, mocking smile.
"Quite bold of you. It seems Mr. Lysandre is rather lenient with his subordinates."
After speaking, Ash crouched down and leaned closer to Celosia's ear.
"You should consider yourself lucky that my friends are here with me right now. Otherwise, as the price for attacking me, you'd already be nothing more than a corpse."
Ash's voice was low and chilling, each word carrying a sinister undertone.
"Hiss..."
Hearing the deliberately lowered words meant only for her, Celosia's pupils suddenly contracted.
She realized that she had underestimated Ash far too badly.
She had originally assumed that, given her position and identity, the worst he would do was disregard League regulations and act without restraint.
But she had never imagined that Ash might actually dare to kill someone!
Of course, there was a good chance that he was merely trying to frighten her. But the icy, unmistakable killing intent in his voice made Celosia unwilling to gamble on that possibility.
"All right. Get lost."
Ash stood up and looked down at her one last time.
"Go back and deliver a message to your representative."
"I have no intention of becoming his enemy. But if your organization insists on provoking me, I won't hesitate to show you exactly what I'm capable of—and just how much power I possess."
"As for Mega Evolution, if you want to cooperate with me or need my assistance with your research, then come with a sincere offer. If your compensation is good enough and you show genuine goodwill, I won't mind contributing my share to scientific research."
"Charizard, come back. Thanks for your help today."
Having finished speaking, Ash recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball, turned around, and calmly walked away from the park's battlefield.
Celosia was left behind, staring at Ash's retreating figure with a mixture of resentment and fear.
She remained frozen in place until the Drapion lying nearby finally moved.
Only then did she snap out of her daze.
Hurriedly taking out emergency medical supplies, she began treating Drapion's injuries.
Looking at the horrifying burns covering Drapion's body, Celosia realized that Charizard's final attack had been anything but merciful.
Ash had genuinely been willing to inflict devastating injuries on her Pokémon.
And after hearing his chilling threat, she could no longer dismiss the possibility that he might actually kill her—or even kill Drapion—if pushed too far.
A cold shiver ran through her.
Whatever thoughts of taking revenge on Ash she might have entertained before had now been completely wiped away by fear.