Ash Ascendant: Chapter 35

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. The Wind Mage's Legacy chapter will be out tomorrow.

Chapter 35

Ash’s eyes locked with the Arbok lying on the floor, who looked more annoyed than hurt. Getting thrown through a window was hardly dignified. But who had thrown it through the window? 

The ear-splitting wail pierced the night air. Aster, Zinnia’s Whismur, had raised the alarm. Not that he needed it at this point.

Ash turned to his mum. “Are you okay?”

Delia nodded. She had her arms wrapped protectively around James, shielding him from the flying glass. Her eyes were wide, showing a hint of shock. But she soon collected herself. Years of living on the first floor had exposed her to this kind of violence, and she had grown used to it.

She resumed healing James, trusting Ash to handle the threat. 

Ash's rage flared white-hot. Someone had brought violence to his mother's doorstep. The fury demanded release.

Through the shattered window came his answer—a hulking shadow that roared its challenge. The Pangoro stood two metres tall, its bulk blocking the opening. Black and white fur rippled over powerful muscles, its fists clenched in anticipation. The bipedal bear Pokemon's red eyes locked onto Ash, and it bellowed again.

Without conscious thought, Ash summoned his Steelium. Dozens of metal spikes materialised around him, each one sharp enough to pierce concrete. The new capacity from his cultivation breakthrough made the summoning effortless.

He launched the volley.

The Pangoro raised its arms, trying to shield itself from the high-velocity projectiles. Steel punctured fur and flesh, drawing roars of pain as the Pokemon staggered under the assault. Its sturdy frame couldn't deflect them all.

Ash vaulted through the window frame, liquid metal flowing over his prosthetic to form a massive steel fist. The Pangoro, weakened and bleeding, couldn't react fast enough. Ash's punch connected with devastating force, sending the Dark-type Pokemon flying backwards into the street. Ash ruthlessly tore out the spikes from Pangoro’s body as it flew away. He couldn’t waste the Steelium after all, even if he had it in abundance. 

Arbok hissed at him before slithering through the window to rejoin the fight.

"Was he angry that I interfered in his battle?" Ash asked himself.

He concentrated, and the scattered spikes liquefied, flowing back into his body. 

Outside, chaos reigned. Through the broken window, he could see that the street had become a battlefield. Zinnia's voice carried over the din as she commanded her dragons. Four of her Pokemon fought alongside her. Salamence, Flygon, Garchomp, and Kingrdra. All of them were powerful Pokemon above level fifty.

Winona's flying Pokemon controlled the aerial space, a coordinated formation that cut off any Pokemon attacking from above. Jessie fought like a woman possessed, as her Poison-types created havoc amongst the attackers. Despite her injuries, she threw herself into the thick of combat, her raw strength sending enemies flying.

"Seems like they have it handled," Ash said, turning back to his mother and James.

James stirred, his eyelids fluttering as consciousness returned.

"How is he?" Ash asked.

"He will live. But he's in no condition to fight."

Erika entered, her arms loaded with supplies. "I guess this is the last load. We need to get out of here."

Ash nodded, storing the items in his mind palace as she dropped them at his feet. 

Moon came running into the room, her tiny legs carrying her as fast as they could go. Blue followed close behind. The little Cleffa headed straight for the window, fury written across her cherubic features.

Ash caught her by the head before she could escape. "Behave. You're going to get hurt."

Moon waved her tiny arms frantically, wriggling with surprising strength for something so small. Her squeaks of protest filled the room.

"Moon, I'll return you to my mind palace if you don't behave," Delia warned without looking up from her patient.

The Cleffa went limp immediately, turning to Delia with an innocent smile that fooled no one. Ash shook his head, placing her on the ground. She scampered over to Delia and leaped into her lap.

Delia frowned. "James is having some trouble waking. It seems I can only do so much in a short amount of time."

"It's fine. I'll carry him if necessary."

Moon reached out with one tiny hand and slapped James across the face. 

Delia gasped. "Moon! He's injured."

James groaned, his eyes opening as he looked around blearily. "What's going on?"

"Well, Jessie brought you here, half-dead. But she brought some guests along with her, although they weren't invited."

James groaned again, struggling to sit up as he tried to get his bearings. "Where's Jessie? I need to help her."

"Outside, fighting with Zinnia and Winona. They're holding their own for now, but I suspect there will be reinforcements soon enough."

"We need to get out of here."

The question was how. They needed transportation to the forest that wouldn't attract attention. Using the girls' Pokemon would work, but flying openly would announce their position to anyone watching.

An idea struck him. His new Steelium capacity opened possibilities he'd never considered before.

He jumped outside where the battle continued to rage. The girls had almost finished mopping up the intruders, their coordinated assault proving too much for the attackers.

Ash summoned a massive amount of Steelium, the liquid metal flowing from his body in silver streams. He began shaping it in the air, holding the construct suspended through mental effort alone. The board that formed was enormous—easily large enough to seat everyone comfortably.

Before, he didn't have enough Steelium to make a steel board, much less something this massive. Those limitations were history now. Moreover, the Steelium from his own body responded far better than the facility's metal ever had, bending to his will with barely any resistance.

"Everyone, get on,” Ash called. “We're leaving."

Ash ducked back inside, lifting James onto his shoulders despite the man's weak protests. he placed him on the board. Delia and Erika followed him and climbed up next to James.

Ash turned to the girls, who looked like they were having way too much fun. "Ladies, we need to go now, before reinforcements arrive."

Jessie delivered a final kick to her downed opponent's ribs before heading their way. Winona and Zinnia followed her, returning their Pokemon to their mind palaces. They climbed aboard the floating platform. Ash joined them last, and with a thought, small metallic tendrils emerged from the board's surface to secure everyone in place.

"Welcome aboard the Ketchum Express,” Ash announced. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride, but we should reach our destination relatively quickly."

"Hurry it up," Jessie snapped.

Ash engaged his mental control, and they lifted off. Rather than rising into the open sky where they'd be visible, he dove down between the walkways, heading for the forest floor. The risk of navigating between the massive trees with such a large platform was significant, but less than revealing themselves to any watchers above.

The canopy rushed up to meet them as they descended between the enormous trunks. Once they reached the treeline, Ash accelerated, weaving through gaps with increasing confidence. The board responded to his every thought, banking sharply around obstacles as he found his rhythm.

Their speed built gradually as he got more comfortable handling the heavy platform. Branches whipped past them, some close enough to rustle their hair. One mistake could cause them to crash into a tree at high speed.

"We're going to die!" Erika screamed.

Ash grinned, pushing their speed even higher. The forest blurred around them as they raced towards the facility.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"Why are we stopping here?" Jessie asked.

Ash had brought the board to a halt in what appeared to be an empty clearing. The metal board hovered silently above the forest floor as he gestured for everyone to disembark.

"We're here at our hideout," Ash said.

"Don't joke around. There's nothing here."

"It wouldn't be much of a hideout if it were easily detectable."

The ground rumbled beneath their feet. One by one, small heads began popping up from the earth—dozens of Alolan Diglett emerging in a perfect circle around them, regarding the newcomers with curious black eyes.

Winona tensed. "An attack?" 

Ash shook his head. "Don't worry. They won't attack as long as I'm here."

Ash retrieved the steel mask from his mind palace, the metal tendrils connecting smoothly to his face as the interface materialised in his vision. He navigated to the elevator controls and selected the summon option. The Diglett scattered as the ground began to shift, and the metal hatch opened, displacing the earth. The elevator platform rose to greet them.

He placed the mask back in his mind palace.

"What is this place, Ash?" Delia asked.

James, leaning heavily on Jessie for support, straightened as recognition dawned in his eyes. "Wait a minute. Is this the ruins my brother has been searching for all this time?"

"Yes, but it's much more than just ruins."

James let out a weak laugh that turned into a cough. "I would love to see Lucian's expression right now. The bastard would be angered to death if he knew it was you all along who had found them."

"Was he involved in tonight's incident?"

"Yes. It seems my older brother has been conspiring to take over the family business with Jessebelle. He stabbed my parents in the back, literally."

Ash grimaced. "You have my condolences for your parents' deaths."

"Is it bad of me that I don't feel much of anything for their passing?"

Delia stepped closer, her voice gentle. "It's not strange. From what I understand, your relationship was distant. They may have been your parents, but they betrayed your trust too many times to be easily forgiven. Maybe you will feel it later, when the shock has worn off."

"I doubt it."

"Are we going to stand around here and risk getting seen, or are we going in?" Jessie interjected.

Ash collapsed the platform, and the liquid metal flowed back into his body. The group moved toward the elevator.

"You need to keep this place’s existence and what you find inside a secret,” Ash said. “If the situation weren't so urgent, I wouldn't have revealed it to you. But since the Tower Association hasn't found it yet, I'm reasonably certain we're safe. I can't say the same for the rest of the floor."

James nodded. "Thanks, Ash. I know I got you caught up in this mess. I owe you."

"You owe me an explanation. But that can wait until you're fully recovered."

They entered the elevator and descended into the facility. The others gasped as the doors opened to reveal the vast underground complex. 

Ash led them on a brief tour, their amazement growing with each revelation. The automated factory drew particular attention. Ash had shut the operation down months ago, but a row of spherical robots waited at the finishing point, their red optical sensors dark but ready for activation.  Questions bombarded him from all directions—about the facility's origins, its purpose, the technology that powered it.

"I'm too tired to explain right now,” Ash said. “Let's continue this conversation when we've rested. This should be as good a place as any to sleep for the night."

He began retrieving supplies from his mind palace—several decent-sized tents that he'd raided from a bandit camp months ago, along with sleeping bags, cooking equipment, and provisions. Delia immediately took charge. She barked orders at everyone, and nobody challenged her authority. Soon, a small camp area had been established in the middle of the factory floor.

Ash sat down heavily, overwhelmed by sudden hunger. The massive expenditure of energy tonight—summoning and controlling so much Steelium—had drained his reserves far more than usual. He'd forgotten that his new attribute required substantially more sustenance, and he'd only eaten a normal-sized dinner. Now it was coming back to bite him.

Winona, Erika, Zinnia, and his mum rushed over to him.

"Ash, what's wrong?" Delia asked.

"It's a consequence of the new core I obtained,” Ash replied. “Can you make me something to eat? I don't care what it is, but I need a lot of it."

Delia immediately headed off to grab her cooking supplies from the gear they'd brought.

"What core did you obtain?" Winona asked. "You haven't shared any details."

"Except for the obvious," Zinnia said. "The copious amount of liquid metal is a clue."

Ash ran a hand through his hair, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Well, it's a powerful attribute. But it comes with some drawbacks."

"Such as needing to eat more?" Erika asked.

"That's only part of it. I would explain more, but I'm afraid you would smack me."

Zinnia's eyes lit up with mischief. "Let me guess. You need to sacrifice virgins to an evil god to satiate your hunger, and get the urge to howl at the moon?"

Ash stared at her incredulously. "Where do you get your imagination from?"

"It comes naturally."

"Well, I'm not having the conversation here, and with you. I think Winona needs to hear it before anyone else."

"Oh, I understand," Zinnia said with a knowing smirk.

"You do?" Erika blinked. "I'm completely lost."

"How are you still so innocent? Come, let big sister Zinnia tell you about the birds and the bees."

Zinnia grabbed Erika's hand and dragged her away before the younger woman could protest.

"I'm not going to like this conversation, am I?" Winona said. "Let's postpone it until tomorrow."

"You mean, later today. It's past midnight."

"Shut it."

Ash grinned. "Want to sleep in my tent?"

Winona crossed her arms, studying his face carefully. "We have the conversation first. The way you're eyeing me, I'm not sure there will be much sleeping."

Ash hadn't noticed that he was staring at her. Winona wore a robe over her nightgown, not having dressed properly before rushing outside to watch over the house. Although the outfit didn't reveal much skin, it was form-fitting and revealed her graceful figure. She was lithe, like a dancer, but she had curves in all the right places.

Ash shook his head, trying to focus. Throughout their entire conversation, a different hunger had awakened in him, but he hadn't been aware of it until now.

"That's for the best. Uh, it might be better if you don't hang around me anymore tonight."

"Alright, I'm off to bed."

Delia returned with a huge pile of sandwiches and some crisps, the food piled high on several plates. Ash started wolfing it down whilst everyone else got settled for the night. He noticed Jessie had joined James in his tent, which was mildly interesting. It might be that she was simply concerned about his injuries, and nothing more. It wasn't his business, in either case.

Unbeknownst to Ash and the rest of the group, a security camera high up on the ceiling turned to bring them into focus. Its lens adjusted silently, zooming in on each face before settling on Ash. It remained fixed on him until he had settled into his tent, its red recording light blinking steadily in the darkness.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ash woke early. The others remained asleep in their tents.

He moved quietly, retrieving food from his mind palace to prepare a simple breakfast. The familiar routine of heating water and preparing food helped settle his thoughts. Last night's revelations about James's family situation had complicated everything. Without resolving the conflict with the Overseers and the Tower Association, ascending to the third floor would become impossible. He could find himself hiding in this facility for months, maybe years.

Once he'd eaten, Ash made his way to the museum and the warehouse that stored the mech. He made sure to shut the door behind him—this was one secret he wasn't ready to share. Not yet.

He climbed into the cockpit. Al greeted him as soon as he settled into the pilot’s seat.

"Hello, sir. I'm glad you have returned. How are the guests?"

"They're fine," Ash replied. "They'll be staying here for a while, until we can figure out what to do next."

His thoughts turned to Mustard. The old master couldn't solve every problem, but his guidance had proven invaluable before. He needed to speak to him. Whatever was brewing between James's family and the Overseers had drawn Ash into their web. His status as Mustard's apprentice might not help this time—not unless he abandoned James entirely, or handed him over to the Tower Association.

Ash had no thoughts of doing such a cowardly thing. He would find a way out of this mess, staying true to his principles.

"Have you considered allowing me access to the control centre?" Al's voice interrupted his brooding. "If we're going to improve the mech's capabilities, I need access to those systems."

Ash frowned. "Did you know?"

"What are you referring to, sir?"

"That the mech was designed after the legendary Pokemon, Registeel?"

A brief pause. "Yes. I have all the information regarding the project stored in my data banks."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't think it was pertinent."

"Well, it definitely is." Ash leaned forward in the pilot's seat. "Don't leave out any information, even if you think it's irrelevant."

"Very well, sir."

"How did the scientists get information on Registeel? Did they meet it at some point?"

"Yes. The Pokemon crash-landed in an area close to where the old facility was located. It was severely injured, so the scientists brought it back to study."

"Did they learn how it was injured?"

"They learned to communicate with it. The only thing it told them was that it was running away from something."

Ash frowned. What would force a legendary Pokemon to flee? A terrible possibility occurred to him—was it running from its own demise? Did Registeel know that Arceus planned to sacrifice the legendaries to build the Tower? 

"Did it say anything else?" Ash asked.

Silence stretched longer than usual. Al seemed to be weighing his response.

"Al," Ash said sharply. "What did I just tell you about withholding information?"

"It kept repeating one word. Rather, a name. Ketchum."

Ash's world tilted. "Say that again."

"It kept repeating the name Ketchum. The same name as yours, sir."

"I'm aware." Ash's voice came out strangled. "But what would it mean?"

His thoughts flew back to the simulation in the Pillar—the trial where he'd played the role of Red Ketchum. Had it been more than just a random test? If his ancestor had known Registeel, perhaps Red had infiltrated the invaders' ranks to reach the facility. Not to wipe it out, but to search for the legendary Pokemon.

The parallel to his journey through the simulation was unsettling. Acting as Red, he'd immediately sought out the warehouse, although for different reasons.

"What happened to Registeel?" Ash asked.

"It left after its wounds healed. No one could stop it from leaving. But the scientists had gathered extensive data, which led to the creation of the Weapon project."

Ash slumped in the pilot's seat. The questions multiplied faster than he could process them. How had Red known Registeel? Was there a connection between that relationship and Registeel's avatar appearing during his tribulation? Did it relate to his Steel-type affinity?

He needed more information.

"I need access to those video files," Ash said. "There might be something in them that offers some answers. Al, can you develop a device that bypasses password-protected systems?"

"That's not possible, sir."

"Why not? Aren't AIs supposed to be smart?"

"Intelligence isn't the issue, sir. The computer network has multiple protections. Even if you cracked the password, it has numerous security protocols."

A sinking feeling settled in Ash's stomach. "Who's protecting it?"

“The Administrative AI runs the facility.”

"There's another AI? Why haven't I met it? I've been here plenty of times."

"I don't know why it hasn't shown itself. Perhaps it's testing you. It won't tell me its reasons."

"Wait." Ash's voice sharpened. "You've been in contact with it? How? Does it have a communication line into the mech?"

"No. I've been speaking with it through the mask."

"Bloody hell."

Every time he'd used the mask, the facility's Administrator had been watching him. It knew about his activities, his plans, and conversations with Al. The thought of being under constant surveillance without his knowledge made his skin crawl.

“I wouldn’t worry about it, sir. I believe the Administrator will speak to you when it’s ready. If it didn’t want you here, then why did it bring you here in the first place?” 

Ash nodded. He knew Al was right. He had found it strange how the Diglett had acted on their own, collapsing the ground so he would fall down the hole and discover the facility. At the time, he'd assumed it was an accident, bad luck combined with the Pokemon's natural burrowing behaviour. The AI must have been controlling them from inside the facility. But how?

“I need to meet this AI,” Ash said. “I have so many questions.”

“Good luck with that, sir.” 

Despite Al's monotone delivery, Ash caught the underlying doubt in the artificial intelligence's response. Ash would need to devise a method to draw it out of hiding, which meant understanding what drove its behaviour.

The key question was whether the facility's main AI still operated under its original programming or had developed its own agenda. The evidence suggested the latter. The scientists who built this place had sealed Registeel away for reasons they considered important enough to lock down their greatest creation. Yet the Administrator had allowed Ash to access the mech without interference. It had even guided him to the facility in the first place.

This deviation from the creators' intentions was encouraging from Ash's perspective. He had no desire to lose access to Registeel now that he'd discovered its capabilities. 

But an AI that had broken free from its original constraints presented its own dangers. Without the limitations imposed by human programmers, what was to stop it from pursuing objectives that conflicted with his own? Artificial intelligences were supposed to be logical, but logic without proper boundaries could lead to conclusions that seemed reasonable to a machine yet horrifying to humans.

The Administrator had demonstrated patience, watching him for months without revealing itself. It had shown restraint, allowing him to explore the facility and claim Registeel without interference.

Ash pushed the problem aside for the moment. What he needed was an ally, someone who could understand the facility's main AI and stand against it if circumstances demanded.

"Al, whose orders are you following? Mine, or the Administrator?" Ash asked.

"My directive is to follow the pilot of the mech, sir. These parameters cannot be overwritten by anyone else."

"Excellent. I'll grant you some freedom. But I need to understand how that will work. If I give you access to the control centre, will the other AI interfere? And you'll only be accessing the network through terminals. You won't be able to move about."

"I have thought about that extensively, sir. I can show you how to recalibrate the factory operations to construct a more suitable body for my use. I will be able to assist you far better if I remain by your side. As for the Administrator, I don't believe it will interfere with my activities."

Ash nodded. Keeping AI content was important—the artificial intelligence represented his best chance at an ally if the Administrator changed its mind about welcoming him and the others.

"Show me what needs to be done."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Several hours later, Ash leaned back in the factory control seat, having finished entering the specifications for the new robot. The design was twice the size of his Giru units, as Al required a much larger energy source to power his complex operations. Even with the enhanced power core, the robot would need recharging every day.

Al had guided him through the process of extracting the AI chip from the mech—a component no larger than Ash's thumb that contained Al's entire consciousness. The robot would serve as the artificial intelligence's temporary home until Ash followed through with upgrading the mech itself. He wasn't prepared to reveal it to the world anytime soon, not until the machine was completely upgraded and he'd mastered its controls.

The factory whirred to life as he pressed the start button. The process would take several hours to complete.

Bender sat beside him throughout the entire procedure, listening to the assembly process. Although it couldn’t see, it didn’t appear to hinder its understanding and enjoyment.

Ash had provided Bender with a workspace and access to raw materials, curious to see what the intelligent Pokemon might create when given free rein. The Pokemon clearly understood human technology at an intuitive level, so it was only a matter of time before he produced something genuinely useful. Ash hadn't decided whether he would train Bender to join his combat team—the Pokemon seemed far more interested in construction than fighting.

While waiting for the robot's completion, Ash retrieved the pokeball containing Beldum from his mind palace. His advancement to the Essence Realm had eliminated the previous restrictions on team size. With his current energy reserves, he could easily support Skarmory and Beldum alongside his existing Pokemon, with some to spare. But he wouldn't rush the process. Starting with a single addition made sense.

Since Beldum supposedly possessed the forbidden technique Teleport, it was the logical choice for his first new team member. The rumours had better prove true—he'd risked significant exposure capturing the Pokemon at the landfill.

The same freedom applied to techniques as well. He was no longer restricted to a specific number, though he needed to maintain energy reserves for both Pokemon and techniques. He felt fortunate to have acquired the Greed core. Without it, his options would be far more limited.

Ash took a steadying breath before initiating the bonding process with Beldum through the pokeball. The moment he opened his mind to the connection, he felt the Pokemon's consciousness brush against his own. Unlike his other Pokemon, Beldum's mental touch was alien, cold and mechanical yet somehow eager.

The bonding energy flowed between them, creating the neural bridge that would link them permanently. Ash guided the process carefully, ensuring the connection formed properly without overwhelming either participant. 

As the bond solidified, information about Beldum's capabilities flooded into his consciousness. The Pokemon was level fifteen with only two techniques in its repertoire. Tackle served as its primary physical attack, whilst the second technique was the status technique he'd hoped to find.

Teleport.

Elation surged through Ash. The rumours had been accurate after all. This would be the first new technique he acquired, and its applications were limitless.

Beldum's stats were a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses. His Attack, Defence, and Special Defence showed impressive potential for his level, whilst his Speed and Special Attack lagged behind. The low overall numbers were typical for its species at this stage—evolution would dramatically improve all parameters once it reached sufficient development.

Ash planned to focus heavily on developing his Psychic-type abilities, which meant prioritising Special Attack. He already possessed enough physical fighters on his team. Only Blitz provided decent mid to long-range combat options, making Beldum's eventual evolution into Metagross a valuable addition.

The Pokemon's special ability was Clear Body, which prevented stat reductions from enemy techniques. It was useful enough, though hardly the most powerful ability available. 

Ash released Beldum from its pokeball, and the hovering Pokemon immediately bumped its metallic head against his chest in greeting. 

"I have a name for you," Ash said, running his hand along the Pokemon's smooth surface. "Blink. Since you're my lucky star who will allow me to use Teleport, I think the name is fitting."

Beldum bobbed its head in apparent approval before floating over to investigate Bender. Without warning, it delivered an enthusiastic headbutt to the Tinkatink, sending the smaller Pokemon crashing to the factory floor.

Bender screeched in alarm, his tiny hammer materialising as he prepared to retaliate against what he perceived as an attack.

"Play nice," Ash said. "Blink is only being friendly."

He entered his mind palace and moved towards the floating crystal that housed Teleport. The moment he touched it, a flood of information rushed into his head. 

He frowned as the full complexity revealed itself. Learning the technique would be far harder than he'd first imagined. The energy cost was substantial. More troubling were the safety protocols embedded within the knowledge. The technique was genuinely dangerous. If his calculations were off by even a small margin, he could materialise inside solid objects. The mental images accompanying this warning were particularly unpleasant.

Ash returned to the factory floor, where most of the others had gathered for lunch. While he'd been occupied, they had explored more of the facility. Their excited chatter suggested they were only now beginning to understand the true scope of the underground complex. They seemed to have forgotten they were supposed to be hiding, discussing the facility's technology and capabilities with the enthusiasm of tourists.

"I need you to watch over me," Ash said, interrupting their conversation. "I'm going to try a dangerous technique."

Delia looked up from her meal. "What is this technique?"

"Nothing special," Ash replied with studied casualness. "Just a Forbidden technique."

Before anyone could bombard him with the inevitable questions, Ash focused his mind on the method he'd absorbed from the crystal. He visualised the space a few metres in front of him as his destination, calculating the distance and orientation carefully. The technique demanded perfection—any error could prove fatal.

Energy flowed through his body as he activated Teleport. Reality twisted around him, space folding as he translated from one location to another.

He disappeared.

When vision returned, Ash found himself inside one of the tents. Jessie stood directly in front of him, wearing only skimpy underwear and looking absolutely shocked at his sudden appearance.

"Oops."

Ash desperately tried to activate Teleport again, hoping to escape before the situation deteriorated further. 

Jessie's shock transformed into outrage. She screamed and charged towards him with murderous intent.

Ash bolted for the tent's exit, abandoning any attempt at dignified retreat. He crashed through the fabric opening and stumbled onto the floor, where the others stared at him with expressions ranging from confusion to amusement.

The technique was indeed dangerous.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Ash learns the truth of James' conflict and meets the Administrator.  

Thanks for reading.