"Gyaa~!"
A sharp, raspy cry pierced through the dim space, echoing like the call of some primordial beast emerging from the void.
The next instant, a blinding flash burst forth—endless thunder illuminating the entire abandoned power plant in a searing blaze of light.
"As expected of a Legendary Pokémon! Even at just level 50, the sheer power of that move… even Zoro or Sanji might not be able to withstand it!"
Standing at the edge of the battlefield, Red couldn't help but exclaim in awe as Zapdos unleashed a devastating Thunderbolt.
At the same time, he felt a rush of gratitude. Thankfully, the Thunder Badge's achievement reward had granted him resistance to electric attacks.
Otherwise, this battle might have ended before it began—his fainted body forcing the match to a premature halt.
"It's about time I start thinking about my own strength too…" Red mused to himself, observing the clash intently.
On the battlefield.
Crackle—!!!
Under Zapdos's command, the terrifying lightning converged into a sharp elemental spear, radiating dazzling golden light as it thrust straight for Luffy's chest!
The spear—charged with lightning's blistering speed—struck in the blink of an eye, piercing through his body with a thunderous crack.
"Gyaa!"
Zapdos let out a disdainful cry, mocking this so-called challenger who couldn't even dodge such a straightforward attack.
But moments later…
The thunder faded.The light dimmed.Darkness once again shrouded the abandoned plant.
When Zapdos looked down, it froze in disbelief—the one who had taken its full-force Thunderbolt stood there completely unharmed.
"Is that all you've got?"
Luffy grinned, looking up at the mighty creature Red had praised so often, yet his expression remained relaxed—almost bored.
Be it the Gum-Gum Fruit or the Nika Fruit, he didn't know the exact mechanics, but one thing was certain:
Luffy possessed absolute immunity to Electric-type moves!All electrical attacks were useless before him.
"Well then… I guess it's my turn!"
Without an ounce of tension, Luffy's grin widened. Clouds of Armament Haki surged over his swelling frame, coating his chest and arms in an obsidian sheen.
His black hair flared like rising flames, and his inflated muscles brimmed with immense power.
Entering Gear Fourth, Luffy stomped the ground—leaving a deep crater—and his body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, straight toward Zapdos in the air.
"Gya!?"
Zapdos screeched in confusion.
Yet, with the battlefield's artificial intelligence guiding its Legendary instincts, it didn't panic.After all, even in the Pokémon world, Ground-types were immune to Electric moves—immunity was nothing new.
Seeing Luffy rushing up, Zapdos's eyes flared with fury.
A Legendary Beast's pride could not be insulted—Even if it stood at the bottom of the Legendary hierarchy!
"Reeaaagh!!!"
Its piercing cry split the air as light erupted from its jagged body. The golden wings folded tight before it dove like a living thunderbolt.
A Flying-type move—Brave Bird!
Sparks crackled wildly across its frame as Zapdos slammed into Luffy head-on.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion shook the entire plant, echoing like the sky itself had shattered.
The shockwave rippled outward like a hurricane, making the surrounding structures quake violently.
But the chaos didn't last long.
Seconds later, a brilliant surge of lightning engulfed both combatants completely.
It was uncontrolled power—lightning born of Zapdos's emotions flaring beyond its control.
Which meant…Zapdos was beginning to lose composure.
Yet even so—
The lightning that could turn a massive Sea King to ash merely danced harmlessly over Luffy's body. His form absorbed it greedily, glowing brighter with every spark.
"Is that really all you've got?"
His voice came from above, instantly catching Zapdos's attention.
When it looked up, it saw something chilling—Disappointment flickering in Luffy's eyes, as if he'd bought a fake product.
Then, with a calm sigh, Luffy's voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Sorry, but you're not much of a sparring partner."
"In that case, I'll end this quickly!"
"Gyaa!?"
Zapdos shrieked in outrage—But before it could react, a massive black-red arm appeared right before its eyes.
Luffy's enormous fist swung like a cannon, the lightning he'd absorbed now condensed and coiling around it.
"Gum-Gum…"
Twin jets of steam hissed from his nostrils as he inhaled deeply and roared—
"Thunder-God Elephant Gun!!!"
BOOOOM!!!
The colossal punch crashed down like a mountain, giving Zapdos no time to evade.
In an instant, the bird's glowing energy shattered like glass, its radiant aura dissipating as its body was sent hurtling backward—smashing into a pile of rusted machinery with explosive force.
"Looks like even Legendary Pokémon aren't necessarily stronger than the main crew of the pirate world."
Watching from the edge, Red muttered under his breath.He'd expected something extraordinary from the one and only Zapdos in the entire game world.
But judging by this fight—it was just an ordinary Zapdos.
Luffy, still midair, didn't pause after landing his hit.He kicked off the air, sonic booms bursting beneath his feet as he dived after the fallen bird like a cannonball.
Yet Zapdos, a level 50 Legendary, wasn't one to go down easily.It refused to surrender, refused to accept defeat.
Golden waves of electromagnetic force rippled outward as it used another Electric-type move—Magnet Rise!
Instantly, the scrap metal littering the area rose into the air, drawn and hurled toward Luffy under Zapdos's magnetic control.
The battle blazed into its climax.
Driven by pride, Zapdos unleashed every ounce of its power.
But against Luffy—whose level exceeded its own by a full ten—its furious assaults only earned it more bruises, more punishment.
And finally…
After one last, defiant cry, the exhausted Zapdos fell beneath Luffy's fist.
"Go, Great Ball!"
As the battlefield's projection began to fade, Red swiftly pulled a yellow-and-black Poké Ball from his bag and hurled it at the fallen bird.
A beam of red light struck Zapdos's body, enveloping it in an instant before pulling it inside the sphere.
Moments later, a message flickered before Red's eyes:
[Congratulations! You've captured Zapdos with a Great Ball.Experience gained: 2175.][Congratulations! You've captured Zapdos with a Great Ball.Item obtained: TM — Rain Dance.]
"Wha—WHAT!?"
Red blinked blankly at the glowing system prompt.
A Great Ball granted triple experience on capture and had a higher drop rate for rare TMs than standard Poké Balls…
But he never imagined—That an Electric and Flying-type Legendary would drop a Water-type move!
That was… absurd.
Then again, Rain Dancewas a move Zapdos could learn naturally.
It hadn't used it earlier only because they were inside a sealed power plant—a closed environment where the weather-based mechanics were disabled by the game's system.
"Still… quite the surprise~"
Red smiled wryly as he checked his bag, where the new TM glowed softly.
Surprising—but in a good way.After all, Rain Dance was one he'd been wanting for a long time.
And the best part—Nami, who shared Zapdos's Electric typing, could learn it perfectly.
Combined with the Thunder TM they'd obtained earlier, this meant—
Nami was no longer just a "promising talent for the future."She was now the true Queen of the Weather!
Of course, the mixed feelings were still there.
Zapdos was, after all, the only one of its kind in this version.Red had hoped it would drop a powerful Electric or Flying move instead.
"Well… what's done is done."
"At least we gained something worthwhile."
Red muttered to himself, exhaling lightly.
But just as he was about to check Luffy's updated stats—his level now soaring to 61 thanks to the experience boost—
a new notification popped up before his eyes, one that clearly didn't belong to the usual game interface:
[Congratulations, player! You have defeated your first Legendary Pokémon.Achievement Unlocked: Beast Conqueror!][Please return to the main console to claim your achievement reward.]
(End of Chapter)