"Houndoom, keep getting stronger! Use Dark Pulse!"
This was a move Houndoom had mastered during its evolution. A wave of sinister, oscillating energy surged toward Entei, who countered with another casual fire orb.
Entei wasn't fighting at full strength, but its power was directly tied to Molly's heart. As long as Molly believed her "Papa" was invincible, Entei would be impossible to defeat. It was the perfect sparring partner.
Houndoom Sync: 247 / 255
The purple flames of the legendary beast washed over Houndoom, but the dark dog didn't flinch. Its eyes burned with an unquenchable fighting spirit.
"Flamethrower!"
This time, Houndoom's fire was darker, tinged with obsidian hues. Legends said that a Houndoom's breath contained toxins that caused burns to ache forever. The deep crimson stream clashed violently with Entei's orbs.
"Faint Attack!"
Using the explosion as a smoke screen, Ash and Houndoom launched a combined strike.
"Awoooo!"
Houndoom lunged from the shadows, its fangs sinking into Entei's side. For the first time in the battle, Ash had landed a clean, effective blow on the legendary Pokémon.
Houndoom Sync: 249 / 255
Thump-thump!
"Houndoom, become the strongest King!"
As Ash spoke, a whirlwind of black flames erupted, completely enveloping Houndoom.
Bond Evolution: Begin!
Entei, startled by the sudden surge of raw power, leaped back to guard Molly. "Papa, what's happening to Big Brother Ash's Houndoom?"
Before Entei could answer, a pair of crimson eyes snapped open within the black inferno—eyes that looked like they belonged to a demon sent to bring chaos to the world.
"Fight! Faint Attack!"
This Bond Evolution felt entirely different from Charizard's. With Charizard, Ash felt like he was in a warm, passionate embrace of heroics. With Houndoom, despite it being a Fire-type, Ash felt a searing heat on his skin while a cold shiver ran down his spine. This was the true essence of Fire and Dark.
Houndoom Sync: 250 / 255
Only five points left.
Houndoom appeared instantly beside Entei, the black flames licking at the air. Entei, sensing the danger, stopped holding back. It lunged with Fire Fang, but the black flames exploded at point-blank range, swallowing the legendary beast in a dark Flamethrower.
"Roar!" Entei flared its own aura to dispel the soot. It stared at the transformed Houndoom. "Your fire and your speed... they are completely different. What is this?"
"Big Brother Ash's Houndoom is amazing! But Papa is still the best!" Molly's unwavering faith in Entei provided it with a fresh surge of power.
"Houndoom, Crunch!"
Sinister energy formed a massive, spectral set of jaws around the black flames. Even Entei looked stunned as the phantom bite clamped down on its neck.
"Papa!" Molly cried out. She looked at Ash with a flash of resentment. "Big Brother Ash, I'm not happy anymore!"
As her mood shifted, the bright meadow turned dark and gloomy. The ground began to tremble.
"Molly, it's okay. This is just what a Pokémon battle is like," Entei reassured her. Once she calmed down, Entei turned to Ash. "Boy, tell me... what is this power?"
"If you want to know, keep fighting! God or not, we're only going to get stronger!"
Houndoom Sync: 254 / 255
"Awooooo!" A terrifying, long howl echoed from within the black aura.
"Then let me see how strong you really are!" Entei charged, its massive body wreathed in legendary flames for a final collision.
"Faint Attack!"
As the two forces collided in a blinding explosion, the final point of synchronization clicked into place.
Thump-thump!
The black flames shattered, revealing the true form of Ash-Houndoom. It was larger now, with glowing crimson claws that dripped with hellfire. Its curved horns had turned blood-red and extended forward, and the bone-like armor on its back had grown into jagged spikes resembling wolf fangs. Most terrifying of all was the goat-skull crest on its chest, with dark red flames flickering in its hollow eye sockets.
"So cool!" Molly gasped. Instead of being frightened, she looked on with wonder.
Name: Ash-Houndoom
Type: Dark / Fire
Ability: Flash Fire / Cursed Body (Occasionally disables a move used against it)
Sync Status: Maximized
Ash's second Bond Evolution was complete. He realized that if his other partners reached their final stages, they too could achieve this height.
As the evolution faded, Ash felt a momentary darkness behind his eyes, but he managed to stay on his feet. He was reaching his limit, but his physical endurance was growing with every evolution.
"Molly, do you want to keep going?" Ash asked.
Molly shook her head, her teenage phantom dissolving back into her true, young self. "No, Big Brother Ash. Come to my house!"
She reached out and took Ash's hand, leading him onto Entei's back. "Papa, please!"
"Anything for you, Molly," Entei replied softly.