POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

The massive Dragonite didn't make another move but instead continued staring at Pikachu, deep in thought. The thunderclouds above remained undisturbed, rolling with thick arcs of lightning, sending out shockwaves that rippled through the air.

"Staying like this, I'm not sure if Dragonite will actually attack…" Ash murmured, glancing nervously at the others.

"It definitely seems to be wary of Pikachu's move, but how much fear it has, we can't say. If it attacks again, I don't think we have any way to fight back," Bill added, analyzing the situation carefully, his eyes shifting toward Ash.

"Dragonite's afraid of Pikachu's move?!" Brock and Misty both stared at Bill in disbelief. It was hard to accept—how could a giant Pokémon like that be afraid of a small Pikachu, especially when Pikachu had just broken through to the Elite level?

Ash raised an eyebrow, also looking at Bill. "What do you mean?"

Bill turned to them, his expression serious. "Have you ever heard of… the realm of the gods?"

"The realm of the gods?" Brock pondered for a moment. He didn't quite understand the significance of the term.

Bill nodded slightly. "That's right. You're on the right track. While this is a concept humans have divided into different levels of power, the 'realm of the gods' is above everything we know so far—a higher realm."

"Is it stronger than the epic level?" Misty asked, her curiosity piqued. Epic-level Pokémon were the strongest many people knew of.

"Yes," Bill confirmed, causing Brock and Misty to look at him with wide eyes. They hadn't expected there to be a level above the epic tier.

Ash wasn't surprised. He had already learned from Professor Oak that there were two theoretical realms beyond the epic level, so this was not entirely new to him.

Bill continued, his gaze still locked on the enormous Dragonite. "Right now, only a few people are aware of this: the Elite Four, the Champion, and we researchers. From what we've deduced, the power of Pokémon above the epic level could change the very landscape around them."

Ash and the others reflected on the destructive power the Dragonite had displayed. A single punch had destroyed cliffs, and an Ice Punch had made the environment start to snow. Such strength was indeed terrifying.

"This level of power is what we call the 'God's Realm.' It's the kind of ability only a god would possess," Bill sighed. "It's a hypothesis, based on old records. But to actually witness it firsthand… It's almost surreal."

According to ancient texts, the power to manipulate terrain and the environment was something only legendary Pokémon, referred to as gods by people, could wield. Bill's studies led him to propose the existence of the "God's Realm," an ultimate level of power.

"So… this Dragonite could be a Pokémon from the realm of gods?" Misty asked, staring at the colossal Dragonite, her awe apparent in her voice.

"I don't know for sure, but there's a good chance that it is a being from the God's Realm," Bill replied with a wry smile. He hadn't expected the Pokémon he was looking for to turn out to be a god-level entity.

"We need to explain things clearly. Hopefully, it will understand that we didn't mean to provoke it," Bill said, standing up. He knew this situation was largely his fault, and it was his responsibility to try and calm the raging beast.

"Professor Bill!" Ash and the others gasped, trying to stop him. But Bill shook his head, signaling them to stay back. He walked directly toward the towering Dragonite.

The giant Dragonite noticed Bill's movement, lowering its massive head and glaring down at him. Its eyes radiated anger.

"Dragonite, I'm truly sorry. I used your Growl to play a recording, which led you here!" Bill's voice was firm despite the pressure, and he held his ground as he looked up at the towering creature.

When the Dragonite heard the mention of "audio," it seemed momentarily confused. The sound from the recording had reminded it of its former companions, bringing back memories of days long past. However, this did not stop it from feeling the urge to attack.

"We didn't mean to attack you," Bill continued. "We don't know why other people are here, and I know you might not believe me, but it's the truth!"

Bill's tone was sincere—he wasn't trying to argue or make excuses, only hoping that his honesty would reach the Dragonite and calm its wrath.

However, the Dragonite was not easily swayed. With a mighty roar, it let out a fearsome growl, signaling its refusal to forgive them. Bill's words weren't enough to quell its rage.

It was clear now that while the Dragonite recognized the presence of the thundercloud above, it still felt too small to release its full power.

The Dragonite's eyes narrowed. Fire-type energy swirled in its mouth, and flames began to leak from between its lips. Without warning, the Dragonite opened its mouth wide and unleashed a devastating Flamethrower toward Bill and the others below.

The heat of the flames warped the air around them, and the space seemed to distort. The Ice Punch effect that had been in place earlier dissipated, and even the sea began to evaporate, with steam rising into the air.

At the same moment, a thunderball descended from the sky, striking the Dragonite directly. However, the Dragonite was unfazed. It shrugged off the attack, knowing that it was nothing compared to its power.

Bill's face turned pale in horror, and the others behind him, including Ash, wore expressions of fear. Pikachu struggled to stand and attempted to use Thunderbolt to stop the flames, but the effort was futile. Weak from exertion, Pikachu collapsed, helpless to do anything as the flames raged.

Just then, a small, purple-black Energy Ball appeared out of nowhere. Though small, it collided with the Flamethrower, resisting the flames with remarkable force.

"Boom!" The Energy Ball exploded, breaking apart the Dragonite's fiery attack. Sparks rained down like fireflies in the night sky, creating a brief, beautiful scene amidst the chaos.

The giant Dragonite's pupils contracted in surprise as it focused on the new arrival. A small Pokémon, not even a meter tall, stood beside Ash. Its body was black like smoke, with eyes like orange flames. Though it looked cute, no one underestimated its power.

This tiny Pokémon had just blocked the Dragonite's powerful attack.

"This is…?!" Bill exclaimed in shock, his gaze shifting from the mysterious Pokémon to Ash. His eyes narrowed in realization. "So, Ash… you're not just an ordinary Trainer, are you? There's something much bigger at play here."