Chadri had given up sitting properly. He'd melted into his sofa like a deflated balloon, staring at nothing.
Every coping mechanism he'd built? Gone. Every reassurance he'd told himself? Worthless.
His thoughts had devolved into incoherent static.
Wabby wabbo... barbie Q... aba aba...
Nobody could truly grasp how completely his confidence had shattered.
When Zeraora beat Kyogre, he'd thought: Okay, John's incredible. Really incredible. But maybe if I prepare the right counter-strategy...
When Greninja crushed Groudon, the thought became: Is this guy even human? Should I just... quit? Just forfeit and go home?
And now, watching Gardevoir casually dismantle the literal Gods of Time and Space like they were training dummies?
I forfeit. Done. Finished. I'm withdrawing from the tournament. They can't make me fight that monster.
He wasn't alone in his crisis.
Lilith was practically levitating with joy. "My Pookie is simply too strong!"
Eve sat very still, her expression thoughtful. "If I married him, our children would be exceptional trainers. The genetics alone... but how does one even approach someone like that?"
Magnus said nothing at all. What could he say? His grand dreams of reclaiming the championship had become a punchline.
But John's warpath wasn't finished.
Nobody watching knew how many floors this realm had. How many times could that portal reopen after beating Legendary Pokemon? Three times? Ten? Twenty?
Inside Rainbow Rocket headquarters, John remained blissfully unaware he'd become the world's most-watched reality show. He was just enjoying the novelty, a video game with no trash mobs, only boss fights.
[Hoenn Region: cleared.]
[Sinnoh Region: cleared.]
[Unova Region: loading...]
John materialized inside an ancient stone fortress. Torches flickered on walls that looked medieval, maybe older. The whole place reeked of age and arrogance.
Two dragons waited for him. One black as midnight, crackling with electricity. One white as ash, radiating heat shimmer.
Between them stood a man who screamed "villain." Everything about Ghetsis, from his ridiculous eyewear to his theatrical cloak, telegraphed evil mastermind energy.
Guy preached liberation while running the biggest Pokemon theft ring in Unova.
The hypocrisy was almost impressive.
"Unova. Double battle." John assessed the situation with a bit of detachment. "Let's see whose electricity packs more punch."
Shame about Zeraora being locked out after the Kyogre fight. Would've been a good matchup for Reshiram.
Guess he'd need someone else to handle the white dragon.
"You defeated Maxie, Archie, and Cyrus." Ghetsis's voice dripped with mock admiration that fooled nobody. "First person to reach me in a long while. Congratulations."
"So nobody's beaten you yet?" John asked, genuinely curious. "What happened to them?"
"Want to know?" Ghetsis's smile was pure malice. "They were consumed. Truth and Ideals don't negotiate, boy. They erase. Every trainer who challenged me became dust."
He spread his arms theatrically. "Your turn!"
"Zekrom! Reshiram! Incinerate him!"
Both dragons' eyes flashed red, the same controlled gleam John had seen in Dialga and Palkia. Rainbow Rocket's mind control signature.
Thunder and fire erupted simultaneously.
None of the previous villain leaders had straight-up tried to murder John directly. Maxie and Archie relied on their Pokemon. Cyrus maintained his emotionless distance.
But Ghetsis? Ghetsis went for the throat immediately.
Perfect. Finally, someone who actually embodies "evil villain" properly.
John smiled coldly. "Since you started it..."
Two Pokeballs flew.
Two roars answered, shaking the fortress stones.
An invisible barrier materialized, catching the combined elemental assault. The explosion that followed sent shockwaves through the ancient structure.
Fierce winds shredded the smoke like knife strokes, revealing what stood behind.
Shadow Lugia. Pitch-black where it should be silver-white, radiating corruption like a tangible force. Once called an Ocean God, same as Kyogre, now something darker, angrier, more dangerous.
And beside it: Mega Garchomp, the landshark, all blade-edges and predatory focus. Not quite Legendary status, but close enough to taste it.
The Sky Island broadcast exploded with reactions.
"SHADOW LUGIA?!"
"When did he—how did he—"
"That thing's supposed to be unstoppable!"
Magnus found his voice. "Shadow Lugia... corrupted Ocean God. In that state, it rivals Primal Kyogre's power."
Lance added quietly, "And Reshiram plus Zekrom are Truth and Ideals incarnate. Top-tier Legendaries." He paused. "This should be John's hardest fight."
Should be.
Neither of them believed it would be.
On the battlefield, Shadow Lugia's eyes burned with purple malevolence. Shadow energy rippled across its body in waves, pushing back against the combined presence of both dragons.
Mega Garchomp's scythe-arms gleamed. It locked eyes with both opponents simultaneously, calculating, measuring, hunting.
"Two Pokemon?" Ghetsis laughed. "You dare face the embodiments of Truth and Ideals with—"
"Aeroblast."
The words were barely out of John's mouth before Shadow Lugia fired.
"Dragon Claw."
Mega Garchomp vanished in a blur of motion.
Ghetsis's mockery died in his throat.
The real battle had started.