"Darkrai is unable to battle! Ninetales wins!"
With the referee's ruling, the second round of the match came to an end.
"What an incredible battle! Even though Trainer Lucas commands the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai, it still couldn't withstand the champion's Ninetales—the match turned into a complete one-sided affair."
"Legendary or Mythical Pokémon? It doesn't matter! Our champion is the true nemesis of legends!"
The announcer's fiery words whipped the crowd into a frenzy, and the arena erupted with deafening cheers for Paul.
"Return, Darkrai."
But Lucas' expression remained grim.
In his eyes, his own Darkrai was by no means weaker than Tobias'. Even Cynthia's Garchomp might not be able to put Darkrai down easily. Yet against Paul's Pokémon, it had been completely overpowered.
"Just how terrifying is your strength…? And what is that strange, furious power that your two Pokémon wield?"
The image of Paul in Lucas' mind grew more and more unfathomable. Before, Paul was simply powerful—but still within the realm of understanding. Now, Lucas could no longer see through him at all.
"Salamence can't fly under Gravity, and even Mega Evolution wouldn't make it a match for Ninetales. I can only rely on another option…" Lucas frowned. He had known Paul was strong, but not this overwhelming. The defeats of both Infernape and Darkrai had completely shattered his original strategy.
Still, Lucas quickly recovered and threw another Poké Ball, releasing Clefable.
"Light Screen!"
"Overheat!"
The instant Clefable appeared, Ninetales unleashed a devastating blast of flame, the scorching temperature warping the very air.
At the last possible moment, Clefable lifted its tiny hands, erecting a shimmering Light Screen between itself and the oncoming blaze.
The flames were halved in power as they smashed against the barrier, but the remnants still seared Clefable.
"Cleee—!"
Clefable's calm expression twisted into agony as it let out a shriek under the fiery impact.
"Return!"
Thankfully, Lucas reacted quickly. He recalled Clefable into its Poké Ball before the flames could finish it off, sparing it from being knocked out in a single blow.
"Such overwhelming strength… looks like I'll have to call on that one."
He tucked away the scorched Poké Ball, then slowly drew out another—this one with a distinct purple sheen.
"Oh? A Master Ball."
Paul's eyes lit up as soon as he saw it.
That unassuming sphere was none other than the legendary Poké Ball—the Master Ball.
Of course, in reality, the Master Ball wasn't the same as in the games—it didn't guarantee capture with a 100% rate. Still, for Pokémon below the Champion or Elite Four tier, it was usually possible to capture them directly without battling.
Thus, in real life, the Master Ball's value lay more in its rarity and prestige than in actual utility.
For Lucas to have chosen to use a Master Ball on a Pokémon… it meant that what was about to appear was something extraordinary, a partner he had captured only out of sheer necessity.
And that Pokémon was—
"It's up to you now—Regigigas!"
"Re…gi…gi…gas!!"
With a thunderous boom, Regigigas made its entrance. The massive titan exuded a dreadful aura, its enormous, and weathered body moving sluggishly as though shaking off rust.
"Interesting. A perfect target."
Paul smirked faintly, intrigued.
"All out—Fire Blast!"
"Wooo!"
Ninetales howled, eyes glowing red. Channeling every ounce of power within its body, it unleashed a Fire Blast larger than Regigigas itself.
The compressed inferno surged forward, its heat enough to reduce anything to ash.
Under the effects of Paul's psychic stimulation and Ninetales' heightened state, this single attack was strong enough that even Cynthia's Garchomp would have been one-shot if it tried to endure it head-on!
Lucas and Regigigas wanted to dodge, but with the Slow Start ability, Regigigas had no way to evade.
All it could do was raise its colossal arms in front of its body, bracing against the incoming Fire Blast.
But the essence of the move lay in the word "Blast"—and Regigigas, being no Fire-type, could not absorb the flames. The instant the inferno collided, it was overwhelmed.
BOOM!!
The massive titan was engulfed in smoke and fire.
"Keep firing—Fire Blast!"
Paul gave it no chance to breathe.
"Wooo!"
Ninetales understood perfectly, if they didn't defeat Regigigas before Slow Start wore off, it would be far more dangerous later. Pouring even more strength into its body, it launched one Fire Blast after another, pounding Regigigas' position with relentless bombardment.
Even with the Light Screen softening the blows, Paul saw no reason to risk a close-quarters exchange. Continuous ranged firepower was the surest path.
Inside the smoke, Regigigas staggered but did not panic. The six lights across its body flickered in sequence as it endured the pain. Raising its mighty arms, it projected a shimmering barrier—Protect, which held off the Fire Blasts.
"Lock-On! Then Stone Edge!"
Suddenly, a beam of light shot through the haze. A targeting reticle fixed itself squarely on Ninetales.
Moments later, a gigantic stone pillar, the size of a truck, tore through the smoke and launched skyward. Guided by the Lock-On trajectory, it curved downward toward Ninetales.
"Fire Blast!"
Paul didn't even question how Regigigas had learned Lock-On.
Ninetales didn't flinch. It raised its head and fired another Fire Blast, detonating the incoming Stone Edge midair.
Without pause, it returned to bombarding the smoke with more fiery blasts.
Paul's strategy was clear—Regigigas was slower, and without special recovery moves, it couldn't keep up. There was no need to get fancy, just keep pressing the attack until it fell.
Lucas hadn't expected Paul's approach to be this sharp and disciplined—relying on one move, but wielding it so decisively that Regigigas could barely fight back.
"Gravity! Then Earthquake!"
Changing tactics, Lucas commanded Regigigas to intensify the battlefield. The Gravity field grew even heavier than before, then Regigigas slammed its colossal legs into the ground. The entire arena quaked violently.
"Protect!"
After unleashing one final Fire Blast, Ninetales raised its shield just in time, safely encasing itself as the Earthquake tore through the stage.
"Lock-On! Giga Impact!"
Again, the targeting reticle appeared on Ninetales. Then, like a runaway truck, Regigigas burst out of the smoke, charging at full force toward its opponent.
"Fire Blast!!"
Ninetales didn't hesitate. It launched yet another Fire Blast, this one even more terrifying than before, colliding head-on with Regigigas. The sheer force shook the entire arena.
But as the smoke cleared, it became clear who held the upper hand. Regigigas, as a Legendary Pokémon, carried raw might that surpassed Ninetales. With brute force, it shattered the flames and pressed forward.
"Wooo—!"
Ninetales did not retreat. Instead, it raised a shimmering Protect, perfectly shielding itself from the crushing impact of Regigigas's Giga Impact.
"Fall back! Overheat!"
The moment Ninetales felt the power of Regigigas' attack weaken, it dropped its barrier, leapt back, and unleashed a blazing inferno.
By now, the earlier Light Screen had long since faded. Still, Regigigas calmly raised its massive arm, conjuring another Protect to block the flames.
And then—the six glowing lights across its body suddenly ignited.
Slow Start—completed.
"Good. Now, Stone Edge and Earthquake!"
Freed from its sluggish state, Regigigas' movements became smooth and powerful. The targeting lights flashed—Lock-On was complete. It raised both arms, conjuring massive stone pillars that hurtled toward Ninetales, before stomping the ground to unleash a devastating tremor.
Three moves, two strikes, executed in an instant.
Ninetales tried to resist, just as before—Fire Blast plus Protect.
But this time, after weathering the first Earthquake, more tremors followed in relentless succession. At the same time, Regigigas lunged forward, its colossal hands reaching straight for Ninetales.
"Inferno! Iron Tail!"
Seeing Regigigas' assault, Ninetales abandoned defense. Its body erupted with infernal flames as it charged, nine tails cloaked in fire and hardened like iron, striking again and again.
The searing blaze engulfed Regigigas. Each tail slammed against its massive frame with echoing crashes.
But Regigigas had no intention of backing down. Its target was set.
One giant hand seized a flaming tail, yanking it back. The other hand clamped down on Ninetales' body.
"Crush Grip!"
The strength that could crush mountains surged. The fury in Ninetales' eyes froze; its mouth opened in agony, but no cry escaped. It could only pour the last of its strength into burning the colossus.
"Re…gi…!"
After a few seconds, Regigigas swung its opponent down, slamming Ninetales into the ground with brutal force.
The fox rolled across the battlefield, and by the time it stopped, it was unconscious.
"Ninetales is unable to battle! Regigigas wins!"
The referee confirmed the result.
"Well done. Rest now."
Paul spoke softly as he recalled Ninetales.
It had already given everything it had, every ounce of damage it could possibly inflict. Even Mewtwo would have struggled to withstand that onslaught.
Its defeat was not weakness, it was proof of Regigigas' title as the Colossal King of the Regis. Its endurance was beyond reason.
No wonder Lucas had resorted to using a Master Ball to capture it. Against a titan with such raw durability, one that had even mastered the signature Lock-On used by the three Regis, ordinary strategies had failed him.
"The challenger Lucas has fielded the Legendary Regigigas, withstanding every strike from Ninetales and ultimately securing victory."
"Now, the question stands: how will our champion respond? Will he send in the mighty Ursaluna, the unmatched Electivire, or perhaps the enigmatic Mewtwo itself? Let's wait and see!"
The announcer's voice boomed, his eyes locked onto Paul, eager to witness his choice.
"Ursaluna—prepare to battle!"
Paul hurled his Poké Ball.
"Ursaaaaaah!!"
A roar like rolling thunder shook the arena. The tyrant of Hisui Region once again set foot on Sinnoh soil.
"Full power—Headlong Rush!"
"Urrrsaaaaah!!"
Ursaluna's lips twisted into a savage grin. In an instant, it pounded its chest with Belly Drum, maxing out its Attack. At the same time, its Guts, Awakened Mode, and Rage triggered. Its eyes gleamed with feral light, its body igniting with aura like raging fire—the embodiment of a wrathful bear.
It thundered forward, four limbs shaking the ground, body wreathed in flame, launching straight into Regigigas.
"Giga Impact!"
Regigigas met it without fear, hurling itself into the clash.
BOOM!!
The two colossal beasts collided midair. Pure physical force exploded outward, shaking the battlefield so violently that the protective barriers around the stands automatically activated to shield the audience.
For several long seconds, they grappled—until Ursaluna's supercharged might proved superior. It slammed Regigigas to the ground.
"Hammer Arm!"
Mounting Regigigas, Ursaluna roared, slamming both massive paws into its chest. The shock rippled through the earth.
It was super effective!
"Again—Hammer Arm!"
Flames still blazing across its body, Ursaluna rained down blow after blow. Each strike crashed like an iron hammer, relentless, and battering Regigigas without pause.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The sound of crushing blows echoed through the arena.
Pinned beneath, Regigigas struggled. It tried to retaliate with its own Hammer Arm or Ice Punch, but Ursaluna's ferocity gave no room.
At last, Regigigas seized an opening. One massive hand caught Ursaluna's paw mid-strike. Crush Grip activated once again.
The terrifying force made Ursaluna's bones shudder, as though they might splinter at any moment.
It tried to pull free, but Regigigas refused to release it. Worse, the other hand clamped down, locking both arms.
The tide of battle shifted.
"Heh…"
Paul let out a dark, and knowing chuckle.
"Counter!"
A white light surged around Ursaluna. The pain it had taken was converted into raw power.
A savage grin split its face. With a roar, it smashed its skull into Regigigas.
BOOOOM!!
The colossal titan staggered, head ringing. Its grip faltered, hands slipping free as it stumbled backward.
"Hammer Arm!"
Ignoring its throbbing arms, Ursaluna lunged again, slamming both forelimbs into Regigigas with crushing force.
Another clean hit—super effective!
Regigigas wavered, then collapsed to the ground...
(End of Chapter)
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