"RHYPEEERIOR!"
After completing its evolution, Rhyperior leapt straight out of the magma!
Its gaze immediately locked onto Heatran in the distance, which was still struggling with a golden ring locked around its neck. Rhyperior charged forward at high speed, intending to rescue Heatran first.
At the same time, magma-like power flowed within its body, while the power of the Volcanic Keystone surged endlessly. As it moved, blazing flames wrapped around its massive frame.
"ROOooaar!"
Heatran's struggles were growing weaker and weaker.
However, upon sensing Rhyperior's approach, a fresh surge of power erupted from its body.
Although Heatran had already broken free from the volcanic seal, the restraints placed upon its body had yet to be removed.
The Volcanic Keystone contained power capable of breaking the seal within Heatran. As long as Rhyperior reached Heatran's side, it could completely undo the seal, restoring Heatran's full strength!
Yet just as Rhyperior was advancing, a black shadow abruptly appeared in front of it. The shadow writhed and solidified into the form of Mega Gengar, which immediately raised its hand and unleashed a Shadow Ball!
"RHYYY! PEEERIOR!"
Rhyperior's eyes sharpened as it swiftly raised its right arm.
In the next moment, the muscles in its right arm suddenly bulged. In the center of its open palm, a pitch-black void appeared.
Dense Rock-type energy continuously gathered into this black hole. With the contraction of its muscles, immense power condensed within it!
In the following instant, as its muscles violently contracted, a massive boulder was fired out like a cannonball, whistling through the air as it smashed straight toward the Shadow Ball!
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion echoed across the battlefield.
The enormous rock projectile actually managed to block the Shadow Ball head-on!
"It blocked it?!" The black-robed Grand Sorcerer's pupils contracted sharply at this sight.
Although Rhydon had already completed its evolution, the extent of this power increase was truly outrageous.
Before, Rhydon had not even reached king level and was completely unable to withstand even a casual attack from Mega Gengar. Yet now, after evolving, it could actually confront Mega Gengar head-on!
"That was… Rock Wrecker?" Aven narrowed his eyes slightly.
Rock Wrecker was Rhyperior's exclusive move, possessing power comparable to devastating moves like Hyper Beam.
Of course, Rock Wrecker also came with a severe drawback—after using it, the user's body would enter a brief state of rigidity, unable to move.
However, just as this thought flashed through Aven's mind, he saw Rhyperior suddenly move again. It raised both arms, and two torrents of flame surged forth!
At this moment, Rhyperior showed no sign of being affected by Rock Wrecker's side effects at all. It was still able to launch powerful attacks, with no reduction in strength whatsoever!
"It seems all those self-torture-like training sessions weren't for nothing," Aven thought, images of Rhydon's past training flashing through his mind.
It had endured extreme heat and crushing pressure without faltering. Bearing the side effects of Rock Wrecker was nothing in comparison. Even if it truly had to withstand tremendous strain, Rhyperior would undoubtedly treat it as yet another obstacle to overcome!
BOOM!
On the battlefield, Flamethrower erupted forward.
Even before the attacks collided, a terrifying wave of heat surged outward, warping the surrounding air from the intense scorching.
BOOM!
Once again, Flamethrower and Shadow Ball collided head-on.
However, when faced with the incoming Shadow Ball, Rhyperior showed no intention of dodging whatsoever. Instead, it charged straight toward it head-on.
It clenched its fist and threw out a heavy punch. In an instant, an overwhelming pressure surged forward like a collapsing mountain and overturning sea, striking the Shadow Ball from a distance and blasting it apart in midair.
Its gaze swept forward once more, only for it to suddenly realize that Mega Gengar's figure had vanished without a trace.
"Rhyperior, Bulldoze!"
All of a sudden, Aven's voice echoed within its mind.
Without the slightest hesitation, Rhyperior lifted its foot and slammed it heavily onto the ground. Instantly, the entire terrain trembled violently as an invisible shockwave swept outward in all directions!
"Gegegegee~"
At the same moment, Mega Gengar's figure reappeared, only to be struck directly by the Stomping Tantrum, its body involuntarily forced backward.
From the shockwave, it could feel a terrifying pressure pressing down on its body, causing its originally nimble and light form to suddenly feel weighed down.
"Rhyperior, Heat Crash!" Aven's voice rang out once again.
"RHYYYY—!"
Rhyperior stomped one foot against the ground, flames instantly engulfing its entire body as it launched itself forward like a cannonball!
When it appeared again, Rhyperior was already right in front of Mega Gengar, its flaming fist carrying an overwhelming momentum as it smashed forward!
Yet just as the attack was about to strike Mega Gengar, its figure abruptly turned into a shadow and vanished on the spot.
BOOM!
Rhyperior's fist slammed heavily into the ground.
In an instant, the entire surface shattered apart. Cracks resembling a spiderweb spread rapidly in all directions!
Immediately, the area sank into molten magma. Vast amounts of lava surged and flowed, filling the fractured fissures as thick plumes of greenish smoke continuously billowed upward.
Upon seeing the magma, Rhyperior did not hesitate in the slightest. It plunged both hands directly into the molten lava, causing the magma to begin flowing continuously over its body!
"Gegegegee~"
In the distance, Mega Gengar's figure appeared once more, a look of wariness flashing in its eyes.
It could clearly sense the terrifying power possessed by Rhyperior. Engaging in close combat at this moment would be completely irrational—long-range attacks were the safer and more reliable choice.
With a lift of its hand, it condensed another Shadow Ball and hurled it straight at Rhyperior, only for it to be blocked head-on by the magma flowing over Rhydon's body!
"RHYYY! PEEERIOR—!"
Rhyperior's entire body was now drenched in flowing magma as the power of the Volcanic Keystone within it was driven to its absolute limit.
It raised both hands simultaneously, revealing pitch-black cannon muzzles. Magma continuously streamed toward its arms while Fire-type and Ground-type energies gathered relentlessly.
At this very moment, Rhyperior finally fused its Fire and Ground energies together, transforming them into a special magma-based power, forming a flaming rock cannon!
BOOM!
A shrill roar that seemed capable of tearing space itself apart rang out as the Magma Cannon blasted forward!
At the same time, the Magma Cannon carried terrifying heat and crushing pressure, within which Rhyperior had infused the power of Heat Crash!
"Gegegege…"
In the distance, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Mega Gengar's forehead.
It instinctively tried to dodge, only to suddenly feel a tremendous pressure descend upon it, completely enveloping its body!
Without any room for hesitation, Mega Gengar prepared to meet the attack head-on. Its hands clasped in front of its body as an enormous Shadow Ball rapidly formed and was launched toward the incoming Magma Cannon!
BOOM!
In midair, the two attacks collided violently.
After a brief moment of stalemate, the Magma Cannon shattered the Shadow Ball and erupted into a massive explosion. Billowing smoke and dust surged outward, completely engulfing Mega Gengar in the distance.
"Huff… huff…"
After unleashing its strongest attack, Rhyperior began to gasp heavily for breath.
Then, without looking again toward Mega Gengar, it turned its gaze to the distant Heatran and began striding toward it once more.
But after taking only two steps, its body abruptly froze. It felt as if something had grabbed hold of it, preventing it from taking another step forward.
Confused, it turned its head back, only to discover a shadow extending out from the distant smoke, directly connecting to the shadow beneath its feet and tightly restraining it.
Gradually, the smoke from the explosion dispersed, and Mega Gengar's figure emerged. Both of its hands were pressed against the ground, planted directly into the shadows, as though it had seized hold of Rhyperior's shadow itself!
"This is Mega Gengar's Shadow Tag ability!" Aven frowned.
With Shadow Tag in effect, Rhyperior was completely unable to withdraw from the battlefield. Only by defeating Mega Gengar could it break free!
A prolonged frontal battle was extremely disadvantageous for Rhyperior, which only possessed short-term burst power—especially with Heatran still in need of the Volcanic Keystone.
"Don't even think about escaping! I won't let you stop me from capturing Heatran!" the black-robed Grand Sorcerer sneered, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
At this moment, he was continuously communicating with the Golden Capture Rings, urging it to restrain Heatran while relentlessly injecting the power belonging to the Demon God Hoopa into its body.
Once Heatran was completely eroded by the Demon God's power, it would lose all rationality and become a servant of Demon God Unbound Hoopa. This was the terrifying power of the Demon God Hoopa that they worshipped!
"RHYYYY—!"
An anxious expression appeared on Rhyperior's face.
It raised its hands once more, completely disregarding the backlash from the previous extreme Magma Cannon, and prepared to unleash another one.
Its muscles bulged all over as it began accumulating power, forcing its body to erupt with strength far beyond its current limits!
Crack… crack…
Suddenly, the sound of stone shattering rang out.
Cracks abruptly appeared along Rhyperior's arms—clear evidence that its bodily output had reached its absolute limit.
A piercing pain surged into Rhyperior's mind, yet it did not slow down in the slightest. Enduring the pain coursing through its entire body, it continued to gather power relentlessly!
At last, another Magma Cannon was condensed and fired heavily toward the distant Gengar.
At the same time, Gengar's hands suddenly yanked against the ground. Shadows surged within its grasp, transforming into a Night Shade that rose up in front of it as a shield.
BOOM!
The Magma Cannon smashed directly into the Night Shade.
The cannon roared as magma splattered in all directions, continuously scorching the Night Shade and causing it to burst into flames in an instant!
Streams of molten lava poured down onto the ground, producing sharp sizzling sounds as the entire terrain began to quake violently.
The already battered ground collapsed in an instant. Lava surged up from beneath the earth, erupting upward like a volcanic explosion as torrents of magma swept toward Mega Gengar!
(End of Chapter)