"Z-Rings and Electrium Z…" Satoshi blinked, brimming with curiosity as he reached out.
[Z-Ring]:A mysterious bracelet that uses a Trainer's spirit and stamina to let a Pokémon unleash Z-Power.
And Tapu Koko had even handed over two Electrium Z without a hint of stinginess.
Sure, the Z-Rings might've been stolen from island kahuna Hala's family, but Electrium Z was still precious.
"Are these… for us? Mm… so bright." Uika's fingers brushed the Z-Ring, and a fierce radiance burst forth. With that light, both of them ended up wearing one.
The glow didn't last long, fading away in moments.
"Fwoo—!" Tapu Koko shot up into the air with a cry.
[Battle me!]
What was that?
Somehow, Satoshi could understand what it wanted—but Furiko immediately chimed in with an explanation.
[Satocchi, that's Aura, right~ Furiko didn't hear anything at all~ Nng… so unfair. In the future, when Satocchi does things like that with Meowscarada… if I can't hear it, doesn't that make me the cuck?! No—just watching makes me the cuck too!]
[With Soyo, with Anon… no matter who Satocchi is with, I'm the cuck~ Waaaah no~]
Stop spiraling, Furiko!
So it's Aura, huh? Then that's fine.
Does that mean I can hand-form a Rasengan now?
Satoshi didn't dwell on it. They could talk about that later. Right now, Tapu Koko was what mattered.
"I get it, Tapu Koko! Then let's battle! Raichu—go!" Satoshi threw his arm forward, and Raichu dashed to the front.
"Rai~~!"
Huh? What did you "get"?
I don't get anything!
Uika was the only one left standing there, completely lost.
I'm always feeling out of place just because I'm normal.
Still, swept along by the moment, Uika tossed out Electivire's Poké Ball.
"Electivire, ready for battle!" "Ele!"
If there was a battle to be had, then fine. Uika also wanted to know just how big the gap was between her Pokémon and a legendary.
"Kapu!" Tapu Koko flared its shell, forming a waterfall of interwoven lightning. A powerful current erupted through the forest, blanketing the Pokémon.
"Electric Terrain." Satoshi and Uika recognized it at once.
[Electric Terrain]:Pokémon on the ground can't fall asleep, and Electric-type moves are boosted.
For both of them, it was an advantage—since both Pokémon had Abilities that could absorb Electric-type moves.
As long as the power wasn't so extreme they got overloaded and went down, anyway.
"Raichu, use [THUNDERBOLT]!"
"Electivire, [THUNDER]!"
"Rai-raiichu!" "Ele—!"
Raichu and Electivire unleashed surging currents together—Thunderbolt and Thunder roaring toward Tapu Koko like rolling thunder.
"Fwoo—!" But Tapu Koko charged in with Dazzling Gleam.
When the twin streams of electricity slammed into the brilliant pink-violet light radiating from Tapu Koko's body, it was like crashing into an unbreakable Protect—sealed off completely, unable to produce any effect at all.
Dazzling Gleam—normally a ranged move—was being used point-blank, shielding itself while attacking at the same time.
Riding that glittering light, Tapu Koko slammed into Raichu and Electivire.
With a deafening boom, both Pokémon were knocked flat, sent tumbling into the dirt in a messy sprawl.
A champion-class opponent—or higher.
Satoshi judged it instantly. But knowing didn't help: the gap in strength was simply too wide.
"Raichu—spring up with your tail and use [IRON TAIL] in the air!"
"Electivire, use [SCREECH] to support Raichu!"
"Ele—!" Electivire let out a piercing roar, disrupting Tapu Koko's rhythm to a degree.
"Rai-raiichu!" In the next instant, Raichu leapt into the air and brought down a vicious Iron Tail, speed and power braided into one strike.
It fell like a warhammer, fast enough to be impossible to guard against—
"Fwoo~" Tapu Koko's body was shoved back a few steps in midair by the impact.
"Now—[THUNDERBOLT]/[THUNDER]!"
The two of them pressed the advantage immediately, like partners who'd trained together for years.
Raichu and Electivire fired Thunderbolt and Thunder in tandem. Both currents struck Tapu Koko, kicking up thick smoke and turbulent air.
But the power gap was too great. Tapu Koko barely seemed affected.
When the smoke cleared, Tapu Koko was still floating there, perfectly intact.
"Fwoo~"
[Use a Z-Move.]
This time, Satoshi fully understood what it meant. He turned, eyes landing on Uika.
"Uika, let's use a Z-Move against Tapu Koko."
"Huh? A Z-Move… okay, but I've never tried it even once."
Uika raised her arm. A brilliant golden light burst from the Z-Ring.
"It's fine. Leave it to me!"
A gentle smile bloomed on Satoshi's face.
He'd already absorbed the Z-Move poses from the Sun & Moon anime and the games until they were second nature!
All that was left was to indulge in a little cringe.
Satoshi's so reliable—he even studied Z-Moves?
Uika felt genuinely happy, wrapped in a rare sense of reassurance.
It felt even better than reading messages like she usually did.
Maybe it was the weight of pressure. Uika had come from a remote island to Rainbow Wing City to be an idol, and in truth, she didn't have many people she truly trusted.
There was another idol, Sumida Mana—she and Uika were in the same unit. But Uika had never shown Mana her real feelings; all she ever gave her were professional, practiced smiles. To Uika, even chatting with her childhood friends—Sakiko and Satoshi—through messages was better.
Uika had reread Sakiko's few messages for a full year, since they hadn't spoken in a year.
Same with Satoshi's.
Uika switched into idol mode, preparing to copy Satoshi's movements perfectly.
"Got it. I'll imitate your motions and your mindset as much as I can."
And that embarrassing dance? As an idol, Miss Uika didn't mind that at all!
"Good. Then let's go!"
In that moment, their hearts resonated in silence—Uika's heartbeat weaving into Satoshi's breathing.
Trainer and Pokémon moved in sync: Satoshi with Raichu, Uika with Electivire. Their motions gradually aligned—
Until they matched completely.
A fierce current poured off both Raichu and Electivire.
"LET'S GO!" ×2
"Raichu!" "Ele!"
"THIS IS OUR FULL POWER STRIKE!!" ×2
[GIGAVOLT HAVOC]!!!!!!
"Rai!!!" Raichu and Electivire unleashed Gigavolt Havoc, electricity flooding into their fists before blasting outward in a violent burst.
The power was massively amplified, fired like a gigantic artillery shell—instantly swallowing the target zone and tearing through it with overwhelming destructive force.
Satoshi had to admit—it was insanely cringe!
But there was a kind of brutal beauty to it.
Tapu Koko, however, was already braced. It clasped its arms, sealing itself inside its hardened shell, forming an unbreakable shield. When it unfolded again, it was still hovering in the air—barely harmed at all.
"Woohoo—!"
[Next time, I'll come find you again.]
With that cry, Tapu Koko shot into the sky and disappeared.
"So strong… is this what 'beyond Champion' looks like?" Satoshi felt a little drained, but deeply satisfied.
So this was a Guardian Deity—a Pokémon at the pinnacle.
I want to get stronger. Strong enough to beat it!
Satoshi clenched his fists, his blood running hotter.
"Tired…" But on Uika's side, she was starting to feel dizzy. She'd run too far, and a Z-Move drained stamina—far too much for a girl's endurance.
Her legs went weak, almost unable to hold her up. Her eyes were full of exhaustion and haze.
"Are you okay?"
Satoshi stepped over and pulled Uika into his arms. Feeling the strength of his embrace, her heart trembled on its own.
"Mm…?"
Oh no—I have to keep my distance.
Saki… this doesn't count as me stealing your boyfriend, right?
In Satoshi's arms, Uika took a deep breath, slowly relaxing, letting herself sink fully into his embrace.
You'll forgive me… won't you…?
---
T/N: GOOSEBUMPS!! im cjuist cringe... TO BE CRINGE IS TO BE FREEE
4 chaps meeting this weeks quota, i was toooo lazy and slept allllllllll week sorgee
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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