John excavated a Thunder Magnet from the middle of a vast grassland, surrounded by hypnotized Electrode and Voltorb scattered across the area.
[Thunder Magnet: Pokemon carrying this item increase Electric-type move power by 50% and Self Destruct move power by 100%]
Hamlin Island proved peculiar, a large forest wrapped around central prairie land, with the Lightning Ball family Pokemon comprising most of the local wildlife. The electric-type treasure Thunder Magnet would indeed suit Thunder Ball Pokemon perfectly.
Unfortunately, John's only Electric-type was Zeraora, and it hardly seemed the Self Destruct type.
Pocketing the Thunder Magnet, John planned to sell it back at his breeding facility. Many trainers with mischievous Electric-types would consider this a premium treasure.
"Anything else here?" John retrieved the treasure detector again.
The device deflected once more, though less dramatically than before. Each find seemed weaker than the last. This discovery would likely yield ordinary Pokemon items or bottom-tier secret treasures at best.
Hamlin Island's resources appeared limited.
"Let's move to the next island," John said, putting away the detector while preparing for Gardevoir to teleport them onward.
With Gardevoir's strength, inter-island teleportation was well within her capabilities.
But before Gardevoir could act, John noticed the sky suddenly darkening. Looking up, he saw pitch-black storm clouds gathering overhead, dark red currents dancing within them while a powerful, tyrannical aura pressed down.
"What powerful Pokemon is approaching?" John wondered.
Gardevoir assumed a vigilant stance, purple light glowing in her eyes as Future Sight activated. She could teleport John to safety at any moment.
BOOM!
Thunder crashed with deafening intensity.
A massive dark red lightning bolt plummeted from the sky, aimed directly at John's position.
However, at the moment of impact, John had teleported hundreds of meters from his original location.
In that instant, John realized the dark red storm cloud was targeting him specifically.
"Bold enough to come looking for me?" John smiled, throwing a Pokeball backhanded. "Let me see who you are!"
"Go, Zeraora!"
Silver light flashed as Zeraora landed, releasing a full-bodied roar. "Zeraaa~"
It sensed a powerful Electric Pokemon hidden within the dark red thundercloud, igniting its fighting spirit.
This was precisely why John chose Zeraora. His Zeraora possessed the Volt Absorb ability, granting inherent advantage against Electric-types.
Before John could command Zeraora to attack the storm and reveal whatever Pokemon dared challenge him, a menacing figure burst from the dark red clouds with a piercing shriek.
KRAAAW!
The black silhouette dove like a fighter jet executing a kamikaze strike.
Seeing the attacking figure, John paused momentarily, then suddenly understood. His grin widened considerably.
The Electric Pokemon attacking him was nothing less than an old friend.
[Zapdos Level 91]
An old friend in every sense of the word.
Among legendary Electric Pokemon, not counting the simple Power Plant raids, John had encountered Zapdos more than any other legendary Electric-type.
At the underground power plant, he'd stolen a Zapdos's Orb of Thunder.
In the spatial rift where he'd rescued Scarlett, he'd also driven off a Zapdos with impressive spatial manipulation abilities while capturing Zeraora.
Adding this one made three total encounters!
However, technically John had only seen two different Zapdos.
Because the Zapdos diving toward him now was the same one from whom he'd stolen Orb of Thunder at the underground power plant.
John didn't recognize this Zapdos by sight, rather, its angry cry told the whole story.
"KRAAAW! (Damn thief, I finally found you!)"
"Zeraora," John said calmly, extending his hand to direct without retreating a single step.
"Plasma Fists!"
Having Zeraora battle Zapdos while wielding the very treasure stolen from another Zapdos felt deliciously ironic.
Immediately, two sparks collided violently in mid-air.
"Zeraaa!" Zeraora responded loudly, rushing fearlessly toward the airborne Zapdos.
Standing on the vast prairie, John watched the duel with an amused smile.
No contest, really. Current Zeraora wasn't the same Pokemon that had fled from Zapdos in that spatial rift. With its present strength, this Zapdos might not last three moves.
Zapdos's large, fierce form quickly broke free from the smoke, not through its own power, but because Zeraora had blown it clear of the blast range.
In their first clash, despite Zapdos not using Electric moves and having prepared a devastating aerial dive, Zeraora still gained the upper hand.
Zapdos didn't remain idle, quickly adjusting its condition. Its wings beat rapidly and continuously, creating invisible sharp blades with Air Cutter, transparent slashes that were fierce, fast, and difficult to dodge at high altitude.
Moreover, Zeraora still carried Orb of Thunder.
Landing a hit, Zeraora stepped off the air using electromagnetic force, increasing its flight speed while fists flashed with dazzling white light, preparing to pummel the aerial Zapdos.
Enhanced by both Close Combat and Force Palm techniques, one punch could finish the job.
But for Zeraora, who had combined Thunder Wave and Mind Reader to recreate something resembling Observation Haki from his favorite anime, dodging these seemingly invisible but actually crystal-clear attacks proved trivially easy.
A violent explosion erupted, black smoke billowing like thick fog, nearly replacing the storm clouds covering all of Hamlin Island.
Taking another step forward, Zeraora activated Quick Attack. A brilliant white spark ascended while a red spark descended, creating a dazzling aerial light show.