Chapter 533: Outclassed
~Azure S. POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Lake Acuityfront – Lake Acuity]
Dragonite let out a powerful roar as we landed onto the battlefield, "DRAOOOOARR! (You done fucked up now!)."
I muttered calmly, my gaze sweeping over the scene, "Looks like we just made it in the nick of time."
The sight that greeted us was grim. Two figures, unmistakably Gym Leaders, lay motionless on the snow-dusted ground – Candice, the chill of her surroundings perhaps a cruel irony, and Maylene, her fighting spirit seemingly extinguished.
Nearby, Platinum, my charge, my friend, was on one knee, her usually impeccable attire smudged, her face etched with exhaustion and minor injuries. She was still fighting, but clearly outmatched.
My eyes narrowed, catching sight of the culprits. Jupiter, Commander of Team Galactic, stood amidst a flurry of Pokémon. Her current lineup was visible: a mischievous Sableye, a hulking Tangrowth, and a slimy Gastrodon.
My Pokémon growled, a low, collective rumble that vibrated through me. This wasn't just a battle; it was an ambush. Team Galactic's insidious plan to capture the Legendary Pokémon Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit, and use their 'Galactic Bomb' to evaporate Sinnoh's lakes, culminating in the creation of a new world, was truly despicable.
And Uxie, the Knowledge Pokémon, was right there, trapped. Inside a shimmering, spherical net, suspended precariously above the ground, Uxie floated, its eyes closed, radiating an aura of profound distress.
It was caged, injured, and vulnerable. I didn't hesitate.
I landed lightly, my boots crunching on the pristine snow. My shadow fell over the unconscious Gym Leaders and the weary Platinum. A sigh escaped me, not of relief, but of grim determination.
I commented, my voice laced with a subtle sarcasm that I hoped would annoy her, "Looks like you had a fun little party without me."
Platinum gasped, her eyes widening, a flicker of hope igniting in their depths, "Azure! You made it!"
I replied casually, a small, reassuring smile gracing my lips, though my gaze remained fixed on Jupiter as she flinched, "Wouldn't miss it for the world, my lady! Couldn't let you have all the fun, could I?"
Before Jupiter could respond, I called out, "Gengar! Secure Uxie!"
A shimmering ripple coalesced from my shadow, and my shiny Gengar, her violet skin contrasting sharply with the snow, materialized with a mischievous cackle. She chortled, her eyes immediately locking onto the imprisoned Uxie, "Heh! On it, boss!"
With a confident smirk, she extended her shadowy hands, attempting to envelop the sphere in her Telekinesis…
Except… Nothing.
Nothing happened?
Gengar blinked, a confused cry escaping her, "Huh?"
She tried again, a more focused surge of psychic energy, but the sphere remained stubbornly unresponsive, refusing to budge. Her grin faltered, replaced by a frustrated puff of air.
She groaned, a visible thought cloud above her head, "The hell...! What the heck did you Galactic Freaks make this out of?!"
My brow furrowed. That was unexpected. Gengar was one of the strongest special attackers I owned, capable of lifting far heavier objects with ease. She rarely, if ever, failed at Telekinesis. Unless...
I ordered, my mind already racing, piecing together the puzzle, "Never mind, Gengar. Just grab it manually!"
Gengar, though bewildered, complied immediately, her shadowy hands wrapping around the cold, metallic cage. With a grunt of effort, she lifted it, her earlier confidence replaced by a slight huff.
She floated towards me, carefully handing over the sphere, which felt surprisingly heavy. I muttered, more to myself than to Gengar, who merely tilted her head in confusion, "Probably a high-frequency emitter. Something that scrambles Psychic abilities and moves. Very clever. Too clever, in fact."
My gaze flickered to Jupiter, a new layer of respect, grudging as it was, added to my assessment of her strategic mind. Jupiter, meanwhile, had recovered from her surprise. She spat, her eyes narrowed, "So, you're the infamous Azure Sky. Looks like you've caught up to us. But you won't interfere!"
I countered coolly, tucking Uxie's cage carefully under my arm, "Oh, but I will. And you're not going anywhere with this."
Jupiter barked, her voice sharp, "Gastrodon, Sludge Bomb!"
Her Gastrodon, a murky brown and blue slug-like Pokémon, reared back, a vile, bubbling ball of toxic sludge forming in its mouth. It launched with surprising speed, hurtling directly towards me, aiming for Uxie.
Before I could even give a verbal command, Eevee flashed from my head, a burst of pale blue light as snow swirled around her. She cried, unleashing a torrent of icy wind, "Eev! (Not cool, you skank!)."
*Woooosh*
The Sludge Bomb, mid-flight, was instantly encased in a thick layer of ice, freezing solid and dropping harmlessly to the ground with a dull clunk. Eevee landed deftly on my shoulder beside Pikachu, who chirped his approval.
Jupiter snarled, "You're getting on my nerves, boy!"
I retorted disdainfully, a smirk playing on my lips, "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you. Running around, kidnapping legendary Pokémon, knocking out Gym Leaders... really quite rude, wouldn't you say? My Pokémon certainly think so."
Pikachu sparked, Eevee growled, and Gengar chuckled darkly, her glowing red eyes fixed on Jupiter's Pokémon. Even Dragonite let out a disapproving rumble. Jupiter roared, her frustration boiling over, "Then you'll regret getting in my way, brat!"
She reached for her belt, unleashing a flurry of Poké Balls. With a series of bright flashes and triumphant cries, the rest of her team materialized…
*POP*
… a sleek Absol, radiating an aura of disaster; a foul-smelling Skuntank; a menacing Sharpedo; a colossal Tyranitar whose mere presence made the ground tremble; a swift Crobat; and a poisonous Toxicroak.
Suddenly, the battlefield was crowded.
Sableye, Tangrowth, and Gastrodon were still there, meaning Jupiter now had a staggering nine Pokémon arrayed against us. My eyes widened slightly, a genuine spark of admiration flickering within me.
I mused aloud, a low whistle escaping my lips, "9 Pokémon? And all of them look like they've been pushed to their limits. Impressive. Very impressive. Almost at the level I was at my peak during the Ninth Pokémon League Tournament."
My words, meant as a backhanded compliment, only served to further infuriate Jupiter as she exclaimed harshly with an enraged expression, "Don't you dare compare me to some League challenger, you arrogant kid!"
I continued, ignoring her outburst, "No wonder you managed to take down Platinum and two experienced Gym Leaders. You've assembled quite the force."
Jupiter's face, however, remained resolute. She wouldn't be swayed by my taunts or my assessment. Her gaze, cold and unyielding, swept from Uxie's cage in my arms to Platinum and the unconscious Gym Leaders.
She declared in a resolute voice, "Uxie is vital to Commander's plans. I will retrieve it for Team Galactic, at any cost!"
I chuckled, a dark, dangerous sound, "Hehehe… Is that so?"
Dragonite and Gengar, sensing my shift in demeanor, moved instinctively, positioning themselves protectively between me, Uxie, and the vulnerable trio on the ground. Their ready stances screamed defiance.
I added confidently, glancing at Platinum, "Honestly, though, you brought 9 Pokémon? That's overkill for these guys… But for me? I brought back some old friends for this little reunion. And, well, I recently caught a new pal at Snowpoint Temple who's just itching to show off."
Jupiter scoffed, clearly not understanding the true weight of my words. Her overconfidence was a weakness I intended to exploit.
I commanded, "Regi Trio! Block!"
*CRACK*
From the very ground beneath the snow, three colossal figures erupted. Ice shattered as Regice, a majestic construct of pure glacial energy, rose from the earth.
*RUMBLE—CLANG*
Stone groaned as Regirock, a towering titan of ancient boulders, emerged. And with a metallic sound, Registeel, gleaming with unyielding fortitude, burst forth, its form a testament to impenetrable metal.
Jupiter's eyes widened, her jaw dropping. The air crackled with raw power as the three legendary golems, ancient guardians of Hoenn, positioned themselves around Jupiter and her nine Pokémon. With a synchronized surge of energy, a shimmering, almost invisible barrier formed from pure elemental force erupted around them…
*SHINNG*
It was Block, an unbreakable prison. Jupiter and her Pokémon were trapped. The shock on her face was priceless.
Her face darkened considerably, the reality of her predicament sinking in. She stammered, her voice laced with disbelief and a hint of fear in her tone, "The Regi Trio?! How... how did you rally them?!"
I merely smiled, an almost leisurely gesture as I reached into my jacket, my fingers closing around a smooth, cool sphere. The Master Ball. I held it up, allowing the iconic 'M' to catch the dim light.
Jupiter's eyes, and even Platinum's, were drawn to it, a collective gasp escaping their lips. Platinum whispered, her voice filled with awe, "No way..."
Jupiter, however, gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with a mixture of recognition and frustration. She exclaimed, her mind racing, recalling intelligence reports, "Don't tell me you brought your Rayquaza! He was last sighted in Hoenn's Airspace! Or Mewtwo! We didn't detect a large psychic signature!"
Team Galactic's intel was indeed impressive. They did their homework.
I conceded with a nod, genuinely impressed by their intelligence network, "You're right about that. Good research. But it just helps remind me that I recently caught a new friend. And he's more than willing to show off his strength."
With a flourish, I hurled the Master Ball high into the air, a bright arc against the snowy sky. It spun, glittering, before bursting open in an explosion of light.
The very air around us seemed to thicken, the ground trembled, and a primal roar, ancient and raw, ripped through the frigid wind.
"RIGGRAROOOOOOOOOOAR!"
The colossal form that descended from the heavens was magnificent, terrifying, and utterly breathtaking. Regigigas. Its immense, towering body, composed of ice, rocks, and magma, landed with the force of a meteor.
*CRASH*
The impact sent a violent earthquake rippling through the ground, shaking the very foundations of the lake. A shockwave erupted outward, a palpable force that knocked Jupiter's already trapped Pokémon off their feet, sending them sprawling.
*Whump*
Dragonite and Gengar, quick to react, solidified their defensive stance, the sheer force of the shockwave curving around them, shielding Platinum, Maylene, and Candice from the brunt of it. I, however, stood unmoved, completely unfazed by the raw power unleashed by my latest capture.
A grin split my face, a wide, confident, almost savage expression. I yelled over the rumbling, my voice booming with enthusiasm, "Alright, Regigigas! Let's see what you can do! Test your strength against Jupiter's team!"
Regigigas, the Colossal Pokémon, pulsed with ancient energy. Its eyes, glowing with immense power, locked onto Jupiter's Pokémon. It let out another earth-shattering roar, a challenge echoing across the snow-covered lake, "RIGIGRAOOOO!!"
Its massive, braided arms wound back, muscles rippling, and it charged forward, a living, breathing force of nature. Jupiter, though visibly shaken, was a Commander of Team Galactic, and she quickly regained her composure.
She screamed, her voice hoarse with desperation, "Don't just stand there! All of you! Attack, all of you!"
But it was too late. Regigigas was already upon them.
I commanded, "Gravity!"
*CRACK*
With a thunderous CRACK, the very fabric of gravity around Jupiter's Pokémon warped and intensified. Their movements, already struggling against the shockwave, grew sluggish, heavy. Absol stumbled; Skuntank sank deeper into the snow; Tyranitar's colossal weight seemed to increase tenfold, pinning it to the spot.
They struggled, their growls turning into grunts of effort, unable to launch any effective counterattack. Regigigas, now a monstrous blur of motion despite its size, didn't give them a chance.
I commanded, "Foresight!"
Its eyes glowed, piercing through any evasive maneuvers or defensive abilities they might attempt. Their every move, every weakness, was laid bare. Then, its massive fist, coated with pure Normal-type energy, descended like a hammer of judgment.
*BAM—CRUNCH—THWACK*
Mega Punches rained down with astonishing speed and power. Sableye was sent spinning, Tangrowth roared in pain as its leafy vines were crushed, Gastrodon attempted to recoil but was too slow, hit squarely.
From my perspective, it was a one-sided beatdown. Jupiter's Pokémon, caught within the crushing embrace of Gravity, were unable to fight back effectively. They tried to defend, raising their limbs, but Regigigas's power was overwhelming. However, I noticed Regigigas's movements, while devastating, weren't quite at their peak yet. The subtle slowness, the slightly less impactful blows, were indications of its Slow Start ability.
It was a trade-off for its immense base power, allowing it to ease into battle. Right now, the damage seemed manageable for Jupiter's tough Pokémon, but I knew, with every passing second, Regigigas was getting faster, stronger, returning to its true, terrifying peak.
Jupiter, an astute trainer despite her desperation, noticed it too. Her eyes darted around, not just at her falling Pokémon, but at the shimmering Block barrier that trapped her. She was trying to figure out how to escape, how to break free.
But the Regi Trio's Block was absolute. She screamed, trying to rally her battered team, "Hang in there! We can still—"
But her words were cut short. The air around Regigigas vibrated, a subtle distortion that signaled a profound shift.
The last vestiges of Slow Start faded away, and the true, frightening speed and physical power of the Colossal Pokémon were unleashed. "ROOOOOOOOAR!"
Regigigas's roar was no longer just a challenge; it was a declaration of absolute dominance. Its arm wound back, coated not just in Normal energy but pulsing with the raw force of a thousand tons.
I commanded, sealing their fate, "Hammer Arm!"
Tyranitar, the pseudo-legendary titan, the strongest on Jupiter's team, stood defiant, trying to brace itself. But it was like trying to stop a freight train with a feather. Regigigas's Hammer Arm descended with unthinkable power.
*CRACK-BOOM*
The sound was deafening, a sickening crunch that echoed across the lake.
Tyranitar, despite its immense bulk and defensive prowess, was sent flying, a crumpled heap of rock and scales…
One-shot.
Completely and utterly defeated in a single, devastating blow. The rest of Jupiter's team, though already weakened, didn't stand a chance. Regigigas, now moving with breathtaking speed for its size, became a whirlwind of destruction. Mega Punches, imbued with their full, unhindered power, connected with sickening precision.
*BAM*
Crobat fell, its wings useless…
*THWACK*
Absol crumpled, a desperate growl dying in its throat…
*CRUNCH*
Skuntank was sent skidding, unconscious, fumes escaping its body…
*SMASH*
Sharpedo, Tangrowth, Gastrodon, and Sableye were picked off, one by one, with brutal efficiency. Within moments, Jupiter's entire team, nine powerful Pokémon, lay unconscious on the snow, defeated.
The battle was over.
The silence that followed was profound, broken only by the gentle fall of snow and the ragged breaths of the stunned Jupiter. I said calmly, my voice calm, almost casual, as I reached for my Poké Balls, "That'll do, Regigigas. You can take a break."
Regigigas rumbled, a deep, satisfied sound, before it dissolved back into a beam of light, returning to its Master Ball. The Regi Trio, too, their duty done, shimmered and vanished back into my belt, the Block barrier dissipating.
Jupiter stood there, staring at her fallen team, her face a mask of disbelief and rage. Her plan had been meticulously crafted, her Pokémon incredibly strong, and yet... it had all been undone in minutes by a single, colossal force.
I called, and my shiny ghost appeared, still chuckling mischievously, "Gengar! Time to put our friend to sleep."
She cackled, her eyes glowing with a hypnotic light, "On it!"
Jupiter tried to react, tried to resist, but she was exhausted, mentally and physically defeated. Gengar's Hypnosis snaked towards her, invisible threads of psychic energy drawing her into a deep sleep…
*Thump*
Her eyes fluttered, her body swayed, and with a soft thump, she collapsed, unconscious, onto the snow beside her fainted Pokémon. I praised, pulling out a handful of empty Poké Balls, "Excellent work, Gengar."
I recalled each of Jupiter's Pokémon, but not before looting their held items, the red beams enveloping their unconscious forms. As each returned, I deftly locked their Poké Balls, ensuring she wouldn't be able to retrieve them freely.
I turned to Platinum, who was slowly pushing herself up, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and awe. She stared at me, then at the defeated Jupiter, then back at me, a hundred questions in her gaze.
I offered her a cheeky grin followed by a wink as I said coolly, "Well, that was certainly a way to make an entrance, wouldn't you say? But honestly, after all that, we should probably head to the Pokémon Center. You and the Gym Leaders look like you could use a good rest and some healing."
Platinum just blinked at me, still processing the sheer scale of what she had just witnessed. I added, pulling out my Arc Phone, "Oh, and I probably should call Green. She'll want to hear about this. She always gets a kick out of Team Galactic's faces when their plans blow up in their faces. Especially when they try to mess with Sinnoh's Legendary Pokémon."
Pikachu chuffed, nudging my cheek with his nose, and Eevee let out a soft cry as if agreeing. Pichu (Mew), feeling the battle was truly over, popped his head out of my pocket, his tiny tail wagging.
We had stopped Team Galactic from taking Uxie at Lake Acuity.
But I doubt that will stop that psychopath, Cyrus. It was time to finally settle some old scores once and for all with that punk…
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!