"Well now~ These guys don't look very friendly. Are they upset because we disturbed them?"
Liam smiled as he looked at the Larvesta that had surrounded him from all directions.
Little N, who was in Liam's arms, had finally stopped crying. He glanced timidly at the ring of Larvesta around them before quickly climbing higher onto Liam, wrapping both arms around his neck and burying his face against Liam's shoulder.
As long as Liam was beside him, Little N seemed to feel completely safe.
Just then, as the waves of hot air subsided, the Volcarona hovering above the altar let out another cry.
"Volca~"
As if it were giving an order, all the Larvesta surrounding Liam immediately launched their attack.
"Lar! Lar!"
In an instant, countless showers of fiery embers rained down toward Liam!
"So we're fighting without even exchanging a few words, huh? Garchomp! Sandstorm!"
"Graaah!!"
At Liam's command, Garchomp immediately set the sandstorm into motion!
The swirling sandstorm rose like a giant tornado, completely surrounding Liam. Garchomp's control over the move had become superb—the very center of the storm remained perfectly calm, without even a grain of sand blowing inside.
The Larvesta's embers crashed into the spinning sandstorm one after another, but the rotating vortex blocked every single attack.
"Garchomp, since they've already attacked us, it'd be rude not to return the favor! Use Dragon Claw!"
"Graaah!!"
As Liam spoke, Garchomp had already formed glowing dragon claws around both forelimbs and charged straight out of the sandstorm.
One slash.
Another slash.
Within only a few seconds, every Larvesta surrounding them had been sent flying.
"Lar! Lar!"
Garchomp had held back considerably. Although the Larvesta were knocked away, none of them completely lost the ability to fight.
However, after experiencing Garchomp's overwhelming strength firsthand, none of them dared remain any longer. They fled in panic, disappearing from sight.
"Graaah!"
After driving away the Larvesta, Garchomp turned its attention toward Volcarona, letting out a deep growl.
"Volca~"
Volcarona stared back intently.
The instant Garchomp attacked, Volcarona had already sensed the tremendous pressure radiating from it.
At the same time, the sandstorm behind Garchomp gradually dispersed.
Holding Little N securely with one arm, Liam slowly walked over to stand beside Garchomp.
"So you're the only one left?"
"Heh... Volcarona. That's one impressive Pokémon."
"Alright. I've decided. Volcarona! I'm going to catch you!"
Liam called out loudly.
Whether in terms of strength or appearance, Volcarona ranked among the finest Pokémon. Since fate had brought them together here, there was no reason to let it escape.
"Volca!"
The moment it heard Liam's declaration, Volcarona immediately beat its six wings.
Countless streams of flame danced like fiery serpents as they surged toward Liam!
"Oh? You've already learned Fiery Dance? Excellent!"
"Garchomp! Use Rock Climb to block it!"
"Graaah!!"
A Volcarona that had already mastered Fiery Dance was even more worth capturing.
Following Liam's excited command, Garchomp roared and slammed one foot into the ground.
Instantly, an enormous rocky peak erupted from the earth!
Every fiery serpent produced by Fiery Dance smashed harmlessly into the towering stone pillar.
Then—
"Garchomp! Draco Meteor… No. Dragon Rush!"
"Graaah!!"
The moment the flames disappeared, Garchomp sprinted up the newly formed peak.
Upon reaching the summit, it launched itself downward!
Its entire body transformed into a roaring energy dragon that charged directly at Volcarona!
But Volcarona was no slow Pokémon.
Just before Garchomp could strike, Volcarona beat its wings, scattering fiery scales into the air as it swiftly dodged the frontal assault.
"Graaah!!"
Having missed its target, Garchomp immediately reined in its momentum, twisting its body to disperse the force of Dragon Rush before landing steadily atop the altar.
"Volca!!"
The instant Garchomp landed and turned around, Volcarona fiercely flapped its wings.
A spiraling vortex of fire erupted, engulfing the entire altar.
Naturally, Garchomp was trapped inside the swirling flames.
"Volca~ Volca~"
Taking advantage of Garchomp being trapped, Volcarona gracefully began performing Quiver Dance in midair.
As fiery scales drifted down around it, its Special Attack, Speed, and Special Defense all rose rapidly.
The dance ended.
"Volca!!"
With another powerful beat of its blazing wings, a massive tornado composed entirely of scorching hot wind roared down toward Garchomp!
"Garchomp! Use Protect! Block it!"
"Graaah!"
Just before the searing wind reached it, a green barrier suddenly enveloped Garchomp's body inside the flaming vortex.
The raging hot wind slammed into the barrier.
Though incredibly powerful, it failed to move the protective shield even in the slightest.
"That should be enough, Garchomp. We've already wasted plenty of time here."
"Let's finish this!"
"Use Stone Edge!"
After thinking it over, Liam realized he and Little N had already spent far too much time inside the Ancient Castle. It was time to continue their journey.
There was no reason to drag the battle out any longer.
"Graaah!!"
At Liam's command, Garchomp stomped heavily on the ground.
Instantly, countless blue stone blades burst from the altar like volleys of spears, shooting toward the airborne Volcarona.
"Volca~ Volca~"
Thanks to the Speed boost from Quiver Dance, Volcarona darted effortlessly through the dense barrage.
Even with Stone Edge filling the sky, it danced gracefully between the flying rocks.
But just as Volcarona was about to evade the final stone blade—
"Graaah!!"
Garchomp, one claw raised high, burst through the flaming vortex with explosive speed and appeared directly behind Volcarona.
Then—
"Graaah!!"
"Volca!!"
Boom!
Garchomp's Dragon Claw came crashing down.
Volcarona cried out in pain as it plummeted toward the altar below.
With a deafening crash, it slammed into the stone platform, sending enormous cracks spreading across the entire altar.
"Nicely done, Garchomp!"
"Now it's my turn!"
"Go, PokeBall!"
Seizing the opportunity, Liam stepped forward and threw a PokeBall.
The red-and-white PokeBall struck Volcarona squarely. A flash of red light enveloped it, drawing Volcarona inside.
The PokeBall snapped shut and landed gently on the altar.
Click... wobble... wobble...
Click!
Volcarona was successfully captured!