The earth shook with tremendous force. A surge of powerful energy blasted outward in every direction, sending cracks racing across the ground like a spiderweb. The shockwave was enormous — but it couldn't reach the trainers hovering in the air above.
From up high, the land below looked like the cracked, dried-out bed of an ancient lake. Steven found himself wondering just how many construction Pokémon it would take to repair all of that damage.
Steven stood atop Metagross's head, gazing down at the colossal form of Regigigas.
Is this the power of a Legendary Pokémon?
In a single moment, it had reduced a wide stretch of land to rubble.
He thought of other Legendaries. Yveltal, the Destruction Pokémon — wherever it flew, it drained the life from every living thing in its path. The god of death. And then there was Xerneas, the Life Pokémon, capable of granting new life to any creature it chose. Both were remarkable in their own right.
But Regigigas — the Colossal Pokémon, the so-called Colossal Pokémon of legend — was described in myths as having the strength to drag entire continents. Did that simply mean it possessed raw, overwhelming power? Power so immense it could tear apart the earth without even trying?
Somehow, that didn't feel hard to believe anymore.
Perhaps calling such beings "gods" really was the most fitting word for them.
Regigigas slowly lifted its gaze toward the group hovering above. It showed no interest in pursuing them. Then, without hesitation, it began to stride forward.
At once, the three Regis — Regirock, Regice, and Registeel — moved into formation ahead of it, falling into step as though escorting their ancient master.
Bang… bang… bang…
Each step Regigigas took sent a shudder through the ground beneath them.
"Mr. Brandon," Steven called, turning to look at the man being kept aloft by Metagross's Psychic. "What do you think Regigigas is trying to do?"
It seemed that as long as nobody stood in its way, Regigigas had no intention of attacking them directly.
"I honestly don't know," Mr. Brandon replied, his brow furrowed deeply. He looked troubled. He hadn't even had the chance to properly begin his research here in Sinnoh before Regigigas had been forcibly awakened.
Then Diancie, nestled quietly in Cynthia's arms, reached out through telepathy to share what she sensed.
"I can feel it. Regigigas is filled with resentment right now."
"It's looking for the one who disturbed its sleep."
"I see," Steven said, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Morning grumpiness. The great Colossal Pokémon of legend has morning grumpiness.
He shook the thought away and took a slow, steadying breath.
"Metagross," he said quietly, "bring me closer to Regigigas."
"Metagross."
Metagross carefully lowered Mikoto and Mr. Brandon to the ground, then carried Steven forward, closing the distance between them and the walking giant.
"Steven?" Cynthia watched him move and immediately reached forward to pat Garchomp on the neck.
"Gaoh!" Garchomp rumbled, already banking toward Metagross's position — all right, all right, no need to rush!
Cynthia made a mental note to herself. After Mega Evolution, she absolutely needed to work on improving Garchomp's aerial maneuverability.
As Metagross drew near, the glowing dots along Regigigas's body pulsed faintly. But seeing that Steven was not blocking its path, Regigigas paid him no mind. It simply continued marching forward.
Steven closed his eyes. He raised one hand toward Regigigas, palm open.
A soft green light began to glow from within his hand.
This was his Viridian Power — an ability that allowed him to reach out and communicate with Pokémon.
He focused, and sent that power drifting toward Regigigas.
It was deflected instantly.
Regigigas had completely rejected his attempt to connect.
Steven quietly lowered his hand and sighed.
To others, Steven Stone was the strongest Trainer in all of Hoenn. He stood at the very peak of what a Trainer could be. But to a Legendary Pokémon as ancient and powerful as Regigigas, he was nothing more than a small, insignificant human.
If an ant tried to speak to you, would you stop to listen?
Right now, standing before Regigigas, Steven was no different from that ant.
"Steven?"
Garchomp glided to his side, and Cynthia looked at him with quiet concern.
"I tried to communicate with it," Steven said, offering her a tired smile. "But it seems I don't quite meet the bar for that."
Cynthia's expression turned serious. She watched Regigigas advance steadily, its massive form pushing forward with no sign of stopping.
It was clear that anything standing in Regigigas's way would simply be removed.
If it reached Snowpoint Forest and continued into Snowpoint City, the consequences would be catastrophic. Regigigas did not concern itself with human lives. Even the legends that described it halting volcanic eruptions in the past made no mention of it doing so out of any care for people.
"Steven, Cynthia — give us an update. What's happening?"
Ninjask buzzed into view, carrying Mr. Brandon over to them.
"We need to calm it down," Steven said firmly. "We have to find a way to ease Regigigas's anger and bring it to a stop."
He paused, gathering his thoughts.
Regigigas was not, at its core, a Pokémon that sought destruction. What was driving it now was blind rage. It had been peacefully sleeping for ages, and then it was suddenly and forcibly woken up. Something like that would make any ancient Pokémon believe that a great calamity had arrived — just as it had in the distant past when it had moved the continents to safety.
But this time, it was just a reckless human who had disturbed its rest.
Of course it was furious.
The problem was that calming it down was far easier said than done.
Regigigas alone was already an overwhelming opponent. But now the three Regis were marching right alongside it, acting as its guardians. Earlier, even with all six of their Pokémon — Metagross, Garchomp, Scizor, plus the three Regis on the opposing side — they had only barely managed to slow Regigigas's advance. Six Pokémon straining together, and even that had not been enough to stop it.
Steven exhaled slowly at the thought.
He really should have just waited at the temple entrance.
Maybe, he thought grimly, if Hunter J's overconfidence had led her to awaken Regigigas on her own, Regigigas would have simply dealt with her and gone back to sleep.
Bzzzzt!
A massive airship appeared in the sky, positioning itself directly in Regigigas's path.
Oh.
The reckless hunters were back.
The airship opened fire, launching two powerful energy beams straight at Regigigas.
The three Regis immediately stepped forward, raising their arms in unison. Three Hyper Beams erupted from their bodies — and crashed directly into the incoming blasts, pushing them back with raw force.
"Bzzzt…"
Regigigas tilted its head upward. The dots on its face flickered.
It raised one arm.
A Hyper Beam fired.
The airship exploded in midair, bursting apart in a brilliant flash — like a firework going off at close range.
No survivors, Steven thought grimly. How could they have thought that would work?
While Regigigas was still focused on the wreckage above, Hunter J swooped in on Salamence, coming in low alongside the giant. She raised the weapon mounted on her left arm and fired a rapid series of her petrifying beams directly at Regigigas.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The three Regis surged forward without hesitation, leaping to intercept. They threw themselves in front of the beams, shielding Regigigas from Hunter J's assault — and were hit. One by one, they fell to the earth, their bodies stiffening as the petrification took hold.
Steven watched, his expression flat.
She's using her arm cannon instead of her Pokémon. Interesting choice.
"Tch. Annoying." Hunter J's eyes were cold as she kept firing, pouring beam after beam into Regigigas.
Regigigas looked down at the three fallen Regis at its feet. Then it let the beams strike its own body.
And nothing happened.
Or rather — only a small patch of Regigigas's body began to turn to stone. The next moment, Regigigas tensed its muscles, and the petrification crumbled away like dust.
"That's — impossible!" Hunter J's eyes went wide. She didn't believe it. She fired again. And again. Dozens of beams, one after another, until the weapon on her arm clicked empty.
Regigigas responded by raising its arm with almost lazy ease. A wave of golden energy poured from it, sweeping through the air and swallowing every last beam without effort.
"Salamence!"
"Roooar!"
Salamence dropped sharply, banking hard to avoid the follow-up Hyper Beam that scorched through the space where they had just been.
"It's just a Pokémon," Hunter J said through clenched teeth, her voice tight with disbelief. "I refuse to believe—"
She didn't finish her sentence.
A wave of golden energy was already cutting through the air toward her.