Rumble!
The sound was deafening. The permafrost on Snowpoint Peak shattered and fell, kicking up a sky full of snow and white Mist.
Brandon, Flint, and their group had their legs submerged in the snow. Looking at the "mountain peak" rising before them, the temple's dome had been torn off and thrown who knows where.
Lights flickered and shifted—red, blue, gray—interweaving and shooting straight into the clouds like frantic spotlights at a concert. At that moment, with a roar that shook the heavens, all the snow on this "mountain peak" slid off.
"Regi!!"
Like the clanging of metal or the sigh of ancient ages, a heavy and vast cry echoed through the snowy mountains.
"That—that thing is Regigigas?"
Flint's body couldn't stop trembling. He exhaled a cloud of white Mist and asked with difficulty.
Brandon pursed his dry lips, his teeth chattering slightly. "That's right, it's him."
"The ancient god who legendarily dragged the continental plates by himself—Regigigas."
Just as he finished speaking, as if in coordination, Regigigas raised his massive arms high and slammed them down.
"Regi!"
The floor of the Snowpoint Temple and the marble pillars were all smashed to pieces and then blown away. A brilliant red light erupted from his body again, creating a massive shockwave.
This shockwave, carrying ice, snow, trees, and rubble, flew toward Ash and his group.
"Torterra, please! You too, Infernape."
Torterra jumped out of the Poké Ball and shielded Ash and the others with his body. Then, Infernape used his fists to shatter the large rocks and break the entire trees.
"Piloswine, please."
"Steelix, you too."
Dawn and Brock also threw their Poké Balls. Piloswine and Steelix then stood in front of everyone.
"Abomasnow, go help."
"Electivire, Blastoise, go."
Everyone took action, building a solid line of defense.
It wasn't until the shockwave subsided that everyone could focus on the colossal entity amidst the temple ruins.
"What on earth is this thing—"
Flint looked at the giant before him and couldn't help but comment.
They gazed at the massive giant, a strong sense of pressure flooding their hearts.
"If I'd known, I would've had Lucian come—"
Flint whispered.
"Regi!!"
Regigigas had three pairs of eye-like dots on both sides of his torso, colored red, blue, and gray from top to bottom. Black zigzag patterns covered his head, waist, back, and limbs. Green vegetation covered the sides of his head and his feet.
Regigigas was incredibly angry now. He raised his hands high again, clenched his steel-constructed palms into fists, and slammed them down heavily.
"Regigigasss!!!"
The temple was completely destroyed. The mountain peak trembled again, and Snowpoint City shook along with it.
"Mr. Brandon, what—what should we do now?"
Candice stabilized herself and hurriedly asked Brandon, who was standing at the very front.
Brandon's expression was grim. Watching the terrifyingly destructive Regigigas, he shouted, "As far as I know, it hasn't fully recovered yet. We must stop it before it does."
Otherwise, the entire mountain range, including Snowpoint City and even the entire Sinnoh region, would face a catastrophic disaster.
"I understand."
Riley released his partner Lucario. Together, they used a barrier formed by Aura to block the wind, snow, and Regigigas's pressure, allowing everyone to act safely.
"So what should we do now? Is there a plan? How are we going to arrange the plan to stop it?"
Gary asked while riding on Arcanine.
There was silence.
Gary: ???
Gary: "You guys... don't tell me you don't have a plan?"
"I forgot..."
Brandon was a bit embarrassed. He had been so busy trying to prevent Regigigas from awakening that he hadn't thought about preparing a plan for how to calm it down.
Riley indicated he was just there to help; it wasn't his responsibility.
And the Snowpoint City Gym Leader, Candice, said, "Wasn't my task to organize the evacuation of the people in Snowpoint City?"
Gary's gaze swept over these three before finally landing on Ash and the others.
If it were Ash...
Never mind, Ash's plan would probably just be "charge, go, fight."
Finally, Gary looked at Flint and Aaron. "Elite Four Flint, what should we do now?"
Flint irritably ruffled his afro. "Stop it first. We can't let it leave this place and head for Snowpoint City or anywhere else."
If only big sis were here, if only Lucian were here, if only...
So what if they're not here? Don't forget, I'm also an Elite member—the strongest Elite in the Sinnoh region in every sense, second only to the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia.
So, let me be the one to stop you now.
"Aaron, are you ready?"
Flint took out a Poké Ball and asked without looking back.
Aaron tugged at the cowlick on top of his head. "I knew it. Nothing good ever happens when I go out with you."
"Hehe, in that case, let's go."
Flint jumped onto Arcanine's back, pulled Aaron up, and charged toward Regigigas.
"Mr. Brandon, we have to hold on for a while until reinforcements arrive."
Gary shouted at Brandon as he watched the two Elite members charge out.
"Reinforcements? With two Elites here, there are still reinforcements? Could it be the Sinnoh Champion?"
Brandon asked.
Gary smiled. "No, it's the manager of the Breeding House."
Brandon: ???
What?!
The manager of the Breeding House?
Just as Brandon was about to speak, he saw Flint returning with Aaron. Aaron looked at Riley. "Mr. Riley, you're an Aura Guardian, right?"
Riley nodded. Aaron, sitting on Arcanine's back, asked him, "Can you use the power of Aura to calm it down?"
"I recall that Aura seems to have a soothing effect."
Riley hesitated. "I can try, but I've exhausted too much just now. I don't have much Aura left."
Aaron: ?
Brandon seemed to think of something and asked Riley, "What about Ash? I remember you saying Ash's Aura is about the same as yours, and you even said his Aura is very similar to one of your ancestors?"
Riley's eyes widened. "It's possible. The Aura in Ash is much stronger than mine. It might just work."
"Very well. Then we'll leave it to you. Is that okay?"
Brandon looked at Ash.
Ash glanced at the Pikachu on his shoulder, turned his baseball cap backward, and grinned. "Leave it to me. Pikachu and I will calm Regigigas down."
"But Pikachu and I need to get close to Regigigas."
Brandon nodded at that and looked at Flint and Aaron. "Elite Four Flint, Elite Four Aaron, our main task now is to cover Ash and the others so they can get close to Regigigas. How about it?"
Flint and Aaron nodded. "Understood."
Brandon took a deep breath. "Everyone, let's use all our strength to cover Ash!"
"Regi!"
Regigigas's fist slammed down again, shaking the earth and mountains.
Gary grabbed Ash, who was about to run off, and threw him onto Arcanine's back. "Sit tight, we're heading out."
Ash grinned and gave an affirmative grunt.
Arcanine shot forward like an arrow from a bow, charging toward Regigigas in the temple ruins.
Flint and Aaron followed close behind.
Next were Brock, Dawn, Candice, and Riley.
Brandon stayed at the back to observe the situation.
Seeing the humans and Pokémon charging toward him like ants, Regigigas raised his palm, preparing to swat them.
His body was struck by a streak of flame cutting through the sky. He didn't react for a moment, and when he turned his head, he saw it was Flint, Aaron, Infernape, and Vespiquen.
That stung a bit.
Looking at the blackened patch on his arm, Regigigas froze for a moment, then exploded in rage.
"Regi!"
Take this!
Then, a palm that blotted out the sun came crashing down toward Flint and Aaron.
Arcanine: ?!
Arcanine bolted. Flint and Aaron jumped off Arcanine's back and rolled several times in the snow. Flint took the opportunity to return Arcanine to its Poké Ball, narrowly avoiding the slap. "That hit would've left a nasty bruise."
Flint pulled Aaron up and ran, complaining as he went.
Aaron commanded Vespiquen to distract Regigigas.
Meanwhile, Flint commanded Infernape to coordinate with Vespiquen to interfere with Regigigas.
With Flint and Aaron's coordination, Regigigas didn't have time to deal with Ash and Gary for the moment.
This bought a lot of time for Ash and Gary.
"Regi!"
Regigigas let out a roar and slammed its palms together. A deafening metallic clang rang out, forcing everyone to cover their ears. The resulting airwave slowed Infernape and Vespiquen down before Regigigas slapped them away.
Regigigas began charging a terrifying amount of energy in its mouth, which it then unleashed as a horrific beam of light. Everywhere the Hyper Beam passed, buildings were reduced to rubble, and even the peak of a mountain was obliterated.
"What terrifying energy."
Riley couldn't help but remark.
Watching Gary and Ash closing in on Regigigas, Aaron pulled Flint along to dodge the horrific Hyper Beam.
After intercepting Flint, Aaron, Candice, and Brandon, Regigigas turned its gaze toward Ash and his group as they rushed toward it.
It then raised its palm high and slapped downward, its speed even faster than before.
"Steelix, respond to my heart!"
Brock's voice came from behind Gary and Ash.
"Mega Evolution!"
A brilliant light shone, and Mega Steelix slammed violently into Regigigas.
Regigigas stumbled from Mega Steelix's impact, and the lights on its body began to flicker again.
"Just in time, Brock!"
Ash said, looking back.
Brock's expression, however, was solemn.
Brandon's pupils shrank as he watched the lights on its body flicker frantically in total chaos.
The lights settled into a steady glow.
"Regi!!!"
Slow Start, seal released!
"Regi!"
Surprised? I already spent three turns moving while I was standing up.
"Regigigas!!!"
Take this slap!!!
Before Mega Steelix could react, Regigigas's palm glowed with white light and slammed heavily onto Mega Steelix's forehead.
Mega Punch? No, Mega Slap!
Regigigas then tightly gripped Mega Steelix's body with both palms, the lights on its body erupting with an intense red glow.
"Regi!"
Regigigas's signature move: Crush Grip.
The more HP the opponent has, the more damage they take. Combined with the attack power of Regigigas at full strength, Mega Steelix was squeezed so hard it directly reverted from its Mega state.
This was Regigigas at its peak strength.
Brock recalled Steelix into its Poké Ball. Seeing Steelix disappear from between its palms, Regigigas looked toward Ash and the others.
It charged its Hyper Beam once more and then unleashed it.
"Ash, I'll leave it to you."
Gary jumped down from Arcanine's back and gripped the pendant around his neck.
"Blastoise, respond to my heart! Mega Evolution!"
Mega Blastoise, with the heavy cannons on its back, made its grand entrance. It faced the incoming Hyper Beam without fear.
"Dragon Pulse!!!"
Boosted by Mega Launcher, the Dragon Pulse transformed into a giant dragon and charged at the Hyper Beam.
The collision of the beams created a powerful airwave, forcing everyone to lower their heads.
Ash hugged Pikachu and lay flat on Arcanine's back. "Wait for me, Gary."
With a sharp gaze, Ash continued to ride Arcanine forward.
Brandon looked up just in time to see Gary being blown back and falling onto the snow, with Blastoise and Electivire collapsed beside him.
Gary coughed twice and climbed up, looking at his defeated Blastoise and Electivire.
The Dragon Pulse had only held out for a moment before being overwhelmed by the Hyper Beam.
At the critical moment, Electivire had jumped out of its Poké Ball and thrown him backward.
"Is this what a Legendary Pokémon is like—"
Gary recalled Blastoise and Electivire into their Poké Balls.
There was absolutely no room to fight back—
Mega Blastoise couldn't even last a second.
Watching Ash, who had already reached Regigigas, Gary clenched his fist.
"It's all up to you, Ash."
Ash arrived before Regigigas and, looking up at its massive body, shouted loudly.
"Regigigas, stop! If there's a problem, you can tell us, and we'll solve it for you!"
Regigigas: (°—°)
"Regigigas!"
Take this slap!
"Ash, Aura!!!" Brandon's shout reached him.
Ash's body erupted with incredible speed as he dodged the slap with his legs, then tried to use his Aura power to communicate with Regigigas.
Speaking of which, how do I use Aura again—
Ash froze for a second.
Pikachu: Pika?!
You're asking me?! Σ(∀°)
"Regi?"
Regigigas was surprised that this human could dodge its attack after Slow Start had ended.
It raised its palm again.
"Regigigas!"
Take this slap!
Ash, holding Pikachu, kept rolling, jumping, and running back and forth.
Regigigas: ?
Brandon: ??
Flint and Aaron: ???
Gary: "Not bad, Ash. As expected of the rival I've acknowledged."
Watching the Whac-A-Mole situation before her, Candice's mouth fell open.
"Is... is this right?"
Regigigas was enraged, and terrifying energy gathered in its mouth once more.
It then unleashed it toward Ash.
"I'm finished!!! Help!!!"
"Ash!"
Everyone let out a helpless cry.
"Charizard!"
Flint and the others immediately threw their Poké Balls, but the distance was too great; they couldn't make it in time.
Just as Ash thought his life was forfeit, a figure in a black dress appeared before him, opening layer after layer of protective barriers.
"That's—"
Brandon's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the Hyper Beam being blocked.
Gary breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, they're finally here.
"Mom?"
Ash blinked and called out.
Gothitelle's body shuddered before she let out a roar.
"Goth!"
Mom my foot!
She then desperately squeezed out every bit of psychic power in her body.
It's always this kind of opponent. Lucas, can't you just run your Breeding House properly!
"What an incredible Gothitelle—"
Candice said, swallowing hard.
As soon as Candice finished speaking, a crack appeared in the final layer of the psychic barrier.
Everyone looked at Candice.
A jinx?
Crack—
More and more cracks appeared until it shattered completely.
Ash and Pikachu were tossed away by Gothitelle using her psychic power, while she herself was sent flying by the Hyper Beam.
A Gengar emerged from the ground and caught Gothitelle's body.
"Goth—"
After a weak cry, Gothitelle lost consciousness.
Sitting on Latias's back, Lucas looked at Regigigas and fell into silence.
Doesn't the Pokédex say Regigigas is less than four meters tall—
What is up with this "Godzilla" in front of me?!
And isn't Regigigas a Slow Start physical attacker? How could its special move, Hyper Beam, shatter Gothitelle's protection? The same protection that didn't even break against Dialga and Palkia's Draco Meteor was shattered by a physical attacker's Hyper Beam?!
Looking at the Regigigas before him, which was clearly over ten meters tall, Lucas was speechless for a long time.
"Regi?"
Another one?
Regigigas looked at Lucas sitting on Latias's back, and a light shone from its body.
Perfect, let me give you a taste of a move I learned from another Pokémon.
Before fighting, twist your body to stack Dragon Dances.
And I, Regigigas!
I also stacked three turns of Slow Start before awakening.
Now, face my wrath head-on.
"Regigigas!"
A Mega Slap swung toward Lucas.
Latias soared through the air, dodging Regigigas's attack.
It tilted its head, looking at Regigigas.
"Lucas, it's the Pokémon capable of pulling continental plates."
Latias's voice echoed in Lucas's mind.
"I know, I don't need the introduction."
Lucas and the Regigigas before him locked eyes—all eight of them.
Looking up at the man sitting on Latias, Brandon remembered something. "Gary, is that the Breeding House owner you mentioned?"
Gary sat on the snow, drinking the healing herbal medicine handed to him by Gengar, finishing it with a frown.
"Yeah, he's an old hand at dealing with Legendary Pokémon."
Gary introduced him.
"Manager."
Ash's voice came over, and Lucas looked down and nodded to him.
"Lucas is here too,"
Flint's voice rang out, and Lucas looked toward the group.
Oh, Mr. Brandon? It's well known that Paul is called "Little Brandon."
"Gary already told me about the situation before I came."
Everyone looked at Gary, who grinned and held up his phone.
"So, everyone, are you ready to start the second round of battle?"
Lucas asked.
***************************
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