Chunks of rock began crashing down as the mine trembled violently, support beams snapping and tunnels collapsing one after another.
"ROOOAR—!"
A massive Salamence burst out from the depths of the mine, shooting straight through the opening in the mountain.
On its back, clad in black, J wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth—clearly, her clash with Registeel hadn't gone in her favor.
"Don't just stand there—move! This place is collapsing!" Riley shouted, ordering Lucario to clear a path while dragging Peter toward the exit.
The ground continued to quake as debris poured in—dust, shattered stone, splintered wood—until the tunnel ahead was completely blocked.
"Cough… at this rate, we'll be buried alive," Riley muttered, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Having trouble finding your way out, are we?"
A rough voice echoed from a side passage.
A gray-haired man stepped forward, a battered cloak draped over his shoulders and a shovel resting casually on one arm.
It was Byron.
Riley's expression lit up instantly. "Mr. Byron! Thank goodness!"
"Haha, save the reunion for later," Byron said with a grin, tossing out two Poké Balls. "Steelix, Bastiodon—clear us a path!"
The two steel titans surged forward without hesitation, ignoring the collapsing tunnel entirely as they smashed through obstacles, carving an escape route for the three of them.
Moments later—
They burst out into the open.
"Whew… finally," Peter exhaled, quickly checking on his Pokémon before raising his gaze to the sky.
Above them, Salamence hovered, locked in a tense standoff with a towering steel giant atop the mountain.
Its body was entirely metallic—smooth, cylindrical, and silver-gray. Its arms were thin, dark pillars tipped with three metal claws. Seven glowing red dots formed a hexagonal pattern on its face, resembling eyes.
[Registeel Lv.68 (Elite Four – Advanced)]
Description: A guardian dwelling within the Iron Ruins beneath Iron Island. As an emissary of Regigigas, it stabilizes the steel energy deep underground. Disturbed from its slumber, it now rages uncontrollably.
…
Riley stared in shock. "What… is that? A Pokémon?"
"That's Registeel," Byron said grimly. "A legendary steel giant… the Steel Titan."
His gaze shifted to Salamence. Even for a seasoned Gym Leader, the pressure it radiated was unmistakable—Elite Four level.
Peter had already pulled out his phone. "Officer Jenny? This is Professor Peter. Please dispatch support to Iron Island immediately."
He hung up and turned to the two men. "I'll handle J. Please keep the other hunters off the field."
Riley nodded. "That's my responsibility."
Byron cracked his knuckles. "And I'll make sure they don't interfere."
…
Above, the battle erupted.
"Steeeel—!"
Registeel's red dots flashed, and a blinding beam of steel energy surged upward, tearing through the sky itself.
The silver-white blast swallowed Salamence whole—
Then exploded.
A mushroom cloud bloomed midair, scattering the clouds in every direction.
"…That's insane," Peter murmured, momentarily stunned. The sheer force of that Flash Cannon-like strike felt like it could pierce heaven itself.
Registeel dropped to one knee, its massive frame leaving a crater in the mountain.
The attack had cost it dearly—but its power far exceeded anything a standard move should produce.
"Even among legendary Pokémon… this is a different level entirely," Peter muttered.
…
As the smoke cleared, Salamence emerged—its Protect barrier fading away.
In front of it, an Ariados lay charred and unconscious, having taken the brunt of the attack.
J clicked her tongue. "Pathetic. Mindless brute."
She recalled Ariados and snapped, "Flamethrower!"
"Lucario, Aura Sphere! Bastiodon, Steelix—Cannon Blast and Stone Edge!" Riley and Byron countered instantly.
The clash erupted midair—fire against steel and stone. Though Salamence's raw power exceeded theirs, their combined effort managed to hold it back.
J's patience snapped. "Annoying insects…" She tapped her communicator. "Eliminate those two."
"Understood."
Her airship shimmered into visibility, twin cable cannons charging with energy—aimed directly at Riley and Byron.
"BOOM—!"
The blast struck, detonating in front of them. The mountain shuddered, debris flying as the surrounding sea churned violently.
J didn't even look back.
"Drapion—Sunny Day! Salamence—Blast Burn!"
But before she could act—
The sky darkened.
Crimson clouds rolled in.
And from the ground—
A colossal brown titan rose.
Peter stood below, his Dynamax Band blazing with golden light.
J's eyes narrowed instantly. "You again."
Peter smirked. "J… time to enjoy the gift I prepared for you."
His commands came rapid-fire, precise and ruthless:
"Lopunny—Baton Pass! Indeedee—Trick Room! Eevee—Helping Hand! Blissey—Gravity! Slaking—use… MAX HAILSTORM!!!"
"ROOOAR—!!!"
Slaking pounded its chest, freezing energy gathering into a catastrophic mass. With the golden baton clenched in its jaws, Gravity dragged Salamence down from the sky—
And then—
The air froze.
A colossal glacier—over thirty meters wide—plummeted from above.
"BOOOOM—!!!"
The impact shook the entire island. Frost surged outward, even freezing the edges of Peter's brows.
He watched calmly, voice low.
"A fully boosted Max Hailstorm… let's see if you can survive that."
Then, without hesitation—
"Again. Max Hailstorm."
The first glacier shattered—
Hail began to fall—
And a second, even larger ice mass descended.
"BOOOOOM—!!!"
The ground cracked under the strain, fissures spreading as the mountain itself began to give way.
Slaking roared once more—
Then collapsed back to normal form, panting heavily. Even with Dynamax time remaining, the sheer overload of power had pushed it beyond its limits.
Peter stood still, eyes fixed on the dust cloud where J had been.
+6 Attack.
Choice Band.
Helping Hand.
Huge Power.
4× effectiveness.
Final calculated power: 9360.
There wasn't a single scenario—
Not one—
Where Salamence could survive that.
…