The Ruins of Abundance lay deep within Haina Desert on Ula'ula Island. Revered as the land that nurtured life itself, it was also the sacred site where generations of Island Kahunas conducted ceremonies for the guardian deity, Tapu Bulu.
At this moment, inside the ancient ruins, a well-fed and fully satisfied Nanu was leading Peter and Whitney through the ritual process.
Though he normally acted lazy and unmotivated, Nanu's actual work efficiency was surprisingly solid. He had already prepared all the ceremonial offerings beforehand, and by the time the final steps of the ritual were completed, the sun had yet to set.
Afterward, the two followed him toward the battlefield within the ruins.
Ancient blue-gray stone bricks covered the ground, giving the arena an old and solemn atmosphere. At the same time, the usual laziness on Nanu's face completely disappeared.
"Rotom, start the livestream. Can't forget the promise I made to the viewers~" Peter said.
"Roger that, Rotom~!"
Glancing at Peter's relaxed expression, Nanu spoke coldly.
"Kid, don't think buying me one good meal means I'll go easy on you. If anything, I'll be holding you to an absolutely brutal standard."
Peter grinned.
"Heh… that's exactly what I'm hoping for."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Uncle Nanu, how about we make a little bet?"
"Oh?" Nanu raised a brow. "You wanna gamble with me? Back when I was young, I was—"
Before he could finish, Whitney interrupted innocently.
"Weren't you an International Police officer when you were younger, Uncle?"
"COUGH—COUGH—COUGH!!"
Nanu nearly choked on his own spit before immediately straightening his expression.
"That's right… which is why I've never touched gambling or shady stuff in my life."
Peter's smile turned strangely amused.
Considering Nanu's suspiciously deep ties with Giovanni in the anime, Peter trusted about zero percent of what this old man said.
"Alright, Uncle Nanu. Let's bet on whether or not I can sweep your entire team one-versus-three."
"One-versus-three? You?!" Nanu rolled his eyes. "Fine. What's the wager?"
"If I win, you give me two extra Z-Crystals of different types."
"And if you lose?"
"I'll treat you to luxury meals for an entire week. Time and place are completely up to you."
"Deal!"
Nanu answered so quickly it was almost as if he feared Peter might change his mind.
No helping it.
The food at Tomato Restaurant really was insanely good.
The livestream viewers immediately exploded with excitement.
"I'm calling it now—this uncle is about to get demolished by Professor Peter!"
"One-versus-three? That's just another normal Tuesday for him."
"Already got my notebook and three-color pen ready. Waiting for Professor Peter's next cursed strategy."
"LMAOOO this old man has no idea what's coming."
At the center of the battlefield, Rotom floated into position and loudly announced:
"Now beginning the Grand Trial challenge! Challenger Peter versus Ula'ula Island Kahuna Nanu! Battle format: 3-on-3! Both sides, release your Pokémon!"
"Go, Sableye!"
"Silvally, you're up!"
A small dark-purple Pokémon appeared on the battlefield.
Its gemstone-like blue eyes sparkled eerily, while circular crystals embedded in its chest and back gave it an almost alien appearance.
[Sableye Lv.60 (Pseudo-Elite Four Tier)]
Ability: Prankster
(Grants priority to status moves.)
Peter silently nodded.
As expected of a Dark-type specialist and veteran trainer from the older generation, Nanu's Pokémon were incredibly solid.
But…
Peter immediately tossed out a dark-brown memory disc.
"Silvally, catch!"
Click!
The disc inserted perfectly into the side drive mounted on Silvally's head.
Instantly, the three long feathers behind its head and its tail shifted into a deep earthy brown.
Nanu's brows twitched.
He had never seen a Pokémon like this before.
"Silvally, Work Up!"
Peter opened with a setup move as casually as if nobody else existed on the battlefield.
Nanu snorted.
"Sableye, Fake Out into Taunt!"
"Syaa…"
Sableye's eyes flashed as it suddenly darted beside Silvally. A glowing slap interrupted the Work Up momentarily before Sableye extended a finger and mockingly beckoned.
"Tai…"
Silvally remained completely unfazed.
The moment the flinch ended, it calmly completed Work Up, raising both its Attack and Special Attack.
Nanu froze.
"Hm? That thing's a Dark-type Pokémon?"
As a Dark specialist, he naturally knew Dark-types were immune to Prankster-boosted status moves.
"Heh… take a guess~" Peter said with a mischievous grin before immediately shouting, "Use X-Scissor!"
"TAI!"
Pale yellow light covered Silvally's claws as a giant cross-shaped slash burst through the air, blasting Sableye backward instantly.
"Aerial Ace!"
Whoosh!
Silvally demonstrated incredible battle instincts.
The moment it finished its previous attack, it instantly dashed forward again. Blade-like winds gathered around the wing structures atop its head before slashing directly across Sableye's neck.
"Syaa…!"
Sableye cried out painfully before crashing to the ground.
"Shadow Sneak into Brick Break!" Nanu ordered calmly.
Sableye transformed into a shadow and slipped behind Silvally, Fighting-type energy gathering around its arm before it swung downward violently.
Peter narrowed his eyes.
"Restrict its elbow. Use X-Scissor again!"
"TAI!!"
Silvally reacted immediately.
It bit down directly onto Sableye's arm while its claws crossed once more in a devastating X-shaped slash.
Boom!
Sableye was sent flying backward before collapsing unconscious.
"Sableye is unable to battle! Please send out your next Pokémon!"
Peter shook his head slightly.
Trying to physically overpower Silvally with Sableye's base stats was simply unrealistic.
"Not bad…" Nanu muttered while recalling Sableye. "But if you wanna sweep my team, you'll need another couple years of training."
As he spoke, he threw out his second Poké Ball.
"Uncle Nanu, hopefully you'll still be this stubborn after you lose~" Peter replied with a smile as he looked toward the next Pokémon emerging from the light.
A sleek white beast appeared on the field.
A blue gem rested upon its forehead. One side of its face was framed by comma-shaped fur, while the other extended into a crescent-shaped blade, giving it an exceptionally cool appearance.
"Absol, the Disaster Pokémon. It lives deep within harsh mountain regions and rarely appears before humans. According to legend, whenever Absol appears, disaster follows, Rotom~!"
[Absol Lv.61 (Low Elite Four Tier)]
Ability: Justified
(Raises Attack by one stage when hit by a Dark-type move.)
Sending out Absol against the supposedly "Dark-type" Silvally was undoubtedly an excellent judgment call by Nanu.
Peter's lips curved upward again.
Then he tossed out another memory disc.
Click!
Silvally's body coloration changed for the second time.
This time, it shifted into a bright orange hue.
"?!"
Nanu's brows furrowed tightly.
His instincts told him this strange Pokémon possessed some kind of absurdly special ability.
"Absol, Quick Attack to close the distance, then Play Rough!"
Absol instantly burst forward trailing white light behind it.
"Perfect timing! Silvally, Multi-Attack!!"
"TAI!!"
Silvally roared.
Streams of energy peeled away from the surrounding air and rapidly gathered around its body, forming violent currents of power.
Wrapped in orange Fighting-type energy, it charged head-on toward the incoming Absol.
Multi-Attack.
A physical move whose type changes based on Silvally's equipped memory disc.
Base Power: 120.
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!
The two Pokémon collided violently at the center of the battlefield, instantly engulfing the arena in smoke and dust.