CHAPTER 691: EVOLUTION — DESERT TYRANT! BANGIRAS!

Kanaz City, above the sea.

Lu Ye rode Latias, returning from Slateport Harbor and speeding toward the battlefield to the west.

With Latias’s flight speed, it only took half an hour to cross most of the Hoenn region.

Lu Ye leaned forward, wearing Dust-proof Goggles, surrounded by a transparent Light Screen that blocked the gale, and shouted:

“Rotom, what time is it now!”

Rotom, hidden in the pocket phone, trembled as it answered:

“Beep… AM 4:37. One hour and twenty minutes until the local sunrise, Roto!”

“Have I been commanding for eight hours straight…”

Lu Ye rubbed his dizzy temples and said softly, “I really don’t know how Steven held on for twenty-two days.”

“Are you all right?” Latias tilted her head and glanced at Lu Ye with concern.

“I’m fine. I skipped dinner, my blood sugar’s just a bit low.”

Lu Ye pulled out a juicy Pecha Berry, bit into it in one gulp, and said between bites:

“When this battle’s over, I’ll go back to Kanaz City and cook you all a feast!”

The chef’s attempt to ease the mood earned no reply.

Latias looked worried;

her red wings sliced the air as she kept heading toward the targeted sea area.

Why is he pushing himself so hard?

Those people aren’t even connected to him. Stopping Primal Kyogre is already an extraordinary feat…

“Because it’s his promise.”

Darkrai’s cold voice rose in Latias’s mind.

“A promise?” Latias asked quietly.

“That’s right,” Darkrai said. “A champion’s promise.”

From the Poké Ball at his hip, Sandshrew’s eyes flickered, locking onto the trainer’s serious face.

His clothing bore streaks of rain, his grip on Latias’s knuckle had turned pale, his gaze wandered and then refocused somewhere else.

A fierce battle hunger was swelling in the heart of the desert tyrant.

“Sajji… (▼へ▼メ)”

I must do everything I can to help my trainer!

“Beep, have arrived at H17 Sea Area, Roto!” Rotom’s phone vibrated.

“Nimi!”

Victini lay on Lu Ye’s shoulder;

its round eyes widened in awe as it saw the sunrise on the horizon.

A blade of blinding sunlight erupted at the horizon, and the entire sea seemed to boil.

Piercing through the vast primordial sea, the sun now hung blazing in the sky!

Lu Ye pressed his lips together and said in a low voice, “That’s not sunrise…”

“That’s Primal Groudon… Desolate Land!”

A heatwave swept over them like being placed inside a steaming chamber.

Lu Ye half-shielded his eyes from the glare and felt an abnormal fluctuation.

Following the direction of the fluctuation, a dazzling meteor floated high above the sea, shimmering with rainbow light!

The legendary boulder—the source of Mega Evolution!

“Is that the key to dealing with the colossal meteor?” Lu Ye murmured.

Before he could react, an earth-shattering roar split the sky.

At the edge of his vision, near the coastal town.

A nearly thirty-meter titanic creature waded into the ocean. Brilliant white light radiated from its body like nuclear fission, with crimson veins of molten rock flowing! ᚱ𝔞ɴo͍BƐṨ

An ancient behemoth, earth god, Primal Groudon!!

Overcome again by the shock of seeing such a monstrous form, Teacher Lu, stunned, said:

“The Pokédex lists Primal Groudon at only eight meters… That’s just not scientific!”

The data estimate was seriously wrong.

This was a world-shaking giant—calling Groudon Godzilla’s movie role would not be an exaggeration!

Sizzle—sizzle—

The ocean beneath Primal Groudon instantaneously vaporized, forming land that radiated scalding heat. The sun beat down mercilessly, scorching skin!

“Roar!!”

A helicopter hovered above Groudon’s head. The crimson giant roared at the sky, as if trying to bring the helicopter down!

“That helicopter looks familiar… Devon Corporation!?”

Lu Ye blinked, and saw Metagross and Charizard burst out of the chopper. Under the powerful Mega energy field, both immediately Mega Evolved.

The blue-black Mega Charizard X beat its barbed wings and dove fiercely at Primal Groudon!

“Charizard.” Alain stood in the doorway, suddenly clenching his fist and shouted solemnly, “Use Steel Wing!!”

Teacher Lu’s expression changed.

You bring a flying type like that—Precipice Blades might not even hit you.

Mega Charizard X, Fire/Dragon-type—this is suicidal, isn’t it!?

Boom!!

Primal Groudon planted its feet on the ground;

the fissure extended underneath Mega Charizard’s dive.

Suddenly, a cliff rose like a blade from the crack, stabbing into the clouds!

Precipice Blades!!

Precipice Blades struck Mega Charizard X with brutal force, and the scene seemed to go black and white!

“Roar, roar, roar!!” Primal Groudon’s eyes arced into a malicious crescent as it let out a huge laugh.

Is that all? Is that all you’ve got!

“Charizard—!!” Alain screamed.

Lu Ye glanced at Charizard as it crashed heavily onto the land, smashing open the ground and spraying rock fragments, and nodded with certainty.

Charizard can’t rise again!

His gaze moved to Steven by the hatch, and to the silver Mega Metagross beside him.

“Kan-kin… (⊙X⊙;

)” The X on Metagross’s forehead reflected the sunlight.

Teacher Lu froze for a second.

Steven, why are you just standing there watching?!

Obviously Steven hadn’t expected Alain to be so bold. He reached out and shouted:

“Metagross, Comet Punch!”

Suddenly Mega Metagross roared with fierce white light;

its four claws clenched into fists and carved a comet’s trajectory as it slammed down!

Boom!!

Mega Metagross’s Comet Punch was blocked by the armored arm raised by Primal Groudon! The beast twisted its grotesque face.

Primal Groudon swung its other arm-hammer;

the ground shook as it smashed down with full force toward the silver Mega Metagross!

“Kan-gin!” Mega Metagross, using the computational power of its supercomputer, instantly deployed a green Protect barrier around itself.

However, Primal Groudon’s arm-hammer thundered and shattered the barrier!

Mega Metagross plummeted;

when it neared the sea, it spewed flames to skim the surface like a skipping stone, kicking up a row of water columns and finally regaining balance!

“Kan-gin…” The metallic body of Metagross was scored with damage;

sparking faults flickered continuously!

Steven’s eyes hardened.

Under these circumstances, recovering the Prismatic Meteor in front of Primal Groudon is impossible!

“Steven!” Lu Ye called.

Steven turned suddenly, his gaze landing on Latias speeding in, surprised.

“Teacher Lu!”

Latias executed a stylish little turn and swung her tail, braking beside the hatch.

Nearly caused a midair accident, Lu Ye muttered. Briefly he said:

“Intercepting Primal Kyogre succeeded. I rushed back to reinforce!”

“Is that so!” Steven’s eyes flashed. His voice was sincere and excited. “On behalf of the people of the Hoenn League, I thank you again, Teacher Lu!”

“We’ll talk about that later!”

Lu Ye looked back at Primal Groudon in the sea, expression grave:

“I need to get close and directly block Primal Groudon!”

“Using long-range strikes would be safer,” Steven tried to dissuade him.

Lu Ye: “I… am not good at aerial combat.”

Steven was momentarily taken aback, then agreed: “Indeed, a frontal interception will be much more effective!”

Lu Ye piloted Latias to circle toward Groudon’s flank and shouted:

“Steven, let’s split up!”

Steven nodded lightly, glanced at the wounded Charizard on the ground, his gaze passing through resolution as he called to Alain:

“Alain, give me Charizard’s Poké Ball!”

“But…”

“No buts!” Steven barked and had the pilot steer the helicopter toward the land.

As they neared the ground, Steven leaped out, his shoes landing on the cooled earth, and he aimed a Poké Ball at the exhausted Charizard.

A beam of red light shot out and recalled Charizard into its ball. Steven threw it up into the rising helicopter.

Alain caught the ball, his face draining of color as he shouted, “Mr. Steven, Groudon is moving this way!!”

Steven turned his gaze;

at the far end of the sea, Primal Groudon glared with murderous intent.

Groudon opened its colossal mouth and unleashed a fissile white radiance;

scorching flames gathered, churned, and fired!

Fire Blast!!

A massive cruciform explosion streaked over the sea, vaporizing water instantly;

a pillar of fire rushed skyward toward Steven!

Steven’s coat tails fluttered in the wind.

He raised his right hand, ringed in silver, and three shrunken Poké Balls were pinched between his fingers.

Steven’s eyes cut cold as he threw the three balls with force!

“Regirock, Regice, Registeel—use Primordial Power!!”

The three Regis, recently recalled from Brandon, stood as Steven’s crucial defense for Hoenn now!

Radiant and powerful, the three Regis stood side by side, palms extended.

The next moment, rocks infused with Primordial Power shot out in a barrage!

They collided head-on with the Fire Blast!

Rumble!!

Violent tremors, black smoke surging, rubble scattering, waves exploding skyward!

“Tch…” Steven stood under the crystal wall raised by the three Regis, holding his chest as cold sweat crossed his brow.

That nauseating palpitation—this is the aftereffect of commanding the Regis.

“But…” Steven raised his resolute eyes. “In the end, victory will be mine!”

Suddenly Steven stiffened as Primal Groudon swiveled its massive body and reoriented its attack.

Over Groudon’s shoulder, Steven’s pupils shrank to pinpoints as he saw the black-haired young man on Latias’s back.

“Sandshrew, use Headbutt!!” Lu Ye yelled.

Sandshrew surged like a silver bullet through the gust, charging in rage at Primal Groudon!!

“Sajji!!!”

Slap—

Sandshrew was flung off its armor, tumbling and rolling onto the ground, its little armored legs thrashing in the air.

Primal Groudon: “……”

Steven: “……”

Hardly effective.

Lu Ye wiped his face, embarrassed.

No big deal.

It successfully drew Primal Groudon’s firepower!

“Roar!! (-^〇^-)"

Primal Groudon peered down at the little dot on the land;

with its hands humanlike it cradled its belly and laughed mockingly without restraint.

Lu Ye found this big lug’s temperament oddly upbeat… Of course, he himself was even more optimistic than Groudon!

Boom!!

Three blasting Hyper Beams slammed into Primal Groudon’s back;

thick black smoke billowed.

Steven commanded the three Regis to fire in unison and succeeded in dealing damage to Primal Groudon!

“Roar!!”

Groudon glanced at Steven and Lu Ye to its sides;

its laugh hitched and then it roared in rage at the sky!

How dare you!!

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

This move—this is top-tier taunting, ultimate kiting!

A sudden change: the land beneath Steven cracked, and a surging force rushed in.

Groudon, which can control the birth of land, can naturally control its disappearance too.

Clifflike blades of rock sprang from the split earth, shooting straight into the sky!

Precipice Blades!!

At the last moment, Steven leaped onto the incoming Metagross, dropping to one knee. The Regis floated through Psychic power, leaving the broken land.

Precipice Blades thundered down and missed perfectly!

Teacher Lu’s look was complicated.

It’s possible to whiff like that—Groudon, we have a fate!

No time to think, Lu Ye looked at the disoriented Sandshrew and sensed:

‘Use Sandstorm and Quicksand Hell to fix a platform on the sea surface!’

All around was ocean;

if Groudon hadn’t created land, then Sandshrew would pile up a sand tower as a foothold.

A pillar in the current—gather sand to build a tower!!

“Sajji!!”

Sandshrew’s eyes shone a fierce red;

sand and dust roiled up around it.

Desolate Land can nullify ordinary weather. Under the blazing sun, the sandstorm faltered in an instant, and grains sank into the sea.

However, the water became muddied by silt, spinning into a solid foundation. Spiral sand whorls converged into a central pillar of sand.

Sandshrew stood atop the rising sandtower, roaring at Primal Groudon!

“Sajji!!”

Stare at me — this is my desert!!

It was only an isolated sand tower in the sea, constantly eroded by waves.

Yet Sandshrew’s courage seemed to come from nowhere;

it planted itself firmly and challenged the earth god!

Primal Groudon stopped paying attention to the floating Regis and slowly turned to focus on the lone tower.

“Roar…” Groudon’s roar deepened, its eyes cold.

That sound just now—I cannot ignore it.

This place is—Desolate Land!!

“Roar!!” Groudon stamped the ground, hunching its back;

the gale it produced swept across the sand tower, engulfing Sandshrew.

The land rapidly expanded and absorbed the sand tower. The tower’s base began to sink;

Sandshrew’s eyes flickered as it saw its throne slipping away.

Scenes flashed in its mind.

Little Larvitar building castles alone in a sand pit, gazing up at the blue round moon.

Togepi happily playing games while Larvitar absentmindedly chewed chips.

A warm bustling dinner table with everyone raising glasses, and Sandshrew shrinking dumbly into a corner.

After evolution, no more building sandcastles. Sandshrew crouched in the pit, alone, staring up at the moon.

“Gah…”

Sandshrew seemed to hear a familiar call;

it turned its head. Sirfetch’d’s gaze was sharp and composed;

it peacefully placed its hand on its own head.

Then Sandshrew and Sirfetch’d quietly and quietly studied the moon together.

That call just now hadn’t been a hallucination.

A beam of red light automatically shot from a Commemorative Poké Ball. Sirfetch’d, who couldn’t normally fly, fell through the air holding its lance high and radiated golden light!!

"Gah!! ᕙ༼°益°༽ᕗ"

Take my Meteor Assault!!!

A golden shaft of light pierced the sea sky and struck Primal Groudon with a tremendous explosion!

Steven’s expression froze.

“That’s… Teacher Lu’s Sirfetch’d?!”

Meteor Assault actually dealt damage to Primal Groudon!

The crystals of the three Regis flickered, projecting an unreadable expression.

“Roar!!”

Primal Groudon recoiled in pain a half-step.

Meteor Assault focused all force into a point like a piercing lance, delivering a lethal blow that broke through defenses!

Sirfetch’d flinched, worried its big leek wouldn’t be retrievable. As it fell it glanced at the sea below and its face drained.

“Gah!! (´థ౪థ)σ”

With no time to release the red light from the commemorative ball, Latias dove fast. Lu Ye reached out and scooped the falling Sirfetch’d in, and his shoulders slumped:

“You’re too heavy, Ducklett!!”

The Pokédex lists Sirfetch’d’s weight at 120 kilograms.

Even without that huge leek, its mass is not small!

Lu Ye ground his teeth.

I swear, when we get back I’ll put Sirfetch’d on a training program!!

“Gah…” Sirfetch’d hovered in the air, sweating bullets.

Lu Ye recalled Sirfetch’d and then stared at the sand tower, slightly surprised.

“Sajji… (▼へ▼メ)”

Sandshrew was acting strange.

Disturbed by Meteor Assault, the continental expansion slowed.

Sandshrew stood atop the sandtower, radiating a brilliant white light!!

“This is…”

Steven was stunned: “Evolution light!?”

And yet in the midst of such a scorching battlefield!

“Roar!!” Lava in Groudon’s veins flared blazing;

the Fire Blast convulsed and thundered out!

“Hold on, Regis, block that Fire Blast!”

“Regi—”

The Regis crystals flashed and zoomed in front of Sandshrew, erecting a light wall to shelter it.

Boom!!

Fire Blast struck the wall raised by the Regis;

the searing heat surged.

Steven coughed up acid and struggled to stay steady as he stood atop Mega Metagross.

His face set in resolve, and the sky above darkened briefly.

“This is…” Steven slowly raised his head and stared at the briefly shrouded sun. “A sandstorm?!”

Within Primal Groudon’s Desolate Land, another weather was having an effect!

The evolution light faded, and yellow sand raged across the battlefield, clinging to the sand tower;

the lone tower rose like a fortress!

A golden city, a sand citadel—and atop it stood a gray-green fearsome beast, glaring up at the nearly thirty-meter Primal Groudon.

“Bangii!!!”

Pupitar roared in fury as cutting gales of sand erupted from the spikes on its back!

The desert tyrant—Bangiras!!

Energy amassed for months exploded in this instant. Bangiras’s Sand Stream ability rampaged unchecked!

Alain’s pupils constricted: “What a terrifying sandstorm!”

Steven’s eyes flashed.

Perhaps… this is precisely Teacher Lu’s famed weather warfare.

A tactician and his partner—Bangiras amid the sandstorm!

In an instant, sunlight pierced through the dust;

the sand fell and the sandstorm stilled momentarily.

“Roar!!”

Primal Groudon bellowed in fury—someone dared to challenge its dominion in Desolate Land!

“Desolate Land can nullify any weather… but the energy burst from evolution can briefly seize the weather.”

Lu Ye closed his eyes as thoughts skimmed his mind, then opened them sharply.

If we can seize the weather—even for a few seconds—we can break Desolate Land’s constraint!

Then leave it to the true god who drags continental plates!

With my bond with Bangiras… without trying, could we succeed?

I’ve been commanding twelve hours straight and even used Blastoise’s Mega Evolution—will there be aftereffects?

No time to consider that.

At the moment Sandshrew broke through into Bangiras, Lu Ye produced the prepared Bangiras Mega Stone and hurled it toward the sand fortress on the sea.

“Bangiras!!”

Teacher Lu shouted hoarsely: “Mega evolve!!”

“Bangii!”

Bangiras snapped at the black-red Mega Stone and its eyes flashed with a hint of joy.

It’s back—everything’s back!

Carefully taking the Mega Stone, Bangiras didn’t swallow it but grasped it in its hands as intense rainbow light burst around it!

“How is this possible?!” Alain’s throat went dry. “To immediately Mega Evolve right after final evolution!”

Steven’s expression froze;

he exhaled deeply and managed a small smile.

The shock of the Tree of Beginning and Blastoise evolving twice in succession manifested in a similar way before Steven.

His gaze deep, amid the clamoring energy of Mega Evolution, Steven said with a smile:

“Because… this is Teacher Lu’s style!”

Even Primal Groudon paused, eyes puzzled, trying to probe the limits of this youngster.

The prismatic rainbow stones floating in the sea amplified Mega energy.

Victini’s Infinite Energy once more fed into Bangiras’s rainbow glow;

the sandstorm raged!

Mega Bangiras, like a ferocious monster, bristled with armor spikes;

its belly was crisscrossed with menacing patterns.

Though its raw strength still could not match Primal Groudon,

in the weather domain, post-Mega Bangiras had the fleeting arrogance to suppress Desolate Land!

“Bangii!!”

The sky dimmed;

furious sand swirled off Mega Bangiras, a black tide covering the sea.

Alain looked up at the sand blocking the sun.

The blazing sun of Desolate Land… truly had dimmed!

“Roar…” Primal Groudon stared at Mega Bangiras with cold eyes.

It could easily retake the weather…

But that humiliation sat deep in its heart.

Primal Groudon stamped the ground. Precipice Blades surged from the earth like a raised ridge toward the sandstorm-shrouded Bangiras!

Among the whirling yellow sand, a ring of light flared—unseen by Primal Groudon.

Giratina, ruler of the Reversed World, cannot directly interfere with reality’s Desolate Land. Yet transmissions from the Reversed World broke through the Desolate Land within the raging sandstorm!

Lu Ye, wearing Dust-proof Goggles, took out a Dark Ball and exhaled softly.

He had successfully snatched the weather from Primal Groudon—

We’ve already won… Bangiras!

Rumble!!

Precipice Blades suddenly rose like a ridge;

the scorching sunlight pierced the sandstorm and Desolate Land spread again!

The next moment, everyone’s movements—including Primal Groudon’s—halted.

As the sandstorm cleared, spatial-fluctuation light bloomed.

The near thirty-meter Colossal Pokémon, Regigigas, slowly straightened and towered in the center of the sea!!

The sudden turn stunned everyone into bewilderment.

Why would the Colossal Pokémon appear here, and take orders!?

“Roar… (O_o)??” Primal Groudon gaped at Regigigas, big eyes meeting small eyes.

What the heck—how did this guy get here?!

“Regigigas—”

Lu Ye, in front of Primal Groudon, commanded the Colossal Pokémon that once moved continents, his tone cutting:

“Use Crush Grip!!”

“Re-gi—”

Regigigas’s signal lights flashed rapidly. It extended two giant palms and gripped the clifflike Precipice Blades that pierced the sky!

“Chika-ss!!!”

With Regigigas’s metallic roar, its two clasping palms compressed and crushed the Precipice Blades, snapping them in half with a loud crack!!

The crystals of the three Regis went wild with flashes.

Holy—big boss, mighty!!

Steven’s expression was complicated.

I’m about to be worn out shaking the three Regis—Teacher Lu just summons Regigigas?

Primal Groudon: ???

My Precipice Blades just got crushed like that!!

…