Melmetal?
Looking at that metallic giant, Johan was somewhat surprised.
The legendary Mythical Pokémon, Melmetal!
A pure Steel-type Pokémon. Johan had quite an impression of this Pokémon since Melmetal could be considered the first Mythical Pokémon Ash caught in the anime series.
If this ruin contained a slumbering Melmetal, then it made sense that these ruins were filled with so many metal elements.
So...
As a Steel-type Champion, was one of Peony's goals in coming to Crown Tundra, or rather his biggest goal, this Melmetal?
As for why Crown Tundra would have Melmetal...
With so many ruins and ancient Pokémon here, it was quite normal.
"Cha..."
Looking at Melmetal, Tinkaton subconsciously gripped its hammer tighter, eyes gleaming.
Good grief...
Rumble—
Suddenly.
A violent roar echoed through the huge chamber, accompanied by "rustling" dust falling as the entire ruin shook slightly.
The commotion came from within this huge chamber.
Having briefly understood the chamber's situation, Johan was somewhat prepared as he stepped inside.
In the previously obscured area, he saw a huge hole broken through the wall, emitting eerie red light with the earlier commotion coming from within.
As they entered, the Melmetal that had been standing motionless in the corner seemed to suddenly awaken, a floating black iron ball appearing in its golden nut-like head, like opening eyes.
"Melmetal!!!"
A deep voice rolled forth.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton immediately became excited, spitting twice into its palms before gripping its hammer, eager to try.
"Wait, Tinkaton."
Johan reached out to stop Tinkaton.
"Cha?"
Tinkaton looked at Johan puzzledly.
Johan just shook his head slightly, as he didn't sense much hostility from Melmetal.
Indeed, besides awakening, Melmetal made no other movements.
This made Johan turn his attention to the huge hole emitting eerie red light, extending his aura to clearly "see" the scene within.
Peony, Peonia!
Exactly the two people they'd come to find.
However, current Peony's expression was grave, with a massive Copperajah standing before him!
The earlier commotion was obviously caused by Copperajah.
Beside Peony, Peonia bit her lips, looking both frightened and quite stubborn.
Around them circled a group of various Unown!
The eerie red light came from the Unown, releasing a hazy mist similar to hypnosis and illusions.
Whether Peony, Peonia, or Copperajah, their eyes were covered with red light, pupils reddened.
Obviously trapped in illusions.
Previously in Sinnoh region's Solaceon Ruins, Flint had also been surrounded by such Unown and trapped in inescapable illusions.
Seeing this, Johan's expression became somewhat strange.
In games, Peony was Calyrex's "toy," controlled and driven as its mouthpiece.
He'd thought with Calyrex's revival, Peony might escape this fate, but unexpectedly... he'd fallen into illusions created by Unown.
Ultimately couldn't escape being controlled?
How pitiful.
Then Peony shouted:
"Penny, don't be afraid! Dad's coming to save you!"
Hearing this, Penny beside Johan trembled slightly, looking at the hazy hole with extremely complex emotions.
She lacked aura, so couldn't see the scene inside clearly, but could recognize her father Peony's voice.
Peony roared with full vigor: "Copperajah, Heavy Slam!"
"Roar!!!"
Copperajah's thick, heavy trunk raised high, roaring.
Then like a heavy tank, it viciously slammed into the thick rock wall.
Rumble—
The ruins shook again.
Meanwhile.
The Unown circling around Peony and Peonia seemed to sense Johan's aura, all turning their gazes toward him.
Seeing this, Johan smiled slightly.
"I am..."
Before finishing.
"Copperajah, again, Heavy Slam!"
"Roar!!!"
Peony, Peonia, and Copperajah's crimson eyes also looked toward Johan and the others.
Next second.
Heavy footsteps and fierce wind approached.
Peony's Copperajah charged straight at Johan and the others.
Though appearing heavy and slow, Copperajah's charging speed was quite fast.
"Cha!!!"
Seeing this, Tinkaton's expression immediately changed, gripping its hammer and unhesitatingly meeting the charge. Facing the rushing Copperajah, it swung its hammer in a full circle before leaping high and slamming down heavily.
Clang!!!
Like striking a bell, the terrifying collision between metals created substantial sound waves spreading outward.
In size, Tinkaton couldn't compare to Copperajah, but in strength and metal...
"Cha—"
Tinkaton flew backward from the smoke, dragging its hammer and sliding quite a distance on the ground, stumbling several steps before barely stabilizing.
The red-eyed Copperajah stood unmoved but shook its head several times, seeming dizzy.
Worthy of a Champion's ace... Johan thought, seeing this.
Though Peony might not be the most legendary Champion, to become Galar region's Champion, he naturally had sufficient strength.
His resignation wasn't due to defeat but because he didn't want to continue.
His ace Copperajah was stronger than Tinkaton in raw power!
"Penny, wait for me!"
Peony and Peonia, surrounded by Unown, emerged from the hole with extremely determined, serious expressions.
This made Penny beside Johan finally understand somewhat.
Father and sister were controlled by Unown?
Peony flicked his wrist, suddenly producing a Poké Ball, then shooting red light to recall Copperajah.
Then.
The "Dynamax Band" on his wrist glowed brilliantly, infusing into the Poké Ball containing Copperajah.
The Poké Ball immediately began rapidly expanding and growing at visible speed, becoming a huge, grid-patterned dark red Poké Ball!
Johan's heart jumped.
Dynamax?!
"Unown, I am Arceus's messenger!" Johan immediately produced the Thousand-Year Wristband representing Arceus.
The golden wristband emitted gentle radiance.
Unown themselves weren't particularly strong individually - with some skill, most trainers could defeat single ones.
But the more Unown gathered, the more bizarre their abilities became.
In movies, Unown could even create an Entei almost indistinguishable from the real thing in both strength and abilities.
However, no matter how bizarre and mysterious, Unown were still Pokémon who knew and revered the great Creator God Arceus.
But to Johan's surprise.
Even producing the Thousand-Year Wristband and declaring his identity, the Unown only showed panic but didn't stop their actions or illusion effects on Peony and Peonia!
Hm?
These Unown...
"Go, Copperajah!"
Then.
Peony threw the huge Poké Ball he held with both hands.
Copperajah reappeared in the ruins.
Moreover.
Crimson Galar Particles quickly enveloped it, a swirling red cloud appearing overhead, and the already massive Copperajah's body began expanding at an exaggerated rate like a tide.
Gigantamax!
Originally four-legged, Copperajah's hind legs became even more massive as its body rose, front legs proportionally shrinking, with its trunk undergoing the most dramatic change - becoming like a giant fist.
Gigantamax Copperajah!
Only because this ruin was large enough could it contain this Gigantamax Copperajah.
"Roar!!!"
Its roar rolled like thunder.
"Getting serious..." Johan murmured while pulling Penny back some distance.
Though Dynamax was actually virtual gigantification in appearance, the actual body remained largely unchanged.
But Dynamax's visual impact was incomparable to any other enhancement method.
Moreover, Copperajah possessed an exclusive Gigantamax form with its own Gigantamax move - G-Max Steelsurge.
A Steel-type "Stealth Rock" move.
"Copperajah, Max Steelspike!" Peony waved grandly.
"Roar!!!"
The massive trunk raised high, wrapping in brilliant metallic light, crashing down toward Johan and the others.
For unknown reasons, the Unown couldn't be stopped even by the Thousand-Year Wristband and Arceus messenger identity.
No choice then.
Only option was to first "pacify" Peony and his Gigantamax Copperajah.
Johan's expression grew serious, making his decision.
Facing a true Champion...
"Tinkaton!"
Johan called softly.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton understood, immediately gripping its hammer to meet the descending massive trunk, metallic light flashing.
However, to Johan's surprise, something moved even faster than Tinkaton, or rather, had been ready all along.
Melmetal!
"Melmetal!"
The previously motionless Melmetal had already reached the massive trunk's landing point, raising its strong arms with a low roar.
Simultaneously, Tinkaton's Gigaton Hammer struck upward.
Boom!!!
Gigantamax Copperajah's trunk, Melmetal's powerful arms, and Tinkaton's metal hammer.
At this moment, they collided with extreme intensity, erupting in terrifying roars.
"Gengar!" Johan half-closed his eyes.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar grinned, suddenly pulling the reins tight.
"Neighing—"
Spectrier raised its hooves high, neighing as it ran into the air, coming before Gigantamax Copperajah.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar mischievously raised its right hand high.
Hum—
Black light suddenly gathered in Gengar's hand, the extreme darkness actually emitting brilliant starlight, as if holding not Ghost-type energy but countless stars!
Aiming at Gigantamax Copperajah, it threw like a spear.
Astral Barrage!
Boom—
Starlight blazed brilliantly, instantly penetrating Gigantamax Copperajah's body, producing a dull sound within its massive form.
"Roar—"
Gigantamax Copperajah suddenly cried out in pain, Galar Particles rapidly peeling away at visible speed.
Its massive form also shrank at visible speed.
Though Peony's Copperajah was strong, enhanced by Gigantamax to an exaggerated degree.
However.
Gengar was "Legendary," with Spectrier's assistance!
This compensated for Gengar's biggest gap compared to legendary Pokémon - utilizing natural forces!
This was Gengar plus!
It directly one-shotted the Gigantamax Copperajah with doubled HP!
Moreover.
It wasn't just Gengar - there was also Tinkaton and the equally powerful Melmetal.
Copperajah reverted from Gigantamax, swayed once, then heavily collapsed.
"Cha!"
"Melmetal?"
Tinkaton and Melmetal looked at each other, one extending its hammer, the other its fist, lightly touching.
Clang~~
Nice cooperation!
"Cha?" Tinkaton looked at Melmetal's metallic nut hammer, tilting its head.
Eh? This is rusted - let me fix it for you?
"Melmetal?"
Melmetal scratched its head.
Fix?
Rusted where?
While Tinkaton and Melmetal built friendly "battle camaraderie," as Copperajah fell, Gengar moved again at Johan's signal.
"Ka-kaah!"
It released black mist around itself, carrying Spectrier's power to envelop Peony, Peonia, and surrounding Unown.
Dark Void!
You Unown can create illusions for others?
Then taste our Johan family's hypnosis!
Quickly, before any Unown could react, they were hypnotized by Gengar, swaying as they left the Unown group.
Then more and more Unown left the group, like drunkards, swaying and wandering throughout the hall.
Soon, these Unown became individual "stragglers."
Without the Unown's influence, Peony and Peonia's vision gradually cleared, breaking free from illusions.
"Ugh..." Peonia pressed her temples, looking pained.
"This is..." Peony was better, looking around confusedly at the changes, seeming to realize something.
Until both saw Johan, saw worried Penny beside him.
"Little Penny!"
"Penny!"
Both exclaimed, quickly running toward Penny.
"I..." Penny opened her mouth to speak but was pulled into a bear hug by Peony, with Peonia sighing in relief and joining the embrace.
Both held Penny tightly.
Penny was stunned, feeling her father and sister's tight embrace, momentarily unsure what to say.
"Little Penny, I'm so glad you're safe." Peony, this "steel man," showed a father's tenderness.
Johan stood aside, watching this scene and noticing Penny's awkwardness, giving her an encouraging look.
Penny blushed, expression somewhat stiff, but encouraged by Johan, slowly reached out to hug Peony and Peonia, saying quietly:
"I'm fine, are you... okay?"
"Hahaha - what could happen to us? We're certainly fine..."
Before Peony finished speaking, his face suddenly paled, while Peonia swayed and sat down.
Penny's expression changed. Just as she was about to speak, both their stomachs gurgled loudly in unison.
They'd been trapped in Unown illusions for who knows how long, consuming all their food and supplies, now feeling extremely hungry!
After a moment of stunned silence, Penny laughed.
Peony and Peonia both smiled embarrassedly.
Johan was somewhat speechless.
If he and Penny hadn't come, wouldn't Peony become history's most "pathetic" Champion, eventually starving to death?
Probably not quite.
Then Johan produced some food, and only then did Peony and Peonia notice Johan's presence.
"Eh? Teacher Johan, you're here too?"
Johan: "..."
While eating heartily, Peony and Peonia recounted their experiences.
"So you're saying Teacher Johan defeated me and Copperajah?" Peony looked at Johan with some surprise.
He hadn't held back earlier - in the illusion, his daughter Penny was captured, so he naturally attacked with full force.
But his opponent was extremely powerful, instantly defeating his Copperajah.
That was Gigantamax Copperajah!
He'd battled Johan before, but while Johan's strength was impressive then, it wasn't this exaggerated.
Indeed it wasn't this exaggerated. Even with Gengar reaching legendary level, Gigantamax Copperajah, known for stamina, couldn't be one-shotted even if outmatched.
But unfortunately, Gengar was riding its "external hack" at the time.
Penny thoughtfully handed them water cups, saying softly: "Teacher Johan is already Hoenn Champion."
Peony and Peonia in Crown Tundra were essentially cut off from the outside world, so didn't know about Johan clearing the "Champion Road."
Hearing this, both were stunned, looking at Johan with surprise.
Only those who'd been Champion knew how difficult it was to become one.
Johan smiled slightly, producing more food.
"Just luck, pure luck."
Then he changed topics: "So you accidentally entered this ruin, encountered Melmetal, then suddenly a red light fell from above?"
Unlike Johan and the others who entered through the main entrance, Peony and Peonia had been exploring Crown Tundra when they accidentally fell through, dropping into tunnels dug by wild Steel-type Pokémon before entering the ruins.
"Right, those were dispersed Galar Particles. Though I don't know the exact source, in Galar region, such things happen frequently, but are usually stopped promptly so don't cause much commotion." Peony explained.
As Champion, he obviously knew Galar region's general situation, including occasional wild Pokémon suddenly Dynamaxing.
So he clearly knew that red beam was actually Galar Particles that could Dynamax Pokémon.
"So those Galar Particles made the Unown like this?"
Johan suddenly understood.
No wonder the Unown ignored his Thousand-Year Wristband - very unreasonable.
But if it was due to Galar Particles, that explained it.
"Should be... like that, but we didn't actually see the specific situation before falling into illusions." Peony smiled helplessly.
Johan nodded, looking at the "drunk" Unown.
Gengar riding Spectrier stood among the swaying Unown like in a flower garden, sometimes touching one Unown, sometimes catching another before releasing it, having great fun.
Originally, Galar Particles that could Dynamax Pokémon were dispersed among dozens of Unown, so they didn't Dynamax but became chaotic and uncontrollable.
However, knowing the cause made it easier to handle.
"Gengar, see if you can extract the Galar Particles from them." Johan said.
"Ka-kaah?"
Hearing this, Gengar blinked twice.
Galar Particles, what good stuff?
Peony said: "Galar Particles aren't easy to control. Our Galar League Chairman invested vast time and resources, only mastering Dynamax as a usage method..."
His voice grew quieter as his eyes gradually widened in amazement and disbelief.
Because he saw Gengar simply wave its hand in the air, and tiny dark red energy particles floated out from the Unown.
Slowly gathering in Gengar's hands.
"How... how is this possible?" Peony murmured.
Johan's expression was strange.
He'd just asked Gengar to try, mentally preparing for Calyrex to handle it, not certain Gengar could manage.
But unexpectedly, Gengar actually extracted the dispersed Galar Particles from these Unown.
It seemed...
During the first visit to Galar region, on Master Mustard's Isle of Armor, Gengar had "captured" and digested Galar Particles.
As Gengar extracted them, the Unown gradually returned to normal.
Finally, a mass of dark red glowing Galar Particles appeared in Gengar's hands.
Suddenly.
The Galar Particles seemed to "come alive," shooting toward nearby Melmetal who was communicating with Tinkaton.
Were these Galar Particles originally targeting Melmetal?
Whether Peony or the Unown had become "collateral damage."
"Melmetal?"
Melmetal sensed something, suddenly looking up to see Galar Particles approaching, immediately taking a defensive stance.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton reacted faster, raising its hammer and stepping sideways in front of Melmetal.
However, something was even faster.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar looked at the Galar Particles escaping from its hands, blinked twice, showing seriousness.
Reached my hands and still want to escape?
Gengar flashed, appearing before Melmetal and Tinkaton faster than the Galar Particles, opening its mouth wide.
"Awooo" - one gulp.
Under Peony's shocked gaze, it swallowed them.
Gulp—
Peony: "?"
He pointed at Gengar, then at himself: "It... this... that works?"
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar burped, patted its belly, and smacked its lips.
Scratching its head.
No flavor.
Peony: "..."
"You'll get used to it." Johan waved his hand.
Used to it?
Peony's expression was complex.
Was this something one could get used to?
Gengar just swallowed Galar Particles, right?
Why did Gengar seem completely unaffected, let alone showing Dynamax phenomena?
This wasn't scientific!
"Melmetal?"
"Cha?"
Melmetal and Tinkaton also approached Gengar, carefully patting its belly.
Are you okay?
"Ka-kaah!" Gengar put hands on hips, grinning widely.
No problem! I'm Gengar!
Peony couldn't understand or explain, falling into confusion.
The Unown, freed from Galar Particle influence, regained clarity and seemed to realize what they'd done, looking at Johan somewhat embarrassedly.
"Careful!" Peonia warned, seeing Unown approaching.
"It's fine now."
Johan held up the Thousand-Year Wristband, indicating no worry.
The recovered Unown recognized the wristband and acknowledged this "Arceus messenger."
Indeed.
As Johan said, the Unown only circled around, no longer releasing mysterious, bizarre abilities.
Instead...
They seemed somewhat affectionate, even appeasing?
You guys treat people quite differently... Peonia thought.
"Alright, all go back. Return where you came from." Johan smiled at the Unown.
So.
The Unown, as if granted amnesty, headed toward strange structures on the hall's other side, slowly transforming into letters and symbols, attaching to those structures and surrounding walls.
"That is..."
Previously too focused on Peony, Unown, and Melmetal, Johan hadn't noticed this strange structure on the chamber's other side.
At first glance.
It looked like a huge furnace.
However, no flames burned within, the whole thing dark and lightless, seemingly having lost its mystical nature.
But.
Anything that could have Unown attach to it definitely wasn't ordinary.
Calling over Gengar, he walked toward the furnace.
"Really is a huge furnace?"
Getting closer, Johan was somewhat surprised.
Why would there be such a huge furnace here?
From its size, it didn't seem like something ordinary-sized Pokémon could operate, more like something only giants could use.
"Speaking of which, this ruin's scale and size..."
He looked around - whether size or height, this resembled giants' remains.
Probably only super-ancient giants like Regigigas could use it.
Giant furnace?
"Ka-kaah!"
Then Gengar on a platform beside the furnace, seemingly discovering something, waved to Johan.
Hm?
Johan summoned Dragonite, flew up to Gengar's platform.
This looked like a forging platform.
In the platform's center were mold-like grooves shaped like...
"Sword and shield?!"
Johan's eyes widened in surprise, signaling Dragonite to approach the molds.
"Really do seem like sword and shield molds."
He crouched by the dust-covered molds, brushing away dust to reveal their original forms.
Could it be that Zacian and Zamazenta's sword and shield weren't inherently theirs but crafted by external forces?
Who could do this?
Who forged them?
Johan felt somewhat bewildered.
Craftsman?
This was also one of the Pokémon world's "professions," similar to trainers, breeders, coordinators.
But what about materials?
What materials could match the sword and shield's power?
Zacian and Zamazenta with and without their sword and shield were almost completely different Pokémon.
Meanwhile.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton spat twice into its palms, seriously gripping its hammer, signaling for Melmetal to extend its hand and stay still.
"Melmetal..."
Melmetal looked at serious, focused Tinkaton, seemingly seeing some presence's shadow in it.
Its expression softened, even its body seeming to soften.
Following Tinkaton's meaning, it placed its rusted palm, or rather nut, before Tinkaton.
Tinkaton nodded, gripping its hammer tight.
"Cha!"
It swung the hammer in a full circle, striking heavily.
Clang!!!
Metal striking sounds erupted with massive sparks flying from the hammer-nut collision.
Next second.
Melmetal's body, whether nuts or mercury-smooth body, quickly covered in yellow-brown rust.
Then...
Under Tinkaton's stunned gaze.
Bang!!!
Melmetal's body exploded.
"Cha-cha?!"
Tinkaton rubbed its eyes twice, staring blankly at the scene.
Ex-exploded?
Its face immediately paled.
I was just removing rust - no need to explode!
This might be the first "disaster" in Tinkaton's forging history!
It hadn't used much force.
And it clearly struck the nut - why did the whole body explode?
Tinkaton was bewildered, at a loss.
This was completely different from its expectations.
This commotion naturally caught Johan's attention.
Clatter—
"Exploded" Melmetal's body pieces fell down, but didn't become metal chunks - instead became... many small Meltan!
"Cha?!"
Eh?!
Tinkaton rubbed its eyes again.
What was this situation?
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Powerstones?
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