BOOOOM!!
The deafening roar shook the mountains. Avalanches of snow and ice crashed down, kicking up a vast white mist.
Natsume and the others stood knee-deep in snow, staring grimly at the temple ahead.
A blinding red light shot through the temple's dome, piercing the dark, swirling storm clouds above.
"REGI—!!"
A metallic, ancient cry echoed across the snowy peaks—deep, vast, and suffocating.
Brandon held his breath, teeth chattering as he exhaled a shaky puff of frost.
"That's… the ancient deity who once dragged continents—Regigigas!"
The red light shattered the temple like a detonated hydrogen bomb. Stone bricks and marble pillars exploded outward.
A shockwave of dust and snow blasted toward Natsume and the others.
"Gengar!" Gengar threw up a shimmering green Protect barrier, its usual grin now strained with effort.
"Hold on tight, Pikachu!"
Ash's blue vest flapped wildly in the wind as he clutched his cap with one hand and Pikachu with the other.
When the dust finally settled—
Everyone's eyes locked onto the colossal figure standing atop the temple ruins.
A crushing pressure weighed down on their chests.
"REGIGIGAS—!!"
The massive Regigigas loomed before them, its metallic body etched with three glowing lines. Ancient vegetation clung to its legs like a forest, while rows of signal-like lights lined its torso.
Right now, every single one of those lights burned red with fury.
"REGIGIGAS!!"
Its steel fists clenched and slammed into the snow.
The already-ruined temple's foundation collapsed further, and the entire mountain range trembled violently!
"Isn't its ability supposed to be Slow Start?!"
Natsume stared in disbelief, shouting over the chaos.
"Why the hell is it fighting like a war god?!"
"I suspect… this is already its weakened state."
Brandon's expression darkened before he barked out:
"We need to stop it now—before it's too late!"
If they didn't…
Brandon gritted his teeth.
Not just them—Snowpoint City, maybe even all of Sinnoh, could face disaster!
Riley adjusted his gentleman's hat and sent out Lucario. Together, they unleashed a dome of Aura, shielding the group from the blizzard and Regigigas' overwhelming presence.
Lucian, his wine-red suit dusted with snow, pushed up his fogged glasses.
"There might be a way to resolve this without battle!"
"Now's not the time to be cryptic!"
Natsume glared at the 10-meter-tall Regigigas, lips pressed thin.
And this was just its half-awakened state.
According to legends, Regigigas could reach 50 meters—maybe even 100.
A true monster on par with Godzilla.
"The plan is—!"
Lucian hurled a Poké Ball, and Bronzong landed with a heavy clang.
"We put it back to sleep with hypnosis!"
"You're a genius!"
Natsume pointed at Regigigas, which was currently spamming Hyper Beam everywhere.
"Does it look like it's in the mood for a lullaby?!"
"REGIGIGAS—"
Regigigas clasped its massive hands together, gathering a destructive red energy.
BOOM!!!
The blast obliterated a cliffside, carving out a cavern in an instant.
"CHKAAA!!"
Without pause, another Hyper Beam erupted, shaking the entire mountain.
"Damn it!"
Brandon looked up at the peaks.
"Mr. Riley—can your barrier hold?!"
The avalanche was gaining momentum, a tidal wave of white crashing toward them.
"Against this scale…"
Riley's face paled.
"My Aura shield won't last more than a few minutes!"
"ROOOAR!!"
A chorus of cries suddenly rang out.
From the snowy plains, herds of Mamoswine, Piloswine, and Abomasnow surged forward.
Using their thick fur and sturdy bodies, they formed a living barricade, shielding Natsume and the others from the crushing snow!
"In times of crisis… even Pokémon stand together with humans."
If only for the sake of these Pokémon—
Brandon took a deep breath, resolve hardening in his eyes.
"We have to calm Regigigas' rage—fast!"
Natsume stood at the center of the temporary safe zone, surrounded by Mamoswine.
His gaze locked onto the raging, red-eyed Regigigas.
Then, he held up two fingers at Lucian.
"That's Plan B."
"What?!"
Lucian wiped the snow off his glasses, barely hearing him.
"I said—if negotiations fail, THEN we use your backup plan!" Natsume snapped.
"Negotiations?!"
Lucian froze. Even Brandon looked stunned.
Negotiate with an enraged deity?!
That was suicide!
But Ash's eyes lit up as he stared at Natsume's back.
"If it's Natsume-sensei… he can definitely do it!"
Suddenly, Brandon's heart pounded.
Right—Natsume-sensei was a scholar of ancient languages!
This might actually work!
"Riley! Lucian!" Brandon roared. "Use your Pokémon to cover Natsume-sensei's approach!"
Riley thrust out his hand. "Lucario—Aura, with me!"
A brilliant light erupted from Riley and Lucario, forming a solid barrier around Natsume.
Ash, recognizing the Aura of Ripple, grinned fiercely.
"Alright, Pikachu—let's help too!"
"Pikachu! ヽ(`Д′)"
"Use Thunderbolt!"
The yellow mouse darted across the snow before leaping high—
"Pikachuuu—CHUU!!"
[Pikachu] used [Thunderbolt] on [Regigigas]!
Minimal effect!
The electricity bounced harmlessly off Regigigas' metal body.
"Pikachu~" Pikachu flipped midair like it was showing off before Ash caught it.
Natsume's eye twitched.
Pika God, are you kidding me?!
It didn't even hit you—you just got knocked back by the rebound!
But thanks to Ash's distraction—
Regigigas paused, its signal lights flickering from red to yellow as it studied Pikachu.
"CHKAAA!!"
Then, realizing the attack did nothing, it raged harder, raising its fists for another Hyper Beam.
That damn yellow rat—eat this!
Natsume swallowed hard.
If that Hyper Beam landed—
Ash might not even live long enough for Ho-Oh to save him.
Brandon's grip tightened around his three Poké Balls.
He really didn't want to unleash his own legendary titans against Regigigas…
But—
Just as Brandon was about to throw them—
"ASH!"
Lucian yanked Ash back by his collar, shielding him.
"Bronzong—Light Screen, FULL POWER!"
Sweat dripped down Lucian's forehead despite the freezing cold.
But as Sinnoh's Elite Four Psychic specialist, he had to protect the younger trainer.
The Hyper Beam charged, its heat distorting the air.
Everyone's breath froze in their lungs.
But then—
Regigigas stopped.
Even the Hyper Beam in its hands fizzled out.
"Natsume-sensei… did it?!" Lucian gasped.
"Told ya! Natsume-sensei's got this!" Ash grinned, wiping his nose.
"No."
Brandon's voice was grim.
In the distance, Natsume held up two fingers—their agreed signal.
Negotiations failed.
Prepare for battle.
...
Amid the howling blizzard, Natsume stood perilously close to Regigigas.
The handsome trainer gazed up at the colossal titan with a mix of awe and admiration.
"The Pokédex says it's barely four meters tall..."
Natsume's eyes traced the massive creature's sleek metallic frame, the flickering red signal lights, the ancient vegetation clinging to its legs.
"Looks like even Professor Oak gets things wrong sometimes."
"Gengar!" Gengar floated beside Natsume, grinning up at Regigigas.
This big lug doesn't seem so bad.
Maybe I should sing it a lullaby or something?
"Regigigas—"
Noticing the human at its feet, Regigigas slowly bent down, its signal lights blinking rapidly as it studied Natsume.
The sheer presence of its size and strength was overwhelming.
Yet the black-haired young man remained calm, offering a faint smile as he casually greeted:
"■■■■? (Have eaten rice?)"
"Regigigas—(O_o)"
The titan's signal lights went wild.
This human just spoke in perfect ancient dialect.
Regigigas was stunned.
But unlike its three "pillar" siblings, Regigigas wasn't just some mindless golem.
It had been sleeping peacefully beneath the temple—until poachers' explosions rudely woke it up.
Now, seeing Natsume and the others, it immediately assumed they were the ones who disturbed its slumber.
"REGIGIGAS!! (╬￣皿￣)"
Finally, it processed what just happened—
I JUST WOKE UP, AND THIS GUY ASKS IF I'VE EATEN?!
That's straight-up mockery!
Time to teach this disrespectful punk a lesson!
Regigigas' lights flashed violently from yellow to red as it slowly—very slowly—raised its massive fists.
But by the time it finished this painfully sluggish wind-up...
Natsume had already slipped away, booking it back toward Brandon and the others.
"Quick! Time for Plan B, Lucian!"
As he ran, Natsume couldn't help but wonder:
"Was my ancient pronunciation off?"
"No way... that's exactly how the old-timers used to greet each other..."
"REGIGIGAS—!!"
Behind him, Regigigas took thunderous steps, crushing ice and snow underfoot.
"Fall back to the nearby canyon!" Brandon shouted. "We can't let it destroy the mountain!"
"Oh sure, I'll be the bait!" Natsume yelled back before turning to Riley. "Mr. Riley! Lend me your Salamence!"
Riley blinked before tossing a Poké Ball. "Uh, sure!"
(He wanted to warn that Salamence hated strangers, but it was too late.)
"Salamence! To the canyon!"
Natsume vaulted onto Salamence's back, expertly gripping its spine while casually channeling Aura of Ripple.
"SALAMENCE!!"
Salamence's eyes are red, and he flaps his wings, creating a strong gale!
Woo-hoo, liftoff!!
Brandon squinted at Salamence's retreating form before turning to the others.
"We need to move, now!"
Lucian nodded.
"The plan Natsume-sensei (and his Gengar) devised involves creating a Gravity zone near the canyon."
His voice turned grave. "Under intensified gravity, our chances of putting Regigigas to sleep increase dramatically!"
Ash opened his mouth, then paused.
Success rate... and Natsume-sensei?
That combo sounded dangerous.
"Bronzong, take me to the canyon!"
Lucian mounted his levitating Bronzong.
Brandon summoned his Flygon. "Ash, ride with me."
Ash shook his head. "No need! I brought Charizard—it's great at flying!"
Riley coughed awkwardly.
"My Salamence was... borrowed by Natsume-sensei..."
"Mr. Brandon, might I trouble you for a ride?"
Brandon chuckled. "Of course!"
As the group raced toward the canyon...
"Regigigas—"
Regigigas trudged after them, each earth-shaking step carrying it further from the crumbling mountains.
Riley adjusted his gentleman's hat, watching Salamence fly ahead with a puzzled frown.
"Wait... isn't that my Pokémon?"
--------------------------------------
No More Waiting - The Story is Complete!
Love what you're reading? Get instant access to the entire story—all 410+ chapters are available right now!
👉 Unlock everything: patreon.com/PokemonStoryWeaver
--------------------------------------