"Damn it! It's Draco Meteor! Idiot! How can it use a move like that in a place like this?! Come out, Garchomp!!"
"Graaaah!!"
Looking at the meteor-like barrage spreading across the sky like fireworks and crashing downward, Liam cursed inwardly.
Right below them was an entire settlement of the Draconid people. Against the power of Rayquaza's Draco Meteor, the rocky ceiling beneath them would never withstand many hits. If the stone dome collapsed, the people below would suffer a complete disaster!
So…. Liam made his decision instantly.
As he shouted, a beam of white light burst from his body. In the next moment, Garchomp appeared beside him with a mighty roar!
Then—
"Garchomp!! Mega Evolve!!"
"GRAAAH!!"
With another thunderous roar from Garchomp, endless streams of sand rapidly gathered into the air. In the blink of an eye, the fully evolved Garchomp emerged from the swirling sandstorm amid dazzling rainbow-colored light!
Immediately afterward—
"Garchomp!! Protect the rock ceiling below with everything you've got! Don't let the meteor shower destroy it!"
"GRAAAH!!"
Hearing Liam's command, Garchomp roared in acknowledgment and immediately flew downward toward the massive stone ceiling beneath them.
Although Garchomp also longed to battle Rayquaza again, Liam's orders came first.
All of this happened in only a few seconds.
But during those few seconds, the Draco Meteor had already descended completely.
Since Rayquaza's target was Deoxys, most of the meteors in the sky were aimed directly at it. At this moment, an overwhelming storm of meteors was crashing down toward Deoxys from above.
However—
"EUUS!!"
Faced with the countless falling meteors, Deoxys transformed once more.
In an instant, a slimmer form appeared in the sky. Only two tentacles remained on its body, a sharp horn rose from its head, and its legs had become blade-like and razor sharp.
Speed Form.
Then, in this form, Deoxys charged straight into the meteor storm surrounding it!
"DEOX…!!"
With a piercing cry, Deoxys showed Liam what true speed really meant.
This was speed pushed nearly to the absolute limit. Even with Liam's eyesight, he could not follow it clearly.
There was not even an afterimage… it was like an invisible gust of wind.
"EUUS!!"
In less than an instant, Deoxys had already pierced through the entire Draco Meteor barrage and appeared directly above Rayquaza's head!
Then—
"DEOXYS!!"
Deoxys instantly switched back into Attack Form. Its four sharp tentacles crossed in front of its body as an overwhelming psychic force began gathering, so powerful that even the surrounding space trembled faintly.
Meanwhile, Rayquaza still had not fully recovered from the shock of Deoxys' incredible speed. By the time it sensed the terrifying energy fluctuations above it and tried to evade, it was already too late.
A dark-purple psychic sphere, nearly black in color and surrounded by several white rings, had already fully formed before Deoxys!
In the next second, the gigantic psychic sphere slammed directly into Rayquaza's forehead!
"ROOOOAR!!!"
Rayquaza's head suffered a direct hit. This attack—Psycho Boost—did not explode immediately upon impact. Instead, its terrifying force drove Rayquaza violently downward!
Only when Rayquaza was about to crash into the ground did the true explosion erupt—
BOOOOOOM!!!
"Garchomp!! Block those meteors!"
While Deoxys and Rayquaza fought fiercely overhead, Liam was left cleaning up the aftermath of Rayquaza's attack.
Standing atop the broad rocky plateau below, Garchomp spread the sand-claw wings on its back and began absorbing enormous amounts of sand and stone from the surroundings.
This was a barren mountain region filled with weathered rock formations everywhere, meaning Garchomp could manipulate vastly more sand and debris here than ever before.
The countless grains rapidly formed a gigantic umbrella-like shield in the sky and the meteor shower smashed directly into it!
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
The meteors rained down upon the sand shield like a torrential storm.
Countless impacts exploded overhead, and Garchomp's expression quickly became serious as it struggled to maintain the barrier.
Under the relentless bombardment, the sand umbrella rapidly began breaking apart. Though Garchomp desperately repaired it, many meteors still pierced through the defenses and continued hurtling toward the rock ceiling below!
"You all come out too!! Destroy every meteor that gets through!"
Seeing the situation worsening, Liam immediately issued another command. Four more beams of white light burst from behind him and landed on the ground!
Zorua, Prinplup, Electabuzz, Gallade… and together with Aerodactyl… five Pokémon joined the effort to intercept the falling meteors!
"ROAR!!"
Aerodactyl moved first.
With a mighty roar, countless sharp stones rapidly condensed around its body before launching skyward like missiles!
"Prinplup!!"
"Roooo~!"
"Buzz!!"
"Gallade!!"
The others followed immediately.
Prinplup unleashed Blizzard.
Zorua fired Dark Pulse.
Electabuzz released Discharge.
Gallade used Teleport combined with Leaf Blade.
For a time, Liam's Pokémon became unbelievably busy, rushing frantically across the battlefield to destroy every meteor that slipped through Garchomp's shield before they could hit the rocky ceiling.
"Pant… pant… Prinplup!!!!!"
And just after the final meteor had been stopped, the exhausted Prinplup suddenly began to evolve!
"EMPOLEON!!"
A burst of white light engulfed it. When it faded, a completely transformed figure stood before Liam.
Prinplup had evolved into Empoleon.
Its once-blue body was now primarily black, and its height had increased dramatically—nearly 1.8 meters tall, almost the same height as Liam himself.
"Haha! You evolved again! That's amazing! You're Empoleon now! You look so cool!"
Aerodactyl landed beside it while Liam jumped down and happily stroked Empoleon's steel-like body.
After evolving into Empoleon, it had gained the Steel type. Blue metallic armor now covered its chest, arms, and tail, while three golden trident-like horns extended from its beak—the symbol of an emperor.
"Empoleon~"
Having just evolved, Empoleon could feel Liam's excitement and happiness, making it incredibly happy as well. Lowering its head slightly, it gently rubbed Liam with the golden crest upon its head—
The most intimate gesture an Empoleon could show its trainer.
But at that very moment—
"ROOOOOAR!!!"
Rayquaza and Deoxys, who had briefly paused, erupted into battle once again!
The smoke surrounding Rayquaza had not fully dispersed yet. Unsure of Rayquaza's exact condition, Deoxys cautiously circled around the dark cloud without charging in recklessly.
Then… following Rayquaza's furious roar… a gigantic golden beam suddenly burst from within the smoke!
Its speed was absurdly fast.
Almost instantly—
The Hyper Beam slammed directly into Deoxys!!