Chapter 274: REGI Training [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Petalburg City – Pokémon Center]
The Hoenn region hummed with an energy all its own, a vibrant tapestry of lush forests, volcanic mountains, and a vast, shimmering ocean. His current base, a modest but well-equipped Pokémon Center, served as a temporary sanctuary.
Here, his latest companions trained, bonded, and grew. Each Pokémon, held within its secure Poké Ball, thrummed with potential, reflecting Azure's own ambition.
A typical Hoenn morning often found Azure orchestrating elaborate training sessions. Today had been no different.
The air around the cabin's clearing still carried the faint tang of ozone from Manectric's Thunderbolts, the faint scent of charcoal from Ninetales' Flamethrowers, and the disturbed earth from Swampert's Muddy Water. Combusken, a dazzling flash of crimson and gold, had sparred enthusiastically with Crawdaunt, their contrasting styles a chaotic dance.
Sceptile had been working on refining its Leaf Blade's precision, Metagross demonstrating incredible telekinetic feats, and even Slaking, in its short bursts of intense activity, had made the ground tremble.
Azure gathered his team, offering praise, dispensing fresh water, and carefully cleaning each Poké Ball. Despite the impressive display, his mind was already turning, evaluating each of them as he mused to himself, "They're strong, immensely so…"
He was stroking the smooth surface of Metagross's Poké Ball as he thought calmly, '… but Hoenn has trials unlike Kanto, Alola, and Johto. To truly excel, to reach the pinnacle, they need to face something… more…'
He needed to push them beyond their comfort zones, beyond the limits of conventional training. He needed to show them the true meaning of power, of resilience, of fighting against a force that seemed insurmountable.
His thoughts drifted to an isolated spot along Route 105, the Island Cave, where he found Regice. Not just any cave, but the very place where, not too long ago, he had engaged in a grueling but ultimately satisfying battle to capture Regice, the legendary Iceberg Pokémon.
He remembered the chill radiating from its ancient form, the stoic defiance in its crystalline eye. Azure announced, his voice carrying a new tone of serious intent, "Alright, team… We're escalating our training. Significantly."
He had brought out Gardevoir, her elegant form shimmering in the fading light. Gardevoir tilted her head, her hand hovering near her chest, sensing the shift in Azure's resolve as he instructed softly, turning to face her fully, "Gardevoir, I need you to use Teleport to Island Cave. Route 105. You remember the place, right? Where we met Regice."
A flicker of recognition passed through Gardevoir's eyes. She nodded, understanding the gravity of his choice.
Teleportation wasn't just about moving through space; it was about focused intent, about recalling a destination with absolute clarity. The memory of their first encounter with Regice, the sheer power and ancient aura, was etched into her psychic mind.
Azure murmured, not to his Pokémon, but to the Poké Balls fastened securely to his belt, "Hold on tight, everyone."
He placed a hand on Gardevoir's shoulder, anchoring himself to her powerful psychic field. With a silent, shimmering pop, the world around them dissolved into a kaleidoscope of swirling light and compressed space…
*Pop*
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[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Route 105 – Island Cave]
The sensation was fleeting, a dizzying instant, and then they were standing, not in a sun-drenched clearing, but on damp, cold stone. The air in the Island Cave was thick with a profound, chilling silence, broken only by the gentle lapping of unseen water against rock in the distance.
The cavern was vast, an enormous dome of rough-hewn stone, illuminated only by the faint, ethereal glow of phosphorescent moss clinging to the walls and ceiling. Azure took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs.
Taking out a few flashlights with Pikachu and Eevee helping, he calmly said, "Alright, everyone. Come on out."
*Pop*
One by one, he released his team. The brilliant flashes of light cut through the cave's gloom as Metagross, Sceptile, Ninetales, Golduck, Crawdaunt, Shelgon, Manectric, Swampert, Combusken, and Slaking materialized.
Gardevoir soon joined her team following the line-up. Their immediate reaction was a mixture of awe and trepidation.
Their eyes, initially scanning their new surroundings, quickly fixed upon the area, recognizing it as Island Cave in the middle of the cavern. A collective gulp echoed through the group – a low rumble from Swampert, a sharp intake of air from Sceptile, a subtle shiver from Ninetales despite her fire resistance.
They recognized the area, as some had knowledge facing Regice. Azure began, his voice calm but firm, holding their attention, "As you can see, this isn't just another training session."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in as he continued, "For the next few days, our goal is to spar against these two incredible Pokémon."
He reached into his bag, slowly, deliberately, pulling out two Ultra Balls from his [Boxes]. The familiar red and black spheres gleamed under the cave's dim light, drawing every Pokémon's gaze.
He held them up, one in each hand. He announced, his voice resonating in the silent cavern, "Regirock and Regice… These aren't just powerful opponents. They are ancient beings, holding immense, primal energy. My goal for all of you is to learn to face that level of power. To push yourselves beyond what you thought possible. To understand what it means to truly test your limits."
He met each of his Pokémon's eyes, a silent challenge passing between them as he said softly, "We will be going all out. And so will they, relatively speaking."
He added the last phrase with a slight smirk, knowing full well that even a fraction of the Regis' true power would be overwhelming as he added, "This isn't about winning in a conventional sense; it's about endurance, strategy, teamwork, and developing a deeper understanding of true strength."
A wave of determination rippled through his team. Fear was quickly replaced by a fervent desire to prove themselves, to rise to the monumental challenge.
Metagross's eyes narrowed, processing the tactical implications. Sceptile crouched low, already feeling the adrenaline.
Combusken's fiery crest burned brighter. Even Slaking, roused from its usual languor, focused its powerful gaze on the looming figures.
Azure smiled as he hurled the two Ultra Balls into the air he declaring, "Good. Let's see how you stack up. Regirock. Regice. Let's get to work!"
*Pop*
Materializing was a shimmering, blue-white form of a colossal Pokémon standing sentinel at the cavern's heart: Regice. Its crystalline body seemed to absorb and re-emit the ambient light, casting long, dancing shadows.
Beside it, larger and even more stoic, was the brown, rocky form of Regirock, its boulder-like body emanating an aura of immense, unyielding strength. The air grew perceptibly colder, heavy with the weight of ancient power.
Azure commanded, stepping forward, his eyes fixed on the two towering Regis awaiting orders, "Alright! Let's begin this training session. Swampert, Manectric, you're up first! Swampert, start with a focused Muddy Water on Regirock! Manectric, use Thunder Wave on Regice, then follow up with a Quick Attack!"
The battle was a maelstrom of elemental fury and strategic brilliance. Swampert, a resilient beast, charged forward, unleashing a torrent of murky water that slammed into Regirock's stony hide.
The legendary barely flinched, the attack seemingly absorbed by its immense bulk. Manectric, a bolt of blue lightning, zipped around Regice, its Thunder Wave crackling with energy that found its mark, paralyzing the Iceberg Pokémon for a moment, before it zipped back with a Quick Attack that scraped against the icy surface, leaving barely a mark.
Azure rotated his team relentlessly, seeking every possible advantage, every synergy. Sceptile, a blur of green, tried to exploit Regice's lower physical defense, darting in with Leaf Blade and Quick Attack, only for the legendary to respond with a chilling Ice Beam that forced Sceptile to leap back, leaving a trail of frozen energy where it had been.
Combusken, a fiery dervish, unleashed a powerful Double Kick against Regirock, the force of its attack creating cracks on the rock Pokémon's surface, before Regirock countered with a Superpower that sent Combusken skidding across the cavern floor, a testament to the legendary's raw might.
Metagross, ever the strategist, coordinated with Gardevoir. Metagross would use Psychic to slow Regirock, allowing Gardevoir to land a series of powerful Psychic attacks.
Regirock, however, retaliated with a devastating Rock Slide, forcing both psychic types to erect powerful Psychic and Confusion barriers to mitigate the damage. The ground trembled with each impact, dust motes dancing in the dim light.
Ninetales tried to use her speed and special attack, unleashing Flamethrowers and Extrasensory waves against Regice, but the ice giant seemed utterly unfazed, simply gliding forward, its Ice Beam attacks precise and bone-chilling.
Golduck and Crawdaunt, working in tandem, attempted to chip away at Regirock's defenses. Golduck used Psychic to divert a falling rock, while Crawdaunt, a whirlwind of claws, used Crabhammer and Aqua Jet, their attacks resonating with surprising force against the immovable legend, but still not enough to truly dent its resolve.
Even Shelgon, not yet fully evolved but brimming with potential, got its chance. Its sturdy shell deflected a glancing blow from Regice's Zap Cannon before it launched a Dragon Breath, hoping for paralysis, but the legendary's resolve was too great.
The battle raged for what felt like an eternity. Azure's team, though powerful, was fighting against entities that operated on a different scale of existence. Regirock and Regice moved with an ancient, unhurried grace, their attacks deliberate and devastating.
They were not malicious; they were simply being. They were responding to the challenge, but with a clear, almost palpable restraint.
Each Stone Edge from Regirock was aimed to warn, not to crush. Each Blizzard from Regice was a test of endurance, not annihilation.
Slaking, during its brief, furious windows of activity, was a force unto itself. A single Mega Punch or Focus Punch, when it connected, made even Regirock visibly shudder. Its raw power was undeniable, but the Truant ability meant it could only sustain such an assault in short, explosive bursts.
Azure had to time Slaking's entry perfectly, using its immense damage output to create openings for others or to simply absorb a powerful attack that would have sidelined another Pokémon. While Golduck could use Skill Swap for the Regi's Abilities, Azure refrained as they're would be a time when he couldn't do it, so he had to see which moves were ideal in 1-vs-1 battles.
Hours blurred into an exhausting marathon. Azure's commands grew hoarse, but his focus never wavered.
He watched as his Sceptile, breathing heavily, narrowly dodged another Ice Beam, its scales glistening with sweat. He saw Metagross, its metallic body scarred but unyielding, absorb a Superpower, its eyes still burning with determination.
Combusken, despite its shiny perfection, was covered in dust, its fiery spirit dimming slightly under the sustained assault. Each Pokémon tried to give they're all, facing the Regis with all they had.
Ultimately, the sheer, unyielding power of the two Regis proved too much. One by one, Azure's Pokémon fell, not unconscious, but utterly spent, lying on the cold stone, chests heaving, energy drained.
Sceptile was the last to stand, its legs trembling, before a final, precise Ice Beam from Regice, delivered with the gentlest of nudges, finally brought it to its knees. The cavern finally fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of Azure's team.
All of them lay defeated, exhausted beyond measure, but not broken. Regirock and Regice stood stoically, their forms undisturbed, their ancient eyes seeming to convey a silent, respectful acknowledgment of the effort.
They had held back a lot, Azure knew. Perhaps 90% of their true capabilities. Yet even that fraction had been enough to utterly overwhelm his powerful, diverse team.
Azure walked amongst his Pokémon, his heart swelling with pride. He knelt beside Combusken, gently stroking its head as he said proudly, "You were magnificent, my friend. All of you."
It had been a tall order, indeed, for them to accomplish. To conquer two Legendary Pokémon in a single, prolonged battle, with a team still finding its rhythm in a new region, was an almost impossible goal.
But Azure hadn't expected a victory in the conventional sense. He had aimed for something far more valuable as he said softly, his voice calm, echoing slightly in the cavern, "This wasn't a loss, team. This was a lesson. An invaluable one."
He looked from Metagross's dented plates to Sceptile's weary eyes, to Gardevoir's slumped form, to the still-glowing embers on Ninetales' tails, to the heavy breathing of Slaking. Each had pushed past their previous limits.
Each had faced a power that dwarfed their own, and in doing so, had grown immensely. The experience of facing Legendaries, of understanding their scale, their resilience, their raw power, was something no amount of conventional training could replicate.
It was a baptism by fire, or perhaps, by ice and stone. Azure continued, pulling out his full restore sprays and potions, "You've learned what true power feels like. You've felt the weight of ancient strength. You've seen that even when outmatched, resilience and teamwork can still push you further than you thought possible."
As he meticulously attended to each of his Pokémon, healing their minor scrapes and bruises, revitalizing their energy, a new resolve settled over them. They had tasted the pinnacle of challenge, felt the sting of defeat against overwhelming odds, and emerged not broken, but stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.
The benchmark had been set. The path forward, though arduous, was now clearer. They knew what they were training for, and they were ready to meet it head-on.
*Shiii*
Azure slowly smiled as he used his Viridian Force to heal Metagross, with Pikachu and Eevee using Wish to restore the others' health. But even then, Azure thought calmly, 'If you thought battling those two Regis was hard… You guys would be VERY unprepared when we face off against the Legendary Pokémon Weather Trio… But having a good idea what to strive for is a good start, as any for them having the drive to surpass them…'
He grinned at the thought. The seed and desire for power to surpass the Legendary dwelled deep within them, having a benchmark on what to surpass or fight against. Azure softly chuckled as he thought, '… Because in the future ahead, I'll need you all to be the very best you can be.'
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A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!