Chapter 416: Spatial Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Hisui Region, Meanwhile, Coronet Highlands – Temple of Sinnoh]
Meanwhile, on the other side, at the foothills of Mt. Coronet, an intense battle was taking place in front of the Sinnoh Temple. The battle was between Akari, who had arrived with Irida and Adaman, and the leader of the Galactic Team, Commander Kamado.
Although Kamado had come with good intentions, Kamado didn't trust her and decided to settle their differences through battle, with the stronger side leading the way for what would happen next. As the leader of the Galactic Team, Kamado was naturally not weak.
All his Pokémon were strong, which gave him the confidence to lead his team to investigate the temple and the space-time rift. But was Akari weak?
Of course not. Even though she had been on various missions and working on her Pokedex, her strength continued to grow.
The last time they met, Akari's strength had already reached the level of the Elite Four, and now all her Pokémon were at Champion Level (70-80). The strongest ones were already nearing the Level 90 range.
The battle was one-sided. Akari only needed to send out Lucario and Arcanine to quickly finish off the first fight using type advantages. This woke Kamado up to the reality of her true strength.
It turned out that despite her overwhelming strength, Akari had always accepted his orders and completed missions for him.
But Kamado had he recognized her strength and integrity?
Instead, he had cruelly driven her out of the village and the Galactic Team. If it had been anyone else, they would've likely never survived being cast out.
In an instant, Kamado's mind was in turmoil, realizing he had been a fool—a small-minded, suspicious person. He pleaded, "Akari, I'm truly sorry. I sincerely apologize to you!"
But just as quickly, Kamado's expression hardened. With a perfect samurai stance, he bowed deeply to Akari, kneeling and apologizing with all humility.
The scene stunned everyone around them. Kamado continued pleading, "Though it may be too late for the Galactic Team – no! For the people and Pokémon of Hisui, please lend us your strength!"
Akari watched the scene quietly, then smiled and nodded in response. Nearby, Adaman, the leader of the Diamond Clan, was more relaxed and laughed, stating, "Don't worry, big brother, we have the Red Chain! We'll overcome all difficulties."
Kamado didn't respond but nodded to Irida and Adaman before leading them and the guard team towards the temple. The three of them went directly into the temple.
After a moment of steadying her emotions, Akari's eyes regained their determination as she replied, "Hmph! Let's go."
She lifted her leg and started walking towards the temple. Before she could take another step, a voice called out to her, "Looks like I'm not late."
Akari turned around, surprised but pleased, and quickly smiled, waving her hand before continuing towards the temple, responding happily, "Azure? You're here! We'll talk later. Kamado and the others are already up there. Let's hurry!"
Azure didn't waste time on words and quickly followed Akari, entering the temple together. The Sinnoh Temple was an awe-inspiring structure. It was hard to imagine who could have built such a magnificent temple atop the highest peak of the region.
They ascended the steps, following a path that led to a slightly elevated platform where Iridia, Adaman, and Kamado were investigating the surroundings and the rift in space-time. On either side of the passage are ten grand statues, each depicting a different Pokémon in their Hisui forms, such as Braviary, Electrode, and many more.
Legends have it that these 10 statues represent Pokémon once loyal to ancient heroes. Just as Azure and Akari approached the inner halls, Irida suddenly clasped her hands together in a panic, yelling, "I hear a voice… no! It's speaking to my heart! The Red Chain is here! Come and catch me!"
Adaman, bewildered and concerned, asked worriedly, "Irida, what are you talking about? Why would we need to catch you?"
Irida snapped back to reality and confidently declared, "It's the Sinnoh Legends! They're speaking to me. The Red Chain, it's here! It's time to prepare for the coming battle!"
Akari nodded, stepping onto the central dais. She raised the Red Chain high as Irida cried out, "Oh, Great Sinnoh! Hear us!"
*Shiii*
The chain pulsed with light. The rift above screamed.
*RMBL*
A beam of purple light shot down from the heavens, striking the temple floor. The shockwave knocked Adaman, Irida, and Kamado off their feet.
From the pillar of light, a being emerged. It was vast, a titan of pearlescent armor and spatial distortion. Pearls gleamed on its shoulders, and the very air around it seemed to bend and break.
Palkia. The Lord of Space.
*THUMP*
As soon as Palkia fully materialized, an overwhelming crushing pressure descended upon the temple. It wasn't just gravity; it was the weight of existence itself.
Kamado fell to his knees, gasping for air, shaking in fear, "Guh! This... this is the power of Almighty Sinnoh?!"
Adaman and Irida were pinned to the ground, unable to even lift their heads. The sheer dimensional mass of Palkia was suffocating, a presence that declared, 'I am the universe, and you are dust.'
But amidst the prostrated figures, three beings stood tall. Azure didn't flinch. He stood with his feet planted, his jacket whipping in the dimensional wind.
Pikachu stood on his shoulder, eyes narrowed but unafraid. Eevee snarled at the deity. Pichu (Mew) was returned to its Poké Ball.
Akari, emboldened by Azure's presence and clutching the Red Chain, also forced herself to stand, her knees shaking but locking into place. Then another came…
*Pop*
Unseen by anyone else, the Master Ball on Azure's belt clicked open just a fraction. A faint, psychic barrier shimmered around Azure, expanding just enough to cover Akari. Mewtwo, the Genetic Pokémon.
The Genetic Pokémon had sensed the threat and deployed a psionic shield to filter out the crushing aura of the god. Mewtwo's voice echoed in Azure's mind, cold and analytical, 'It is leaking energy. This 'Red Chain' is breaking apart its form.'
Azure projected back using his Psychic Abilities, 'Collect the pieces when it shatters. We might need to forge a ball that can hold a god.'
Mewtwo gave a silent affirmation. It gazed at Palkia, the Pokémon felt no fear, instead felt a spark of excitement and readiness to challenge the Legendary being that surged within, igniting a desire for battle.
Azure, feeling Mewtwo's desire for battle, telepathically stated, making Mewtwo freeze, 'No worries. You'll get your chance against a fully powered Legendary. When we take out Palkia your up next after crafting the Poke Ball. You'll get the chance to brawl against one of the Creation Trios at Full Power.'
Mewtwo subtly nodded, reigning in its power, and replied, '… noted. Facing a God at full strength… sounds exciting.'
Palkia roared, a sound like tearing metal, "GRAOOO!!!"
*Woooosh*
The Red Chain in Akari's hands flew upward, wrapping around the deity. The red links glowed blindingly bright, constricting the dragon's power.
Palkia thrashed, the dimensional pressure receding as its infinite power was suppressed, binding it to the mortal plane. But in the process…
*CRACK*
The Red Chain shattered.
Countless red fragments rained down like glitter. Palkia stood panting, its aura diminished. To the untrained eye, it was still a monster.
But to Azure, who had faced the Regi Trio, Raikou, Latias, and Rayquaza... Palkia was now simply a powerful Pokémon.
*Swf*
In the chaos of the shattering chain, a blur of purple motion darted across the floor. Mewtwo, moving faster than the anyone could possibly track, snatched the falling fragments of the Red Chain before they could touch the ground, retreating back into the shadows of Azure's silhouette.
Palkia, enraged by the binding attempts, lowered its head and snarled, "GRAOOO!!!"
Akari stepped forward, pulling a Poké Ball from her sash as she stated, "It's angry... but I can fight it now."
Azure stepped up beside her with a knowing grin and replied calmly, "We fight it together. You take the left; I'll take the right. Don't hold back."
Akari shouted, "Right! Go, Zoroark!"
Azure thrusted his arm forward and roared, "Gengar, show time!"
*Pop*
*Wooosh*
Two Pokémon burst onto the field. Akari's Hisuian Zoroark, a ghostly fox with billowing white and red fur, howled, "Awooo!!! (You're going down!)"
From Azure's shadow, his Shiny Gengar materialized, grinning maliciously, its black spectral body contrasting with the white stone as it cackled, "Gengar! (It's showtime, folks!)"
Palkia didn't wait. It slashed its claw through the air, tearing a hole in space unleashing its signature move, Spatial Rend.
*SHINNG*
The attack wasn't a projectile; it was a severance of the space Zoroark occupied. Akari screamed, "Detect!"
*Wooosh*
Zoroark's eyes flashed. It moved with supernatural fluidity, sensing the warp in space milliseconds before it happened, side-stepping a cut that would have bisected reality as it sweated seeing the attack.
Azure ordered, "Now, Gengar! Curse!"
Akari followed up, "Zoroark! Curse, you too!"
*STAB*
Both Ghost-types drove a spectral nail into their own chests. They sacrificed a portion of their vitality to lay a horrific affliction upon the deity…
*STAB*
A dark, jagged aura erupted around Palkia. The Lord of Space recoiled, roaring as its very life force began to drain away, turn by agonizing turn, "GRAOOO!!!"
Azure commanded, "Keep the pressure! Toxic!"
*SPLAT*
Gengar didn't attack Palkia directly. It spat a glob of highly concentrated venom from Palkia's shadow as it merged within it.
The poison boiled, and the poison seeped upward, infecting the dragon. Palkia was now Cursed and Poisoned. Its rage spiked.
It turned its glowing eyes toward Gengar, recognizing the greater threat as it growled, "Arooo!! (You first…)"
*WOOMP*
The space around Gengar began to collapse. Palkia was preparing a point-blank Spatial Rend as it raised its arm.
Azure realized what it was about to do. Then made his call as he commanded, "He's locked on! Gengar, Explosion!"
Gengar cackled as it saluted. It leaped directly into Palkia's face, its body glowing with blinding white light as it cried out, "GEN! GAR! (Art… is an EXPLOSION!)"
*BOOM*
The explosion rocked the entire temple foundation. Palkia was thrown backward, skidding across the stone, smoke rising from its pearl armor.
Azure calmly recalled his fainted Gengar as he whispered, "Great job, buddy."
Through the smoke, Akari saw her opening as she commanded, "Zoroark! Agile Style Bitter Malice!"
*BAM*
The Hisuian fox unleashed a chilling, resentful energy that slammed into Palkia, lowering its attack power. Palkia, shaking off the explosion, roared and opened its mouth…
*SPLASH*
A massive torrent of water—Hydro Pump—blasted through the smoke. Zoroark tried to dodge, but the volume of water was too great…
*THUD*
The fox was swept away, slamming into a pillar and sliding down, unconscious. Akari called out, reaching for another Poke Ball from her sash, "Zoroark, return! You did well. Garchomp, you're up!"
Azure followed suit, hurling his Poké Ball, "Dragonite, let's go!"
*Pop*
Akari's Alpha Garchomp, a massive specimen nearly twice the size of a normal one, landed with a heavy thud. Azure's Dragonite descended gracefully, looking small beside the Alpha but radiating intense power.
Azure ordered instantly, "Hyper Beam!"
*PEW*
Dragonite gathered orange energy in its maw. When it was prepared, it fired a devastating beam of destruction.
Palkia's eyes glowed pink. It swiped its claw, creating a portal in front of it…
*SWF*
Palkia used Spatial Rend, creating a portal in space. The Hyper Beam entered the portal and vanished.
Kamado shouted from the sidelines, "It redirected it outside!"
Azure smirked as he countered, "Not today! Dragonite! Bend it!"
*WOOOSH*
Dragonite's antennae twitched. Using its mastery over flying currents and energy control, Dragonite grabbed the tail end of its own beam telekinetically.
The beam that had exited a second portal behind Palkia suddenly curved, defying physics. The redirected Hyper Beam slammed into Palkia's back.
*BOOOM*
Palkia stumbled forward, scorched and confused, "ROAAAR! (NANI?!)"
In its moment of confusion, Azure roared, "Now, Akari!"
Akari subtly nodded as she commanded, "Garchomp! Dragon Rush!"
*ZOOOM*
The Alpha Garchomp ignited with blue dragon-fire and charged like a freight train. It slammed into the reeling Palkia, the sheer mass of the Alpha pushing the Legendary back toward the altar.
*BOOOM*
Palkia recovered, its claws glowing green as it used Dragon Claw. It backhanded Garchomp, sending the land shark skidding across the floor.
*THUD*
Garchomp managed to hold on as it growled. Then Azure followed up, "Dragonite! Extreme Speed into Dragon Claw!"
*ZOOOM*
Dragonite blurred as it used Extreme Speed. Then it reappeared, reeling its arm, landing a heavy Dragon Claw of its own before darting away.
*BAM*
Palkia growled as it had enough, "GRAOO!!!"
*RIPPLE*
It slammed both claws into the ground as it began manipulating space. A ripple of pink energy expanded outward, seizing the air…
Spatial Lock.
Dragonite and Garchomp froze in mid-air. The space around them had hardened like amber. They couldn't move under Palkia's command…
*SHIII*
Palkia began to charge a massive Aura Sphere, intending to execute them while they were helpless. Irida cried, "It stopped them! They can't move!"
Azure touched the Key Stone on his glove as he declared, "Space can trap a body, but it can't trap energy! Dragonite! Mega Evolve!"
*FLASH*
A blinding rainbow energy burned through the pink spatial distortion as the power of Mega Evolution fueled Dragonite. The energy of Mega Evolution enveloped it and then… The air shattered like glass.
*CRACK*
From the shards of broken space, Mega Dragonite emerged. The sheer output of energy from the Mega Evolution overloaded Palkia's control over the local area.
With the chance given, Azure commanded, "Break its focus, Dragonite! Extreme Speed into Mega Punch!"
*ZOOOOM*
*BOOOOM*
Mega Dragonite didn't just punch Palkia; it punched the shockwave as it rushed in using Extreme Speed's momentum to build energy. The blow connected with Palkia's chest, lifting the deity off its feet and hurling it backward.
*THUD*
The impact broke the concentration holding Garchomp, freeing Akari's Pokémon. Adaman muttered, "Incredible... What is that form?"
However, his question didn't get answered as Palkia roared in fury. Palkia, now desperate, unleashed a chaotic Dragon Pulse—a wave of purple fire aimed at both dragons.
Akari shouted, "Agile Style Dig!"
Azure commanded, "Agile Style Fly!"
*RMBL*
*FWP*
Garchomp dove into the stone floor. Dragonite shot into the sky…
*Wooosh*
The Dragon Pulse passed harmlessly between them. A second later, Garchomp erupted from beneath Palkia, and Dragonite dove from above. They struck simultaneously.
*CRASH*
Palkia cried out, falling to one knee, "GRAO!! (Impossible!)"
But as the two dragons recovered from their attacks, Palkia spun. Its tail glowed with a phantasmal light, unleashing a Dragon Tail.
*WHIP*
It struck Dragonite first, then whipped around to smash Garchomp. The force of the blow, combined with the forced-switch property of the move, knocked both exhausted dragons out cold instantly.
Azure and Akari recalled their fallen dragons in sync. Akari yelled, her voice hoarse, "We're almost there! It's weakening! The Curse is eating it up!"
Azure nodded as he looked at Akari, stating bluntly, "One last push. Let's finish this with style."
Both reached for their respective Poke Balls from their belt and sashes. They smirked as they roared at the same time.
"Go, Arcanine!"
"Go, Arcanine!"
*POP*
Two flashes of light emerged. One from the modern-day Poke Ball and the other the Hisuian Style Poke Ball as they summoned their next Pokémon.
On Akari's side, the Hisuian Arcanine appeared majestic and rugged, its fur made of rock-hard volcanic glass, its coat a deep charcoal and red. A guardian of the ancient mountains from the past.
On Azure's side, the Kantonian Arcanine appeared. Sleek, black-orange with tiger stripes, radiating a pure, blazing heat. A guardian of the modern plains.
The two dogs looked at each other—past and future—and let out a harmonized howl that shook the temple ceiling, "Arf! Awoo!"
Palkia stood up, swaying. The poison was coursing through its veins. The curse was draining its spirit.
Palkia roared, raising its arm above, "Graooo!!!"
*SPLASH*
Palkia summoned a massive wave of water—Surf—to wash the field clean. Both Azure and Akari eyed each other in sync as they nodded with knowing grins.
Akari shouted, invoking the arts of her era, "Strong Style –"
Azure echoed, adapting to the rhythm of the past, "Strong Style –"
"EXTREME SPEED!"
*BOOOOM*
The two Arcanines became blurs of motion. They vanished before the water could crash down upon them. They reappeared on either side of Palkia, slamming into its flanks with the force of meteorites.
*BOOOOM*
Palkia screamed in pain, feeling the impact of both Arcanine of the past and future. The impact shattered Palkia's focus.
The water collapsed into a harmless puddle. With the opportunity given, both roared, "Finish it, Arcanine! STRONG STYLE OUTRAGE!"
*ZOOOOM*
Akari's Arcanine wreathed itself in rocky dragon energy. Azure's Arcanine engulfed itself in fiery dragon energy. They lunged, thrashing against the God of Space in a wild, uncontrollable fury.
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
Palkia roared in defeat, its legs finally giving out, "Graoo… (You… no… both of you managed to defeat I… well done...)"
*THUD*
It crashed onto the temple floor, its pearl armor cracked, its breathing shallow. Azure reached into his bag and tossed her a sleek, black, and yellow ball as he yelled, "Now, Akari! Use this! It's a gift from my time!"
Akari caught the ball. An Ultra Ball.
She didn't hesitate. She wound up her arm, channeling every ounce of her frustration, her hope, and her courage as she declared, "Palkia! Calm down!"
*Wooosh*
She threw the ball. It struck Palkia's snout.
*Bonk*
The God of Space turned into red energy and was sucked inside. The Ultra Ball landed on the stone floor and shook…
*Wiggle*
*Riggle*
*Niggle*
The Ultra Ball shook 3 times as everyone held their breath. Till finally…
*BON*
Click. Sparks flew from the seal.
The silence that followed was deafening. Akari stood panting, staring at the ball. Slowly, she walked over and picked it up.
She turned to the group, tears in her eyes, and held it high. She declared, "I... I did it! Holy crap, I did it!!"
Adaman and Irida collapsed in relief. Kamado bowed his head low, shame and gratitude warring on his face.
Azure smiled, petting his Kantonian Arcanine on the head as he whispered, "Not bad, Akari. Not bad at all."
He then turned towards the sky as he darkly added to himself, 'We survived the first phase… now we gotta survive the second one…'
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the Palkia Battle! Now how do you think they'll face off against a fully powered Dialga?