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Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Ok Let's Go! Roaring Moon vs Jason!

Liko, Nemona, and Iono wore a kaleidoscope of expressions.

Worry, anger, sympathy, protectiveness…

Those feelings hadn't fully faded before confusion washed over them.

"Huh?" Liko blinked her clear eyes, her grip on Jason's arm loosening as she failed to process it.

"Ex… excited?" The corner of Nemona's mouth twitched.

Iono's brain outright blue-screened.

While everyone was still stuck on Jason's off-script reaction, a suffocating pressure surged up from the rift ahead!

The aura was formless yet crushing, weighing on every heart. The air itself seemed to drop a few degrees; the crystals' glow dimmed, shadows pooling thicker on the ground.

Jason's jelly body snapped taut. "It's here!"

At his words, a massive silhouette rose from the bottomless chasm—then launched forth.

When its full shape stood on the rift's edge, even prepared as they were, the girls gasped, hearts skipping a beat.

Roaring Moon.

Bigger even than Cynthia's battle-hardened Garchomp. Most striking were its vast, savage wings—dark-plumed crescents like ominous new moons hanging in a night sky. Its blood-red eyes held no reason, only pure ferocity. It merely stood there, gaze sweeping the intruders—and that alone was enough to make the less sturdy Pokémon lose the will to fight.

"W-wow…" Liko involuntarily stepped back, her ever-gentle face gone pale.

Gast went half transparent with fright and zipped behind Liko, peeking a single purple eye out from her legs to spy on the beast.

Iron Valiant, silent until now, analyzed the opposite, equally immense ancient energy coursing through the newcomer. Its stance dipped, stepping forward to cover everyone, twin arm-lights flaring to maximum—ready to strike.

Meanwhile, Iono's chat, quiet for a heartbeat, exploded denser than ever.

[My god! What is that? That design is unreal!]

[Galar Dragon Gym Leader—Raihan: Oh? Interesting. That aura gets the blood pumping. I'd love a Dynamax bout with it. Rotom, record this! I want one as a future opponent!]

[No doubt—the feathering, the crescent wing structure! That's the ancient paradox species Roaring Moon from the texts! A live specimen! Iono, please capture high-res footage!]

[Blackthorn's Dragon Master—Clair: What staggering presence… Even my Dragonite would be outclassed in sheer aura. This isn't ordinary strength—this is apex predator.]

[Iono-chan be careful! Don't get too close!]

[Our Iono's Adventures are too hardcore—this is like World Finals!]

[Forget Jason God—I'd avoid this for now!]

"No wonder… no wonder you ran back then," Nemona swallowed. Battle maniac or not, even she felt a chill under that pressure; her palms sweated, back cooled. "This thing… looks absurdly strong!"

But that sliver of fear soon burned into higher fighting spirit. Her breathing quickened, cheeks flushed. "Which makes it worth the challenge!" She clenched her fists till they clicked.

Cynthia's face set, more serious than ever. She stepped forward; her coat flared though there was no wind. "Garchomp. We go."

"Garchomp!" came the low answer. The land-shark lifted its head, eyes like blades. It shot Jason a glance—just a flicker of helplessness. Her trainer was spoiling this little one far too much.

Yet there was no displeasure—quite the opposite. Its blood boiled. A top predator of Sinnoh meeting such a dragon kin—instincts roared awake.

Cynthia moved to strike not just for a champion's hunger for worthy foes, but to personally "settle the score" for Jason. She remembered clearly the hint of unwillingness under his casual "I ran."

As Garchomp shifted its weight to bolt—

A purple blur moved even faster.

Jason sprang from Liko's loosened arms, arcing like a springy ribbon through the air, and landed in front of Garchomp, blocking its path.

Everyone froze.

"Jason, you—?" Cynthia stared at the tiny purple blob dwarfed by Garchomp, baffled.

Jason looked back and flashed a dazzling grin, voice like a kid begging his big sister for candy. "Heh, Cynthia—can I take this one?"

He pointed his soft body at the moon-dragon, excitement flooding out, washing away any tremor. "A grudge feels best settled by your own hand! I've been waiting for this rematch!"

Cynthia's brows lifted; hesitation slid across her always-smiling face. "But this Roaring Moon is extremely dangerous—beyond anything we've met. I'm worried—"

"Trust me!" Jason cut in, voice firm and bright. "Times have changed."

He turned to face the beast, little body straightening, shedding its lazy slouch.

"Don't forget—I'm a trainer too."

At that, Iron Valiant stepped to his side.

Jason glanced at Cynthia.

She stood calm, arms folded, unreadable. "I'm not an idiot," Jason said with a strange, infectious confidence. "If I can't handle it, then you go. I'll leave you the finale."

The corner of Cynthia's mouth ticked up. She dipped her head—agreement. "Fine. I'll watch and guard the flanks."

Her clear voice carried a hint of… boredom. Yes—boredom. The foe was mighty, its dragon aura all but spilling from its skin, a worthy opponent to any trainer. And Cynthia loved just this kind of challenge. Garchomp was itching.

But Jason had stolen the opening. Cynthia glanced between the little Ditto and the poised Iron Valiant, curiosity stirring. She wanted to see what this odd pairing could really do.

The cavern air tightened. Roaring Moon rumbled, low and deep, rattling the crystal forest.

"Ready, Valiant!" Jason called.

Valiant's head-fin flashed; it sank, poised to surge—

And a small shadow bobbed in.

"Jason! Jason!" Gast zipped up to Jason's face, eyes round with excitement. "I'm your Pokémon too! Let me fight!"

It puffed itself up, trying to look fierce.

Jason froze. Valiant's gaze slid to Gast, paused less than half a second, and returned to the dragon—wordless, unconcerned.

That single look lit Gast's fuse.

Ignored. As if, in its calculus, Gast's contribution to the fight was a big fat zero.

"Eh?" Gast swelled with indignation, purple haze thickening. "What's that look supposed to mean? Think I'm weak?"

It jabbed a vaporous claw at Valiant's face. "You tin can! Who're you looking down on! Believe it or not I'll show you now!"

It lunged, mouth open for a Lick.

Valiant didn't even turn. A shimmer ran around its frame; Gast hit an invisible wall—splut—then slid down bonelessly.

"All right, all right!" Jason snagged it before it flopped.

"Listen, Gast," he said as gently as he could, soothing a sulky child, "this fight's dangerous. That big guy isn't easy."

He pointed at the dragon; even Roaring Moon seemed perplexed by the antics and paused its growl.

"You're still a Haunted—you're fragile. Valiant's tough—takes hits. I can switch forms—stay agile. Your edge isn't here. When you evolve to Gengar and power up, I know you'll carry fights."

Jason felt his reasoning airtight.

He'd misjudged a ghost's heart.

Gast went quiet for two beats. Then its big eyes misted—no tears, but the purple haze grew damp, and a sound like a sob—"keh… keheheh…"—leaked out. Normally its laugh, now the saddest thing.

It burst. "WAAH!" The wail shook the cave; its body trembled; cold leaked into the air. "Keh keh—Jason, you hate me too! You think I'm deadweight!"

Purple fog frayed outward; temperature seemed to drop. "I… I just wanted to help… sniffle… You all look down on me… that iron lug looks down on me… now you do too… keh keh…"

Jason's head throbbed. This—this was the worst.

Gast, usually lively, became a disaster when it cried.

Cynthia watched, amused at last, smile finally clear on her cool face. Frankly, Jason and his Pokémon were more entertaining than fighting Roaring Moon.

Feeling Cynthia's "enjoying the show" gaze, Jason's face burned.

~~~

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