What would the outcome of this final battle be?
The audience watched with bated breath!
Tapu Koko did not speak.
It simply gazed quietly at Professor Professor Kukui.
The two already shared a subtle connection.
When their eyes met, Professor Kukui immediately understood its intent.
"You want me to be your Trainer again, to finish this last battle together, don't you?"
"..."
Tapu Koko gave the faintest of nods.
In those prismatic eyes, there was only the hunger for battle.
"Good!"
That single word settled everything.
It meant that Professor Kukui's final Pokémon would be none other than the island guardian of Melemele Island—Tapu Koko!
Seeing his opponent, Ash did not falter in the slightest.
In fact, his fighting spirit only burned hotter.
"Tapu Koko! You want to battle me, right?!"
Ash's face lit up with excitement, his eyes blazing with determination.
Tapu Koko dipped its head.
"Tapu Koko!"
Yes—this was the ultimate opponent for Alola's closing act!
"Professor Professor Kukui's last Pokémon is Tapu Koko! The battle continues now!"
——
As the announcer's words fell, the spectators finally took in Tapu Koko's form.
Its body was black; its hair and legs, a vivid orange. Each hand held half of a golden shell patterned with tribal markings. When the shell halves closed, they resembled the head of a bird.
Its entire form was like a living totem from an ancient tribe.
No—that was wrong. Tapu Koko was Alola's totem.
Mystical, sacred, transcendent—none of those words were enough to capture the divine Aura it radiated.
The moment it descended into the battlefield, the stadium erupted like a tidal wave.
None of them had ever seen an island guardian take part in a battle before.
Just to be here as witnesses was already the greatest honor!
"Tapu Koko!"
As always, Tapu Koko greeted Ash first.
"Long time no see, Tapu Koko."
Ash scratched his cheek, a little shy.
After all, this guardian had also been his teacher of sorts.
The very first Z-Crystal Ash ever received in Alola had been given to him by Tapu Koko.
To Ash, it was both mentor and friend.
Never could he have imagined that, at the very end of his journey in Alola, his final opponent would be none other than Tapu Koko itself.
Even Professor Kukui hadn't expected this.
Tapu Koko wasn't anyone's Pokémon. It was a god—a being with divine authority.
But right now, all it wanted was to give Ash the most thrilling, unforgettable battle before his departure.
"Tapu Koko!"
"Alright! I'll fight you with every ounce of strength I've got!"
"Pikachu!"
Me too!
The instant Pikachu saw Tapu Koko appear, it knew its lazy days were over.
This last battle—it would be the main force!
Slaying gods? That was its specialty!
But… with Incineroar still on the field, Pikachu couldn't just rush in.
Otherwise it would be obvious it had been faking earlier!
It had to wait until Ash called it to the stage.
"Let's go! The battle begins now!"
Professor Kukui's blood boiled.
To fight alongside the guardian of Alola was the highest of honors.
And today, he was fighting not only for Ash, but also for Alola itself.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Tapu Koko!"
The moment Professor Kukui's voice rang out, Tapu Koko's body flared with a pink brilliance.
At the same time, Ash gave his order.
"Incineroar, use Flamethrower!"
Since he had never battled Tapu Koko before, Ash could only rely on what he knew best.
Start with a ranged attack. Probe its strength.
If that failed—charge head-on!
But what Ash didn't know was—Tapu Koko was even more reckless than he was!
For most Fairy-types, Dazzling Gleam was a wide-range move.
But Tapu Koko?
It turned the move into a close-range strike!
Wrapped in pink light, it tore straight through Incineroar's flames—
and slammed into it with unstoppable force!
Incineroar… fell in one blow.
"—!!"
The entire stadium gasped.
The island guardian was too fierce!
This fighting style… was it the legendary melee mage?!
Tapu Koko… was something else entirely!
Floating calmly back into the air, its radiant eyes shimmered with excitement.
That had only been a warm-up.
"You're so strong, Tapu Koko!"
Ash clenched his fists. No wonder it was the island guardian.
In one strike, it had knocked out Incineroar.
He quickly recalled his fallen partner.
Meanwhile, Pikachu on his shoulder was itching for the chance—
only for Ash to suddenly toss out another Poké Ball.
From it burst the towering form of Naganadel, the Ultra Beast!
"Pikachu!!"
…Revenge! This was revenge, wasn't it?!
Pikachu puffed its cheeks like a dumpling. Ash had definitely seen through its act earlier!
The audience, however, was utterly captivated.
Not only was this a battle against a god, it was a clash between an island guardian and an Ultra Beast—ancient foes by nature.
And now, sparks of battle ignited in both their eyes.
——
What follows is the clash of storm and lightning, of venom and divinity.
Tapu Koko's power would soon show everyone what it truly meant to be a god of the islands.
To read 30+ future chapters, head over to patreon:
patreon.com/ToastWizard