John gave two commands at once.
Garchomp stomped down with a fierce growl, the ground beneath quaking violently as fissures spread outward. The unleashed Earthquake sent shockwaves that rattled the underground power plant, scattering debris like a miniature apocalypse.
Before the chaos settled, Gardevoir's Teleport whisked both trainer and Pokemon to a safer spot—a strategic vantage point where the ten Magnezones had just been wiped out.
"Another Earthquake, Garchomp!" John called out.
The dragon responded instantly, unleashing another devastating tremor that reverberated through the chamber. The compounded shockwaves were unstoppable, leaving no time for the opposing Pokemon to recover.
John smirked as a series of notifications flashed across his Gameboy-like device.
[Defeat Manectric LV52, Garchomp gains experience 4877.][Defeat Electivire LV55, Garchomp gains experience 5762.]
"Not bad," John muttered, adjusting his jacket as he surveyed the damage. Against Garchomp's relentless Earthquake, no electric Pokemon below level 60 could hope to stand a chance—unless, of course, they could fly. And in this underground lair, none of these electric types had the luxury of wings or the know-how for Magnet Rise.
Garchomp led the way, and John followed confidently, their boots crunching over shattered tiles and sparking wires. Every electrical Pokemon in the vicinity had been taken down, their Pokeballs filling John's inventory one by one.
"You'll love this haul, Professor Birch," John mused. "Level 50-plus Pokemon don't just grow on trees. And let's not forget the goodies they might be holding."
Whether it was battle-worn berries or rare treasures, the spoils were always worth collecting.
John navigated deeper into the maze of the power plant, his mind racing. "If regular encounters are pushing level 50, what's the boss going to look like?" he muttered.
He briefly considered the possibilities. The worst-case scenario? A level 60 juggernaut with a bad attitude. Whatever the outcome, he knew one thing: preparation was everything. He couldn't risk interference from stray Pokemon mid-battle.
Taking out his trusty Dowsing Machine, John began scanning for hidden treasures. The gadget's antennae snapped sharply in one direction, quivering like a divining rod over a goldmine.
"Huh. You're unusually excited today," John said, eyeing the machine. Its reaction reminded him of the time he'd found the Cocoon of Dreams. "What could it be this time? Legendary loot, maybe?"
His imagination ran wild. Could a mythical electric Pokemon be hiding here? Perhaps something like Raikou or Zapdos? The idea sent a chill down his spine—but not from fear.
"No guts, no glory," he grinned, quickening his pace.
The closer John got to the power plant's core, the stronger the opposition. Waves of electric Pokemon surged toward him and Garchomp, driven by either territorial instincts or sheer recklessness.
"Earthquake!" John called, yet again.
The ground-shaking attack left destruction in its wake. By the time Gardevoir's Teleport yanked Garchomp out of harm's way, the battlefield was littered with fainted opponents.
"Man, you guys just don't give up," John quipped, brushing sparks off his sleeve. Garchomp growled in agreement, clearly enjoying the workout.
By the end of the onslaught, Garchomp's level had climbed to 53—a welcome boost considering the looming boss fight. Even Steelix, hanging back with an Exp. Share, had gained some much-needed levels.
"I hope Fortree Gym's ready for us," John mused. He'd been planning to form a Sandstorm team with Steelix and Tyranitar for that showdown. But first, there was the matter of this underground dungeon's final challenge.
After over an hour of battling, John reached the power source chamber. His steps slowed as he took in the bizarre sight before him.
Where a solid wall should've been, a crackling red portal hung in the air, torn open by jagged bolts of electricity. The warped edges of the portal twisted unnervingly, as if threatening to collapse at any moment.
"Well, that's ominous," John muttered, pulling out the Dowsing Machine. Its antennae pointed unwaveringly toward the portal.
"Guess there's no turning back now," he said, stepping closer.
The portal flared with red light as John stepped through. The air shifted, and he found himself in a cavernous space, surrounded by swirling thunderclouds and solid ore beneath his feet. Lightning crackled along the walls, bathing the chamber in an eerie glow.
A narrow path stretched ahead, leading to a raised platform in the center. Resting atop the platform was a small, transparent bead, its core alive with flickering sparks.
"So that's what you've been pointing at," John said, eyeing the bead. It looked familiar, though he couldn't immediately place it.
He reached out, plucking the bead from its pedestal.
The moment John touched the bead, a deafening cry echoed through the chamber.
"Gah!" John winced, spinning around just in time to see a massive figure descending from above.
The creature landed with a thundering crash, its yellow plumage bristling with dark red electricity. Its sharp beak gleamed like a lance, and its wings pulsed with energy.
"Zapdos," John whispered, his mouth going dry. Above the legendary bird, its name and level glowed menacingly:
Zapdos glared at him, its eyes radiating fury. The air around it sizzled with volatile energy, and John could feel the weight of its power pressing down on him.