Garchomp slammed into Arbok, sending the massive serpent crashing into the steel wall behind it with a sickening crunch. The impact left a deep dent, and Arbok slumped against the cold metal, unconscious.
If Ariana had been a second slower, she would have been caught in the collision. She scowled, swiftly recalling Arbok into its Pokeball before turning to flee.
"Damn it! That bastard Lance always causes trouble!" she hissed, her boots clanking against the metal floor as she sprinted down the corridor.
John watched her retreat with mild surprise. "That's it? She's running already?"
He glanced at his Garchomp, whose piercing yellow eyes gleamed with anticipation. It made sense—Ariana wasn't weak. Her Pokémon were high-leveled; Arbok had been LV73, and Muk LV71. But in the face of Mega Gardevoir enhanced by the Garcidea, it was like watching a father discipline his son.
The matchup had been cruelly one-sided.
John smirked. "Let's go after her."
Garchomp let out a low growl and followed as John sprinted through the narrow corridor. The two emerged into a large hall, where thick, poisonous fog hung in the air like an oppressive shroud. Yet, before the toxic mist could reach John, Mega Gardevoir gracefully raised her hand, absorbing every trace of it. The area around him remained clear, as if protected by an invisible barrier.
"Tch. So, this thing neutralizes poison too?" Ariana muttered in frustration.
Before John could respond, a voice crackled from the darkness. "Fascinating, isn't it?"
A middle-aged man with a receding hairline and garish pink hair stepped forward, adjusting his glasses with an air of arrogance.
"Professor Baldhead," Ariana said, stepping back. "I'll leave this to you. Let's see what all your research has amounted to."
The scientist scowled. "How many times do I have to tell you? My name is Namba! Dr. Namba!" His face turned red with irritation as he stormed toward a massive console, yanking down a lever. "Now, witness the power of my experiments!"
A loud clank echoed through the room as a steel cage door slammed open. From the darkness, two Weaviles dashed forward, their claws gleaming under the artificial lights. A strange metal ring encircled their heads, and their eyes glowed an eerie red, devoid of sanity.
John's expression hardened. They're completely berserk...
He had seen this before, at the Lake of Rage. The same manic energy that had driven the red Gyarados into a frenzy was radiating from these Weaviles.
"So you were behind that incident too," he muttered.
A message flashed in his vision:
[Time until Lance arrives: 3 minutes 27 seconds]
John sighed. "Guess I made too much noise. Should've known Lance would come running."
No time to waste. He pulled Garchomp's Pokeball from his belt, recalling the dragon in a flash of red light. He needed something more effective.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent out another Pokémon.
A massive, armored beast landed with a deafening crash, its scales glistening under the harsh lights. Tyranitar!
The moment Tyranitar touched the ground, a violent sandstorm kicked up, obscuring the battlefield in a whirlwind of dust and debris.
"Earthquake!" John commanded.
Tyranitar roared, raising a massive foot before slamming it down. The entire hall trembled, cracks forming along the floor as a powerful shockwave rippled outward.
The Weaviles reacted on instinct, leaping onto the walls to evade the seismic blast. Their agility was impressive, but John was already a step ahead.
Tyranitar raised its arms, and in an instant, the ceiling above the Weaviles cracked open. Jagged boulders rained down, crushing the berserk Pokémon beneath their weight.
Ariana's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the—?!"
[Defeated Weavile (Rage) LV69, gained 7220 EXP]
[Defeated Weavile (Rage) LV71, gained 7783 EXP]
The Weaviles didn't even get a chance to retaliate.
Namba, however, didn't seem deterred. Instead of fear, an unsettling glint shone in his eyes as he stared at Tyranitar. "Such raw power... This Pokémon would make a perfect test subject!"
John sneered. "You won't be testing anything today."
Ariana was already backing away, eyes darting toward a deeper section of the hideout. But before she could flee, Mega Gardevoir teleported in front of her, blocking the exit. Her cold, unfeeling gaze sent a chill down Ariana's spine.
"Damn it! You're really trying to kill me, huh?" Ariana growled, pulling out a Pokeball. "Fine, let's see how you handle this!"
She threw the ball, not toward the battlefield, but straight at John.
The Pokeball burst open midair, revealing a Crobat that wasted no time diving toward John, its fangs dripping with venom.
Ariana smirked. "If I can't beat your Pokémon, I'll just take out their trainer!"
John, however, didn't flinch. The moment Crobat got within striking range, a Pokeball on his belt popped open on its own.
A squat, blue figure materialized between them.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet chirped, saluting Crobat with an exaggerated wave.
John smirked. "Counter."
The moment Crobat's fangs dug into Wobbuffet's rubbery skin, a sudden force repelled it. With double the impact of its own attack, Crobat was sent hurtling back, crashing against the steel wall with a groan.
"Tch!" Ariana gritted her teeth. "Crobat, get up!"
The bat struggled to lift itself, its wings twitching feebly before it managed to get back into the air, its resistance to Fighting moves becoming apparent
"Now, Blaziken! Flame Charge!"
A blur of red and gold shot forward as Blaziken ignited its legs, dashing straight toward Namba, who barely had time to react.
At the same time, another Pokeball on Namba's belt burst open, releasing two more Pokémonn Shiftry, both equipped with the same berserk devices as the Weaviles before.
John's gaze sharpened. "Gardevoir, Dazzling Gleam!"