"St-stop them!"
The King of Pokélantis bellowed with false bravado.
The three Eternal Pillars stood firm amidst the storm of Beat Up attacks, arms crossed in defense.
If brute force wasn't working, maybe poisoning the Trainer would.
Natsume pondered whether he'd have to cover Brandon's medical bills if Gengar succeeded.
Suddenly, Ash charged forward, shouting: "Charizard, Seismic Toss!"
"Charizard!" Charizard flapped its wings, diving toward the unmoving Regice.
"Regice—" Its hammering arm was caught single-handedly by Charizard.
In one swift motion, Charizard maneuvered behind it, seizing both of Regice's arms.
"Charizard—!!" With a mighty roar—
Natsume watched as Charizard hurled Regice skyward with Seismic Toss, then followed up with a Flamethrower that painted the battlefield orange.
Classic Ash combo strikes!
"Nice one, Charizard!" Ash cheered.
Meanwhile, Natsume and the battered Brock observed from the sidelines.
Natsume handed Brock a Max Revive he'd gotten from Blastoise to stabilize a near-fainted Pokémon.
Brock blinked. "Why do you carry such rare medicine?"
"Ah... long story."
Natsume coughed lightly. "Use it on Steelix now!"
A glimmer shone through Brock's half-lidded eyes before he sprinted toward his fallen Steelix.
"I'll pay you back! Thank you, Natsume-sensei!"
Cynthia swung her arm forward. "Togekiss, Air Slash!"
Togekiss flapped its wings, the Air Slash slicing into Registeel's body with a metallic clang, sparks flying.
The Flinch condition triggered, sending Registeel staggering—a sight that filled Natsume with envy.
These additional effects just wouldn't stop!
As for Natsume? He wasn't even asking for additional effects.
If Hydro Pump's accuracy could just be a little higher, he'd be grateful…
Amid the chaotic battle, the King of Pokélantis groaned inwardly.
Four against one, and you're still fighting like this?!
Have some shame, you bastard called 'Natsume-sensei'!
"Regice, Regirock, Registeel—form a defense!"
With the three Regis' defensive power, they had once even held back the twin deities of Hoenn.
But under Natsume's relentless Will-O-Wisp, paralysis, and Toxic…
The three Regis felt like they were about to crack.
Ganging up on us and poisoning us? What kind of strategy is this?!
The battle shifted rapidly. Natsume took command of Charizard. "Charizard, Fire Blast!"
"Charizard!" With a roar, Charizard spread its wings and unleashed a blazing orange inferno, the explosion engulfing Regice.
"Regice! o(╥﹏╥)o" (Stop! I'm gonna melt!)
Ash's jaw dropped.
Why did Charizard suddenly feel so much stronger?
Was this… what Master Blue Oak meant by the gap in Trainer levels?
I've gotta step up too! Ash's eyes burned with determination.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu!!!!! "
Under the righteous gang-up, the 'wall' formed by the three Regis finally showed cracks.
"Gengar, get close to Brandon and use Hypnosis!"
"Not happening!" The black mist coiled around Brandon snarled back.
"Regirock, to me—use Zap Cannon!"
Regirock, crossed its arms, blue electricity crackling in its chest.
Regirock's Zap Cannon packed a punch.
But the surrounding Rock-type energy had thinned, making Stone Edge impossible.
"Ran out of move PP?" Natsume muttered something incomprehensible.
Rotom's eyes sparkled at the Zap Cannon like it was a gourmet feast.
"Requesting deployment, Rotom!" The Rotom Pokédex saluted with its mechanical arm.
"Hmm… I just thought of a strategy."
Natsume nodded, grabbed the Rotom Pokédex, and wound up like a baseball pitcher.
"I choose you—Rotom!"
Rotom went flying. "System overload, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"
The next moment…
Rotom bathed in Zap Cannon's blue lightning, shivering in delight as its energy gauge refilled instantly. It even let out a satisfied burp.
"Rotom~"
"Now, Ash—get the Imprison Stone Orb back!" Brock shouted.
"Leave it to me!"
Ash flipped his cap backward and charged straight into the crackling Zap Cannon, stunning everyone present.
Everyone: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Natsume: (￣▽￣)~ Basic tactics.
"Ah… Geodude's barrier."
Cynthia watched as Ash emerged from the Zap Cannon, three Geodude holding hands in a protective circle around him.
"No wonder he could withstand it…" she murmured.
I feel like he'd have been fine even without Geodude…
Natsume barked orders. "Rotom, use Trick!"
[Trick: Swaps held items. Pairs well with Choice Scarf.]
"Roger, Rotom!"
Ash lunged at the King of Pokélantis.
Panicking, the king clutched the Imprison Stone Orb to his chest—
Only to look down and find a Cheri Berry in his hand instead. The orb was gone!
"Where's my Stone Orb?!"
"Right here, Rotom! (￣▽￣)／" Rotom hovered back to Natsume, triumphantly holding the orb like the Statue of Liberty's torch.
The King of Pokélantis paled. Ash tackled him, pinning him down as he struggled.
What kind of strength does this brat have—
Holy hell, is this kid a Machamp?! I can't move!
"Guess 'Fighting-type' suits him," Natsume mused, watching Ash's relentless assault.
"Hurry, imprison him again!" Brock urged.
"Uh… right." Natsume took the orb from Rotom.
The ancient artifact resembled a primitive Poké Ball.
Silence fell. Even the King of Pokélantis looked resigned.
But the silence dragged on too long.
"What's wrong?" Cynthia asked.
Natsume scratched his head. "What's the incantation?"
Brock's face twitched. He turned to Ash. "Punch him—maybe we can wake Mr. Brandon up!"
"Got it!"
Ash reared back for a fist of friendship—
"THE PLATE'S WITH ME!" Brandon's voice suddenly roared.
Ash snatched the plate Brandon held out and tossed it toward the others. Gengar caught it.
"Gengar?" Gengar squinted at the plate, scratching its head.
Everyone crowded around, staring at the crooked, fly-like script.
"…Unown?" Brock guessed.
"Yes." Cynthia frowned. "But linguistics isn't my specialty…"
Translating the plate in such a short time?
Converting those archaic symbols into speech?
Cynthia fell silent, brow furrowed.
The King of Pokélantis, sensing hope, laughed wildly.
"You think you can imprison me again?!"
His laughter echoed through the pyramid.
"Too naive!"
Natsume spoke calmly. "Rotom."
A pause.
"Thunder Wave therapy, please."
"Roger, Rotom!"
The king's smirk vanished as electricity coursed through him. Black mist spewed from his back.
"Even if you destroy this body—I won't go back!"
"Regirock? Regice? Registeel?"
The three Regis perked up, glancing around like they'd heard a familiar voice.
Brock watched as Natsume raised the plate in one hand, the orb in the other.
"■■■■■!" (Light, return from darkness to darkness!)
The cringe-worthy line sounded like a magical girl transformation.
Good thing no one here understands…
Natsume cleared his throat. Rippling aura locked onto the malice inside Brandon.
A howling gale erupted. The orb glowed blue as the black mist funneled into it.
"N-No… impossible! How?!"
The king's eyes bulged.
A modern aura wielder who mastered ancient tongue?
This shouldn't exist!
Are you some relic like me, possessing a new body?!
The wind tore at Brandon's form. The last wisp of darkness vanished into the orb.
Silence.
Brandon collapsed.
All eyes turned to Natsume.
He examined the orb.
"…Did I just catch the King of Pokélantis?"
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／"
Crisis averted.
Brock wiped sweat. "That was… ancient language?"
Natsume nodded.
Cynthia's eyes gleamed. "When did you learn it?"
Even as a myth scholar, she'd never deciphered it fully.
Yet here was a living expert.
Her gaze sharpened—excited, intrigued.
"Taught by my uncle in Alola," Natsume said.
"You mastered both deciphering and translation?"
"…Yeah."
Cynthia smiled, tongue brushing her lip.
Natsume tensed. "W-What're you planning?"
"Nothing." Her grin widened.
You're definitely after my translation skills!
"Natsume-sensei!" Ash called.
"Mr. Brandon's waking up!"
Natsume glanced at the orb, then the three Regis.
"Regirock. Regice. Registeel—"
The trio hung their heads like scolded children.
"Gengar, Lick him paralyzed."
Natsume cracked his knuckles.
"Let's interrogate him properly."
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