"Ka-kaah~"
Looking at the circular seal stone tablet before it, Gengar gently rubbed its chubby chin.
Its nose twitched lightly.
Its eyes brightened.
It quickly found the crack where negative energy was seeping from the seal and located the seal's weak side.
But even finding the seal's weak side, there were quite a few wedges on the iron chains. Gengar wasn't sure which one to pull to unlock the seal.
"The third one."
At this moment, Cynthia reminded.
Hmm?
Johan and Gengar looked at their little Cynthia with some surprise.
Cynthia smiled sweetly. "I barely deciphered some of the previous seal stone tablet. This one is similar. With Gengar pointing out the general location of the loosening... it should be correct."
This was mythologist Cynthia?
Worthy of being a Champion who specialized in historical research.
Caitlin hugged Cynthia's arm, proudly raising her chin as if she had deciphered the seal herself.
However, Johan had no intention of contradicting Caitlin, instead saying with a smile:
"Worthy of my little Cynthia."
"Mm..." Cynthia's cheeks reddened slightly, while Caitlin's expression immediately took a sharp downturn, her face flushing red with anger.
Seeing Caitlin's expression change, Johan smirked.
What a joke—what competitiveness could a mere "golden-haired loser" have?
At the same time, at Cynthia's indication, Gengar pulled the third wedge from the iron chain on the seal's loose side.
Jingle jingle—
With the wedge's fall, the entire iron chain immediately loosened and fell.
Then—
Rumble—
The entire circular seal stone tablet made rumbling sounds. Large amounts of power filled with jealous negative emotions surged from behind the seal, and "bang bang" sounds came from behind the stone tablet.
It seemed that compared to Wo-Chien's snail temperament, the disaster Pokémon sealed here was undoubtedly much more irritable.
With one corner of the seal opened, Gengar, at Cynthia's indication, tried three times before finally removing another wedge from another iron chain.
At this point, the seal was mostly removed.
Boom!!
Another heavy rumbling, and the huge circular seal stone tablet fell away.
The next second, a scorching, restless aura immediately spread and swept over, as if an invisible, unseen "jealous fire" surged from within the seal.
Then they saw a Pokémon only as long as an arm, shaped like a goldfish, with most of its body orange-yellow and its tail and fins flame-red like fire, swimming out from the cave behind the stone tablet with very agile movements.
Its most special and eye-catching feature was undoubtedly its eyes.
More precisely, the two seemingly incomplete jade pieces surrounding its eyes.
Chi-Yu!
This was Chi-Yu, representing the "jade" among the "Treasures of Ruin"!
Its appearance was small and its movements agile. Even in the air, it could swim freely as if in water.
It looked harmless, but as its tail swayed gently, that invisible jealous fire surged again. A mysterious power immediately spread from Chi-Yu as the center, covering and affecting Gengar and the others.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar tightly covered its chest, looking "uncomfortable."
This time, it wasn't entirely an act.
Because Chi-Yu's ability was "Beads of Ruin."
[Beads of Ruin: When a Pokémon with this ability is on the field, all Pokémon except those with 'Beads of Ruin' have their Special Defense reduced to three-quarters!]
Similar to Wo-Chien's "Tablets of Ruin," except "Tablets of Ruin" suppressed Attack ability while "Beads of Ruin" suppressed Special Defense ability.
So this time Gengar feeling "uncomfortable" was quite real.
Not just Gengar—even Caitlin, with her powerful psychic abilities, felt her psychic power being suppressed.
Compared to Wo-Chien's sluggishness, though Chi-Yu had also been sealed for so long, it appeared very agile and proactive.
Especially when it saw Gengar.
Due to the power of "ancient jade," Chi-Yu was very sensitive to Pokémon's Special Attack abilities.
So it immediately sensed from Gengar the Special Attack ability that made it envious and jealous.
Therefore, while Gengar was "uncomfortable," Chi-Yu launched an attack without hesitation.
Malicious energy quickly gathered before Chi-Yu, forming a pitch-black wave that surged toward Gengar.
Dark Pulse!
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar, who was covering its chest, blinked and immediately returned to normal.
Attacking me?
Gengar waved lightly at Chi-Yu, then leaped into the shadows in a diving posture and disappeared.
"Garchomp, Earthquake!"
Cynthia waved her hand, and a fierce "god of death" immediately charged out, its powerful feet heavily stomping the ground.
Boom!!
An earthy yellow shock wave immediately spread rapidly in all directions from Garchomp as the center. The entire ground, the entire cave, and even the lake water within all shook.
Though Chi-Yu floated in mid-air, when Earthquake's power gathered beneath it, the ground exploded open, and raised earth layers and rocks rushed toward it.
This wasn't the first time dealing with "Treasures of Ruin" Pokémon. Having lost the "novelty," Johan and Cynthia didn't insist on civilized one-on-one combat with Chi-Yu.
Quick victory and problem resolution were the objectives.
However... though this cave was fairly sturdy and Garchomp's main target was also Chi-Yu, if such earthquakes came a few more times, Johan's group might end up buried like Chi-Yu today.
"Tyranitar, Sandstorm."
Johan also spoke up.
He didn't have Gengar fight Chi-Yu, instead choosing Tyranitar, which had better synergy with Garchomp.
"Bangi!!"
Rolling sand dust immediately spread through the spacious cave.
Most of the sand dust, under Tyranitar's control, adhered to the surrounding rock walls and ground beneath their feet, providing some degree of reinforcement.
At the same time, Garchomp's Earthquake didn't hit Chi-Yu.
Though with Earthquake's special technique, Garchomp's Earthquake could attack Chi-Yu floating in mid-air, Chi-Yu was very alert and quickly gained altitude when the earthquake shock waves spread.
Therefore, Chi-Yu successfully avoided it before Garchomp's Earthquake could hit.
But the ensuing Sandstorm still made Chi-Yu uncomfortable.
The rolling sand dust blocked vision, and these sand particles felt like sharp little knives scraping painfully against its body.
But for Garchomp and Tyranitar, Sandstorm brought many benefits.
"Shaka!"
When Tyranitar's Sandstorm spread, Garchomp was ready. It immediately swung its scythe, rolling sharp sand particles to envelop Chi-Yu.
Sand Tomb!
Whirlpool-like sand particles formed a sandstorm tornado, making the already uncomfortable Chi-Yu even more uncomfortable. Sand constantly battered its body, impossible to shake off.
"Tyranitar, Rock Slide."
While Chi-Yu was restricted within a certain range by Garchomp's Sand Tomb, Tyranitar immediately grabbed rocks that had crumbled from the earlier earthquake and hurled them heavily at Chi-Yu.
Bang!!
The rock hit Chi-Yu head-on from a completely unexpected angle, the rock shattering into pieces.
Along with pain came Chi-Yu's fury.
"Tch."
Seeing this, Johan clicked his tongue.
Even hitting its head like that didn't cause Chi-Yu to flinch.
Indeed, he couldn't trust his own luck.
But after Tyranitar's Rock Slide drew Chi-Yu's attention, Garchomp immediately appeared before Chi-Yu at Cynthia's signal, striking down with dragon claws condensed from blue-purple energy.
Bang—
Chi-Yu's small body was heavily slammed against the rock wall.
It had to be said—Johan and Cynthia commanding their respective Pokémon, despite having no communication between them and this being their first time commanding Garchomp and Tyranitar together in battle, showed extremely deep coordination.
Perfect cooperation between them.
When Garchomp dispersed Chi-Yu's attention, Tyranitar would launch fierce attacks. When Tyranitar drew Chi-Yu's attention, Garchomp could make Chi-Yu pay a heavy price.
Moreover, as the "Desert Tyrant" Tyranitar and "Land Dragon" Garchomp had very compatible synergy, their cooperation left Chi-Yu completely disoriented.
"Glub glub..."
Chi-Yu, spitting flame-like bubbles from its mouth after such a beating, couldn't even find its opponents. Fury instantly flooded its mind.
Boom!!
Its small form immediately surged with scorching black-red flames, carrying thick negative energy that burst outward.
The Sand Tomb surrounding it and the sand dust filling the entire cave were immediately scattered by this power, creating a vacuum zone filled with negative energy within the cave.
But this was just the beginning.
That fury mixed with jealous fire's negative energy rampaged wildly. Both Garchomp and Tyranitar sensed the threat within.
Ruination!
Like Wo-Chien, as a disaster Pokémon, Chi-Yu also possessed the move Ruination, which could forcibly reduce an opponent's HP by half.
"Tyranitar."
"Garchomp."
Johan and Cynthia spoke almost simultaneously.
But their respective actions were completely different.
Tyranitar, stepping on sand at considerable speed, immediately rushed before Garchomp and roared.
"Bangi!"
Its tail struck the ground, and immediately thick, sharp rock spikes rose from the earth. Sand dust and Stone Edge's rock spikes quickly constructed a hard and sturdy wall.
Under Sandstorm, Rock-type Pokémon's Special Defense increased by 1.5 times!
Sandstorm could enhance Pokémon's Special Defense abilities.
Though Chi-Yu's Ruination was unreasonable, it was still a Special Attack category.
Boom!!
Negative energy struck the "wall," with most of the force blocked.
At the same time, while Tyranitar constructed the "wall," Garchomp calmly sharpened its scythe as if no one else was around. Accompanied by metallic clanging, its momentum rapidly climbed!
Swords Dance!
When Ruination's impact gradually faded, Garchomp suddenly shot skyward, wearing a blue-purple fierce dragon cloak.
Dragon Rush!
Though Johan and Cynthia spoke simultaneously, Garchomp and Tyranitar, understanding both their intentions, didn't simultaneously defend or attack.
One defended, one powered up.
Perfect coordination!
With Tyranitar's resistance, the Swords Dance-enhanced Garchomp launched Dragon Rush without hesitation, heavily impacting Chi-Yu.
Even though Dragon-type had no advantage against Chi-Yu, Dragon Rush after Swords Dance enhancement was no joke.
Boom!!
Chi-Yu, sent flying by Garchomp again, was somewhat confused.
No way.
You two... why do you coordinate so well?!
Why was it all alone?
Roar!!!
Scorching flames immediately rose from Chi-Yu's body. All its power and the jealous fire in its heart became substantial flames—surging, scorching, filled with destructive aura.
Overheat!
One of Fire-type's strongest finishing moves, with unparalleled instant explosive power.
But after using Overheat, that Pokémon's Special Attack would decrease by 2 stages!
For any Pokémon relying on Special Attack for battle, this was a very deadly blow.
Almost equivalent to being unable to fight back without defeating the opponent.
Somewhat similar to Dragon-type's Draco Meteor or Grass-type's Leaf Storm.
As Chi-Yu channeled all its power to raise flames, a huge figure directly stepped into those surging flames.
When Chi-Yu's jade-surrounded eyes looked up, it saw...
A huge foot wrapped in rich Ground-type energy stomping toward its face.
A foot?
Where did this foot come from?
Boom!!
Stomp!
The heavily falling foot directly stomped Chi-Yu into the sand dust accumulated on the ground, stomping it underground.
"Bangi!!"
Tyranitar roared.
The owner of this foot was undoubtedly Tyranitar. Since the earlier Stone Edge as defense hadn't hit Chi-Yu, this Stomp's power was directly doubled!
One stomp crushed Chi-Yu's accumulated flames and shattered its gathered power.
Flames dispersed.
Chi-Yu lay in the sandy ground.
"Shaka!"
Garchomp walked beside Tyranitar. The two big guys looked at each other, both showing smiles and extending their claws.
High five.
Slap—
Chi-Yu, not yet completely unable to battle, saw this scene and immediately felt jealous fire surge to its head again. Its eyes rolled back.
It completely lost fighting ability.
"Bangi! Bangi!"
Tyranitar kept blowing on its palm.
Forgot that Garchomp's palm was a claw—so painful, so painful—
Seeing Chi-Yu lose fighting ability, Johan and Cynthia looked at each other and smiled, then threw out an Ultra Ball.
Without surprise, after several shakes and a "click," the Ultra Ball locked.
Capture successful!
Taking the Ultra Ball that Tyranitar handed over, Johan wondered... after capturing Pokémon, should he also strike a pose and say something...
No help for it.
Though Johan had grown to become Hoenn League's Champion, he truly hadn't actively captured Pokémon many times.
But regardless...
Job done!
Hum—
Once the Ultra Ball was in hand, Johan belatedly realized—
"Hiss—so hot!"
After capturing Chi-Yu, the Ultra Ball transmitted Chi-Yu's temperature.
Johan quickly handed the Ultra Ball to Gengar.
Better let Gengar store it.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar emerged from the shadows with a mournful face and took the Ultra Ball, tossing it into its mouth.
"What's wrong? Why the long face?"
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar pulled out a pile of metal melted into one piece.
"Pfft—"
Johan laughed heartlessly.
Though Chi-Yu's final Overheat wasn't fully executed, the flames it released had still melted the metals Gengar had collected from the Bisharp into one piece.
"No problem, no problem. You were going to have Ceruledge melt them first anyway for Tinkaton."
Gengar blinked.
Oh right!
"Rotom, remember to send the video and expense report to Chairman Geeta," Johan instructed again.
"Already sent, Rotom!"
Rotom immediately indicated that as soon as Chi-Yu was captured, it had already sent everything to Chairman Geeta.
Nobody in the Johan family was inactive about expense reports.
"Well done." Johan smiled and gave a thumbs up.
"According to what you said, there should be two more 'Treasures of Ruin'—Wo-Chien, Chi-Yu, plus Chien-Pao and Ting-Lu..."
Following Johan out of the cave, Cynthia said softly.
"Chairman Geeta should have found others to handle the remaining two," Johan said with a stretch, quite confidently.
Otherwise, Geeta should have sent location data for all three disaster Pokémon, not just Chi-Yu's.
"After all, it's their Paldea's own business. While it might be big trouble for ordinary trainers, for Elite Four level, it's actually not difficult."
They couldn't have all of Paldea's problems handled by just his group, right?
Might as well make him Paldea League Chairman and Champion instead!
If it involved first-class legendary level, that would be different.
Mere third-class legendaries...
"Mm, that's right." After thinking, Cynthia nodded.
If she put herself in Geeta's position, she probably wouldn't commission outsiders to help after the first Wo-Chien.
At most, after capturing all four "Treasures of Ruin" Pokémon, she'd find experts like Johan for placement.
"Alright, let's return to Medali Town." Caitlin said.
"Wait." Johan stopped her. "We?"
Caitlin immediately hugged Cynthia's arm and raised her chin: "Of course. You wouldn't expect me, visiting Paldea region for the first time, to go back alone, would you?"
Cynthia patted Caitlin's head and gave Johan an apologetic look, saying:
"I promised Caitlin I'd see her back..."
Facing Caitlin's private pleading, Cynthia sometimes had no choice.
Johan: "..."
Looking at Caitlin's raised chin, Johan was so frustrated his teeth itched.
But thinking about it, whatever.
Return to Medali Town then. Worst case, he'd take Cynthia to Casseroya Lake afterward.
After all, it was Paldea region's largest inland lake with quite nice scenery.
Moreover, Casseroya Lake was home to many Dragon-type Pokémon, especially those two "False Dragon Titans."
The "Herba Mystica" they guarded happened to be the only type Johan currently lacked.
"Fine then. Let's return to Medali Town together."
Paldea region, on the Flying Taxi.
"Cynthia, look! Lance and Lorelei are fighting!"
Caitlin held up the latest Rotom phone, pulling Cynthia and calling out.
Lance and Lorelei?
Johan raised an eyebrow and leaned over to look.
Indeed, it was Lance and Lorelei battling, and the battle location was in Medali Town in the Paldea region.
On screen, Lance was commanding his red Gyarados against Lorelei's Dewgong.
Dewgong and Lorelei were at a disadvantage.
After all, though Gyarados was a Water and Flying-type Pokémon, it could learn Electric-type moves, which was crucial.
"Go Lorelei!"
Seeing this, Caitlin couldn't help cheering for Lorelei.
From her way of addressing Lorelei, it wasn't hard to see that Caitlin and Lorelei had a surprisingly good relationship?
Was it because they both liked dolls?
"Lorelei's Dewgong restraining Lance's Gyarados is actually already successful from a tactical standpoint."
After all, among Lance's Pokémon, aside from his rarely-used Kingdra and one of his aces, Charizard, only Gyarados wasn't so afraid of Ice-type Pokémon.
And Lorelei's Dewgong could only be considered one of her main Pokémon, not yet at ace level.
Additionally, Lance liked using Gyarados as his Mega choice. If Mega Evolution was forced out at this time, Lorelei would have established part of her advantage.
"Lorelei is still very capable," Caitlin said.
Johan nodded in agreement but still added: "However... Lance will most likely still win."
Caitlin looked unconvinced.
But Cynthia also expressed agreement with Johan's judgment.
"Why..." Caitlin muttered.
Because Lance's hard strength was indeed much stronger than Lorelei's.
If not for the overly obvious type advantage, it would be difficult for Lorelei to even push Lance to the brink.
In the livestream, Gyarados defeated Lorelei's Dewgong, but then Lorelei's Lapras defeated Gyarados.
Afterward, Lance summoned his ace Dragonite!
Seeing this, Lorelei immediately switched, replacing Lapras with Ninetales.
Ninetales!
With absolute type advantage over Dragonite!
But the next second... Johan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh no!"
"What's wrong?"
Caitlin and Cynthia looked at him puzzledly.
Johan said with a strange expression: "Lance got his biggest 'cheat.'"
Cheat?
Cynthia and the others looked confused.
What kind of cheat could make even Johan so surprised?
Then they saw—
Lance took out a "Tera Orb" unique to the Paldea region and directly had Dragonite Terastallize!
And the Terastallized type was...
Normal-type!
"Normal-type?" Caitlin asked in bewilderment.
Johan's mouth twitched as he muttered: "Rejoice! The strongest in the Pokémon world, Dragon Master Lance's final form—the legendary 'Normal-type Elite Four!'"
Who could have imagined that his casual joke about 'Lance would be strong if he made Dragonite Normal-type' had been deeply remembered by Lance.
Sure enough, Lance had really converted Dragonite's Tera type to Normal-type!
"Dragonite, Extreme Speed!" came Lance's voice from the phone.
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Powerstones?
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