Mars said something, and Moltres painfully shot a Flamethrower towards Lucas.
"Marill!!"
Marill sprayed a Water Gun, but against the powerful Flamethrower, the Water Gun only slightly weakened the damage.
Bronzong blocked the Flamethrower again.
Mars looked at the fallen Team Galactic members and Pokémon, not surprised.
After all, Elite Four Lucian was the strongest Elite Four of the Sinnoh region; her subordinates being able to stall him for a bit was already quite good.
"Elite Four Lucian, I wonder if Moltres is strong enough to be your opponent."
Mars looked down at Lucian with a contemptuous tone.
Lucian didn't speak, just curled his lips into a smile.
Seeing Lucian's expression, Mars froze, then suddenly rolled away.
She dodged Alakazam's Hypnosis, which had suddenly appeared beside her.
She almost fell for it.
Mars gritted her teeth, "Moltres, Heat Wave!"
Moltres let out a painful cry, then unleashed an extremely scorching storm.
"This can't go on; we have to deal with Moltres first."
Lucas said to Lucian in a low voice.
Lucian nodded, agreeing with Lucas's plan.
"I'll cover you; see if you can have Bronzong hypnotize it."
Lucian said, "Okay."
"Gothorita, Trick Room!"
"Goth!"
Gothorita's eyes lit up, and she raised her hands, a powerful psychic energy covering the entire field.
Speed priority was reversed.
Lucian smiled; Lucas was truly impressive.
Bronzong, not inherently fast, gained priority in its move speed under Trick Room.
"Bronzong!"
Bronzong understood Lucian's intention and flew straight towards Moltres.
"Don't even think about it!"
Mars had Moltres use Fire Blast.
Lucas smiled at the corner of his mouth.
Mars saw Lucas's smile, froze, then looked over and saw a fiery red fox Pokémon on top of Bronzong.
A Vulpix?!
Could it be!
As if realizing something, Mars was about to say something when she saw Vulpix trembling on Bronzong's back, looking somewhat scared at the incoming Fire Blast. But remembering Lucas's encouraging gaze just now, Vulpix gritted its teeth and jumped from Bronzong towards the Fire Blast.
The Fire Blast hit Vulpix entirely, and Vulpix cried out in pain, making Lucas's heart jump.
Flash Fire ability, absorbs Fire-type moves to boost its own Fire-type moves.
Bronzong flew past the falling Vulpix, got close to Moltres, and launched a Hypnosis straight out.
The falling Vulpix was caught by a purple figure, then vanished.
Moltres twisted its head, and Bronzong's Hypnosis missed.
"Hahahaha, good tactic, but bad luck."
Mars laughed wildly when she saw the Hypnosis miss.
But soon, her laughter abruptly stopped.
A Gengar appeared beside Moltres, holding Vulpix and smiling.
"gengar sound—"
Good night, hehe.
Too far to hit? No problem, Gengar released it right in its face.
Moltres's eyelids fluttered, then it closed its eyes and fell from the sky.
"Where did that Gengar come from!"
Ignoring Mars's outburst, Lucas and Lucian high-fived.
Tactical cooperation, a great victory!
Mars glared fiercely at Lucas. She had originally thought Lucas was just an unknown passerby, but she hadn't expected him to be so cunning.
One annoying tactic after another.
If looks could kill, Lucas would have been killed hundreds of times over by her.
She glanced at the situation, waved her hand, and the remaining Team Galactic members surrounded them again.
"Finally arrived, have they already started fighting?!"
"Breloom, Seed Bomb!"
A familiar voice was heard, followed by large seeds falling from the sky, all landing in the midst of Team Galactic's group.
The powerful impact caused some Pokémon to lose their ability to battle.
"Leaf Storm!"
"Flash Cannon!"
"Sunny Day."
The sky suddenly cleared, and immediately after, Lucas felt the Heat Wave blow again.
Gothorita immediately activated Reflect and Light Screen, and Bronzong did the same.
Moltres awoke from its sleep, and a powerful Heat Wave blew towards Lucas and the others.
"Thank you for the Sunny Day, Gym Leader Gardenia."
Mars laughed heartily again, saying to Gardenia.
Seeing Moltres awaken, Gardenia became embarrassed.
No way? She just wanted to use Sunny Day to buff Lilligant, but she ended up waking Moltres?
"Don't mind her. Sunny Day wouldn't make it wake from sleep; it's just our bad luck that it was only asleep for a short while."
Lucas said without looking back.
Only then did Gardenia relax, having thought she had hindered them.
What a headache. Since soft tactics didn't work, it was time for hard ones.
"It's decided, Lucian!"
Lucian: ————
Mars: ——
Gardenia: ————
Defeat it with absolute strength!
Lucas pointed a finger. Lucian didn't dwell on it but jumped onto Bronzong and chased after Moltres.
A Crobat flew over, blocking Lucian. Unable to shake it off, Lucian was forced to land in front of Mars.
"I won't be seeing you over there, Elite Four Lucian."
Lucian stared intently at Mars in front of him. Crobat flew to her side, and Bronzong also came to Lucian's side.
"Now no one will disturb us. Let me play with you for a bit. Defeating Sinnoh's Psychic-type Elite Four, that sounds pretty good."
As soon as she finished speaking, she waved her finger, "Crunch!"
"Extrasensory!"
Crobat was directly knocked away, losing its ability to battle.
While dodging Moltres's attacks, Lucas and Gardenia also had to contend with the remaining Team Galactic members.
Gengar appeared and disappeared like a ghost, constantly inflicting paralysis, poison, and other statuses on the fallen members, making them completely lose their ability to battle.
Looking at the entangled Lucian, and then at the maddened Moltres due to the machine, he gritted his teeth.
"Lugia, I knew I shouldn't have agreed to you."
Muttering to himself, he turned to Gardenia.
"Gardenia, I'll leave this to you."
Gardenia nodded, "Okay."
With that, she had Breloom use Close Combat to force back the Pokémon trying to stop Lucas.
Gengar and the others followed behind Lucas. Mars saw Lucas rushing towards Moltres and tried to stop him.
The next second, an Alakazam appeared in front of her. "You really look down on me, getting distracted during a battle."
Hypnosis was used, but unfortunately, it missed.
Mars scoffed. She couldn't beat Lucian; his strength was simply too overwhelming.
"You bunch of useless people, what are you waiting for? Stop him!"
She roared, and the Team Galactic members chased after him.
She had a premonition that Lucas would bring her more bad news.
Everyone and every Pokémon that tried to stop him was blocked by Gardenia.
"I'm a Gym Leader, after all. Although I can't compare to Elite Four Lucian and them, is it really okay for you to ignore me like this? Breloom, Spore!"
"Annoying!"
Just as another one of Mars's Pokémon was defeated, she gritted her teeth, and then a Skuntank rushed over, blocking Girafarig's attack.
Lucian's expression hardened.
"Mars, the boss has given the order to retreat."
Mars looked back, then scoffed again.
Then she looked at Lucas, "Jupiter, he's all yours."
Jupiter glanced at Lucas and nodded.
Mars chased after Lucas. Lucian tried to stop her but was blocked by Jupiter.
"Your opponent is me."
Lucian narrowed his eyes, looking at the second executive.
Defeating him first would be the same.
On the other side, Lucas came beneath the frenzied Moltres. Moltres was about to attack Lucas but found him somewhat familiar.
It was the human it had seen that day.
It originally didn't want to attack him, but the device around its neck caused it immense pain, making it uncontrollably use Fire Blast.
Water Gun shot out from beside Lucas.
Next was Lilligant's Solar Beam.
"Your Water Gun seems to be quite weak."
Lucas turned to see Mars standing by, mocking him.
Mars looked at the Marill beside Lucas, "You even catch such weak Pokémon. It seems your judgment is quite poor, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, Marill froze in place.
Lucas looked back at Lucian, who was entangled with another executive.
Lucas's heart began to beat rapidly.
"Drapion, Crunch!"
"Goth!"
Drapion was directly thrown away by Gothorita using Psychic.
"Such powerful psychic energy!"
Mars looked at the Gothorita beside Lucas, who was now panting.
Gengar and Lilligant were interfering with Moltres.
Vulpix, having taken two of Moltres's attacks, had its Flash Fire ability at its maximum capacity.
Taking any more hits would only cause physical damage.
"You'd be better off following me than him."
Mars shook her head, "Moltres."
"Incinerate!"
Moltres was enveloped in flames, and then all the flames flew towards Lucas's location.
"Goth!"
All the Pokémon retreated to Lucas's side, and all their moves were unleashed.
Gothorita tried its best to put up Light Screen.
Gengar was the first in line, taking the lead in defense.
Vulpix, radiating flames, launched Overheat.
Lilligant's Leaf Storm was instantly incinerated by the Incinerate under the clear weather.
The water bubbles couldn't withstand the incoming Incinerate.
Staraptor abandoned its defense, launching a Brave Bird directly at Moltres, which slightly deflected the trajectory of the Burn Up.
Just as the flames were about to break through the Light Screen, Gothorita glanced back at Lucas.
"Goth!"
With me here, no one can hurt Lucas!
A strong white light burst from its body.
"Goth!"
Powerful psychic energy erupted.
Recalling how its overwhelming psychic power had made it uncontrollable, leading to rejection and wandering, until it finally arrived at the Breeding House and met so many friends, it would not allow the people and Pokémon it cherished to be harmed.
"Gothorita, what do you plan to use your powerful strength for?"
It suddenly remembered the words Professor Rowan had spoken to him after he was rescued from the Pokémon Hunters.
Gothorita knew the answer.
Its body grew within the white light.
Subsequently, the white light dissipated, and a beautiful figure appeared before Lucas.
With the help of the other Pokémon, Gothitelle successfully blocked Moltres's Burn Up.
Protection!
Its power was meant for protection!
Gothitelle looked at the flame-deprived Moltres.
With a wave of its hands, the effect of Gravity immediately forced Moltres down.
Lucas wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Although he knew that even if Gothitelle hadn't blocked the attack, he could have evaded it thanks to Staraptor, he still felt like he had nearly died.
Sure enough, even if The Legendary Birds were weak in the games, they were still Legendary Pokémon in reality.
He had underestimated the power of Legendary Pokémon.
Looking at Moltres, which had been forced to the ground, Lucas pressed the attack.
"Gengar, aim for the device on its neck."
"Dream on!"
Mars sent out her Pokémon to charge forward, but Lilligant and the others blocked their path.
Seeing this, Lucas suddenly recalled his first battle with Hunter J.
He figured if he encountered her now, he probably wouldn't lose again, right?
Crobat was knocked flying by Staraptor and hit the ground, while Lilligant unleashed a powerful Leaf Storm.
When the thick smoke cleared, Mars had vanished from her spot.
A spaceship had appeared overhead sometime earlier, and Mars was currently dangling from it.
Gengar had already dropped its smile, its eyes cold, as it continuously gathered and threw Shadow Balls.
Under Gothitelle's interference, Moltres was constantly being afflicted with various debuffs.
Within the thick smoke, Gengar vanished instantly.
Just as Moltres was preparing to fly up, Gengar appeared beside it.
Phantom Force.
It then inflicted Moltres with the Paralyzed and Poisoned status conditions.
It then looked toward Marill.
Just as Lucas was instructing Gengar to destroy the device, Gengar sensed Marill's condition.
It didn't comfort Marill, only saying a simple sentence.
I and Gothitelle will create a good opportunity for you.
The rest is up to you.
Marill looked at the trembling Moltres attempting to fly up, flames starting to flicker on its body again, and at Lucas and Lilligant covering it from behind.
It suddenly remembered why it had come to the Breeding House: it was to protect the Breeding House.
It had just recently returned with its clan elders to undergo training, so why was it still being called weak by others?
Marill couldn't understand.
It wasn't weak at all—
That's right, it wasn't weak!
It was the genius everyone in its clan talked about.
"Rillu!"
That's why I'm not weak!
It leaped toward Moltres, which had just taken flight.
Then, under the gazes of everyone present, a white light erupted from its body, and its form continuously grew within the light.
"Another one evolving?"
Mars on the spaceship gritted her teeth.
Gothorita's evolution was what had put her on the defensive earlier, and now, unexpectedly, this Marill, whose strength she had dismissed, was also starting to evolve.
After evolving into Azumarill, it unleashed Aqua Tail toward the device on Moltres's neck!
Enhanced by Huge Power, it knocked Moltres down to the ground again, simultaneously destroying the device on its neck.
"Rillu!"
It turned its head to look at Mars on the spaceship, then opened its mouth.
It used Hydro Pump.
It directly destroyed Mars's spaceship.
Mars fell toward the ground, but was quickly pulled up by a hand.
Saturn—
The third Commander of Team Galactic.
Lucas watched him, his Pokémon standing beside him.
Saturn glanced at Moltres, then turned and left after picking up Jupiter.
Moltres originally wanted to chase them for revenge, but it was forced back by the weapons on the spaceship.
Out of humiliation and rage, it began to wreak havoc on its surroundings.
This caused Elite Four Lucian, who had intended to stop them, to pause.
Watching the rampaging Moltres again, Gardenia shivered slightly.
Just as Elite Four Lucian was about to make a move, he saw Lucas step forward.
Since there is no device controlling you anymore, you should be able to listen to reason, right?
"Moltres, you have two choices: stop and leave now, or stop and be forced to leave."
Hearing this, Gardenia's eyes widened.
Lucas is so handsome—
Elite Four Lucian narrowed his eyes.
As expected of Lucas.
Moltres stopped its movements and looked down at Lucas below him.
Gengar, Lilligant, Gothitelle, Azumarill, Vulpix, and Staraptor were surrounding it.
Remembering the injuries inflicted by their attacks, which were still throbbing, and the Paralyzed status condition it was afflicted with.
It hovered silently in the air.
It wanted to leave, but having been treated this way, it couldn't swallow its pride.
If it didn't leave, setting aside his Pokémon, the Trainer behind him was very strong, and it wasn't certain it could win against him.
Furthermore, it had personally witnessed the agreement between him and Lugia.
Remembering Lugia's Sky Attack aimed toward it, Moltres's body trembled, triggering the Paralyzed status, and the poison began to spread, causing it to nearly fall to the ground.
Forcing itself to flap its wings, it managed to maintain the last shred of its dignity as one of The Legendary Birds.
The two possibilities left Moltres in a state of conflict.
Lucas saw its dilemma.
"I promise you, once I find the headquarters of Team Galactic, I will tell you so you can personally take revenge."
Receiving Lucas's guarantee, Moltres finally nodded.
"However, you must also promise me that from now on, you won't recklessly destroy everything around you and cause inconvenience to other people and Pokémon, like you did this time."
Moltres was slightly annoyed.
Who was he to make demands of it?
Then it saw him pull out the wooden plaque from his neck.
It nodded vigorously.
Seeing this, Lucas smiled.
Sure enough, a carrot and a stick is the most effective approach.
"If you want to battle to vent your emotions, look for him.
He will spar with you."
Moltres looked toward Elite Four Lucian, whom Lucas was pointing at.
Elite Four Lucian: — — — —
It's me again?!
Gengar chuckled secretly from the side.
Lucas was completely justified.
As an Elite Four member, Elite Four Lucian is the best suited for battles!
Elite Four Lucian looked at Moltres, constantly calculating in his mind.
Sparring with Moltres?
If that guy Filnt found out, he'd probably be green with envy!
It seemed like it wasn't a bad idea.
Elite Four Lucian nodded, "You are welcome anytime."
Then he narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous glint.
"Be prepared to be defeated by me!"
As expected of Elite Four Lucian, his words are so imposing.
Speaking of which, Lucas and Elite Four Lucian are both so handsome!
Lucas thought Elite Four Lucian was showing off a bit, but it seemed he genuinely had the strength.
After the agreement was made, Lucas helped heal Moltres, removing the Paralyzed and Poisoned status conditions from its body.
Watching Moltres quietly lying on the ground receiving treatment, Lucas couldn't resist taking out his phone and snapping a picture.
Moltres: ?
Elite Four Lucian: — — — —
Gardenia: ?!
Lucas looked at the photo, "Oh, wow, that's pretty good."
Considering the agreement he made with Lugia, Moltres chose not to hold it against him.
Once its body was unimpaired, Moltres fiercely flapped its wings and took flight.
Just as it was about to leave, Lucas suddenly asked, "Do you know where Articuno and Zapdos are?"
Moltres shook its head.
Who knows where those two are?
Just seeing them irritates me.
Without waiting for Lucas to speak again, Moltres flapped its wings and departed.
Leaving behind specks of light.
Watching its disappearing figure, Lucas instructed Gengar to inflict the Paralyzed status on all the unconscious Team Galactic members and Pokémon lying on the ground.
For those who woke up, Gengar "lullabied" them back to sleep, and then they quietly waited for Jenny to arrive.
"It's finally over."
Lucas let out a deep sigh of relief.
Elite Four Lucian nodded.
Gardenia agreed wholeheartedly; being carried through the entire ordeal was fantastic.
[Moltres's Promise: You helped Moltres escape its torment and promised it revenge.
As a token of gratitude, it left you a gift: Moltres's Feather]
[Moltres's Feather: It contains Moltres's flames.
When worn by a Fire-type Pokémon, it will slowly absorb the energy within, thereby strengthening control over Fire-type energy and enhancing the power of Fire-type moves.]
[Call me when you fight Team Galactic.
I won't disappoint you, nor will I let you suffer a loss — Moltres]
....
Power Stones PLZZZZZ
[Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "PokeFicLord"]