At the precise moment when magma erupted from the volcano, Gardevoir teleported John to safety—about 100 meters away.
The sky lit up in a brilliant crimson, casting a fiery glow that stretched across half of it. The flames cascaded down the hillside, their heat almost unbearable. The air reeked of sulfur, and the ground seemed to boil beneath their feet. Mt. Chimney, a living, breathing volcano, had just unleashed a blast of lava, triggered by an earthquake. But that was only a taste of what was to come. For true chaos, something more would be needed.
John had always found Maxie's obsession with a meteorite's power a bit baffling. Meteorites weren't anything special. They weren't like Jirachi or Deoxys—legendary Pokemon that could change the world. He remembered giving the meteorite back to the professor at Meteor Falls, who, in exchange, handed him a Return skill TM. Hardly a fair trade, and certainly not worth making a special trip for.
A loud noise cut through the air, followed by a fiery projectile flying from the volcano-like crater on Camerupt's back. It soared toward John, a blazing crimson fireball that would certainly leave a mark if it hit. Gardevoir reacted with lightning speed, teleporting John to safety.
The fireball exploded mid-air, splitting into countless smaller fireballs that rained down in every direction, covering a vast area.
This was Eruption—Camerupt's signature move, a powerful, wide-range attack.
"Greninja, Water Pulse!" John shouted.
"Steelix, Iron Tail!" he commanded, throwing two Pokeballs in quick succession.
Greninja was the first to act, soaring through the air. The ninja-like Pokemon puffed out its cheeks, releasing a powerful Water Pulse that struck the molten ground. The collision caused a sharp hissing sound as the hot magma met the cold water, instantly cooling it and turning it into rock.
Steelix landed on the newly solidified surface, its massive form barely shaking the ground. With a powerful swing of its tail, Steelix sent a shockwave through the air, knocking back the falling fireballs before they could reach John.
Steelix was the only one who could take Camerupt's Eruption head-on, and it was more than up to the challenge. At level 50, Steelix was in top condition. But even Steelix had its limits. While its physical defense was extraordinary, its special defense was a different story. The lava's extreme heat could potentially cause serious damage.
Maxie cast a sidelong glance at the scene, clearly impressed. "That Steelix is tougher than I expected, but it's not enough to stop me."
Without skipping a beat, Maxie raised his hand and barked his next command. "Fire Oath!"
Camerupt snorted, releasing a thick plume of white smoke from its nostrils. With a mighty stomp of its hooves, the ground trembled beneath them. But before it could launch another attack, a flash of blue broke through the mist—Garchomp, its sharp, dark-green claws gleaming in the light.
"Protect!" Maxie shouted, ordering his Pokemon to form a barrier.
An invisible shield appeared in front of Camerupt just in time, blocking Garchomp's claws. But Garchomp wasn't done yet. With a mighty roar, it tore through the barrier like paper, the sound of cracking glass ringing out.
Garchomp's claws struck Camerupt with brutal force, slamming it into the ground.
"Boom!" The earth shook violently, and cracks spread out like spider webs.
Maxie's eyes widened in disbelief. His prized Camerupt, the powerful Pokemon he had relied on, was now at Garchomp's mercy.
Not wasting any time, Maxie threw another Pokeball. This time, it released a Magmortar—a fiery powerhouse that immediately aimed its cannon-like arm at Garchomp, firing a Flamethrower straight at it.
But Garchomp wasn't fazed. With a low growl, it swung its claws again, aiming for Camerupt's head.
This time, there was no barrier to stop it.
Before the battle could escalate, another blue figure leapt out of the mist—Greninja, quicker than anyone could have predicted. It was part of John's plan all along. By sending Greninja out early, he ensured that Maxie wouldn't be able to throw two Pokeballs at the same time.
Greninja shot through the air, cutting through the Flamethrower with a jet of water. The resulting clash of fire and water created a huge burst of steam, momentarily obscuring the battlefield.
But through the mist, Garchomp's grip on Camerupt remained firm. The Dragon Claw struck again, landing squarely on Camerupt's skull, causing another tremor to ripple through the ground. The earth cracked further, spreading in fine, delicate lines beneath them. Despite the damage, Camerupt didn't kneel—its limbs remained steady. It was far from finished.
"Impressive," John muttered under his breath.
But just as he was about to deliver another blow, something incredible happened. Camerupt's back, once peaceful and dormant, began to glow. The volcano-like humps on its back erupted into real lava, and its entire body grew more fierce and intimidating. Its hair stood on end, and its expression shifted from calm to wild.
This was Mega Camerupt, fully evolved and more dangerous than ever.
John's jaw dropped. He hadn't expected Maxie to have mastered Mega Evolution, but here it was. This battle had just become far more complicated. Now, not only was Maxie's Pokemon stronger, but John wondered if he'd face more Mega Evolutions in future gym challenges. He'd better be prepared.
Maxie smirked. "I admit, I underestimated you. But that ends now."
With a confident flick of his wrist, he threw another Pokeball into the air. This time, a Krookodile appeared, its menacing stance matching the intensity of the situation.
With Mega Camerupt, Krookodile, and Magmortar now standing side by side, Maxie had a full, formidable team. It was clear that his strategy was far more evolved than John had anticipated.
On John's side, it was three against three. Garchomp, still standing tall in the middle, was flanked by Greninja and Blaziken, ready for action.
But John wasn't worried.
Behind his three Pokemon stood Steelix, freshly healed by Gardevoir's Life Dew, and finally, Hariyama.
With six Pokemon against Maxie's three, John felt like the scales had tipped in his favor. His team was in peak condition, and though the challenge might be intense, he was ready. After all, this battle had only just begun.