(A/N: New : Rose A.!!! At this rate, you guys are burning through my Chapter stockpile faster than a Fire Blast in tall grass! But hey, who needs sleep when there’s love and support ? Bonus Chapter coming in hot!)
The dungeon was classified as a level 80 challenge, and John quickly discovered there wasn’t a single ordinary grunt in the entire Aqua Base. Every opponent was either an " Team Aqua Elite Member" or an " Team Aqua Executive." Their strength far exceeded that of typical grunts.
The Pokemon wielded by these elites and executives were all above level 55, with the average hovering around level 60. The Team Magma Leader, Maxie, whom John had encountered at Mt. Chimney hadn’t commanded this level of power. In fact, any of these elite members could likely defeat Maxie in a straight battle, something that would only make sense in a game’s twisted logic.
Yet, despite their impressive stats, these elite members and executives proved completely outmatched against John’s current team. They went down faster than free donuts at a police convention.
Thanks to Mega Gardevoir’s precise reconnaissance, it took John only half an hour to clear through to the final chamber.
Passing through an ornate gateway, John entered a large room containing a Dive pool. Researchers in white lab coats bustled about, monitoring equipment and taking readings. At the center of the activity sat Archie himself, lounging on a sofa with a glass of red wine, one leg crossed over the other. He had been watching John’s progress through the base with evident interest.
His patient wait had clearly been worthwhile.
"Archie, allow me to test his strength first!" Izumi stepped forward, her voice urgent.
She had never fully accepted Archie’s apparent respect for John’s abilities. Archie raised his wine glass in a silent gesture to John, as if saying: Enjoy this battle.
With Archie’s approval, Izumi threw her Pokeball.
A Walrein materialized before her, its plump body padded with blubber. What should have been a cute, jolly ice-dwelling creature had been transformed into something fierce. Sharp tusks gleamed beneath fierce eyes, replacing any semblance of cuteness with pure aggression.
[LV 74] hovered above its head.
"Icy Wind!" she commanded.
Walrein reared its head back and exhaled a frigid blast that swept toward John like an arctic gale.
"On par with Guzma’s strength," John murmured, unconsciously using Guzma as his benchmark for measuring rival trainers. He made no move to switch Pokemon.
Garchomp stepped forward, ready to handle this challenge with all the concern of someone swatting a fly.
A thunderous roar escaped Garchomp’s jaws as dark green energy erupted outward like a violent tide. The two forces collided midway between the Pokemon, exploding on impact and filling the area with thick smoke.
In the next second, Garchomp’s razor-sharp claws tore through the black smoke, its body wrapped in dark green energy as it rushed forward in for an Dragon Rush.
Beyond the smoke screen, a blue curtain of water had already formed behind Walrein.
John had anticipated launching a surprise attack through the smoke, but Izuli had evidently anticipated the same strategy!
"Cut!" John commanded sharply.
The dark green energy surrounding Garchomp’s body instantly collapsed, replaced by dazzling white light concentrated on its two deadly claws.
As a Surf attack rushed toward them, Garchomp swung its claws with precision. A brilliant white blade of energy slashed outward, splitting the wave cleanly into two halves before striking the Walrein concealed behind the water.
The impact staggered Walrein, causing a prepared frost attack to dissipate from its mouth. It had been ready to unleash another Icy Wind when the wave submerged Garchomp, intending to freeze the dragon in the current.
"Quick Attack!" John commanded softly.
Garchomp’s movements created sparks beneath its feet as it accelerated explosively, skimming across the water’s surface like a speedboat, closing the distance to Walrein in the blink of an eye.
"Walrein, Ice Fang!" Izumi shouted desperately.
"Ahh!" Walrein steadied its massive body and bared its impressive tusks. In the wild, such impressive teeth were both a beauty standard and provided advantages in courtship, but here they served as weapons of battle.
Pale, elongated fangs gleaming with frost lunged toward the approaching Garchomp.
"Dragon Dance!" John directed calmly.
Garchomp’s lithe body twisted away from Walrein’s attack with fluid grace. Dark green energy briefly illuminated its form as its speed and attack power increased dramatically.
Without needing further instruction, Garchomp capitalized on its momentum, executing a devastating Cut attack inspired by Hariyama’s fighting techniques!
The entire Team Aqua Base shuddered from the impact. Walrein’s head was embedded deep in the metal floor, with fractures spreading outward for nearly ten feet in all directions.
One hit, one kill. Walrein couldn’t rise again, looking about as lively as a stuffed animal.
With Garchomp’s attack power, especially using a Cut technique based on Hariyama’s fighting style, it was fortunate that Pokemon in this world had natural protective mechanisms. Without such protection, the attack wouldn’t have merely driven Walrein’s head into the floor, it would have turned it into a very unfortunate wall decoration.
"Damn..." Izumi gritted her teeth, retrieving her fallen Walrein with her Pokeball. She reached for another, determined to salvage her dignity, but Archie stopped her with a raised hand.
"That’s enough. I’ll handle this myself." Archie set down his wine glass and rose from the sofa, looking at John with undisguised admiration. He showed no surprise at Izuli’s defeat.
"What a fortunate coincidence that you’ve come here," Archie said smoothly. "Perhaps you’ll reconsider my previous offer? Join us and witness the dawning of a new era." Once again, he extended an olive branch to John.
John shook his head slightly, withdrawing his victorious Garchomp with a Pokeball.
"If you want to recruit me," he replied coolly, "you should wait until you’ve defeated me first."
"Excellent! I appreciate your attitude." Archie nodded with a smile and tossed out his own Pokeball.
Silver light flashed as a [LV 83] Sharpedo materialized before him. Its streamlined body and gleaming fangs testified to its ferocity.
Surrounded by an Aqua Ring, the Sharpedo hovered in mid-air, supported by Water Sport to prevent it from flopping on the ground like a beached fish, a basic technique for any Water-type Trainer.
It was clear Archie wasn’t interested in a prolonged battle of attrition. He wanted a decisive confrontation to determine the superior trainer.
John threw his own Pokeball, and the Pokemon he summoned was Greninja.