Chapter 660 - 657

Three azure Aura Spheres tore across the sky in a single instant!

The Blue Gem's guardian attacked like a raging storm. Its aura spread across the battlefield, monitoring every Pokémon's movements. Not even the slightest disturbance could escape the mental network woven from its aura, and the same was true of every enemy attack.

However, something had taken it by surprise.

The Lucario before it, the Pokémon it had praised as a Hero of Aura from a later age, had blocked all three Aura Spheres!

["Aura Sphere cannot be evaded. It locks onto its enemy, pursues them relentlessly, and will not stop until they fall."]

["Your eyes are glowing. That is no ordinary power!"]

Golden fighting energy gathered around the fists of the Blue Gem's guardian, the progenitor of aura. It was different from the energy of every other Pokémon Hikaru had encountered, a unique transformation of life energy mastered only by Almia's Lucario.

The streaming golden light was terrifyingly imposing, but it did not increase the move's power.

There was still one subtle difference, however.

Its execution speed!

[Lucario suddenly stopped moving, then thrust a golden fist forward!]

Focusing had a priority of +5, while the actual strike had a priority of -3. If the user took damage before it could attack, Focus Punch would fail!

Yet the Blue Gem's guardian did not need to charge. It could instantly unleash a devastating strike with a base power of 150!

["What you call fighting energy is the aura of life itself!"]

Boom!

The Focus Punch missed, shattering nearby crystals and extinguishing the blazing torches before the throne.

Intense interest appeared in the Blue Gem guardian's eyes.

["You evaded my Focus Punch?!"]

Golden fighting energy ignited around both of its fists at once.

Those fists could shatter the earth, crack glaciers, and disperse a raging blizzard!

Then try it again!

Every punch tempered and refined the power of life itself. The guardian abandoned its superior long-range bombardment and instead chose to fight at close quarters with instantaneous Focus Punches, all because Hikaru's Lucario had captured its interest.

Another punch missed!

["What is this presence...?"]

["As tranquil as the sky..."]

Lucario evaded the Focus Punch. The move radiating from its shining eyes was so unusual that it was difficult to identify.

Aura enveloped Lucario's body, spreading outward in ring after ring of ripples.

Its iron claws did not unleash a particularly powerful move. Instead, Lucario threw four punches in a single instant!

["As swift as lightning!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian flipped backward and landed on the ground before violently swinging its arm.

Four explosive punches came at it like a raging storm. The guardian blocked two of them, but its defensive power still fell!

["This is..."]

"Ruff!"

Lucario assumed a fighting stance before the Blue Gem's guardian.

Hikaru called out, "Agile Style: Rock Smash!"

Four Rock Smashes in one second could only be achieved by combining Agile Style with Warlord's Might. Once the attack began, however, the opponent would suffer tremendous damage!

The technique was meant to be combined with Terastallization, which could raise Rock Smash's power to 60 and make it even more devastating. But if it was merely being used as a setup attack, Rock Smash's normal power of 40 was already enough!

After all, they were both Lucario.

Fighting plus Steel meant a twofold weakness to Fighting!

Hikaru raised one finger.

"A Rock Smash with a base power of 40 effectively has 80 power against you. After applying the same-type attack bonus, each punch has an effective power of 120!"

Why rely on Close Combat, which lowered both defensive stats after use, when a more dependable combat technique was available?

The Blue Gem's guardian brushed off its body.

The powerful blows had lowered its Defense, but the guardian had endured through its superior level and the protection of Detect.

It suddenly raised its fist.

The ability to unleash an instantaneous golden Focus Punch was the result of the guardian's relentless training. Its tremendous aura covered the entire castle, transforming the surrounding area into its domain. Yet even under those conditions, its enemy had suppressed it.

Within its omnipresent mental network, the guardian finally understood.

["Your eyes keep flashing. I see now. That is a move!"]

"Ruff!" Lucario replied. "Mind Reader. I sense your movements with my heart and place you under Lock-On!"

Bright beams shone from Lucario's eyes and illuminated its opponent, completely exposing the guardian's movements.

Whether attacking or defending, Lucario could accurately block or evade its opponent's strikes!

And on top of that...

["Extreme Speed!"]

Although the Blue Gem's guardian moved second, it struck first, launching a fist at incredible speed. Yet even such a swift priority attack could not penetrate Lucario's defenses!

["It isn't merely a move. Your Ability... What is it?!"]

["You failed to avoid Aura Sphere not only because Aura Sphere cannot miss, but also because your technique cannot evade aura! In that case, would other beam-based moves also work?"]

["If close combat cannot break through your defenses, then what about ranged attacks?"]

Three colors of light intertwined around the Blue Gem guardian's fist!

["Dragon Pulse!"]

The roar of an enraged dragon tore across the sky and extinguished the flames. Lucario crossed its arms and used Detect to block the attack!

That allowed the Blue Gem's guardian to confirm Lucario's condition.

["It is an Ability, isn't it? When a ranged attack approached your body, you used Detect to block Dragon Pulse. That means this power of yours can only parry or evade close-range attacks. If your eyes are not glowing, you cannot evade an attack from a distance!"]

"Ruff."

Lucario blinked and revealed a subtle smile.

It was hardly surprising that the progenitor and guardian of aura had genuinely seen through its technique.

Ultra Instinct had its limits. Lucario had not yet refined the technique to perfection.

"Swordsmanship," Hikaru explained.

"Pokémon can develop different Abilities depending on their environment. Sometimes, even their types change."

"This Lucario comes from a region of endless warfare and possesses the rare Swordsmanship Ability. Swordsmanship allows it to use blades or claws to parry incoming damage, although this is only an inferior version of the Ability."

The Blue Gem's guardian stared at him.

["Interesting. An Ability this powerful is merely an inferior version?"]

Almia had been the weakest of the ancient regions.

It was a land with souls but no flesh and blood. The outside world was vast, but that was precisely why the kings of ancient times had been so terrified of it.

It had been an ignorant age when humans and monsters lived together, and no one could distinguish one from the other!

The two Lucario confronted one another. The tension resembled black storm clouds pressing down upon a city. The world before a thunderstorm needed only a single bolt of lightning to unleash all that suppressed power like a flood or an erupting volcano!

Both Lucario moved simultaneously and released their aura!

"Extreme Speed!"

Their attacks were too fast for the naked eye to follow. It was like witnessing an intense match at the World Martial Arts Tournament. Extreme Speed collided with Extreme Speed, and every impact cracked the air!

When sufficiently skilled with a move, a Pokémon could combine it with other moves!

The air and light shattered because both sides were weaving additional attacks into their Extreme Speed!

["Force Palm!"]

"Earthquake!"

["Iron Tail!"]

"Bullet Punch!"

["...!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian drove its fist toward Lucario. The blue-furred Pokémon's eyes suddenly flashed, but in the next instant, the guardian's eyes began glowing as well!

["Mind Reader. I'll be taking that!"]

The move it had used was Copycat!

Under Generation IV's rules, Lucario could only possess Copycat if it inherited the move as a Riolu. If it evolved before learning the move, it would never be able to learn it.

By the time of Scarlet and Violet, Copycat became a move that Lucario could remember, removing that restriction.

Perhaps this was another difference caused by varying environments.

In Almia, Lucario that both mastered Copycat and evolved at the correct level were naturally extremely rare. The species itself was scarce. As the Prince in Blue's Pokémon, Riolu could only be found inside Almia Castle!

Empowered by Mind Reader, the Blue Gem guardian's punch could not be evaded. It struck Lucario squarely!

Green energy flowed out of Lucario's body!

["Drain Punch!"]

Drain Punch was essential for a Fighting-type Pokémon that wanted to recover during battle. With it, a Pokémon gained the endurance to continue fighting by turning its enemy's strength into its own!

However, as the Blue Gem's guardian stole Lucario's vitality, Lucario immediately retaliated with the same move!

Mind Reader, then Drain Punch!

Once the opponent was locked on, every attack would hit!

["Urgh! You know this move too?!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian narrowed its eyes. The vitality it had just stolen was immediately taken back.

It clenched both claws, forming a blue bone-shaped staff out of thin air!

Then it struck Lucario with it!

["Bone Rush!"]

The user struck its opponent with a hard bone two to five times in succession. Only five Pokémon species could learn this move!

When Lucario used Bone Rush, a bone-shaped construct of energy appeared in its paws. It could leap into the air and swing the bone downward at its opponent. If it raised its arm and rapidly spun the bone, it could even carry its Trainer through the air like a helicopter!

"Ruff!"

Lucario wiped its mouth.

Even a body and heart of steel could be injured. Ground and Fighting moves were especially dangerous because they were attacks members of its species naturally mastered as they evolved!

When fists failed, the guardian had switched to a weapon. If Lucario hadn't possessed Swordsmanship, that blow would undoubtedly have inflicted severe damage!

This Pokémon's level was...

"Level 100?"

The Ranger spin-off games did not assign visible levels to Pokémon, but as a Gem Guardian, it would be at least level 70 if converted into the core games' system.

And at full power...

It had lived for three thousand years. Admittedly, it had spent much of that time sleeping or lazing around, but it could still spread its aura throughout an entire castle and maintain an aura barrier for a thousand years. That was clearly beyond the capabilities of a level-70 Pokémon.

Under normal circumstances, without interference from an outside power, level 100 was the highest confirmed limit a Pokémon could reach. It resembled a shackle that sealed a Pokémon's power and prevented it from advancing beyond that point, although its effort values could continue improving.

That meant even within the conventional world, two level-100 Pokémon could possess vastly different strength because there was no limit to their accumulated effort!

Of course, levels remained extremely important.

A Pokémon's stats increased as it gained levels. That might merely be a numerical representation, but it was also true that every species had its own natural limits!

Lucario clenched both paws, creating a blue bone staff of its own!

"Bone Rush!" Hikaru commanded.

Clang!

The Ground-type attacks collided. Either would inflict double damage if it struck a Steel-type Pokémon.

During their exchange, the Blue Gem's guardian appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the close-quarters battle because it was continuously using Copycat to reproduce Lucario's Mind Reader!

["If you do not want me copying Mind Reader, why not create some distance? However, in the distant past, Pokémon learned moves through repeated battles and practice just like this!"]

["Your Mind Reader is a remarkable secret technique! You truly deserve to be called a Hero of Aura!"]

Although it praised Lucario, the Blue Gem's guardian was steadily becoming stronger.

They clashed with Extreme Speed, battered one another with Bone Rush, used Mind Reader to evade attacks, and simultaneously created Double Team clones.

Then all four eyes suddenly flashed!

Their bone staffs crossed and exploded!

"Foresight!"

Foresight exposed its target and prevented increases to its evasiveness from having any effect!

"Hey, Kate! Look at that battle!"

Kellyn was fighting Ninetales, but the battle between the two Lucario had left him stunned.

Ninetales surrounded itself with Will-O-Wisp, breathed raging flames, and used Hypnosis to manipulate minds. Those were still attacks that Kellyn could at least imagine fighting!

But what was their captain doing?

Weren't those two Lucario far too powerful?!

"I can't follow the battle at all! The air keeps tearing apart and vibrating. That's Extreme Speed!"

His eyes could not keep up with their moves. It was like watching two supreme martial artists fight to the death, and the spectacle was exhilarating!

"Still, they seem to have reached a stalemate. Does Captain really not need to use a Capture Styler?"

Kate, meanwhile, was furiously commanding Scyther and Pachirisu as they surrounded Mismagius.

The other Riolu was more direct. It leaped into the air and attacked Kate herself!

The results were negligible!

Riolu recoiled in surprise.

Whoa...

This human was no ordinary opponent!

It had punched her, yet she still looked as energetic as ever. For a human, she was far too...

"This thing attacked me directly again!" Kate shouted. "The Pokémon in this castle are always doing that! Now I'm really angry!"

The Capture Disc shot out and slammed into the provocative Riolu, sending it flying with a bang!

"Hey!" Kellyn shouted. "That isn't how a Capture Disc is supposed to be used! Under normal circumstances, that would be against regulations!"

"It's used exactly like this during an emergency!" Kate retorted. "I heard someone say so!"

Kellyn's expression became strange as he watched Kate engage Riolu in direct combat.

The two Haunter behind him adopted equally contemplative expressions.

Three minds reached the same conclusion at once.

That was not all.

Mismagius tried to curse the girl, chanting a spell that produced mentally agonizing noise. Instead, Kate only became even angrier. She screamed, seized a torch from beside the throne, and swung it at Mismagius!

"Wah!"

Mismagius jumped in fright!

Pulling a torch out of the floor in front of the throne and using it as a weapon was outrageous!

I only chanted an incantation that causes pain! Why are you so angry?!

Wait, this isn't the time to complain...

"Weavile!"

A sharp blade of darkness tore through the air and interrupted Mismagius's spell.

Weavile, which had originally guarded the castle before being captured as a trial Pokémon, swung its arm!

The Pokémon inhabiting the frozen castle used Night Slash!

Mismagius stared at it.

[Weavile? That girl captured your group as part of the trial...]

"Weavile!"

The Weavile living in Almia Castle regarded the area as their territory. They had never deliberately guarded the castle. They simply couldn't defeat the Lucario inside, so they remained near the castle's outer sections.

[That mischievous Sneasel is such a pain.]

That had originally been a request from Mrs. Winter, who lived on the frozen plains. A Sneasel on Almia Castle's second floor constantly caused trouble, so she asked a Ranger to capture it.

If successfully captured, Sneasel could become the Ranger's Partner Pokémon. A Weavile would then appear in the same location.

Sneasel and Weavile belonged to the same evolutionary family. They lived here because Almia Castle was well suited to them!

As for becoming a human's companion...

"Wea..."

Weavile had to admit that it rather liked this girl who fought Pokémon with her bare hands!

It was extremely rare to see those Fighting-type creatures suffer such humiliation!

Now it was time to determine which type was stronger, Dark or Ghost!

There was also one crucial point.

I've never even met you before! Don't act as if we know each other!

Weavile's Ability was Pressure!

Whenever Mismagius used a move, its PP consumption doubled!

"Scyther!"

A sweeping scythe slashed over with lightning speed, stabbing from a concealed blind spot!

Scyther's slash!

"Scyther!"

At least try rolling out of the way! I waited forever for a chance to ambush someone with my blades!

It bounded forward, leaped high into the air, and brought both scythes down upon its opponent!

Kate began issuing commands.

"Weavile, use Assurance!"

"Scyther, use Pursuit!"

The two Pokémon, both experts in slashing attacks, closed in with Dark-type moves that were super effective against Ghost types!

Pachirisu appeared atop Kate's head.

Aim, charge, and strike with everything at once!

"Nuzzle!"

At the same time, the enraged girl grabbed the Weezing floating beside her as it awaited orders.

Weezing, standard form.

Ability: Levitate.

It was not supposed to have any opportunity to fight here. Releasing gas could trigger a fiery explosion, making Weezing a terrible match for both Vulpix and Ninetales. It had intended to watch from the sidelines. Explosion could not hit a Ghost type anyway, so all it could do was place everyone else between itself and the enemy.

"Weezing, why are you just watching? Get in there too!"

[What?!]

Kate grabbed Weezing.

It blinked in confusion, but before it could react, she swung it at Mismagius with all her strength!

"Assurance!"

Was this the manual version of Assurance?!

Weezing slammed into Mismagius's face, leaving the witch Pokémon dazed and astonished!

Kellyn's expression became extraordinarily complicated as he watched the human and Pokémon brawling.

"That's far too... No matter how I look at it... Uh... Fine. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures!"

He no longer had time to worry about Kate's battle.

It seemed he would have to fight personally as well. There were two Riolu!

The small figure suddenly punched at him.

Kellyn evaded with extraordinary agility while readying his Capture Disc!

The two Haunter pulled faces and stuck out their tongues.

Fighting-type moves could not hit Ghost types!

"Now, Haunter! Double Shadow Punch!"

Twin shadows, brothers united, an ambush capable of shattering steel!

Shadow-Meld Fist!

"Vaporeon, provide field support! Use Water Pulse on Ninetales!"

"Starly, use Quick Attack! Vulpix, use Imprison!"

Kellyn's team launched an intense battle against Ninetales.

The nine-tailed fox was surrounded. When it saw its lesser form, Vulpix, use Imprison to seal Flamethrower, Ninetales's golden fur stood on end as though electrified!

That was a sign of its fury.

Ember, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, and Will-O-Wisp were all useless moves. You can have them!

But there are other powers you have no hope of learning!

For example...

Tremendous psychic power capable of distorting space erupted from Ninetales's eyes!

It blasted Vulpix and Starly away with a single strike!

Extrasensory!

The attack even immobilized the Capture Disc and repelled it with psychic power!

Ninetales gathered energy and formed a ball of ghostly flame, which began circling its body protectively. It then breathed raging fire from its mouth.

While Will-O-Wisp surrounded its body, Ninetales could not be captured with the Styler. Any contact with the flames would damage the Capture Disc!

"Even if I wanted to fight directly like Kate, Ninetales would burn me. It's more difficult to deal with than Mismagius..."

"In that case, I'll use that."

"Hm?"

Ninetales's fur bristled as it stared at the boy in the red vest.

Once again, it wielded its psychic power.

Extrasensory!

"Water Poké Assist!"

Kellyn aimed the Capture Disc at Vaporeon!

Vaporeon appeared in the deepest sections of the castle and had specifically been placed there to counter Ninetales. In other words, that room must once have contained an Eevee and a Water Stone.

It was probably another legacy left by the prince, although this particular Vaporeon looked as though it had wandered in from outside.

Either way, it could now fight beside Kellyn as his companion.

The Styler's light combined with Vaporeon's bubbles, causing them to rapidly expand. When a Pokémon was struck by the bubbles, its Friendship Gauge increased. The larger the bubbles became, the more the gauge rose and the longer the Pokémon suffered from Slowed status.

Even if the Capture Line encircled the Pokémon while this Poké Assist was active, bubbles could still appear and grow!

At the same time, the target would become trapped inside the bubbles and rendered unable to move!

"Special condition: Slowed!"

Its movement speed would be reduced for a period of time!

Ninetales became trapped inside a bubble!

Unlike Kate's bare-knuckle brawl, Kellyn applied the support techniques he had learned at the Ranger School and during practical lessons. He combined the Capture Disc with his Pokémon's abilities to restrain his opponent and inflict a special condition. Only then did he move to end the battle!

Will-O-Wisp collided with the bubbles and produced a huge cloud of white mist.

While Ninetales remained confused, Vaporeon used Acid Armor to close the distance.

It leaped out of a pool of water!

"Water Pulse!"

Water and fire collided, filling the chamber with billowing white steam!

"Vulpix, use Safeguard!" Kellyn ordered.

"Vuu... Pix!"

A mysterious power would protect them for five turns.

That would prevent them from suffering any status conditions!

Another battle raged mercilessly before the throne.

"Regi, Regi, Regice!"

Charge Beam!

Ice Beam!

Ancient Power!

Regice attacked without pause. It was the classic special-attacking titan artillery platform. Before the electric titan appeared, the ice titan had always occupied that ecological niche.

Of course, there was an immense difference between its strength and Regieleki's.

The Iceberg Pokémon, Regice.

Beldum had seen one before, but that Regice had been its Trainer's friend.

The one before it now was both similar and different.

Even among Legendary Pokémon, some legends had multiple members. They were unlike their companion Regieleki, which was a limited-edition product.

Beldum blasted energy from its claws and rear as it used magnetism to circle Regice while receiving Hikaru's instructions.

Double Battles tested a Trainer's command abilities and the cooperation between two Pokémon. Under most circumstances, it was easier to treat the two Pokémon as one combat unit. Controlling them separately made everything far more complicated!

However, Beldum's barren move pool left few options.

It could use Take Down or Take Down.

Alternatively, it could use Steel Beam and then Take Down.

Even Iron Defense would not be very useful against the ice titan before it.

After all, Regice specialized in special attacks!

"Regice, the Iceberg Pokémon," Hikaru said.

"Its entire body is made of ice that appears to have formed during the Ice Age."

"According to legend, it was born beneath a massive block of ice formed during the Ice Age and slept within a glacier for thousands of years. Its body is enveloped in air chilled to minus two hundred degrees Celsius. It cannot melt even in magma, and anything that approaches it will freeze."

With a Special Defense of 200 and a Defense of 100, Regice once enjoyed a respectable usage rate as a defensive Ice-type pivot.

However, the thing holding it back had always been its Ice typing.

It was the same problem faced by the rock titan.

The cross-shaped pattern of dots on Regice's face began flashing.

A freezing gale violently struck Beldum. As a Pokémon with a double resistance to Ice, Beldum barely felt the attack!

However...

Icy Wind attacked an opponent with frigid air, lowering its Speed by one stage!

"With a base Speed of 30, you were already slower than Regice's 50. After another reduction, you basically don't have any Speed left to lose!"

Beldum was startled.

What?

I still had Speed left to lose?

Hikaru's helpless laughter sounded beside Beldum.

"You two slowpokes are actually fighting for speed control!"

If the nearby Victini broke its concealment and used Trick Room, Beldum could easily smash the ice titan to pieces.

However, Hikaru had already declared that this would be a two-on-two battle. He couldn't suddenly have V-mon reveal itself and join the fight.

He had to keep his word.

Besides...

"You were already slow. It doesn't matter how much slower you become!"

If I have nothing left to lose, then you can't exploit the reduction.

Wasn't that perfectly logical?

My body is made of swords.

My blood is iron.

My heart is glass.

I have crossed countless battlefields without defeat.

Never losing once, yet never winning once.

The orphan stands alone once more!

"Beldum..."

Beldum's eye shifted when it saw an orb appear before it.

What is that orb?

Can even a weak Pokémon like me receive the transformative power of a Tera Orb?

It was an extraordinarily powerful force.

Beldum had witnessed the intense sunlight Calyrex created after Terastallizing. That radiance had even blasted an alien Wandering God back into Ultra Space.

[Beldum continuously recorded information and performed calculations.]

[According to my calculations and our respective chances of victory, allowing Lucario to Terastallize would be more advantageous.]

For the first time, Beldum voiced an objection.

It was content to serve as a magnetic demolition trooper. As long as they defeated the opposing Blue Gem guardian, the result of its own battle was irrelevant.

["What is that orb?"] the Blue Gem's guardian asked. ["If it is some form of enhancement item, then from a practical perspective, using it on Lucario would indeed be the correct decision!"]

["Your reasoning is sound. I can feel it through your aura!"]

["You three are truly remarkable. You are gradually defeating the Prince in Blue's entire team, sounding the funeral song of the King of Almia. This is a true festival of kings!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian continued exchanging blows with Lucario using their bone staffs, yet it still found time to comment on the other battle.

Lucario immediately swung its staff straight toward its face!

Its voice traveled through aura and entered Beldum's mind.

(Your thinking is cold and efficient. Even though you're a Steel-type Pokémon, your body is composed of steel and magnetism in place of flesh and blood. Even Aegislash and Archaludon, whose bodies are also made of steel, possess richer emotions than you.)

(That is why I found your nature and behavior so difficult to understand on Iron Island. No, it began even earlier, back in Hoenn.)

(However, one thing is certain. You feel no fear. Every Pokémon will eventually find the right opportunity to demonstrate its power, and your opportunity has arrived!)

(It's your turn!)

Lucario's encouragement still left Beldum slightly troubled.

However, if it was Beldum's turn...

Then it would begin!

A simple mode of thought represented efficiency. Beldum did not understand bonds because it had never formed them, but it did not require such things yet.

Even if it remained unable to understand after evolving, that would be acceptable.

"Nothing in this world remains unchanged forever," Hikaru said, patting Beldum. "Even you will change a little from time to time."

The Tera Orb erupted with power, and Beldum's type changed!

Gleaming crystals grew across its body, causing the Blue Gem's guardian to stop attacking and stare in disbelief.

The dots on Regice's face flashed rapidly.

It raised one icy arm, and a red beam of circular light suddenly appeared over Beldum's eye.

It resonated with Beldum's crimson gaze.

Red eyes without blood.

A red beam containing frigid killing intent!

Lock-On!

Regice had used Lock-On. Its next attack would be guaranteed to hit!

Orange-red energy gathered at the tip of Regice's frozen arm.

Hyper Beam!

The user fired a devastating beam of explosive energy at its opponent, but it would be unable to move during the following turn. It was the traditional ultimate attack!

After being targeted by Lock-On, Beldum could not escape no matter how it tried to evade!

However, the moment the crystalline formation blossomed, Beldum completed its first transformation!

Steel-type Terastallization!

"When a Pokémon Terastallizes, its same-type attack bonus increases to twofold," Hikaru said.

"For Beldum, ramming into things, enduring damage, persevering, and steadily accumulating experience is its natural path of survival and training."

"It stores all its energy within its body. If it finds a companion with whom it can combine, that would be ideal. But even if it cannot find one, it can concentrate that energy and achieve a brilliant evolution the instant its magnet-based cells begin dividing."

"Defeating Regice should provide enough experience!"

"Regi, Regice!"

"Oh, you said you aren't afraid of collisions, but the move I'm about to use isn't Take Down."

Beldum recorded the data from a rare modern Technical Machine.

It could instantly learn, analyze, and understand the move, then raise its power to the expected value.

When used under Steel-type Terastallization, Tera Blast became a physical move if the user's Attack exceeded its Special Attack.

It would also receive the same-type attack bonus!

An Iron Plate appeared in Hikaru's hand.

"Your trial against the ice titan ends here."

"Beldum, use Tera Blast!"

Tera Blast was a unique move that could change between physical and special damage only while the user was Terastallized.

Its base power was 80.

The Iron Plate multiplied that by 1.2.

Then, after applying the same-type Tera bonus, the move's effective power reached 192!

In its Steel-type Tera form, the silver ax-shaped jewel atop Beldum's head first erupted with steel fragments and particles of light. It then gathered Steel-type energy before itself, forming a steel projectile resembling a Rock Wrecker shell!

At the same time, Regice violently unleashed Hyper Beam!

However, the steel projectile possessed enough power to blast through a glacier and disperse any energy incapable of shattering steel!

It pierced the passage forged from snow and fire!

"Regi!"

Tera Blast struck Regice head-on, violently shaking its sturdy glacial body.

Beldum's attack was not over!

Tera Blast!

Tera Blast!

Tera Blast!

Oh, I understand now!

A method of fighting that does not damage my own life.

A method that does not reduce my own vitality.

I can launch fragments of steel in a more efficient manner to injure my opponent!

Beldum once again experienced satisfaction and joy.

Beyond those emotions was a feeling called perfection!

This was the perfect move.

There could be no doubt!

Yet Tera Blast's power could become even greater!

Beldum's propulsion erupted as it trembled with anticipation.

If it used Steel Beam under these conditions, the move's effective power would reach 336!

Ah...

Such a powerful attack.

A steel projectile combined with a flash that pierced the world!

[You said that I was a construct composed of steel and magnetism and that we could not understand one another. I believe that may have been incorrect.]

Beldum projected its voice toward Lucario, offering a small objection.

[I am attempting to understand the present, the past, and the future.]

[I am trying to understand the joy and sense of perfection produced by battling and shattering solid ice and stone.]

[When my steel is fired, I feel alive!]

Beldum's words momentarily stunned Lucario as it confronted the Gem Guardian.

"When Beldum uses a move that inflicts recoil damage, it hurts itself," Hikaru said. "But after learning Steel Beam, it began experiencing something whenever it violently launched the steel composing its body."

"Magnetism becomes more active in this frozen environment. Its cold body remains in constant motion, and its cells operate with tremendous efficiency."

"Beldum says this is how it experiences life."

"This is the way a Steel-type Pokémon exists. So what about you, Lucario, with your bones of steel?"

Steel-type power gathered around Beldum.

With unstoppable propulsion, it delivered the final blow to the heavy glacier before it!

Steel Beam, with an effective power of 336!

Regice fell amid the eruption of Beldum's steel-born life force!

White mist surged through the hall.

The Blue Gem's guardian stared in astonishment at the defeated Giant of Ice.

["The Giant of Ice, sealed here because of its overwhelming power and left to serve as a guardian, has been defeated?"]

["Long ago, we expended tremendous effort to secure its help... Is the Ice type's defensive profile really that terrible?"]

["You keep using moves I've never seen before..."]

Under the gazes of the humans and Pokémon, Beldum's body erupted with brilliant white light!

One became two.

Its magnetic cells divided and formed a new body. It became blue-green and disc-shaped, with two arms ending in enormous iron claws.

"It evolved."

Beldum evolved into Metang!

Ability: Clear Body.

Metang flew through magnetic force and could soar through treacherous mountains at one hundred kilometers per hour. Its steel body would remain unharmed even if it collided with a jet aircraft!

"Metang!"

Metang was extremely satisfied with its new form.

However, one detail was worth noting.

Its intelligence and mode of thought had not improved.

Yet nothing remained unchanged forever.

Metang remembered its Trainer's words.

Its time to change would eventually arrive.

It simply wasn't now.

["It evolved. This battle is nearing its conclusion!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian dismissed its bone staff.

Spiritual energy once again surged around its body.

(This one's aura is rising,) Lucario warned. (It's coming!)

The guardian gathered its spiritual energy and abandoned close combat. It had already learned everything it wanted from Lucario.

Now it intended to reveal its final and true ability.

["Mind Reader, Foresight, Swordsmanship, Rock Smash, Power-Up Punch, Bullet Punch, Bone Rush, Earthquake, and Thunder Punch. I have mastered every one of your combat techniques!"]

["You can no longer defeat me. What a pity. If this were merely a capture challenge, I would already entrust the Blue Gem to you."]

["But under these circumstances, I'm afraid you won't be receiving it."]

["So show me the power you've kept hidden. Will you still refuse to use it before this immense spiritual energy?"]

Aura covered the guardian's entire body, forming a brilliant azure halo and erupting like a raging wave.

Dozens of Aura Spheres swept forward like a violent storm!

Aura Barrage!

Lucario placed a paw against its chest.

(A powerful enemy lies ahead.)

(It is time to use it!)

"Your first connection and transformation will place an immense burden on your body," Hikaru warned.

"Control your aura."

"Become as tranquil as the sky and as swift as lightning!"

Hikaru's Key Stone was embedded in the launching device on his wrist.

It had originally been intended for a Mega Ring. The oldest versions of Mega Rings could convert a Trainer's feelings for their Pokémon into a beam that activated the Key Stone.

As its name suggested, whether it was set into a ring, anklet, tie pin, or any similar accessory, the underlying principle remained the same.

It served as a key!

Turn the key and open the door to a new world!

"Awooo!"

An intense rainbow-colored beam erupted.

The stone on Lucario's chest responded with a radiance of its own!

Aura connected them!

"Mega Evolve!"

Before the astonished Gem Guardian, Lucario appeared to become enveloped in rounded stone armor. The shell exploded an instant later, and the Pokémon that had once looked identical to the guardian transformed into an entirely new form!

Every Aura Sphere sweeping toward it disappeared during the invincible frames of its transformation!

Mega Lucario sensed the surrounding waves.

The world became more vivid within its heart, as did its connection to its Trainer.

Mega Evolution energy mixed with its aura and surged chaotically through its body, carving black markings across its form.

Its aura expanded.

Bathed in explosive energy, its instinct for battle awakened. It focused its entire mind and challenged the enemy before it.

That heightened fighting spirit resembled the excitement felt by a Super Saiyan transforming for the first time.

After prolonged cultivation and specialized training, Mind Reader allowed Lucario to see more than its opponent's movements.

It remembered training with Marshadow.

It remembered honing its abilities alongside its companions on the Isle of Armor and receiving instruction from legendary martial artists.

(As tranquil as the sky.)

(As swift as lightning!)

Attack: 110 → 145

Defense: 70 → 88

Special Attack: 115 → 140

Speed: 90 → 112

Ability: Adaptability!

The same-type attack bonus increased from 1.5 times a move's power to two times!

The Blue Gem's guardian, the legendary Lucario, stared at it.

["What...? What is that? What happened to your body? What is this form?"]

Mega Lucario answered through aura.

(This is my hidden power. This transformation drastically increases my energy!)

(Are you more accustomed to aerial combat or fighting on the ground? Do you prefer close combat or battles of energy?)

(This is Mega Evolution!)

The Blue Gem guardian's pupils contracted.

["What did you say? Mega Evolution?! What does that mean?"]

It immediately looked at Hikaru.

"Mega Evolution surpasses the evolutionary limits Pokémon have reached until now. It is evolution on an even higher level."

"It did not exist three thousand years ago. The first Mega Evolution occurred one thousand years ago, but it was connected to the great war that took place three thousand years ago."

"A Pokémon undergoing Mega Evolution temporarily releases its hidden power and gains abilities that ordinary evolution cannot provide."

"You could call it an Ultimate form."

The Blue Gem's guardian became extraordinarily serious.

It gathered all its spiritual energy, transforming the entire power of Almia Castle into aura. Dozens of Aura Spheres surged forward like a violent rainstorm!

["Aura Barrage!"]

On an ancient battlefield, mastering such a technique meant a single warrior could become an entire army!

An endless torrent of Aura Spheres poured forth.

Because Lucario's Fighting and Steel typing left it doubly weak to Fighting, every Aura Sphere had an effective power of 160 against it.

The attack would reduce waves to spray and steel to dust!

"Release a wave of energy, then guide it freely."

(Copycat cannot reproduce Aura Barrage. That technique is the result of a thousand years of training. The underlying move remains Aura Sphere.)

"Then turn your opponent's move against them!"

Aura Barrage demolished dozens of ancient torches before the throne.

White mist and smoke filled the hall, recreating the legendary Lucario's performance on the battlefields of three thousand years ago.

Its ferocious, wide-ranging bombardment could annihilate an army. Any solitary fighter standing before that tremendous spiritual energy would be completely overwhelmed.

However, Mega Evolution and that Ultimate form made unease rise within the Blue Gem guardian's heart.

It sensed danger in the middle of battle and acted in advance.

There!

["I will make full use of your Mind Reader! Once Mind Reader locks onto a target, you cannot evade the next attack under any circumstances! Then again, Aura Sphere already tracks its enemy..."]

["Unless the target is no longer present on the battlefield."]

["But Dig cannot be used in this throne room, and our species cannot use Fly. Mega Evolution certainly surprised me, but a thousand-year difference in strength cannot be overcome so easily!"]

["Aura Barrage!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian once again covered its entire body in spiritual energy and entered its brilliant blue empowered state.

At that moment, Mega Lucario emerged from the smoke!

It assumed the same stance and performed the same motions as the guardian!

["Do not mock me! You have not mastered spiritual-energy enhancement. You cannot use Aura Barrage!"]

["What a pity...!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian assumed the stance for firing an energy wave.

Then, gathering everything at once...

It suddenly froze.

The guardian heard Mega Lucario's thoughts.

(Aura Barrage!)

What?

Before the Blue Gem's guardian could react, countless embryonic Aura Spheres appeared between Mega Lucario's paws.

Then...

They crashed toward the guardian like an overwhelming tidal wave!

Azure spiritual energy illuminated its face and soul, blasting away dust accumulated over three thousand years.

Smoke and white mist rose from the Blue Gem guardian's body.

Its remaining vitality vanished in a single instant.

It stared at Mega Lucario in disbelief.

(So,) Mega Lucario asked again, (do you prefer close combat or battles of energy?)

The familiar question had returned.

["What happened? That move was mine..."]

"Me First," Hikaru explained. "The user moves before its opponent and unleashes the move the opponent intended to use with greater power. If it fails to act first, the move fails."

"If the target selects a damaging move during that turn, the user executes the move against the target first."

"And its power increases by fifty percent!"

"Aura Barrage is ultimately an advanced technique derived from Aura Sphere. It may be a combat technique capable of confronting an entire army, but it does not possess increased priority."

"If neither move has priority, the outcome is determined by Speed."

"And after Mega Evolution, we're clearly faster!"

If a Riolu evolved too late, it could not naturally learn Me First under Generation IV's rules.

In Almia, where Technical Machines were unavailable, evolution was a crossroads that determined a Pokémon's future.

Only one path could be taken!

Mega Lucario addressed the guardian.

(That is what happened. I did not imitate your technique. The move was yours from the beginning.)

(I borrowed the tremendous spiritual energy you share with this castle, used your technique, and increased its power by fifty percent!)

Within the brilliant blue light, the legendary Lucario seemed to glimpse the Prince in Blue.

He had once been unruly, scheming, and constantly embroiled in conflict. But after cultivating aura, he had become peaceful and righteous.

The guardian watched Mega Lucario place a paw against its chest and quietly chant:

(The power of aura resides within my heart.)

Understanding appeared on the Gem Guardian's face.

So that was it.

Was that the incantation recited by those who cultivated aura in later generations?

["Mega Evolution possesses the power to face an army alone."]

["Hero of Aura... This aura..."]

["The power of aura resides within my heart..."]

["Other humans filled with greed will soon reach this castle, but you have already prepared to deal with them."]

["You have passed the Blue Gem's trial!"]

The Blue Gem's guardian relaxed its claws.

It opened its mouth and released a long breath.

Then it staggered and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The aura that had monitored Almia Castle for three thousand years scattered into the wind.

It disappeared.

The fallen guardian released one final wave, conveying its emotions as it willingly surrendered the Blue Gem.

A stream of light flashed through Hikaru's heart.

He took out a card.

"Obtained the Ranger Sign of the Legendary Lucario!"

(End of Chapter)

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