Boom!
Another Hyper Beam struck the writhing black sludge on the mountainside, yet it only managed to halt the flow for a few dozen seconds before the mass began moving again.
Jan could not help feeling a headache coming on. He was a Rock-type specialist, and in a situation like this, a Psychic-type trainer would be far better suited to handle the problem.
The only Psychic-type Pokémon he had on hand was Solrock. Unfortunately, its mastery of psychic power was too crude and its abilities too limited. It simply could not use Teleport to move all of this black sludge away.
On the ground, the black liquid formed from Ditto had already spread beyond the mountain peak and was moving toward Jubilife City even faster.
"Home... let me go home..."
Ditto muttered softly before another Hyper Beam descended.
Boom!
The deafening explosion quickly attracted Shiro, who was rushing over.
A Champion-level Pokémon repeatedly firing Hyper Beam at full power was impossible to miss, especially when the attacks were timed perfectly to be released the moment the move's recovery period ended.
At this rate, even the Champion-level Pokémon using the attacks should be nearing exhaustion.
"Jan!"
Corviknight accelerated as Shiro waved from afar. Jan returned the greeting and immediately directed Aerodactyl toward him. As they met up, he briefly explained the situation.
"This is that Ditto?" Shiro stared in surprise.
The living black sludge on the ground had completely lost all shape and color. There was no way to tell what Pokémon it had originally been.
Ditto's former gray, mud-like body had been very different from this substance. Who would have thought it would become something like this… was it a side effect of some drug?
"I suspect the drug itself is the problem." Jan's voice was heavy. "That thing... it devours the Pokémon's body."
Shiro slowly nodded and began thinking of a solution. In an ideal situation, most of it would be destroyed while a small portion was preserved for research.
However, after so many Hyper Beams had failed to inflict any obvious damage, completely eliminating it would be extremely difficult.
"My idea is to use psychic power and teleport it back near Lake Verity," Jan said.
Psychic power...
Shiro thought for a moment. Mesprit was gone. The only Psychic-types he currently had were Unown A, who was asleep, and Unown G, who was already exhausted. And Unown G was an Unown.
"I have an Elite-level Solrock that can work together with your Pokémon," Jan continued, keeping his eyes fixed on Shiro.
He was certain Shiro possessed a Psychic-type Pokémon.
The crimson clouds that had filled the sky north of Twinleaf Town earlier were clearly the result of powerful Psychic-type Pokémon clashing. Now those clouds had disappeared, meaning the Pokémon had likely been recalled, and Shiro had just arrived from that exact direction.
"Alright." Shiro agreed after a brief moment of thought.
After everything that had happened tonight, the existence of the Unown could no longer be hidden from Jan or Looker. There was no point concealing them anymore.
"G!"
At Shiro's call, Unown G slowly revealed itself. It was still somewhat weak, but after receiving medicine and eating Pokéblocks, it looked much better than before.
Jan merely glanced at the unusual-looking Psychic Pokémon. He showed no surprise and asked no questions. Instead, he directly threw out a Poké Ball.
"Solrock!"
Solrock slowly opened its half-closed eyes, revealing crimson pupils. Then it floated into the air alongside Unown G, positioning itself on either side above the black sludge that was spreading toward the foot of the mountain.
Two streams of psychic power spread steadily across the surface of the sludge.
"Teleport!"
Both commands rang out simultaneously.
Psychic energy flashed brilliantly. In an instant, all of the black sludge, along with Solrock and Unown G, vanished and reappeared beyond three distant mountains.
Aerodactyl and Corviknight immediately hurried after them.
Shiro and Jan exchanged a glance before giving the order once more.
"Teleport!"
Psychic energy flashed again, and the black sludge formed from Ditto was moved even farther back.
* * *
North of Twinleaf Town.
Dragonite's offensive was becoming increasingly fierce. Combined with its overwhelming speed, it completely suppressed Weezing and left it unable to fight back.
The main problem was that Alfred no longer had a second Pokémon available. Every time his hand brushed against the Poké Balls at his waist, he remembered how Shiro had destroyed the release mechanisms earlier.
No matter how many times he pressed the buttons, nothing happened. The Poké Balls simply would not open.
'If Garchomp were still here...'
Hatred surged within him.
If his Garchomp had not been taken away, how could he possibly be pushed around by a useless fool like Lance? The man was already an adult, yet he still relied on guardian Pokémon given to him by his elders. Even the Dragon-type Pokémon he raised were mediocre.
And this person was supposed to be the Dragon Master?
He was a disgrace to the Dragon Clan.
While these thoughts churned in Alfred's mind, Dragonite suddenly dove at him again.
Its wings stirred up a powerful wind, and the slower, more cumbersome Weezing could only endure the attack head-on. The Gunk Shots it desperately spat out accomplished nothing. They could not hit Dragonite at all.
Of course, after raising a Champion-level Weezing, its strongest move was not poison… it was Explosion.
Alfred hesitated. Not because he was reluctant to sacrifice Weezing. Rather, he felt using Explosion on trash like Lance was a complete waste.
That left only one choice.
Alfred pulled out the bright yellow crystal from his pocket. Then he took out Garchomp's Poké Ball.
He had already made his decision.
The Ultra Ball containing Garchomp had been crafted with exceptional materials. It was incredibly durable inside and out. Even if struck by powerful attacks, its small size and smooth shell allowed it to remain intact.
After all, Poké Balls were originally designed to protect the Pokémon inside from harm. Now that protection had become a prison.
Alfred tightly gripped the yellow crystal and quietly prayed, "With the supreme knowledge you have bestowed, break the shackles binding this object..."
The crystal flashed.
Psychic power immediately responded, forming a precise blade. The psychic blade struck the Poké Ball's release switch with perfect accuracy.
Crack.
The switch on Garchomp's Poké Ball shattered completely.
Electric sparks crackled as the Poké Ball split open instantly.
In the air, Lance seemed to sense something and immediately shouted, "Use Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite reacted without hesitation. After briefly gathering power, a sphere of energy representing annihilation condensed within its mouth.
Bzzz!
Hyper Beam tore through the night sky.
A cold smile appeared on Alfred's face. As he threw the Poké Ball, he roared.
"Weezing, Protect!"
"Garchomp, Swords Dance!"
**
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