The first time it acted was because Dratini was about to get hurt.
This time, it was simply coating Crobat and Charizard in a layer of Psychic energy.
*I'm not attacking him, so that doesn't count as acting!*
"No!"
Jace Rowan had finally reacted by then. Staring at the smoke-filled area where Auron Vale's figure had vanished, he let out a furious roar, eyes bloodshot. He immediately threw the Poké Balls for Torkoal and Arcanine, then pressed his index and middle fingers together and jabbed hard at the Mega Evolution stone on his left wrist.
"Charizard, Mega Evolution!"
Mega Charizard Y entered the stage at top speed.
Jace Rowan pointed toward the direction the attacks had come from, his voice cold.
"Torkoal, Arcanine, Charizard — full power Flamethrower!"
The moment Torkoal moved, the weather shifted.
Charizard burned with rage and fired a massive column of flame first.
Torkoal and Arcanine didn't know what had happened, but they could sense their trainer's fury. They too poured everything into their Flamethrowers.
The two Flamethrowers merged into Charizard's, forming an enormous, thick pillar of fire.
"Charizard, Crobat — use Aerial Ace to back them up!"
The voice coming from the smoke made Jace Rowan's heart leap with relief. Good — he was alive!
With the added Aerial Ace from Charizard and Crobat, Mega Charizard Y's Flamethrower swelled once more in size. Everyone on Crab Island couldn't help but turn and stare at this blazing pillar shooting into the sky.
Soren Li saw it too. Though Greninja was carrying him at a sprint, he recognized both Charizards' colorations. Those were Auron Vale's and Jace Rowan's Charizards.
"I won't forget this debt — I'll repay it!"
Soren Li clenched his fist, silently committing this favor to memory.
From the moment Auron Vale was ambushed to the instant Charizard completed Mega Evolution and unleashed that massive column of fire — only a few seconds had passed.
Everyone's attention had first been drawn by the Pokémon that came crashing through a shattered rock pillar. Then they were transfixed by the enormous fire column.
When the massive column of flame tore into the underbrush beyond the visible range, several people and a group of Pokémon tumbled out from behind the shrubs.
"BOOM!"
The flame landed. Aterrible firelight shot skyward, leaving only a few slower Pokémon that hadn't escaped — lying unconscious on the ground.
The middle-aged man in the purple robe glowered. He still couldn't understand why his first ambush, which he'd had absolute confidence in, had failed.
Equally, the second wave of attacks from the sky hadn't landed on Auron Vale either. That simply didn't make sense!
Because he didn't know the truth: the first wave — Rhyperior — had been thrown back because it was about to hurt Dratini.
The second rain of moves was also partially blocked by Deoxys, which deflected some of the physical projectiles' trajectories.
Otherwise, how far could one desperate roll possibly take Auron Vale?
As the fire column subsided, only then did the crowd snap back to reality. Su Tingxi and Fugui instantly sent out all their battle-ready Pokémon.
Those watching from the sidelines were enjoying the spectacle with great interest.
Only the young man stationed nearby came to his senses. He shouted at his subordinates.
"Watch the Mystery Zone exit!"
But it was too late. In those few short seconds, Greninja had been more than enough time to carry Soren Li to the Mystery Zone exit.
By the time they looked back toward the Mystery Zone, all they could see was a figure dissolving into the white hole.
"Dammit, you useless fools — it's a feint!"
The young man's expression twisted with frustration. He turned to look in the direction of Auron Vale's group, his face dark as he spoke to his men. "Let's go. Nobody's leaving today!"
"An ambush?"
Auron Vale gave a small laugh. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Mega Charizardite Y, tossing it to Charizard.
Charizard grinned wickedly, swapped out the Mega Charizardite X on its wrist, and tossed it back to Auron Vale.
Auron Vale caught it, then pressed his finger against the Key Stone on his left wrist.
"Charizard, Mega Evolution!"
A flash of white light — Auron Vale's Charizard had also evolved into Mega Charizard Y.
The little sun in the sky seemed to shine even brighter.
Auron Vale didn't wait for the enemy to deliver any threats. He struck first.
"Crobat, Charizard — Aerial Ace!"
"Torkoal, Charizard — Flamethrower! Arcanine, Charizard — Flamethrower!"
"Milotic, Ice Beam! Cloyster, Rock Blast!"
"Dragonair, Altaria — Flamethrower!"
"Mismagius, Mystical Fire! Banette — Thunder Wave!"
"Gengar — Flamethrower! Dusclops — Gravity!"
At the same moment Auron Vale launched his attack, his companions joined in as well.
Those with high Special Attack hit from range. Those with low Special Attack focused on locking down enemy movement.
With Gravity, Rock Slide, and Sandstorm in play, the enemy's expressions all went dark.
The intent behind those moves was obvious: *you don't have to dodge — you can't dodge.*
With no choice, the middle-aged man in the purple robe had to hard-counter.
Fortunately, they had plenty of Pokémon on their side. Even with Auron Vale's team boosted by Sunny Day, the enemy smoothly blocked every single attack.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man's tight expression finally relaxed into a smile.
"That's all you've got? My apologies, then."
With that, he waved his hand. His subordinates moved in unison, directing their Pokémon to launch another assault.
At that moment, Ono Saburo and the young man had arrived.
The young man, seeing the other side had already engaged, immediately ordered his own men to attack Auron Vale's group as well.
Whether they were in on it together or not — kill one side first, then mop up the other.
Eliminate both groups, and there'd be no need to worry about whether they were connected to the one who stole the Silver Feather.
Auron Vale's Aura had been active ever since the ambush — keeping it running in case any Pokémon came directly for him.
Through his Aura, he could clearly *see* the people charging toward them — and the fact that they were attacking too.
"Deoxys!"
In desperation, Auron Vale had no choice but to call out to Deoxys.
At this moment, only Deoxys could save them.
Otherwise, under this sky full of attacks, there was absolutely no way they could survive.
Both sides had gone for the kill — no holding back whatsoever.
The moment Auron Vale shouted, Deoxys appeared instantly beside Auron Vale and the others, simultaneously shifting into Attack Forme.
Then Psychic energy burst from its entire body, forming a pink-colored barrier that wrapped around Auron Vale and everyone else.
Then, a heartbeat before the attacks landed, it Teleported the entire Psychic barrier — everyone and every Pokémon inside — away.
———
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