The miniature volcanoes on the backs of the two Mega Camerupts continuously churned and rumbled, spurting bits of molten lava as the surrounding air became scorching hot.
"Camerupt, use Flamethrower!"
Brodie and Tabitha gave the command at the same time.
Two blazing torrents of fire surged forward like raging fire dragons, roaring toward Theo and the others with a terrifying force capable of destroying everything in their path.
Almost at the exact moment Brodie and the others released their Pokémon, Theo's group reacted just as quickly.
"Milotic, Tyrantrum, come out!"
Theo threw two Poké Balls. Milotic's elegant figure and Tyrantrum's massive, sturdy body appeared simultaneously.
"Metagross, Mega Evolve!"
A dazzling light erupted around Metagross as its body expanded within the radiance. Its giant metallic claws unfolded wide like a descending war god.
Mega Metagross appeared!
"Milotic, Hydro Pump! Tyrantrum, Rock Blast! Metagross, Meteor Mash!"
Theo's commands were swift and precise.
Milotic unleashed an enormous stream of water that collided head on with the blazing flames, instantly generating huge clouds of white steam.
Massive rocks gathered around Tyrantrum's body, and with a violent swing of its tail, they shot out like cannonballs toward the Mega Camerupts, disrupting their assault.
Meanwhile, Mega Metagross transformed into a streak of silver light, charging directly toward one of the Mega Camerupts with a fierce punch.
"Volcarona, go rescue Absol!"
Theo simultaneously ordered Volcarona beside him.
Volcarona flapped its wings and shot forward like a flaming meteor, avoiding the center of the battlefield as it flew straight toward the steel cage.
"Ash, I'll leave the metal altar to you. We can't let their experiment continue!"
"Leave it to me!"
Ash nodded heavily, his gaze filled with determination.
"Charizard, Mega Evolve!"
Charizard let out an earth shaking dragon roar as brilliant evolutionary light enveloped its body.
The red flames surrounding it transformed into fierce blue fire. Its body became leaner and more imposing while its red skin darkened into a deep black.
Mega Charizard X had arrived!
[Pokémon: Mega Charizard X]
[Type: Fire / Dragon]
[Category: Flame Pokémon]
[Ability: Tough Claws (Its hard dragon claws greatly increase the power of close range attacks.)]
[Moves: Dragon Claw, Fire Fang, Aerial Ace, Dragon Tail, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Outrage, Flare Blitz…]
"Charizard, destroy that machine!"
Ash shouted while pointing toward the Reverse Energy Activation Device atop the metal altar.
Mega Charizard X spread its wings and shot upward like a bolt of blue black lightning toward the altar.
"No way!"
Seeing this, Butler immediately shouted an order to his Salamence.
"Salamence, stop it!"
Salamence roared and spread its enormous wings, charging directly toward Mega Charizard X.
The two Dragon type Pokémon instantly clashed in midair. Claws and fangs collided while shockwaves from the impact of their energies exploded outward.
Seeing this, Brock quickly reacted as well. He threw out his Poké Ball while gesturing toward Swellow nearby.
"Steelix, Dig! Attack those two Mega Camerupts from underground!"
"Swellow, forget about us and go help Charizard destroy the machine!"
Steelix's enormous body burrowed underground, leaving only a rapidly moving trail in the earth as it approached the Mega Camerupts.
Swellow also nodded and suddenly accelerated upward with a powerful flap of its wings.
However, Tabitha's and Brodie's Crobats simultaneously rushed forward. Their wings sliced through the air as they firmly intercepted Swellow midair, beginning an intense aerial pursuit battle.
While everyone's Pokémon were locked in combat, Volcarona had already flapped its wings and rushed forward at incredible speed, instantly arriving beside the iron cage imprisoning Absol.
Its three pairs of wings suddenly beat powerfully as blazing flames erupted forth. The intense heat scorched the thick steel bars, causing the cage to rapidly turn red, deform, and melt.
Accompanied by an ear piercing metallic cracking sound, the sturdy prison collapsed apart, allowing Absol to finally escape.
But right at that moment, suddenly!
The ground that had originally been outlined with flame patterns by the altar's red laser beams violently split apart. The earth bulged upward as an indescribably massive aura erupted crazily from beneath the ground.
BOOOOM!
Along with a deafening explosion, a gigantic figure slowly rose from the earth.
It towered into the sky, blotting out the heavens. Its body, nearly fifty meters tall, stood before everyone like a mountain itself.
Its entire body was covered in crimson skin marked with blue lines. Sharp white bone spikes protruded from its shoulders and body, radiating an overwhelming pressure that made it difficult to breathe.
The artificial Groudon replica created through forbidden experimentation had finally appeared in this world!
Everyone present was stunned by the sudden scene before them. Even the Pokémon engaged in battle subconsciously stopped moving as they looked up toward the gigantic beast that resembled a god.
The system interface before Theo's eyes did not display information like it had previously when he faced the legendary Kyogre in Sootopolis City.
Instead, every line was filled only with question marks.
"???"
"It worked… I succeeded!"
Butler trembled in excitement as he shouted toward the Kirlia beside him.
"Kirlia, Teleport me to the altar!"
Blue light shimmered around Kirlia's body as it instantly teleported Butler to the top of the metal altar.
Butler threw himself before the control panel and frantically pressed the buttons, continuously increasing the energy output of the red lasers while roaring wildly toward Meta Groudon.
"Groudon! I created you! You must obey my commands! Go seize Jirachi! Capture that Volcarona!"
However, the revived Groudon merely twisted its head mechanically. Its enormous yellow eyes casually swept over Butler without the slightest response.
Instead, its gaze locked firmly onto the Reverse Energy Activation Device at the center of the altar!
In the next instant, Meta Groudon's gigantic claws suddenly transformed into several dark green energy tentacles that shot outward like venomous snakes, instantly wrapping around the Reverse Energy Activation Device.
Then, with one violent pull, it forcibly tore the machine free and absorbed it into its own body.
CRAAACK!
The moment the device was ripped out, the metal altar instantly collapsed.
Butler and the unprepared Kirlia screamed as they fell from the top of the structure.
Fortunately, Salamence managed to break away from Mega Charizard X in time. It dove downward and caught both of them securely with its claws, preventing them from suffering serious injuries.
Held in Salamence's grasp, Butler stared blankly at Meta Groudon while muttering to himself in complete disbelief.
"Why…? I created you… I created you, Groudon…"
Meta Groudon completely ignored Butler's existence.
After absorbing the Reverse Energy Activation Device, the blue patterns across Meta Groudon's body glowed even brighter.
It slowly turned its massive body as its hollow yet violent gaze swept across every human and every Pokémon present on the battlefield.
When it saw the two Mega Camerupts, Mega Charizard X, Volcarona, and the Blaziken May had released, greed suddenly appeared within Meta Groudon's gigantic yellow eyes.
In the next moment, dark green energy tentacles surged once more from Meta Groudon's claws, sweeping outward like a raging tide toward all of those Fire type Pokémon.
(End of Chapter)