On the night of September 19th, originally a time for deep, quiet sleep in the dead of night, Canalave City, uplifted by a series of islands, was surging with undercurrents.
At that time, Lorze had also changed into his black and gold cloak that hadn't appeared in a long time. To the young man, this was nothing short of a battle robe; it was almost becoming his classic skin's battle stance.
He and his wives were waiting in full battle readiness for the clash between Cresselia and Darkrai. Ash, leading a sleepy-eyed Dawn and Brock whose pupils couldn't even be seen, was staying alert for a possible appearance from Team Rocket. Meanwhile, the Team Rocket trio were rubbing their hands together in anticipation of capturing both the Lunar Pokémon and the Pitch-Black Pokémon simultaneously...
Tonight's moonlight was just as beautiful as yesterday's. The bright, clean moonlight pouring down acted as a spotlight shining on the vast stage where the show was about to begin.
Finally, Lorze's side was the first to sense the approach of the Pitch-Black Pokémon and the Lunar Pokémon. Because they were undoubtedly the strongest among the three parties, they were exceptionally sensitive to powerful presences.
The young man and his wives exchanged glances. With their tacit understanding, there was absolutely no need for communication. United in purpose to face it together, they had already entered a pre-battle state!
But there was no need to rush right now, because they would definitely pick a perfect moment to enter the fray.
When Darkrai and Cresselia's powerful auras were undisguisedly perceived by Ash's group and the Team Rocket trio, they had already arrived in the sky above Canalave City, positioning themselves on either side of the full moon in a forceful standoff!
To be honest, the Team Rocket trio was even more excited than Lorze's side. In their eyes, Cresselia and Darkrai were no longer Pokémon, but two floating medals of merit in the sky.
But even so, they very slyly didn't show themselves immediately. Precisely because they knew their own limits, they planned to wait until Cresselia and Darkrai fought until both were severely injured before coming out to reap the spoils as the fisherman who catches both the snipe and the clam.
Darkrai and the Lunar Pokémon didn't let the hot blood rush to their heads and start fighting the moment they met. Instead, they took advantage of the preparation time to hurl pre-match trash talk at each other.
"Hehehe... I thought you wouldn't dare to come after being beaten so badly you scurried away clutching your head yesterday! But being a coward hiding in a shell isn't too bad either, right? At least you wouldn't be humiliated again like today."
"Why do I remember that the few times you failed to defeat me, you looked much more pathetic than I do? You're just a petty villain gloating over a small success, hmph."
"Tsk tsk, talking is useless. Then let's fight!"
"Whoosh, whoosh——"
The two figures immediately made their moves, adjusting their positions while hurling moves straight at each other's heads!
The Lunar Pokémon's side was quite dazzling in color. Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Signal Beam, Moonblast—all sorts of moves were unleashed. The Pitch-Black Pokémon, however, merely spammed Dark Pulse.
But unfortunately, having more moves doesn't mean being stronger. Or rather, precisely because Cresselia's most proficient Psychic-type moves are ineffective against Dark-types—often a strenuous attack from Cresselia could be easily blocked by Darkrai simply releasing a burst of pulses.
And in the hidden spots of Canalave City's streets, whether it was Lorze, Ash's trio, or Team Rocket, all were watching the fight scene between Darkrai and Cresselia from close range. The coolness of those flying moves... was simply like watching a special effects feast—the kind of corny yet blindingly bright, screen-filling special effects on social media.
After all, Cresselia had also endured hardships to bide her time and gathered all her strength, so the scene looked much better than yesterday.
But the innate type disadvantage ultimately caused her to slowly fall into the lower hand, clearly carrying the suspicion of dragging out the battle line.
This way, it would turn into a tug-of-war of stamina, which would only infinitely amplify the gap between Cresselia and the Pitch-Black Pokémon. This was definitely not a good thing for her.
Left with no choice, Cresselia had to take the initiative to attack. Absorbing the power of the full moon, she gathered a surging, powerful Moonblast and blasted it towards Darkrai!
This strike carried a heavy sense of a massive gamble: either win a complete victory or lose everything. But unfortunately... haste makes waste.
The intimidating Moonblast not only failed to scare Darkrai, but actually made it somewhat happy. Because Cresselia changing her defensive counter-attack style to start a massive offensive meant... she panicked.
So it was very obvious that this Moonblast wasn't released at the most perfect timing either. At this very moment, Darkrai's control over the rhythm was clearly superior to Cresselia's. With a phantom-like shift of its body, it nimbly dodged the Moonblast in the end—
Often in clashes between masters, the slightest details are the key moves that determine victory or defeat.
Seizing the massive opening Cresselia exposed, Darkrai equally returned a surging beam of Dark Pulse!
Victory and defeat have been decided—they simultaneously realized this.
Seeing that pulse about to hit her, the Lunar Pokémon unwillingly shut her eyes tight. Is this the end for this year...
The Pitch-Black Pokémon was almost ready to declare its victory. But right at this moment, a burst of intense light flashed all together. Using Dazzling Gleam, it warded off Darkrai's Dark Pulse, protecting Cresselia!
When the intense light dissipated, the cloaked young man was already standing at the side of the Lunar Pokémon, accompanied by his Pokémon wives who never left his side.
Even Darkrai somewhat admired the power of this Dazzling Gleam. Therefore, hovering high in the sky with great interest, it asked extremely arrogantly: "Oh? Who goes there!"
I am Lorze, just an ordinary Trainer. Now I am issuing a challenge to you, Darkrai!
If there were no grudges between them, Lorze would have said this. However, right now...
"Playing with nightmares every day, being as disgusting as the maggots eating your mother's shit. You motherless bastard, just see if we don't beat the crap out of you today and be done with it!"
This declaration of war... let's tentatively call it a declaration of war, made both Cresselia and Darkrai pause. Darkrai, however, ignored Lorze's angry cursing, merely sneering disapprovingly: "Truly arrogant and conceited. You think you can defeat me just relying on yourself? Haha... Right now, I am at the zenith of my power. If you want to die that badly, then I don't mind playing with you."
But the Pitch-Black Pokémon couldn't have predicted that while Lorze sounded ferocious on the surface, he was actually not weak in the slightest.
Lorze was clearly standing on Cresselia's side. Even though Cresselia was very moved, and also very grateful that Lorze was able to save her, she still didn't want this nameless human to get involved in the battle between them.
"Hurry up and leave! You... are not a match for Darkrai!"
However, Lorze gracefully walked up to Cresselia's side. His attitude toward Cresselia could be said to be the exact opposite of his attitude toward the Pitch-Black Pokémon.
He reached out his hand towards Cresselia.
Gazing at that hand reaching towards her, the Lunar Pokémon's eyes, as bright and magnificent as moonlight, flickered slightly. But... she was still a bit hesitant.
A human she was protecting was reaching out a helping hand to her? This is truly...
But, if she didn't accept it, she truly had no confidence in defeating Darkrai.
Taking a deep breath, Cresselia also placed her small purple hand, which didn't match her body size, into Lorze's hand.
However, Lorze suddenly tightly grasped Cresselia's tender hand, hooked his arm around her beautiful, planetary-ring-like arm, and with immense masculine courage, pulled Cresselia's delicate body into his embrace, picking her up in a bridal carry!
Lorze even slightly lowered his head, using his tongue to gently lick the wound on Cresselia's neck, which was left from the fierce battle just now...
Such an action undoubtedly made Cresselia instantly dumbfounded. The astonishment made even her voice distort a little: "Ah, you!?"
"Miss Cresselia, you are injured."
Lorze, however, hugged the Cresselia in his arms tighter. Their faces were close at hand. His scorching gaze stared deeply and indisputably into Cresselia's eyes, making the Lunar Pokémon's cheeks even flush slightly crimson—no matter what, she was also a woman, and she had never been treated like this by a man before.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Miss Cresselia... Because you are truly beautiful, I unconsciously wanted to hold you like this... Hah, sorry for saying some nonsensical things. Anyway, for now, let us fight side by side to defeat Darkrai, is that okay?"
"Together, we... can we do it?"
Cresselia asked softly. But whether they could defeat Darkrai seemed to have become irrelevant. Her moist buttocks, her plump delicate body, were all embraced by Lorze's powerful arms without exception.
Perhaps Lorze's actions were sexually harassing the Lunar Pokémon, but she didn't hate it. After all, if he hadn't stepped in to help, she would have already failed miserably. The trope of a hero saving a beauty is undeniably cliché, but it truly works. Coupled with Lorze's incredibly obvious adoration, as if he were her destined man, it had already moved Cresselia.
So right now, she was somewhat infatuated with the young man's embrace, somewhat infatuated with this human male who brought her novel experiences.
There was a... complex emotion that Cresselia herself couldn't quite pinpoint. Could this be the feeling of falling in love? Or love at first sight, hehe~
"If you, Cresselia, are willing to trust me, there will be no problem! Although it sounds a bit arrogant to say this, but the rest... just leave it to me!"
After making a confident promise to Cresselia, Lorze changed his demeanor again, whispering softly to the beauty in his arms with utmost gentleness.
"Besides that... after defeating Darkrai, I also want to go on a date with Miss Cresselia~"
With Lorze's lecherous expression, anyone who wasn't stupid would know what he wanted to do.
Cresselia's face revealed a sweet smile. She had already silently agreed to Lorze's booty call in her heart. Ah, being messed with by him like this, I really do want it a little bit❤~
"H-How annoying. We've clearly just met... But hehe, then I'll look forward to it a little bit. You already know my name, what about yours?"
"My name is Lorze..."
Although it was infinitely beautiful on this side, Darkrai on the other side was clearly somewhat dissatisfied. Floating in the air with its arms crossed, it was actually turning green with anger.
A human man and a female Pokémon hugging and cuddling in broad daylight, what an outrage!
"Hey... Are you two going to stage some kind of human-beast incest? Don't make me laugh my head off, ptui!"
Having said that, Darkrai immediately adjusted its posture, charging towards Lorze at a speed difficult for the naked eye to catch!
Its hands immediately gathered deep, dark purple energy spheres. It was none other than Darkrai's signature move—Dark Void!
You must know, it didn't even bring out its ultimate move when fighting Cresselia. Right now, it was undoubtedly getting serious.
The enraged Darkrai smashed the Dark Void towards Lorze. But unexpectedly, Meowstic and Jirachi simultaneously put up Protect barriers, perfectly intercepting and detonating the Dark Void!
How could this be!? Why were they able to react to its attack!?
Darkrai didn't know that its words "human-beast incest" hadn't just angered Cresselia, but had struck the reverse scales of Lorze and all his wives. Coupled with the old grudge from last night's nightmares, it was the perfect time to settle new and old scores together!
Everyone suddenly seemed to be injected with chicken blood, their fighting spirit soaring. That momentum made even Darkrai feel a bit dazed: Why... are they suddenly so excited!? Damn it!
But Darkrai had already gone berserk. Even if the little wives tried hard, they couldn't easily close the gap with it. As the clash dragged on, Darkrai once again gained the upper hand.
"Tch, all flash and no substance. So you're nothing more than this. Watch me finish you off right now!"
Lorze, however, laughed heartily, which made Darkrai very puzzled: Why is he so confident?
"Is that so? Don't you feel... even though you have the upper hand, you haven't caused any real damage to us!"
"What!?"
Realizing that what Lorze said was indeed true, Darkrai suddenly felt something was wrong and hurriedly wanted to retreat a step ahead.
But it was too late. The cloaked young man snapped his fingers very coolly and shouted loudly—
"Hatterene!"
"Hehe❤~ I've already been ready, hubby❤~"
The space of the battlefield suddenly became bizarre and motley. Streets, houses, trees... everything around twisted and deformed. This was the field move Hatterene had been brewing for a long time—Trick Room!
The originally swift-as-the-wind Darkrai suddenly felt its body sink, as if its body had been filled with lead, unable to move a single step!
And right now, it was the critical moment for Lorze's side to counterattack!
"Hatterene, Dazzling Gleam! Florges, Moonblast! Rapidash, Ponyta, Megahorn! Jirachi, Iron Head, smash it!"
All the wives got fired up. Their attacks carried a bit of personal grudge to some extent.
Under Trick Room, Hatterene and Florges shed their clumsy appearances. Their agile figures flanked the Pitch-Black Pokémon from left and right, sealing off its retreat.
On one side was dazzling Fairy light, and on the other was energy erupting fiercely like the moon!
Normally, Darkrai would absolutely not pay any attention to their speed, but right now...
The Pitch-Black Pokémon, rendered exceptionally clumsy under Trick Room, couldn't dodge a single one, taking the full brunt of the super-effective Fairy-type STAB moves!
The second echelon followed closely behind. Jirachi, Rapidash, and Ponyta even formed a three-pronged encirclement. Not to mention their attacks shared some similarities—Jirachi used her rock-hard Iron Head to give the Pitch-Black Pokémon a dizzying headbutt, while Rapidash and Ponyta also fully utilized the large horns on their heads, piercing straight into Darkrai's body, splattering several pools of fresh blood!
The last to act were Meowstic and Cresselia. Both were pure Psychic-type Pokémon, and regrettably lacked any particularly strong, effective moves to damage Darkrai.
This would indeed be true if Pokémon were merely fighting on instinct. Even the powerful Big Sister Mewtwo couldn't escape inertial thinking in her battle against Metagross at the very beginning. But in Pokémon battles... Trainers have always been an important factor that cannot be ignored. Not to mention Lorze himself is a humanoid Pokémon with combat capabilities!
"Cresselia. Psychic-types indeed cannot damage Dark-types. However... secondary splashing caused by psychic powers, or controlling physical objects, can hit Dark-types!"
These words made Cresselia's eyes light up. So it can be done this way?
"Let's attack together! Cresselia, Meowstic!"
"Okay, I'm willing to trust you!" "Woo meow❤~ Lorze is the most amazing, meow❤!"
Lorze held Cresselia's and Meowstic's small hands on his left and right. At this moment, their hearts also linked together, as if they had broken through species barriers and merged into one.
Admittedly, his strength wasn't eye-catching compared to the two powerful Pokémon. But the power of those two was undoubtedly gathered together under Lorze's guidance—
Powerful telekinesis mashed countless pieces of rubble, mud, and sand together, impressively gathering above Darkrai's head into an existence resembling a meteorite!
This was a miniature Tengai Shinsei (Shattered Heaven) created jointly by the three of them using telekinesis!
"What!? This is..."
The originally dignified and imposing Pitch-Black Pokémon's pupils shrank slightly. Even when it was defeated by Cresselia, it had never been like this.
Its body instinctively trembled non-stop. Is this...
Fear?
Darkrai, who was best at bringing fear to others, truly felt the taste of fear for the first time.
Using this as the finale to the battle, as the stone block crashed down ferociously, it finally completely defeated Darkrai!
The knocked-down Darkrai, aching all over, raised its head, only to suddenly feel its sky darken.
It turned out Lorze and his wives had already completely surrounded the Pitch-Black Pokémon. For them, the real battle had only just begun.
What followed was a mixed couples' beatdown. Just like the harsh words spoken before the battle started, they severely beat up the previously high and mighty Darkrai!
This scene made Cresselia feel a chilling fear as she watched: G-Good heavens, what kind of nightmare did that guy Darkrai give them to incur such hatred...
Their stomachs were all holding in a burst of anger, so they wouldn't show any mercy in the slightest. In the end, they actually used physical means to beat it black and blue, completely stripping it of the dignified aura of the Pitch-Black Pokémon.
So much so that when Trick Room ended, Darkrai had absolutely no mind to fight back, but instead fled in panic.
The annual Pitch-Black Pokémon vs. Lunar Pokémon. And this year's result... The Pitch-Black Pokémon returned in a crushing defeat!
Not only that, the fleeing Darkrai seemed to have been beaten by Lorze to the point of developing psychological trauma, yelling things like "I'm never coming back" from its mouth.
"If you dare to come to Canalave Street, you're guaranteed to get your just desserts, awoo!"
As the battle here drew to a close, the Team Rocket trio was already itching for action.
Admittedly, they couldn't forget the past when they were brutally beaten by Lorze. But right now, they were here to pick up the scraps. They could surely defeat a Lorze who wasn't in perfect condition!
The trio didn't even want to sneak attack, simply swaggering out openly.
As a result, they had just struck their poses and hadn't even said their entrance lines yet, when Ash's trio, who had been lying in ambush for a long time, charged out!
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" "Pika!"
"What!? It's the twerps. Where did they pop out from!?"
The well-coordinated Ash and the God of Pika teamed up, chasing right behind Team Rocket's butts. Seeing the situation turn bad, the trio had no choice but to tuck their tails between their legs and flee in panic...
Cresselia and Lorze, still holding hands over here, also laughed out loud upon seeing such a comical scene.
"I didn't expect you to really be this amazing, defeating Darkrai so easily~ Then about our promised date❤..."
Lorze smiled mysteriously. Instead of answering Cresselia directly, he wrapped his arms around the Lunar Pokémon's slender neck and pressed his lips against her crescent-like face...