Chapter 38: You're Too Extreme, Mammon!
"Come. Let me show you the strength of Tapu Fini."
Mammon raised a hand toward Kukui and Olivia, gesturing with an "after you" motion.
And inside her shell, Tapu Fini straightened her back slightly, chest held high.
Let you mortals witness the power of an island guardian, yo!
"Even if it's Tapu Fini, we can take her down!"
Olivia let out a cold snort. If beating Tapu Fini was what it took to rescue her, then so be it!
"Gigalith!"
Gigalith let out a low growl. The wind began to howl, and a storm of sand kicked up across the field.
Gigalith's ability — Sand Stream! Shifting the weather to a Sandstorm!
In a Sandstorm, Rock-type Pokémon got a Special Defense boost. And in real-world terms, the violent sand-laden winds severely impaired vision and perception for non-Rock-types.
Tapu Fini frowned slightly in mild discomfort. As a Water-type, she really hated sandstorms — sand whipping against her was deeply annoying. Both dirty and itchy.
She was a clean and pretty good girl, you see!
"Lycanroc, Gigalith — Stone Edge!"
Olivia commanded her two Pokémon with a sharp swing of her arm.
While Water beat Rock, Water didn't resist Rock — meaning Tapu Fini had no defensive resistance to Rock attacks.
Sharp stones materialized in front of Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith simultaneously, launching at Tapu Fini at high speed.
Watching this unfold, Kukui didn't immediately attack. Instead, he observed silently.
Just as Mammon had said — though the Tapus had been the four guardians of Alola's islands since ancient times, Kukui and the others actually didn't know all that much about their actual combat strength.
They knew the Tapus were strong. But how strong, exactly? Impossible to say.
After all, you couldn't very well go challenge a Tapu yourself, could you?
So Kukui was being cautious. Letting Olivia probe first was the prudent move.
"Pathetically weak."
Through the swirling sand, Mammon could only barely make out the incoming Stone Edges. He sneered.
"Surf."
"Qi~!"
Sea-blue light blazed across Tapu Fini's body. The roar of crashing waves filled the air with an unending shhhhh.
In the next instant, a wave over a dozen meters tall surged up from the flat ground, lifting Tapu Fini and sweeping toward Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith.
The massive Surf was like a tsunami. From Olivia and Kukui's vantage point, the towering wave practically blotted out the sky and filled the entire field of view.
Too big!
And the sand kicked up by the Sandstorm was completely swallowed whole by the incoming wave.
Lycanroc and Gigalith's Stone Edges kept pelting the wave, but they only managed to splash up some spray before disappearing into nothing.
"Braviary!"
Kukui's expression sharpened as he barked an order skyward.
The majestic Braviary swooped down, snatched up both Kukui and Olivia, and launched them back into the air to retreat.
"Magnezone! Thunder!"
Lightning blazed across Magnezone's body as a massive bolt of electricity surged toward the Tapu Fini at the crest of the wave.
Tapu Fini glanced at it once and ignored it. The wave continued its descent, completely engulfing the Lycanroc and Gigalith who had no time to dodge.
BOOM!
The Surf slammed into the ground with crushing force, and the Thunder struck Tapu Fini's body simultaneously.
Tapu Fini was wrapped in lightning. She let out an uncomfortable cry — that Thunder hurt.
Though the damage was nothing compared to what that evil gray blob could dish out, it was still a super-effective hit. Tapu Fini felt the pain.
When the floodwaters receded, a perfectly clean and water-glistening Tapu Fini hovered silently in midair, looking down at the scene below.
Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith — both already drenched and lying motionless on the ground, completely knocked out.
"Gh… how can she be this strong…"
Set down by Braviary, Olivia stared blankly at her unconscious main team. How could this happen?
"Tch~ so weak. Couldn't even take one hit from Fini?"
Mammon spoke up at the perfect moment, his tongue clicking in mock wonder.
"You—!"
Olivia's face flushed crimson in an instant as she glared at Mammon.
"What? You and your 'you's. Enough — I've humored you. You can step down now."
Mammon didn't even bother glancing at Olivia, shifting his gaze to Kukui. Of these four, only the Champion-tier Kukui was worth even a fraction of his attention.
Olivia ground her teeth, but the helpless feeling of her main team being obliterated in a single hit was sinking deep into her bones.
Tapu Fini was too strong!
But why? Why was Tapu Fini fighting on behalf of such an evil Team Rocket?
Olivia couldn't make sense of it.
"You're a Champion-tier trainer this young. You have a brilliant, dazzling future ahead of you. Why would you join Team Rocket?"
Kukui watched Mammon with a serious expression, asking the question with genuine confusion.
Mammon really did look young — sixteen, seventeen at most. A Champion-tier trainer of that age…
Across the entire world, such people were vanishingly rare — every single one a once-in-a-generation prodigy monster.
If he challenged the League normally, Mammon could realistically become a region's Champion. A future of unlimited promise and brilliance.
But this Mammon had joined the evil organization Team Rocket. And so had that girl Caitlin — another super-genius.
Kukui couldn't make sense of it.
"You ask me why?" Mammon pretended to think it over.
"Why does there have to be so much why?"
Then, Mammon smiled.
"?" Kukui blinked.
"You see, I really don't like being constrained. I love being unbound, completely free."
Mammon spun the Poké Ball in his hand gently, his smile warm — yet giving off a distinctly sinister vibe.
"Morality, rules, laws — that fixed, unchanging path. So boring, so dull. Day after day after day. That's not the life I want."
"It wasn't until I joined Team Rocket that I discovered a whole new world."
The corner of Mammon's mouth pulled high, his tone gradually growing fervent.
"I realized that following convention, sticking to the rules — utterly meaningless. That's not the real me. But it's different now."
"Doing whatever I want, saying whatever I want — my entire life has begun to fill with new color."
Listening to Mammon's words, Kukui drew in a deep breath. This person…
"You're too extreme, Mammon!"
Kukui spoke gravely. He was definitely going to have to investigate this Mammon when he got back.
It absolutely had to be his upbringing that had pushed a perfectly good child into becoming this. Mammon's parents bore unforgivable responsibility!
"Hmph! 'Pursuing freedom' — what nonsense. It's nothing but a high-sounding excuse to justify doing evil with total impunity." Olivia cut in coldly. To her, this was pure rationalization!
"It doesn't matter. I don't need your approval anyway." Mammon spread his hands.
"I've chatted with you long enough. Can't have that. Professor Kukui — let me see whether you're capable of dealing with my Tapu Fini."
A thick layer of malice surfaced in Mammon's eyes.
"..."
Kukui's expression grew heavy as he looked at this powerful Tapu Fini and the Mammon standing behind her.
That single Surf alone had been enough to demonstrate Tapu Fini's overwhelming strength. And the Mammon who had managed to catch Tapu Fini — his other main Pokémon were guaranteed to be just as terrifyingly strong.
He didn't want to admit it, but Kukui felt that he probably wasn't a match for Mammon.
In that case…
Kukui's hand, hidden behind his back, frantically pressed a certain button.
Champion Cynthia! Please rush over to support us, YO!!