"It's been a while since Kanto. How've you been?"
Jin greeted Amethio with a casual attitude, as though he were meeting an old friend. It had been a while since they last encountered each other, back on one of the remote islands in Kanto. Now, they crossed paths again in the Galar region. However, Amethio didn't respond. Instead, he pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket and pointed it at Jin.
"Not much for conversation, huh? It's been a while. How about a little chat first?"
"...No point."
"Huh?"
"I know what you're up to. You're trying to get me talking so you can gather information, aren't you?"
(...He saw right through me.)
There was no way that meeting Amethio here in the Galar Mine was a coincidence. Jin had tried to keep a low profile, avoiding leaving behind any useful information. Yet, somehow, Amethio had either obtained intel and tracked them down to target Liko and the pendant, or perhaps, like Jin and his companions, Amethio was also searching for the Black Rayquaza.
Since Jin still didn't fully grasp the objectives or scale of the Explorers organization, gathering even the smallest bit of information was crucial. Compared to Spinel, whom they had faced in Paldea, Amethio tended to act more emotionally. Jin had hoped that might make it easier to get him to talk, but it seemed that wasn't going to happen.
"No more idle chatter. Send out your Pokémon."
"You're in a hurry... fine. I'll play along."
Continuing the conversation seemed pointless now, as Amethio had clearly shut down the idea. The cave was winding and complicated enough that Jin could potentially escape, but getting lost in the process was just as likely. Jin still wanted to keep searching for Liko, but first, he had to deal with Amethio, whose intense gaze made it clear he wasn't planning to let Jin get away easily.
"Go! Salamence!"
Jin released Salamence from its Poké Ball. Amethio, still silent, tossed his own Poké Ball into the air. This time, the Pokémon that emerged was neither the Ceruledge nor the Corviknight he had used in previous battles.
"Gaaaargh!"
With a fierce roar, a Pokémon with a sharp, predatory gaze and a body resembling a combination of a shark and a dinosaur appeared—Garchomp, the Mach Pokémon.
"Garchomp... so you've got one of those now."
"Surprised? It's one of the new Pokémon I obtained just to defeat you."
(One of the new ones... which means he has others too.)
Facing Garchomp, Jin could sense the powerful aura it exuded. Based on Amethio's words, it was clear he had other Pokémon at a similar level of strength.
"Looks like you've gotten stronger."
"Of course. We've trained hard for this moment. I'm not the same person who lost to you and ran away from Rayquaza back then."
"Good to hear! Salamence, Dragon Claw!"
"Garchomp, use Dragon Claw too!"
Following their trainers' commands, Salamence and Garchomp lunged at each other. Salamence swooped down from above, while Garchomp leaped from the ground, both with claws extended and sharpened. The two Pokémon clashed in midair, creating a powerful shockwave in the center of the cave.
Though the force of their Dragon Claw attacks was equal, Salamence, using gravity to its advantage from above, had the upper hand and slammed Garchomp into the ground.
"Gaaahh!"
Garchomp let out a pained cry but managed to catch itself just before hitting the ground, breaking the fall. While Dragon Claw was a super-effective move, the attacks hadn't directly hit each other, so neither had taken significant damage.
"Salam..."
However, it seemed that Salamence, despite winning the clash, had taken a small amount of damage itself.
(That level of damage... Garchomp must have the Rough Skin ability.)
Rough Skin—an ability that deals damage to opponents when they make contact with the Pokémon. Jin had hoped Garchomp didn't have this ability, but the damage Salamence received after landing its Dragon Claw made it clear.
(If this keeps up, I'll take too much damage in a close-range battle...)
Given Garchomp's ability, continuing with direct attacks would mean Salamence would take more damage than necessary.
"Use Dragon Pulse!"
"Dodge with Dig!"
Switching tactics from close combat to long-range, Salamence fired a beam of dragon energy. Garchomp responded by digging into the ground, disappearing beneath the surface to evade the attack. Salamence scanned the area, staying alert, but Garchomp didn't reappear right away.
"Salamence! Below you!"
"Use Scale Shot!"
Garchomp, who had tunneled directly beneath the airborne Salamence, suddenly burst out of the ground, launching a barrage of sharp scales from its body.
"Deflect it with Dragon Dance!"
As the incoming scales rushed toward Salamence, it spun in mid-air, activating Dragon Dance. The spinning motion allowed Salamence to deflect the scales, sending them crashing into the cave ceiling and ground.
(So he predicted I'd switch to long-range attacks... Fine, then!)
"Salamence, use Draco Meteor!"
Salamence tilted its head upward, concentrating energy in its belly before launching a glowing orb towards the ceiling. The orb split apart mid-air, transforming into a hail of meteors that began raining down on Garchomp.
"Dig!"
Seeing no way to avoid the incoming meteors, Garchomp quickly burrowed into the ground, escaping into the earth.
But this was exactly what Jin had planned for.
"Salamence, use Earthquake!"
"What!?"
Salamence followed the falling meteors by diving toward the ground, raising its legs high before stomping down with great force. The impact triggered a massive quake, shaking the entire cave. Garchomp, who had been hiding underground, was violently forced out of the hole.
"Now! Dragon Claw!"
As soon as Garchomp was ejected from the ground, Salamence soared upward and slashed at it with Dragon Claw. Though Salamence took some damage from Garchomp's Rough Skin ability, the damage dealt to Garchomp was far greater.
"Garchomp!"
After taking both the super-effective Earthquake and Dragon Claw, Garchomp was left severely weakened. It wasn't down yet, but one more super-effective hit, and it wouldn't be able to continue.
The strategy Amethio had chosen, to boost speed using Scale Shot and attempt a sneak attack from below with Dig, had backfired due to the lowered defenses that came as a trade-off for increased speed.
"Using Dig to escape underground and attack from a blind spot... It's not a bad idea, but your tactics are becoming a bit predictable."
The strategy Amethio employed with Garchomp was similar to what he had used with Ceruledge's Phantom Force. While versatile, relying on the same tactics repeatedly made it easier to counter.
"…Garchomp, I'm sorry. That was my mistake. Can you still fight?"
"Gaaaargh!"
Amethio humbly accepted Jin's criticism. A trainer who blames their Pokémon for mistakes will never become truly strong. In this sense, Amethio had the potential to be a great Pokémon Trainer.
(Amethio… He's definitely going to become even stronger.)
Jin, as a fellow Trainer, welcomed the thought of future battles against an increasingly formidable Amethio. But no matter how skilled or honorable Amethio might be in battle, he remained an enemy—someone who threatened Liko, the person Jin loved most.
(It's a shame, but for Liko's safety and the future of our journey, I need to defeat and capture him here and now...)
Just as Jin reaffirmed his resolve and began crafting his next strategy, a loud explosion echoed from one of the tunnels connected to the cave, followed by a series of heavy impacts that caused rocks to fall from the ceiling.
"What the!?"
"What is…?"
The sudden commotion forced both Jin and Amethio to pause their battle and scan their surroundings in alarm. Out of the tunnel where the explosion had occurred, a minecart came speeding towards them at an incredible pace.
"Liko! Roy!"
Inside the minecart were Liko and Roy, the very people Jin had been searching for. Following behind them was Friede, riding on the back of an injured Charizard. In his arms, he held the heavily damaged Cap, who was in a state of complete exhaustion. Bringing up the rear, pursuing them, was a massive Pokémon that emerged from the tunnel.
"!? What the!?"
The Pokémon had a terrifying appearance, enveloped in blazing, red-black flames. It resembled a colossal bird, radiating an intense aura of malice and fury. Both Jin and Amethio instantly realized that this was the most dangerous enemy they had faced yet.
"Use Scale Shot!"
"Dragon Pulse!"
Acting on pure instinct as trainers, Jin and Amethio simultaneously commanded their Pokémon to attack. Garchomp's Scale Shot struck the left wing of the creature, while Salamence's Dragon Pulse hit its right wing. The force of the combined attacks caused the fearsome Pokémon to lose altitude and crash to the ground.
"Jin! This way!"
"I'm fine! Friede, take care of the others!"
Liko desperately reached out from the speeding minecart, calling for Jin, but he neither reached back nor even turned to look at her. His focus was locked on the mysterious Pokémon that had appeared and was now preparing to take flight again. Jin couldn't afford to let his guard down.
"...Sorry! I'm counting on you!"
Friede, ideally, would have preferred to stay behind and fight. However, Cap was already out of commission, and Charizard was nearing its limit. In this situation, it was doubtful Friede could even buy them much time. Jin, on the other hand, had more Pokémon at his disposal and was a skilled battler. Though it pained him to leave the responsibility to someone much younger, Friede knew Jin was the best fit for the job. With that, Friede guided the minecart out of the cave, following Liko and Roy.
"Now then... what to do."
Jin had managed to get the three of them out safely, but from here on, he had no plan. As he began to reassess the situation, he noticed something wedged between the claws of the mysterious Pokémon's right foot.
(An ancient Poké Ball... I was right after all.)
There was no longer any doubt in Jin's mind. This was the third of the Six Heroes, following the black Rayquaza and Arboliva from the forest. The sheer pressure it emitted was on par with the dark Rayquaza and Darkrai, forcing him to acknowledge its immense power.
"Data unavailable: Unknown Pokémon"
Jin attempted to scan the Pokémon using his Rotom Phone, but there was no information on this Pokémon in the Pokédex.
(No data... That means I'll have to figure it out on my own. Judging from its wings, it must be part Flying-type. And if what the workers said is true, this thing likely drained their energy. Its dark aura suggests it might be a Dark-type as well. And its appearance...)
The creature bore a striking resemblance to Moltres, one of the legendary birds from the Kanto region. Jin had seen many records and videos of it before. However, the Pokémon before him looked far more sinister than any depiction of Moltres he had ever encountered.
(A regional form… Could this be Galarian Moltres?)
It wasn't unheard of for Pokémon to adapt to the environments of different regions, changing their appearance and typing. If that were the case, this explanation would fit perfectly.
(Two encounters with legendary Pokémon in one day… What a jackpot.)
After facing Darkrai earlier, Jin couldn't believe his luck in encountering yet another rare and powerful Pokémon. While others might consider this a nightmare, Jin's heart raced with excitement at the prospect of battling such strong opponents.
"Faaaaaiiire!"
With a fierce cry, the Galarian Moltres took to the air once again, spreading its wings wide and unleashing a malevolent aura that burned like a raging inferno. The dark energy enveloped both Salamence and Garchomp before surging towards Jin and Amethio.
(...I see what this is.)
A sense of foreboding washed over Jin as the aura closed in. He quickly realized that this must be the technique that had drained the workers' energy, and dodging it seemed impossible given its wide range. Based on Salamence's reaction after being hit, Jin concluded that the move caused little direct damage but still prepared himself to endure it.
Just as the ominous aura was about to engulf Jin and Amethio, one of the Poké Balls in Jin's pocket suddenly began to shake. A Pokémon burst out, standing between them and the approaching dark energy.
"What!?"
"This can't be… Darkrai!?"
Despite the Poké Ball's unresponsiveness earlier, Darkrai emerged at the perfect moment. It extended both arms towards the incoming aura, emitting a green light that enveloped Jin and Amethio.
"Is that... Protect?"
Darkrai strained to shield them from the massive malevolent aura that filled the entire cave. Though already wounded from the previous battle, Darkrai managed to guard Jin and Amethio before finally collapsing, completely spent.
"Darkrai!?"
Jin quickly recalled Darkrai into its Poké Ball, realizing that continuing to fight with it in this state would be too dangerous. Though he wanted to thank Darkrai for its protection and had many questions, those would have to wait until after they escaped this perilous situation.
(Salamence isn't doing well either…)
While Jin and Amethio had been shielded, Salamence and Garchomp weren't as fortunate. Both had their energy sapped by the aura. Though still able to fight, Jin knew that if a retreat became necessary, he couldn't afford to lose Salamence, his key to an aerial escape. With that in mind, he returned Salamence to its Poké Ball.
"...Amethio, if you're going to run, now's your chance. I won't chase you."
Jin had no time to worry about Amethio anymore. His priority was to buy enough time for Liko and the others to retreat safely. Amethio, on the other hand, had no such obligation. In fact, it would be more convenient for Jin if Amethio fled, rather than sticking around and complicating the situation further.
"I already told you. I'm not the same person who fled so pathetically from Rayquaza back then."
Amethio, already injured, recalled his energy-drained Garchomp into its Poké Ball and pulled out a new one. It was clear—he had no intention of running away.
"I won't leave until I settle things with you."
"...Is that so? In that case... how about we team up?"
"...What?"
"Just until we deal with this situation. I propose a temporary truce. We'll finish our battle after that. How about it?"
"..."
Both Jin and Amethio knew they couldn't continue their battle unless they first dealt with the Galarian Moltres standing before them. That much was obvious to both of them.
"...Alright."
After a moment's thought, Amethio agreed to Jin's proposal. With the black Rayquaza gone and Liko, who held the pendant, having left the cave, Amethio's top priority was now settling things with Jin. If teaming up meant he could escape this situation and finish their fight later, he was willing to agree.
"I appreciate it."
"Spare me. Let's just get this over with."
Both Jin and Amethio took out their Poké Balls and tossed them into the air. Jin called out his trusty Sceptile, while Amethio summoned a Gyarados—a fierce Pokémon with a long, dragon-like body and a distinctive three-pronged crest.
"...Impressive."
Jin couldn't help but let out a sound of admiration upon seeing Amethio's Gyarados. It wasn't just the Pokémon's high level and well-trained appearance that caught his attention. What drew Jin's gaze even more was the metal collar around Gyarados's neck, set with a single stone.
"Can you do it?"
"Of course."
"...In such a short time... that's impressive."
"Both Garchomp, Gyarados, and I share the same goal—to grow stronger and ascend to even greater heights. We've trained relentlessly for that purpose, forging a bond in the process. That's all there is to it."
Amethio spoke as if it were nothing.
(He's come a long way...)
Jin was genuinely impressed by Amethio's growth. He had known Amethio was getting stronger, but he hadn't expected him to progress this far. Without a doubt, Amethio would be an even greater threat as an enemy in the future. Jin had no illusions about that.
But those concerns were for later. Right now, there was only one thing on his mind—defeating the Galarian Moltres standing before them.
"Let's go. You ready?"
"Naturally."
Jin touched the pendant hanging around his neck, while Amethio placed a hand on the wristband around his right arm.
"Go beyond your limits."
"Ascend to greater heights."
In that instant, both Jin and Amethio's Key Stones and the Mega Stones embedded in Sceptile's scarf and Gyarados's collar began to shine, enveloping the two Pokémon.
"Mega Evolve!"
// END
A/N: Amethio's new Pokémons are Garchomp and Gyarados.
Next time, it'll be Mega Sceptile & Mega Gyarados vs. Galarian Moltres! So if you enjoyed this, please look forward to the next chapter.
Enjoying the story? Can't wait to see what happens next? 👀
Read up toChapter 66 right now on Patreon! 💥
👉 Patreon.com/RedX43 👈
Your support means the world and helps me keep the chapters coming faster than ever! ❤️🔥