Larry had a deep impression of that Swampert.
Back during Lucas's 6v6 Elite Four gauntlet, that Swampert had swung those naturally powerful fists of its, using Ice Punch and Waterfall to consecutively defeat four of his Pokémon, only to finally fall beneath his ace, Flamigo.
But then even his ace Flamigo fell helplessly before Luxray.
Now, that thunder beast below was a foe troublesome and disadvantageous in typing for both him and Flamigo. Larry couldn't figure out how Lucas's Swampert was supposed to fight it. Rely on type advantage?
Type immunity always has its limits. It's like a newly born Sandshrew—can it ignore the thunderbolts Zapdos drops from the cloud tops?
Even if the current is grounded and dispersed, the sheer torrent of energy alone would be enough to leave the Sandshrew on the brink of death.
Ground typing indeed gives Swampert a very obvious advantage, but isn't the best choice now to send out Lucas's ace, that Luxray, to face it?
In Larry's mind, Swampert's combat power was still a notch below Luxray's. The only confidence it had to challenge that thunder beast likely came from its Ground typing.
Ever since Lucas sent out the long-unseen Swampert, Larry had been curious about the armband on its forearm set with a pretty stone. What was it for?
When Lucas shouted "Mega Evolution," and Larry watched the light bands streaming from Swampert's armband and Lucas's chest meet midair, his expression went blank.
What a dazzling radiance.
Basking in golden currents, Swampert's very life level began to leap to the next stage. An awe-inspiring domineering aura surged up like an undersea volcano.
A moment later, the brilliance faded.
Swampert had fully transformed into a sinewy biological war engine, its whole body brimming with explosive strength. A heavy weight pressed on Larry and Flamigo's chests as if a massive boulder sat upon them.
Mega Swampert gave a shudder, and in an instant it easily tore free of the terrifying electricity.
Under the Ancient Raikou's startled gaze, the air bladders in Mega Swampert's right fist all opened at once, and the high-pressure jets of water they sprayed acted like thrusters, adding power and speed to its heavy punch.
The ground cracked inch by inch under Mega Swampert's tremendous force. In the next instant, its form turned into overlapping afterimages, blitzing to the Ancient Raikou with eye-defying speed. In the beast's suddenly constricted pupils, a fist as heavy as a thousand-pound boulder came crashing down!
Liquidation!
Boom—!
Water burst across the Ancient Raikou's hide, and that massive body was smashed into the side wall by Mega Swampert. Even the crystals inlaid there shattered into pieces.
The Ancient Raikou rose in pain. The look it cast at Mega Swampert was no longer haughty, but tinged with solemnity.
From this moment on, it would no longer underestimate Mega Swampert.
All-out—crush them!
"Liquidation seems a bit weak… No, Electric shouldn't resist Water."
Under the protection of Mimikyu, Lucas frowned. Did the Ancient Raikou have a secondary typing that resisted Water?
The Water-type energy in that last hit had basically done nothing. If not for Mega Swampert's unparalleled strength, it might not have budged the Ancient Raikou's body at all.
Thunder boomed from the mane around the Ancient Raikou's neck, and lightning as swift as arrows streaked toward Mega Swampert. The terrifying Electric-type energy within was something even ordinary Ground Pokémon couldn't guarantee to shunt 100% into the earth.
Naturally, Mega Swampert showed no carelessness. Mega Evolution is an all-around enhancement, including its dynamic vision, now corrected enough to track attacks as fast as lightning!
"Use Stomping Tantrum to generate a shockwave and block the thunder mid-flight!"
Mega Swampert moved to stomp, but in that very instant, the coursing lightning suddenly gained several tiers of speed. Before it could react, terrifying electricity exploded across its entire body.
Most of the current and energy were grounded away, while a smaller portion rampaged over its skin. The heat from the current collided with the moisture on Mega Swampert's surface, sending white mist billowing up.
There was a momentary numbness and burning, but for Mega Swampert it was nothing much. Under Lucas's command, water once more coiled around its right fist—clearly ready to test again whether the Ancient Raikou truly resisted Water-type moves.
Facing an unknown typing and unknown species is troublesome precisely because you can't apply the type-effectiveness chart to land super-effective blows.
Just then, the interior of Observation Station 4 seemed to notice the commotion from outside. A lab-coated researcher, looking nervous, opened the gate, leaned half his body out, and shouted through a megaphone: "The two Professors said it's called Raging Bolt—an Electric/Dragon-type Pokémon!!"
"Weak to Ground, Ice, Fairy, and Dragon!!!"
With that, the researcher shrank back inside again. He knew that, beyond passing on the message, staying out there would only be a liability.
Lucas's ears pricked. An Electric/Dragon Pokémon called Raging Bolt… Got it!
With intel in hand, there was no need to hold back anymore!
"Ice Punch!"
Mega Swampert leapt high. The water swirling around its fists was instantly frozen solid by Ice-type energy.
Raging Bolt also knew its omnipotent lightning wasn't very effective on this opponent, and immediately switched tactics. Massive Dragon energy gathered before it, forming into a dragon that reared back and roared, lunging to bite the airborne Mega Swampert.
In midair, Mega Swampert fired its body's air bladders for water-jet micromaneuvers, and in the instant before Dragon Pulse could bite down, it adjusted its course and narrowly avoided the attack.
Next, Mega Swampert's left fist crashed down. The dragon formed of Dragon Pulse was instantly frozen by frigid Ice energy, lost propulsion, and fell powerlessly.
As the ice sculpture of the dragon shattered into fragments, Mega Swampert swung its bulging right arm and, riding its momentum, slammed straight toward Raging Bolt!
Raging Bolt had no intention of retreating either. Its body seemed to turn into a massive Dragon Hammer, cleaving the air with overwhelming force as it charged straight at Mega Swampert!
Thoom—!
A violent collision rippled out—
This was a brutal contest of raw power against raw power. Unlike its relatively low Attack stat in the games, the strength contained in Raging Bolt's huge body was by no means something ordinary Pokémon could match.
Fortunately, Mega Swampert was just a little different.
The sound of ice spreading stood out sharply. Raging Bolt, bearing Mega Swampert's terrifying might head-on, flashed a hint of astonishment in its draconic eyes.
Why was the energy coating its body being so easily permeated by the opponent's chilling power?
Hailing from ancient times, Raging Bolt had no concept of type matchups.
In an instant, frost spread over Raging Bolt's whole body, freezing it into a huge ice sculpture five or six meters tall.
"Is it… over?"
From above, where he was ready to assist at any moment, Larry murmured under his breath.
For his Flamigo, this so-called Raging Bolt was a natural nemesis—outclassed in strength, and even if it tried to rely on speed, that terrifying, lightning-quick power would catch up. There was simply no way to fight it.
Good thing Lucas and that inexplicably further-evolving Swampert were here. Otherwise, dealing with Raging Bolt would have exacted a heavy price.
Crack—
While Larry sighed in relief, the ice sculpture began to tremble violently, countless fractures spreading as golden light seeped out from within!
Raging Bolt was breaking free!
"As expected, it's not that easy to finish it… The vitality of these Paradox species is nearly comparable to that of legendary Pokémon."
Lucas sighed, took a brown, diamond-shaped crystal, slotted it into his Z-Ring, and began preparing a Z-Move.
If they kept fighting, Mega Swampert could still take down Raging Bolt, but it would definitely cost a lot of time, and haste could easily cause collateral damage to Observation Station 4.
Better to end this quickly.
"Swampert, Earthquake to pin it—keep the range tight so we don't hit the station!"
The moment Lucas spoke, Raging Bolt burst out of the ice, its surging, raging electricity sweeping indiscriminately in all directions—Observation Station 4 included.
Larry hurriedly commanded his six Pokémon to block the wrathful Discharge with everything they had.
At the same time, Mega Swampert slammed both arms into the ground. A violent tremor erupted from beneath it, ocher shockwaves spreading outward, carefully controlled to concentrate around Raging Bolt.
The intense shaking and terrifying shockwaves twisted Raging Bolt's face in pain. Fresh out of the ice, the chill within its body hadn't yet faded, and it couldn't free itself from the Earthquake right away, forced to tank the move on sheer stamina alone.
Seizing the moment before the quake's aftershocks died down, with Raging Bolt bound in place and unable to dodge, Lucas and Mega Swampert completed all preparations for the Z-Move.
"Tectonic Rage."
Dazzling light burst from the Z-Ring, and most of Lucas's stamina poured into Mega Swampert. Under Mega Swampert's control, a massive fissure ripped open in the bedrock, swallowing the horrified Raging Bolt.
Mega Swampert's figure vanished as well, reappearing an instant later before the plummeting Raging Bolt in that seemingly bottomless abyss. Cloaked in dense Ground-type power, as if bearing the will of the earth, Mega Swampert crashed into Raging Bolt!
A surging torrent of energy roared skyward. The entire cavern let out a tortured, wavering hum. Wild Pokémon living nearby bolted blindly for the exits, fearful the cave would collapse and bury them alive.
Fortunately, the lower-layer caverns of Area Zero were sturdy enough. After the battered Raging Bolt was spat out by the jaws of the earth and fell to the ground, the tremors subsided, Mega Swampert reappeared, and the yawning rift slowly knit shut, leaving no sign it had ever opened.
Raging Bolt vs. Mega Swampert—once they had intel, the battle ended in an overwhelming victory for Mega Swampert and Lucas!
A rapidly spinning Ultra Ball slipped from Lucas's hand, struck the fallen Raging Bolt squarely, and turned it into a beam of red light that was drawn into the ball.
Off to the side, Larry, who had struggled just to withstand Raging Bolt's enraged thunder, curled his lips into a faint smile and sighed with feeling: "Only a few months apart, and he's grown even stronger."
"For someone ordinary like me, you're blindingly brilliant… But I think I understand a little now."
"I understand why Chairman Geeta had me use Flying types as an Elite Four. Some sights can't be noticed if you only walk along flat roads… For someone ordinary like me, I occasionally need to look up at talents like you who can ride the clouds."
The two were respectfully invited into Observation Station 4 by the young male researcher who had just stuck his head out with the loudhailer.
The researcher kept sneaking glances at Lucas from time to time, as if looking at a rare specimen.
According to the researcher, the situation inside Station 4 was pretty bad. Because of Raging Bolt, most electrically powered equipment had basically been rendered useless. That was also why they couldn't contact the outside world for help.
From the researcher's account, the two also learned the specifics of the station's loss of contact.
The two Professors, who should have established their lab at the very bottom, had somehow ended up near Observation Station 3. On their way back, they had the bad luck to encounter Raging Bolt from the distant river region.
The big brute made a huge mess, destroyed the temporarily unstaffed Station 3, and forced the two Professors to move down to take shelter in Station 4.
Who knew Raging Bolt would pursue them relentlessly, chasing them from the mid-layer down to the lower layer, and then—for some reason—rather than destroy Station 4, it chose to prowl in the area, keeping them trapped for days.
"I don't really know the details, since I'm just an intern logistics researcher stationed at Observation Station 4. I never imagined we'd be stuck by Raging Bolt for so long…"
Scratching his head under their questioning, the researcher looked a bit embarrassed.
They came to a door that stood half-open. Through the narrow gap, they could see a man and a woman lying quietly on small beds inside.
They were Sada and Turo.
Bandages wrapped their bodies. They were unconscious, faces a bit pale. Spots of blood had seeped through the white bandages. They didn't look good—possibly feverish.
Lucas and Larry frowned and looked at the young male researcher, who had introduced himself as Moru, their eyes asking the obvious question.
What happened to the two Professors?
Moru's expression turned heavy. He lowered his voice: "Because of Raging Bolt, our equipment is basically unusable. That includes medical devices."
"I could only bandage them temporarily and apply some medicine."
"To be honest, if you hadn't come, I was thinking that for the Professors' sake, I'd have to go out and try my luck anyway."