As the sworn enemy of Team Rocket, Lance of the Dragon Masters instantly recognized their uniforms.
However, the Alola region was a remote island territory—
even a Champion like him had never heard of these so-called Island Guardians.
So how did Team Rocket manage to get their hands on such intel?
In the broadcast, the Island Guardian was surrounded by a large group of Team Rocket members!
They had released a variety of Pokémon,
most of which were in their third and final stages of evolution.
And at the forefront were two particularly unique Pokémon—
They looked strikingly similar to Aggron and Steelix!
But… they only looked similar.
Upon closer inspection, their bodies were entirely different.
It was as if… they had evolved further!
[Yan Kai: Wait, can Aggron MEGA evolve?!!]
[Steven: Steelix can MEGA evolve too!]
The two Steel-type enthusiasts spoke up,
their first reaction was actually excitement over the MEGA evolutions!
[Wallace: You idiots! Forget about their evolutions! Isn't the real problem the fact that the Island Guardian is in serious danger?!]
[Wallace: Even for a Legendary Pokémon, facing dozens of enemies at once—especially ones with MEGA evolutions—it's going to be a tough fight!]
[Professor Kukui: Don't worry, Mr. Wallace. Tapu Koko… is far from weak.]
As the comments flew across the screen, Team Rocket began their assault.
A barrage of attacks exploded toward the Island Guardian—
Flamethrowers, Flash Cannons, Fire Blasts…
All long-range moves!
Even with their numerical advantage, none of them dared to get close!
Yet Tapu Koko remained calm amidst the chaos.
Under the breathless gaze of viewers around the world, the Guardian moved!
It thrust its right hand into the ground, and a violent surge of energy erupted from its body!
Purple light flared—energy rippled like a storm!
The ground turned into a smooth, glassy mirror of violet light.
Centered on Tapu Koko, the power exploded outward like a nuclear blast!
The shockwave engulfed nearly the entire dormant volcano!
The very earth seemed to quake!
This was Tapu Koko's signature move—Nature's Wrath!
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed. The screen filled with smoke.
When the haze cleared, Tapu Koko hovered serenely in midair—
while every Pokémon that had attacked it, including the two massive MEGA-evolved titans,
lay defeated on the ground!
Tapu Koko's gaze fell upon the remaining Team Rocket members.
That single glance was enough to send them fleeing in terror, scrambling to recall their Pokémon.
But could one simply come and go before a deity at will?
Golden lightning crackled around Tapu Koko.
Thunder roared like divine judgment from the heavens!
Every Team Rocket member was struck in an instant, charred black by the surge of electricity!
Then, its body glowing with a pinkish aura, Tapu Koko shot forward like a cannonball,
slamming the scorched Rockets one after another through the air!
Within moments, not a single Team Rocket agent remained in the volcano.
As for whether any of them survived… no one cared.
Those who joined such evil organizations deserved no pity!
Not every member of Team Rocket was like the "harmless" trio, after all.
What truly shocked everyone was Tapu Koko's terrifying might!
The previous Legendary Pokémon had all been powerful, yes—
but Tapu Koko was on an entirely different level!
It wasn't even fair to compare them!
The broadcast ended there…
This was the shortest prelude they'd ever seen,
yet it showed the world what it truly meant to wield the power of a god!
"That Island Guardian is so cool! He's my new favorite deity from now on!"
"How can Tapu Koko be this awesome?!"
"Ah~ I wouldn't mind getting zapped by Tapu Koko!"
"..."
——
"This is my first time seeing Tapu Koko in action,"
Professor Kukui said with awe. "He's far stronger than I ever imagined."
"Tapu Koko was so cool when fighting those bad guys!
Do the other three Guardians have power like that too?!"
Mallow, her green hair bouncing and dressed in grey short overalls, was visibly thrilled.
Watching Tapu Koko fight had completely fired her up!
Beside her, Lillie—poised and soft-spoken as always—smiled faintly.
"Tapu Koko really is incredible… Truly worthy of being our island's protector."
As she spoke, her gaze flickered slightly.
Would that boy who once appeared on the ranking list show up again?
If he did… would that mean he was coming to Alola?
Pikachu… Ash… somehow, they felt strangely familiar.
——
[Lance: That destructive power… it's not even on the same scale as the other Legendaries!]
[Bruno: Compared to him, Regice or Latios look weak!]
[Brandon: ??? You'd better rephrase that, or I, the Temple King and Regi fan, will come knocking!]
[Cynthia: It's not that the others are weak—Tapu Koko is simply too strong. I believe… he's a Legendary Pokémon with divine authority!]
[Steven: A Pokémon with divine authority… then that kind of strength makes sense.]
[Mallow: Um… what's "divine authority"?]
Seeing the unfamiliar name pop up in the live chat, everyone was momentarily stunned.
Then they realized—there were plenty of silent trainers watching who rarely commented.
This must have been one of them, finally curious enough to speak.
[Professor Kukui: Sorry, my student's asking questions again. Could someone explain what "divine authority" means?]
Truth be told, even Professor Kukui didn't know much about it.
Though called a professor, his expertise lay elsewhere—
for example, Professor Sycamore studied MEGA evolution,
while Kukui specialized in Z-Moves.
As for "divine authority," that was outside his field entirely.
[Cynthia: Ordinary Legendary Pokémon may have superior stats and potential,
but they're still within the bounds of battle. They can be challenged.]
[Cynthia: But those bearing divine authority are different!
They can draw directly upon the power of heaven and earth!
Every move they make carries divine force.
The gap between them and normal Legendaries is as vast
as that between normal Legendaries and ordinary Pokémon!]
A divine beast bearing divine authority—terrifying indeed!
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