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The descent didn't stop at the surface. As we hit the water, the team split with surgical precision. The "Free Bird" chaos was gone, replaced by the heavy, rhythmic drive of "Hero." We were the law now, and the planet's heart was on the line.
Phase 1: The Siphon Sabotage (The Origin Cave)
While the fleet provided cover, Kage (Sceptile) and Genji (Greninja) became a dual-threat blur of green and blue, diving into the submerged entrance of the Origin Cave.
The Siphon: A massive, pulsing drill of Magma-tech, held in place by Aqua's high-pressure anchors. It was literally drinking the golden "Vigor" of the planet.
The Sabotage: Genji used his new Water Shuriken—now massive and glowing with dark energy—to slice through the cooling lines. The moment the temperature spiked, Kage executed Sun Breathing: Final Form – Verdant Sun.
The Strike: Kage's obsidian-core Leaf Blade didn't just cut; it cauterized the Siphon's energy ports. He used the momentum of the water to spin into a frenzy, severing the anchor cables.
The Siphon groaned, a massive metallic shudder echoing through the tectonic plate. The energy flow flickered and died. The "heart attack" was averted, but the Coalition's backup plan was already waking up.
Phase 2: The Mecha-Tentacruel Siege
With the Siphon disabled, the Mecha-Tentacruel—a floating fortress of steel and glowing red sensors—roared in a mechanical frequency that shattered the nearby ice. Without the core energy, it was running on emergency batteries, but it was still a city-killer.
"Titans, surround the beast!" I commanded, my Stamina Band pulsing as I directed the flow of battle from the deck of a League frigate.
Stage 1: Dismantling the Limbs
The Mecha-Tentacruel had twelve armored tentacles, each tipped with a laser cannon.
Tammy (Liepard) and Jerry (Rattata) took the lower deck. Tammy used Opal Flash to confuse the targeting sensors, while Jerry used Extreme Speed + Brick Break to shatter the hydraulic joints of the tentacles as they slammed into the ship.
Blaze (Blaziken) used the falling debris as stepping stones, delivering Brave Bird strikes to the main turret housings, melting the steel with his white-hot ribbons of flame.
Stage 2: The Psychic Shield
The Mecha-Tentacruel unleashed a "Dark-Pulse" wave to clear the deck. Eli (Gardevoir) stepped forward, her shimmering cape expanding into a Light Screen that covered the entire fleet.
The Duo: Raven (Mega Absol) stood beside her. Raven didn't just block; she predicted. Every time the machine prepared a blast, Raven intercepted it with a Night Slash of such density it acted as a physical shield.
Stage 3: The Core Breach
"Now! The eye is exposed!" May shouted, her own "Vigor" resonating with the Titan Key.
Kage and Genji erupted from the water like missiles.
The Finisher: Eli reached into my mind for the final "Chorus." She projected a psychic "anchor" for Genji. He formed a Giant Water Shuriken, Kage reinforced it with a Leaf Blade cross-cut, and Blaze added a Flare Blitz core.
The Result: The "Titan Spear" slammed into the central core of the Mecha-Tentacruel.
The machine let out a final, metallic scream. The red sensors faded to a dull grey. The massive structure began to tilt, sinking slowly into the Sootopolis sea.
The Final Stand: The Rescue
Through the smoke on the sinking deck, we saw them. Archie and Maxie were slumped against the wreckage of the bridge, their "Coalition" tech sparking and dying. They looked broken, not just defeated, but hollow. The "Endgame" they had sacrificed everything for had just turned into a scrap heap.
"The fleet is moving in for the arrest," Steven's voice crackled over the private channel. "Good work, Jake. You saved the region."
I looked at the Titans. Kage was cleaning his blade; Blaze was cooling his heels; Genji was perched on a floating beam; Raven and Eli were watching the sunset; and Tammy was currently "lawfully acquiring" the Admin's golden cufflink.
"We're not done yet," I said, looking at the two leaders. "We still have to bring them home."