Pokemon: Reborn Rich Alternate Earth-Chapter 529: A Worthy Opponent

As the Hydreigon continued its relentless onslaught, the energy exploded underground like a balloon suddenly bursting.

BOOM!!

Another deafening explosion followed. The sound was so immense that Julian had to use his psychic abilities to shield his ears—otherwise, he would have been knocked unconscious by the sheer force of it.

Aso and Eguchi weren’t so lucky. The two had already fainted from the blast, with blood still trickling from their ears. Even in unconsciousness, their faces were twisted in pain.

The massive explosion erupted, accompanied by a milky-white circular shockwave that spread outward in all directions. Wherever it passed, trees, rocks, and anything else in its path were completely shattered.

A full quarter of the entire Akala Island suffered varying degrees of damage. The epicenter in particular was turned into a wasteland.

Countless Pokémon were injured or killed in the devastation.

Hidden high in the sky, the island guardian Tapu Lele watched with a dark expression.

Rather than calling this a battle between two Pokémon, it felt more like total destruction.

Still, it didn’t intervene—the fight hadn’t yet crossed the threshold of truly endangering the island.

Besides, this gave it a perfect opportunity to observe Metagross’s true strength.

Julian would eventually leave the island—and when that happened, it might have to face that Metagross itself.

The gene serum had indeed made Hydreigon unbelievably powerful. Its destructive ability far surpassed what should be possible at its actual level.

No wonder, it was the power bought with life itself. The sheer force was terrifying.

Moltres looked at the devastation, gulping nervously. It feared it wouldn’t have been able to withstand such force.

Thankfully, when it fought Hydreigon earlier, the other side hadn’t used the gene serum. Otherwise, it would’ve been utterly crushed.

Swallowing its fear, Moltres cautiously asked, "Is your Metagross... okay?"

Julian didn’t need to answer. The ground suddenly rumbled, stones flew into the air, and a moment later, Metagross appeared before Moltres’ eyes.

"Meta!"

That last attack from Hydreigon had been strong enough to breach even Metagross’s defenses. Cracks marred its metallic body.

And tendrils of black smoke coiled faintly around the injuries.

It was this strange corrosive energy that had managed to pierce through Metagross’ defenses.

ROAR—!!

Furious that Metagross was still standing, Hydreigon bellowed—

—only for large chunks of its flesh to begin rotting and sloughing off.

Having used the gene serum, Hydreigon could only survive for three minutes—and now its time was nearly up.

But perhaps because the end was near, Hydreigon’s mind suddenly regained its clarity.

With a final, defiant roar, it gathered the draconic and corruptive energy, cloaking itself in a deadly aura.

Outrage!

This was its last attack.

And it would not die alone.

Its gaze fell upon its unconscious trainer lying on the ground.

A resolute will burned in its eyes—no matter what, it had to defeat Metagross. Otherwise, its trainer would certainly die.

Empowered by this determination, Hydreigon’s aura flared even more violently.

“Meta!”

For the first time, Metagross’s expression turned serious. At this moment, it sensed real danger.

"What a shame."

Julian shook his head.

To him, Aso was nothing but scum.

But to Hydreigon?

Aso was the first human it ever saw after opening its eyes—the one who raised it, who tolerated its violent temper—even when it had once snapped and nearly ripped his arm off in a frenzy, Aso never gave up on it.

A Pokémon’s feelings for its trainer are pure.

In this world, the most basic measure of a person’s character is to look at how they treat their Pokémon.

If someone yells at and beats their own Pokémon, then their character is definitely rotten.

"Metagross— Giga Impact. Send it off with dignity."

Julian said in a low, deep voice.

Giga Impact erupted in a silver-white radiance, while Hydreigon’s Outrage burned with pitch-black fury.

The two opposing forces streaked toward each other—

—and collided.

BOOOOOOM—!!!

For a moment, the world itself seemed to hold its breath.

A terrifying storm of destruction erupted from the clash, even causing the space itself to tremble.

At the epicenter, a sphere of annihilation formed, swelling with enough power to level half the island.

Julian’s expression changed slightly—he realized he may have gone too far.

He wasn’t worried about Metagross, but about the island.

If that sphere exploded, half the island would likely be destroyed, and countless Pokémon would die.

Even Tapu Lele, who had been watching from above, could no longer sit still.

Cursing under its breath, it quickly borrowed the island’s power, to boost its own strength to Champion-level.

Then, it created a sealed cube of Light Screen barriers to trap the glowing sphere inside—and layered multiple such cubes one over another.

As the light sphere exploded, its destructive aura rampaged within the cubes created by Light Screen.

KABLAM!!!

The first cube was instantly shattered.

The second barely held for a second.

Only at the third cube did the destructive energy finally get stopped.

The island was saved.

Julian breathed a sigh of relief.

'Good. Otherwise, the guilt would’ve ruined my appetite.'

'Well, for hot pot, at least.'

'Barbecue would still be fine, though.'

Tapu Lele descended before him, visibly seething.

"You. Went. Too. Far."

Julian scratched his nose sheepishly.

"Ah… my bad. I’ll be more careful next time. Promise.”

He hadn’t expected Hydreigon’s final, desperate strike to be that powerful.

Moltres chimed in from the side, “Oi, I’m still in his hands—you’d better watch your tone.”

Tapu Lele: "............"

For a moment, Tapu Lele thought it was hallucinating.

Moltres was actually defending Julian?

This guy had stolen your sacred treasure, slapped you hard across the face, and even used you as a mount.

'Even if you didn’t hate him, how could you side with him?'

'Are you seriously into self-abuse or something?'

'Calling you a "dumb bird" wasn’t an insult—it was a diagnosis.'

Even Julian was taken aback. He almost regretted slapping Moltres earlier—this bird clearly wasn't even mad at him.

Maybe he 'really had' slapped the bird silly.

Tapu Lele, too furious to speak, stormed off, mentally cursing Moltres the entire way. It was genuinely pissed off by Moltres.

'Stupid bird. Absolutely stupid bird.'

Before leaving, it dispelled the Light Screen barriers. If they were left there, who knows how many Flying-type Pokémon might crash into them and knock themselves out.

"Meta~"

Metagross floated over to Julian.

A third of its body was injured, but its spirit was strong and its eyes still sharp.

This battle was the toughest it had fought since its debut.

Unfortunately, after Hydreigon used Outrage, its body had completely disintegrated—there wasn’t even a trace of ash left behind.

A worthy opponent.

Julian checked Metagross’s condition. It wasn’t in serious trouble—the strange black corrosive energy on its body was already fading fast.

Once that energy completely disappeared, Metagross’s self-healing would take care of the rest in no time.

*****

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