Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect-Chapter 597: The Ruler Of The Skies

John felt like he was dreaming.

Right now, a thousand thoughts and emotions were swirling through his mind, but they all boiled down to one simple statement:

"Togepi, Jirachi, you trully are the best!"

Mega Gardevoir materialized on the tower's peak, and her presence immediately roused the sleeping Rayquaza from its slumber. However, this particular Shiny Rayquaza didn't react with the same aggressive hostility as the previous ones. Instead, it simply raised its head, fixing Mega Gardevoir with those piercing golden eyes, calm, calculating, utterly silent.

As if asking: Can I help you?

Mega Gardevoir immediately felt an overwhelming sense of pressure emanating from the creature.

Through the empathic bond created by MEGA Evolution's, John could feel exactly what Gardevoir was experiencing. The conclusion was instant and undeniable, this Rayquaza was absurdly strong.

Far beyond any of the other Rayquazas they'd encountered so far.

"Perfect. That's exactly what I want, it's only worth catching if it's this powerful," John said, issuing his attack command without hesitation.

Mega Gardevoir immediately released her distinctive Fairy-type aura, pulling the bright azure sky into pitch-black night within seconds. Above them, a clear moon bloomed into view.

Moon Queen's Domain activated!

But this battle's power surge lasted barely three seconds before the elevated aura and strength came crashing back down to normal levels.

Not far away, Shiny Rayquaza had ascended into the sky, its body wrapped in rapidly spiraling air currents. These currents seemed to connect directly to space itself, as if Rayquaza was literally tearing through the darkness John had created.

High in the sky, Shiny Rayquaza stared coldly down at both Mega Gardevoir and John. It had figured out their intentions immediately.

All the buffs related to Moon Queen's Domain on Mega Gardevoir's status completely vanished.

They hadn't experienced this problem before when facing Palkia and Dialga, Pokemon powerful enough to cut through space and influence time. Yet now, against Rayquaza, it had simply used air pressure to accomplish the same thing.

"Air pressure?" John thought of Rayquaza's ability: Air Lock.

The Air Lock ability's documented effect was simply to negate weather effects and prevent weather from changing. It shouldn't have any relationship to unique field effects like Moon Queen's Domain.

But this was the only explanation John could think of for why Rayquaza could tear apart the Domain when other legendary Pokemon couldn't.

"No buffs? Whatever, doesn't matter," John commanded his next move without missing a beat.

"Gardevoir, use Moonblast!"

Mega Gardevoir clasped her hands before her chest. Even though Moon Queen's Domain had been shattered, as long as the moon remained visible, she could still channel its power.

And with the Pixie Plate amplifying her attacks, Moonblast's damage output would be devastating regardless!

Guided moonlight missiles launched!

John watched in amazement as Shiny Rayquaza didn't even touch the Moonblast projectiles. Instead, as it flew past them, the violent air currents surrounding its body simply swept up all the lunar energy, spinning the attacks harmlessly around it.

At the highest point in the sky, pink explosions filled the air like fireworks. Rayquaza gazed coldly down at John and Mega Gardevoir.

Strangely, it didn't follow up with any attacks of its own. Almost as if it was waiting for Mega Gardevoir to come up into the sky and fight it properly.

"It wants us to come fight in its domain?" John glanced around the tower's peak, his gaze finally settling on the intact floor beneath them. Wait, was Rayquaza refusing to attack because it didn't want to destroy Sky Pillar, its own sleeping quarters?

"Well, if that's what you want," John said, snapping his fingers decisively.

Mega Gardevoir immediately used Teleport, moving both herself and John into the airspace simultaneously. Though John didn't stay in the same location as Gardevoir, instead positioning himself several thousand feet away for safety.

He quickly summoned his Shadow Lugia as a standing platform.

The Sky High Pokemon opened its massive maw, and a beam of pure destructive energy condensed within. Golden light gathered, growing brighter and brighter until—

Hyper Beam!

The golden ray tore through the sky like a lance of pure devastation, carving a trail of destruction through the clouds. The air itself seemed to scream as the attack burned through atmospheric moisture, leaving a tunnel of superheated vapor in its wake.

Anyone witnessing that level of raw destructive power would never question Rayquaza's might!

Mega Gardevoir quickly used Teleport to dodge.

For the next several minutes, the battle devolved into a war of attrition, Mega Gardevoir using Teleport to constantly reposition while wearing down Shiny Rayquaza's stamina.

After more than twenty consecutive Hyper Beam attacks, Shiny Rayquaza's assault finally paused. It looked toward Mega Gardevoir with even sharper, more calculating eyes.

Then it moved.

A series of sonic booms erupted across the horizon as one sound barrier after another shattered. The Sky High Pokemon was pushing itself to maximum velocity, leaving trails of broken air in its wake.

As it accelerated through the atmosphere at impossible speeds, Shiny Rayquaza's exterior began glowing with golden light. Its body started transforming, morphing into something even more powerful.

Its lower jaw extended forward, becoming blade-sharp and menacing. Long, flowing tendrils unfurled from its body, releasing golden particles that sparkled like stars. From a distance, it looked like elegant ribbons flowing in the wind. Its body became studded with orb-like protrusions that pulsed with concentrated, high-pressure energy, glowing amber gems embedded along its serpentine form.

Rayquaza's current form was something John had only ever seen in the anime before.

This was Mega Rayquaza!