CHAPTER 411: THE ULTIMATE SHADOW

Above Sea Mauville, storm clouds gathered with unnatural speed. The wind howled across Route 108, driving sheets of rain against the abandoned platform. An oppressive darkness had settled over the waters, and the wild Pokemon that normally inhabited the area had fled to safer depths.

Only the mindless Shadow Pokemon remained, floating around the facility like devoted sentinels, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy.

BOOM!

The upper deck of Sea Mauville exploded outward as a massive form burst through the steel plating. Dark Lugia emerged into the storm, its obsidian wings spread wide against the turbulent sky.

ROOOOOAAAAAR!

The legendary Pokemon’s cry echoed across the ocean, a sound of pure rage and fury that seemed to challenge the very heavens. Lightning flickered in response, as if the storm itself recognized the presence of this corrupted deity.

In a flash of dark energy, Lovrina and her Malamar teleported onto Dark Lugia’s back. Simultaneously, John and Mega Gardevoir appeared in the air nearby, hovering through psychic power.

John had already recalled his Garchomp, knowing that aerial combat would require different tactics.

"Great, now I have to fight a legendary Pokemon," John muttered, though there was no real frustration in his voice. If anything, he seemed almost excited by the challenge.

The good news was that this Shadow Lugia was only level 83, powerful, but not impossibly so. That explained why the Sea Mauville dungeon had a recommended level of 90. It was still within the range of what he could handle.

"Zeraora, looks like we’ve got ourselves a worthy opponent!" John called out, tossing a Pokeball into the stormy sky.

The Electric-type Pokemon materialized in a flash of blue lightning, its white mane flowing in the wind. Lugia was Psychic and Flying-type, making Electric attacks super effective, exactly what John needed.

From her perch on Dark Lugia’s back, Lovrina’s eyes lit up with greed. "Zeraora! What a rare and powerful Pokemon! If I could convert it into a Shadow Pokemon..." She practically drooled at the thought.

"Let’s open with a big one, Zeraora!" John pulled a golden Z-Crystal from his pocket and slotted it into his Z-Ring. "Z-Move: Gigavolt Havoc

!"

Golden energy erupted from John’s body, flowing through the air to envelop Zeraora. The Electric-type’s form became wreathed in brilliant light that grew brighter and brighter until it was nearly blinding.

In an instant, the golden aura transformed into pure, devastating white lightning.

The storm clouds above Sea Mauville were torn apart by the radiance. What had been a dark, oppressive sky was suddenly pierced by what looked like a miniature sun descending from above. The light was so intense that it was impossible to look directly at Zeraora’s form.

With a casual gesture, Zeraora raised one paw. Lightning coalesced in its grip, forming a crackling javelin of pure electrical energy.

This wasn’t just any Electric attack. It was a Z-Move enhanced by Zeraora’s Volt Absorb ability, with the boost from Charge and the critical hit potential of Thunder. The combined power far exceeded what even Electric-type legendary Pokemon could typically produce.

Zeraora hurled the lightning spear.

A brilliant white flash split the sky, tearing through both clouds and space itself as it streaked toward the Dark Lugia. The attack moved faster than the eye could follow.

Even Wallace’s Milotic wouldn’t have been able to react to such speed, but the massive Dark Lugia managed to respond. Its powerful arms crossed in front of its body, and a shimmering barrier of dark energy formed around it.

The lightning javelin struck the barrier with a sound like breaking glass.

CRACK!

The electric attack’s penetrating power immediately became apparent. The white lightning punched through the dark barrier as if it were paper, driving deep into Dark Lugia’s chest.

Brilliant light exploded across the legendary Pokemon’s form. The overwhelming electrical energy coursed through its body, turning its black form temporarily white as every nerve and muscle convulsed uncontrollably.

Lovrina had teleported away the moment she saw the attack coming, she had no desire to be caught in the crossfire of such devastating power.

For several seconds, Dark Lugia hung in the air, wreathed in crackling electricity. Then, with a thunderous crash, it plummeted toward the ocean below.

"What terrifying power!" Lovrina gasped, watching in disbelief as her ultimate Shadow Pokemon was so easily overwhelmed. "How can his Zeraora be that strong?"

"Gyarados, Ice Beam!" John threw another Pokeball without missing a beat.

His shiny red Gyarados materialized above the churning waters and immediately began its Mega Evolution. The moment the transformation completed, Mega Gyarados unleashed a devastating blast of super-cooled energy across the ocean’s surface.

The sea froze solid in a massive radius, trapping the Shadow Pokemon that had been lurking beneath the waves and creating a solid platform where Dark Lugia would land.

CRASH!

The legendary Pokemon struck the ice rather than disappearing into the depths. John had no intention of letting it retreat to the water where it could use its mastery of aquatic moves to full advantage.

"Thunder!" John pressed his attack relentlessly.

Zeraora raised both paws skyward, calling down another bolt of lightning to strike the downed legendary.

As a legendary Pokemon, Dark Lugia’s stamina far exceeded that of ordinary Pokemon, even at its relatively low level. But the combination of Z-Move damage and continuous electrical assault was clearly taking its toll.

"Dragonite, help Lugia!" Lovrina shouted desperately.

The Shadow Dragonite that had been defeated by Mega Garchomp earlier burst from the ruins of Sea Mauville. Its darkened form was battered but not broken, the shadow energy had enhanced its durability significantly.

Wreathed in dark aura, it charged toward Zeraora, attempting to intercept the Thunder attack with its own body.

John shook his head at the display. "You might be a brilliant scientist, but you’re a terrible trainer."

Even as he spoke, he was already reaching for another Pokeball.

"Garchomp, you’re up again!"

The Ground/Dragon-type materialized and immediately underwent Mega Evolution. Without waiting for orders, it launched itself skyward with Dragon Rush

, combined with Quick Attack and the stat boosts from Dragon Dance.

The result was an emerald comet that intercepted the Shadow Dragonite head-on, sending it crashing through the ice and into the frozen ocean below.

BOOM!

Meanwhile, Zeraora’s Thunder struck Dark Lugia with full force. White lightning coursed across the legendary Pokemon’s form, causing it to convulse and cry out in pain.

ROOOOOAAAAAR!

But instead of being defeated, the electrical stimulation seemed to activate something within Dark Lugia. Its eyes flashed with renewed fury, and dark energy began pouring from its body, dispelling the electric current clinging to its form.

"Hm? It can still fight?" John raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.

The Z-Move Gigavolt Havoc should have dealt massive damage. Why had it fallen so easily before, only to recover now?

Then understanding dawned on him. "Ah, its ability must be Multiscale."

Multiscale was a devastating defensive ability that halved all damage when the Pokemon was at full health. Dark Lugia had tanked the Z-Move at full power, which explained why it had initially seemed overwhelmed, it had been paralyzed, not critically injured.

"Well, that just means I need to hit it a few more times," John said with a shrug. "The result will be the same."

Dark Lugia rose from the ice, its crimson eyes burning with hatred as it locked onto John. Lovrina rematerialized on its back, her face twisted with desperate fury.

"Lugia, use Dark Storm!"

The legendary Pokemon’s blood-red eyes flashed with malevolent energy. Its massive wings beat the air, and suddenly the ocean around them began to churn violently.

Countless black tornadoes rose from the sea, each one pulling up massive amounts of water as they twisted toward John and his Pokemon. The attack looked like a hurricane made manifest, dark energy crackling through each waterspout.

"Now this is more like it!" John grinned, his eyes lighting up with the thrill of battle. "Let’s see what you’ve really got!"