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"Boom!"
The rock gate exploded into fragments.
Greninja and Garchomp burst through the debris, one darting left and the other right.
Chris and Gardevoir cautiously entered the chamber.
Before Chris's eyes stretched an enormous magma pool, bright flames dancing across its surface.
A colossal crimson figure, towering over a hundred meters tall, sat in the magma as if enjoying a relaxing bath. Its body was impossibly massive and powerful.
"So... it's Groudon!" Chris gasped in astonishment, never expecting to encounter the legendary Pokémon here.
But before Chris could retrieve the Master Ball, a wave of red light emanated from the edge of the magma pool. Instantly, Groudon awakened, its clear bright eyes opening before becoming shrouded in a crimson glow.
"Groudon! Go! To your battle!"
Standing before the magma pool was a middle-aged man with long hair. His face twisted with manic intensity, his body covered in red lines resembling blood-drawn tattoos.
The legendary Pokémon's enormous body immediately shifted, lowering its head before diving straight into the magma, sending countless molten waves in all directions.
The crimson magma splattered outward with a sharp hissing sound, followed by plumes of white smoke carrying a pungent odor.
"You again?!" Maxie fixed Chris with his cold stare.
"However, you're one step too late this time. Groudon has already departed!"
Chris pulled his gaze away from the pool.
It wasn't really a disappointment—this was just a dungeon, and seeing Groudon in person was already surprising enough. Using a Master Ball to capture it right here would have been wishful thinking.
He might as well wait until he obtained the "Red Orb." Conquering Groudon would only be a matter of time after that.
"My target isn't Groudon, but you!" Chris locked eyes with Maxie.
A mocking smile spread across Maxie's cold face.
"Coincidentally, I was looking for you as well. Before my grand mission is complete, I should clear away any obstacles in my path."
As he spoke, he tossed a Poké Ball forward.
A Camerupt materialized on the ground, but the level displayed above its head wasn't in the early 50s as Chris might have expected. Instead, it had been raised to level 83!
Just as he thought—NPCs leveled up faster than players.
Greninja stepped forward, ready to handle this battle.
"Camerupt, Mega Evolution!" Unlike Archie, Maxie harbored genuine animosity toward Chris, so he immediately prepared to use his full strength to end this quickly.
The wind stirred!
Multicolored light enveloped Camerupt.
When the light faded, the two dormant volcanic humps on Camerupt's back had transformed into active volcanoes spewing molten lava.
The fur across its body swelled outward like a billowing skirt, replacing its previously peaceful demeanor with flying hair and an expression of fierce excitement.
"Whoa!!"
The mega-evolved Pokémon bellowed as the volcanoes on its back erupted, white smoke continuously pouring out as its fighting spirit soared!
"Greninja, let's Evolve too." Chris extended his hand and snapped his fingers.
Small streams of water emerged from the warm air to wrap around Greninja's body. When the streams burst apart, Greninja stood transformed with a massive shuriken on its back, its form more agile and powerful than before!
Maxie frowned slightly at Greninja's unusual appearance but immediately raised his hand to command.
"Camerupt, use Earth Power!"
Mega Camerupt lifted its two front hooves high, then slammed them down forcefully.
"Boom!" With a thunderous crash, the ground shattered. Cracks spread outward like a spider web, with one tear racing directly toward Greninja!
Camerupt was a Fire and Ground-type, while Greninja was resistant to Water, but Ground-type moves would deal significant damage!
"Greninja, Z-Move, Hydro Vortex!" Chris responded in kind, unleashing his strongest move immediately.
He reached into his backpack and pulled out a blue Z-Crystal, pressing it against the power bracelet on his right wrist.
Light blue energy erupted from Chris's body and flowed into Greninja.
"Crack!" Greninja felt the power surging from its trainer. Bringing both hands together before its chest, countless streams of water appeared beneath its feet, spiraling upward and enveloping its body.
In just one second, a vortex formed, immediately expanding into a massive waterspout that reached the ceiling of Team Magma's base!
Completely ignoring the Earth Power tearing through the ground, the water column pushed forward through the spreading cracks!
"A Z-Move?" Maxie gritted his teeth, raising his hand to direct another attack.
"Camerupt, use Eruption!"
Mega Camerupt stomped with all four hooves as the volcano on its back erupted violently. The Eruption move it used wasn't mere flames but actual magma!
The Eruption move was special, directly tied to a Pokémon's remaining health.
The lower the Pokémon's health, the weaker Eruption's power. Currently, Mega Camerupt was at peak condition, making this Eruption at its maximum power!
"BOOM!"
Directly between the two trainers, the water flow collided with the magma. An explosion was inevitable, creating endless clouds of steam.
"Water Shuriken!" Chris raised his hand, then lowered it slightly.
Regardless of whether his Z-Move Hydro Vortex had extinguished the magma and damaged Mega Camerupt or was blocked, he knew it wouldn't be enough to defeat Mega Camerupt in one hit.
Since it couldn't be defeated instantly, he'd use his next move to finish the job!
Greninja burst from the waterspout, reaching behind to grab the massive shuriken from its back.
In a flash, it expanded into an enormous golden Water Shuriken.
No need to aim!
Greninja hurled it downward immediately!
With Mega Camerupt's size and limited speed, evasion was impossible!
"Use Protect!" Maxie shouted as he spotted Greninja and the massive golden Water Shuriken. It was too late for Mega Camerupt to counter with another Eruption—defense was the only option.
Mega Camerupt stomped the ground with its front hooves, creating a translucent white barrier!
But when the golden Water Shuriken descended, the protective shield only resisted for a tenth of a second.
One touch and it collapsed!
The white barrier shattered like glass, leaving Mega Camerupt to take the golden Water Shuriken with its body! The shuriken carried Camerupt across the magma pool and slammed it directly into the wall.
Explosion!
Water vapor burst outward, creating a scalding rain that filled the chamber!