Of course Sabi had objections. She'd have to be crazy not to!
How could she know if John could win?
Last time, the leaders of both clans working together had barely escaped from this Pokemon. Now he wanted to rush in alone?
This was bound to end badly.
Sabi had already made up her mind, if something went wrong, she'd retreat with John immediately. Though this was her first time meeting him, he was still a Galaxy Expedition Team member. There couldn't be a "diplomatic incident."
Mega Garchomp approached rapidly. Regirock, who had been on "standby," noticed an enemy had entered its guard range and immediately activated, waving its massive Rock arm in a sudden punch.
"Hammer Arm!"
Rock's fist became coated with a thick layer of red light, like steel that had been heated to extreme temperatures in a blacksmith's forge. Even the earth would shatter under this punch.
Sabi grabbed the hem of John's clothes with one hand, ready to persuade him to retreat the moment Mega Garchomp was repelled by Regirock.
However, what happened next left her stunned.
"High Horsepower," John commanded casually, raising his hand.
CLANG!
The collision between Mega Garchomp's scythe and Regirock's punch was like a hammer striking steel, emitting a dull and heavy echo.
Bright sparks scattered everywhere, fully demonstrating the overwhelming force of the clash.
And then, the very next second—
Regirock's rock-solid body flew backward uncontrollably and crashed into the stone platform holding the special Rock.
BOOM!
An explosion.
The stone platform shattered down the middle, creating a huge crater.
Regirock then continued flying backward and slammed into the wall of Snowpoint Temple's second floor.
BOOM!
The entire temple trembled.
The Diamond and Pearl Clan members resting on the first floor jumped up from the ground almost immediately.
"What happened?" Palina looked around to find the source of the tremor.
"It seems to be coming from the second floor," a Pearl Clan member said, pointing at the ceiling.
Palina frowned. "The second floor should have been cleared already."
"Unless—" Palina's pupils suddenly dilated as she thought of something terrible, and she quickly turned to run toward the second floor.
"Everyone, prepare for battle and follow me!"
Second floor.
Regirock was deeply embedded in the wall of Snowpoint Temple's second floor.
It offered no resistance because it had already lost the ability to battle.
John tossed a Pokeball at Regirock.
With his current strength, he didn't particularly need the legendary golems anymore. But trainers have collecting habits.
John planned to let the three golems settle down at his ranch.
Gardevoir emerged behind John, and the special Rock on the stone platform was being controlled by Confusion to fly into John's hands.
[Rock of Life: Rock-type move power increased by 100%, maximum HP increased by 100%, restores 3% of HP per second.]
"Oh?" John was pleasantly surprised. He'd originally thought this was just a key, but he hadn't expected it to also be a legendary Pokemon item.
Perfect timing, he'd store it in his inventory when he got back.
Since it was Rock-type, it would be perfect for Tyranitar.
Sabi stood frozen beside him.
She stared straight at John, as if her eyes were glued to him and couldn't be pulled away.
The powerful Pokemon that even their own leader Adaman and Pearl Clan leader Irida couldn't compete with had been instantly defeated by this man's Pokemon?
"John, your Garchomp is so amazing!" Akari praised.
But she looked less shocked, as if this scene was completely expected.
"Of course." John wanted to say modestly, "No, just average strength." But Mega Garchomp had already returned with the Pokeball containing Regirock. The dragon would probably get angry if it heard John call it just "average."
"Sabi! Are you alright?"
Palina rushed up from the first floor, followed by a group of Diamond and Pearl Clan members. Everyone had released their Pokemon with serious faces, as if preparing for battle.
"I... I'm fine," Sabi snapped out of her daze and quickly replied, waving her hand.
Looking at John again, her eyes were still full of shock.
After reaching Sabi's side and confirming that all three of them were indeed uninjured, Palina began surveying the scene.
The stone platform had been blasted apart down the middle. When had such a structure appeared on the second floor?
A huge depression remained in the outline of a colossus. There had definitely been a major battle here.
Stairs leading to the third floor.
Wait, those were the stairs leading to the third floor!
"This..."
"This is where that powerful Pokemon was..."
"But... where is that Pokemon?" Palina looked around trying to find Regirock.
"Right here." John took the Pokeball from Garchomp, who had just released its MEGA evolution.
Palina immediately fixed her gaze on the Pokeball in John's hand.
Though she'd never seen the Pokeball style John used, it wasn't difficult to recognize it as a Pokeball.
"You captured it?" Palina couldn't believe it.
"Yes," John smiled.
Roar!
Garchomp waved its claw, taking credit.
"This..." Palina wanted to question him but was interrupted by Sabi before she could speak.
"Yes, that Pokemon was captured by John. I saw it with my own eyes."
Palina looked at Sabi.
As a warden of the Diamond Clan, Sabi wouldn't lie about something like this.
"I'll restore some of its strength first, then release it so you can see," John offered.
Palina nodded. She needed to see it with her own eyes before she'd believe it.
"By the way, where's the stone used to open the door to the underground levels?"
"Also here." John pulled out the Rock of Life and showed it.
"But I need to keep this item."
"That's only natural. You defeated that Pokemon, so the key will naturally be kept by you," Sabi quickly agreed without waiting for Palina to voice any objections.
Unconsciously, she'd even changed how she addressed John.
At the same time, she signaled Palina with her eyes to agree.
Palina had no objection, it was just a key. No matter who kept it, it would ultimately be used to open the door anyway. Seeing that Sabi had already agreed, she said nothing more.
After storing the Rock of Life, John glanced at Regirock's stats again. He was about to put it in his inventory when the attribute panel truly surprised him.