Axel had never seen Giratina before, so naturally he didn't know what level Giratina was.
According to Cynthia's research into ancient mythology, the Giratina of this world should be overwhelmingly stronger than both Dialga and Palkia.
To be safe, Axel brought along all his main legendary Pokémon.
Emmm... not that he was afraid of losing, mainly, he was afraid that thing would run away.
When the topic came to Rayquaza, Cynthia couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"You're really something, you actually let Palkia keep an eye on Dialga? Aren't you afraid they'll both run off together?"
Cynthia knew that Axel was still thinking about having Dialga help Glastrier travel through time, which was why he hadn't released it yet.
But having Palkia watch over Dialga, was that really reliable?
"Relax," Axel said, "Giovanni contacted me yesterday, said he'll be at the Sinnoh League soon. With him there, Dialga won't be going anywhere."
Cynthia: "???"
'Having Giovanni guard Dialga?'
She seriously wanted to ask Axel if he had a fever.
Even though it hadn't been officially announced, all the major leagues already knew Giovanni was the leader of Team Rocket.
The only reason he hadn't been arrested yet was that he'd been utterly meticulous, never once showing his true face to the public.
Under those circumstances, the League's people were all avoiding Giovanni, and Axel actually called him over?
"Relax," Axel said again, grinning when he saw Cynthia's dumbfounded, adorable expression.
"He's got a deep grudge against Pryce, and Pryce dreams day and night of catching the god that governs time."
"Anywhere he is, is the safest place for a time-type god to be."
Besides… there was one more thing Axel didn't say aloud.
Giovanni had his own pride. Until he found Silver, he would never let his son learn that he was the leader of Team Rocket.
Suspicion was fine, but confirmation was absolutely off-limits.
Cynthia was about to ask something else when the Garchomp beneath them suddenly let out a low growl.
Axel and Cynthia looked toward the distance, and a small island dotted with several massive, distinctive buildings came into view.
The Battle Frontier Islands were in sight.
"Let's go down," Cynthia said. Both of them dropped the earlier topic. Feeling the chaos coming from the Battle Castle, their eyes grew sharp.
A flash of white light and Rayquaza's ancient body appeared from within its Poké Ball.
After earning the recognition of the space-time twin dragons, Rayquaza could now enjoy the title bonus of Guardian Deity of the Eastern Lands in the Sinnoh region.
Even just emerging, without having performed Dragon Dance yet, it radiated an overwhelming aura of sheer dominance.
A mighty royal pressure spread like a tidal wave. The power of its Air Lock stirred violent gales, sending waves hundreds of meters high crashing across the ocean's surface.
This was the god of the Eastern Lands, the one who had once protected them single-handedly.
Even if its level hadn't returned to its peak, it could still unleash a force that could destroy heaven and earth alike.
"Rayquaza!", Axel called out.
Rayquaza nodded at once. The raging winds over the sea suddenly shifted direction, the towering waves slamming against the water to form countless sea tornadoes spiraling toward the sky, as though surrounding the entire Battle Frontier Islands.
Mewtwo appeared as well in a flash of white light, hovering above the Battle Castle. Its psychic power exploded outward, forming a barrier like Palkia's, sealing off the area as tightly as possible.
After these preparations, Axel swept his arm out, pulling Cynthia close as he stood upright on Garchomp's back.
Rayquaza's body twisted and coiled rapidly, soaring toward the Battle Castle.
"Axel!", Amid the raging storm, seeing that the Battle Castle hadn't suffered too much damage, Cynthia's mood visibly lightened. She teased Axel with a smile.
"With you descending from the heavens like that, I think Caitlin might just fall for you~"
"Huh?", Axel froze, the confidence on his face giving way to sudden panic.
'Caitlin… liking me?'
Just picturing that girl, wearing Valentino heels and Balenciaga clothes, touching her chin while pulling out a black-gold card, made him shiver instinctively.
"Rayquaza, wait—"
Axel wanted Rayquaza to hold back, to let another Pokémon test the situation first.
Even if he got beaten up personally, he really didn't want Caitlin to see him making some grand, flashy entrance.
But Rayquaza, having already built up such dramatic momentum, was completely fired up.
["Wait? Wait for what?"]
["Relax, Axel! Today I'll show Giratina what true royal majesty looks like!"]
["A mere little underworld dragon dares to lay hands on Caitlin, the one who once helped your Gardevoir and the others?"]
["I, Rayquaza, won't stand for it!"]
Axel: "..."
'No, please, big guy, I can stand it. You don't need to stand up for me...'
Under the power of Dragon Dance and the roaring winds, Rayquaza's speed became terrifyingly fast.
Dark afterimages streaked across the sky, the air behind it forming a blinding white trail. Clouds were swept into a massive, dreamlike wind tunnel.
Within this resistance-free tunnel, Garchomp's speed visibly increased as well, chasing after Rayquaza toward the Battle Castle.
"Giratina! Get out here and face this Dragon God!"
———
Inside the Battle Castle, upon hearing that outrageously arrogant shout, Giratina, who had just been knocked over again by Wobbuffet, froze in disbelief.
It stared blankly at Wobbuffet and Gyarados in front of it, completely questioning its own existence.
Throughout this whole fight, it had used countless moves trying to deal with Caitlin and the two Pokémon standing before her.
But no matter what Giratina did, that Gyarados always managed to foresee its attacks from the Reverse World through space itself.
Every time Giratina appeared, it would instantly be met by Wobbuffet, who would teleport right into its face and counter it with some ridiculous rebound move.
Right now, Giratina really wanted to ask, 'Are you a Slime or something?'
'How can you bounce everything back like that?'
And even worse, these two had actually called for reinforcements.
'I've been taking all these hits and never called anyone, and you two do this? How's that fair?'
Giratina decided to teach this newcomer a lesson.
'I couldn't capture Caitlin because I wanted her alive, that's why I wasn't using full power. I didn't want to accidentally kill her.'
'But you, flying up there in the sky, dare to shout at me? Then don't blame me for being rude!'
As for whether it could win, Giratina wasn't worried at all.
In Sinnoh, a Pokémon that could act as an ally to this space-wielding Gyarados and call itself a Dragon God, who else could it be but Palkia?
'After all, this is Sinnoh.'
'There's no way it could actually be Rayquaza, right?'
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.