"Come on, let me show you what Tapu Fini can really do."
Damian lifted a hand toward Kukui and Olivia in a little "after you" gesture.
Inside her shell, Tapu Fini straightened her back slightly, lifting her chin.
Let these mortals witness the power of an island guardian deity!
"Even if it's Tapu Fini, we can still take it down!"
Olivia snorted. If beating Tapu Fini was the only way to save it, then she'd beat it.
"Gigalith!"
Gigalith let out a low roar. The wind began to howl, sand whipping into the sky.
Gigalith's Ability—Sand Stream. The weather shifted to a raging sandstorm.
Under Sandstorm, Rock-type Pokémon had their Special Defense boosted, and in real conditions, the violent wind and sand would seriously interfere with a Pokémon's vision and senses.
Tapu Fini frowned slightly in discomfort. As a Water type, she really didn't like sandstorms. The wind and grit scraping against her body were nasty—dirty and itchy.
She was a clean, pretty little princess, thank you very much.
"Lycanroc, Gigalith, Stone Edge!"
Olivia swung her arm sharply as she gave the command.
Water beats Rock, but Water doesn't resist Rock, so Tapu Fini had no natural resistance here.
Spikes of stone formed in front of Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith, then launched at high speed toward Tapu Fini.
Seeing this, Kukui didn't rush to attack. He just watched in silence.
Just like Damian had said: Tapu had been the guardian deities of Alola's islands since ancient times, but in truth, Kukui and the others didn't know much about their real power.
They only knew the Tapu were strong—but how strong? No one had any idea.
It wasn't like they could just march up and challenge the Tapu.
So Kukui wanted to be cautious. Letting Olivia test the waters first wasn't a bad idea.
"So weak."
Catching a blurry glimpse of the incoming Stone Edge through the sand, Damian sneered.
"Surf."
"Fini~!"
Tapu Fini flared with a deep ocean-blue light. The sound of crashing waves filled the air.
A heartbeat later, a towering wave—over ten meters high—rose from nowhere, lifting Tapu Fini as it surged toward Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith.
From Olivia and Kukui's vantage point, the massive Surf looked like a full-on tsunami. The wall of water blotted out the sky, swallowing their entire view.
It was enormous.
And the storm of sand whipped up by Sandstorm was completely devoured and erased by the incoming Surf.
Lycanroc and Gigalith's Stone Edge attacks slammed into the wave over and over, but all they did was kick up a few splashes before vanishing.
"Braviary!"
Kukui's eyes hardened as he shouted.
The proud Braviary dove, snatching up Kukui and Olivia in its talons and hauling them aloft, away from the impact zone.
"Magnezone! Thunder!"
Electric light flared around Magnezone's body. A massive bolt of lightning blasted straight toward the Tapu Fini riding the top of the wave.
Tapu Fini glanced up and then ignored it, the wave still crashing down, swallowing Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith before they could dodge.
Boom!
The Surf slammed into the ground with crushing force just as the Thunderbolt smashed into Tapu Fini.
Electricity crackled around her body, and she let out a small, pained cry. That Thunder had hurt.
It still didn't pack anywhere near the punch of that evil gray fat guy, but type advantage was type advantage—Tapu Fini definitely felt it.
When the water finally receded, Tapu Fini hovered in the air, body gleaming and clean, looking down on the field.
Midnight Lycanroc and Gigalith lay there, soaked and unmoving, completely knocked out.
"Gh… how can it be this strong…"
Set down by Braviary, Olivia stared blankly at her unconscious main roster. How had it ended like this?
"Tsk. Pathetic. You couldn't even take one hit from Fini?"
Damian spoke right on cue, clicking his tongue in mock amazement.
"You!"
Olivia's face flushed red in an instant as she glared at him.
"You what? We're done playing. You can step aside now."
Damian didn't even spare her a look as he shifted his gaze to Kukui. Of the four, only the Champion-tier professor was worth even mild attention.
Olivia gritted her teeth so hard her jaw ached, but the helplessness of having her main roster wiped out in one move weighed on her like a boulder.
Tapu Fini was too strong.
But why? Why was Tapu Fini fighting for someone as vile as this Team Rocket punk?
She just couldn't wrap her head around it.
"You're this young and already Champion-tier. You've got a future bright enough to blind people. So why would you join Team Rocket?"
Kukui's expression was grave as he stared at Damian, utterly baffled.
Damian really did look young—sixteen or seventeen at most. A Champion-tier Trainer at that age…
There were only a handful like that in the whole world, and every one was a monster among monsters.
If he chose the normal path of challenging Leagues, he could absolutely become an Elite Four or Champion of some Region. His future could've been dazzling.
But instead, this Damian had joined the evil organization Team Rocket. And the girl over there, Caitlin, was the same—another absurd prodigy.
Kukui just couldn't understand.
"You're asking why?" Damian scratched his cheek and pretended to think.
"Why does everything need a reason?"
He laughed.
"?" Kukui froze for a moment.
"I don't like being chained down. I like living free, doing whatever I want."
Damian rolled a Poké Ball between his fingers. His smile was warm, almost gentle—but it carried a wicked edge.
"Morality, rules, laws. The same boring roads, over and over, day after day. That's not the life I want."
"It wasn't until I joined Team Rocket that my world really opened up."
His grin stretched wider, voice growing almost feverish.
"I realized blind obedience and walking the 'proper' path is meaningless. That's not who I really am. But now it's different."
"I can do whatever I want, say whatever I want. My life's finally full of color."
Listening to him, Kukui drew in a deep breath. This person…
"You're way too extreme, Damian!"
His voice dropped low. When he got back, he was absolutely going to dig into this kid's background.
It had to be his family. Only a messed-up home could twist a kid this promising this hard. Damian's parents had a lot to answer for.
"Hmph. 'Pursuit of freedom'? All you want is an excuse to do whatever evil you please under some grand, noble banner." Olivia said coldly. To her, it was pure justification.
"Doesn't matter. I don't need your approval." Damian shrugged.
"I've talked enough. That won't do, will it, Professor Kukui? Let's see if you can handle my Tapu Fini."
A thick malice flickered in his eyes.
"…"
Kukui's expression was heavy as he stared at the powerful Tapu Fini and the boy standing behind her.
That one Surf had already shown just how overwhelming Tapu Fini's strength really was. And if Damian could catch a Tapu Fini, then the rest of his main roster had to be monsters too.
He didn't want to admit it, but he doubted he could beat Damian.
And if that was the case…
Behind his back, his fingers frantically pressed a hidden button.
"Champion Cynthia, this is urgent! We need reinforcements, now!!"