Chapter 257: A Dynamax Raid

At Hammerlocke Station, Summer sat in the waiting area, his newly purchased ticket in hand, as he waited for his train to arrive. His destination: Postwick, the small town near Slumbering Weald.

To reach the legendary Zacian and Zamazenta, he had decided to take the train instead of flying on Corviknight. The reason was simple—Hammerlocke to Postwick was nearly halfway across Galar, and the journey would take a toll on Corviknight's stamina.

Keeping Corviknight in top condition was crucial in case of unexpected situations. Besides, Galar's train system was fast and reliable, so the time lost was negligible.

For this trip, Summer had brought five Pokémon with him—Rillaboom, Ogerpon, Corviknight, Milotic, and Hatterene. A strong and well-balanced team, enough to make him feel at ease.

The management of Eternal Forest was temporarily entrusted to Oranguru and Munkidori, with other trusted Pokémon assisting them. Combined with the protective presence of the Pokémon in Sunset Forest, there shouldn't be any major issues.

Still, as a precaution, Summer had informed Piers before leaving. Piers had agreed without hesitation, though he couldn't resist adding a sarcastic remark—"You sure do love running off for a forest ranger, huh?"

Just as Summer was lost in thought, a conversation nearby caught his attention. Two men dressed as trainers were sitting a few seats away, waiting for the same train. But it was their discussion that piqued his interest.

"How many cases has it been since yesterday? Why are there so many Dynamaxed Pokémon appearing around Hammerlocke all of a sudden? This isn't even the Wild Area..." The man in the knit cap sighed in frustration.

"What does it matter? The Champion's been cleaning them up left and right. Honestly, I wish he could handle our job too," his bearded companion grumbled, pulling a cigarette from his pocket. He hesitated for a moment, remembering they were in a train station, then stuffed it back with an irritated sigh.

"Nothing we can do. Who knows where else these Dynamax incidents might pop up? The first mine is crucial, so sending us there is just a precaution," the knit-capped man said, patting his friend on the back in a half-hearted attempt to comfort him.

The bearded man groaned and rubbed his temples. "Yeah, yeah, we're just corporate-hired trainers. We get paid to do what we're told… At least the first mine is better than the second one. That place is too damp—can't even light a damn cigarette in peace."

"The first mine has a no-smoking rule too. There are volatile minerals and gases down there. Remember that accident with the wild Carkol?"

"...You're kidding," the bearded man muttered in despair.

His friend didn't respond, simply leaning back in his seat with a troubled expression. "I don't know, man. I have a bad feeling about all this. Let's just hope my instincts are wrong."

Dynamax Pokémon going out of control… Summer muttered to himself. He pulled out his phone and quickly browsed the latest news headlines.

"Unbeaten Champion Swiftly Handles Wild Dynamax Pokémon!"

"Official Report on Damage Caused by Recent Dynamax Outbreaks"

"Hammerlocke's Mayor Advises Residents to Avoid the Wilds"

"Gym Challenger Defeats Rampaging Dynamax Pokémon!"

The news was dominated by reports of Dynamax incidents. Summer put his phone away, his expression thoughtful.

So it's finally happening… This has Rose's fingerprints all over it. Eternatus' awakening must be close. Good thing I decided to go to Slumbering Weald now.

"Attention, passengers! The train to Crown Tundra is now arriving. Please have your tickets ready for boarding."

A station attendant, accompanied by a male Indeedee, made the announcement while directing passengers toward the boarding area.

Time to go. Summer stood up and joined the queue.

Zacian… Zamazenta… I hope you'll recognize me. Even if it's just one of you, your power is crucial.

Dynamaxed Eternatus could neutralize regular Pokémon moves, and the only way to counter that was with the power of the legendary heroes.

Then again… since they were technically forest Pokémon, maybe they'd take a liking to him?

The train raced across the Wild Area, the scenery shifting rapidly outside the window. It was a beautiful sight, perfect for passing the time. But Summer wasn't in the mood to admire the view. He sat with his eyes closed, conserving his energy for the challenge ahead.

He trusted Zacian and Zamazenta's sense of justice—they were heroes who had once saved Galar. But that didn't mean they'd accept him without question. He needed to be careful.

Just then, a chime sounded throughout the train.

"Attention, passengers! Due to a Dynamax Pokémon near the tracks, we will be making an emergency stop. The train will resume its journey once the situation is resolved."

The announcement sent a ripple of unease through the train car. Encounters with Dynamax Pokémon in the Wild Area were rare, but not impossible. Given the recent wave of incidents around Hammerlocke, the passengers' anxiety was understandable.

"Ahem, can everyone hear me? This is the undercover officer assigned to this train. Apologies for the sudden stop. If there are any trainers confident in their strength willing to help subdue the Dynamax Pokémon, please come to the first car."

"If you have a Dynamax Band, even better! Otherwise, we'll have to wait for emergency support from Motostoke, which could take a while. And, uh… I won't lie, we can't guarantee everyone's safety if this situation drags on."

"Compensation will be provided! Again, any willing trainers, please report to the first car immediately!"

The officer's voice over the speakers carried a desperate edge. With so many Dynamax incidents happening lately, this wasn't the first time a train had been forced to stop. But handling one alone wasn't easy, and he clearly wasn't confident in his own ability.

A nervous tension spread through the car. Most passengers were aware of how dangerous wild Dynamax Pokémon could be. No one wanted to risk their Pokémon getting hurt.

And without a Dynamax Band, challenging a Dynamax Pokémon was suicide.

Summer sighed and stood up. As he did, he deliberately adjusted his sleeve, revealing the white ring of his Dynamax Band.

Murmurs spread through the train car.

A Dynamax Band!

For a moment, there was silence. Then, relief washed over the passengers. Finally! Someone capable of handling this situation!

As Summer strode toward the first car, people whispered prayers for his success.

Upon arrival, he found three other trainers already waiting—two of them were the men from the station, and the last was a tall woman with long teal hair.

She had an old-fashioned but imposing presence, radiating a sense of overwhelming confidence.

Most notably, all four of them wore Dynamax Bands.

"Thank Arceus, we've got four trainers now!" The undercover officer let out a breath of relief.

The teal-haired woman, however, scowled. "Tch. I could've handled this alone. Why waste time waiting for these weaklings?"

"Uh, well… You know, strength in numbers and all that?" the officer replied awkwardly.

"Strength in numbers? You do realize only one Pokémon can Dynamax per battle, right? This is basic knowledge. Are you even qualified to be an officer?"

"...Sorry." The officer hung his head, looking thoroughly defeated.

The two men from earlier remained silent. They had no interest in arguing with someone whose aura screamed "dangerous woman."

"Whatever," the woman scoffed. "You three can play support. I'll handle the Dynamaxing. No need to get in my way—"

Then, she turned to glance at the latest arrival.

And her confident smirk faltered.

"...Huh?"

The teal-haired woman rubbed her eyes and scrutinized Summer, as if trying to confirm something. Her expression shifted dramatically, as though she was questioning reality itself.

"Do I have something on my face?" Summer asked, touching his cheek.

"...No, sorry. I overreacted." Her tone softened noticeably.

"Ahem, officer… shouldn't we first figure out what Pokémon we're dealing with before deciding who should Dynamax?" The bearded man, seeing the change in the woman's attitude, took the opportunity to steer the conversation back on track.

"Oh, right! Good point," the undercover officer said, snapping his fingers. "It's a Toxtricity."

"A Gigantamax one?" the three trainers asked in unison.

"Uh… I don't think so. It looks like a normal Dynamax Toxtricity to me."

The moment he said that, the three trainers lost interest. Their expressions, once filled with intrigue, immediately turned neutral.

"Did I… say something wrong?"

"No, just means I'll sit this one out. Most of my Pokémon are Fire-types anyway," the bearded man shrugged. "Name's Warden, by the way. Figured knowing each other's names might help with teamwork."

"I'll pass too," the man in the knit cap added. "Ice-types are my specialty, so this fight isn't really for me. Name's Teven."

The teal-haired woman folded her arms and sighed. "Call me Raika. My Pokémon are all Dragon-types." Then, she turned to Summer. "And you?"

"Summer. I have a Psychic-type, though it's also part Fairy."

"Tch. Fairy-types… Whatever. Since you have the best matchup, you'll be the one Dynamaxing," Raika said decisively, pointing at Summer.

"Agreed," Warden nodded.

"Fine by me," Teven added.

"…Alright, then. Let's get this over with," Summer said, still curious about Raika's sudden change in attitude toward him.

"Uh, so, the location of the Dynamax Pokémon—"

"Are you seriously asking that?" Raika cut the officer off. "You think we can't see a giant Pokémon standing out in the open? You need to go back to police academy, man. Now shut up and get the conductor to open the doors."

The officer shrank back, looking utterly defeated, before reluctantly shuffling off toward the driver's cabin. About thirty seconds later, the train doors hissed open.

As soon as the four trainers stepped out, they were assaulted by a thunderous barrage of noise. The Dynamax Toxtricity stood in the distance, strumming the electric membranes on its chest like it was putting on a full-blown rock concert beneath the ominous crimson clouds.

The deafening racket made everyone grimace.

The train's soundproofing was truly impressive—inside, you couldn't hear a thing. But now that they were outside, the headache-inducing cacophony was unbearable.

"Let's hurry up and shut that thing up!" Raika snapped, throwing out a Poké Ball. A Noivern emerged, flapping its deep purple and black wings. The moment it heard Toxtricity's wailing, its golden eyes narrowed in rage.

It wasn't surprising—Noivern were aggressive Pokémon with an acute sensitivity to sound.

"Couldn't agree more," Warden muttered as he sent out a Talonflame.

Without a word, Teven released a floating Vanilluxe.

Summer took his time before selecting a Poké Ball. "Hatterene, you're up."

The Psychic-Fairy Pokémon emerged, stretching elegantly. Summer whispered something to her, and she grinned, snapping her fingers.

The next thing Warden, Teven, and Raika knew, they were levitating.

With a swift burst of Psychic power, Hatterene propelled them all toward the towering Toxtricity at high speed.

The three other trainers exchanged glances.

This guy's Hatterene can do that?

In no time, they closed the distance to the Dynamax Pokémon. As they landed, Summer felt a strange sense of déjà vu—this felt just like the Dynamax Raid battles back in the Wild Area.

"Summer, hurry up and Dynamax already! The sooner we break its barrier, the better!" Raika yelled, rubbing her temples. "This noise is unbearable!"

The other two men nodded in agreement, clearly just as eager to end this quickly.

"Alright, Hatterene, time to Dynamax!"

Summer's Dynamax Band flared with crimson energy. He recalled Hatterene into her Poké Ball, which expanded in size due to the influx of Dynamax energy.

"Hat~!"

Hatterene hummed excitedly as she was recalled—this was her first time experiencing Dynamaxing.

With a strong toss, Summer hurled the now-massive Poké Ball into the air.

Both Warden and Teven were momentarily stunned.

This guy's got some serious arm strength…

"Hat~!"

With a thunderous impact, Gigantamax Hatterene materialized before the towering Toxtricity. Her form had changed dramatically—her hands had transformed into three long, writhing blue tentacles, pulsing with overwhelming psychic energy.

Her glowing blue eyes shone with eerie intensity, like an enraged goddess ready to pass judgment.

Noticing the sudden arrival of another giant Pokémon, the Dynamax Toxtricity let out a distorted roar and prepared to attack.

Raika clicked her tongue. "Alright, let's start with breaking its barrier. Summer, you attack first!"

Summer nodded. "Hatterene, Max Mindstorm!"

"Hat~!"

Gigantamax Hatterene's tentacles writhed as she summoned an overwhelming psychic field. From above, a massive surge of mental energy crashed down upon Toxtricity, enveloping it in a blinding explosion.

The moment the dust cleared…

Toxtricity lay sprawled on the ground, its massive form shrinking back to normal in an instant.

It was completely knocked out.

Warden, Teven, and Raika stood frozen in place.

One hit.

It took one hit.

Then what the hell were they here for?!