Chapter 276: How Are We Supposed to Fight?!

 

The black Mega Rayquaza stood tall beneath the sky, its overwhelming pressure spreading without restraint.

Beneath it, the man in white stood straight-backed, coat flaring softly in the wind—his calm and proud figure dazzling beyond compare.

Even if ten thousand foes stood before him… I alone remain undefeated!

"Wooo~ Big bro is just TOO cool!"

Behind the crowd of ten, Lillie trembled with excitement, her small frame shaking—so cool, so cool, SO COOL!

"That guy…" Blue's brows knit tightly.

"Incredible…"

Even Geeta couldn't help but whisper in awe. How could someone so dazzling… be a member of an evil organization?

"Mega Rayquaza… can we even fight that?"

Lorelei's icy expression turned serious. This Mega Rayquaza's presence was utterly overpowering.

Even she—who had once faced down Zekrom—felt dread. Compared to that legendary dragon… this was far more terrifying.

"Legendary again…"

Lance's cold expression twisted. Another one—another damn legend!

First the Rocket boss with Mewtwo, now this Aizen guy with Rayquaza?!

"Dragonite! Draco Meteor!"

His voice ice-cold, Lance gave the order. Mega or not—he wouldn't back down.

Dragonite roared, gathering pure Dragon energy and diving from the sky in the form of a raging draconic meteor.

"Dragon Ascent."

Aizen smiled faintly.

Mega Rayquaza's elegant form coiled and shimmered, glowing trails of light wrapping around its body as it charged up green, swirling energy.

A second later, a blazing green streak tore through the sky—Dragon Ascent, Rayquaza's signature move!

It all happened so fast.

The next moment, Mega Rayquaza had already appeared behind Dragonite. Dragonite froze midair, its energy dissipating.

BOOM!

With a roar of pain, the massive Dragonite fell from the sky, its body limp.

"…!"

Red and the others' expressions shifted.

"This can't be happening!!"

Lance's face was twisted in disbelief. Even against Mewtwo and Koraidon, Dragonite had held its own. But now—defeated in a single hit?!

How is that possible?!

"Hard to believe? Too naive," Aizen said calmly, voice deep and rich.

"Maybe your perception of 'power' is just different from mine."

He looked up slowly.

"Rayquaza."

ROAR!

Rayquaza gathered blue draconic energy in its jaws—Dragon Pulse—and fired it down at the fallen Dragonite.

"Not good!"

Agatha and the others sprang into action.

"Dragon Pulse!"

"Hydro Cannon!"

"Thunderbolt!"

They all tried to intercept the beam—but none of their attacks could stop it.

BOOOM!!

Rayquaza's Dragon Pulse slammed into the downed Dragonite, unleashing a shockwave that shook the ground.

If not for their Pokémon shielding them, the Trainers themselves might've been blown away.

When the dust cleared, Dragonite lay in a smoking crater—completely unconscious.

Lance retrieved it silently, brow furrowed.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x1!

"Mega Rayquaza's too strong. We have to go all in—together—or we've got no chance," Steven said grimly.

Not that he truly believed they could win… but this was a battle for justice. He couldn't say anything to kill morale.

"He's right. Everyone, attack together."

Agatha nodded, glancing toward Dylan and Giovanni. Reshiram and Hydrapple were holding off Mewtwo and Beedrill well enough.

At least Dylan was dependable. Once he finished off the Rocket boss, he could help them.

"Dragonair, Dragon Pulse!"

"Lapras, Blizzard!"

"Milotic, Ice Beam!"

Lance, Lorelei, Red, and Cynthia launched the first coordinated strike.

Two Dragon Pulses, two Blizzards, and an Ice Beam from Cynthia's Milotic—an impressive barrage.

"Weak."

Aizen said flatly.

"Dragon Ascent."

Rayquaza danced through the air, its glowing form twisting as green energy surged again.

A single brilliant green beam pierced through all the attacks—unstoppable.

"Dragonair!"

Lance's eyes flashed.

BAM!

Dragon Ascent cut through both Dragonair, sending them spiraling to the ground.

Already wounded from earlier clashes, they couldn't endure a clean hit from such a powerful move.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x3!

Mega Rayquaza is on a rampage!

ROAR!!

Not even stopping, Rayquaza gathered another blast of blue energy—Dragon Pulse—and dove at Lorelei and Red's Lapras.

BOOM!!

The Laprases fired off Ice Beams, but the draconic blast tore through both, slamming into Lorelei's Lapras and knocking it out.

Lorelei's face paled.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x4!

Mega Rayquaza is going berserk!

"Aggron, Stone Edge!"

"Rhyperior, Stone Edge!"

"Machamp, Stone Edge!"

Steven, Blue, and Bruno all struck with Rock-type attacks.

Blades of stone shot skyward.

"Breaking Swipe."

ROAR!!

Rayquaza's tail glowed with Dragon energy, sweeping through the stones.

BOOM!!

The shockwave shattered everything.

Before the dust even settled, Rayquaza dived again—charging another Dragon Ascent.

"Protect!"

Cynthia's eyes sharpened.

Milotic erected a green Protect barrier just in time.

CRASH!!

Dragon Ascent slammed into the shield, breaking it almost instantly and sending Milotic flying.

It struggled to rise—but couldn't.

Cynthia bit her lip.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x5!

Mega Rayquaza is DOMINATING the battlefield!

Still glowing green, Rayquaza turned sharply, streaking toward Red's Lapras.

It remembered. One by one.

"Lapras! Ice Beam!"

Red's voice was calm. He knew Protect wouldn't work. Dodging? Impossible—Rayquaza was too fast.

Lapras tried to charge its Ice Beam—

Too late.

SLASH!!

Rayquaza cut through Lapras and soared skyward.

BOOM!!

Lapras exploded with energy—knocked out instantly.

Red said nothing.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x6!

Mega Rayquaza is UNSTOPPABLE!

"This thing's flying around like it owns the place!" Blue couldn't take it anymore.

Six of their strongest Pokémon down—in just moments.

Rayquaza hadn't even been scratched. It was carving through their teams like fodder.

"This is impossible…" Lorelei's voice was grim.

They couldn't win.

Steven: "..."

At this point, Steven was seriously questioning: how had the Johto Association ever trapped Rayquaza and killed Zinnia? What the hell did they use?!

"What do we do? Go for Aizen directly?" Geeta asked, frustrated. "But Koraidon's guarding him, and that's risky."

They were seeing the true scale of the world.

Even if they ignored Rayquaza, it wouldn't ignore them.

And trying to attack Aizen? Not only was Rayquaza circling above… Koraidon was right there like a bouncer.

Koraidon was terrifying too.

If they made a move on Aizen himself, who's to say Mega Rayquaza wouldn't go feral and attack them directly?

They had zero ways to stop it.

"I already tried with Gengar," Agatha muttered.

She'd sent two of her Gengar to sneak up and grab Aizen.

But Koraidon's senses were insane. It almost KO'd her Gengar with a single tail swipe.

Meanwhile—

ROAR!!

Rayquaza howled again. Massive ice shards formed above Steven, Blue, and Bruno's Pokémon—Avalanche!

"Protect!"

The coverage was too wide—they couldn't dodge.

Green shields flickered to life as ice rained down, hammering the barriers.

They cracked—but barely held.

Then—

SWOOSH!

A beam of icy light swept across them—Ice Beam!

CRUNCHHH!!

The sickening sound of ice freezing flesh echoed out. When the light faded, a long frozen spike stretched across the battlefield.

Aggron, Rhyperior, and Machamp—frozen solid.

The crystal cracked, and Rhyperior collapsed immediately. Aggron and Machamp clung to consciousness.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x7!

Mega Rayquaza is approaching godhood!

A green beam streaked through the air—Dragon Ascent again!

Steven reacted fast, returning Aggron just in time.

But Bruno was a hair too slow.

BOOM!

Dragon Ascent cut through Machamp, dropping it instantly.

Mega Rayquaza 'Defeated Count': x8!

Mega Rayquaza has SURPASSED GODS!

ROOOOOAR!!

Rayquaza soared skyward, letting out a mighty cry.

Who's next?!

It looked down arrogantly at the battlefield below—strewn with fallen Pokémon.

Just… dust beneath its claws.

Lance's face was grim. Cynthia and the others were silent.

"…Should we just let Dylan handle this?" Blue muttered.

"We can't win."

He rubbed his head. That old hag Agatha must be senile if she thought they could handle this thing.

Agatha's murky eyes flickered with uncertainty.

"What's the matter? Not continuing?"

Aizen's coat was still spotless. He glanced at them one by one and gave a faint smile.

"Seems you're too tired to dance anymore."