Black's primary team was down to his last resort: Sableye. The dual Ghost/Dark-type stood panting, clearly outmatched by Feng Che's fresh rotation.
"As long as I have one Pokémon standing, I will fight to the last breath," Black wheezed, his face pale. "Go, Sableye!"
The small, purple imp-like creature erged, its gemstone eyes glittering in the dim light of the Red Rock cavern.
Sableye: Hearing the trainer talk like that gets my blood pumping! But... if the gap is this huge, maybe don't let get bullied too hard? Pity !
"I don't need a Keystone. I'll use my own Power of Darkness to force the evolution!" Black snarled. He channeled a torrent of black miasma into the ga Stone held by his Pokémon.
Sableye cackled as the red jewel on its chest expanded, transforming into a massive, translucent ruby shield. When the smoke cleared, ga Sableye stood ready.
"Sirfetch'd, use Odor Sleuth (Foresight)."
A brilliant light erupted from Sirfetch'd's leek, washing over the Ghost-type. With its essence exposed, Sirfetch'd's Fighting-type moves could now strike ho.
"Close Combat!"
Sirfetch'd lunged, its leek wreathed in white energy. It drove the tip toward the ruby shield. CLANG! The shield remained unblemished, and the recoil sent the duck skidding backward.
"Your technique is unrefined," Feng Che coached calmly. "If you grasp the essence of the strike, that shield will shatter. Again!"
Sirfetch'd braced its core, the white light on its leek intensifying ten-fold. Another explosive thrust—BOOM!—but the defense held. As ga Sableye began to sneer at the "weak" bird, Feng Che's eyes flashed coldly.
"Aerial Ace, then Close Combat!"
Sirfetch'd vanished. Sableye felt a sudden chill from its blind spot. The duck reappeared behind the shield, driving its leek directly into Sableye's spine. The Mythical defense was bypassed; the imp shrieked, de-evolved, and collapsed.
Simultaneously, Black crumpled to the ground.
"He overextended his Power of Darkness," wtwo noted. "He's in a deep coma. We need to destroy the Fire Pillar quickly; Lugia's life force is waning."
Yellow Rock Island: The Hedgehog's Help
On Yellow Rock Island, Sabrina looked down at the unconscious Investigator White and her de-evolved Gardevoir.
"Stolen psychic power is never truly yours," Sabrina said icily. "True mastery cos from the soul, not shortcuts."
She teleported to the Earth Pillar, but her communicator buzzed.
"Sabrina, these pillars are damn near indestructible," Lt. Surge's voice crackled. "My Magnezone can't crack the Gale Pillar. I'm bringing out the 'Big Secret' Boss gave us."
" too," Sabrina replied. "But the Earth Pillar counters my team's typing. I'm not sure I can—"
Suddenly, a ripple of green energy appeared beside her. A small, hedgehog-like creature poked its head out.
"Hello, Sabrina! Feng Che sent to assist. I am Shaymin!" The Pokémon shifted into its Sky Form, circling Sabrina with a playful chirp.
"A Mythical Shaymin?" Sabrina blinked. How many legendary secrets is Feng Che hiding? "With your help, this Pillar is as good as dust."
The Assassination
Lugia gathered the last of her strength, unleashing a world-shaking Aeroblast. The psychic barrier maintained by the Duosion shattered, sending thousands of the Pokémon falling like rain.
However, the Ancient Orbs reacted instantly. They broke free from the ice and converged on Lugia, weaving a shrinking golden cage around her.
"Lugia's trapped!" High Priest Shamiao cried out. "We have to break the Sea Pillar now!"
In that mont of distraction, a shadow detached itself from the Priest's own feet. A long, jagged blade lunged upward.
"Look out!" Lance reacted, shoving Shamiao aside, but the blade still tore through the Priest's left arm. Blood sprayed onto the salt-crusted floor.
"Hahaha! I missed the heart, but it doesn't matter," a voice hissed. Dark stepped out of the shadows, his blade gleaming with a sickly green coating. "The blade is laced with a League-developed neurotoxin. There is no antidote."
"Lance, Lorelei... Damalanchi knew you'd interfere. He ordered to kill the Dragon Master, but seeing the High Priest of the Bell Tower? I changed my mind. If the Priest dies, Johto falls into chaos, and the League can finally 'reclaim' the region."
Lance imdiately knelt by Shamiao, funneling his Power of Viridian into the wound. The Priest's grey face regained a flicker of color.
"Go ahead, waste your energy," Dark laughed. "The poison is 'Life-Sealing.' Your Viridian power can only delay the inevitable. He's a dead man walking."
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