Chapter 454: The Strongest Hypnosis, The Strongest Torrent
"We've reached the destination, Rotom!"
Gale winds howled past Lu Ye's ears as he rode atop the rapidly flying Salamence, familiar scenery coming into view.
This natural canyon was the very place where he had once ambushed Hunter J.
The plains at the canyon's center were exceptionally wide—the perfect team battle arena, if not for the lack of defensive towers!
"Salamence, land here. You've worked hard."
Lu Ye casually channeled a wave of Aura energy.
"Roar!" Salamence narrowed its eyes contentedly, flapping its wings as it descended slowly, its entire body radiating post-spa relaxation.
Pure bliss!
In the distance, the thunderous footsteps of Regigigas echoed like muffled explosions.
Aaron and the others arrived shortly after. "Professor Lu, our plan is to have Brandon and Aogen draw Regigigas' attention," Aaron said, hopping down from his Bronzong and polishing his glasses before putting them back on.
"Then my Bronzong will put it to sleep in one decisive move!"
Aaron had made his name in the Master League using the infamous "Gravity Hypnosis" strategy.
As a Psychic-type Elite Four member, his confidence in hypnosis techniques was absolute.
Lu Ye nodded. "My Haunter is also quite skilled at hypnosis. Let it assist Bronzong."
Aaron hesitated slightly. "But coordinating two hypnosis attempts... if one fails, it might enrage Regigigas!"
"That's precisely my concern," Lu Ye frowned slightly. "Which is why I'm having Haunter increase Bronzong's success rate!"
Aaron: ???
I was worried Haunter would drag us down!
What Aaron didn't know was that among all dirty battle tactics, Professor Lu and Haunter shared a special bond when it came to hypnosis strategies—
Putting one side to sleep, then the other.
How could any Pokémon be as adorably sneaky as Haunter!
"Very well then," Aaron took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses, and said solemnly:
"Once Sir Brandon successfully stalls Regigigas, we'll act together!"
Ash, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, asked curiously:
"Sir Brandon, are you planning to use those three Pokémon?"
Brandon crossed his arms, his expression grave as he nodded:
"At this point, we have no choice but to go all out!"
BOOM—
Aogen closed his eyes, sensing the incoming Aura waves.
"Regigigas has entered the gravity field. Five seconds... four... three..."
"REGI—!!"
The roar startled flocks of birds from the nearby forest as Regigigas' metallic form came into view.
CRASH!!
Regigigas ignored the gravity field entirely, its heavy footsteps shattering rock layers with each thunderous step!
"GIGAS!!"
The Colossal Pokémon stood at the canyon's heart, blocking sunlight as it raised two massive hands, clenching them into fists.
Its shadow blotted out the sky.
The continental-shifting power contained within those iron palms was downright terrifying!
"This... is Slow Start?" Lu Ye gulped.
"It's unimaginable how powerful Regigigas must be at full strength," Aogen murmured.
"Go, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" shouted the ever-reckless Ash.
Lu Ye's eye twitched as he grabbed Ash by the collar. "Stop charging in! We need to kite it!"
BOOM!!
Regigigas' fist smashed downward, splitting the ground and sending massive boulders flying skyward!
The earth's tremors became an unstoppable Earthquake; shattered rocks darkened the sky like meteor showers!
"LUCA!" Aogen's Lucario extended its paws, crimson eyes filled with determination.
Brilliant Aura energy formed a Barrier, intercepting the falling rocks.
"LUCA!"
Cracks spread across the Barrier as Lucario's mouth dripped blood. Suddenly, a gentle Aura flowed into its body.
Turning in surprise, Lucario saw Lu Ye smiling at it.
"LUCA!" Nodding firmly, Lucario joined Aogen in pushing their Aura to the limit!
This wide-range Aura Barrier actually managed to block the Rock Slide!
"Cough!" Aogen spat blood, staggering until Ash caught him.
"Are you okay, Sir Aogen!"
"I'm fine," Aogen wiped his mouth, smiling with unwavering determination.
"Lucario and I... are prepared for this!"
BOOM!!
Regigigas' Earthquake split the earth like crumbling glaciers, threatening to swallow the entire canyon!
Brandon stood firm before the group.
"Stop this, Regigigas!" His voice carried grief and helplessness.
"Look at your people, at the Pokémon and humans who worship you... please stop!"
"REGI—GIGAS!!"
Regigigas answered with another earth-shattering stomp.
WHOOSH!
The Legendary Titans—Regice, Regirock, and Registeel—materialized before Brandon in flashes of red light.
"REGI!"
Registeel shattered incoming boulders with precise punches.
Regirock and Regice combined their Earth Power and Ice Beam attacks.
The raging Earthquake collided with surging terrestrial energy, creating massive fissures—
Which were instantly frozen solid by arctic beams!
The tremors ceased, but the canyon still echoed with ominous rumbles.
"GIGAS—"
Regigigas observed the three Titans, its signal lights blinking rapidly.
These Regis felt strangely familiar, yet it couldn't quite remember...
After all, during ancient times, the Colossal Pokémon had casually created dozens of such "figurines."
Some memory lapse was understandable.
Aaron watched the standoff between the Titans and their creator, eyes gleaming.
"Sir Brandon is actually holding off Regigigas!?"
Lu Ye felt uneasy.
Technically, the Legendary Titans were Regigigas' subordinates.
Even if Brandon had caught them... betrayal was highly possible!
His gaze sharpened as he observed the stalemate.
"Haunter, now! Hypnosis!!"
"GENGARR!"
Grinning mischievously, Haunter leaped skyward, its form blurring as it created over a dozen shadow clones encircling Regigigas.
"REGI—"
Regigigas' signal lights flashed wildly as it slowly reached out, crushing one clone effortlessly.
POP!
The shadow clone crossed its eyes comically before dispersing into black mist.
"GENG! (ૢ˃ꌂ˂⁎)"
Meanwhile, the real Haunter had already teleported atop Regigigas, licking its metallic patterns with a long, crimson tongue.
"Geng~(*⊙~⊙)"
Even the mighty Regigigas stiffened momentarily!
Seizing this microsecond opening, Aaron was awestruck by Professor Lu's calm precision under pressure.
"Even against overwhelming odds, status effects can create crucial opportunities!"
Taking a deep breath, Aaron shouted: "Bronzong, Hypnosis!!"
An immense gravitational field surged above the canyon.
Bronzong floated upward, ancient patterns on its body glowing blue as it directed hypnosis waves at Regigigas.
"REGI—"
Regigigas slowed momentarily—then its lights flashed violently as it suddenly grabbed Bronzong!
Aaron's face paled. "Did we fail...?"
"Regice, Ice Beam!!" Brandon commanded.
Regice fired a frigid beam at Regigigas' arm, forming an ice seal around its grip.
"GIGAS!!" Regigigas attempted to crush Bronzong with its signature Crush Grip—a move that could shatter continents!
But the ice held just long enough for Bronzong to escape, albeit severely injured.
"This will only enrage it further!" Brandon warned.
"Haunter." Lu Ye's voice turned icy.
"Do it. Hypnosis!!"
Aaron's pupils contracted as he watched Haunter float up again in disbelief.
"GENG!" Haunter's grin turned wicked, eyes blazing with eerie blue light!!
The hypnosis waves struck Regigigas.
Like a slowing machine, the ancient deity's movements grew sluggish... then stopped completely.
Hypnosis: Success!!
"This is..."
Aaron licked his dry lips, his expression exhausted yet awed.
"Professor Lu's bond with hypnosis techniques."
Silence blanketed the canyon, broken only by wind carrying dust and smoke.
Everyone stared at the petrified Regigigas, its three Titans standing motionless around it.
Aogen removed his hat slowly. "Is it... over?"
Aaron adjusted his glasses solemnly.
My hypnosis skills... still pale compared to Professor Lu's!
After a long pause, Brandon suddenly laughed heartily, clapping Lu Ye's shoulder.
"We owe this to you, Professor!"
But Ash spoke hoarsely: "Guys... look at Regice. Something's wrong."
Lu Ye's expression darkened.
"REGI—"
Regigigas' signal lights suddenly pulsed with a strange purple glow.
Confuse Ray!
Under its influence, Regice, Regirock, and Registeel rose like puppets, forming a protective circle around Regigigas—
Then turned their attacks toward Lu Ye's group!
"What's happening?" Brandon's laughter died in his throat.
Aogen closed his eyes, sensing the Aura before smiling bitterly:
"Regice's power originates from Regigigas."
"Now that they sense their creator is threatened..."
"They've been summoned to protect it at all costs."
Aaron pushed up his glasses, watching the advancing Titans and stirring Regigigas.
"Things seem... rather dire now..."
Lu Ye eyed the three Titans, his eye twitching.
Again?
First possessed by the King of Pokélantis.
Now controlled by Regigigas...
He turned an accusing stare toward Pyramid King Brandon.
Brandon coughed awkwardly: "My apologies. I didn't anticipate this..."
Professor Lu facepalmed with a deep sigh.
The traitor was on our side all along!?
"Can you handle the three Titans?" Lu Ye asked quietly.
"We might hold them off..." Aaron paused. "But Regigigas—"
Lu Ye took a deep breath.
He was nearly out of trump cards.
If even his ultimate "Aura" failed against Regigigas—
Shaking his head, his gaze turned razor-sharp.
Aura energy surged around him, billowing his coat.
"I'll intercept Regigigas."
He gripped a Dive Ball tightly in his gloved hand.
"Haunter, prepare another Hypnosis when the chance comes!"
His eyes gleamed like unbeatable champions Red or Leon.
If battle wasn't his forte—
Then he'd do what only he could!
"Geng." Haunter nodded unusually seriously.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Lu Ye threw the Pokéball—
Aura-infused winds howled outward from the impact.
"This Aura..." Aogen whispered, shocked.
"It's impossible... it feels like it's emanating from the Tree of Beginning!"
Aaron watched the emerging figure with reverence.
One of Professor Lu's ace Pokémon.
Challenging Regigigas against all odds!
"Even one second of distraction..." Aaron gritted his teeth.
"I'll make sure to put Regigigas to sleep!"
"Kame... ヾ(⌐■_■)"
Blastoise took a deep breath, slowly removing its sunglasses and tossing them aside.
The Mega Stone on its chest shone with oceanic brilliance!
Clenching its fists, Blastoise's eyes flashed red as overwhelming power erupted from its body—
Torrent: ACTIVATED!!!