BOOM!
The stone gate shattered.
Greninja and Garchomp charged through the debris, splitting left and right.
John entered the chamber with Gardevoir close behind.
Before them stretched an enormous pool of magma, bright flames dancing across its surface. Within this molten lake sat a colossal crimson figure over a hundred meters tall, as if enjoying a relaxing bath. Its body was impossibly massive and powerful.
"So... that's Groudon!" John gasped, stunned to encounter the legendary creature here.
Before he could even consider reaching for his Master Ball, a wave of red light pulsed from the edge of the magma pool. Immediately, Groudon stirred. Its clear, bright eyes snapped open, instantly becoming shrouded in a layer of crimson energy.
"Groudon! Go! To your battle!"
Standing at the magma pool's edge was a middle-aged man with long hair. His face contorted with maniacal fervor, his body covered in red lines like tattoos crafted from blood itself.
The behemoth moved at once, lowering its massive head and diving straight into the magma, sending molten rock spraying in all directions.
The crimson magma scattered outward with a series of hissing sounds as it contacted the cooler rock, releasing clouds of acrid white smoke.
"You again?!" Maxie glared at John with cold eyes. "However, you're one step too late this time. Groudon has already departed!"
John pulled his gaze away from where the legend had disappeared.
He wasn't truly disappointed, this was just a dungeon, after all. Simply seeing Groudon with his own eyes was remarkable enough. Thinking he could capture it with a Master Ball was nothing but wishful thinking.
Better to wait until he acquired the "Red Orb." Conquering Groudon would only be a matter of time.
"My target isn't Groudon, but you!" John locked eyes with Maxie.
A mocking smile crept across Maxie's cold face.
"What a coincidence. I was looking for you as well. Before my grand vision is realized, I should clear away any obstacles."
As he spoke, he hurled a Pokeball.
A Camerupt materialized on the ground. But its level wasn't in the early 50s as John might have expected—it had been raised to level 83!
Clearly, NPCs leveled up faster than players.
Greninja stepped forward. This battle would be his to fight.
"Camerupt, MEGA Evolution!" Unlike Archie, Maxie harbored genuine animosity toward John, so he immediately brought his full power to bear.
Colorful light enveloped Camerupt. When it faded, the two dormant volcanic humps on Camerupt's back had transformed into active volcanoes spewing lava. The fur across its body billowed outward like a flowing skirt, completely transforming its normally peaceful appearance into one of wild ferocity, with hair whipping about and an expression of pure excitement.
"WHOOAAA!!"
The rivals faced each other with intense jealousy. The volcanoes on Mega Camerupt's back erupted continuously, belching white smoke as its fighting spirit soared!
"Greninja, let's transform too." John extended his hand and snapped his fingers.
Small streams of water materialized from the warm air, wrapping around Greninja's body. When they burst away, Greninja stood transformed with a massive Shuriken on his back, his figure more agile and powerful than ever!
Maxie frowned slightly at Greninja's unusual appearance, but raised his hand immediately.
"Camerupt, use Earth Power!"
Mega Camerupt raised its front hooves high, then slammed them down with tremendous force.
BOOM!
The ground shattered, cracks spreading like a spider web, with one jagged fissure tearing straight toward Greninja!
Camerupt was Fire/Ground type. Greninja resisted Fire, but Ground attacks would hit for full damage!
"Greninja, Z-move, Hydro Vortex!" John wasn't holding back, he went all-out from the start.
He reached into his backpack and pulled out a blue Z-Crystal, pressing it against the power bracelet on his right wrist.
Light blue energy erupted from John's body and flowed into Greninja.
"Greninja!" Greninja felt his partnern's power surge through him. Bringing both hands together before his chest, countless streams of water appeared beneath his feet, spiraling upward and enveloping his body.
In just one second, a vortex formed, immediately expanding into a waterspout that struck the ceiling of Team Magma's base!
The water completely ignored the raging Earth Power below, pushing forward through the spreading cracks!
"A Z-move?" Maxie gritted his teeth, spreading his arms and raising his hand to direct another attack.
"Camerupt, use Eruption!"
Mega Camerupt stomped with all four hooves, and the volcanoes on its back erupted instantly. The Eruption attack it unleashed wasn't mere flames, but actual magma!
Eruption was a special move tied directly to a Pokemon's remaining health.
The higher the Pokemon's health, the more powerful Eruption became. Mega Camerupt had just appeared and was at peak health, meaning its Eruption was at maximum power!
BOOM!
Directly between the two Trainers, water collided with magma. The explosion was inevitable, generating endless clouds of white steam.
"Ultimate Water Shuriken!" John raised his hand, then lowered it slightly.
Regardless of whether his Z-move Hydro Vortex had extinguished the magma and damaged Mega Camerupt, or was blocked entirely, he doubted it could defeat Mega Camerupt in one hit.
If he couldn't win in seconds with the first attack, he'd use another move that could!
Greninja leapt from the waterspout, reaching behind to grasp the Ultimate Water Shuriken.
In an instant, it expanded into a massive golden Flying Water Fuma Shuriken.
No need to aim!
Greninja hurled it downward immediately!
At Mega Camerupt's size and speed, dodging was impossible!
"Use Protect!" Maxie shouted as he spotted Greninja and the enormous golden shuriken. It was too late for Mega Camerupt to launch another Eruption, defense was the only option.
Mega Camerupt stomped the ground with its front hooves, creating a white translucent barrier!
But when the golden Ultimate Water Shuriken descended, the protective shield resisted for only seconds.
One touch, and it collapsed!
The translucent barrier shattered like glass, leaving Mega Camerupt to take the full brunt of the golden Ultimate Water Shuriken! The massive projectile carried Mega Camerupt over the magma pool and slammed directly into the far wall.
EXPLOSION!
Water vapor erupted everywhere, creating a scalding rain that showered down from above!