Chapter 0815: Max Terror! Beware the Solar Eclipse(Two-in-One)

The name of a move is all about impact during a Snarl—so it had to be chosen with care.

Like Pikachu’s “10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt”—short, sharp, you could tell just by the name it packed serious juice.

Gold had named Pichu’s ultimate move “Super Sunrise Shock”—weird at first, but after hearing it a while, it started to sound cool.

If Gengar’s exclusive Z-Move really could be mastered, the name would have to capture Gengar’s unique vibe, something slick but clear, and with plenty of punch.

Natsume spent forever thinking it over. If he, with his education, couldn’t come up with something, there was definitely no hope for Gold or Ash.

In the end, Natsume decided to take a page from the Game Freak official movelist for Gengar’s signature move.

While there’s no Gengar Z-Move officially, there is Gigantamax Gengar’s signature: “G-Max Terror.”

This attack has Gengar summon a pillar of dark purple energy as ghostly figures swirl, shadow-trapping the foe—it’s absolutely metal.

So calling Gengar’s special Z-Move “Max Terror,” with a floating black hole overhead and ghostly hands emerging from the shadows to trap opponents with Shadow Tag, Confusion, Poison, or Paralysis… that would fit the official vibe perfectly.

Natsume couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

This might not be strictly legal, but at least it’s close!

Guzzlord’s incident was closed for now.

Natsume even stopped by the old tree hollow to visit Team Rocket. Their bond with Bewear had never been stronger—they really were a family now.

He remembered arriving in Alola, Team Rocket crying and begging him to stash them in his party. Natsume just shook his head—Bewear had always truly cared for them, almost like kids of her own.

When Bewear was at risk, Team Rocket would always charge in too.

After Natsume’s invitation, Red, Blue Oak, and the others decided to stay in Alola a while longer—heading back to Pallet Town next month.

Talking it over, Blue Oak kept a straight face:

“whenever you’re teamed up with Natsume-sensei and Ash, there’s a very high chance of encountering a legendary Pokémon.”

Red blinked, “It’s not that accurate…”

“So far, actually, it’s pretty reliable.”

“Who came up with that?”

“Gold.”

“Oh, that explains it,” Red nodded. “He’s teamed up with Natsume-sensei plenty too…”

This was Red and Blue Oak’s first time in a party with Natsume-sensei.

Deep down, Red couldn’t help but be a bit excited.

If it meant running into a legendary, it’d be a battle worth the trip.

April 15th, Friday, morning.

The day after Guzzlord lost the will to fight.

Natsume rode in on his sharp-maned Arcanine, turning heads as he walked into the Pokémon School to the sound of the bell.

Students had been swarming around Ash’s desk, but now scattered like startled birds to their seats.

Natsume glanced over. The “Cocoon of the Stars,” Cosmoem, was looking lively and flashed a cheerful look from the blue gem at his core when it saw Natsume.

“Thinking about Nebby evolving, I kind of hate to see it go,” said Mallow, chin in her palm.

“But Professor said when Nebby evolves, it’ll be able to fly us!” Lana grinned.

“The key thing,” Kiawe said seriously, “is we have to use Solgaleo’s power to finally close up these Ultra Wormholes.”

Ash sat with his chin in his hand, watching Nebby and lost in thought.

“All right,” Natsume said with a cough, “you all did great against Guzzlord yesterday. So the Ultra Defense Team decided to get everyone here a set of custom team battle suits!”

Ash, gloom forgotten, jumped up at once, eyes sparkling. “No way—really?!”

“I want red, just like Wela Volcano!” Kiawe burst out.

“I want—”

The students started chattering, pitching their own designs.

Only Lillie blushed a bit. “Team suits… do we really need something like that?” she whispered.

“You’ll be facing more Ultra Beasts and sending them back into the Ultra Wormholes. Suits will help keep you safe.”

Natsume added, “Also, Kukui will be teaching this afternoon. I’ll be taking Nebby to the Altar of the Sunne…”

“You all stay put at school, and listen to Professor Kukui’s instructions, got it?”

“Yes…”

“Louder!”

“Yes!!”

In the middle of Cosmoem’s blue gem, a tiny face curved into a bright-eyed grin—ready for today’s trip.

……

The Altar of the Sunne, at the end of the Vast Poni Canyon—Natsume had been there with Cynthia for a field study.

Kartana was also met here, traveling at Natsume’s side for half a month, and even teaching Sirfetch’d the move Sacred Sword.

Now, coming back, Kartana expressed it was time to return to its world.

Natsume felt a pang—Kartana had been a hard-fighting partner, and they’d built a real bond.

Plus, with Kartana gone, there’d be nobody left in the kitchen to chop cabbage anymore…

But as an Ultra Beast, Kartana belonged back in its own world.

Before setting out, Natsume made a quick stop at the Kala’e Bay villa to check his gear and video-call Cynthia.

The sun was shining outside, and Sylveon was crouched in the sand pit by the front door, ribbon tying up a toy spade, apparently figuring out how to use it.

“Tyranitar…” Tyranitar kindly demoed how to build a sandcastle, showing off real skill.

Sylveon watched in silence, not the least embarrassed, nodding her tiny head from time to time.

“Sylveon…”

So cool.

Blastoise, sporting sunglasses, carried a Squirtle watering can, busy farming new Revival Herb plants by the door—and splashed a little water onto the sandcastle as he passed.

“Tyranitar!” Tyranitar flashed his little teeth in a grin.

Blastoise nodded back and checked the can—seeing it had less than eighty percent left, he scurried back for a refill.

Gengar, whistling a raspy tune, swept the floors indoors with squinted crimson eyes, clearly pleased.

Rotom’s Pokédex was charging with a data cable, shouting,

“Beep… wanna try the latest Vacuum Forms? There’s a new one in the Rotom Catalog, Rotom~!”

Gengar’s face instantly darkened, crimson eyes glowing as it glared at Rotom. “Gengar!”

Did you just say vacuum…?

“Beep… System Overload, Rotom~ o(╥﹏╥)o”

Meloetta sat in the home’s music room, dropping a beautiful piano melody among the array of instruments.

Victini sprawled in front of the TV, eyes glued to the screen, while Togepi clutched a controller, wobbling as it raced.

“Victini!” Suddenly, Victini lit up, jabbing at the screen and then at Togepi.

There it was—the unbeatable Victory Star!

“Togepi doo-ee~(′▽｀)”

Sirfetch’d, acting like a total slacker today, just stood quietly out in the sunny garden, leek and shield in hand.

“Sirfetch’d!”

Jeez, it’s so bright out.

I was planning to train a little today.

Or maybe I’ll go back to sleep…

Sirfetch’d narrowed its eyes, just letting the sunshine warm its snowy feathers, soaking in the peace.

After glancing over at his oddly preoccupied little ones, Natsume turned back to the video call and the golden-haired beauty on the screen.

“In short, I have to head out for the Altar of the Sunne. I won’t be able to play Pokémon Battle with you tonight, sorry.”

“Oh, what a shame…” Cynthia sighed, her eyes closed.

With Sinnoh always so chilly, there’s nothing to do outside—gaming at home is Cynthia’s main hobby.

Total homebody just like Caitlin—if she could just lie on the couch and not move, she would.

“Sorry about that… I am the Ultra Defense Team Captain, holder of the save-the-world, defend-against-aliens-and-ultra-beasts job.” Natsume put on a very serious face.

Cynthia, watching Natsume’s serious look, smiled and replied proudly,

“In that case, I’ll be home researching Alolan mythology tonight.”

“Didn’t you already finish studying the Altar of the Sunne last time?” Natsume asked.

“That was just the beginning…”

When Cynthia talked shop, her gray eyes sparkled, her voice going soft.

“The Altar of the Sunne is where Solgaleo and Lunala appear, and yes, it’s where Nebby evolves…”

“But according to the old records, besides the Sun God and the Moon God, the Altar of the Sunne once saw another kind of light.”

Natsume’s heart skipped, remembering Necrozma.

Cynthia pressed a finger to her chin, thinking aloud:

“None of Alola’s many histories ever mention its name—but I bet… it’s connected to astronomical events.”

“Other than that last meteor shower, have there been any celestial phenomena in Alola recently?” Natsume asked.

Cynthia hesitated, remembering the meteor shower, cheeks faintly pink. She shot Natsume a glare, then said softly,

“Nothing’s been confirmed… but there are some folk legends.”

At a glance from Natsume, Cynthia continued,

“Every four hundred years, a solar eclipse appears in Alola. Every time, Solgaleo manifests, bringing light to Alola.”

Solar eclipse…

Natsume frowned.

Every time stuff like that happens, something bad goes down. Like in Michina Town—Arceus misinterpreted a betrayal, and chaos ensued.

“It’s been over three hundred years since the last solar eclipse in Alola… So the odds of one soon are pretty high.” Cynthia smiled.

“Didn’t the observatory record anything definite?”

“Maybe because there’s Pokémon energy involved, nothing’s certain.”

Natsume nodded, deep in thought.

So, a solar eclipse.

Definitely need to keep an eye on the skies…

……

Mossdeep City, Space Observatory.

Steven Stone, a resident, visited the space center and asked in surprise,

“Is there a solar eclipse coming up?”

“Yes,” the researcher nodded, “a solar eclipse happens on Earth every year and a half, but seeing one from the same spot? That’s every three or four centuries.”

“Where’s the observation zone this time?” Steven was curious.

Even if he couldn’t go personally, he could tell the chat group—Natsume-sensei especially…

“Alola Region, roughly near…”

The researcher in a white lab coat squinted at the map for a long moment and said,

“Vast Poni Canyon, near the Altar of the Sunne!”