Chapter 0783: Full Power Festival, Tapu Koko(Two-in-One)

As Tyranitar entered the field, a wave of astonishment swept over the townsfolk.

A pseudo-legendary is the very image of power; the Johto Region’s pseudo-legendary is exceedingly rare in the Alola Region.

Visually, within the hemispherical barrier, whirling sand raged—even more dazzling than the fire display from earlier!

Through the veiling sand, the two Pokémon faced each other down.

Natsume stood at the edge of the command zone, eyes thoughtful.

Crabominable, a Fighting/Ice type Pokémon, lives in the snowy mountains, and looks like a crab covered in white fur.

When in danger, Crabominable will snap off its own claws and hurl them like rockets, regrowing them only slowly.

Much like Pyukumuku or Mareanie, Alola is full of these delectable seafood ingredients! (Just kidding.)

Natsume reined in his master chef’s nose for fresh ingredients, cleared his throat, and carefully assessed the power levels.

Crabominable was Kahuna Hala’s main team member, boasting Elite Four-level strength—a perfect test for Tyranitar.

“Tyranitar,” Natsume cautioned, “watch out for its Close Combat.”

Tyranitar is quadruple-weak to Fighting type, but after years eating Chople Berries (anti-Fighting fruit), he can still turn the tables in a type disadvantage.

“Tyranitar!”

Tyranitar bared its massive jaws, arms and armored back bristling with metallic spikes, eyes brimming with disdain.

Old man Hala, in a yellow haori with a fan at his belt, squinted and grinned, unable to hide his battle spirit.

A formidable Tyranitar indeed…

But the fighting willpower I share with Crabominable soars as high as Mount Lanakila—we won’t be bested that easily!

“Go, Kahuna Hala!”

“You can do it, Bike-riding Big Brother!”

The townsfolk cheered feverishly. Lillie glanced around, but Professor Kukui was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a hearty laugh rang out overhead, and a black shadow leapt down from the tall trees.

“Alola~~! I’ll serve as referee for this face-off between Kahuna Hala and the Battle Legend!”

Wearing a red-and-black mask, bare-chested in sports shorts, the ‘Masked Royal’ beamed and jabbed a thumb at himself.

“I’ll referee with absolute fairness!”

Cheers erupted, Kiawe exclaimed, “Even Masked Royal showed up!”

“You a fan of his?” Hau asked.

“Of course, he’s the championship belt contender at the Battle Royal Dome!” Kiawe answered.

Kahuna Hala cracked open his eyes, smiling, “If that’s the case, I’ll leave it to you.”

Natsume was left with a complicated mood, fixing his gaze on the masked, philosopher-esque Professor Kukui.

No wonder Professor Kukui didn’t want anyone to know about his secret identity.

If he dropped his mask here, that would pretty much count as social suicide...

Kukui glanced at Natsume, hesitated a moment, then broke into laughter, “Haha, honored guest, don’t be surprised, I just happened to be passing through!”

Natsume: “……”

Kukui: “……”

Surely Natsume doesn’t know my identity... otherwise this is way too embarrassing...

“Then, I’ll officiate this match—”

The ‘Masked Royal’ raised his arm, then dropped it sharply:

“Battle begin!”

Kahuna Hala’s eyes snapped open, hand thrusting forward with a roar:

“Crabominable, Close Combat!”

Crabominable’s fists glowed brilliant white, powering up like a dynamic puncher, charging into the heart of the sandstorm. The sand slowed its speed—giving Tyranitar room to retaliate!

“Tyranitar, Stone Edge!” Natsume commanded.

Tyranitar slammed a fist into the ground, a line of pillars erupting upward—splintering the wooden arena in an instant, timbers and sandstorm fusing in midair. Spikes erupted again and again before Crabominable, the ground rumbling, explosive force surging from below!

“Get out of there! Smash the rocks with Rock Smash!” Hala countered.

Crabominable tucked its claws, jumped back, fists shining as it met the rising stones with a barrage of rapid punches.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Boulders shattered, stones flew, dust swirled.

Kiawe and Hau gaped, stunned.

In a single turn, the pristine arena was destroyed by the collision of powerful moves!

That’s an Island Kahuna-level battle!

Crabominable, fists poised like a boxer, eyed the broken stubs of the pillars. As they disintegrated into particles of light, Tyranitar charged out, right fist wreathed in blazing flame.

“Fire Punch!” Natsume shouted.

Crabominable blocked the Fire Punch, but the flames surged higher—Tyranitar’s burning fist exploded through the guard and slammed Crabominable away.

Boom!!

Black smoke billowed, Crabominable blasted clear of the explosion, landing with a heavy thud.

The townsfolk watched in shock; never before had the Kahuna been pushed back at a Full Power Festival.

Hala extended his palm:

“Use Bulk Up!”

As the black smoke faded, the two Pokémon separated. Crabominable straightened, muscles swelling with Bulk Up, its body shining, fists polished like metal.

“Rock Slide!” Natsume pressed his assault.

Rocks and ground energy spun around Tyranitar, gathering into massive boulders before hurling skyward—blotting out the moon as they crashed down!

“Consecutive Ice Hammer!” Hala bellowed.

Crabominable summoned huge blocks of ice as if wielding a natural shield, swinging them into the oncoming rocks—ice shards and rubble scattered, chill air swirled!

The crowd cheered, Hau trembling with excitement.

“Ice Hammer, Crabominable’s signature move!”

“Quadruple type disadvantage, evenly matched in power…” Kiawe’s eyes gleamed, “Tyranitar can still apply pressure—amazing!”

Natsume’s gaze swept the field, eyeing his fingerless gloves.

Still no sign of Tapu Koko…

I guess there’s only one way left.

Beneath the mask, Professor Kukui’s eyes flitted to Kahuna Hala’s arm.

Natsume’s timing and control was flawless, denying Crabominable any chance to close in.

But Kahuna Hala was no novice… and he was even wearing his Z-Ring for this match!

Unnoticed by the crowd, the island guardian Tapu Koko hovered high above in the night sky, surveying the focused audience and the intense battle below.

In its eyes, the black-haired young man’s face was reflected—sparking a strange emotion.

As the island’s guardian of the ancient war-ruins, Tapu Koko was combative by nature, and sensed in this human the “pulse of victory”—a survivor of myth and mighty battles.

Suddenly, a flicker of surprise passed across Tapu Koko’s totemic face.

A brilliant rainbow glow burst over the village—not from a Z-Move’s “Ultimate Power,” but from the legendary Rainbow Meteorite, the “power of Bond!”

“Tyranitar—!”

Natsume raised his hand high, his Key Stone blazing as a tide of rainbow light flooded the town, enveloping Tyranitar in a dazzling evolutionary light.

“Mega Evolution!!”

The townsfolk erupted—Mega Evolution was a rare sight in Alola.

Those who had seen Mega Tyranitar before could be counted on one hand.

Kiawe’s face grew serious, heart pounding.

Besides Z-Moves, there are so many things I don’t know about trainers…

Lillie was taken aback. Though she’d heard of Mega Evolution from her mother, seeing it up close was a first.

She watched carefully, looking left and right, eventually taking out a notebook and muttering,

“I really need to record this for the Professor…”

As the light faded, Mega Tyranitar’s armored back was crowned with six colossal spikes like a king’s cape. Its head-crest was more pronounced, armor bristling with extra spikes, its belly’s markings now fierce red, monster-like.

In a flash, the sandstorm howled, battering the hemispherical barrier, fissures creeping across its surface!

The wooden arena beneath was now nothing but debris, swirling sand nearly engulfing Crabominable.

Kahuna Hala was momentarily stunned.

Such ferocious energy! It reminds me of Tapu Koko’s storm at its angriest!

“Natsume-sensei, for this battle I’ll use everything I’ve got!” Hala laughed, bracing himself, closed eyes opening wide as he stretched out a palm, grasped the air, and punched forward. The Z-Ring inlaid with Fighting Z-Crystal burst into golden light, sheathing the kahuna.

“That’s—!” Kiawe gasped.

“Grandpa’s Fighting Z-Move!” Hau cheered. “Go, Crabominable!”

Excitement swelled—how long since a Kahuna last unleashed a Z-Move for the Festival!

Golden Z-energy flooded into Crabominable, cloaking it in a powerful aura, fists gleaming with steely light!

“Z-Close Combat—”

Kahuna Hala roared:

“All-Out Pummeling!!”

Instantly, brilliant Ultimate Aura lit up the night, the sandstorm stilled for a few seconds before the pressure.

Crabominable, bathed in sharp aura, shot straight at Tyranitar, fists dead-set on their target, making escape from the Z-Move impossible!

Professor Kukui marveled inwardly.

Hala truly was a veteran Kahuna—with a Z-Move, his power was boosted a whole tier!

Townsfolk may not fully understand Mega Evolution, but they revered Z-Moves.

In Alola, unleashing a Z-Move is the mark of true strength!

Natsume’s eyebrows lifted faintly.

Tyranitar is quad-weak to fighting; it can probably survive a Z-Move, but not without taking damage.

“Block it, use—”

In a split second Natsume made his decision, both sensing and commanding:

“Precipice Blades! (Go easy—don’t level Iki Town here!)”

During the Touran League finals, Tyranitar unveiled this unorthodox move—by using Bulldoze, channeling energy through the earth to razor up jagged rock-blades beneath the foe.

Precipice Blades requires reading and predicting the opponent’s path, so its accuracy is shaky, and not ideal against agile rivals.

But Z-Move “All-Out Pummeling” charges straight in—so Precipice Blades can intercept before it lands!

With Natsume’s shout, Professor Kukui’s eyes widened in surprise.

Primal Groudon’s signature move…

Who knows how Natsume-sensei’s Tyranitar learned that!

Or was it a psychological gambit—calling “Stone Edge” by another name to psyche out the opponent?

That sort of trash-talk strategy would be just like Natsume-sensei!

“Tyranitar!”

Tyranitar, like the desert tyrant, stomped down, unleashing a savage roar. The island trembled and the aura became unstable. Townsfolk glanced around in confusion.

Hovering above the village, Tapu Koko shuddered with disbelief.

How could this Pokémon’s move disrupt the island’s aura?!

It isn’t a legendary! This really isn’t making sense!!

From below, an explosion of power surged, the ground splitting in serpentines towards Crabominable. In a flash, crimson rock-blades burst forth, launching Crabominable skyward as they exploded!

BOOM!!

Everyone gaped up at the scarlet stone blades, watching Crabominable crash from the sky, returned hastily to Hala’s Poké Ball.

The scene was so stunning the village fell utterly silent.

Kiawe and Hau stood frozen, minds blank.

“The Fighting Z-Move missed… Crabominable went down in a single blow?!”

“What the heck was that move! Even an Island Kahuna couldn’t withstand it!”

Behind his mask, Professor Kukui’s face was conflicted—those were authentic Precipice Blades, even more shocking than Rockium Z or Groundium Z!

“Such a powerful move! I lost, Natsume-sensei,” Hala said heartily with a smile.

Natsume glanced around at the shattered battlefield.

“This destroyed arena…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll have it repaired!” Hala laughed.

Natsume nodded slightly, watching Hala address the crowd, smiling:

“Tonight’s Full Power Festival continues—let’s all cheer for the winner!”

Wild applause broke out. Everyone had witnessed something truly new tonight, the memory of scarlet blades rising from the earth vivid in their minds.

Yet all night, Tapu Koko did not appear.

Professor Kukui speculated it was related to Tapu Koko sensing a looming threat…

“Natsume-sensei.”

As the festival drew to a close, Kahuna Hala found Natsume-sensei, handing him a Z-Crystal. “Please, accept this Fighting Z.”

“Tapu Koko never showed—I really must decline,” Natsume said.

Hala shook his head solemnly. “I know you’re skilled at using Z-Moves as well.”

“You possess a phenomenal aura… That’s why, even outside Alola, you can use Z-Moves without the island’s aura.”

Natsume started in surprise.

Ultimate Aura was unique to Alola, but Ash had pulled off Z-Moves outside the region. Clearly, this was tied to the trainer’s innate physique.

“So please, take this Fighting Z—I know you’ll use it well,” Hala pressed the crystal into his hand.

Natsume was about to reply when he sensed a strange pulse.

Both men looked up; in the star-sprinkled night sky, Tapu Koko floated soundlessly, face barely visible, quietly watching Natsume.

“Island guardian deity?!” Hala exclaimed.

Natsume glanced at Hala. Seemed Tapu Koko’s telepathy was for him alone.

‘Outsider, speak—what is your business with me?’

‘I want to make a trade with you,’ Natsume’s “Power of One” replied.

‘A trade?’ Tapu Koko’s eyes were puzzled.

‘You assist Sylveon in drawing upon Melemele Island’s Ultimate Aura.’

Natsume paused.

‘In exchange, I’ll deal with any Ultra Beast invading Melemele Island—for instance… Guzzlord.’