A Godless Apex Battle!!
Golden Opportunity: Guardian of the Paradise — the Lava Qilin?
Hearing the system notification, Ethan was genuinely startled.
He had never imagined that the massive, Arcanine-like guardian standing before him…
would actually be his opportunity.
He didn't yet know exactly what kind of Pokémon this was—
—but one thing was crystal clear.
Power Rating: 1.90
Totem Peak.
Just one step away from the realm of gods.
"So Ye Kui was right," Ethan muttered.
"This guardian isn't something ordinary trainers could ever defeat."
Totem Peak.
Even now, among all of Ethan's partners, only Metagross had reached that level—
and even that was after endless resources, refinement, and brutal training.
In the real world, for a Pokémon to reach this realm through cultivation alone…
…was almost unimaginable.
The Guardian Speaks
A deep, ancient voice echoed across the volcanic sanctuary.
"Leave now."
"No one will be harmed."
"Otherwise—"
"You will all die."
The voice belonged to the lava-draped guardian itself.
Qin Yingying felt her legs go weak.
"Ethan… maybe we should retreat."
"This thing's pressure is terrifying…"
She wasn't wrong.
A Totem Peak aura was overwhelming—even breathing felt heavy.
Beside her, Ye Kui instinctively clutched the hem of Ethan's coat, fingers trembling.
She didn't say anything, but her fear was obvious.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"I understand," he said calmly, then stepped forward.
"We mean no harm."
"We only wish to meet Celebi."
"And leave this place."
Yanhuang, the Ancient King
The guardian took a step forward.
The molten rock coating its body began to fall away.
What emerged was an Arcanine-like Pokémon—
but unlike the fluffy, modern form, its body looked stone-forged, lean, and ancient.
"Celebi is resting," the guardian said coldly.
"No one may disturb her."
"Human—this is your final warning."
Its killing intent surged.
Ethan turned his head slightly.
"Yingying. Ye Kui. Step back."
"If we want to leave this paradise—"
"—this battle can't be avoided."
A Poké Ball appeared in his hand.
Click.
Light burst forth.
"Metagross!"
With a thunderous landing, Metagross emerged beside Ethan, its eyes blazing.
"METAGROSS!!"
The ancient Arcanine paused.
Then—
a grin spread across its face.
"…At last," it rumbled.
"A worthy opponent."
"Human, you're unusual."
"Defeat me—"
"—and I'll grant you passage."
Battle Begins: Totem vs. Totem
"Metagross," Ethan said steadily.
"Ready?"
Metagross's gaze locked onto its foe.
No hesitation.
"Then let's go!"
"Meteor Mash!"
Metagross launched forward like a steel cannonball, four arms glowing crimson.
The guardian laughed.
"Good!"
"FAST!"
Despite its massive size, the ancient Arcanine exploded into motion—
So fast that Ethan's eyes could barely track it.
Thankfully, its target wasn't him.
Metagross's fist slammed directly into the guardian's head.
BOOM—!
Ethan's pupils shrank.
"It tanked that…? Direct hit?!"
No stagger.
No recoil.
The guardian shook its head, eyes burning.
At that moment, a realization struck Ethan.
"…Hard Head."
Not Intimidate.
Not Flash Fire.
Not Justified.
Hard Head—a trait unheard of for modern Arcanine.
"An ancient regional form…" Ethan murmured.
A lost evolutionary path, erased by time.
Yanhuang's Fury
"Hahahaha!" the guardian roared.
"Power like that—now this is a fight!"
"I'm Yanhuang."
"And I've lived five hundred years!"
Experience began to tell.
Despite Metagross's raw power, Yanhuang's technique, rhythm, and control steadily overwhelmed it.
Ethan frowned.
"This won't work."
"Metagross—withdraw!"
Metagross immediately disengaged and returned to Ethan's side.
Yanhuang clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Already done?"
"I was just getting warmed up!"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Oh, I never said we were finished."
A familiar crystal shimmered in his hand.
The Keystone.
Qin Yingying froze.
"That's—"
"A Mega Stone?!"
Mega Evolution
Ethan raised his hand.
"Metagross."
"Let's show him our true strength."
"Mega Evolve!"
Light erupted.
Steel reshaped itself.
Arms multiplied.
Power surged.
When the brilliance faded—
Mega Metagross hovered above the ground, eight arms flexing with overwhelming pressure.
"METAGROSS!!!"
Ethan pointed forward.
"Meteor Mash—full power!"
Mega Metagross compressed its body—
Then shot forward like a falling star.
BOOOOM—!!
Yanhuang was sent skidding backward, lava spraying from his limbs.
"…Now that," Yanhuang laughed, wiping molten rock from his jaw,
"—that was a punch."
"But defeat me?"
"You're still dreaming."
The Lava Qilin Awakens
The volcano roared.
Magma burst from every crater, surging toward Yanhuang.
"Only you can transform?" he scoffed.
"I didn't live five centuries for nothing."
"Behold—"
"—my true form!"
The magma wrapped around him, shaping horns, armor, and blazing limbs.
The Lava Qilin — Yanhuang's ultimate state.
The pressure skyrocketed.
Ethan swallowed.
This was the most terrifying presence he had ever faced below godhood.
"Mega Metagross!"
"Brace—Hammer Arm!"
A Battle That Shook the Paradise
Yanhuang charged.
Madness.
Wrath.
Pure, ancient fury.
Mega Metagross met him head-on.
BOOOOOM—!!
The collision ripped through the volcanic sanctuary.
Shockwaves tore across the paradise.
Forests trembled.
Oceans surged.
Deserts cracked.
This wasn't a battle—
It was cataclysm.
Both Pokémon bled.
Both refused to yield.
A true Godless Apex Battle.
And just as the Space-Time Paradise began to collapse—
A gentle yet commanding voice rang out.
"Enough."
Light descended from above.
A small, onion-headed Pokémon floated gently through the air—
Time itself bending around her.
Celebi
had awakened.
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