"Time to slip away."
On the Champion's aircraft traveling from Galar region to Alola region, Johan leisurely drank coffee.
Anyway, Peony's lead had been temporarily planted.
With Peony's personality, plus Leon's personality, they might be able to investigate Rose and Eternatus's situation.
Then they could use a more legitimate method to "handle" the Eternatus incident.
Of course, there was also the prerequisite of repairing Zacian and Zamazenta's sword and shield.
With the Warrior of the Sword, Warrior of the Shield, and even Calyrex as main forces, he and his Pokémon could just cheer from the sidelines.
However, repairing the decayed sword and shield wasn't a matter of one or two days according to Tinkaton.
On one hand, the decay was indeed severe - just removing the rust and corrosion would take considerable effort.
On the other hand, whether the sword or shield, the materials used were very special - not just any metal could repair them.
The best method was naturally to use those metals produced by Meltan after absorbing the remnants from Melmetal's split in Tinkaton's possession as repair materials.
As for the Iron Plate material fused in the sword and shield, no replenishment was needed since Iron Plate fragments wouldn't rust and were quite well preserved.
But...
Everything else was manageable.
Getting Tinkaton to hammer metal into its hammer was absolutely no problem, but getting it to give up acquired metal was like making Gengar spit out food - difficult.
Especially when the situation wasn't extremely urgent.
And even if Tinkaton was willing, it first had to familiarize itself with these Melmetal metals' properties and conditions, first fusing part into its own hammer.
Then Meltan could also produce more Melmetal metals through absorption.
Since it required time and was the same anywhere, Johan naturally brought his little ones to Alola.
Having promised Lillie and Lana to return and continue teaching until summer vacation ended, he had to keep his word.
Moreover...
In terms of environment, no matter how protected Galar region was, it couldn't match Alola region with only a small portion developed.
Clang! Clang! Clang—
"Tinkaton, take it easy. We're on a plane - don't punch a hole through it." Johan couldn't help his cheek twitching at the "clang clang clang" sounds, reminding it.
Having finally become Champion and applied for an aircraft, he couldn't afford to pay for damages.
Recently Tinkaton was excited every day, even exhilarated.
Getting two Iron Plate fragments and considerable Melmetal metals meant it was either forging or on the way to forge every day.
"Speaking of which..."
Johan rested his chin on his hand.
"The sword and shield materials are almost identical to Tinkaton's hammer materials after this, so Tinkaton's strength..."
Would probably gain massive improvement like Zacian and Zamazenta, right?
Johan's expression was strange.
His Pokémon really were getting weirder one by one.
There were those that grew stronger by gnawing diamonds and meteorites, like Tyranitar.
Those that grew stronger through energy exchange with special plants, like Servine.
And others like gnawing charcoal, sleeping, sensing earth's energy...
Now confirmed was one that grew stronger by forging.
Each more outrageous than the last, each more unreasonable.
Looking at it this way...
Gengar had become the most "normal"?
Good grief.
"Ka-kaah?"
Noticing Johan's gaze, Gengar raised its Polteageist and grinned at him.
Want some?
Johan quickly shook his head, looking away with a self-deprecating smile.
He must be crazy to think Gengar was "normal."
All the abnormality in Johan's family started with Gengar.
"Cha!"
Hearing this, Tinkaton wiped its forehead and nodded, telling Johan to rest assured - its forging skills were... invincible!
Clang!!!
Crack—
As the hammer fell, a crack appeared in the cabin.
Johan's expression immediately changed.
"Cha~ Cha~"
Mistake, mistake~
Tinkaton laughed sheepishly, quickly producing ordinary metal to repair the crack.
"Meltan~ Meltan~"
Mistake, mistake~
Meltan mimicked, saying the same.
Johan: "..."
Actually, Johan found Meltan quite strange too.
Logically, he hadn't captured this little thing, but as long as Meltan attached to Tinkaton's hammer, it somehow didn't prevent him from recalling Tinkaton into its Luxury Ball.
As if Meltan could merge with Tinkaton's hammer.
It was fine normally, but if during battle he threw a Poké Ball and summoned both Tinkaton and Meltan, would that be legal or illegal?
Others summoned one Pokémon per Poké Ball, while he summoned two...
Alternative version of "Parental Bond"?
Tinkaton mom, Meltan baby?
"About to arrive at Alola's Melemele Island, Rotom!"
Rotom driving the aircraft announced through the speakers.
Sunshine, beaches.
Melemele Island's scenery was still beautiful, just the summer sun was a bit too harsh - a moment's inattention could cause sunburn.
So the beach was almost empty now, with any people hiding under umbrellas.
"It'll be fine when the sun starts setting."
Johan already had "experience."
Changing into standard Alola attire, wearing a sun hat, riding a bicycle, after parking the aircraft in Professor Kukui's backyard, Johan headed to the Alola Pokémon School.
"Teacher Johan!"
"It's Teacher Johan!"
Just riding into school, students recognized him, casting admiring, awed, respectful gazes.
Clearing the "Champion Road" and displaying powerful legendary-level Pokémon were reasons for their admiration.
Throughout the Pokémon world, countless students and trainers had made him their idol, their goal and direction for effort.
"Teacher Johan?!"
Similarly hearing the commotion, Mallow and Lana, who were active on the playground, trotted over.
Like other students, both were filled with reverence for Johan.
"Why aren't you in class? At this time..." Johan checked his phone. "Shouldn't you be having Pokémon Basics?"
Hearing this, Lana lowered her head while Mallow said:
"Teacher Johan, you don't know - Professor Kukui hasn't returned to school for two days. Recently all our classes have been taught by Principal Samson Oak alone, and he can't handle it all by himself."
"Two days without returning to school?" Johan was stunned.
Even if establishing Alola League consumed Professor Kukui's energy, given his personality, he shouldn't neglect school for League construction, right?
Professor Kukui knew these school children might be Alola's future.
Otherwise he wouldn't be one of the school's only two teachers, much less invite Johan to teach temporarily.
"Seems like something important happened." Lana said softly.
"Something important?"
"That day we saw Professor Burnet come find Professor Kukui. He was still teaching class but immediately announced self-study and left." Mallow said.
Hearing this, Johan rubbed his chin twice.
Seemed something important really happened - leaving in the middle of class.
"Let me ask."
Johan stepped aside to call Anabel.
The call connected quickly.
"Hello? Teacher Johan, you're back in Alola?" Anabel's voice carried strong joy.
But the background sounded quite noisy.
"What's wrong? Are you battling?" Johan heard the commotion, asking.
"Yes."
Anabel didn't deny it, getting straight to the point: "Teacher Johan, please come quickly. A powerful Ultra Beast has invaded, and we're... having trouble handling it."
Powerful Ultra Beast?
Besides Buzzwole, Kartana, and Naganadel, the powerful Ultra Beasts were probably just Pheromosa and Guzzlord, right?
The others.
Like Blacephalon, Xurkitree, Nihilego - these could only be called special in ability, not necessarily that strong.
"I understand."
Coming to Alola region and immediately having "work" - life was really getting better... Johan complained internally, hanging up.
Anabel quickly sent coordinates.
"You two go back and study properly, don't wander around outside." Facing Mallow and Lana's curious and somewhat eager gazes, Johan's expression became serious.
The situation's scale was still uncertain.
But bringing two kids would definitely be inconvenient.
"Understood..."
Mallow pouted but had to agree.
Johan turned his bicycle around. "Rotom, navigate to coordinates."
"Understood, Rotom! Navigation starting!"
The coordinate location was on Melemele Island, so no aircraft needed.
"Go straight, continue straight, Rotom!"
On the vast Melemele Sea, a bicycle traveled on ice at high speed.
Johan's expression was speechless.
Really let Rotom have fun navigating, riding freely on the sea surface.
Ninetales followed beside the bicycle, continuously freezing a winding crystal ice path on the sea surface for the bicycle.
The coordinates Anabel sent Johan were on a small island outside Melemele Sea.
No wonder though they were on the same Melemele Island, Mallow and others knew nothing about what happened.
Soon.
An island slowly appeared in view.
This island had solid, massive reefs on three sides, with only one side directly touching the sea, facing away from Melemele Island.
If battle erupted here, as long as it wasn't too large-scale, it indeed wouldn't affect Melemele Island.
However.
As Johan approached, they heard commotion - "bang bang" sounds coming from the island.
Quite a commotion.
Seemed the battle was intense.
With some curiosity, Johan rode his bicycle around the massive reefs to the island's other side.
He saw.
On the barren island, Anabel, Professor Kukui, Island Kahuna Hala, and numerous Melemele Island Captains, International Police, League Police, even Aether Foundation battle team members.
They each brought their Pokémon, battling in rising dust.
Even at the island's edge was a ship with Pokémon Center markings - a "medical ship."
Three Nurse Joys with their Comfey, Blissey, and medical staff were busy on the ship, treating wounded in time.
"Such a big operation..."
Honestly.
Even Johan was seeing such a large operation for the first time, even medical backup so complete - completely ready for war.
Given this scale, he could almost determine what opponent made Anabel and others so serious.
"Guzzlord—"
Fierce roaring came from the island.
Then, vacuum-like hurricane winds swept surrounding dust, rocks, even Pokémon's moves into a fierce maw!
As dust cleared, the source of commotion appeared in Johan's sight.
An incredibly massive body like a dark, heavy pumpkin with an enormous yellow mouth, even two hands extending from that giant maw.
It also had numerous bat or vampire elements - wings, cape-like hard black exterior skin, accompanied by intense malice and overwhelming presence.
Indeed.
Guzzlord!
Using Anabel's UB Taskforce numbering, this should be UB-05: Glutton!
"Guzzlord!!!"
Guzzlord roared skyward, its mouth-like hands grabbing nearby rocks and tossing them into its mouth.
With "crunch crunch" sounds, rocks were like candy in its mouth.
Moreover, its actions and behavior completely ignored the trainers and Pokémon on the island.
But if any Pokémon dared get too close or attack it, Guzzlord didn't mind swallowing that Pokémon or their moves whole.
Direct attacks couldn't avoid Guzzlord's mouth, side attacks couldn't break its incredibly hard skin.
This wasn't fighting an Ultra Beast - this was clearly team raiding a Boss, the ultimate kind where damage dealt couldn't match its recovery rate.
"Careful!"
Shouts came from the island.
Guzzlord's suction forced surrounding trainers and Pokémon to retreat, avoiding being drawn in.
When Guzzlord chewed, they attacked again, but effects were minimal.
"Teacher Johan?"
Nurse Joys on the medical ship noticed Johan arriving by bicycle, calling out joyfully.
Johan smiled and waved, while approaching the island and asking:
"Nurse Joy, what's the situation?"
The three Nurse Joys saw Teacher Johan's sunny smile, blushing slightly.
But still explained:
"We don't know clearly either. Supposedly it's UB-05: Glutton with abnormally powerful strength that suddenly descended on Melemele Island. Director Anabel and Kahuna Hala took great effort to lure it here."
"But this guy's too strong. Ordinary Pokémon attacks either can't cause damage or get eaten by it."
"But we can't not attack, otherwise this guy goes berserk and runs around. It once went into the sea and nearly ate all the nearby coral and wild Pokémon..."
The three Nurse Joys explained the general situation one by one.
"Thank you."
Johan, having passed the medical ship, waved thanks.
Through the three Nurse Joys' words, he understood the situation.
This Guzzlord wasn't originally here - it was deliberately lured here to reduce damage to Melemele Island.
Continuous attacks weren't just to defeat this Guzzlord, but because without attacks as "food," Guzzlord would rampage seeking food.
Were you trying to defeat it or charging it up?
Constantly feeding Guzzlord moves was like "raising" it.
After two days, this Guzzlord's "Beast Boost" ability was probably maxed out.
But couldn't blame Anabel and others.
No choice.
Guzzlord Ultra Beasts were like this, especially those coming through Ultra Wormholes with already powerful strength.
Attacks were ineffective, but not stopping it would cause immeasurable destruction.
Leaving this Guzzlord alone might soon turn Melemele Island into "Ultra Megalopolis" - destroyed by one Guzzlord.
One sufficiently powerful Guzzlord could completely destroy an island single-handedly.
"Teacher Johan!"
The Nurse Joys' calls also caught the island trainers' attention.
Finally landing on the small island, Anabel immediately came over.
Anabel didn't waste words, getting straight to the key points.
"Two days ago, Poni Island's Poni Canyon, the Altar of the Sunne suddenly showed activity. A strange Pokémon appeared on the altar, and we brought it to Melemele Island's research facility..."
"Wait, wait."
Johan quickly raised his hand. "Altar of the Sunne? Strange Pokémon?"
Seemed the Nurse Joys didn't know enough - how did this involve the Altar of the Sunne and other Pokémon?
"A... cotton candy-like, tiny, very cute little one." Anabel showed Johan photos on her phone.
"Nebby?!"
Seeing the photo, Johan instinctively exclaimed.
"Nebby?" Anabel looked puzzled.
Johan waved his hand.
"Scientific name 'Cosmog,' a very... rare Pokémon."
He didn't explain much about "Nebby's" name and origins since it would take too long.
But Nebby's appearance made Johan pensive.
Altar of the Sunne?
The so-called "Nebby" was actually the initial form of Alola region's legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala - Cosmog.
It possessed the ability to open "Ultra Wormholes" and teleport instantly.
Nebby's appearance meant...
"Teacher Johan?" Seeing Johan lost in thought, Anabel waved her hand before him.
Johan refocused. "Oh, thought of something else. Continue."
Anabel nodded seriously:
"We brought little, Cosmog back to the research facility. Professor Burnet discovered Cosmog seemed to possess power to trigger 'Ultra Aura,' but before we could experiment, this guy suddenly appeared near the research facility."
"Not from an 'Ultra Wormhole'?"
"No."
Anabel's expression was serious. "If an 'Ultra Wormhole' opened, with our current research information and equipment, we should be able to detect it. This guy was somehow sleeping on Melemele Island."
After pausing, she continued:
"And this guy's target seemed to be Cosmog. Later we prepared to transfer Cosmog, but the little one teleported and disappeared. After that..."
What happened next was roughly the same as what the Nurse Joys described.
Though Cosmog possibly opening "Ultra Wormholes" was important, Guzzlord's appearance forced Anabel and others to temporarily focus on this massive creature.
With its displayed strength, appetite, and destructive power, if left alone, not just Melemele Island but all of Alola region might be devoured - just a matter of time.
They never knew such a powerful Ultra Beast lurked on Melemele Island.
Though puzzled why this guy had been quiet before...
Obviously now wasn't the time to think about such things.
After listening, Johan clicked his tongue twice, saying softly: "If this guy was lured to 'Bear Forest,' there probably wouldn't be so much trouble."
"What?" Anabel didn't hear clearly.
"Nothing."
If it were Urshifu, it could probably beat it down before maxing "Beast Boost." Now though...
Johan looked at the massive mountain-like Guzzlord. Though many reasonably strong trainers and Pokémon were around, those attacks... were just feeding it.
Only Kahuna Hala and a few of Anabel's Pokémon could pose slight threat to Guzzlord.
Some, but not much.
"With maxed 'Beast Boost,' this reached legendary level, right?"
"Beast Boost" ability let Ultra Beasts continuously strengthen all abilities except HP during battle.
Logically it should only boost one stat.
But sometimes Ultra Beasts didn't follow logic, like this Guzzlord.
Anabel smiled bitterly. "Probably... really is. Initially 'Glutton' wasn't this exaggerated, but to lure it to this island..."
No choice either.
Couldn't blame them.
This Guzzlord had obviously been on Melemele Island for a long time. Without opening "Ultra Wormholes," they couldn't send it back.
Using Beast Balls to capture required defeating it first.
"Let me try." Johan said.
"Good!" Anabel was immediately delighted.
With Teacher Johan here, they could relax.
In the "Champion Road," Teacher Johan's Gengar and Ninetales displayed legendary-level strength, shocking everyone.
Someone online said Teacher Johan might break the League's youngest legendary trainer record.
Johan didn't care much about this since he knew Red and Blue were already traveling.
"Guzzlord—!!!"
Guzzlord roared loudly, mouth opening wide.
Gastro Acid!
"Careful!"
"Energy attacks! Energy attacks!"
"First unit, retreat! Retreat!"
Every time Guzzlord swallowed something, it showed furious emotions. If needs weren't immediately satisfied, it would attack randomly or begin indiscriminate feeding.
But as Guzzlord's awakening time lengthened, its displayed strength and appetite improved tremendously.
Even with medical ship support, they could barely hold on.
"Snow? It's snowing?"
"Weren't we using Sandstorm tactics? How come nobody announced switching to snow?"
"Can snow fill its stomach?"
Suddenly falling snow and plummeting temperature surprised surrounding trainers.
"Snow can't fill its stomach." A figure emerged from hazy snow with an Alola-characteristic Ninetales beside him.
"But snow can freeze its stomach!"
"Oowoo—"
Ethereal howling rang out.
The previously "gentle" snow instantly became violent, fierce winds carrying large snowflakes as surrounding temperature rapidly dropped.
Six-petaled ice crystals appeared on rocks and sand, even water vapor in the air blooming into beautiful geometric snowflakes.
Blizzard!
Terrifying snow forced everyone to distance themselves.
"This is..."
"Teacher Johan?!"
"Teacher Johan? Champion?!"
"Champion!"
In the blizzard, Johan stood smiling.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Leave the rest to me."
Boom!!!
The blizzard exploded, scattering crystal fragments. That massive dark-skinned mountain-like Guzzlord, that powerful and violent being, was now...
"Fro-frozen?!"
Whoosh—!!!
Only those who truly witnessed this Guzzlord's power, saw it treat energy, moves, attacks as food and swallow everything, could understand its strength.
And the helplessness facing such a fierce Pokémon.
And now.
This Guzzlord actually didn't swallow the snow and blizzard but froze!
This meant it was definitely effective attack!
Worthy of Teacher Johan!
Everyone had this thought.
Crack—
But next second.
A crack appeared in the ice covering Guzzlord.
The crack grew larger, spreading numerous spider-web fine cracks nearby.
Oh no!
Boom—!!!
Ice shattered, snow mist flying.
"Guzzlord!!!" Guzzlord roared in pain, venting its anger freely.
Hum—
Light pink mist suddenly spread toward it.
Guzzlord instinctively opened its mouth to eat the pink mist, but after one taste, it spat out disgustedly.
Misty Terrain!
Ptui!
"Ninetales, Nature's Madness!"
"Oowoo—"
A palm-sized pink plate appeared above Ninetales' head. It crouched on all fours as earth's veins gathered with surging life energy, Ninetales' aura visibly rising.
"Ka-kaah~"
While Guzzlord was disgusted and angry, and Ninetales gathered plates and Nature's Madness, Gengar appeared before Guzzlord, waving at it.
"Guzzlord—gulp!"
Guzzlord was about to roar again when Gengar tossed it an energy cube.
Hm?
"Ka-kaah?" Before Gengar appeared floating Sinistea and Polteageist. The little fatty poured cups for itself and Guzzlord, making an inviting gesture.
Shall we chat?
However.
After tasting the energy cube, Guzzlord completely ignored Gengar and directly bit at it.
"Guzzlord!!!"
"Ka-kaah..."
Seeing this, Gengar sighed regretfully, shrugging at Guzzlord.
Gave you a chance, but you couldn't grasp it.
Bang—
Gengar along with its Polteageist and Sinistea all dissolved into black mist.
Next second.
In Guzzlord's vision appeared a brilliant orb emitting moon-like radiance.
Hm?
Moon?
Eat it!
Giant mouth opened and closed, swallowing the Moonblast from Ninetales whole.
Surrounding trainers had strange, complex expressions.
Because next second.
Rumble!!!
The just-closed giant mouth suddenly opened wide again, brilliant light bursting from within as its seemingly bottomless health bar instantly emptied.
Health bar deletion technique!
As a Dark and Dragon-type Ultra Beast, Guzzlord was indeed very strong, but...
4x weak to Fairy!
And being 4x weak to Fairy while catching light orbs barehanded made little difference from surrendering.
Actually couldn't blame Guzzlord since this was their species' fighting style.
Swallow what could be swallowed in one gulp; what couldn't be swallowed still had to be tasted.
So even in Ultra Space, Guzzlord were far fewer than other Ultra Beasts, but those existing were mostly quite strong.
Because weak ones mostly fell during the "tasting" process.
Bang—
The massive Guzzlord crashed into ruins with a "bang," mouth open with wisps of white smoke emerging.
Guzzlord's aura also became weak.
Without "Beast Boost's" exaggerated enhancement, this Guzzlord's true strength returned to Champion level.
Anabel and others knew too little about Guzzlord Ultra Beasts.
Missing the optimal timing, otherwise things wouldn't be so difficult.
But it protected Melemele Island.
Both had pros and cons.
Whoosh—
A Beast Ball flew over, landing on Guzzlord and blooming with milky white light like silk threads, drawing the massive Guzzlord inside.
"It's over?"
Surrounding trainers looked at each other.
This big guy that made them feel completely unable to handle - just like that?
So.
This was a Champion's true meaning to a region?
"I don't recommend studying this Guzzlord - it's easy to lose control." Johan seriously told Anabel, holding the Beast Ball containing Guzzlord.
"Mm..."
Though curious about Guzzlord and wanting to study it, she chose absolute trust in Johan's words.
"But 'Ultra Wormholes' don't open randomly..."
"So next we need to 'chat' about Nebby."
With Nebby suddenly appearing, was the "Radiant One" far behind?
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Powerstones?
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