Tyranitar and the others did not hesitate in the slightest, retreating swiftly with Slowking's psychic powers providing cover for their withdrawal. Gengar dove straight into the shadows without a moment's delay.
Big Bang!
However, Volcanion's explosion was fundamentally different from that of other Pokemon. His Explosion was akin to a massive steam detonation, but instead of being channeled through the two large tubes on his back, the steam was compressed to an extreme degree before violently erupting from numerous large and small holes and fissures across his entire body, creating an effect comparable to the move Self-Destruct.
Boom!!!
A deafening roar erupted from the spot where Volcanion had been standing, followed immediately by a powerful, concussive energy shockwave. The yellow sand, which had been chaotically swirling in the air, was now violently blasted outwards in every direction from the epicenter of Volcanion's detonation. The sand particles were propelled at a terrifying speed, and being struck by them would undoubtedly be intensely painful. Slowking swiftly erected a protective psychic barrier around Aoki and itself, effectively blocking the onslaught of sand. The other Pokemon had no choice but to rely on their own abilities to withstand the blast.
As the aftermath of the explosion finally dissipated, the previously raging sandstorm was completely cleared. A massive crater, over ten meters in diameter and several meters deep, marked the place where Volcanion had made its stand. The sheer intensity of this explosion made it abundantly clear how Volcanion could have been capable of blowing up an entire mountain. A critical point to note was that this blast did not even represent Volcanion's full power; the Mythical Pokemon still retained some combat capability, though it was left significantly weakened for a short period.
"Ahem—"
"Ahem—"
Two figures could be seen slowly and laboriously pulling themselves up from beneath the sand, coughing uncontrollably. It was Tyranitar and Aggron, who had managed to escape just in time. Their inherently robust physical constitutions were the only reason they had survived the shockwave; few other Pokemon could have endured such an impact.
Meanwhile, Aoki used his psychic senses to sweep the area, quickly locating Gengar. With its immense speed, Gengar had of course remained unaffected, having safely hidden itself within the shadows. It now reappeared directly in front of the weary Volcanion, spreading its arms wide and locking its gaze with the larger Pokemon's eyes. It prepared to use the move Hypnosis once again. One could only imagine how infuriating this must have been for Volcanion.
At this moment, all three of the blue orb-like structures on the tubes on Volcanion's back had turned a solid red, indicating that its internal water reserves were completely exhausted; it could no longer use any Water-type moves. But that no longer mattered, as Gengar's Hypnosis successfully took hold on the temporarily drained and exhausted Volcanion! Its eyelids began to flutter heavily.
Aoki glanced meaningfully at Slowking, who understood the unspoken command immediately. Utilizing Teleport, Slowking instantly appeared within the crater, not far from the struggling Volcanion. Slowking then exhaled a single, large bubble, which popped gently right in front of Volcanion's face, simultaneously executing a powerful Yawn. This served as the final straw that broke the camel's back.
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
The sound of loud snoring filled the air. Volcanion had fallen into a deep and forced slumber.
However, Aoki did not instruct Gengar to use Dream Eater. Instead, he recalled Gengar and summoned Mismagius. The most effective way to deal with a stubborn Pokemon like this was, of course, to use a dream. And the dream needed to be simple: it only required flowers, grass, and... Magearna!
…
Aoki placed a hand each on Slowking and Mismagius, and the three of them combined their powers to weave a intricate and convincing dream for the sleeping Volcanion. The only being Volcanion would truly listen to was Magearna.
Their perspective shifted. When Aoki, Slowking, and Mismagius opened their eyes again, they found themselves standing on a seemingly endless, lush green grassland. A serene, crystal-clear small lake lay at its center, beside which grew a uniquely shaped tree and a vibrant, colorful patch of flowers. Volcanion was sleeping peacefully by the lake's edge, and a Pokemon unlike any other was busy tending to the flowers.
This Pokemon's entire body gleamed with a metallic, off-white sheen. Its head resembled a large gear with two luminous red eyes. The center of its body featured distinct red and blue panels, and its lower section was round, constructed like a metal skirt adorned with intricate and beautiful patterns. This was the very object of Aoki's pursuit: Magearna.
At this moment, Magearna was holding a small watering can, gently hydrating the flowers.
"Damn human!" Volcanion, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly jolted awake and stood up, glaring fiercely at its surroundings. But it was immediately taken aback by the scene before it.
"Ong-ong--" Magearna floated over to Volcanion with a slightly puzzled expression.
Seeing Magearna, the harshness in Volcanion's eyes softened instantly. "Magearna, were there any strange people or Pokemon here just now?" it grumbled.
"Ong-ong--" Magearna shook its head gently, a soft mechanical whirring sound accompanying its movement, a result of its entire body being crafted from a special, unique metal. Magearna then inquired what had happened to Volcanion.
"It's nothing, perhaps I was merely dreaming," Volcanion replied, shaking its head once more as it scanned the area, confirming to its satisfaction that Aoki and his team were nowhere to be seen. It did, however, feel a faint sense of strangeness about the environment, yet it was also deeply familiar.
"Bang——"
Suddenly, with a soft sound, Magearna's hand transformed into a beautiful, fresh bouquet of flowers.
Witnessing this familiar and endearing gesture, Volcanion's remaining suspicions evaporated completely, replaced by a look of fond exasperation. "I have told you, I am allergic to pollen... A-choo! A-choo! A-choo!..." Before it could finish its sentence, Volcanion was overcome by a fit of violent sneezing.
"Ong-ong--" Seeing Volcanion's comical distress, Magearna raised a hand to its mouth, emitting a series of light, chiming laughs. The scene was remarkably beautiful, possessing a certain charm reminiscent of a tale involving Beauty and the Beast.
Aoki, observing from a short distance away alongside Slowking and Mismagius, allowed a small smile to touch his lips before signaling for a retreat, leaving the rest of the dream sequence to Mismagius's control.
...
Exiting the shared dream state, Aoki looked down at the slumbering Volcanion, a contemplative expression on his face. He felt a moment of hesitation. With a flip of his palm, a single Premier Ball materialized in his hand. This was a special ball he had prepared specifically for this operation.
Volcanion was now in a completely vulnerable state, offering no resistance. If Aoki willed it, he was confident he could capture it directly. While he had now identified a key weakness and could potentially subdue Volcanion through less straightforward means, it had to be acknowledged that a Mythical Pokemon was still a Mythical Pokemon. Currently, Volcanion fought primarily on instinct and raw power, lacking refined battle techniques or sophisticated awareness. From the moment it gained consciousness, its overwhelming strength and unique abilities had sufficed to defeat virtually any opponent, leading directly to its current arrogant and dismissive personality.
However, after a prolonged moment of internal debate, Aoki put the Premier Ball away. A persistent feeling had nagged at him—a distinct sensation of being watched during the entire attempt to subdue Volcanion. He couldn't pinpoint the source, but the feeling of a pair of eyes observing his every move was quite palpable, especially the moment he had taken out the capture ball. This was not the only factor giving him pause.
The most significant concern was Volcanion's inherent nature. Even if successfully captured, it would almost certainly refuse to obey Aoki's commands. What use was a Pokemon, even a Mythical one, that would not follow orders? It might even turn hostile and attack its own Trainer after being caught. It simply wasn't worth the risk. He had other, more promising Pokemon that were worthy of his time and training investment. Capturing Volcanion seemed like a surefire way to invite serious trouble. This was not just speculation; it was a clear warning from his psychic intuition. The potential benefits were far outweighed by the significant potential costs.
Aoki made his decision. He chose to let it go.