Larvitar didn't even hesitate. The moment David pulled the energy cube from his pocket and waved it with a grin like a street vendor handing out free samples, Larvitar's eyes lit up like headlights on a foggy night.
In that instant, the embodiment of ancient power, destruction, and do-not-mess-with-me energy... turned into a puppy.
"Larvitar!" David cooed, squatting halfway down, grinning like a cartoon villain offering candy to a child. "Come get your snack, buddy!"
Larvitar's eyes sparkled. It didn't walk. It didn't trot. It full-on scrambled on all fours like a baby dinosaur at an all-you-can-eat buffet. The little guy skidded to a stop in front of David and stared at him with unblinking admiration.
This must be the messenger sent by Ho-Oh to save himself!
His pockets must be full of goodies!
Forget ancient civilizations. Forget inherited darkness. Forget the terrifying aura that shattered Tyranitar's barrier and made Champion-level Pokémon sweat. Right now? All that existed in Larvitar's world was this cube of crunchy, colorful deliciousness.
From a distance, Aron stood frozen, watching the scene like he was seeing a Pikachu in a business suit give a TED Talk.
This... was the same Pokémon that nearly vaporized his Tyranitar moments ago?
Even Tyranitar—who had recovered from a near-death encounter with a Rock dragon seconds earlier—rubbed her eyes with her stubby claws, wondering if she was hallucinating.
You have disgraced the Tyranitar clan my child!
Larvitar, meanwhile, had flopped down contentedly, munching the energy cube like a squirrel with a peanut. Occasionally, it wagged its tiny tail, eyes flicking toward David's pocket like: You got any more of that magic stuff in there, boss?
"Oh, now you want to play cute," David muttered, though he couldn't help but smile. He reached down and rubbed Larvitar's head. The texture was like stroking a granite countertop fresh from the freezer. And yet, the little guy leaned into his touch, the creepy black crown on his head pulsing ever so faintly—though its glow had already faded dramatically.
Far off, Giovanni stood stiff as a statue, face pale, chest heaving like he'd just sprinted through a hailstorm. His hands curled into fists as he watched Larvitar cheerfully wag its tail at David and start picking up the other energy cubes that had spilled out of David's backpack.
Giovanni's eye twitched. "You're a pseudo-legendary Pokémon for god's sake… not some slobbering food-chasing Growlithe!"
Larvitar heard none of this. It had found the jackpot and was living its best life.
Giovanni's internal monologue was spiraling now. He was watching years—no, decades—of taboo research unravel before his eyes. He'd sacrificed his career, his reputation, and nearly his sanity to create a Pokémon that could wield the forbidden power of the ancient world… and now, said Pokémon was doing happy somersaults for a snack cube like it was in a kindergarten dance recital.
[+2000 negative emotion points from Giovanni…]
[+3000 negative emotion points from Giovanni…]
[+4000 negative emotion points from Giovanni…]
David, oblivious to Giovanni's inner collapse, casually patted Larvitar's round belly as it rolled over like a sleepy dog. "Good boy. Just keep eating and being adorable. That's your job now."
Pikachu and Ralts stood nearby, watching in collective disgust. Their little faces were twisted into matching expressions that screamed: Really, bro? You bribing babies now? Or are you gonna give it diarrhea?
They each took a synchronized step back, giving David the same judgmental glare your grandparents give when you microwave tea.
David, noticing their expressions, snapped back defensively. "Hey! This is a normal energy cube! No laxatives, okay?!"
Aron—who had been silently trying to process this entire Twilight Zone episode—sputtered at the word "laxatives."
"…Why do you even need to clarify that?" Aron asked, side-eyeing David like he was some kind of candy-hustling Pokémon weirdo.
David turned and pointed his finger dramatically. "Because! These two,"—he gestured at Pikachu and Ralts, both now turning away like scandalized children—"have no faith in me! They think I put laxatives in everything!"
"I mean…" Aron started but wisely stopped himself.
Back on the ground, Larvitar was now curled up like a happy rock puffball, chewing on his fourth energy cube while softly humming to himself—well, vibrating. It was kind of the same thing.
And then something strange began to happen.
The eerie black crown atop Larvitar's head, which once radiated ominous energy that could crush a mountain, slowly dimmed… and dimmed… until the creepy glow faded entirely. A soft flicker of golden warmth replaced it, not bright, but oddly comforting.
David's system chimed.
[Special Trait Update – Larvitar]
Power of the Super Ancient Civilization – Now stabilized. Can use powers freely as Larvitar grows stronger.
Blessing of the Sun God Ultra Necrozma – Immense vitality, high resistance to Fire-type moves, rapid recovery from injuries.
Smooth Rock Assimilation – Perfect dual-type control over Rock and Ground energies.
David blinked at the panel.
"…Wait, three now? Ultra Necrozma? "
It was true. The once unstable, chaotic power that had nearly fried everything around them was now—according to the system—calm. Imprisoned. Tamed.
Somehow, this baby Larvitar had achieved what every power-hungry researcher could only dream of.
Meanwhile, Giovanni, who had clearly seen David's triumphant smirk, was trying not to explode.
"You don't get it," Giovanni snarled, his voice shaking with frustration. "That Larvitar was supposed to be the pinnacle of my research! I was on the brink of greatness!"
David tilted his head. "Bro… your 'pinnacle of greatness' is licking cube crumbs off my shoe."
Even Tyranitar had to turn away, pretending to stretch. She couldn't bear to witness her own species reduced to snack-begging shame.
Giovanni trembled. "It's not fair! He shouldn't be so obedient! He shouldn't even be alive!"
But David was already focused on Larvitar, who was currently rolling on his back, belly full, tail twitching.
The panel flickered again.
[Favorability toward David: +100]
[Current Mood: Extremely Happy – May follow commands without Poké Ball binding]
David chuckled. "Guess I don't need to catch him after all."
If Giovanni had a blood pressure monitor, it would have exploded.
[Pinging negative emotion value from Giovanni: +9999…]
David turned to Aron, who was still trying to process everything. "Hey, Aron, you wanna write this in your next research journal?"
Aron could only sigh. "Yeah, sure. Title: 'How to Completely Ruin a Decade of Research with One Bag of Snacks.'"
David beamed. "Catchy title."
And Larvitar burped.
****
David knelt beside Larvitar, who was still glowing faintly with residual darkness from the ancient power surging through its small body. The sky above remained overcast, as if the clouds themselves were waiting to see what decision would be made.
He softened his voice, crouching low, and extended a hand gently toward the little creature. "Hey, little guy… Would you like to come with me?"
Larvitar blinked those big, shiny eyes, its little green body twitching slightly. "Larvi?"
It tilted its head, then raised the energy cube in its stubby paw as if asking: "If I say yes… do I get more of these?"
David nearly burst out laughing. Even in the middle of this chaos, with power from a forgotten civilization pulsing in the air, this little chunk of destruction was bartering for snacks.
With a grin, David nodded. "Of course! You'll get more energy cubes. I'll keep you well-fed and happy, promise."
Larvitar didn't need more convincing. It gave a delighted cry and waddled over to David, tail wagging like a puppy that had just been adopted from a shelter made entirely of lava.
David was already doing the math in his head. A pseudo-Legendary… with Champion-level potential… and it was coming with him. All it had cost him was a handful of glorified Pokémon cookies. Best. Deal. Ever.
Aron, standing to the side, still looked concerned. He eyed Larvitar warily, the recent memory of that monstrous Ancient Power attack—and the utter failure of Tyranitar's Protect—still fresh in his mind.
"Are you sure it can be controlled?" Aron asked, voice low but serious.
David didn't hesitate. "The system isn't warning me anymore. Whatever power was causing it to lose control… it's stabilized now. Someone, or something, suppressed it."
Aron looked confused, " What system? Have you gone retarded when Giovanni beat you up?"
David glanced skyward for a moment, ignoring the insult. That blazing golden eye from before… whatever it was, it hadn't harmed them. In fact, it might have saved Larvitar. If it was what he thought it was—no, better not jump to conclusions.
Giovanni stood in the distance, fuming like a Snorlax on a treadmill. His face was red, his fists trembling, and veins bulged at his temples like they were ready to launch a Hyper Beam of their own. He glared at the scene with wide, bloodshot eyes.
"WHY?!" he screamed, voice cracking. "I CREATED YOU! YOU WERE MY MASTERPIECE!"
Larvitar, now curled up at David's feet happily munching away at another cube, didn't even look up. It had already moved on emotionally.
"I gave you everything!" Giovanni shouted, turning half-hysterical. "And you… you pick him?! He doesn't even have a gym badge!"
Unable to take the insult, Giovanni spun around and threw himself into Dusknoir's waiting arms like a villain in a soap opera. Dusknoir, to its credit, caught him gracefully and hovered silently while its trainer sobbed in rage against its ghostly chest.
From David's perspective, the sheer pettiness was both glorious and a little sad.
He straightened up and spoke, his voice solemn and clear. "Pokémon aren't tools. They're partners. They have the right to choose their own path, their own Trainers."
Then he turned directly toward Giovanni, narrowing his eyes. "You lost your way, Giovanni. You forgot your purpose. You were trying to save your Tyranitar once… but look at what you've become. There's such a thing as karma."
Pikachu rolled his eyes on David's shoulder. "If karma were real," he muttered in his head, "you'd be buried deep for making me work as a generator."
Giovanni froze. The word "Tyranitar" hit him like a truck.
His eyes widened. He stared at David, then slowly looked around at his remaining Pokémon—Banette, Dusknoir, the only ones not warped into monstrous ancient husks. He had sacrificed so many… all in the name of reviving the past.
And now even his masterpiece had rejected him.
But it wasn't over.
He clenched his fists tightly and shouted with venom, "No! No, I won't let you take him from me! Banette! Dusknoir! Obliterate him!"
As his voice echoed across the battlefield, Banette and Dusknoir surged forward. The air instantly chilled, and the sky above darkened as if reacting to the hatred in Giovanni's heart.
From their hands formed two pulsating Shadow Balls—black spheres of darkness that vibrated with ominous energy. But this time, it wasn't like before. This time, the attacks were… merging.
The Shadow Balls swirled together in the air, fusing into a massive gravitational vortex of dark power. It spun wildly, sucking in wind and dust, making the ground tremble. Even the light nearby seemed to bend around it.
The air howled like a banshee. Pokémon nearby ducked for cover. Pikachu's ears stood straight up.
"Uhh…" David's lips twitched, and he slowly backed away. "Guys, I think they're trying to turn me into a dimension."
Cao Wuxin stared at the rapidly expanding black sphere, jaw tight. "This isn't a regular Shadow Ball… That's some kind of fusion. If that thing hits, you'll be flattened. Like a pancake. In an alternate dimension."
"I love pancakes," David muttered, "but I'd rather not become one."
Larvitar looked up at the swirling dark monstrosity with an unimpressed "Lar…" then went back to eating its energy cube.
David watched the vortex crackle in the sky and muttered under his breath, "I really need to start carrying insurance…"
*****
The sky darkened in an instant, as if someone had thrown a blackout curtain over the entire region. Hanging above them was a swirling black hole formed from the combined Shadow Balls of Banette and Dusknoir, roiling with eerie energy, and expanding like a hungry vortex. It hovered high in the air, pulsing and devouring the light around it. The temperature dropped. The gravel on the ground didn't just shift—it levitated, drawn toward the swirling chaos as if gravity had taken the day off.
When even pebbles started disintegrating into dust just from the residual energy touching the ground, David's face turned pale. He gulped so hard it echoed.
"Is… is that what Elite-rank power looks like?" he muttered, his voice cracking like cheap ceramic. He looked up at the incoming doom orb. His knees weren't shaking—they were outright auditioning for a salsa routine.
Next to him, Aron stood like a man facing a freight train with no brakes. His expression was grave, jaw clenched tight enough to bite through a Poké Ball. Giovanni wasn't holding back anymore—he was trying to end this. No more experiments, no more boasts. He wanted David and Aron buried six feet under. And the terrifying thing? He might just succeed.
If that Shadow Ball landed unchallenged, not only would David and Aron be wiped off the face of the region, but the entire garrison camp behind them might go up in flames. Aron knew it. David knew it. Even Pikachu knew it—he was already tightening his tail and muttering curses under his breath in Pika-language.
Aron bit down hard and barked out a command. "Tyranitar, Tropius—Protect, now!"
"Tropius, guard them with everything you've got!" he yelled again, before whipping around to Venusaur. "Venusaur! Frenzy Plant! Wrap us in a barrier of vines—NOW!"
A synchronized roar answered his commands.
Tyranitar braced herself and slammed her arms forward, generating a shimmering green barrier of raw energy that rippled out to form a protective dome around the group. Tropius flapped his massive leafy wings and expanded a second barrier layered right above Tyranitar's, stacking the defense like a double-decker fortress.
Then came Venusaur's turn. With a rumble that shook the ground, a thick forest erupted in mere seconds, monstrous vines shooting up from beneath the soil. Giant wooden columns spiraled around the two Protect barriers, encasing them in a living, groaning cage of greenery.
David couldn't help but feel a tiny flicker of hope.
That flicker died the moment the Shadow Ball came down.
The instant the massive black sphere made contact with the outermost vine structure, it didn't burn, explode, or smash through—it simply erased it. Like reality itself gave way. The plants hardened by Venusaur's Frenzy Plant weren't even scorched; they were undone, pixel by pixel, disintegrating into flecks of glowing green particles that disappeared into the air.
Three seconds. That's all it took for the outer Frenzy Plant barrier to vanish completely.
Then came Tropius' Protect. The shadowy mass pressed against the translucent shield like a wrecking ball made of despair. Sharp screeching noises echoed as the two forces clashed—Protect groaning to hold back the tide, and the Shadow Ball pulsing hungrily for more destruction. The air shook. Everyone's ears rang.
Tropius' Protect held for a full thirty seconds.
And then it shattered like a dropped plate. Tropius let out a groan, wings drooping, sweat soaking his leaves.
Now there was only one thing between them and the apocalypse: Tyranitar's barrier.
David stood frozen, sweat dripping from his brow, trying to calculate whether Ralts could teleport him away fast enough. Could he escape? Could he leave Aron behind? Could he scam the next idiot before he got vaporized?
No. Too late now.
"ROARRRR!!!"
Tyranitar screamed, voice filled with desperation and rage. She planted herself like a statue, fists clenched so tight her claws dug into her own palms. Her barrier glowed darker—green turning to emerald, the sheen now resembling cut gemstones rather than simple energy.
David's system display popped up at that moment, a little window blinking with urgency.
[Tyranitar has broken through! Current rank: Champion.]
"What?" David gasped.
Inside the barrier, energy surged. Tyranitar's armor glistened, her back spikes glowing. The ripple of force spreading from her body was enough to make David's coat flap violently. Her muscles bulged with new strength, her posture fierce and unwavering.
A cracking noise pierced the air. A thin fracture stretched across the top of the barrier. Aron looked up, eyes wide, heart pounding.
"No… not yet! Just hold a little longer!" he growled through gritted teeth.
But Tyranitar wasn't backing down. Not even close.
"ROARRRRRRRRR!!!"
She poured every ounce of her new Champion-level strength into the Protect. The emerald barrier surged in brightness, shimmering like a god-tier emerald had just dropped from the heavens.
Then it happened.
"BOOM!"
The Shadow Ball exploded on impact.
Not just a bang—this was the sound of a small sun collapsing. The force rattled everything. Shockwaves rippled through the air. Even inside the three-layered fortress, David was flung back onto the ground, ears ringing like church bells in a hurricane.
Dust and debris went everywhere. The once-flat land now had a crater nearly thirty meters deep, like someone had slammed an asteroid into it. Everything was gone—trees, rocks, even some unfortunate Wurmples that were just minding their business.
Everything… except the spot beneath Tyranitar's emerald shield.
That space? Completely untouched.
David lay flat on the ground, face-up, staring at the sky with a stupid smile on his face.
"I'm… I'm not dead?"
Pikachu walked over and gave his cheek a light slap with his tail. "Pika," it said flatly, clearly disappointed.
Tyranitar, still bracing the barrier, let out a deep sigh. Her knees buckled slightly, but she didn't fall. She had protected them all.
Aron's jaw was clenched tight, but his eyes were glistening. His first Champion Pokémon… and it was Tyranitar. The same Tyranitar he thought would never fight again. She didn't just return—she came back stronger than ever.
David wiped the dust off his face, sat up slowly, and looked around. "So, uh… what's next?" he asked.
Above the smoldering battlefield, the black hole had vanished.
Giovanni's trump card had failed.
And Champion Tyranitar stood like a guardian goddess in the silence that followed.
****
David's grin stretched ear to ear as he glanced over the battlefield, practically glowing with smug satisfaction. Victory tasted sweet—like energy cubes and crushed enemies.
But just as he was ready to bask in his triumph, something caught his eye. His smile dropped like a rock.
"Wait a sec…" David squinted toward the charred ridge where Giovanni had last been seen. "Aron! Giovanni's gone!"
"What?!" Aron snapped out of his daze and spun around, eyes darting across the ruined expanse.
Sure enough, the maniacal scientist—and the creepy ancient Pokémon that had been encircling the garrison camp—were nowhere to be seen. The Mystery Zone was a wreck, reduced to twisted terrain and scattered rubble glowing faintly under the evening sun. It looked less like a battlefield and more like a post-apocalyptic gardening project.
The ruins stretched out in every direction, scorched by ancient power and shaded in the soft gold of sunset. The air was thick with smoke, dust, and the quiet dread of unanswered questions.
Aron let out a long, exhausted sigh and muttered, "Of course he vanished. Just like the slimeball he is."
Then, he looked over at David and spoke up. "His Pokémon can phase between this world and the spirit world using shadows. There's no way to stop him once he slips into that. Come on—we've got a lot of mess to clean up."
David nodded, but before he could take a step, Aron squinted at something in David's hand and tilted his head.
"…By the way, why are you holding a wrench?"
David froze.
"Oh. Uh. Heh." He looked down at the gleaming silver wrench clutched tightly in his palm, twinkling under a sunbeam that peeked through the clouds. "This? Totally normal! It's, uh… just for self-defense! You know! Rookie Trainer stuff."
He smiled nervously and immediately hid the wrench behind his back, like a kid caught shoplifting candy.
Aron gave him a look that screamed "Are you serious?" and muttered something under his breath about unstable youths with toolkits.
But then his expression grew serious again. He glanced at the Larvitar, who was currently squatting in the dirt nibbling on the last energy cube with a contented "Larvi~" and wiggling his stubby tail.
"So… what are you going to do with it?"
David blinked. "With who? Larvitar?"
"Yes, Larvitar!" Aron frowned. "That thing has the power of a super ancient civilization running through its tiny body. It smashed through Tyranitar's Protect like it was made of wet paper. If it loses control, not even Champion-tier Trainers could stop it. And you—"
He paused, clearly trying not to sound too rude.
"—you're… you."
David scratched his head. "Well, I mean… it's not like I asked it to imprint on me!"
Larvitar looked up at them, blissfully unaware of the existential debate surrounding his fate, and burped.
Aron sighed deeply. This wasn't just any Pokémon—they were talking about a pseudo-Legendary child that punched through a Champion-level barrier, carried the cursed remnants of a forgotten civilization, and also happened to be… David's new sidekick?
"I mean, this Larvitar is the only known case of retaining sanity while infected with ancient power. Plus," Aron muttered, "he's Tyranitar's kid. So I don't want the Alliance to decide he's a threat and wipe him out. But still…"
He looked at David, hesitant. "Can you really keep it under control?"
David looked thoughtful for a second.
Then he smirked.
"Aron, you can do whatever you like," he said, voice dripping with mock sincerity. "If you want him braised with soy sauce, I'll boil the water myself. If you're feeling spicy, I'll dice up some peppers and stir-fry him on the spot!"
Aron stared at him, absolutely stunned.
Even Tyranitar turned its massive head, glaring at David with a look that said "Say that again, punk, I dare you."
Larvitar paused mid-chew and tilted his head.
"…Lar?"
Drool leaked from the corner of his mouth.
That soy sauce stir-fry thing sounded kind of delicious.
Ding!
[+2000 Negative Emotion Value from Aron…][+2000 Negative Emotion Value from Tyranitar…][+2000 Negative Emotion Value from Aron…][+2000 Negative Emotion Value from Tyranitar…]
David's system was blowing up with passive-aggressive energy.
Aron, now visibly twitching, clenched his fists and marched over to David. Without warning, he bonked him squarely on the forehead.
BAM!
"Ow! What was that for?!" David yelped, rubbing his head like a child who just got caught with a cheat sheet in class.
"Stop being a smartass!" Aron barked. "Larvitar only listens to you now! I don't care what weird wrench-waving charm you've got going on—but you're responsible for him. I'm trusting you not to let him go rogue!"
David blinked, then slowly nodded. "Yes, yes, of course. I solemnly swear not to stir-fry Larvitar. Not even lightly pan-sear him."
"You better not!" Aron snapped. "If anything happens to him, I'll personally tell Tyranitar to cook you into a David-burger!"
Tyranitar grunted, fists clenched. She was totally on board with that idea.
David sighed, rubbed his sore head, and grumbled, "Man, can't a guy joke around after nearly getting vaporized?"
Then, perking up, he leaned toward Aron with wide puppy-dog eyes.
"Buuuuut… if you're so worried about safety, maybe give me, I don't know, a hundred or so top-grade Mystery Zone treasures? You know—just for insurance."
He raised his wrench and gave it a little twirl.
"Worst-case scenario, I'll bash Larvitar over the head myself."
Aron stared at him, unblinking. Larvitar clapped his stubby paws excitedly like he thought this was all part of a game. Tyranitar looked ready to bury everyone in a Rock Slide.
[+3000 Negative Emotion Value from Aron…][+4000 Negative Emotion Value from Tyranitar…]
David tilted his head, smug grin returning.
"Come on. One hundred treasure items. That's not that much, right?"
Aron exhaled slowly, then muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "I hate children."