Chapter 27. Natsume One-on-Four, Hard to Hide the Downturn
The rampaging energy gradually subsided and turned into black-and-red particles that began to circle around Poké Ball Rotom.
But its size kept swelling madly.
By the end, Poké Ball Rotom was as large as half of Mt. Moon's summit.
Natsume glanced up at the sky, and he seemed to understand why the Clefairy had taken his Rotom for the moon god.
Red on top and white on the bottom—seen from the Clefairy's perspective, Poké Ball Rotom really did look like the moon hanging overhead.
"Natsume!"
Lance's gaze slid over, utterly serious.
"Let's continue.
Rotom told me the energy inside him needs to be vented."
"Right!"
Lance, holding nothing back, sent out all of his Pokémon.
"Come out, Dragonair, Aerodactyl, Salamence!"
"Full-power assault."
"Rotom, use Max Extinction Ball!"
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, an extremely wide light wave spread outward, so vast that it covered the whole of Mt. Moon.
The colors of Mt. Moon were being stripped away.
"Whoosh!"
As the gray-white wave drew back, Dragonite and Salamence vanished.
"Hold it—why could you select two targets?
And didn't you say that move was out of PP?"
"Yeah, but Dynamax seems to have strengthened all of Rotom's moves, and it even added a bit of PP to Extinction Ball."
Hearing this, Lance felt his worldview shatter.
If Natsume had brought a few more Pokémon, he would have been swept.
Although… not quite.
This Rotom's Speed stat was very low.
If Natsume didn't have space-manipulation in hand, Lance was still confident he could win.
"Whoosh!"
After a short while, the fainted Dragonite and Salamence were released back out.
"Pii—"
Behind them, countless Clefairy seemed to be running out of stamina as well, and the gigantified Poké Ball Rotom's size gradually shrank until it returned to normal.
"You okay, Rotom?"
Natsume picked up Rotom, who had slipped free of the custom Poké Ball.
Doing Dynamax without a Dynamax Band was very unsafe.
Even with a Dynamax Band, a Pokémon could only stay Dynamaxed for a short stretch; if it went on too long, it got dangerous.
"Natsume, is Rotom okay?"
Ash and the others hurried up from behind.
"Relax.
He's just exhausted and needs a good rest."
Saying that, Natsume returned Rotom to his Rotom Phone.
"The moves on your Poké Ball Rotom were broken to begin with.
I didn't expect Dynamax to stack on top of that."
At the side, Lance's helpless voice came.
"If I'm not mistaken, besides being able to pick two targets, Extinction Ball can also actively drain the HP of the trapped Pokémon, right?"
Natsume nodded without denying it.
"This kind of move is just…"
Lance wanted to curse, but his good breeding wouldn't let the words out.
Natsume smiled.
It wasn't just Extinction Ball and Curse Ball that got stronger after Dynamaxing; their PP also ticked up a little.
Natsume shook his head slightly, gave Lance a thumbs-up, and declared the outcome of this bout:
"'Lance slightly falls behind.
Lance is locked in a hard fight.
Lance is a bow drawn to its last.
Lance, please deliver your acceptance speech!'"
Natsume used "Synchro," and there was no "high-quality fence."
Lance: "…"
What acceptance speech—can I just cuss you out?
Mind your demeanor, don't get mad.
Mind your demeanor, don't get mad.
Lance took a deep breath, silently chanting to himself.
"Natsume-senpai, there really do seem to be particles underground related to Dynamax!"
A group of researchers led by Shoko hurried over from the side.
That huge sphere in the sky had long since drawn their attention.
"Mm.
It seems they used the Clefairy's psychic power as a carrier and adhered to Rotom."
Natsume thought a moment, then suggested:
"Let's wait for Professor Oak to get here.
He went to the Galar region a few days ago to invite Professor Magnolia.
They'll arrive tomorrow."
The next day, on Mt. Moon's summit—
"Mm… so this is the Rotom that was Dynamaxed?"
In a rest area, an elderly woman in a lab coat with chestnut hair, glasses, and a steady air was seriously watching a video.
The footage showed the battle sequence of the Dynamaxed Rotom that staff had recorded.
"Well, Magnolia—see anything?"
From behind Professor Magnolia, Professor Oak, smiling broadly, poked his head out.
"I do.
This kid's new-form Rotom is very well trained."
"Hey now, I mean, did you see anything about Dynamax?"
Professor Oak corrected what he meant.
"Hmph.
Dynamax research isn't something you figure out in a short time."
Professor Magnolia seemed a bit sore about it.
She hadn't finished her own affairs when Professor Oak had all but dragged her out here.
Behind the two, Natsume, Ash, Lance, and the others waited quietly.
"Hey, you kid over there."
Professor Magnolia suddenly turned and looked to the rear.
"Huh?
Professor Magnolia, do you need something from me?"
Shoko stepped out, looking blank.
"Not you."
Professor Magnolia pushed Shoko aside with her walking stick and went straight up to Natsume.
"I mean you—the one named Natsume, right?"
Leaning on her cane, Professor Magnolia circled Natsume, looking him over up and down and nodding from time to time.
"Good.
Very good.
Excellent.
So young to have achieved this, and you're a researcher, too!"
Saying so, Professor Magnolia handed Natsume a business card.
"Hey, hey, hey—don't you poach in front of me!"
Professor Oak suddenly leaned in.
Natsume accepted the card—and froze.
Printed at the top was a large portrait of a comely young girl with orange hair and the same dark green eyes as Professor Magnolia, bright and lively.
"Wow, Professor Magnolia, did you Photoshop your own picture?"
Ash piped up curiously, and the next second he got a thump on the head from the cane.
"Hmph.
Look closely.
That's my granddaughter, Sonia."
Then, with a kindly look, Professor Magnolia turned to Natsume:
"My granddaughter is a researcher, too.
When you have time, you two should exchange notes."
Sonia… Natsume searched his memory for a moment and then recalled.
Sonia—Leon's childhood friend in the Galar region.
She kept trying to wedge herself into the bond between Leon and Raihan—though with Leon in the mix, the three of them should actually get along pretty well.
Natsume thought it over and nodded very earnestly.
"Okay, Professor Magnolia.
When I go to the Galar region, I'll be sure to keep in touch with your granddaughter."
If he remembered right, among the researchers mentioned in the storyline, Sonia was one of the few who later rose to the title of Pokémon Professor.
A top-tier labor—talent—like that, Natsume definitely had to think of a way to rope her in.
Seeing Natsume tuck the card away carefully, Professor Magnolia's face broke into a smile.
"Here, Natsume lad, these are the Dynamax Bands you asked me to make.
Time was tight, so I didn't manage to finish them, but I brought eight pieces for you."
Smiling, Professor Magnolia took a large box from her assistant and handed it to Natsume.
Opening the box, inside lay eight finely crafted Dynamax Bands.
The eight Wishing Stars he'd sent over would only make about that many; counting losses, maybe only six or so.
But Professor Magnolia had still given him eight Dynamax Bands, and hadn't charged him.
"Thank you, Professor Magnolia."
Natsume bowed to her solemnly.
Mm.
Grandma is straightforward.
Her granddaughter will definitely be easy to—cough—hardworking and willing to go the extra mile.
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