*Roar?*
The raging giant Dragonite suddenly quieted down.
She had seemingly never seen another Pokémon of her own size before, and curiously studied the Gigantamax Gengar.
*Gengaa?*
Gengar also examined itself. It could feel a violent energy raging inside, but that power wouldn't last long before it faded.
*Wuu~* For some reason, the giant Dragonite grew excited again.
This time, her gaze on Natsume carried a sense of determination.
Raising her claw, she ignored the Gigantamax Gengar and reached directly for Natsume atop its head.
"Gengar, Max Phantasm!" Natsume commanded.
With Gengar's Special Attack so high—this one trained exceptionally well—the move's damage would be immense.
Most importantly, Max Phantasm carried a trapping effect, making escape nearly impossible.
*Gengaaaah!*
Gengar opened its cavernous mouth, like a gate to the underworld.
Countless purple phantoms gathered within, swirling like restless souls.
In the next instant, the horde of phantoms surged forward in a torrent, crashing toward the unguarded Dragonite.
*BOOOOM—!*
The Max Phantasm struck Dragonite, passing straight through her body with the sound of water surging.
Her massive form visibly stiffened, claw frozen in midair.
She lowered her head, staring at her body in disbelief.
She was hurt?
*This gengar truly lived up to being Agatha's ace. Even on its first Gigantamax, it instinctively unleashed Max Phantasm with perfect mastery.*
Natsume smiled in satisfaction at the Gengar beneath him.
If it weren't for his high moral standards—and the fact this Gengar belonged to Agatha—he might have already stolen it.
No matter. He could always trick it into his own breeding house.
"Awesome! Looks like Natsume's got the upper hand!"
On the beach, Ash cheered at the sight of him standing on the Gigantamax Gengar's head.
"At this rate, maybe we can even catch that giant Dragonite!" Bill's face flushed with excitement, breathing fast, as if he were the one battling.
*RUMBLE—!* Suddenly, the tide shifted.
The Gigantamax Gengar beneath Natsume trembled, then its whole form collapsed and shrank, reverting to a normal Gengar within seconds.
Across the way, the giant Dragonite's gaze only deepened with obsession.
*Gengaa…?* Gengar looked at Natsume, crestfallen.
"It's fine. Watch me." Natsume patted the purple ghost.
Beside him, Great Ball Rotom fired another blue beam, attempting the same trick.
*ROAR—!* Dragonite blocked with a swipe of her claw, a transparent barrier forming to repel the beam.
"It can be stopped by Protect?"
Natsume froze for a moment.
*Tch—if that's the case, maybe the Pokéball series Rotom wasn't so reliable after all.*
*Gengaa?* Seeing the empowering beam blocked, Gengar looked back at Natsume, asking what to do next.
"It's over—Mr. Natsume's Great Ball Rotom has very limited move output!" Giselle said anxiously.
As Natsume's assistant, she knew the Pokéball series Rotom better than anyone else.
"Don't worry! Believe in Natsume!"
"Look!" Brock suddenly exclaimed.
Everyone turned, and only then realized that at some point, a barrier had descended—enclosing Dragonite and Natsume.
**Battle Arena activated.**
> Opponent holds *Divine Authority*. > Current mode: **Raid Battle** — multiple Pokémon may be on the field simultaneously.> No allied Pokémon possess *Divine Authority*. Dragonite's *Divine Authority* will apply.
The system's voice made Natsume pause in shock.
*Divine Authority? That was reserved for legendary Pokémon—and not just any, but the strongest among their kind.*
Meanwhile, hearing the voice in her own mind, the giant Dragonite's desire to claim Natsume's heart only grew stronger.
"Go, Gengar! Great Ball Rotom!"
With a grand sweep of his hand, Natsume sent out both Pokémon to face the gigantic Dragonite.
> **Trainer Natsume used Map PP Up.!**> Great Ball Rotom's PP has been fully restored!
In reality, PP-restoring items exist, but outside of explorers in desolate places, they're rarely ever used.
Because their effect in the real world is slow.
But reality is reality. What's it got to do with my game?
Inside a regulated battle arena, PP restoratives take effect instantly.
That meant, as long as he had enough, Great Ball Rotom could keep using Rob the Rich, Aid the Poor Ball, and Gengar could keep Gigantamaxing.
"Rob the Rich, Aid the Poor Ball! Gengar, get ready!"
> Gaint Ball Rotom used *Rob the Rich, Aid the Poor* on Gengar> Gengar has Gigantamaxed!
With a cold mechanical chime, the previously faded Gigantamax Gengar once again appeared on the shoreline.
Amid stirring background music, Dragonite's eyes lit with excitement, burning as it stared at Natsume.
*What are you doing?*
Natsume broke into goosebumps. That look was just like the one Giselle gave him—only this Dragonite was much more blatant.
"Max Phantasm!"
Fearing Dragonite would flee, Natsume quickly gave the order.
At the same time, Dragonite's HP bar appeared, only barely scratched.
One glance and Natsume felt something was off.
Even with maxed-out defenses, after taking a Gigantamax Max Phantasm head-on, Dragonite shouldn't have lost so little HP.
Before he could puzzle it out, the first Max Phantasm hit Dragonite inside the battle arena.
> Due to Divine Authority, Dragonite took reduced damage.
*Boom!*
Dragonite's HP bar dropped only about one-tenth.
> Due to Divine Authority, Dragonite recovered HP.
The already massive bar climbed back up, leaving the two Phantasms to chip only a twentieth of its health!
"What?!" Natsume froze.
Where did it get Divine Authority from?!
*Woooo!* Dragonite's fists blazed with fire as it struck at Great Ball Rotom.
> Dragonite used Fire Punch!> Due to Divine Authority, Dragonite's attack ignores resistances and abilities.
*Boom!*
Super tank Rotom went down instantly.
Natsume: ???
*Hold up, what is this thing?!*
Before he could react, Gengar's Gigantamax form dissolved.
*Gengaa?!*
Gengar jolted in fright.
> Go, Meowth!
With Rotom fainted, the system auto-sent Meowth onto the field.
"Nooo, Meowth doesn't wanna!" Meowth cried in despair.
It tried to run, but some strange force restrained it.
"Gengar, Destiny Bond!"
> Gengar used Destiny Bond! > Gengar linked itself to Dragonite!
Dragonite said nothing, only swung again as flames flared in its fists.
> Dragonite used Fire Punch!> Due to Divine Authority, Dragonite's attack ignores resistances and abilities.> Gengar fainted!> Due to Destiny Bond, Dragonite fainted!
Both HP bars emptied at the same time.
"Alright, Meowth!"
Meowth burst into tears, happier than Natsume himself.
Behind him, Natsume frowned. Something felt off.
Dragonite's HP bar had been emptied, yet the regulated battle arena still hadn't ended.
> Due to Divine Authority, Dragonite's HP has been restored.
Under Natsume's stunned gaze, the HP bar above the massive Dragonite returned to full green.
???
*Might as well just declare her the winner already.*
You can read more (around 70+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.