Chapter 146 – 146

The Life Orb—a held item that boosts the power of a Pokémon’s moves by around 30%, but at the cost of 10% of its maximum HP each time it lands an attack.

In battle, it’s a formidable item—but also a double-edged sword. If given to a Pokémon with recovery abilities, it becomes incredibly powerful.

But for those without recovery moves, it means gambling everything on overwhelming offense—striking first, striking hard, before they go down.

In real-world combat, the Life Orb’s side effect translates into a simultaneous drain on stamina and endurance. Once its energy is spent, the Pokémon can no longer continue fighting.

Steven frowned. “The Life Orb… but how will Regirock even carry it?”

Hikaru responded, “Doublade, use Brick Break on Regirock’s back! Carve out a slot!”

Doublade’s blades gleamed as it slashed a small cavity into Regirock’s back. Hikaru slipped the Life Orb inside—it almost felt like inserting a hidden power core.

He paused in thought, then pulled out two Berries—one red, one green—and shoved them in as well.

Lastly, he sealed the slot using the meteorite fragment Steven had provided.

“Shashashari~ Regiiiii—!”

The Life Orb + Meteorite Fragment combo surged through Regirock, massively boosting its Rock-type energy. The sense of power swelling within was undeniable!

“Beep-beep-beep—Regiii—!”

Registeel hadn’t expected Regirock to challenge it. Of the three Titans, only it possessed a weapon. What’s more, Steel had the type advantage over Rock. Registeel figured Regirock must’ve been sleeping too long and lost its mind.

Fine then—time to show the difference between them!

Focus Punch!

Brilliant white light condensed on Registeel’s massive hammer as it gathered energy. A shockwave blasted out around it, swirling upward like a thunderous peak!

Focus Punch was a mighty Fighting-type move, requiring full mental focus and a steady stance to unleash. It was one of the most powerful attacks all three Titans knew—on par with Superpower.

But Registeel had trained with humans for ages, learning to channel aura through its hammer—an evolution of the technique. This wasn’t just Focus Punch or some “Mega Hammer.”

Hikaru watched, wide-eyed.

Was Registeel charging up ki like a martial artist? Was it secretly some kind of fighting monk? Maybe it could even craft Fighting Spirit Cloth for him?

“Stone Edge!” Hikaru called.

Regirock’s H-symbol flickered. Jagged rocks formed around it like a planetary ring, spinning twice before shooting forward at incredible speed!

Registeel swung its hammer to smash the incoming rocks—but they were too many! It managed to block the first wave, but more kept coming. Its first Focus Punch was disrupted!

“Beep-beep-beep—!?”

The Stone Edge was stronger than expected!

Registeel realized the attack force was unnaturally powerful. Regirock shouldn’t have had this much bite!

“Now, Iron Defense!” Hikaru followed up, beginning the classic tank strategy. Regirock’s body gleamed with silver light—each flicker boosting its defense further.

Registeel wasn’t fazed. It planted its hammer into the steel floor and also activated Iron Defense.

“Now it’s a defense contest between two giants…” Steven chuckled. “This is turning into an endurance match.”

But with the Life Orb, Regirock was technically at a disadvantage. Each attack cost it energy. The Life Orb maximized its potential, but at a cost—like unlocking dangerous strength that burns from within.

“No problem. Time to use that move,” Hikaru muttered. “Use Body Press!”

Iron Defense + Body Press—a staple combo for tank-style Pokémon!

This strategy converts defensive power into offense, a technique used by top-tier trainers. In fact, Byron—the Canalave Gym Leader in Sinnoh—was famous for it. His Bastiodon, a Pokémon with terrible attack stats, became a nearly impenetrable wall using this method.

But while that combo took years of training, Body Press bypassed all that—calculating damage based on defense rather than attack.

The higher the defense, the more damage dealt!

Regirock’s H-symbol flashed. It launched itself at Registeel, body tilted, gathering all its fortified strength—

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Registeel staggered back 3–4 steps!

“Beep-beep-beep??!”

That strike had hurt!

Registeel was shocked. This move was different from anything it had faced before—and when did Regirock gain this much strength?!

“Regirock’s base Defense is 200,” Hikaru whispered to himself. With Iron Defense, that stat was boosted sky-high. Even though Registeel also used Iron Defense, that Body Press still hit hard.

Still, as Steven noted earlier—no matter how much Registeel got hit, you could barely see a scratch. Its body was one of the greatest masterpieces created by Regigigas.

The Steel Titan shifted its weight and raised its hammer again—

Focus Punch!

This time the strike landed squarely!

Regirock nearly flew from the sheer impact. Cracks spidered across its rocky body!

A hurricane of aura followed the hit, rippling out like a tidal wave—blasting across the battlefield. Even Bloodmoon Ursaluna wiped a bead of sweat from its brow.

That was the same move that nearly gave it a concussion the first time…

“Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep!”

Registeel raised its hammer high in celebration, basking in its apparent victory.

Forged through endless years of hammering, its strength could shatter mountains and crush diamonds. Even if Regirock was also a Titan, this time it had no hope. Surely it couldn’t—

“REGI!!”

Regirock stomped the steel floor, roaring with battle fury!

“Beep-beep-beep?! Regi?!”

Registeel’s lights flashed in disbelief. Regirock had taken that full-force hit—and it was fine?!

No way!

“Beep-beep-beep!” Registeel demanded—How did you block that?!

Brother, you’ve changed…

Steven raised a brow. “What were those berries you gave it earlier?”

Hikaru clenched his fist. “A Shuca Berry and a Chople Berry. The first reduces super-effective Steel damage, the second reduces Fighting damage. Both are rare Berries only found in Sinnoh and Shinto.”

“That explains it!” Steven nodded.

Hikaru shrugged. “I didn’t know if that hammer was a Steel-type or Fighting-type move, so I came prepared.”

Registeel glanced at the two humans, then at Regirock. No matter—it would strike again!

But—

“Thunder Wave!” Hikaru pointed.

Regirock raised both arms. A tiny electric current shot out, striking Registeel. Its hammer dropped to the floor, body trembling.

Paralysis!

“Body Press, again!”

Regirock rammed forward, landing a solid elbow straight to Registeel’s “face!”

“Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep?!”

“Yoooooo~” Doublade gave a strange look.

Was the Steel Titan… cursing?

Well, sort of. Since it was from ancient times, it hadn’t exactly mastered modern swearing—just muttering “traitor!” and other soft phrases.

After being hit twice, Registeel wasn’t going to just sit there. It raised both arms to shield its “face.” Suddenly, a blast of silvery Steel energy enveloped it!

Steven called it. “That’s Iron Head! Just like Mr. Shindai’s Registeel. When using Steel-type moves, it condenses the energy into a single point and channels it across its body.”

From the look of it, it was pretty intimidating—if you didn’t know better, you might think it was Meteor Assault! But nope, it was Iron Head.

It took off like a steel rocket, crashing toward Regirock!

“Protect!” Hikaru ordered.

Regirock crossed its arms, unleashing a green barrier. Registeel slammed into it with a thunderous crash!

Chunks of rock scattered, but the Protect didn’t fully block the hit!

“Protect failed to hold…” Hikaru grimaced.

Just like in the anime battle at the Battle Pyramid—when Paul’s Electivire used Protect against Brandon’s Regirock’s Stone Edge, the force overwhelmed it anyway.

In this world, Protect wasn’t as absolute as in the games—it depended on the Pokémon’s conditioning and endurance. If their stamina or strength was lacking, or the difference in power was too great, Protect could fail.

“The Life Orb enhanced Regirock’s power output, but it drains its stamina. That’s probably why Protect didn’t fully hold.”

Regirock stumbled backward, steel floor screeching beneath its feet.

Hikaru watched Registeel’s charging attacks and suddenly had a flash of inspiration!

Wait… when Registeel used Iron Head, it floated briefly like a rocket—

In the air?!

“Gravity!” Hikaru shouted.

A surge of psychic force erupted from Regirock. An invisible gravity field expanded, yanking Registeel down mid-attack!

BOOM! The Steel Titan slammed face-first into the ground, denting the temple floor!

“Now—Iron Defense, then Body Press!”

Seizing the moment, Regirock ramped up its defense once more, then slammed into Registeel with all its might!

Registeel tried to get up—but only made it halfway before Regirock came down hard on its back!

BANG! The sound of metal being struck thundered out.

It was a critical hit.

The floor’s dent deepened. Registeel’s arms went limp.

It collapsed fully—completely losing the ability to battle.

(End of Chapter)

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