Under the canopy of the lush tropical rainforests lies Akala Island's richest food source, known as the forest's bountiful treasure.
This is also where the second trial takes place. The Totem Pokémon Summer has to face is Lurantis. This time, he plans to negotiate, using his inherent friendliness to obtain the Grass Z-Crystal.
"Alright, let's go in. Remember to make a good impression," Summer said.
"Boom!"
"Caw!"
Then, Summer walked into the jungle. The surroundings were eerily silent. The thick tree trunks bore scorch marks, and the damp ground had similar traces. Something was very wrong.
Recalling the story Silver had told and noticing the unusual environment, Summer warned his companions:
"Rillaboom, Corviknight, stay alert. There's likely something dangerous in this jungle."
Summer's words put the two Pokémon on high alert. They kept scanning their surroundings, keeping Summer in the center.
"Caw!"
The sharp-eyed Corviknight spotted a large creature in the distant grass. Could it be the dangerous entity Summer mentioned? It immediately alerted Summer.
"Corviknight, did you see something?"
Corviknight nodded and then picked a Pecha Berry from the bag.
"A Pecha Berry? Do you mean it's pink?" Summer asked.
Corviknight nodded again. Summer quickly understood its meaning.
"Pink? None of them are pink, so it's probably fine. Lead us, Corviknight," Summer instructed.
Corviknight led Summer and Rillaboom to the grass where it had seen the anomaly. There lay a pink giant mantis, eyes closed, covered in burn marks. It looked severely injured.
"Totem Lurantis, and..."
Beside it were two Fomantis, also bearing burn marks but less injured, protected under Lurantis's claws.
"Fomantis, with burn marks... It must be an Xurkitree hiding in the jungle. Though it rarely attacks, its destructive power is terrifying. Did the Totem attack it first?"
Thinking this, Summer took a healing potion from his bag and sprayed it on Totem Lurantis and the Fomantis. Their wounds began to heal, and Lurantis slowly opened its eyes.
It quickly rose, glaring at Summer with its bright red eyes. The human before it exuded goodwill, and its wounds wouldn't heal on their own. He must have saved it.
Lurantis retracted its bladed petals and bowed its head in thanks. Without this person, it might have died, and the jungle could have been devastated by the dangerous Xurkitree.
"Lurantis, was the one who attacked you looking like this?"
Summer picked up a stick and roughly drew a spiky head and a segmented body made of cables on the ground.
Lurantis's eyes filled with hatred. Yes, that was the creature. It had ambushed Lurantis during a nap, unleashing a powerful electric attack. Lurantis tried to fight back but was defeated, eventually escaping to this spot.
Did this human know about such strange creatures? Maybe he could help drive it away!
"It seems so. How about we make a deal? I'll help you drive it away, and you lend me the forest's Z-Crystals." Summer took out a red crystal, having brought one specifically for this negotiation.
Given the recent confirmation that the lurking creature was an Xurkitree, one of the most destructive Ultra Beasts, it needed to be dealt with. Though powerful, it had a clear weakness: its fragile body.
If an opportunity presented itself, Rillaboom could severely injure it with its high horsepower.
This Xurkitree must have evaded the island guardian deity's purge. Such a dangerous creature couldn't be allowed to stay, as it would harm the people and Pokémon living here, with Lurantis as the prime example.
Lurantis nodded at Summer's proposal. Of course, as long as it could get its revenge, it didn't mind giving away the crystals.
"Good, it seems we have an agreement. Let's plan our attack. It won't be an easy opponent," Summer said.
Beneath the giant trees at the jungle's center, Xurkitree had its cables plugged into the ground, motionless. A large tree hollow behind it emitted a bright light, Lurantis's former home.
"So it's here, attracted by the aura of the Totem Pokémon," Summer observed from the dense grass.
Ultra Beasts instinctively sought out creatures bathed in the energy of Ultra Wormholes. Summer believed the Totem aura was similar to the Ultra Wormhole energy, drawing Xurkitree here.
"Alright, let's proceed according to plan. Transform this area into a suitable battlefield, Rillaboom, Fomantis."
Rillaboom gathered life energy and spread it around, causing grass to flourish instantly.
The two Fomantis emitted sunlight, turning the weather to a scorching sunny day. With the weather change, their appearances also transformed, their heads resembling little suns.
Grassy terrain and sunny weather—these were Summer's first steps in ensuring a terrain advantage.
"No response yet. Continue as planned. Attack, everyone!"
Rillaboom pounded its drum, and thick roots erupted from the ground, binding Xurkitree in place.
Lurantis raised its petal blades, absorbing the sunlight. Under the sunny sky, its Solar Blade didn't need to charge. The grassy terrain boosted its power.
A brilliant, thick blade of light slashed at the immobilized Xurkitree, engulfing it in radiance.
"Don't stop! Keep attacking!"
Against a Xurkitree that had absorbed an unknown amount of energy, continuous attacks were necessary to prevent any retaliation.
In the sunny weather, Fomantis's Weather Ball turned into burning fireballs, their fire-type further enhanced by the sunny conditions.
Two Weather Balls struck the glowing Xurkitree, causing a massive explosion, flames scattering.
Then, a sharp Air Slash cut through the smoke, Corviknight adding its attack.
As the smoke rose, Summer remained vigilant, searching for any sign of the opponent, knowing that no injuries could mean trouble was still ahead.
(End of Chapter)