Luo Yuan's heart raced with excitement, but he kept his composure.
He didn't act immediately.
Not because he was afraid.
But because he wanted to try capturing Deoxys without resorting to a fight.
Activating the power of Viridian, Luo Yuan connected with Deoxys, hoping to appeal to it.
"You seem badly hurt… Why don't you come with me? I can help you heal."
His tone was soothing, hoping that the promise of healing might entice Deoxys to come willingly.
Deoxys felt the healing energy radiating from Luo Yuan's Viridian aura, and a flicker of interest crossed its eyes. Under the influence of the Viridian power, the pain in its cracked core eased slightly.
Its intense, wary gaze softened somewhat, but still, it made no move to approach.
Deoxys remained inside the black prism, quietly absorbing the healing energy while continuing to repair its core at a snail's pace.
"…"
Luo Yuan frowned, realizing that Viridian's power alone wasn't enough to lure Deoxys out.
But if Plan A failed, there was always Plan B.
With that in mind, he withdrew his Viridian aura.
As he did, Deoxys glanced his way, clearly disappointed, as Luo Yuan patted Gengar and retrieved an item from its mouth: a meteorite he'd won in a raffle after his match at the Pewter Gym.
He'd suspected that this meteorite was somehow connected to Deoxys.
Now was the perfect time to test that theory.
The moment he pulled out the meteorite, he noticed Deoxys's gaze lock onto it.
"Looks like this might work…"
He moved the meteorite from side to side, and Deoxys followed it with its eyes like a cat drawn to a feather toy.
"So, you want this? How about you become my Pokémon, and I'll give it to you—along with some healing?"
Deoxys remained silent.
This time, however, Luo Yuan sensed hesitation in its response.
But even after a long moment of wavering, Deoxys's gaze reverted to its former aloofness, though its eyes stayed glued to the meteorite in Luo Yuan's hand.
"...Seems like we're going to have to fight."
He'd figured it out—this Deoxys respected strength, not soft words.
Luo Yuan signaled to Sabrina.
Understanding immediately, she synced her psychic energy with Alakazam, ready to provide backup.
Luo Yuan stroked Gengar's head, his gaze fixed on Deoxys, who remained within the black prism.
"All right, let's settle this with a battle—for this meteorite."
"If I win, you'll become my Pokémon. How about that?"
Not waiting for an answer, Luo Yuan gestured sharply.
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Gengar, brimming with excitement, sprang into action, undaunted by the pressure radiating from Deoxys. "Gengar!"
A Shadow Ball launched straight at the black prism.
In an instant, the black prism vanished, reappearing at another point in space.
"Luo Yuan! It's using Teleport, I can't track its movement!" Sabrina called out from behind.
Luo Yuan didn't need the reminder.
As a traveler from another world, he knew Deoxys's moveset all too well.
The prism surrounding Deoxys was a defense mechanism that allowed it to recover its strength and teleport along with it.
A typical trainer might be overwhelmed here, but Luo Yuan knew Deoxys's teleportation patterns inside and out.
"Gengar, keep up the pressure!"
As Gengar forced Deoxys to move again, Luo Yuan commanded Dragapult.
"Dragapult, nine o'clock! Use Shadow Ball!"
He aimed the attack at an empty space.
Sabrina didn't immediately understand the tactic.
But as Deoxys teleported again to evade Gengar, it appeared precisely where Dragapult's Shadow Ball was heading. Sabrina's confusion turned to amazement.
Boom!
The Shadow Ball struck the black prism directly, causing it to shudder. A faint red glow flickered within.
Deoxys couldn't understand how it had been hit, but there was no time to ponder as Gengar charged in again.
Swish
Its Shadow Claw descended.
Deoxys teleported once more.
"Dragapult, three o'clock!"
Another Shadow Ball launched, hitting the prism as Deoxys reappeared.
The prism shook even more violently, with red light pulsing from within.
"Keep up the chase!"
…
After several more hits, the black prism around Deoxys was worn down, glowing a bright, unstable red.
Finally, with a resounding shatter, the prism broke apart, exposing Deoxys's true form to the open air.
But this didn't mean Deoxys was out of the fight.
In a sense, breaking the prism had freed Deoxys from its constraints.
A far more intense pressure radiated from Deoxys now, making the very air feel heavy.
Luo Yuan tensed, prepared for the next move. "Now! Dragapult, Phantom Force! Gengar, Mega Evolve!"
Brilliant light burst from Gengar, transforming it into the ghostly white Mega Gengar.
Simultaneously, Dragapult vanished into a black vortex, reappearing behind Deoxys with a Shadow Ball aimed straight at its chest.
But instead of being hit as Luo Yuan had anticipated, Deoxys blurred, becoming an afterimage before disappearing.
Swish—!
Deoxys reappeared, splitting into two, then four, creating clones with Double Team.
Dragapult's tail swung through empty air, striking only a shadowy illusion.
"As expected from a Legendary Pokémon—its speed's incredible even while injured…"
Dodging Dragapult's attack, Deoxys combined its two tentacles, forming a Shadow Ball of its own and hurling it at Dragapult.
"Dragapult, dodge it!"
Luo Yuan wasn't about to let Dragapult take a direct hit from Deoxys's Shadow Ball—that would likely be a one-hit KO.
Choosing to rely on speed, Dragapult rose sharply into the air, dodging the Shadow Ball before retaliating with two Dragon Darts, firing them straight at Deoxys.
Deoxys's eyes flashed purple, releasing a Psychic shield that blocked the incoming darts.
Then, manipulating the barrier's energy, it created a Psycho Cut, sending the blade slashing toward Dragapult.
Dragapult dodged just in time, as the Psycho Cut sliced a massive boulder in half behind it.
While Dragapult engaged Deoxys, Mega Gengar slipped into the shadows, stealthily closing the distance.
Deoxys's ears twitched as it sensed something.
But when it tried to move, it found itself stuck, as if glued to the ground.
Deoxys looked down in confusion, and Luo Yuan smiled knowingly.
"Shadow Tag! You're trapped now!"
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
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