Seeing that the expansion of the spatial rift had stopped, Giovanni frowned. This was already the most powerful spatial device that Team Rocket could deploy. Even with the support of seven Elite Four-level Pokémon, was it still not enough to fully open the entrance?
With a single thought, a Pokémon materialized behind him.
Beedrill!
However, this was no ordinary Beedrill. It was more than twice the size of a typical one, with twin lances that shimmered with a metallic gleam. Its translucent wings bore intricate patterns that radiated an eerie glow.
On its left limb, a circular object was embedded—the Beedrillite, its Mega Stone!
"Bzzzz~"
At the sight of Beedrill, even Dragonite instinctively stepped back half a step, as if acknowledging the presence of a true superior.
"Go. Force it open."
Giovanni's voice was cold. If technology alone couldn't fully unlock the portal, brute strength would have to do.
"Bzzzz~"
Beedrill's wings quivered as it moved with lightning speed, appearing before the spatial rift in an instant. With a forceful thrust of its twin lances, it stabbed into the rift and then wrenched them outward with tremendous power.
The spatial entrance, which had remained stubbornly constrained despite the device's efforts, was now being forcibly torn open by sheer strength!
Of course, this was only possible because the rift had already been partially opened. Otherwise, even Beedrill wouldn't have been able to pry it apart—after all, it wasn't Palkia. But given the existing breach, widening it was feasible.
At the same time, a faint glow emanated from the Key Stone hidden beneath Giovanni's suit sleeve, resonating with Beedrill's Mega Stone. In an instant, Beedrill underwent Mega Evolution.
Its segmented body was now connected by black joints. Its antennae shortened and extended backward, while its mouthparts sharpened and its eyes elongated. Its stinger took on a more conical shape with twin grooves at the front, pointing forward. The poison stinger at its tail grew significantly longer.
Its arm-lances thickened, resembling the guards of a knight's lance, while its legs transformed into additional needle-like appendages adorned with black and yellow stripes.
Upon Mega Evolution, Beedrill's strength surged once more, and the spatial rift was instantly forced fully open.
"Move!"
Giovanni gave the command to Dragonite and Alakazam before recalling his Electivire and the other Pokémon. The spatial device also vanished, teleported away by Alakazam to an unknown location.
Enveloped in Alakazam's psychic energy, Giovanni, Dragonite, and Alakazam immediately entered the Ultra Wormhole, knowing that even with Beedrill's support, the rift wouldn't remain stable for long.
Mega Beedrill followed closely behind, disappearing into the Ultra Wormhole in its evolved state.
...
"Flamethrower! No, wait—just use Ember. It's pitch black in here; I can't see a thing."
Maki, lying atop Absol, gave the order to Charmeleon. However, instead of launching a flame attack, Charmeleon simply swung its tail forward, causing the flame at its tip to flare up. In an instant, the tunnel ahead was illuminated.
Maki blinked, momentarily dazzled.
"Oh, this is great! No more worrying about dark caves."
With Charmeleon's flame lighting the way, Maki and the team proceeded deeper inside. As they advanced, the passage gradually widened, transitioning from a tunnel to a vast open space. The ground beneath them also changed.
Instead of the typical rough volcanic rock, the floor became smooth, resembling polished stone slabs—as if it had been deliberately constructed.
For some reason, Maki felt an odd sense of familiarity. He had seen something like this before… but where?
"Whimsicott, take me up."
He turned to the Whimsicott floating beside him, intending for it to carry him upwards.
"Whim?"
Whimsicott blinked in confusion, looking at Maki skeptically.
—Me? Carry you? Are you serious?
The little Pokémon wobbled in midair, shaking its cotton-like body. Its entire mass was barely heavier than Maki's head.
"Oh, come on, just give it a try! You float around effortlessly all the time. It's just me—I'm not that heavy."
Maki sat up on Absol, feeling slightly recovered after a brief rest.
"Whim~"
With a resigned sigh, Whimsicott extended its tiny hands, signaling Maki to grab on.
Actually, Whimsicott wasn't just doubting Maki's plan because of its own size; it was also skeptical of his condition. Given how weak he looked, could he even hold on?
"Whim~"
—Are you sure you won't just let go?
"Relax, I'm not that frail."
Maki rolled his eyes before grasping Whimsicott's tiny hands. However, just as Whimsicott prepared to lift him up—Maki's grip suddenly weakened.
Whimsicott: ...
Maki: ...
"Whim~"
—Yeah, maybe you should just rest.
"Ahem. I'm fine. Just slipped, that's all. Just use a bit of wind to support me."
Coughing to cover his embarrassment, Maki insisted on proceeding.
With Whimsicott's wind control assisting, Maki was successfully lifted into midair.
"Whim!!"
—Whatever you're doing, do it fast!!
Whimsicott's tiny face turned red with strain. It wasn't even a Flying-type; its movement was more of a controlled float, leveraging its cotton-like body and wind manipulation. Carrying a full-grown human was no easy feat.
Flapping its free hand frantically while blowing gusts of air to stay afloat, it desperately tried to maintain balance.
"Charmeleon, use Flamethrower!"
At Maki's command, a powerful stream of fire erupted, illuminating a vast area.
Yet, Maki frowned. Even with Flamethrower, visibility was still limited.
Then, an idea struck him. If the goal was illumination, there was one move that would work even better than Flamethrower.
Too bad Charmeleon didn't know Flash. That would have been the perfect cave-exploration move.
Instead, he turned to the Pokémon above him. "Whimsicott, use Sunny Day."
If they could create a miniature sun inside the cave, it should provide the perfect light source. With Whimsicott's abilities, it was definitely possible.
"Whim!!"
—Are you trying to kill me?!
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