Chapter 334: Chapter 334

Regirock’s deafening roar startled the birds into flight.

The more sensitive your Aura, the more you could feel the terrifying, oppressive presence of this stone giant.

Lucario gritted his teeth and suddenly reached out to Ash: “Ash, this time, you can’t be like Aaron and abandon Pikachu!!”

Ash nodded forcefully and clasped Lucario’s hand.

That familiar Aura made Lucario flash a faint, relieved smile.

Then Lucario turned and roared, “Lu—ca!!”

A one-handed Aura Sphere flew out, striking Regirock’s body and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lu Ye once again felt the heavy responsibility on his shoulders and said solemnly: “James, Jessie, go in with Ash.”

James gritted his teeth, grabbed Jessie, and followed after Ash and Lucario.

Meanwhile, Lu Ye looked at the towering Regirock built from stone blocks, a swirl of emotions in his chest.

Thankfully, he’d brought along the rock maniac—Steven!

Steven’s gaze was like that of an art critic admiring a flawless masterpiece.

“Re—gi!!” Regirock swung its massive arms, unleashing a Rock Slide toward Steven and Lu Ye!

Lu Ye’s expression shifted slightly.

What kind of wild Pokémon goes straight for the trainers!?

Steven raised his hand. The white Metagross blasted forward with jets of force, shielding the two of them like a fortress.

A blue net of psychic power caught all the falling boulders mid-air.

“Return it all!” Steven’s eyes flashed. Controlled by Metagross’s power, the rocks spun around and flew back toward Regirock like blades.

And on Teacher Lu’s side…

He threw out six Poké Balls without hesitation.

Steven looked slightly stunned, but soon felt deep admiration.

In a battle of this intensity…

Even someone like Steven would struggle to maintain control while commanding just one Metagross.

The more Pokémon in battle, the harder it is to coordinate, the more likely mistakes are made.

Which is why trainers in the wild usually never send out their whole team at once.

“Yawn, Toxic,” Lu Ye ordered. “Support Metagross—give it some help!”

Watching Teacher Lu’s command style was a visual treat.

Defending the trainer, striking from the flanks, boosting allies…

He did it all—this was live command at its peak.

Even if the tactics were a bit dirty… well, that was Teacher Lu’s signature style!

“Gengaaaar!” Gengarrr appeared behind Regirock, injecting poison into its rocky seams.

Meanwhile, Sylveon let out an adorable yawn, and Regirock stumbled slightly.

“Re…gi…” Regirock looked totally dazed.

Steven turned his gaze back toward the two assistants supporting Metagross.

In this full-offense environment, trusting him without reservation—

“I won’t let you down!” Steven’s sharp eyes flared. His arm dropped. “Metagross, Meteor Mash!”

With Sirfetch’d guiding and Arcanine assisting, the white Metagross shone with dazzling light.

Its indestructible fists shimmered with comet-like trails and even left behind streaks of red.

“Re—gi—” Regirock, half-asleep and trying to resist the poison with its rocky surface, was clearly on the ropes.

At the same moment, Lu Ye shouted sternly: “Squirtle, Water Pulse!”

Confuse the crap outta it! Hit that status!

“Squirtle!” Squirtle slapped the ground with both hands. Above, the waterfall hanging from the World Tree cliff began to roar.

The Aura around them resonated with Squirtle. It shot a water pillar skyward, and the waterfall came crashing down!

Regirock stood stunned.

I just woke up to sunbathe a bit, and this is what greets me? A freakin’ tag-team ambush?!

Water Pulse and Meteor Mash hit simultaneously.

The entire World Tree thundered. A crystal branch snapped off and fell into the waterfall, sending a giant splash skyward.

Steven and Lu Ye looked at each other.

Steven wiped sweat from his forehead and laughed, “Guess we got a little too hyped…”

Considering this is your XP system, Lu Ye nodded seriously, “Totally understandable!”

Dust filled the canyon air.

Red light flashed again in Regirock’s eyes.

“That didn’t take it down?!” Lu Ye’s face tightened.

Or is this Regirock rocking the Sturdy hidden ability!?

“The Tree of Beginning will continuously supply the guardian with power.”

Steven frowned. “Without the tablets, it’s basically impossible to communicate properly.”

“So how long do we have to keep fighting?”

“No idea.” Steven let out a wry smile. “Maybe until Ash and the others make it out safely…”

Lu Ye’s expression twisted.

Looking at the roaring Regirock, a thought flashed in his mind.

If only Meowth were here…

Back then, Steven had controlled the three Regis using ancient stone tablets unearthed in Sinnoh.

The ancient script on them could calm and command the Regis.

With Meowth’s incredible communication skills, he might’ve been able to talk to them too…

“Ancient stone tablets… communication…”

Lu Ye gritted his teeth—then froze.

Wait a sec—don’t I have this skill!?

He quickly opened his system panel and glanced at a line glowing in purple:

Ancient Language Lv4: Capable of deciphering most tablets and inscriptions. Can recognize, write, and pronounce short sentences. (You can even briefly communicate with ancient beings.)

Teacher Lu, your system is finally pulling its weight!

Steven raised his hand as Metagross clashed with Regirock again.

The World Tree kept funneling energy into Regirock.

Even Steven’s unbeatable white Metagross was being pushed back!

The violent tremor split the ground at their feet into a deep chasm.

Steven frowned and reached for his red tie, ready to unpin the brooch.

Lu Ye took a deep breath.

“Steven-san, cover me! I need to get closer to Regirock!”

“What are you planning?” Steven was startled—but showed no resistance to Lu Ye’s command.

“I can speak ancient language too!” Lu Ye shouted.

Steven froze, then shook his head and smiled wryly.

So I really did underestimate you, Teacher Lu…

Lifting his gaze again, Steven’s eyes sharpened: “Metagross, full-power Reflect!”

KANG-GIN!! Metagross crossed its fists. A wide barrier materialized in front of them.

Rock Slide after Rock Slide rained down on Reflect. Metagross roared and shielded Steven and Lu Ye as they advanced.

Until they were close to Regirock.

Lu Ye moved his lips, trying to form the bizarre flaps and echoes between his upper jaw and tongue:

Not just Steven—even Regirock froze.

Metagross’s supercomputer brain flashed a question mark: DOES NOT COMPUTE.

From Regirock’s perspective…

He saw one kind-of-familiar human walking over with another stranger.

Then the stranger opened his mouth—and spoke with a familiar accent from back home:

“Re—gi???” Regirock looked totally lost.

Then it got angrier: “REGI——!!”

You just beat me up—and then ask if I’ve eaten!?

Steven wiped his sweat. “Teacher Lu, we can’t hold out much longer!”

“That wasn’t the right phrase?”

Lu Ye’s heart skipped. But that was the standard greeting in ancient times!

In the heat of the moment, Lu Ye shut his eyes and searched frantically.

Until Togepi put its little hand on his shoulder. Inspiration struck.

“Don’t attack! We’re allies!”

As the saying goes—don’t hit people who smile at you.

Besides, weird accent aside… this guy did seem like one of them.

The man in front of him kept talking:

Lu Ye crossed his fingers in an X.

“Just going in for a bit—we’ll be right out!”

Steven glanced at the now-passive Regirock, then at Lu Ye mid-negotiation.

He felt like his worldview had just been rewritten.

Steven looked conflicted.

If he’d known it was this easy to control the Regis…

Did he really have to suffer thirty-three sleepless days back then!?

Regirock seemed to reach an understanding with Lu Ye.

It spun like a drill and burrowed back underground.

Silence returned. Birdsong and the gentle murmur of the stream drifted back into the canyon.

Steven looked at the relieved Teacher Lu beside him and asked in surprise:

“They won’t bother us for now.”

Lu Ye nodded. “But we need to move quickly… there might be more Regis inside.”

“There will be,” Steven sighed. “Lord Shindai’s three Regis will attack any intruders.”

“Thanks to you… by the way, that ancient language?”

“I picked up a bit in Alola,”

Lu Ye said casually. “Enough to manage a sentence or two.”

Steven paused, recalling the scenes Lu Ye explained earlier, and nodded in thought.

No wonder… he always seems to know something about legendary Pokémon and myths.

A scholar of ancient texts, and a Champion who studies myths…

“So that’s it!” Steven’s gossip-loving soul began to burn.

Lu Ye turned to the entrance of the World Tree.

At the towering, cloud-piercing, ancient tree above them…