The World's Strongest Tournament had reached its climax. After the matchups were shuffled and rearranged, the final sixteen competitors gradually dwindled to eight.
Many of the strongest contenders had already been defeated, but the spectators felt neither frustration nor disappointment. Quite the opposite. Competitors who had been considered unlikely to make it this far had displayed extraordinary strength.
After all, a battle was not just about winning. You had to win with style!
"Sorry, I lost...! And that Lucario actually fought with its eyes closed. I let my guard down."
Maylene had been defeated by Ash in the round of sixteen. Her Fighting Spirit Perception had lost its effectiveness. The opposing Lucario might still have been an apprentice in the use of Aura, but then again, so was her own Lucario.
Besides, that Lucario's fighting style was unbelievably wild.
"When it comes to its fighting style, that Lucario was considered a magical beast, not a modern Pokémon," Hikaru explained. "Naturally, it knows plenty of incredible techniques. It served as a scout on battlefields during an age of war. Even if several armed Pokémon surrounded it, it could defeat them all and withdraw without suffering a single injury."
"So that really is the Lucario from a thousand years ago, the one that was sealed inside the staff?" Candice asked.
"It is the Hero's partner," Riley confirmed. "Maylene's Fighting Spirit Perception is merely the combat instinct a martial artist awakens when facing danger. Modern fighters have never experienced a true battlefield. It is only natural for them to lose against a veteran."
"Its coordination with Ash is also growing smoother. A favorable bracket might be better than fighting well, but Ash fought his way up from the very first position. His strength is beyond question."
Although the matchups had been rearranged for the round of sixteen, Ash and Maylene had ended up as the final pair.
"Among the eight competitors still standing, I doubt there's a single person who can't use Aura," Hikaru said. "In that case, these will be the quarterfinal matchups..."
[Hikaru vs. Candice; Riley vs. Ash; Green vs. Korrina; Koga vs. Mustard.]
Neither Marshal, the martial artist of Unova's Elite Four, nor Bruno, the Fighting-type master of Kanto's Elite Four, had reached the quarterfinals.
Koga, of all people, had made the cut.
The ninja way of Stench and turd-flinging was truly worthy of fear.
Once his Minimize team lost its advantage, he switched to a Stench team instead. That, too, was a sign of this degenerate age.
"Beginning with the quarterfinals, we'll use a true bring-six, pick-three format. You only lose after all three of your Pokémon have fainted."
"Then I'm going in!" Candice declared. "Diamond Dust is a beautiful sight precisely because it vanishes in an instant... Let this wonderful memory remain in our hearts forever."
Hikaru sent out a blue superhero of the sea, Palafin.
He used the same method as before, letting Palafin gather power inside its Poké Ball so it could transform quickly and make an immediate heroic entrance.
"Zero to Hero!"
As a pure Water-type, Palafin could only be struck for super-effective damage by Electric- and Grass-type moves. However, it had no meaningful resistance against Fighting or Psychic moves. Both dealt neutral damage.
Palafin used Focus Energy, causing its fighting spirit to surge.
Mega Abomasnow against the Hero of the Ocean!
Sunny weather would normally be advantageous against a Water-type Pokémon, but Candice's team was poorly suited to a sun strategy. Abomasnow could not learn Sunny Day either.
Besides, snow enabled numerous moves that suited her team. Abandoning that advantage merely to use Solar Beam would be less effective than gambling on Blizzard's chance to freeze the opponent.
Her opponent also appeared to be a Water type, meaning it could probably learn Rain Dance. Even if she managed to create sunlight, the battle would devolve into a struggle for control of the weather, and sun was not her area of expertise.
Therefore, there was only one answer!
"Snow Warning!"
Candice activated Abomasnow's Ability.
With a roar, dark clouds flooded the sky. Thick snowflakes began to fall, accompanied by battering hailstones!
Powder snow and large chunks of hail churned through howling winds.
"This isn't Snowscape," Hikaru observed. "It's hail. Every Pokémon that isn't an Ice type will suffer damage at the end of each turn..."
In Generation IX, hail had been removed and replaced by Snowscape, which strengthened the Defense of Ice-type Pokémon. It was an overall improvement, but the damaging effect of hail was also removed, causing it to disappear entirely from its former position as an inferior version of Sandstorm.
Candice considered her next move.
After Snow Warning came Aurora Veil. Through training, Abomasnow had mastered a move normally taught through Galar's unique environment. It simultaneously produced the effects of Light Screen and Reflect, making it indispensable for fighting in snow!
For five turns, it reduced damage from both physical and special moves. However, it could only be used while snow was falling.
Openly raising those barriers was intended to lure the opponent into coming close and using Brick Break. Meanwhile, Blizzard's accuracy increased in the snow. After its Aura training, Abomasnow could use Aura ripples to locate opponents, improving the accuracy of moves such as Focus Blast as well.
"I can handle either close combat or a long-range exchange..."
To Candice's surprise, Palafin suddenly extended both hands.
Here it came. Was that a ranged move?
Water Pulse? Perhaps Surf?
"Fog," Hikaru commanded.
Whoosh!
A blanket of fog engulfed the entire battlefield, reducing the accuracy of every Pokémon and altering the blizzard's weather conditions. The snow and cold remained, but the thick fog took their place as the dominant weather!
Dense mist drifted through the air, turning the entire world white.
You have reached the edge of the explorable area. You cannot proceed any farther!
"Since ancient times, the people of Sinnoh have passed down stories claiming that mist marks the boundary between life and death!" Hikaru declared.
The accuracy of every move targeting an opponent was multiplied by 0.6.
Aura-based moves, however, especially never-miss moves such as Aura Sphere, were unaffected!
Brilliant blue light gathered between Palafin's hands.
"Strong Style: Aura Sphere!"
The battle between Hikaru and Candice ended with astonishing speed.
The Maiden of Diamond Dust lost without the slightest suspense.
Before the tournament, the Lucario from a thousand years ago had sought out Hikaru. It wanted to know the Hero's final words.
It had spent an entire day and night forcing itself to accept what had happened, paying its respects to Queen Ilene, sorting through the relationships and backgrounds of every powerful person present, and finally reaching a decision.
On the following day, it came in search of the truth about "yesterday."
"Sir Aaron's final words?" Hikaru asked.
"Even now, his soul remains crystallized within the heart of the Tree of Beginning. His Aura will remain there forever."
"After sealing you away, the Hero traveled alone to the heart of the Tree of Beginning. He gave all his Aura to Mew and saved the land ravaged by war. The Time Flowers growing there recorded what happened."
"These are the memories of Sir Aaron, the Hero of Aura."
[If I use the power of Aura, I will eventually meet the same fate as Aaron.]
[Lucario, I had no choice but to seal you away.]
[Otherwise, you would have followed me wherever I went, and you would have shared my fate.]
[Only one life was needed to bring this meaningless battle to an end. Mine was enough.]
[But I have no regrets. I spent so many wonderful days in that castle with Queen Rin and with you.]
[Those memories are proof that I lived.]
[Every day I spent with you was filled with happiness. If I could, I would like to see you one more time.]
[My friend.]
[And so the apprentice prayed that it might return to the past and stand beside its friend once again.]
A Lucario whose potential had fully erupted was an exceptionally compatible partner for Ash. An Aura user practically possessed an entire support system of his own. He could transmit Aura from afar to the messenger standing before him, then transfer it into a Pokémon, making Aura Sphere enormous and allowing its power to change without limit!
While partnering with Ash for a rematch against another Aura user, Riley, the Lucario from a thousand years ago found countless thoughts passing through its mind.
If it traveled to the heart of the Tree of Beginning, it would be able to see the crystallized Sir Aaron. The Time Flowers would reveal whether everything it had been told was true.
After defeating Riley, it would need to battle the Champion. Lucario suspected that it currently had no chance of winning.
Even so, carrying its longing and memories in its heart, it offered a sincere prayer.
After defeating Riley, a man who looked like Sir Aaron's phantom double, Lucario rested briefly.
Then it entered the arena alongside Ash.
Waiting for them was the black-and-white bear that had unleashed its overwhelming presence beneath the pouring rain and defeated the Crimson Meteor.
That legendary bear also possessed a martial art capable of reading an opponent's movements, forcing Lucario to focus with all its might.
The sage who was about to battle both Lucario and the boy believed to be Sir Aaron's reincarnation then extended an invitation that left Lucario slightly puzzled.
"If you want to see Aaron again, become stronger, and continue your training, why not come to the Eternal Battle Reverie?" Hikaru suggested.
"I believe ancients who predate even the two of you, the bearers of the Four Lord Souls and their companions, would make excellent opponents. They were ancient kings from the land of souls, the birthplace of Aura."
"The Eternal Battle Reverie?" Lucario glanced back at Ash in confusion.
"That place... seems to be incredible," Ash said. "But at my level, I still can't see it in my dreams. I've heard it's a tower where powerful warriors from every era gather, and that it can transcend the restrictions of space and time."
Pikachu nodded enthusiastically. "Pikapi!"
"You aren't strong enough to dream of that tower...?" Lucario repeated. "No, you're being too modest. Or perhaps the person you used to be wasn't strong enough. You're different now."
It paused before suddenly addressing Ash again.
"I cannot live for a thousand years. I only appeared in this era because I was sealed away. What I mean is... partnering with you has been rather enjoyable. If you truly are Sir Aaron's reincarnation, then somewhere in this world, there must also be someone waiting for you..."
"What are you talking about?" Ash asked. "I'm only helping you fulfill your wish. We haven't known each other for long, but we're still friends, aren't we?"
Lucario froze for a moment, then smiled in relief.
Friends.
There were things it wanted to say, but this was not yet the moment for farewells.
[Even after a thousand years have passed, I will find you again.]
[But when I do, I will be someone newly born, not the magical beast of the past.]
[That sage said I can return to the past. Once I have accompanied Sir Aaron and died alongside him, let me be reborn as a Pokémon and meet you again.]
"Ash... No, Sir Aaron."
"We are friends."
"The vow we made in the past will remain forever within my heart. The Aura is with me."
"That is why... we will inevitably meet again!"
The Lucario from a thousand years ago assumed its stance.
In the form of an ancient magical beast, it faced the legendary bear that had mastered an invisible martial art.
Defeating that opponent might be nothing more than a distant dream. But if Lucario made the bear a goal it absolutely had to surpass, the path ahead would become clearer.
My path...!
"Close Combat!"
"Strong Style: Close Combat!"
Hikaru defeated Candice, then defeated Ash.
On the other side of the bracket, Green overcame Korrina and then defeated Mustard, who had advanced from his own quarterfinal match.
"Master Mustard, you held back, didn't you?" Bea asked.
Mustard chuckled and stroked his beard.
"Oh, Bea, don't be so tense. This old man merely wanted to help that girl conserve some of her strength. Besides, if I'd truly fought her with everything I had, she would've suffered serious harm. Of course, I still fought at full strength under normal conditions."
"Dynamaxing isn't possible here, while she has Mega Evolution!"
"Of course, Mega Evolution consumes a tremendous amount of life force. But haven't you noticed the power accumulating around her?"
"Accumulating power...?" Bea repeated in confusion.
"Heh. It appears you still haven't noticed."
"There's an incredibly powerful energy gathering inside one of her Poké Balls. The team she's using now is definitely different from the one she brought at the beginning. But these are bring-six, pick-three rules. As long as she doesn't reveal the Pokémon inside her Poké Balls beforehand, there's nothing wrong with hiding a new teammate."
"One of those Poké Balls has never been opened. This is an exceptionally rare sight. Don't you want to stay and watch?"
"Besides, don't imagine I'm as strong as Hikaru. I may be considered a legend in Galar, but his fame and popularity are far greater than mine. Even if I'd defeated that girl and reached the final to battle Hikaru, I wouldn't have won."
"I'm only a retired Champion, not an active one. Leon would stand a much better chance. Well, he isn't an active Champion anymore either, but his strength as the head of the Battle Tower remains unquestionable. In the hearts of Galar's people, he's still one of the region's greatest Champions."
"And whether I defeated that girl or Hikaru defeated her, it would still be a victory for Galar. Unless you believe Hikaru might lose?"
"A victory for Galar... Ahem! Yes, he absolutely won't lose."
Hikaru was not actually from Galar, but he possessed enormous prestige throughout the region. Its people hoped that someone like him would remain active on the world stage as the Sage of Galar.
It might have been wishful thinking, but Galar's ability to promote its heroes far surpassed that of other regions. The title of Sage also sounded considerably more mysterious than something as straightforward as Champion of Unova or member of Paldea's Elite Four.
The more mysterious something appeared, the more unfathomable it became, inspiring all manner of fantasies.
Green took a deep breath.
She had never imagined that someone as unsuited to martial arts as herself would truly make it this far.
The final had arrived far more quickly than she had expected.
Her original plan had been to use Kangaskhan, Medicham, and Blastoise, giving her three opportunities to Mega Evolve. Such a thing would never be permitted in a normal tournament, but this competition was an exception.
Then again, very few people could continuously Mega Evolve so many Pokémon the way she could. Usually, Trainers could only Mega Evolve one Pokémon, not because the rules demanded it, but because most people possessed only one Mega Stone.
Now, however, she had another choice.
An unfamiliar Poké Ball rested inside her backpack. Green took it in her hand, able to see the being waiting within.
The Pokémon drawn here by those treasures, the Pokémon she had always dreamed of finding, was right in front of her.
But it had another reason for appearing. It intended to borrow her power and fight one final battle against another Sage.
It had been waiting for this moment all along. Perhaps she had only made it this far because it had secretly lent her some of its strength.
"I don't know what kind of relationship you have with the shopkeeper, why you appeared inside that cave to battle him, or why you need to borrow my power. Of course, I know you must have been drawn here by the waves coming from these two stones."
"But since you chose me as your temporary Trainer, and you're also the Pokémon I've been searching for... does that mean we chose each other?"
"Become my Pokémon! I made that wish on a whim back then, and now it's actually come true... I can barely contain my excitement. I don't mind if you fly away the instant this battle ends. I'll find you again and form a new bond with you."
Mewtwo's telepathic voice emerged from within the Poké Ball.
["A pure heart... Perhaps I, a naturally born being who became the Dream of Illusio, truly was born from Mew."]
["You found the stones that correspond to me, and they drew me here. Others of my kind have also appeared elsewhere in this world."]
["Someone once told me that I should use my power properly and guide the world. In the end, however, he still lost to Nagamasa..."]
["Looking back, he was never capable of using power correctly either. Everyone in Ransei was like that... The relationship between humans and Pokémon in the modern world is rather interesting, though. If I form a Link with you... perhaps you will also be able to wield the power of a Warlord."]
["Then my memories will begin to stir as well. If this longing can use the power of Aura to travel back through time... nothing would please me more."]
Both Green and Mewtwo entered the arena with the same intention.
They would use this battle to determine whether they could truly become partners.
Then came the first battle.
White light flashed from a Poké Ball as the first Pokémon entered the field!
Without the slightest hesitation, Green activated Mega Evolution. She intended to release every last drop of her life force in this battle and Mega Evolve three Pokémon in succession!
"Come forth, Mega Blastoise!"
"It isn't Mega Kangaskhan?" Hikaru asked.
Upon reflection, however, the decision made sense.
Kangaskhan's Swords Dance punches were extremely powerful, but it was still a Normal-type Pokémon. The tournament was filled with Fighting types such as Lucario, and Fighting moves dealt double damage to Normal types. No matter how powerful Kangaskhan might be, sending it into a field overflowing with Fighting types would only result in defeat.
Blastoise was a far better choice. After Mega Evolving, all its pulse and aura moves had achieved near-perfect accuracy thanks to its intensive training!
In other words, Green intended to rely on Mega Launcher and fight from long range.
Blastoise also possessed excellent Defense and Special Defense, both of which surpassed Kangaskhan's. It was not weak to Fighting moves either.
Sending out Kangaskhan solely to squeeze a little extra damage out of Parental Bond would have been a foolish decision when Fighting moves could always strike it super effectively.
Green grinned.
"You know what they say... You have to use the right tool for the right occasion!"
"The same applies to Pokémon. Palafin's fog can be completely countered by never-miss pulse moves! And if Urshifu uses rain, that'll only help me!"
"Fog is useless, and if it rains, who exactly is that rain helping?"
"This time, I won't be using fog or rain," Hikaru replied. "Weather isn't the only environmental force. There's also terrain!"
By combining Fighting-type Pokémon with different secondary types, a Trainer could adapt to all manner of environments.
Most Fighting-type Pokémon had obvious weaknesses. Some possessed fragile bodies, while others suffered from poor Special Defense.
Sometimes, however, if a weakness could not be corrected, the best option was simply to abandon the attempt!
A pure-white iron paladin appeared!
A templar.
Its blades of light flashed into existence!
"Electric Terrain!" Hikaru commanded.
For five turns, the battlefield became electrified terrain. Grounded Pokémon could no longer fall asleep, and the power of Electric-type moves increased by thirty percent!
At the same time, Quark Drive activated!
The stat it raised this time was Special Attack!
No amount of Speed would allow Iron Valiant to evade a pulse move that could not miss. Therefore, the best strategy was to counter one pulse with another.
Golden electricity flowed across the battlefield. Iron Valiant's Fairy/Fighting typing granted it a fourfold resistance to Dark Pulse and resistance to Aura Sphere. Dragon Pulse had no effect at all, while Water Pulse dealt only neutral damage.
Green immediately made her choice.
"Then I'll be taking advantage of your terrain too, shopkeeper! Whether it's the weather or the ground beneath our feet, I have a strategy to counter it!"
"Blastoise, use Terrain Pulse!"
It was an excellent demonstration of the results of their Aura training. The moment Hikaru established the terrain, Blastoise seized its power to unleash the ripples of the earth.
Electric energy did not deal super-effective damage against Iron Valiant. However, Electric Terrain and Mega Launcher increased Terrain Pulse's base power from fifty to one hundred, then to one hundred and thirty, and finally to one hundred and ninety-five!
The roaring electrical blast struck Iron Valiant.
Her Special Defense was not particularly high. Smoke rose from her sturdy metal body as the intense electricity tore through her. Quark Drive converted part of that electricity into energy, but it could not immediately repair the physical damage she had suffered.
That was the greatest weakness of mechanical Pokémon. Magearna's body was ultimately only a shell, and Iron Valiant's body was merely a much harder shell.
"It survived... Did it use Endure? One more hit should do it! Use Terrain Pulse again!"
Mega Blastoise aimed its cannon at Iron Valiant, but the second pulse cannon failed to fire.
"Blas... Blastoise?!"
"Huh? Blasty, what happened to your pulse...? You can't use it? No, that robot that looks like Gardevoir and Gallade must have used some kind of move!"
"Disable," Hikaru revealed.
"It obstructed your actions and petrified the ripples of the earth, sealing them away. The move you just used cannot be activated again for a certain amount of time."
"That means it's our turn to attack. Did you honestly think I'd let you exploit my terrain so easily?"
"Iron Valiant, Agile Style: Thunderbolt!"
Two powerful blades of electricity slashed into Mega Blastoise!
The consecutive lightning blades instantly inflicted tremendous damage. Thunderbolt might have only ninety base power, but it dealt double damage and was further strengthened by Electric Terrain. Its power was no weaker than the tremendously enhanced Terrain Pulse from before.
In fact, it was slightly stronger!
That was because the Strong and Agile Styles only raised or lowered Thunderbolt's power by ten points, unlike the larger changes that applied to other moves.
"Now that Terrain Pulse has been sealed, I can use this," Hikaru said.
"Change the terrain. Psychic Terrain!"
For a certain period, grounded Pokémon could no longer be struck by priority moves, while Psychic-type moves gained a thirty-percent increase in power.
A gentle, dazzling radiance replaced the flowing and destructive golden electricity.
On Psychic Terrain, a certain move would target every available opposing Pokémon if its user was grounded, while its power received an additional fifty-percent increase.
The thirty-percent bonus from Psychic Terrain would also be calculated separately!
In other words...!
Green foresaw what was about to happen and immediately ordered Blastoise to counterattack!
If they were going to clash head-on, she should have used Hydro Pump or the ultimate Water-type move, Hydro Cannon.
However, as every Water-type Trainer knew, Hydro Pump always seemed to miss three times in a row. Against an opponent exceptionally skilled at evasion, recklessly using Hydro Pump or Hydro Cannon, which left its user unable to move afterward, would have been foolish!
Besides, with Mega Launcher, there was no reason to gamble on Hydro Pump's accuracy.
Hikaru watched Blastoise gather Aura and muttered quietly.
"Even after Aura enhancement, that move's accuracy only rises from eighty to ninety-five."
"What about Hydro Cannon, though? An ultimate move with ninety accuracy should reach one hundred after being enhanced. But it also forces the user to remain still for one turn. She's probably worried that if it misses, Blastoise will be badly wounded by another two slashes of lightning... No, it would be four attacks across two Agile Style turns."
"So the move she'll choose now is..."
"Blasty, use Rain Dance, then Water Pulse!" Green commanded.
A same-type Water Pulse strengthened by Mega Launcher already possessed an impressive effective power of one hundred and thirty-five. In rain, that rose to over two hundred.
It could not miss and carried an additional chance of causing confusion.
No matter what happened, there was no avoiding that attack!
After Mega Evolving, the cannon on Blastoise's shell possessed power comparable to a tank. Its sturdy waist and legs allowed it to plant itself firmly against the recoil whenever it fired!
Green's Blastoise did not know Water Spout. Otherwise, using Water Spout immediately after summoning rain might have produced one full Kyogre's worth of power.
Well, perhaps only 0.7 Kyogres.
"Expanding Force!" Hikaru commanded.
It was not that he did not want to use a stronger move. Expanding Force simply received an enormous boost from Psychic Terrain, giving it far more power than Psychic.
Its power was equal to Future Sight after being strengthened by Psychic Terrain!
Unlike a future attack, however, it did not need to wait before striking.
Its activation speed and angle were also unique. Expanding Force erupted directly beneath the opponent's feet!
Enormous psychic power formed a rectangular prism resembling a coffin of light around Blastoise.
Then the radiant explosion began!
One detonation.
Then a second!
"What happened? It attacked much faster than I did!" Green exclaimed. "I know there was already a difference in Speed, but it shouldn't have been that extreme!"
"Wait, that wasn't the first attack coming late. It attacked twice in a row!"
"Something inside that Pokémon's chest is buzzing. What is it doing?"
The hollow cavity in Iron Valiant's chest could ordinarily hold a Soul-Heart or Booster Energy.
With a few modifications, however, it could also be used for something else.
The holy knight's eyes flickered.
["Juicing."]
A completely drained Berry rested inside Iron Valiant's chest.
"A Custap Berry," Hikaru explained. "It activates when the holder's life is in danger, allowing its next move to act first among moves with the same priority. Custap Berry's priority effect still works on Psychic Terrain."
"In other words, it's a Berry with priority level 0.5. My Iron Valiant can freely deploy three different types of terrain, so she can use priority Berries to perform different defensive counterattacks depending on the situation, always attacking one step ahead."
"She used Expanding Force, then immediately followed it with another Expanding Force. Two consecutive explosions of light! Psychic power is convenient, isn't it?"
Blastoise's Water Pulse also struck Iron Valiant. The attack's tremendous power was naturally more than the iron knight could withstand.
She was soaked from head to toe. Cold rain struck the dents in her metal shell, leaving her body struggling to respond.
One advantage of being a mechanical life-form, however, was that she was no longer so easy to knock offline.
Therefore, she had not yet lost the ability to battle!
[It will look better on the scoreboard if I don't fall.]
Iron Valiant harbored that small, private motive as she returned to her Poké Ball.
There was no time to rest. Green also recalled the defeated Blastoise.
She briefly closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and silently moved her lips as she comforted her Pokémon. When she opened her eyes again, light shone within her pupils.
Ripples, memories, and the Aura of life!
The score became 1–0!
The second battle.
"Next Pokémon!"
"Defeat your enemy with spectral arms filled with killing intent!"
"Mega Medicham!"
Green's second Pokémon was Mega Medicham. It possessed a base Attack stat of one hundred, further doubled by Pure Power.
With six arms striking in unison, it would use the ultimate principle of overwhelming force to shatter every barrier in its path!
"Hisuian Lilligant!" Hikaru called.
Lilligant, whom Hikaru had saved for the final, entered the arena with a beautiful spin.
As Mega Medicham rushed toward her, she met its spectral arms with a storm of powerful kicks.
The winds of her homeland began to blow.
Mega Medicham channeled yogic energy and raised its Attack!
It dodged its opponent's attacks with graceful, dance-like movements while preparing a powerful strike.
Medicham leaped.
Mind's Eye flashed!
By casting aside all distractions and focusing completely, it could see the Aura of its opponent's life!
"Use his terrain!" Green ordered. "Zen Headbutt!"
With Mind's Eye active, the Psychic-type move had no chance of missing. Psychic Terrain further strengthened it, while Pure Power magnified the force of Medicham's assault!
Bang!
"Victory Dance!" Hikaru commanded.
Lilligant's Attack, Defense, and Speed each rose by one stage!
She swept forward with breathtakingly fast dance steps and seized both of Medicham's hands.
"Leaf Blade!"
In a single motion, she overwhelmed Mega Medicham with raw strength!
"Medi...?!"
Even Mega Medicham itself could hardly believe it.
It possessed two physical arms and four additional arms formed from spiritual energy and killing intent. Yet even the combined strength of all six could not stop the two sharp leaves wielded by the slender Pokémon before it!
How could that delicate-looking Pokémon possess even greater strength?
Had she also trained deep in the mountains, eating only one Berry every day?
"Hmm, you're mistaken," Hikaru told Medicham. "Lilligant doesn't eat many Berries. She only needs sunlight and nutrients drawn from the soil. And yes, she really does live in snowy mountains. From an environmental perspective, her training grounds are even harsher than yours."
"The unforgiving environment deep within the snowy mountains gave Hisuian Lilligant exceptionally powerful legs. In ancient times, she was known as the Queen of the Mountain Paths!"
Green stared at what was happening in utter disbelief.
"Mega Medicham possesses incredible strength! How could it be overpowered...?!"
"I was waiting for the moment you sent out Medicham," Hikaru replied. "Of course, Kangaskhan would have worked just as well."
"Role Play. It changes the user's Ability to match its opponent's. This is the imitation technique my Lilligant takes the greatest pride in."
"And now her Ability has changed from Hustle to... Pure Power!"
Mega Medicham possessed a base Attack stat of one hundred.
Hisuian Lilligant's base Attack stat was one hundred and five!
"Pure Power! Sixfold... No, fourfold combination!" Green shouted. "Ice Punch, followed by Fire Punch!"
Mega Medicham might have been overpowered, but it still possessed four extra spectral arms.
Those arms were not merely decorative. At a moment like this, when its physical hands and feet could no longer move freely, the spectral arms formed from life energy finally had an opportunity to demonstrate their worth!
A Grass/Fighting Pokémon took double damage from Ice moves, and Medicham could learn all three elemental punches: Ice Punch, Fire Punch, and Thunder Punch!
Alternating Fire Punch and Ice Punch was an illegal secret technique Hitmonchan had once used in the manga, causing Red no end of trouble.
Whenever Hitmonchan fought that way, people questioned whether the technique should be legal because it only had two hands.
Mega Medicham, by contrast, could freely manipulate the elements and possessed design elements inspired by Indian deities. When it used such interwoven combinations, they seemed considerably more reasonable!
"ORA... ZA WARUDO!"
"Dore... shoo!"
Lilligant's body suddenly turned in an elegant arc before Mega Medicham.
At the exact moment she avoided the four spectral arms' furious assault, she spun from directly in front of Medicham to its side.
Then she drove a tremendously powerful kick into its body!
An unstoppable shock wave erupted from the impact and tore straight through Mega Medicham!
Savage winds surged like cannon fire, crossing the battlefield with a thunderous roar.
"Pure Power, Flying Gem, Acrobatics."
Acrobatics was a move that attacked the opponent with remarkable agility. Its power increased if the user was not holding an item.
When used while carrying a Flying Gem, the Gem activated before the damage was calculated. Therefore, both the Flying Gem's bonus and Acrobatics' itemless effect took effect!
Hikaru looked at the dumbfounded Green.
"That attack's effective power was... Hmm, probably over five hundred."
"The Abilities of Mega-Evolved Pokémon are extraordinarily powerful. However, they can still be copied with Role Play or taken through Skill Swap. That means they aren't especially difficult to counter. Even an ordinary Pokémon can use them to unleash astonishing strength."
Pure Power combined with a base Attack stat of one hundred and five placed Lilligant on the same level as Mega Mawile, the strongest user of Huge Power!
Coincidentally, both Pokémon even possessed base-stat totals of exactly four hundred and eighty.
Hustle was only a junior powerhouse.
This was true Huge Power!
"Borrowing other Pokémon's Abilities is always interesting," Hikaru said. "They can produce effects in battle that no one expects!"
"Pure Power..." Green realized the danger.
That Grass/Fighting Pokémon's stance suggested that she might know Close Combat.
No, she definitely knew it!
If something with Pure Power managed to seize her Pokémon...
The score became 2–0!
Was she really about to be swept?
Fear began growing in Green's heart, but she immediately forced it back down.
No.
It had not reached that point yet.
Because...
["Now!"]
The third battle!
The decisive moment had arrived. At the very end, they would unleash power that surpassed their limits!
Mewtwo's voice echoed inside Green's mind.
"What covers your ears is worthless fear."
"There is only one enemy, and you stand alone as well."
"What is there to fear?"
"Cast off your fear. Look forward and advance."
"Never stop."
"Retreat, and you will age. Hesitate, and you will die!"
"Shout it! My name is...!"
"My Key Stone, and... Mewtwonite X!" Green cried.
The red-and-white Poké Ball opened, releasing Mewtwo and the immense power it had accumulated onto the battlefield!
Without a bond with Mewtwo, no one could make it Mega Evolve, regardless of how they used its Mega Stone.
But if the stone was wielded by someone Mewtwo acknowledged, or by someone with a pure heart capable of calming its savage nature...
Then the light of evolution would reveal itself!
Life energy obtained in the Kalos region, memories from four hundred years ago, and the tremendous energy formed from emotion, soul, and life itself all converged!
"Your name is..."
"Mega Mewtwo X!"
Mewtwo could possess Pressure, Unnerve, or the Life Force Ability found in the Ransei region. Upon Mega Evolving into its X form, however, its close-combat abilities were greatly enhanced. Psychic power strengthened the muscles throughout its body.
Its grip strength reached one ton.
It could run one hundred meters in only two seconds.
Its larger body and intense expression overflowed with power. Thick muscles covered its wrists and legs, granting Mewtwo an advantage in close-quarters combat that it had never possessed before!
HP: 106 | Attack: 190!
Defense: 100 | Special Attack: 154
Special Defense: 100 | Speed: 130
Its base-stat total had reached 780.
And now...
"Skill Swap!"
After Mega Evolution, Mewtwo's Ability had changed to Steadfast.
Once Skill Swap took effect...
"Use the power of yoga to increase your fighting strength."
Steadfast became Pure Power!
The power of yoga, combined with the body of a war god!
"I, Mewtwo, am unquestionably here!"
(End of Chapter)
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