"He won! Red really won!"
Joy Xue excitedly threw her arms around Xiao Wen.
"He won... That guy's Swampert actually defeated Ma Zhiji's Ampharos?!"
Even Sabrina—the normally cold and merciless Psychic Queen—had eyes filled with astonishment, disbelief, and, more than anything else, pride.
"Long live Master!"
Gary, Ash, and Paul raised their banners together, their excited shouts making them sound like a troop of monkeys.
"A Level 40-something Swampert defeated a Level 50-something Gym Leader-level Ampharos. Am I dreaming?"
"Gym Leader Red won!"
"Long live Gym Leader Red!"
"Swampert, you're incredible!"
...
Meanwhile, in the Elite Four's viewing area, Agatha and Bruno looked somewhat stunned after seeing Mega Swampert genuinely defeat Ampharos.
"I never expected that boy Red to actually win."
"Hahaha! I taught that Swampert all its power-generation techniques! Doesn't that make Red half my disciple? Hahahaha!"
Bruno was bursting with excitement.
As members of the Elite Four, there were very few things capable of exceeding their expectations.
However, today's battle had completely overturned Agatha and Bruno's understanding of Swampert's potential.
"I originally thought that Pupitar was Red's strongest Pokémon."
"Then he brought out a Castform capable of creating thunderstorms, a Ninetales that controls Moltres's flames, and now this nearly invincible Swampert."
Even Agatha couldn't stop marveling at his team.
In the end, however, Agatha, Bruno, and Chairman Charles Goodshow all turned their gazes toward Professor Oak.
They knew that while Swampert's original combat ability had already been impressive, its true qualitative transformation occurred only after that so-called evolution.
Facing the probing gazes of so many influential figures, even Professor Oak felt immense pressure.
He coughed lightly.
"Everyone, there's no need to worry. If Red and I are willing to make even Dynamax public, why wouldn't we reveal Mega Evolution?"
"It's just that... well, you understand."
"Unlike Dynamax, which comes with numerous restrictions, Mega Evolution can strengthen your main Pokémon—or even your ace—anywhere."
Looking at the League's senior officials, Professor Oak remembered Red's instructions and slowly added,
"It'll cost extra."
The moment they heard those words, the entire League leadership nearly exploded with rage.
"More money?! Oak, you brat, you're becoming just as shameless! Haven't you already leaked enough of the League's treasures to that boy?"
"At this rate, the two of you will empty the entire League!"
Professor Oak remained perfectly calm.
"You don't have to make the deal."
That single sentence infuriated several of the League's old fogeys, yet none of them dared to say they wouldn't accept it.
Chairman Charles Goodshow finally clapped his hands.
"That's enough. You're all old enough to know better, yet you're still arguing endlessly. The battle isn't even over. Have some dignity."
Professor Oak hurriedly agreed.
"Exactly! Let's watch the battle first. We can discuss Mega Evolution in detail afterward."
...
Back on the battlefield, Mega Swampert casually tossed Ampharos out of the arena as though it were a dead dog.
Listening to the audience's cheers, Red took a deep breath and looked at Swampert.
"You are my pride."
After hearing Red's praise, Mega Swampert's eyes narrowed slightly in pleasure.
"Keep going, Swampert! Your punches are unbelievably cool!"
"Finish the last battle with one punch too!"
Mega Swampert's brutally powerful fighting style had instantly attracted countless fans, particularly an enormous number of male supporters.
After all, head-on physical combat would always hold a special appeal for real men.
Mega Swampert looked at Ma Zhiji, who remained frozen in place, and crooked a middle finger, beckoning him to send out his next Pokémon.
However, Ma Zhiji didn't have any so-called next Pokémon.
Ever since obtaining Ampharos, he had become increasingly arrogant and stopped taking the training of his own Pokémon seriously.
The fact that Electabuzz's level hadn't changed at all was enough to prove that.
Now his former ace, Electabuzz, had been defeated instantly, while Ampharos—the Pokémon he had placed everything on—had been thrown from the battlefield like a dead dog.
What Pokémon did Ma Zhiji have left that could possibly face the Swampert before him?
No!
That wasn't a Swampert!
It was a monster!
Ma Zhiji's mental state had completely collapsed.
He desperately searched through the Poké Balls at his waist, but he couldn't find a single Pokémon capable of entering the battle.
Then Ma Zhiji suddenly remembered something.
He wasn't fighting alone!
He still had his cousin!
When Ma Zhiji looked expectantly toward Lt. Surge, however, he was met with a gaze filled with utter disappointment.
"Absolutely hopeless!"
Lt. Surge couldn't help cursing inwardly.
He had already gone this far!
He had secretly issued commands from outside the battlefield and even lent Ampharos to Ma Zhiji.
Yet despite all that, Ma Zhiji still couldn't win!
Lt. Surge was tired.
He was done.
Some people would still lose no matter how many resources they were given.
Seeing the disappointment in Lt. Surge's eyes, Ma Zhiji finally broke down. He half-collapsed onto the battlefield and looked toward Red.
The only thing awaiting him was Red's amused gaze.
That expression caused Ma Zhiji's already fragile state of mind to erupt completely.
He stood on the battlefield and began shouting abuse at Red without any concern for the consequences.
"Red! So what if you won?! You merely became one of the Eight Official Gym Leaders!"
"Even if I lost, I'm still a Gym Leader! You have no right to judge me!"
Watching Ma Zhiji scream desperately to reassure himself after being driven into a corner, Red felt as though he were watching a clown.
He calmly decided to add more fuel to the fire.
"Who told you that you would remain a Gym Leader after losing?"
"With the League's senior officials, two members of the Elite Four, and Professor Oak all watching, do you genuinely believe your plan to borrow a Pokémon went unnoticed?"
"If you had won, you might have been able to cover up that stain somehow."
"But you borrowed a Pokémon and still lost! Do you honestly believe the position of Rapid Gym Leader belongs to you forever?!"
...
Red's words struck Ma Zhiji like a sledgehammer, leaving his mind spinning.
They also shattered the protection he had always taken the greatest pride in.
Without his position as a Gym Leader, Ma Zhiji was nothing!
Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
"What? Gym Leader Ma Zhiji borrowed that Ampharos?"
"Is that true?"
"If it is, this will become an enormous scandal."
"Yeah. His career as a Gym Leader is completely over!"
Listening to the surrounding spectators, Ma Zhiji's eyes became hollow and desperate.
Yet Red still didn't believe it was enough.
He pointed toward a group of hostile-looking Trainers below the battlefield and whispered to Ma Zhiji,
"The Normal-type Gym Leader you humiliated is the youngest daughter of Kanto's greatest ranching magnate."
"Once you lose the protection of your Gym Leader status, do you think you'll still live to see tomorrow's sunrise?"
"Sigh... As they say, when misfortune comes, even cold water can get stuck between your teeth."
"Gym Leader Ma, you still have many wonderful days ahead of you."
After hearing Red's final words, Ma Zhiji nearly stopped breathing and fainted on the spot.
He never imagined that a single battle could transform him from an exalted Gym Leader into someone who had lost everything.
Just as his mind was about to collapse completely, Ma Zhiji looked toward his cousin.
"Cousin, save me!"
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