"Of course, Dylan's a good guy~ But where his true limit is now, no one really knows, right?"
Wallace sighed with emotion. It reminded him of when he challenged the Rota Gym—Dylan had considerately switched out his Smeargle.
Otherwise, he might have been completely swept by it. And honestly, that bright, cheerful Smeargle had thrown his mentality completely off back then.
"Yeah, even without using legendaries, Dylan's strength is terrifying. Didn't they say even Champion Lance was completely shut out by him?"
Cynthia didn't comment, though her eyes flickered. As the strongest Trainer of Sinnoh, she had always had the urge to face Dylan in a full-powered battle.
But… she wasn't ready yet.
"Emmm… that match with Lance was a little special." Lillie's small face turned a little awkward as she remembered the battle between Dylan and Lance.
"I get it. Thanks to Dylan, the whole world now knows how to fight Lance."
Wallace couldn't help laughing, joking lightly.
"I really want to know—if he doesn't use legendaries, who could ever defeat Dylan?"
He spoke sincerely. Many people thought Dylan's power came solely from those rule-breaking legendary Pokémon he commanded.
After all, the battle between Leon and Dylan was just too shocking.
But even without his legendaries, Dylan's strength was frightening.
Was Dragon Master Lance strong? Of course. But Dylan had perfectly countered him with an ice-type team, shutting him out completely.
As Wallace had said, that battle showed everyone exactly how to beat Lance.
But was it really as simple as bringing an ice-type team? That was far too naïve.
Type advantage was only one factor—first, the Trainers had to be evenly matched in overall skill, and then there were variables like form, command, and strategy.
Anyone who thought they could just raise an ice team and topple Lance was dreaming.
And the ice team was just one of many specialized teams Dylan had at his disposal.
"If we're talking about someone who could rival my brother without legendaries… there is one. My brother told me himself."
Lillie touched her chin with a slender finger, remembering Dylan's words.
"Oh?" The other three all looked at her curiously.
"He's an old man. A very strong old man. My brother asked him to 'stand guard' for him." Lillie giggled as she spoke.
"?"
Wallace tilted his head in confusion. An old man? Guarding?
—
On the battlefield.
Zeraora continued to watch carefully, while Aggron burrowed underground.
Dylan wasn't in a rush—Aggron would strike soon enough.
Sure enough, the ground beneath Zeraora cracked open. Zeraora reacted instantly, springing upward.
Aggron erupted from the earth like a steel monster, but it missed its Dig attack.
"Aura Sphere!"
Zeraora's claws came together, forming an orb of energy. But then—
Boom!
Stealth Rocks detonated behind it, sending Zeraora staggering forward with a cry of pain.
"High Horsepower!"
Aggron roared, its body surging with brown energy as it slammed into Zeraora.
Zeraora gritted its teeth, twisting to dodge, but it was too late.
Crash!
The hit landed, hurling Zeraora across the field.
That strike dealt heavy damage—it was a super effective blow.
Zeraora was in rough shape.
"Earthquake!"
Steven's heart pounded. Was victory finally within reach? He forced himself to stay calm as he commanded Aggron forward.
Aggron stomped down, sending tremors racing across the battlefield.
"Protect." Dylan glanced at his exhausted partner.
Zeraora forced up a green barrier, holding off the earthquake.
It bought just enough time for Zeraora to steady itself and stand again.
When it looked forward, Aggron was gone—only a dark hole remained.
Dig, again.
"Stay sharp." Dylan warned.
Zeraora growled softly, eyes narrowing as it focused.
The arena fell silent. Then—
"Zeraora!"
This time, instead of leaping, Zeraora flicked its ears and darted back.
"Aura Sphere!"
A blue orb formed in its claws.
Aggron burst from the ground, glowing with power, but Zeraora sidestepped and hurled the attack into its flank.
Steven's eyes widened. "No—!"
Aggron tried to twist back, but Zeraora was far too fast.
Boom!
Aura Sphere detonated against its side, toppling the massive Pokémon with a roar of pain.
The stadium shook from the impact.
It had happened so fast that Wallace's jaw dropped.
"It's over…" he muttered.
Aggron was four times weak to Fighting—and Aura Sphere was special-based, preying on its weaker defenses.
"Close Combat!" Dylan commanded instantly.
Zeraora pounced, fists and kicks glowing white as it unleashed a furious flurry.
Aggron's cries weakened until, finally, silence fell.
The steel titan collapsed, unconscious.
Steven trembled, unable to speak.
"Aggron is unable to battle! Zeraora wins!"
The referee—Leaf—announced the result. Aggron's icon dimmed on the scoreboard.
"Steven rushed it," Caitlin sighed. "He should've known Dylan wouldn't fall for the same trick twice."
"Yeah, a pity." Cynthia nodded.
With all those Stealth Rocks on the field, if Steven had just played patiently, Zeraora would've gone down eventually.
Instead, he'd given Dylan the opening.
"Still a little too hasty, Steven." Dylan smiled across the field.
"…True." Steven exhaled. He knew it—he'd let excitement cloud his judgment.
Dylan was no ordinary opponent. He should have been more careful with Dig.
"Come then. Let's see your next Pokémon—Skarmory? Or something else?" Dylan gestured calmly.
Skarmory would've been a bad choice. With its Electric weakness, Zeraora could strike it down easily.
"No, Dylan. Let me show you my new ace!"
Steven's eyes gleamed as he pulled out his sixth Poké Ball.
He wasn't going to use Skarmory. Not after Zeraora had already taken down three of his Pokémon. Letting it claim a fourth would be humiliating.
"A new ace?" Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."
Steven tossed the ball high.
"Go!"
"Mita!"
With a heavy crash, a gleaming silver Metagross appeared—its body shining with a rare metallic sheen.
"Wait—that's…"
Caitlin's eyes widened.
"A shiny Metagross!" Cynthia exclaimed.
Even Dylan's brows rose. "Well now. That's a beauty."
"Yeah. I've been raising it since last year. It's finally ready." Steven's smile was proud.
"Not bad. Let's see what it can do." Dylan chuckled, admiring but not envious.
After all, no matter how flashy, it couldn't outshine his own twin-tailed dragon.
"Mega Metagross—let's go!"
Steven's Key Stone lit up, triggering the Mega Evolution. Metagross transformed in a blaze of light, emerging more fearsome than ever.
"Bullet Punch!"
The Mega Metagross shot forward, claws glowing.
"Quick Guard!"
Zeraora blocked with shining arms, deflecting the flurry of priority strikes.
"Flame Kick!"
Its foot erupted in fire as it lashed out.
"Block it!" Steven ordered.
Metagross crossed its arms, tanking the blow with only a shudder.
"Comet Punch!"
Its other arms swung like meteors, clipping Zeraora and staggering it.
Then came a surge of psychic energy—
Boom!
Psychic blasted Zeraora off its feet.
It tried to rise, but its injuries were too much. With a final groan, it collapsed unconscious.
Dylan shook his head with a smile.
"Zeraora is unable to battle! Mega Metagross wins!"
Leaf announced the result.
Steven's face broke into a triumphant grin. At last—he'd brought down Dylan's Zeraora!
Finally, he could say it proudly: I once defeated one of Dylan's legendary Pokémon!
"Hell yeah, Steven!" Wallace shouted from the stands, more excited than Steven himself.
"You really are my best friend! Even Dylan's legends can fall before you!"
"That was incredible…" Caitlin sighed. It had taken every ounce of effort—type advantages, tactics, a grueling war of attrition.
But at last, Zeraora had gone down.
Cynthia nodded solemnly in agreement.
On the field, Dylan recalled Zeraora gently.
"You did wonderfully. Rest now." He smiled warmly at the Poké Ball before looking back up.
"Well done, Steven. Defeating my Zeraora is no easy feat."
"But now…" His voice softened, as he sent out his next Pokémon.
A small shadow pooled on the floor, and from it emerged a gray, wide-eyed Pokémon staring blankly at Mega Metagross.
"Marshadow. You're up."
(End of Chapter)