What just happened?
The sudden shift left David—Aiden's opponent—stunned.
Theoretically, his previous play should've been flawless.
If Exeggutor could tank that hit, then retreat to create distance, its new Speed would make Lucario's stubby legs unable to catch up.
Even Lucario's best move—Aura Sphere—would barely scratch Exeggutor.
That's how it should have gone…
But why did Lucario's punch shatter Exeggutor's Protect?
Is… is this reasonable?
Normally, two scenarios caused this:
Either the power gap was massive, or Lucario had some special ability—stronger than Mold Breaker—that bypassed Protect entirely.
From appearances, it seemed like the former—Exeggutor fell in one hit, proving a huge gap.
But this confused David even more—
He was a Top 8 Finalist at the Silver Conference two years ago. His current strength shouldn't be far from ordinary Gym Leaders.
This Exeggutor was his starter partner. Against Elite Four-level opponents, he'd confidently held his ground.
Yet it got OHKO'd. David still hadn't processed it.
And… Lucario's fist had been wreathed in black energy. Clearly a Dark-type move.
This made even less sense!
'Since when can Lucario use Dark-type attacks?'
But mid-battle, he had no time to dwell.
At the referee's signal, David sighed, swallowing the loss as he recalled the KO'd Exeggutor.
"Next one—I choose you!"
"Mimikyu!"
Another red flash. A Pokémon wrapped in a Pikachu costume—its true form hidden—appeared.
"Mimikyu?"
Lance in the commentary booth was surprised.
"Mimikyu is a rare Ghost-type. You won't find its kind around Johto."
"Catching it means David must have traveled other regions."
Though he said this, Lance's real thought was—
'Mimikyu's Disguise ability should at least survive one hit! Lucario can't possibly OHKO it too!'
"Mimikyu?"
Aiden blinked in surprise, then regained composure.
Bringing out such a Pokémon in a Psychic Master Tournament was notoriously hard to counter for most psychics.
But unfortunately for it—this opponent was Lucario.
"Lucario, Comet Punch."
Aiden commanded without hesitation, pressing the offensive.
"Mimikyu, Swords Dance!"
Facing the charging Lucario, David showed no panic—only confidence as he ordered Mimikyu to buff itself on the spot.
As viewers puzzled over this, Lance praised his strategy:
"Perfect Mimikyu usage. David clearly came prepared."
"Since Mimikyu's true body is Ghost-type beneath its disguise, attacking the costume does no damage. Opponents often waste moves hitting empty air."
"Using this to set up Swords Dance is the simplest, most effective use of its ability."
Exactly as Lance predicted.
Lucario had braced for it—Comet Punch perfectly covering Mimikyu's entire silhouette.
Yet at the last second, Mimikyu reacted. While completing Swords Dance, it darted backward.
Lucario's fist struck only the costume, snapping Mimikyu's neck downward.
But the real body remained untouched.
'Yes!' David's heart raced with relief.
After Exeggutor's loss, he'd doubted whether Disguise would work against Lucario's "special ability."
But without it, his remaining Psychic-type would face even worse odds.
So David gambled—sending Mimikyu to clash head-on with Lucario.
And he won the bet.
Whatever broke Protect earlier clearly couldn't bypass Disguise.
After activating Disguise and boosting with Swords Dance, Mimikyu now had real sweeping potential.
Of course, against Teacher Azure… David didn't dare claim high odds.
But taking even one of his Pokémon would earn bragging rights in the livestream—a "Teacher Azure arrest" worthy viewer!
So he had to accelerate!
"Mimikyu, Play Rough!"
David's eyes burned with fervor as he stared at Lucario.
Aiden didn't understand—and didn't need to.
"Lucario, Comet Punch again—crush the opponent!"
He chose a head-on clash.
Mimikyu had been wildly popular once. Did he not know its weaknesses?
Beyond Disguise's one-time safety net, Mimikyu fit the "standard" Ghost-type template:
Terrible HP. Decent Speed. No good STAB moves.
Even after Swords Dance, its power wasn't overwhelming.
Fairy-type Play Rough wouldn't hurt Lucario much—it could tank the hit.
"Luca!"
"Mim!"
The close-range brawl began.
Using ghostly dodges, Mimikyu gave Lucario trouble.
But in its eagerness to strike, it revealed its position—giving Lucario an opening.
"Luca!"
Lucario blocked Mimikyu's tail slash with its right arm, then retaliated with an iron-hard left hook!
The punch sent small-framed Mimikyu flying—mirroring Exeggutor's fate. It skidded across the field, bouncing before stopping at the edge.
Lucario retracted its trembling right hand, eyes still sharp as blades.
These opponents are strong!'
'But I have my own reasons to win…'
This minor wound won't force me out.'
Under Lucario's watchful gaze, the downed Mimikyu suddenly made a crack—something snapping within it.
A surge of vital energy enveloped it, forcing its dispersing consciousness back.
"Mim!"
Struggling upright, Mimikyu's furious eyes burned with rage.
"Focus Sash…"
Aiden instantly understood.
Standard Mimikyu setup—Disguise + Focus Sash gave two layers of safety, plus an extra turn to act.
Especially against unprepared opponents, a resurrecting Mimikyu could feel like a ghost haunting them.
But against Aiden? Useless.
"Mimikyu, use Draining Kiss—"
"Lucario, Bullet Punch!"
Before an ecstatic David could finish his command, Aiden's casual words struck like lightning.
'Huh?'
'Since when can Lucario do that??'
Bullet Punch—an unconventional but highly practical priority move.
Compressing power into a single point, it delivered a bullet-like impact too fast to react to.
Unlike the earlier "illegal" Wicked Blow, this made sense.
Lucario could legitimately inherit this move.
Though without Bullet Punch, Aiden would've just used Extreme Speed against non-Ghost types anyway.
In David's despairing eyes, Lucario moved like lightning—knocking down the "resurrected" Mimikyu before it could act.
On the big screen, two of David's three Poké Ball icons darkened.
"Things look grim for David!"
DJ Mary seized the chance to interject, her voice tense.
Lance nodded—then added:
"But it's not all bad news. At least Aiden's Lucario has now revealed all its moves…"
"This might be his last hope for a comeback."
Lance gave David a lifeline.
Detect. A Wicked Blow-like move that pierced Protect. Comet Punch. Bullet Punch.
After battling two Pokémon, Lucario's moveset was locked per tournament rules. Its remaining options would be limited.
Under international "Master Rules," Pokémon could learn any moves—but a 4-move clause prevented abuse.
When skill levels were close, this restriction could be deadly, forcing players to improvise against coverage gaps.
But Lance knew—
At this one-sided stage, everyone saw the power gap. Move limits wouldn't change the outcome.
As a commentator, he couldn't outright declare defeat.
He also left unsaid:
'Moves are known—but no one's seen Lucario's held item yet.'
'If Aiden hasn't even needed to reveal that… he's holding back.'
'What he's saving is probably its new form…'
'The Mega Evolution that grants overwhelming power and crushing pressure!'
Of course—just speculation. He kept it to himself.
Across the field, David looked dazed.
"So… so hard to fight…"
Recalling Mimikyu, he regretted his pre-battle "passionate battle" declaration.
Making Teacher Azure happy only made himself miserable. Why had he said that?
Sigh!
But with no escape, he'd have to endure.
Good news: He still had one Pokémon!
Bad news: Why did he still have one Pokémon?!
Even worse—Psychic Master Tournament rules required his last Pokémon to be Psychic-type.
Countering Lucario just got harder. Sweeping three? Forget it.
"Lastly… I choose you, Hypno!"
Since it was just formality, David dropped the act—sending his other ace.
At least he'd get screen time with Teacher Azure. Not a total loss!
"Hypno…"
Seeing the yellow Pokémon holding a pendulum, Aiden's expression flickered with amusement.
Though it was normal for psychics to own this Pokémon…
Okay, Aiden admitted—he had a dirty mind!
"I'm counting on you, Hypno!"
David's eyes held hope as he looked at his last hope.
As a Psychic-type, his Hypno had unique strengths.
(A/N: Not Hypnosis in that way.)
Meeting its trainer's gaze, Hypno nodded firmly.
Then it locked eyes on Lucario across the field—its stare sharpening.
"Forewarn?"
Aiden instantly recognized it.
Hypno with Forewarn could, upon entering battle, use its supernatural senses to preview the opponent's strongest move in this match.
But…
This made Aiden curious.
Theoretically, Comet Punch—already used—should be the strongest.
But reality and theory rarely aligned perfectly.
His suspicion proved correct.
Staring fixedly at Lucario, Hypno suddenly shuddered—terrified.
Through its premonition, it saw Exeggutor falling to one punch.
And from a god's-eye view, it realized something was wrong with Lucario's move.
Th-this…
'What move is this?! Dark-type, hitting my weakness—and Protect can't block it???'
'Why do I feel I can't survive this…'
'Your Lucario is truly broken!'
The immense pressure made Forewarn trigger an effect akin to Forewarn.
If game text appeared in the corner, it might say:
[Hypno is shivering!]
"..."
From Hypno's terror, Aiden confirmed his guess.
Time to end this cleanly!
"Lucario—use Wicked Blow!"
"Lucario!"
Under David's despairing gaze, Lucario charged forward—finishing Hypno with one clean punch.
All three of David's Poké Ball icons darkened. His avatar vanished from the screen, replaced by Aiden's confident face and a glaring victory emblem.
Aiden, Victory!
"Let's congratulate Aiden on his first international tournament victory!"
DJ Mary led the applause.
Beside her, Lance's face twitched—he couldn't speak.
If I heard right…'
'The move Aiden called was definitely Wicked Blow, right???'
'That terrifying technique only Master Mustard's Urshifu masters—dominating global stages!'
'So that Protect-breaking punch was explained.'
'Armor Island's secret art—the Invisible Fist even Galar's Champion Leon never mastered!'
Your Lucario really is illegal, right?!'
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