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"No, that's not right!"
In the stands, Caitlin—who had been watching Aiden's match with Cynthia while scouting opponents before her own turn—suddenly cried out.
"This Pokémon is all wrong!"
"Mew~?"
Her outburst drew attention from Cynthia, who'd been engrossed in the battle, and from the "Sylveon" sitting on her lap.
"I didn't notice at first, but thinking carefully—it is wrong!"
As a Psychic-type user naturally skilled in telekinesis, Caitlin had deeper insights into psychic power than most.
She'd keenly spotted something many overlooked:
"Clefable inherently resists energy-based moves. Even with Psychic Terrain boosting Expanding Force's power, it should've tanked the hit without issue."
"Plus, it used Minimize twice to enhance evasion and unpredictability."
"Going all-in with Expanding Force now is pure luck—no one knows if it'll land."
"But judging by Mewtwo's explosive power and coverage range when using Expanding Force… it's absurdly strong…"
Caitlin frowned as she spoke.
"Normally, Expanding Force can't possibly cover the entire field without blind spots."
"But psychic moves differ from other types—if the user's psychic power is strong enough, theoretically, sheer quantity can create saturation bombing effects…"
"That's why I say this Pokémon is abnormal—both its psychic reserves and control are exceptional!"
After this analysis, Caitlin had new questions:
"Where did Aiden even find such a Psychic-specialized unknown Pokémon?"
After watching the first four rounds, Caitlin had assumed Aiden was just scraping by with two random Pokémon, relying on one to brute-force his way into the Top 8 for points.
Though unorthodox, it made sense with the tournament rules. She wouldn't criticize—just grumble privately…
But now, how had Aiden suddenly pulled out a monster-perfectly-matched-to-the-tournament-theme Pokémon?
She'd never even heard of such a Pokémon before today!
Not in the Pokédex!
Zero intel, yet terrifyingly strong…
It was clear Mewtwo pressured Aiden's rivals far more than Lucario or Sylveon ever had.
Caitlin had to admit—she felt slightly pressured now.
Damn it—how many dirty tricks is Aiden hiding?!
Defeating him head-on seemed far harder than she'd first thought…
"Mew~"
Before Cynthia could respond, the "Sylveon" on her lap sighed in relief.
'What's the fuss? Such a big deal over nothing!'
As for her doubts about Mewtwo's Expanding Force legality…
'What's she babbling about? I taught that move to both Mewtwo and Indeedee—of course I know if it's legal!'
Still, Caitlin's shocked reaction pleased it.
Human responses were so fun!
"Hmm… this Pokémon is indeed special."
Cynthia nodded.
She knew a little about Mewtwo's origins from Aiden—especially its mysterious connection to the Mew in her lap.
Its potential surely surpassed ordinary Pokémon, possibly even outpacing late-blooming species.
But this secret between her and Aiden? She'd share it with no one.
Not even Caitlin.
While her best friend sweated bullets, Cynthia's lips curved with amusement. She glanced down at the "Sylveon" on her lap—now intently watching the match again.
'If the current Mewtwo is this strong… how powerful must Mew—the original—truly be?'
Perhaps this was why Aiden refused to bring it to tournaments?
A Pokémon that kills matches the moment it appears…
So cute, so friendly—but such a terrifying little monster!
Cynthia returned her gaze to the battlefield.
"This is too much…"
Feeling his partner Clefable's grievous injury, masked Will clutched his chest as if sharing its pain.
"Worthy of Teacher Azure's Pokémon, I suppose. That terrifying blow exceeded my imagination. However…"
Unable to escape his dramatic persona, Will suddenly shifted tone. Lifting his face, eyes burning with fighting spirit, he half-raised a hand to his mask, flashing a vibrant smile.
"Yes! This is how battles against strong foes should be—every mistake's cost sears into your soul, unforgettable!"
"Thank you for this gift—but let me savor this suffocating pressure longer, Teacher Azure!"
"Clefable—Shadow Ball again!"
After the heavy hit, Will's entire setup for Clefable collapsed.
Against Expanding Force's field-wide coverage, Minimize was useless. Caught off-guard by the first hit, Clefable lacked even the HP to set up a Substitute.
It had essentially given away a Pokémon.
Now, one more identical attack would almost certainly finish Clefable.
Losing the first round to information asymmetry, Will could only let Clefable play its final card—using Shadow Ball to whittle Mewtwo's HP, making a last contribution for its incoming teammates.
"Mewtwo—Future Sight."
Aiden didn't finish Clefable immediately, making an unexpectedly defensive move.
"Future Sight…"
Lance pondered briefly before nodding on commentary.
"Because Clefable poses no threat, he's using this move to set up future pressure, further overwhelming Will's next Pokémon."
"As a Psychic-type ultimate technique, Future Sight maximizes psychic control—briefly glimpsing an opponent's future position before unleashing devastating past-to-future psychic force."
"But in exchange, Mewtwo must endure Clefable's final retaliation. A calculated trade-off."
Lance's analysis was logical.
He just hadn't predicted what came next.
Both commanded simultaneously. Mewtwo blasted another torrent of psychic energy—but its target wasn't Clefable. Mid-flight, the attack vanished into the sky.
Clefable's Shadow Ball followed instantly.
Under sunlight, sinister black energy coalesced between its hands, launching toward the opponent.
Boom!
Black smoke exploded across the battlefield, completely obscuring Mewtwo.
When it reappeared, Mewtwo stood with arms crossed in a defensive stance—showing only minor scratches.
"This power… is too weak?"
Caitlin's surprise returned.
Generally, besides rare high-potential exceptions, most Pokémon had limited capabilities.
Trainers couldn't raise perfect "hexagonal warriors"—they had to specialize training plans to enhance specific traits.
This was a trainer's fundamental skill.
Extreme speed-attack builds and defensive counter-builds were the most common approaches.
From Mewtwo's earlier performance, Caitlin thought it was a hyper-offensive speedster.
But…
This Clefable was clearly no weakling.
Will nearly qualified for eliminations, with deep Pokémon-raising expertise. Its Shadow Ball even had good type advantage.
Combined factors should've heavily wounded the opponent—making Aiden pay for overconfidence in setting up future plays.
Yet Mewtwo tanked Clefable's Shadow Ball unscathed.
First, it wasn't resisting Ghost-type's usual Dark weakness—Caitlin sensed no Dark energy from Mewtwo.
So the answer was clear—
It truly was a hexagonal warrior. Absurd offense and exceptional bulk.
At least bronze-medal level partner quality!
"Tsk…"
Caitlin admitted—even as a spectator, she was sweating.
This stats-focused monster would trouble any Psychic-type!
In the worst case, she might have to brute-force it down—a costly victory.
But where did Aiden find such an absurd Pokémon?
No matter. Every Pokémon had weaknesses and blind spots.
She had to find how to counter it!
Caitlin's competitive fire reignited.
Aiden!
Even if legendaries come, nothing will stop me from settling this score with you!
I swear it!
...
Clearly, Clefable's last struggle failed.
After blocking its Shadow Ball, Mewtwo unleashed Expanding Force again, easily finishing Clefable.
Standing atop Psychic Terrain, Mewtwo's aura surged, making even Will grit his teeth in frustration.
But he quickly adjusted. Recalling the fainted, reverted-sized Clefable, he pulled out a second Poké Ball.
"My second… I choose you!"
"Bronzong!"
Red light flashed again. An ancient, weathered Bronzong hovered onto the field.
"Bronzong—a very solid choice."
Lance mused, giving approval.
"Steel + Psychic typing, naturally defensive… it's the optimal counter to the lurking Future Sight attack."
"Meanwhile, Mewtwo has already revealed all its moves—no good options against Bronzong."
Will's reasoning was obvious.
Against Clefable, Mewtwo used evasive Teleport, terrain-setting Psychic Terrain, and heavy-hitting Expanding Force + Future Sight.
Though Aiden's sharp commands let Mewtwo KO Clefable cheaply, it held zero advantage against Bronzong.
Four-times resistance to Psychic moves meant it could trade blows with Mewtwo.
But Aiden should know this too…
Lance suddenly made a bold guess—
Is Aiden doing this on purpose?
Theoretically, almost any Psychic-type could tank Mewtwo's Future Sight now.
But after Expanding Force's terrifying pressure, the disadvantaged Will cautiously chose Bronzong for coverage.
What if this was also in Aiden's calculations?
Given his terrifying prediction and calculation skills in online battles, it was very possible!
Thinking this, Lance glanced back at the black-haired youth on the field—still smiling confidently. He confirmed his suspicion.
Exactly…
No idea what Aiden planned, but the gap in trainer skill was undeniably vast.
Unbeknownst to Will, Aiden was already steering his next move!
Such a little monster.
Lance sighed inwardly.
Before this, few gave him this thrill—except wild battles where trainers also fought.
Elite trainers once agreed:
Trainers should focus on raising average team strength off-field; their in-battle impact is relatively limited.
But Aiden disagreed.
On the battlefield—he was the one who decided victory!
Reality matched Lance's thoughts.
"Return, Mewtwo."
Confirming Will's choice, Aiden didn't hesitate to switch.
Mewtwo had already used all four moves and baited out a defensive Pokémon—mission accomplished.
This gave Aiden a safe switch opportunity.
Unlike previous opponents, Will was skilled—just inexperienced against Aiden's schemes.
From the battle, Aiden gauged Mewtwo's current level. He could brute-force through with Expanding Force, but it'd drain Mewtwo's stamina—not worth it.
So he chose speed over risk.
Mewtwo understood, saying nothing.
But inwardly, it silently complained:
Why does this international Psychic Master Tournament feel easier than facing Paldean students in gym battles?
Am I imagining things?
Red light flashed. Mewtwo vanished.
"Bronzong—Trick Room!"
Will belatedly realized his critical mistake.
Bronzong had almost no offensive pressure. Against Aiden's switch, he could only watch helplessly.
To stop the slide, Will immediately commanded speed reversal.
Whatever Aiden sent next couldn't possibly be slower than his sluggish Bronzong.
"Luca!"
As Lucario appeared, Mewtwo's lingering Future Sight materialized—crashing down on Bronzong as it fortified itself.
Sadly, even Mewtwo's power barely scratched it.
Bronzong endured the psychic blast. Trick Room activated, flooding the field with psychic energy.
In this space, speed reversed. Lucario felt its movements grow heavy.
But…
"Luca!"
Lucario frowned, then instinctively gripped the weight ring on its other wrist.
'If I remove my weights now… will I get faster or slower?'
Aiden nodded inwardly at Will's adjustment.
He also predicted Will's next move.
So Aiden calmly stood back, smiling at his opponent—delaying Lucario's command.
"Bronzong—Body Press!"
Will seized the opening, decisively attacking.
He didn't know why Aiden gave such an obvious opening—maybe a gift to this stream fan?
But he had no choice now.
Body Press was one of Bronzong's few moves that could hurt Lucario. Its power scaled with the user's sturdiness—perfect for Bronzong's crushing force.
One swing might not finish it—but a second would.
In the Trick Room, Bronzong's speed led absolutely. Missing Lucario was impossible.
"Just as I thought…"
Seeing Bronzong charge recklessly, Aiden confirmed his guess.
He executed his pre-planned counter.
"Lucario—Counter!"
As Aiden smiled, Lucario already understood—shifting into a defensive stance.
It had used this move when it was still Riolu, battling Eevee.
Too cautious in fights, Lucario's insane focus once led to absurd plays—countering Eevee's move before it even landed.
Aiden rarely let it use Counter before evolution—worried its small frame couldn't tank hits, and wanting it more aggressive.
Now, Trick Room finally let it unleash its long-practiced "counterplay style."
This muscle wasn't built for nothing!
Bronzong charged like a high-speed train—a terrifying sight.
Yet Lucario didn't dodge. It braced in a sumo-like stance, ready to absorb the first impact with its arms.
Bronzong's brutal charge led to direct confrontation.
But despite its weight advantage, Bronzong gained no benefit.
Lucario's arms bulged with power, neutralizing its momentum. Then it grinned viciously.
"Luca-Luca-Luca!"
A relentless barrage of punches rained on Bronzong's body. Locked in place by Body Press's failed execution, it could only endure this shocking combo.
The entire crowd froze.
"W-wait… Didn't Teacher Azure said Counter? I thought Counter returns double damage?"
"How many punches is this? Should we rename it to Hundredfold Payback!"
"I'm genuinely terrified now. Close-range? Lucario blocks and counters. Ranged? It wins the beam clash. Mid-range? It closes in. Its coverage is absurd. Teacher Azure—just tell me how to beat this Lucario…"
After who-knows-how-long, Lucario finally unleashed its final uppercut—completing its "Counter." It turned away, leaving only a resolute back to its opponent.
Boom—
Bronzong collapsed backward, eyes swirling with concentric circles.
Logically, Bronzong shouldn't fear Fighting moves this much—but imagining Lucario's hundred-punch combo made even Will feel it was reasonable…?
'This Lucario just one-shotted my Bronzong… so why do I think it's kind of cool?'
"..."
In the commentary booth—Lance fell silent.
'Don't think I didn't notice…'
'That Lucario's assault absolutely used the martial philosophy of the Isle of Armor's secret technique—Surging Strikes!'
Even if Master Mustard raised a Lucario from scratch, it might not surpass Aiden's in just half a year…
A complete monster.
On the big screen, Will's second Poké Ball icon darkened. Score: 2-0.
Cornered, Will had no choice but to send his prized starter—Xatu—hoping their bond might salvage some dignity.
But…
Bond meant little here.
Flying + Psychic had one glaring weakness—perfectly matching Lucario's earlier display—
"Lucario—Extreme Speed to close in, then Wicked Blow to end this!"
Facing flying Xatu, Aiden chose Wicked Blow as the finisher.
Though Lucario excelled at ranged beam clashes too—and Xatu could simply fly away to escape close combat—the felled Bronzong became an unwitting ally.
Trick Room still active, Xatu's flight crawled slower than a snail.
Meanwhile, Mewtwo's Psychic Terrain had faded over time.
Meaning both could use priority moves again!
Lucario wouldn't miss this chance.
"Luca!"
Familiar Dark energy gathered in Lucario's right hand. Ignoring Trick Room's effects, it closed the distance to Xatu in an instant.
Once Lucario got close—the result was obvious.
A black-veined fist crashed down. Soon, Will's avatar on the big screen turned completely gray.
"The winner is decided!"
As the referee's whistle blew, DJ Mary's excited voice boomed:
"With five consecutive 3-0 sweeps—Aiden, a young, previously unknown competitor, becomes the first to advance to the Top 8 in this Psychic-type Master Tournament!!!"
"May he continue delivering such breathtaking performances in the finals. We await his journey!"
Viewers who'd long anticipated this outcome erupted in cheers—some even wailing in despair.
"So strong… is this Teacher Azure's true power?"
"Hold on—Top 8 and he still hasn't revealed his other Psychic-type?! Ridiculous!"
"I've completely lost hope for this year's Champion evaluation. If Teacher Azure becomes the first Elite Four… I doubt any rookies will dare challenge the rest this year…"
In the stands, watching Aiden's confident, excited smile, Cynthia mirrored it.
"Aiden really has become this tournament's dark horse…"
"..."
Beside her, Caitlin stayed silent—internally crumbling.
'What do I do… I might actually not beat this guy…'
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