This… this can't be right!
Witnessing Mewtwo's sudden explosion of power—obliterating his Mega Metagross with a single Blast Burn—Lucian's face twisted in horror.
Steel-types typically had unavoidable Fire weaknesses, and most struggled to defend against energy attacks.
But Mega Metagross—with its Psychic-steel fusion—wasn't skewed. In fact, with Mega Evolution's stat boost, most Pokémon's Blast Burns couldn't OHKO it.
Yet Mewtwo did it effortlessly.
Worse—it manipulated the attack's trajectory with psychic power, bypassing the Substitute to strike Metagross's exposed back.
This meant Mega Mewtwo, like Aiden's Lucario, could pierce defenses…
Only one broke Protect with technique and brute force, while the other defied logic with "bullet curving," making it utterly uncounterable.
'How is this reasonable?!'
And the absurdity continued—Mewtwo could Mega Evolve!
A Pokémon that already traded blows with Mega Metagross in base form… evolving shattered any hope of parity.
No wonder Aiden claimed to show him "the pinnacle of Psychic power."
'You Mega Evolve—of course no one can beat you!'
Lucian sighed helplessly. Recalling the KO'd, devolved Metagross, he masked his despair with a bitter smile.
One silver lining: Mewtwo's moveset was now nearly locked. Beyond Will-O-Wisp and Teleport, its only attack was Blast Burn.
The final slot? Aiden would never gamble without certainty.
Setting aside the near-impossible win—losing 3-0 to Mewtwo would bury his streaming career!
'At least I must take down Mega Mewtwo. Losing honorably isn't shameful.'
Quickly regrouping, Lucian's expression stabilized. He inhaled deeply, pulling out his second Poké Ball.
Thankfully, knowing his opponent was Teacher Azure, he'd prepared contingencies.
"Your turn now—"
"Drapion!"
Lucian shouted his next Pokémon's name with gusto, hurling the Luxury Ball.
A terrifying beast emerged—violet carapace gleaming, venomous pincers and stinger radiating menace, drawing every spectator's gaze.
'This is Aaron's Drapion…'
Aiden instantly grasped Lucian's strategy, marvelling at the "Sinnoh Trio's" bond.
First, merging Flint's sun team into a half-baked Sun-Trick Room system. Now, borrowing Aaron's ace outright—no pretense.
"Lucian's plan is clever," Cynthia shook her head from the stands, watching Drapion appear.
"Talent-wise, he'll likely become Sinnoh's next Champion after me."
"But right now…"
A far more terrifying monster stood before him.
After all—this child carried Mew's blood, the "Progenitor of Pokémon." Its movepool probably exceeded imagination.
Thinking this, Cynthia glanced down at the "Sylveon" in her lap, stroking its head.
"Mew~"
Mew puffed its chest proudly, blinking eagerly for praise.
"You didn't battle, but you still helped a lot~" Cynthia chuckled, marveling at Mew's perfect transformation.
Its texture felt identical to Aiden's Sylveon—utterly uncanny.
'If Aiden had brought Mew to compete…' Cynthia's smile froze, turning strange.
'Terrifying. Has Aiden unknowingly become a "Legendary Trainer"?'
Encountering legendary Pokémon, bonding with them, scaling peaks through their power…
Every trainer dreamed of this.
But seeing it in reality felt unreal~
Beside her, Caitlin silently watched Cynthia and Mew's affection. Her upturned lips fell unconsciously.
'Damn it—I don't know whether to envy Cynthia or Sylveon!'
Shaking her head, she refocused on the field.
Facing Drapion, Aiden's eyes gleamed with amusement.
He'd used Drapion in streams before. Its Dark/Poison typing granted near-perfect coverage—immune to Psychic, with barely any weaknesses.
Its sole Ground vulnerability favored physical collisions. Earthquake was common, but Psychic-types rarely learned Ground special attacks. Most relied on Earth Power—which few Psychic Pokémon could use.
Overall, it countered this tournament's theme perfectly…
Except against Aiden and Mewtwo.
"Drapion—dig underground to evade, then strike with Cross Poison!"
Sensing Aiden's meaningful gaze, Lucian had no choice but to commit.
His plan was simple: use Drapion's speed and Dark-type to force a damage trade.
Mewtwo's psychic power would fail against Drapion's Dark energy—no repeat of Metagross's psychic KO.
If Cross Poison landed, Aaron's specially bred Drapion would trigger poison chains, flooding Mewtwo with toxins.
Unlike slow-acting Toxic, this guaranteed success.
Then, attrition would sap Mewtwo's fighting spirit!
Simple but highly viable—it was Lucian's best counter.
Yet Aiden's next command shattered his hopes:
"Mewtwo—Earth Power!"
Aiden smiled, watching Lucian freeze mid-breath.
'He dared to challenge Mewtwo directly, assuming he'd locked its moveset and held the type advantage.'
'Too bad—for Mewtwo, this isn't a problem.'
Mewtwo channeled psychic energy, slamming clawed hands into the earth.
A crisp tremor shook the field. Even in the back rows, spectators felt the ground's furious roar.
Lucian's Drapion reacted instantly—aborting its dig to leap clear. But grounded, it didn't have Gliscor's flight ability to evade.
"Drapion—endure with spirit! You must land the hit!"
Lucian gritted his teeth from behind it.
Metagross lost by over-prioritizing defense, letting Aiden exploit openings.
'It won't happen twice!'
Facing Drapion's desperate lunge, Mewtwo didn't dodge. Still channeling Earth Power, it reached out to intercept the attack.
Against overwhelming power, tricks were meaningless.
Even poisoned, Mewtwo knew it could finish Lucian's last Pokémon before toxins claimed it.
'Consider this a gift for the brave. No need to dodge.'
"…"
Aiden sensed Mewtwo's pride but didn't interfere.
Rarely expressive, Mewtwo's "chuuni moment" was endearing. Teammates would cover for it anyway.
'Though imagining yourself as the battlefield's demon king already, lil Mewtwo?'
Immobile Mega Mewtwo became a target—but Drapion's all-out strike barely scratched it. Cross Poison was caught effortlessly in Mewtwo's palm.
Grabbing Drapion, Mewtwo hurled its same-sized body down hard.
Another tremor erupted. Already weakened, Drapion collapsed—eyes rolling like Metagross before it.
Lucian sighed in defeat.
'Impossible to fight. The gap is too vast…'
He saw it: Aiden barely commanded or strategized. Mewtwo alone nearly swept his entire team.
With Aiden's terrifying battle IQ? This match should've been one-sided from the start.
Yet Drapion's last stand wasn't pointless.
Mewtwo's hands and chest now glistened with poison, corrosive liquid spreading rapidly.
Mewtwo showed no reaction—waiting impassively for Lucian's last Pokémon, almost eager to complete its 1v3 sweep like Lucario and Sylveon before it.
'What others achieve, I can too—even better!'
Poisoned Mewtwo's gaze grew fiercer.
"Next one. Hurry up."
Pressured, Lucian's expression darkened further.
The match wasn't over—he shot Aiden a resentful look before recalling Drapion. His final Poké Ball emerged.
"Go—Girafarig!"
Stalling with Bronzong could grind down poisoned Mewtwo… but Lucian's goal wasn't just a point.
Winning this way? Dishonorable. He'd shame himself before Flint and Aaron's endless teasing.
'Unacceptable!'
Facing Mewtwo's naked battle lust, Lucian chose honor.
'My prized starter will face your stat-monster Mewtwo!'
'Even in defeat—I'll stand tall!'
…
"The second finalist is finally determined!"
"What a spectacular match! Both showed incredible strength, but Aiden's superiority prevails!"
Two minutes later, Lucian's avatar grayed on the big screen. DJ Mary delivered the verdict.
Mewtwo exhaled, releasing its Mega form as Girafarig fell.
"Good work, Mewtwo."
Aiden didn't recall the poisoned Pokémon immediately. Stepping forward, he patted its shoulder, smiling:
"Your growth delights me. You've cast off past shadows, finding your own path."
"…"
Mewtwo's eyes flickered complexly. It turned away subtly.
"I-I just… wanted to do something for you occasionally."
Its voice was a whisper—but Aiden heard.
Silent, Aiden watched its back with warm approval.
'Truly my well-raised child.'
'Still unforthcoming… but perhaps that's its charm, like tsundere Sylveon.'
While Aiden and Mewtwo celebrated, Lucian stood defeated.
Watching Aiden's smile, Lucian turned away, swallowing bitterness alone.
'Damn it… losing is one thing—but I feel like I've lost my entire trainer life to Teacher Azure!'
'It's just one Mewtwo. I'm not jealous. Not at all…'
…sniff…'
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