"Something serious just happened!"
As soon as everyone clearly saw that the person on the field was Ethan, they felt a chill in their hearts.
And upon seeing Dylan Keats have his Pidgeot brutally attack Vibrava, that tension turned into despair.
"This... isn't going to end well."
"I just hope Ethan doesn't go too far..."
Derek Ashford sighed lightly. In a one-on-one battle, unless some of the senpais from the advanced campus intervened, no one really stood a chance against Ethan.
The power of his Slowking was terrifying. Derek still vividly remembered the scene from the starter Pokémon selection tournament, when that Slowking defeated all three of Rowan Thorne's Pokémon in succession.
And most importantly: after comparing several videos, he realized Ethan had been misunderstood.
The one who had originally set up a challenge booth on the beginner campus to make money was that guy named Arthur. Ethan had only gone there to challenge him.
After defeating him, Ethan only wanted his Charmander to battle a couple more times... but the student council members showed up and stopped him, forcing him to "take the blame" and sweep through all the opponents.
It was ridiculous! Who could one even complain to about that?
"We'd better head over there immediately."
"Yeah, and notify the senpais from the advanced campus, see if any of them are free."
"If this gets out of hand, only they'll be able to stop the fight."
...
"Damn! Ethan's going to sweep the entire Duskwell City Pokémon University! This is getting good!"
At the same time, Marcus Foster and the others also heard the news, and hurried to the scene together with Professor Langford.
After all, they were in enemy territory. If things got out of control and they ganged up on him, that would be a real problem.
...
"Let's begin the battle."
Ethan's voice was low and heavy.
Those who knew him well understood what that meant: he was angry.
"Hmph! Pidgeot, use Air Cutter."
Dylan let out a cold snort and gave the order without hesitation.
"Acid Armor!"
Faced with the attack, Ethan ordered Meltan to tank it head-on.
Immediately, Meltan's body liquefied like mercury. The blades of wind struck its surface, but only produced faint ripples.
"What incredible defense..."
"Pidgeot, use Gust."
Seeing his attack do nothing, Dylan narrowed his eyes. Even so, he remained unfazed. He knew that the Acid Armor move increased defense, so he didn't think much of it.
"Piddggott!"
A sharp cry rang out, and a tornado rose, swirling toward Meltan.
"Sword form."
Ethan's voice remained calm.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, Meltan's liquid body began to twist... until it took the shape of a long sword.
Then it activated the move Harden, transforming its mercury-like body into solid steel. The golden nut on its head became the hilt, and its metallic surface gleamed with a silvery shine.
Fuuuuhhh...
The wind howled, but the sword—Meltan—remained firmly planted in the ground.
With the combined defenses of Acid Armor and Harden, not even the tornado could move him.
"Pidgeot, use Air Slash!"
Seeing the strange transformation, Dylan felt a bad premonition and quickly ordered another attack.
This time, Pidgeot—now aware of the seriousness of the battle—concentrated powerful flying-type energy in front of it, forming a sharp blade of air.
Instead of firing it immediately, it kept storing energy until it was almost tangible, and then... it fired with full force!
"Iron Defense!"
Ethan, still composed, ordered the defense to be strengthened even further.
Originally, Meltan didn't know that move. But during recent training, as its body grew stronger, it managed to learn it on its own—something that had greatly surprised Ethan.
Iron Defense hardened the surface of the body like steel, massively boosting defense.
Combining Iron Defense with Acid Armor and Harden, plus Meltan's naturally metallic physiology, its defense reached its absolute peak.
CLANG!
A sharp metallic crash rang out when the Air Slash struck... only to bounce right off Meltan's body without dealing any damage at all!
"Hhhh!"
All the students gasped.
That defense was... monstrously overwhelming!
"Alright, Meltan, now fly."
Ethan said it calmly, without the slightest surprise.
He knew that with Iron Defense active, not even his Sandslash could withstand Meltan's defense.
"Zzzt!"
Upon hearing the command, Meltan began emitting electric sparks. Under the effects of its ability, Magnet Pull, its body slowly started to levitate.
"No way! Is that... a flying sword?"
A student couldn't help but shout, astonished, upon seeing Meltan—still in sword form—floating in the air. Without a doubt, he was heavily influenced by fantasy swordsman novels.
"How childish."
"Pidgeot, use Sky Attack!"
Dylan scoffed in disdain.
Until now, Meltan had been on the ground, making close combat difficult for Pidgeot. But now that it was in the air... this was its doom! The sky was Pidgeot's domain!
"Piddggott!"
The great bird let out a powerful cry, its body wrapped in an aura resembling a divine bird, and it dove at full speed toward Meltan.
"Go, use Headbutt!"
Ethan's eyes sharpened.
Electricity crackled across Meltan's entire body. Using the principle that electricity generates magnetism, its body acquired a strong magnetic charge.
At the same time, it generated another opposite magnetic force in the air, compressing and precisely controlling it.
Zas!
At the instant the two forces balanced, Meltan's body vanished from its spot. In the eyes of the spectators, a silver line slashed through the air like a bolt of lightning.
BOOOOM!
A moment later, the two figures collided violently in mid-air above the stadium.
Zzziiip!
The sound of something tearing filled the air. The divine bird silhouette surrounding Pidgeot was split in two, and a silver light streaked past its side like a flash of lightning.
(End of chapter)