Chapter 535: Mega Swampert

"So strong!"

Miss Liuqi gazed at the roaring Hydreigon and sighed sincerely from the bottom of her heart.

She had never imagined that the Pokémon who usually clung to Baimu's side, drifting back and forth with a look of clear-headed stupidity in its eyes, could be this powerful.

Was this really the Hydreigon she knew?

Miss Liuqi suddenly guessed, "Could the reason for the switch be to withstand Gyarados's Waterfall?"

She knew very well that, given Baimu's battling habits, he was unlikely to make meaningless moves.

The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Gyarados's Waterfall was certainly not a field-wide move, but given its size, once it got into a charging cycle, covering the whole field was only a matter of seconds.

Rather than have the hidden Dragapult running around dodging, it was better to switch in Hydreigon to withstand the attack and then counter in one fell swoop!

Facts proved it.

Choosing Hydreigon was a very correct decision.

Gyarados's condition plummeted the moment it was hit by Dragon Pulse; seizing the instant after Waterfall to strike first, a super-effective Thunder Fang alone was enough to defeat it.

"Amazing! Too amazing!"

Miss Liuqi couldn't help but applaud Hydreigon — saying something and doing it were two different things; being able to successfully accomplish what one set out to do was enough to surpass at least ninety-five percent of Trainers.

"……"

Adam nodded but did not pick up the thread.

He simply let his gaze fall on Mi Ke Li on the other side.

As the latter's teacher, Adam was well aware that he had already been affected by Baimu and Hydreigon's brilliant performance, and his emotions had shifted.

That's right, Mi Ke Li — that one is no longer some challenger!

But an opponent!

Continuing to hold back would be utterly meaningless!

On the field.

Mi Ke Li, who had just recalled Gyarados into its Poké Ball, paused mid-motion, then slightly raised his head and slowly exhaled the stale air from his chest.

"Hah……"

He narrowed his eyes.

How long had it been?

Since his battle with Champion Dawu, how long had passed?

How long had it been since he last experienced this genuine, blood-stirring sensation!

What a real shame.

The rules already set in place could not be changed at will; he could only battle within the basic framework of a Gym match.

Of course, even so, it was worth giving his all!

"Go! Swampert!"

Mi Ke Li raised his right hand as though throwing back a Champion's cape, his tone lifting as he shouted, "Show me your elegance!"

Boom!

Bai Guang flickered.

"Kraag!"

A deep-blue, stalwart salamander dropped into the pool, the orange air sacs on its cheeks swelling slightly with each breath, looking exceptionally steady and powerful.

At first glance.

Baimu seemed to see a dark reef standing firm in the vast, rolling sea.

This guy……

Was definitely one of the Pokémon on Mi Ke Li's championship team!

"Roar."

Hydreigon shed its earlier arrogant posture, its expression solemn as it gazed across at the opposing Swampert, its cry turning heavy and hoarse.

A powerful Pokémon differed from an ordinary one in both physique and presence.

The Swampert before its eyes was very likely the strongest opponent it had faced in an official battle so far — the mere gaze it cast was enough to make its chest burn like a furnace, its sharp teeth itch unbearably—

It could barely hold itself back!

"Roar!"

The instant Baimu gave the order, Hydreigon's flat chest and belly rapidly swelled, and in the blink of an eye a massive, pale-white sound wave surged toward Swampert!

With Mi Ke Li having only two Pokémon left, using Roar to force a switch and expose his remaining Pokémon.

This was absolutely a sure-fire, no-loss trade.

Of course.

That required the prerequisite of Roar succeeding.

The water at the center of the field rippled under the sound wave's influence, forming a surging little wave that pressed toward Swampert.

"Muddy Water."

Mi Ke Li gave the order softly.

Swampert's powerful front arms slammed the water's surface — Peng De, a heavy crash — and the murky water surged up under a tremendous force, colliding with the sound wave and the wave into a single mass.

And suppressed both with abnormal ease.

"What a powerful Muddy Water."

Baimu narrowed his eyes. Roar wasn't an attacking move, but in the anime it was enough to send some smaller Pokémon flying.

The ease with which Swampert completed the suppression further confirmed the guess in his heart.

Mi Ke Li may have raised another Swampert after becoming a Gym Leader.

But raising one at this level of strength isn't as simple as in the game — without any cheat codes or the like, it must be a long process measured in years.

Should I probe a little more?

No.

No need to keep wasting precious offensive opportunities…

Suddenly.

All Baimu's eyes went wide.

"Wait!"

The trainer's shout made the eager-to-charge-out Hydreigon freeze.

"Sha sao?"

It turned its largest head, its gaze full of confusion.

Facing an opponent like this, shouldn't we strike first to seize the advantage?

Wait for what?

The doubt was quickly answered.

The two smaller heads Hydreigon had kept on guard against the opponent's attack clearly saw Mi Ke Li across the field silently turn the brim of his hat.

A small, shimmering glass bead swayed beneath the brim.

A Key Stone?!

"—Come back!"

The trainer's command rang in its ears. Hydreigon's eyes first widened in disbelief, then it responded with a low, muffled growl.

"Sha sao."

Recalling now — wouldn't that plainly tell everyone it can't defeat a Mega Evolved Swampert?

…Even if that was the truth, it still left Hydreigon seething with rage and humiliation.

After all, given its current strength.

It couldn't even guarantee a win against a regular Swampert, let alone a Mega Evolved one — it could fight hard, but losing wouldn't be worth it.

Hydreigon understood perfectly well that its trainer's decision was correct. It wouldn't act petulant at a time like this, nor would it allow its own state to cost them the final victory.

But.

Mega Evolution is absolutely not some unbeatable thing!

All Baimu had said it himself — the boosts from Mega Evolution can be compensated for by abilities gained through hard training!

In the distant Galar region, the strongest Champion there possessed the ability to take down a Mega Evolved Charizard with a regular one!

One day…

As it was drawn back in by the red light, Hydreigon's heart was filled with deep unwillingness.

"…"

All Baimu looked at the calm Poké Ball in his hand, said nothing, and simply placed it gently against his chest.

How could a trainer who had raised his Pokémon since it was small fail to sense even a little of what it was feeling? Just hearing its cry was enough to grasp Hydreigon's emotions.

'One day.'

'I will give you strength that rivals or even surpasses Champion Dan Di's Charizard.'

His lips moved soundlessly. He didn't do his usual self-critique — he simply firmed his resolve to grow alongside Hydreigon and walk forward together.

In the distance.

Mi Ke Li's voice drifted over slowly.

"All Baimu-kun, as one of the people of Hoenn, I truly cannot wait to see the strength you, a person of the meteors, can display."

"I'm honored… please, watch closely!"

All Baimu didn't waste any more words — he unclipped the Poké Ball from his waist and hurled it forward.

Bang!

"Gu hou~"

Aggron landed, its heavy silver armor gleaming beautifully under the lights.

It gazed calmly at the Swampert.

In an instant.

The Swampert's expression shifted from its initial composure to a deep, solemn gravity.

An invisible aura coalesced into a pressure brewing between the two.

In the stands, Miss Liu Liu Qiya's breathing slowed unconsciously, and Adam's gaze was locked tightly on the two Pokémon as well. Everyone understood that within the seemingly quiet field, a violent storm had already begun to swirl.

At the center of the storm.

Stood All Baimu and Mi Ke Li, gazing at each other from afar.

However.

What seemed like a long pause was actually only a few seconds.

"The elegance of water, become our bond!"

Mi Ke Li held the sparkling Key Stone between two fingers, pressed it to his lips for a kiss, and spoke the words of resonance with his Pokémon, his eyes bright.

"…"

All Baimu, meanwhile, silently gripped his glowing pendant.

But his fervent heartbeat remained tightly linked to Aggron — the chains of their spirits entwining into transcendent power.

"Mega Evolve!"

"Mega Evolution!"

A dazzling burst of colored light instantly swallowed both Pokémon, and an astonishing transformation occurred at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Miss Liuqi watched the field in excitement; she was truly looking forward to the battle that was about to unfold.

A clash of Mega Evolutions!

What a perfect sight!

A strange yet steadily taking-shape song gradually began to ring in her mind.

And compared to Miss Liuqi, who wore her excitement plainly on her face, Adam still maintained his outward composure—only the index finger of his right hand, tapping lightly against his folded left arm, betrayed that he was not as calm as he appeared.

This Gym battle.

Both sides on the field were tense, and so were the spectators!

A moment later, the astonishing radiance faded.

A great beast like a silver fortress stood tall and proud, its watertight heavy armor all the more dazzling, its already steady bearing at this moment like a towering, majestic mountain range, instilling a sense of peace.

And on the other side.

The giant Swampert, previously like a reef in the sea, had now completely become a monster of knotted muscles; the air sacs on its two cheeks were a deep crimson and stretched out like spears, and its greatly raised back hid terrifying power.

Like an undersea volcano, it could erupt at any moment.

"Ragugo…"

This guy's aura simply made All Baimu's hair stand on end.

In an official Gym battle.

As far as he knew, the only Gym Leaders who had brought out Mega Evolution Pokémon against challengers were the Kalos Fighting-type Gym Leader Korrina and the Ice-type Gym Leader Siebold.

The former had appeared for promotional purposes, and the latter only after seeing Ash's Bond Phenomenon Greninja.

Mi Ke Li now actively bringing out Swampert was exactly as he had said before the match—no intention of holding back whatsoever.

Since Pokémon on the Gym Leader level could only take a beating.

Then he'd bring out an even higher level!

This method of choosing Pokémon that could only be called unreasonable—

Suits me perfectly!

"Let the former Champion see our strength!"

All Baimu clenched his fist, the responding low roar of his Mega Aggron in his ears, while Mi Ke Li opposite him also raised his eyes.

Both sides gave orders almost simultaneously.

"Iron Defense!"

"Rain Dance!"

Silver light flowed across Mega Aggron's surface, then grew thick and dark.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky.

A fine, steady rain descended once more upon this not-particularly-large but sufficiently complex battlefield, following the roar of Mega Swampert raising its head.

The Swift Swim ability triggered, and its heavy body instantly became light.

Without a doubt.

Both sides had opened with the optimal commands, and each had made every preparation for defense and offense.

Mi Ke Li took a deep breath.

"Hiss—"

In the pool, Mega Swampert drew back its right fist, like a giant ballista string pulled to its absolute limit.

The orange-red air sacs on its back and arms all opened, and amid sharp hissing sounds, milky-white currents of air surged in madly, making it swell enormously!

The next instant.

"Hydro Pump!"

"Ragugo!"

Boom!

The water surface exploded violently, shooting up several meters high.

Mega Swampert's massive form became a phantom afterimage, crossing an immense distance in the blink of an eye, charging before Mega Aggron like a flash.

Its right fist, covered in a pale-blue light wave, grew ever larger before the latter's eyes—seemingly in slow motion, yet utterly impossible to dodge.

Heavy Hammer—straight charge!

Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the pale-blue torrent burst apart!

White mist condensed from the water vapor filled the air!

In the spectator stands.

Miss Liuqi couldn't help but breathe rapidly; no matter how many times she saw it, no matter from what angle, Mega Swampert's ferocity in the rain always made her heart tremble in awe.

What a terrifying strike!

She simply couldn't imagine what kind of Pokémon could withstand such a ferocious attack—if it were Xiao Xiao Qingqing—

"Ah!"

Miss Liuqi's cry of alarm was locked in her throat, but it didn't stop her eyes, trembling, from looking at the field, at the silver great beast that still stood in place, unmoved, after the white mist had cleared.

"Hiss—"

A great puff of white smoke spewed out from behind the air sacs on Mega Swampert's right fist, as if cooling it down.

Fine raindrops slid down its two cheeks, yet could not conceal its look of astonishment.

"Ragugo…"

The heavy punch, powerful enough to shatter a boulder after blasting out air, couldn't even make the Mega Aggron take half a step back.

The opponent merely tilted its head slightly, watching it with a look of utter disdain.

This is impossible!

Faced with such an extraordinary sight, even the self-confident Mi Ke Li's expression froze for an instant.

One must remember that even Champion Dawu wouldn't dare claim he could take this punch head-on from a Metagross.

Who would have thought that not only did the Mega Aggron take it head-on, it was completely unmoved!

"This is the naked truth, Mi Ke Li-san."

All Baimu said quietly.

He didn't expect the other to hear his unconscious arrogant words. The Mega Swampert's fist was indeed terrifying, but in this world there were even more terrifying things.

For example—

The hardest defense!

"Grrr..."

The Mega Aggron snorted white breath from its nostrils, silently sweeping past the massive fist pressed against its left cheek. Its azure eyes fell upon the Mega Swampert before it, filled with mockery and displeasure.

Is this your attack?

Is this the punch you threw after all that buildup — spraying water, blasting air?

—Utterly boring!

"Grrr!"

A flicker of anger rose in the Mega Aggron's eyes. Silver light rapidly gathered in its mouth and blasted out at point-blank range at the Mega Swampert!

"Flash Cannon!"

The thick silver beam pierced through rain and air, striking the pool and sending a pillar of water exploding skyward!

Boom!

The Mega Aggron gazed up at the Mega Swampert escaping through the sky using jets from its arms and back bladders, and let out a thunderous roar that shook the entire stadium!

"Grrr!

Look at me! Attack me!

Give me your all — defeat me!