After informing Mayor Nakashima that the crisis was resolved, Chen Shi led Steven back toward the farmhouse.
Salamence and Garchomp followed with eager energy—they clearly wanted to spectate their student's performance.
When Grandpa and Grandma heard their grandson was going to spar with the Devon heir, their eyes lit up immediately.
A large clearing near the farm was chosen.
Gardevoir raised one slender hand, psychic energy rippling outward until a shimmering dome enclosed the entire field—forming a perfect temporary battlefield.
Chen Shi exhaled slowly, excitement humming beneath his calm.
"Steven, show me the strength of a real Slateport Conference Champion."
Steven's eyes shone.
"Gladly."
He lifted a hand.
"Go—Metagross!"
"Metaa!"
The gleaming shiny Metagross materialized with a heavy metallic crash.
Chen Shi steadied his breath.
Time to unveil Dragapult in his first real battle since evolving.
"Dragapult—take the field and make your debut."
"Chiiiyaaa!"
Dragapult roared—
Well, tried to.
The pitch was still cutely high due to its incomplete evolution.
Garchomp snorted and drooled laughingly.
Grandpa lifted an arm.
"Begin!"
The Battle Begins
"Dragapult—Phantom Force!"
"Metagross—Psychic!"
Dragapult vanished instantly, slipping into distorted space.
Metagross's Psychic struck the ground instead, throwing dirt into the air.
Steven didn't flinch.
"Metagross, Light Screen."
Chen Shi narrowed his eyes.
"Interrupt it!"
Dragapult erupted from behind Metagross—
But Steven smirked.
A trap.
Chen Shi's heart lurched.
"Dragapult—Protect, now!"
Steven's voice rang out sharply:
"Catch it—Ice Punch!"
"Metaaa!"
Metagross tanked the Phantom Force and clamped Dragapult in a steel claw.
Its other fist already swirled with freezing power—
BANG!
Dragapult's Protect barely flared in time, blocking the strike—
But Protect wouldn't last against repeated hits on this level.
Steven's eyes sharpened.
"Again."
Chen Shi reacted instantly.
"Dragapult—U-turn!"
Garchomp blinked.
Grandpa nodded in delight.
Dragapult twisted like a streak, struck Metagross lightly, and dissolved back into its Poké Ball.
Since this was a 1-on-1, Dragapult reappeared instantly—but now free from Metagross's grip.
Steven laughed.
"Smart. Very smart."
Mid-Battle Collision
"Metagross—Flash Cannon!"
"Dragapult—Shadow Ball!"
Silver and purple beams collided, erupting into thick smoke.
"Dragapult—Phantom Force!"
"Metagross—Flash Cannon!"
Metagross fired blindly—hitting only Gardevoir's psychic barrier.
Dragapult was already inside the void.
Steven's expression tightened.
Dragapult's evasiveness was… annoying.
"Metagross—expand your psychic field. The moment it appears—Ice Punch."
A surge of blue psychic waves swept across the battlefield.
Chen Shi cursed inwardly.
Too fast.
Dragapult emerged—
Its Phantom Force struck true—
Then Metagross's psychic grip tightened around it.
BANG!!!
A brutal Ice Punch cratered Dragapult into the ground.
Dragapult wasn't yet in its final form.
And a pseudo-legendary Steel-type's Ice Punch… was lethal.
Dragapult fell unconscious.
Aftermath
Chen Shi sprinted over, lifting Dragapult carefully.
"Gardevoir—Life Dew."
The barrier dissolved.
Blue restorative droplets shimmered onto Dragapult.
Its eyes flickered open—
Filled with shame.
"Ch…chiiya…"
It turned its head away, unwilling to meet Chen Shi's gaze.
Chen Shi stroked its flat head gently.
"You did amazing."
"I'm proud of you."
"When you reach your final form—we'll challenge them again."
"So hold your head high."
Dragapult glanced at him…
Then up at the enormous Metagross above.
Its eyes hardened like polished gems.
"Chiiiyaaa!"
(Next time… I will win.)
Steven approached with a light laugh.
"Then it's settled. After it evolves—we battle a proper match."
Grandpa and Grandma exchanged knowing smiles.
A mid-evolution Dragapult, even with type advantage, simply couldn't overpower a fully grown pseudo-legendary Metagross.
Metagross survived two Phantom Forces.
Dragapult collapsed from one Ice Punch.
The gap was clear.
Even Steven knew it—hence his promise.
Garchomp's Confusion
Garchomp stomped over, annoyed.
"Gaaaar?"
(Why didn't Dragapult use any Dragon moves?)
Silence.
Even Salamence turned and flew away—unable to witness this embarrassment.
Chen Shi patiently explained:
"Metagross is Steel-type."
"Steel resists Dragon two-fold."
"But Ghost-type moves hit Steel for super-effective damage."
Garchomp paused.
Raised a claw.
"…Gaar?"
(Is that… true?)
It scratched its head sheepishly.
Dragapult stared at it with a deadpan expression.
Even I know that—
Aren't you supposed to be my mentor?
Pathetic.
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