Join my p@treon for more chapters
[email protected]/Tempest_29
100 P.S -1 Bonus chapter
After the shockwave subsided, a badly scarred Magneton floated in the air.
The move Lairon had used was likely Metal Burst, which converted damage taken from a previous attack into energy and powerfully returned it to the opponent.
However, Magneton had a quadruple resistance to Steel-type moves, so even a powerful Metal Burst couldn't deliver a devastating blow.
Steven took a deep breath, holding back his frustration for now.
I'll scold you later!
"Rock Slide!"
Lairon manipulated the scattered rocks and stones on the field, hurling them toward Magneton.
"Shock Wave!"
Magneton continued releasing powerful electric currents to shatter the rocks, but the Rock Slide unleashed by the significantly stronger Lairon was far more potent than when it was still an Aron.
Magneton's Shock Wave didn't completely pulverize the rocks. It was struck by rock fragments and fell to the ground.
"Now use Stomp!"
"Lairon!"
Lairon stomped its feet, and the ground vibrated even more intensely than before!
Magneton tried to get up again, but the electricity it used for Magnet Rise had already been depleted.
Simply put, it couldn't act in time!
Unable to immediately use Magnet Rise again, Magneton was struck by Stomp. After enduring this powerful hit, Magneton collapsed, unable to get back up.
It had lost its ability to battle.
"Lairon!"
Seeing its victory, Lairon smiled and turned its head, expecting Steven to reward it with more ore after the battle.
After all, it had evolved, and its appetite had evolved along with it.
But as soon as it turned around, it met Steven's gaze—a look that seemed ready to "kill" someone.
"Lairon?"
Lairon's smile froze.
Can someone please tell me what's going on?
Steven's mouth twitched as he recalled the bewildered Lairon into its Poké Ball.
"If the check-up finds any problems later, you'll see how I deal with you."
"Lairon... o(TヘTo)"
"Good job, kid! Evolving during battle and actually overpowering my Magneton!" Stetson let out a hearty laugh and recalled Magneton into its Poké Ball.
Stetson walked toward Steven, handing him a round Electric Badge and a TM.
"That's the Shock Wave TM—a reliable move that never misses! You can count on it!"
"Wahahaha! Young man, keep moving forward and work hard!"
"It makes me so happy to see a promising young Trainer like you!"
Steven accepted the Electric Badge and the TM, speaking in a hurried tone:
"Thank you, but I have something urgent to attend to right now, so I have to leave!"
Watching Steven rush off, Stetson sighed with emotion. "What a spirited young man!"
After leaving the Mauville City Gym, Steven hurried to the Pokémon Center.
"Nurse Joy, please check this Pokémon for me." Steven handed two Poké Balls to Nurse Joy. "And please heal this one."
"Of course, please wait a moment." Nurse Joy offered her professional smile and took the two Poké Balls Steven handed her.
Steven could only pace anxiously in the lobby.
"I'll have to make this guy wear an Everstone from now on!"
"It's really not easy dealing with this."
"No, wait—this guy might even eat the Everstone!"
Steven suddenly realized that Aron—no, now Lairon—was going to be quite troublesome.
After a long fifteen minutes, Nurse Joy called his number.
"Hello, here are your Pokémon." Nurse Joy smiled as she returned the two Poké Balls to Steven, adding:
"Lairon's physical examination showed no problems. It's very healthy."
"Ah... thank you, Nurse Joy!" Steven finally breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her.
Steven returned to his room and subjected Lairon to some serious questioning.
He learned that this Pokémon, besides eating all day, also dreamed of one day "rising up" and overpowering Skarmory, who had always defeated it during training.
So, the energy from the ore it had been consuming during this period was stored inside its body. The pressure from Magneton's Shock Wave stimulated this internal energy, triggering its evolution.
This wasn't overdrawing its power, but there was still a certain risk of causing damage to its body.
Although it wouldn't lead to permanent damage, recovering from such injuries would still be a long process.
"Don't do this again, understood?" Steven sternly warned Lairon.
"Lairon..." Lairon hung its head like a child who had done something wrong.
Normally, a Pokémon's energy would only accumulate enough to evolve when it reached its current limit, around thirty percent. But this Pokémon had completely accumulated the energy ahead of schedule.
If not handled properly, it could have caused damage to its body.
"As long as you promise not to do such dangerous things again, I can arrange a special meal for you."
"Lairon!!"
I swear!
"There's no helping you." Steven looked at the re-energized Lairon and helplessly rubbed his forehead.
Indeed, for a foodie, food was the only effective solution.
Now that Lairon had evolved, the room felt a bit crowded with both Metagross and it inside. Thankfully, they could still move around—they weren't completely jammed together.
If they wanted to rest and eat in the room in the future, he might have to get a hotel room instead.
Pokémon Center rooms were all uniform in size and scale.
Skarmory's expression was solemn. It had never expected this newcomer, who joined the team later than itself, to harbor ambitions of surpassing it!
Scyther was one thing—it was already about as strong as the team's leader, Metagross, when it joined.
But Aron had been weaker than Skarmory when it joined, yet it had unexpectedly surpassed Skarmory first.
Could this be tolerated?
Skarmory secretly resolved that it would soon catch up to Lairon!
Steven could guess Skarmory's thoughts without even looking.
Although Skarmory was the only "normal one" on the team, being surpassed by a "junior" who had been weaker was truly uncomfortable for the proud bird.
Watching Lairon obliviously eat ore, Steven walked over to Skarmory and stroked its steel body.
"Don't worry, you'll catch up quickly," Steven comforted it.
"Skarmory." Skarmory nodded.
Steven knew that his Pokémon hadn't taken it to heart. It was probably still thinking about how to surpass Lairon and reclaim its position.
Skarmory chose the path of continuous self-improvement to protect the people and Pokémon it cared about—not to be protected by others!
Lairon continuously grew stronger so it could eat more ore. Getting stronger meant eating more, and eating more meant getting stronger—an endless cycle.
Scyther probably wanted to be strong enough to be needed by others, so it would never be abandoned again.
Only Metagross—Steven understood it best.
Although it never said anything, Steven knew.
Metagross simply wanted to accompany Steven to the pinnacle of the world, to that legendary realm where few had ever set foot.
It believed, and Steven also believed, that together they could reach that level.
Steven looked at the contemplative Skarmory and decided to let it be.
This was its personal goal. As long as it didn't harm itself, Steven would support it.
From now on, he'd probably have to keep a closer eye on these Pokémon to prevent them from making him worry again.
"Should we go to an amusement park to relax?" Steven thought for a moment, then decisively rejected the idea.
Who knew if Lairon would try to eat the amusement park equipment!
And with Metagross and Lairon's weight, many rides probably wouldn't allow them on anyway.
Go fishing?
But looking at his four Pokémon, it seemed only Metagross could fish with him...
Fishing could be relaxing, but constantly watching others fish would be boring.
Steven was immediately stumped.
He wanted to relax but couldn't figure out how!
With no other option, Steven decided to take a day off with everyone.
Upon hearing that it was to prepare for better training later, the Pokémon had no objections. Of course, Lairon—having just evolved with a greatly increased appetite—was relatively satisfied at the moment anyway.
After staying an extra day in Mauville City, Steven took his four Pokémon to watch recordings of past Elite Four exhibition matches.
Even exhibition matches were enough for most Trainers to learn something valuable.
It was just unfortunate that official Elite Four battles were almost never revealed to the public, so there weren't even recordings available.
Steven remembered most clearly Lance's challenge to the Kanto Elite Four last year, where he unfortunately lost.
However, his immense strength caused an Elite Four member who was about to retire to vacate their position, making Lance one of the new Kanto Region Elite Four members.
There were also rumors that Lance might challenge for the Johto Region Champion title this year.
Compared to the Kanto Region's tactically unpredictable Agatha and the Ice-type specialist who countered him, the Johto Region might be more suitable for Lance to conquer.
Besides battle videos, Steven also found some comedy films to watch.
For example...
"The Invincible Kricketune Man!" (Don't laugh at Kricketune Man!)