"Turtonator is unable to battle! Kiawe, please send out your next Pokémon!"
[Ding! Victory in an overleveled battle! Obtained Universal Talent Value ×10! Eevee's level increased...]
[Ding! Hidden Mission 'Partner Eevee' progress updated — Wins (1/10)...]
"Eevee~"
The little fox turned back and met Peter's gaze.
Trainer and Pokémon smiled at each other.
Their unspoken understanding was quietly growing.
A faint glow appeared from the Normalium Z on Peter's wrist.
His brow lifted slightly.
This felt…
like a sign that the crystal was beginning to evolve.
"Still not enough…"
Peter murmured softly.
On the other side, Kiawe recalled Turtonator and looked toward Peter.
"As expected of Professor Peter… But this chance to challenge the trial wasn't easy to earn. I'm not giving up so easily!"
Peter curved his lips.
"Good. Then let me see your trump card."
Kiawe inhaled deeply.
"Grandpa… lend me your strength."
With utmost care, he took out an old red-and-white Poké Ball covered in scratches and hurled it forward.
"Go—Charizard!!!"
"ROAAAR—!!"
An orange-red figure burst into the sky.
A pillar of fire erupted upward.
Burning together with it—
was Kiawe's fighting spirit.
[Charizard Lv.62 (Low Elite Four)]
Peter narrowed his eyes.
"So… you want your grandfather's acknowledgment…"
He took out a Luxury Ball.
"In that case… this guy's been waiting impatiently for his turn."
"Slaking, I choose you!!!"
"RAAAH!!"
The giant ape crashed onto the battlefield with a heavy slam.
Stone fragments scattered everywhere.
"?!"
For the first time—
shock appeared on Olivia's face.
"That Slaking… no, its energy intensity is only Gym-tier…"
she muttered.
Meanwhile—
the battle had already begun.
Kiawe raised his arm.
"Charizard! Burn everything with undying flames! Flare Blitz!!!"
"ROAR—!!!"
Charizard let out a thunderous roar.
The air instantly became scorching hot.
Red-white flames wrapped around its body like a miniature sun.
Then—
after compressing inward—
it transformed into a blazing meteor and tore across the battlefield toward Slaking!
Peter's eyes sharpened.
"Slaking—meet it head-on! Rock Slide!!!"
"ROOOAR—!"
A boulder over five meters across condensed in Slaking's hands.
It stomped down—
cracks exploded across the earth—
and Slaking launched into the air carrying the enormous rock as it smashed directly into Flare Blitz!
Boom!!!
The moment they collided—
a deafening explosion echoed throughout the ranch.
Charizard drove against the boulder without retreating an inch.
Veins bulged across Slaking's arms—
yet it refused to yield.
For a moment—
the two Pokémon reached complete deadlock.
Kiawe shouted himself hoarse.
"Come on, Charizard! Use Dragon Claw!!!"
Blue light exploded from Charizard's claws.
Bang!
Its strike smashed into the giant rock.
Peter's grin widened.
"That's nowhere near enough! Slaking—Mega Kick!!!"
"ROOOOAR!!!"
Using the recoil—
Slaking twisted its body.
Its legs lit with dazzling white light—
and it delivered a brutal kick into the center of the boulder!
BOOOOOOM!!!!!
The rock finally shattered.
Fragments rained through the sky.
Both Pokémon were blasted backward.
Charizard tumbled more than a dozen times before stabilizing.
Slaking crashed into the ground, creating a web of fractures.
Kiawe looked exhilarated.
"Professor Peter! Your Slaking is incredible! I'm fired up now!!"
Peter laughed.
"And being able to push Charizard this far means you've already earned its acknowledgment!"
His eyes flashed.
"But I wonder… can you survive this next move?"
Kiawe clenched his fist.
"I'll show you that we can!"
"Haha… then bring it!"
Peter raised his hand.
A gray-green Z-Crystal clicked into place on his Z-Ring.
He crossed his arms.
Golden light erupted.
Olivia's eyes widened.
"That's—!!"
Before she could finish—
Peter and Slaking had already completed the pose.
"Z-Move… Continental Crush!!!"
"ROOOOOOAR—!!!!!"
Slaking stomped violently.
Its massive body shot high into the sky.
Golden light engulfed the heavens—
and daylight itself dimmed.
The next second—
a colossal mountain-sized rock formed overhead.
It descended with unstoppable force.
The pressure alone made everyone on the ground instinctively lower their bodies.
"Kiawe…"
Peter watched quietly.
"Show me your resolve."
Kiawe's eyes burned.
"CHARIZARD!!! Ignite the flames of your fighting spirit! FLARE BLITZ!!!"
"ROOOOAR—!!!"
Driven into a corner—
Charizard released a sky-shaking dragon roar.
Its flames erupted to the limit—
and without hesitation—
it charged directly toward the falling mountain.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM—!!!!!
The explosion shattered the heavens.
Clouds across the sky vanished instantly.
Only a mushroom cloud remained—
expanding endlessly overhead.
Whoosh—
Bang.
Slaking landed heavily, breathing hard.
Then—
it reached out and caught Charizard's falling body.
Under a Continental Crush with quadruple effectiveness—
Charizard had already fainted.
"Charizard is unable to battle! The winner of this trial is Peter!"
[Ding! Victory against a higher-tier opponent! Obtained Universal Talent Value ×10! Slaking leveled up! Rock Slide proficiency increased to Transcendent!]
Peter recalled Slaking and looked toward Kiawe.
"Actually… if you'd used Charizard's aerial advantage and mobility, the battle would've been easier."
Kiawe froze.
Then both spoke at the same time—
"But then it wouldn't be Charizard!"
They looked at each other.
And burst out laughing.
Olivia walked over smiling.
"Congratulations, Peter. You and Whitney officially pass this Grand Trial."
She took out three crystals and a Z-Ring embedded with a red crystal.
Peter blinked.
"This is…?"
Olivia smiled.
"If you can defeat Kiawe's grandfather's Charizard, there's no need for you to challenge me anymore. These Fire Z, Steel Z, and Rockium Z are yours~"
Then she turned to Kiawe.
"Kiawe… I think your performance today is already worthy of wearing this bracelet."
Peter nodded.
"Thank you."
Skipping a battle wasn't bad.
Though—
he had strong reason to suspect Olivia simply wanted to save time for matchmaking.
On the other side—
Kiawe didn't take the bracelet.
After a long silence—
he shook his head firmly.
"Miss Olivia… I want to work harder first."
"When the time comes…"
"I'll go to the Ruins of Life and earn Grandpa's Z-Ring with my own strength."
Mimo's eyes sparkled.
"Whoa! Big brother actually looks cool for once!"
Instantly—
Kiawe broke character.
"M-Mimo, shut up!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
At the same time—
inside a hospital room at Aether Paradise—
Faba slowly opened his eyes.
Waiting for him—
was Lusamine's personal interrogation.
Knowing he could no longer hide the truth—
he confessed everything.
"So…"
Lusamine's voice turned cold.
"You concealed the truth about opening Ultra Wormholes on your own? And Lillie's memory loss was caused by you too?!"
In an instant—
everything connected.
"No wonder…"
"Even Gladion, who was always such a good child, became distant from me…"
"He even moved out…"
"And I… as their mother… never realized…"
A trace of sorrow appeared in her eyes.
She stopped looking at Faba.
Instead—
she turned and ordered someone to prepare transport.
Wicke asked softly,
"President… where are you going?"
Lusamine looked out the window.
"To fulfill my responsibility as a mother."
"…What about Faba?"
Without turning around—
she answered calmly:
"Demote him to ordinary staff."
"And if Lillie can't recover…"
"I'll personally contact Officer Jenny."
Then—
she boarded the armed helicopter.
As the rotors thundered—
and under Faba's despairing gaze—
the aircraft gradually disappeared into the distance.
--------------
T/N:
Support the Story and Read 40+ Chapters early on P@treon:👉[email protected]/MPHFics