Looking at the two Pokémon that had just finished evolving, Liam felt as though everything he knew had been turned upside down!
According to his memories, Kadabra could only evolve into Alakazam through a link trade, while Lampent required a Dusk Stone to evolve into Chandelure.
But these two... they hadn't done anything!
How had they suddenly evolved?!
Could it be...
The legendary protagonist's plot armor?!
Liam was stunned. A possibility suddenly crossed his mind.
Could this little girl, just like him, possess some kind of system? Had she just used one of its mysterious powers to allow Kadabra and Lampent—Pokémon that normally required special conditions to evolve—to evolve directly into Alakazam and Chandelure?
"Mm-hmm... that has to be it!"
Stroking his smooth chin, Liam muttered in a tone that suggested he had already seen through everything.
While Liam's imagination was running wild, the little girl, Mayoi, suddenly shouted,
"Hmph! Big Brother, you'd better be careful now! We're finally going to show our true strength! Go, Chandelure! Use Inferno!"
"Chandelure!!"
The moment it received Mayoi's command, the newly evolved Chandelure immediately regained its fighting spirit. The flames burning atop its six arms flared up simultaneously, surging outward like a tidal wave of fire that quickly engulfed Empoleon.
Liam also snapped out of his speculation after hearing her command. Watching the blazing flames rush toward them, he finally became a little more serious.
"Empoleon! Use Surf and put it out!"
"Empoleon!!"
Just as the raging flames completely surrounded Empoleon, an enormous wave suddenly erupted beneath it!
The surging torrent swallowed the blazing Inferno in an instant before continuing forward, crashing toward Mayoi.
Yet despite the massive wave charging straight at her, Mayoi showed no fear whatsoever.
"Alakazam! Use Focus Blast!"
"Alaka-zam!!"
Following Mayoi's command, Alakazam quickly raised the spoon in its hand. Energy gathered around its body before condensing into a brilliant white sphere that shot directly toward the incoming wave.
BOOM!!
The powerful Focus Blast struck the enormous wave head-on.
With only an instant of contact, the wave Empoleon had created was blasted apart down the middle, exploding into countless droplets that scattered through the air.
And the Focus Blast, having barely lost any power, continued forward and slammed directly into Empoleon.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion rang out as thick black smoke rapidly spread across the battlefield.
Within the smoke, Empoleon's body slowly collapsed.
"Empoleon..."
As a Steel-type Pokémon, Empoleon had taken a direct hit from the Fighting-type move Focus Blast. Already exhausted from the earlier battle, it simply couldn't endure any longer and finally fell.
"Yay! We beat one! Great job, Alakazam! Chandelure! See? I told you this is our real strength!"
Finally defeating Empoleon, Mayoi jumped excitedly onto Alakazam's back, cheering happily while praising both Alakazam and Chandelure.
The two Pokémon smiled warmly as if sharing in her happiness.
"Alright, Alakazam! Chandelure! There's only one opponent left now! Let's keep it up and win this battle! Big Brother! Hurry! Send out that white Pokémon! Mayoi can't wait anymore!"
After celebrating for a moment, Mayoi jumped down from Alakazam's back. One hand rested on her hip while the other pointed confidently at the white Pokémon standing beside Liam. Her expression made it seem as though victory was already hers.
Liam, however, ignored her.
Instead, he walked over to Empoleon, helped it sit up, and took out a bottle of medicine from his backpack, carefully treating its injuries.
"Empoleon..."
Now fully conscious, Empoleon watched Liam tending to its wounds before lowering its head in complete dejection.
"Hehe, it's only one small loss. Besides, Empoleon, you fought two opponents by yourself. They were pretty strong, so losing isn't anything to be ashamed of. I'm not blaming you, so there's no need to be so discouraged."
While gently applying the medicine, Liam comforted Empoleon.
"Alright, you're fine now. Go get some rest over there. Leave the rest of the battle to Garchomp."
Patting Empoleon on the shoulder after finishing the treatment, Liam sent it to the sidelines.
"Empoleon!"
Empoleon nodded before slowly walking over to a large nearby rock. Turning around, it fixed its gaze on Liam and Mayoi, who were about to resume their battle.
"Alright, little sister, let's continue. But you'd better be careful now, because the one entering the battle next... is my strongest partner."
"Grrrrr!!"
At Liam's call, Garchomp strode forward and let out a deep roar.
There was obvious excitement in Garchomp's eyes.
The fact that Mayoi had managed to command Alakazam and Chandelure well enough to defeat Empoleon proved that they were genuinely powerful opponents.
Garchomp was ready.
Tonight, it intended to enjoy a truly satisfying battle.
But just as Garchomp's fighting spirit reached its peak and Mayoi prepared herself for the next round—
"Seya~"
"...Huh?"
"Grrrr?"
"Ah!! Oh no! We've been found! Alakazam! Chandelure! Run!"
The instant that strange cry echoed down from the sky, Mayoi reacted like a mouse spotting a cat.
She immediately forgot all about the battle she'd been demanding moments earlier and turned to flee toward Marvelous Bridge with Alakazam and Chandelure.
However, the moment she took her first step—
"SEYA!!"
The cry rang out again.
This time, a wave of blue psychic energy descended from above, instantly enveloping Mayoi and her two Pokémon, holding them completely immobile.
Wrapped within the blue psychic force, Mayoi wore a pitiful expression as she was lifted off the ground together with Alakazam and Chandelure, slowly floating upward.
"What in the world is going on?"
Completely bewildered, Liam watched as Mayoi puffed up her cheeks like a sulking child and struggled helplessly in midair.
At that moment, the full moon suddenly shone with dazzling brilliance.
Then Liam saw it—
A Pokémon resembling both a graceful swan and a crescent-shaped boat flew out from the glowing moon, gliding swiftly toward them.
"Holy—!"
[Ding!]
[Emergency Mission Issued!]
[Emergency Mission: The Crescent Moon Dream Bringer!]
[Mission Objective: On the night of a perfect full moon, the deity that dances through the sky bringing beautiful dreams to all living beings has appeared. Discover its true identity! Obtain a biological sample from the Dream Bringer…. information record, blood, fur, scales, or similar material are all acceptable.]
[Mission Rewards: 2,000 Exchange Points, One Mysterious Gift Pack]
[Note: There is no penalty for ignoring this mission. The host may choose not to complete it without suffering any consequences.]