Trial Cave.
"We're here, Rotom!"
Rotom, flying in mid-air, turned around.
"Let's take a picture first, Rotom!"
Led by Rotom Dex, Li Wei, accompanied by Lucario, Diancie, and Shaymin, arrived here.
(So many people!)
Compared to Diancie, who was excitedly looking around, Shaymin huddled in Lucario's arms.
Shaymin was still unaccustomed to interacting with too many strangers.
"It's okay, Shaymin."
Many people came to Trial Cave today.
Some were there to challenge the Mega Emissaries, while others came to watch the battles and join the fun.
Li Wei and Diancie's arrival attracted a lot of attention.
"Is that Shaymin...?"
"That Pokemon is so beautiful!"
"I've never seen that Pokemon before!"
Many people's gazes shifted to Diancie, whom they were seeing for the first time.
There was no need to hide Diancie's existence.
After all, Steven was coming...
Li Wei's strength was now evident to all, a Duke of the Battle Chateau, having directly defeated Siebold's ace, Super Blastoise.
Li Wei was not a pushover.
He and Steven had agreed to meet tomorrow in Lumiose City, at Professor Sycamore's Lab.
Tomorrow, Li Wei would also take Diancie and Lucario to meet Dr. Platanus.
"Instructor Li!"
A girl, clearly a fan of Li Wei, excitedly approached him.
"Why are you here?"
"I heard about the Trial Cave and came to check it out."
"Has the Trial Cave started?"
From time to time, Blaziken Mask, who owns a Mega Blaziken,
and an old man who uses a Mega Alakazam would come here to accept challenges from those with Mega Evolution.
This was simply to spread Mega Evolution and allow more people to skillfully use Mega Evolution.
If they lost to them, Blaziken Mask and the Alakazam elder would also offer some advice.
Li Wei had already given Diancie her ite, and Diancie couldn't put the ite down.
But they hadn't tried Mega Evolution yet.
With Li Wei and Diancie's current bond, successfully achieving Mega Evolution would be somewhat difficult.
Li Wei didn't plan to let Diancie Mega Evolve for now; he came here for Lucario and Metagross.
As for Diancie's Mega Evolution, that would wait until their bond deepened further.
"Next!"
After the previous challenger failed, Li Wei, accompanied by Lucario, Diancie, and Shaymin, walked in.
The battle ended faster than Li Wei expected.
The challenger with a Houndoom, who had entered full of confidence, left dejectedly.
The entire process took less than three minutes.
[That was way too fast...]
Upon entering, Li Wei saw a muscular man wearing a Blaziken Mask and a red cape.
Although he wore a mask, Li Wei immediately recognized who he was.
Citron's father, the Lumiose City Gym Leader.
The prominent sideburns, still noticeable even with the mask, left a deep impression on Li Wei.
As for his name... he forgot.
Blaziken Mask — Limoné.
Limoné was outwardly the owner of an electronics store, but in reality, he was the heroic Blaziken Mask.
When Limoné and Blaziken saw Li Wei and Lucario enter, their eyes lit up simultaneously.
The challengers who came today were too weak; some, like Houndoom, couldn't even control Mega Evolution...
But Li Wei's appearance gave Limoné a different feeling; it was a completely different level.
[A strong opponent...]
This was Blaziken's feeling.
Limoné, wearing the Blaziken Mask, suddenly said:
"Li Wei, Lucario, welcome."
Li Wei blinked, "You know me?"
Limoné nodded, "To be honest, my daughter is your fan."
Limoné's daughter...
Wasn't that Eureka, who travels with Zygarde?
Eureka is my fan now?
After exchanging pleasantries, Limoné unfurled his cape,
"Let me see your strength!"
"I'm sending out Blaziken!"
During battle, Limoné's aura was completely different.
Information about Blaziken appeared in Li Wei's eyes.
[Name]: Blaziken.
[Type]: Fire, Fighting
[Ability]: Speed Boost (Speed gradually increases during battle.)
[Moves]: Blaze Kick, Fire Punch, Flame Charge, Aerial Ace, Flare Blitz, Brave Bird...
[Strength Rating]: Master Class (Beginner)
[Status]: Excited
"I've decided on him!"
"Go, Metagross!"
After consuming metal coat and composite metal, plus daily training, Metagross's strength also reached Master Class (Beginner).
Both sides were evenly matched.
Li Wei now had four Master Class Pokemon; even in the Master League, he would have a place.
He could easily advance to the Ultra Ball Class in the Pokémon World Championships, even among the top ranks.
"Blaziken, Mega Evolution!"
"Metagross, Mega Evolution!"
Inside the Trial Cave was a vast platform with extremely hard rock, making it difficult to damage even with moves.
This was also why Limoné and Coco Bol, who uses Alakazam, chose this place for trials.
After Mega Evolution, Mega Blaziken's head feathers stood upright, and its originally yellow feathers turned black, becoming flame-like.
At its wrists, four flowing armbands fluttered in the wind, appearing very elegant.
After Mega Evolution, Mega Blaziken's attack power was maximized, and with Speed Boost gradually increasing its speed...
The longer the battle, the more disadvantageous it would be for Li Wei.
Of course, Li Wei still had a trump card.
Moreover, after Mega Evolving, Metagross's speed increased significantly.
Limoné did not attack at first; he wanted to determine whether Li Wei and Metagross could control Mega Evolution.
Metagross was prone to losing control after Mega Evolution.
The probability of losing control was even higher than Lucario's.
Because after Mega Evolution, Mega Metagross's brain operates at high speed, leading to many of its own thoughts.
At this time, Metagross might ignore its Trainer's commands and instructions.
The facts proved it was possible.
Limoné could feel Mega Metagross's fighting spirit, and he was very satisfied with it.
"Then I'll go first, Blaze Kick!"
Mega Blaziken, with slightly bent legs, left its original spot the next instant.
"Agility!"
Under the effect of Agility, Metagross dodged this super effective move.
"Keep dodging, record!"
This was what Steven had mentioned, Metagross's fighting method.
Recording the opponent's data during battle, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, precise down to the centimeter...
For example, whether Blaziken prefers to exert force with its left or right leg, the thickness of its legs, how much it squats with each jump, how high it leaps...
Metagross could measure and record all of this with its brain.
Limoné seemed not to have noticed this.
"Dodging won't win the battle."