In the middle of the battlefield, the dust gradually thinned.
Jason dropped his transformation; the violet flames and armor receded like a tide, and he was once again that soft, harmless-looking little Ditto.
He landed lightly, his pliant body bouncing twice.
Looking up, he met Iron Valiant's gaze.
For a moment, the air seemed to congeal.
Iron Valiant still bore wounds, yet its posture remained ramrod straight.
In silence it stepped forward and stopped before Jason.
It stood about 1.4 meters tall; Jason was just a small lump—
the stark contrast in size made Liko titter in the distance.
Iron Valiant dipped its head a fraction. Its impassive electronic eyes flickered red, as if scanning—assessing the "little thing" that had just saved its life.
It couldn't reconcile how such power could be housed in such a small body. It analyzed: ally or foe?
Jason didn't show a hint of fear under the scrutiny. He lifted his head too, met that gaze, and asked evenly, "Did you steal their stuff? Why else would the three of them dogpile you?"
Iron Valiant slowly shook its head, then told Jason, "They wanted me to join their squad—expand territory, conquer this zone. I refused. So they hunted me."
"Oh, so it's a clash of creeds." Jason snorted lightly.
To be chased by that well-oiled trio and still hold out this long—clearly this Iron Valiant was stronger than he'd guessed.
A fine recruit.
Jason made up his mind at once.
No beating around the bush—he went on, "Since you're not going to play nice with them, how about you run with me?"
He paused, giving Iron Valiant a beat to think, then tossed out his offer.
"Come with me. I'll take you out of this hellhole to see the world outside. How about it?"
No threats, no honeyed bribes. Just a straightforward proposal—he figured any flourish would be wasted on a proud Pokémon like this.
Iron Valiant fell silent.
Its electronic eyes scanned Jason, then the people in the distance—Liko and the rest.
It was thinking.
Seeing the world outside… that was tempting.
Seconds stretched.
Just when everyone assumed it would nod, the metal mask seemed to smile.
"I can run with you," it said first, "but on one condition."
Its gaze sharpened; the pink blade on its right arm thrummed to full length and leveled at Jason.
"Defeat me first."
Jason blinked, then grinned.
Not a hint of annoyance—only the thrill of a worthy match.
"Heh—just what I wanted."
Before the words finished, his squishy body flared again with dazzling white—brighter than the last Ceruledge morph, dimming even the crystals around them.
The girls on the sidelines instinctively squinted.
When the light faded, a Tinkaton stood in the ring.
All pink—almost cute—
until you saw the absurdly huge steel hammer on its shoulder.
Tinkaton.
Jason's Tinkaton slung that hammer—nearly bigger than itself—casually over one shoulder, feet planted, stance solid as bedrock.
Cold steel glinted across the hammerhead in the dim light.
Against Iron Valiant, Steel + Fairy was perfect—clean, comprehensive type advantage.
Even so, Jason didn't underestimate it. When he'd closed in earlier as Ceruledge, he'd felt it—maybe a trick of the mind—but the Valiant hadn't shown true desperation, even then. It still had gears to shift.
Across the way, Iron Valiant stayed poised and elegant, but the twin blades burned brighter.
It bent at the waist, coiling for a sprint, danger dancing along the edges.
Iono's chat went feral.
No one knew what Jason had said to flip this into a duel—but battles like this were the world's favorite spectacle.
He morphed again! What is that? Cute! What's with the hammer—gap moe?
Newbie above—That's Tinkaton! Steel/Fairy. One swing and Dragon-types call it Daddy!
Jason's mind was clear. Valiant: Fighting/Fairy. Tinkaton: Fairy/Steel. Fairy attacks hit Fighting super-effective.
He'd go first.
"Hup!"
Jason barked and the giant hammer moved.
He didn't open at full power. He slid it down from his shoulder, gripped the haft in both hands, and swung at an angle that looked clumsy but hid exquisite leverage—a broad, sweeping arc.
Not mere blunt force.
Pink energy congealed along the hammer's path, riding the gale it dragged behind.
A Fairy physical attack.
Play Rough.
The swing's coverage was massive, nearly sealing every escape lane.
Iron Valiant's response was lightning. Toes kissed the ground—and it blurred, cutting over the hammer's top.
Fast enough to miss the head—
but Play Rough's range was too wide.
It dodged the steel—but not the fairy-laced slipstream.
The edge of the pink aura sliced across it midair like a razor.
Thump!
Super-effective damage bloomed. Valiant gasped; its motion hitched in midair.
Even the saber-light dimmed a beat.
Landing, it skidded backward on one knee, fighting to hold footing.
Its once-fluid rhythm frayed.
Jason didn't chase.
He frowned, staring at wounds that hadn't healed—and which his strike had aggravated. Then he called out: "You're still hurt. You'll be fighting with the brakes on. How about this—come with me now, I'll get you fixed up. When you're back at peak, we'll go at it properly. Deal?"
He didn't want a cheap win. Bagging it that way would put a permanent burr under its saddle.
Liko, listening, eased, whispering to Nemona, "Jason's pretty kind, huh?"
Nemona shook her head, eyes locked on the field, alight with excitement. "Not kindness—that's a strong man's poise! He's saying he won't stoop to a cheap shot. As expected of my rival!"
Iron Valiant wasn't having it. In the few breaths since, it had reset its stance. The pain hadn't made it flinch—if anything the battle fever burned hotter behind its lenses.
"I don't need your pity." Still steady. "I admit you're strong. But at full strength, you'd never have touched me just now. Don't worry—if you beat me even like this, I'll follow you."
Pride gleamed there.
Jason was a little surprised.
So—because injury slowed it, that's why he landed Play Rough. Healthy? He wouldn't have touched a hem?
Throwing the fight—or just that sure of itself?
Interesting paradox.
Valiant wasn't about to give him time to mull it over. It proved fast that type charts alone wouldn't win this fight.
Jason blinked—and it struck back.
The figure winked out.
Psycho Cut.
A razor-thin layer of psychic edge slid over the sabers, casting a ghostly pink. Its body resolved into a near-invisible afterimage—not a frontal charge, but a huge curve, carving for Tinkaton's less guarded flank—fast enough to blur.
Too fast!
Jason's pupils tightened. Instinct took over—he snapped the hammer horizontal as a guard, meeting it with the steel shaft.
Klang!
A metal shriek; sparks spat.
A huge, keen force rang through the haft, numbing his grip. The Psycho Cut bit deeper than he'd expected—blocked or not, the mind-edge still etched a long scar along his arm plating.
The blow shoved him back a long stride.
It wasn't lethal—
but it sent a clear message to everyone watching.
Valiant's options were many—and its power could pierce what Tinkaton prided itself on: steel defense. Injured or not, it was no soft touch.
Iono's chat erupted again—
Holy speed.
That cut, that damage—did Valiant toggle cheats? Jason actually got pushed back!
Now this is a real fight. Insane!
Cynthia's face tightened. She watched the flash of blade and murmured, "Intriguing. Trained right, this Iron Valiant hits champion caliber. If Jason lands it, that's a steal."
She'd seen it too—Jason had pegged its potential, and that's why he wanted it.
Realizing probing jabs were pointless, Jason's eyes changed.
No more holding back. He needed to crush the momentum—show absolute might and set the tone.
He drew a breath; power bunched. The hammer rose, slow and implacable, over his head.
Energy pooled—terrifying in density—into the head. It was a small sun, bleaching the cavern bright.
Weight pressed outward, thick enough to choke.
"—HAAH!"
Jason roared; every shred of strength poured down the arc—
the gathered power of the hammer crashed toward Iron Valiant.
Tinkaton's signature.
Gigaton Hammer.
Unblockable. Unavoidable.
The very air screamed under the blow.
In Valiant's red eyes, numbers cascaded—a dizzying data torrent. It processed the danger—no dodge windows left.
It snarled, crossing both sabers into an "X," dumping every ounce of energy into the guard, bracing to take the hit.
But in the face of Gigaton Hammer's absolute force, any shield was paper.
KA-THOOM.
The kind of crack that makes the cavern feel like it'll tear apart.
The head met the crossed blades dead-on. One second—then the guard burst.
Valiant became a home-run ball, a purple comet arcing long and high before detonating against a distant wall.
BOOM.
Spiderwebs split the rock; rubble rained, half-burying it.
Its proud sabers guttered out almost on impact. The metal shell buckled, scored deep.
One blow—settled it.
Everyone stood stunned.
Jason paid the price; Gigaton's recoil bit deep. The hammer clanged to the ground; he braced hands on knees, gasping.
He couldn't throw another for a bit.
They all thought it was over.
That was exactly the window Valiant had waited for.
As guards dropped, a metal hand punched free of the scree.
Iron Valiant rose from the rubble, battered beyond belief, cracks and gouges everywhere—
—but not an ounce of give in its stance.
It looked at Jason, raised its blades—
and then:
Bzzzzzt…
A crackle of electricity hissed to life.
~~~
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