🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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Several people arrived at the training hall.
Professor Oak led Ash and the others to sit on one side.
Lance, on the other hand, walked directly to the opposite side.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
Maybe in a few years Cain and the others could reach a level similar to his, but for now there was still a certain difference.
Especially since, thanks to Cain's persuasion last time, he had come to understand that family was also his own advantage, and no one would ridicule him for relying on that family strength.
This world has always been ruled by the supremacy of power: as long as one keeps winning, one can ignore any questioning.
"I'll go first," said Steven.
As he spoke, he loosened the collar of his small suit a bit, so it wouldn't bother him while giving battle orders.
"A one-on-one, single round, a simple match that ends as soon as it's decided," proposed Professor Oak with a smile.
Everyone nodded.
"Go, Metagross!" Steven took a Poké Ball from his belt, enlarged it, and threw it onto the field.
A Shiny Metagross!
He was sending out his signature Pokémon right away.
Seeing Steven's Shiny Metagross, a glint flashed in Cain's eyes and his system activated, scanning the data of that special Metagross.
Pokémon: Shiny Metagross (Dark Purple)
Gender: Genderless
Level: 70
Types: Steel + Psychic
Ability: Clear Body
Held Item: Metal Coat, Occa Berry
Egg Moves: None
Basic Moves: Hammer Arm, Confusion, Metal Claw, Magnet Rise, Take Down, Bullet Punch, Miracle Eye, Scary Face, Agility, Meteor Mash, Iron Defense, Pursuit
Learned Moves: Gravity, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Zen Headbutt, Icy Wind, Signal Beam, Ally Switch
TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Hidden Power (Flying), Hyper Beam, Earthquake, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Brick Break, Rock Slide, Substitute, Flash Cannon, Grass Knot, Rain Dance, Rock Polish, Confide
Level 70!
And Dark Purple color quality!
Cain looked at Steven with a bit of surprise.
As expected of the future Champion of Hoenn!
Just when Cain thought his own power growth was fast enough, Steven had already brought his Shiny Metagross up to level 70.
That was Initial Elite Four level.
And considering it was a pseudo-legendary, even against most Intermediate Elite Four level Pokémon, it would still have the ability to fight.
And all this, even without the existence of Mega Evolution.
If that Shiny Metagross could Mega Evolve, the power bursting out of it would not be inferior to that of a Quasi-Champion-level Pokémon!
Moreover, the special Shiny trait of Metagross had already awakened.
Its body was clearly much more resistant than that of a normal Metagross.
Its Dark Purple color quality surely was also related to that Shiny awakening.
And one couldn't forget the Stone family, with their long tradition of research into Steel-type Pokémon, which had undoubtedly given Steven huge support.
That Shiny Metagross—Cain knew well—aside from his Mega Evolved Gengar, it was very likely that none of his other Pokémon could confidently face it.
"It seems Tyranitar's growth speed is still not enough, I must accelerate, otherwise the gap will become obvious," thought Cain silently.
Against a pseudo-legendary, the best choice was another pseudo-legendary.
Tyranitar against Metagross had both type advantages and disadvantages.
But in his own Tyranitar's physical strength, Cain had absolute confidence.
He was convinced that, after a time under Magearna's subtle influence, it would grow even stronger.
"A Shiny Metagross? That really is a rare Pokémon," Professor Oak, sitting nearby, showed interest; his professionalism wouldn't allow him to stay quiet at a moment like this.
He continued commenting: "Looks like Joseph really splurged, hahaha, not bad."
It was obvious Professor Oak knew Steven's father, Joseph Stone, and that they had a good relationship.
"In that case, I have no choice but to send out this Pokémon. I can't afford to lose even before the tournament begins," said Lance, seeing the Shiny Metagross, a flash of surprise and then excitement in his eyes.
Definitely, having accepted to battle Cain and the others had been a great choice; they had not disappointed him.
Lance also threw a Poké Ball.
An orange-colored Pokémon appeared on the field.
Charizard!
"ROOOOAR!"
As soon as it came out, it roared to the sky, spewing a flame mixed with golden sparks.
The others didn't notice, but Cain did perceive that detail in Charizard's fire.
"Just as I thought, none of them are weak."
That golden fire... his Blaziken could barely control a single spark, and that was after having absorbed Ho-Oh's energy.
But this Charizard naturally exhaled fire laced with golden sparks. No wonder it was Lance's starter Pokémon.
Pokémon: Charizard (Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 75
Types: Fire + Flying
Ability: Blaze
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Crunch, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse, Bite
Basic Moves: Wing Attack, Flare Blitz, Heat Wave, Shadow Claw, Air Slash, Scratch, Growl, Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Rage, Flame Burst, Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Inferno
Learned Moves: Blast Burn, Outrage, Tailwind, Iron Tail, Focus Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Snore
TM Moves: Protect, Hidden Power (Water), Dragon Claw, Hyper Beam, Roost, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Aerial Ace, Steel Wing, Swords Dance, Rock Slide
A level 75 Charizard!
And with Purple color quality!
That was the power of the Drako family, the changes Lance had obtained from his lineage.
The strength of this Charizard was impressive, but without a doubt it was not Lance's strongest Pokémon.
He still had his Dragonite!
And the power of that Dragonite was even greater.
But even so, this Charizard had already reached Intermediate Elite Four level.
Five levels above Steven's Metagross.
Ash and Gary, seated behind Cain, looked at those two imposing Pokémon with eyes shining with admiration, as if they were seeing stars.
They dreamed that, in reality, the ones battling were themselves.
Whether it was Lance or Steven didn't matter much in their fantasies.
It was a direct duel between two heirs of families that ranked among the five most influential in the Pokémon world.
Two great millionaires spending their fortunes lavishly!
Cain's special ability was telepathy; theirs was... the power of money!
The battle was about to begin.
Steven ordered his Metagross to launch the attack.
The two future Champions of their respective regions were facing each other for the first time.
"Metagross, Thunder Punch! Meteor Mash! Magnet Rise! Agility!"
"Charizard, Swords Dance! Flamethrower! Heat Wave! Flare Blitz!"
The battle had only just begun and it was already at maximum intensity.
"Brother Cain! Which one of those two will win?" Ash couldn't help but ask impatiently.
The fight had just started, and after a brief initial probing, both had already moved on to using their full strength.
Cain smiled and said: "Lance. Here, none of us is his match. This time he has a great chance of becoming an Elite Four."
"Elite Four? What's that?" Ash showed yet another of his classic misunderstood-genius questions.
"No matter what it is, with my protagonist aura I'll defeat them anyway," he seemed to say.
A real disaster of a kid!
Before Cain could answer, Gary had already grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back, ready to "complete" the lesson for him.
(End of Chapter)