"Gastrodon is unable to battle! Cynthia, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Even the referee's normally stone-cold voice carried a tremor.
After what just happened, who wouldn't be shaken?
The entire venue erupted.
Spectators, contestants—even the host—were left staring, mouths half open.
Six consecutive Air Slash flinches?!
A TV drama wouldn't dare script something so absurd.
One or two? Fine.
Three or four? Unreal.
Five? Six?
How was anyone supposed to accept that?
Yet it had unfolded right here, in the semifinals of the World Championship—
undeniable, inescapable, terrifyingly real.
Cynthia paused only a moment before understanding dawned.
"So it was because of Serene Grace, wasn't it?"
Chen Shi smiled and nodded.
Serene Grace:
Doubles the activation rate of additional effects.
Air Slash's base flinch chance: 30%
With Serene Grace: 60%
With Serene Grace alone, the odds were already terrifying.
At that point, six in a row—while insane—wasn't impossible.
Their exchange, amplified through the arena speakers, finally let the entire crowd grasp what happened.
It wasn't a glitch.
It was Serene Grace.
Cynthia exhaled slowly and sent out her next Pokémon—a Gym-peak Spiritomb.
Chen Shi blinked.
He had expected Glaceon.
But once he scanned the Spiritomb's abilities, he instantly understood.
Spiritomb had one particularly nasty move—Skill Swap.
"So that's your plan…" he murmured.
Sure enough:
"Spiritomb, Skill Swap!"
Chen Shi wasn't bothered.
"Togekiss—Dazzling Gleam."
"Togekii!"
A radiant burst of Fairy-type light exploded from Togekiss, flooding the battlefield and slamming directly into Spiritomb.
Super effective—and brutal.
—because Fairy-type attacks directly countered Spiritomb's curse-based composition.
A pained roar tore from Spiritomb's form.
Cynthia's eyes widened.
Before she could even call a counter-command—
"Moonblast."
Togekiss gathered an enormous surge of Fairy energy.
The sky dimmed.
A glowing violet moon materialized before her—
—and crashed downward.
Cynthia instantly recalled Spiritomb and switched into Glaceon.
She knew for certain now—that attack was the mysterious 18th typing.
Letting Spiritomb eat that second strike was suicide.
Chen Shi shrugged lightly.
"Then come back, Togekiss."
"Togekii~"
She obediently returned. She knew full well Glaceon outmatched her head-on. Better to leave the fight to someone built for this matchup.
Chen Shi threw his next Poké Ball.
"Your turn to put on a show."
"Metta!"
Metagross emerged—and immediately sensed that its opponent was stronger.
But fear?
None.
Because embedded in its limb was a glimmering Mega Stone.
Chen Shi touched the Keystone hanging from his neck.
"Can't let Charizard hog all the spotlight, right?"
"Metagross—MEGA EVOLVE!"
"Mettaaaaa!"
A brilliant bond surged between them—
Seven-colored light flashed—
Metagross's body shifted and expanded in a violent metamorphosis—
And within a few seconds, Mega Metagross descended onto the battlefield, its aura erupting straight into mid Elite tier.
Its appearance had changed drastically—
Four powerful arms extended forward, while four smaller limbs formed behind it.
The crowd lost their minds.
Even the host was shouting uncontrollably:
"Mega Metagross?! Incredible! After Charizard yesterday, Chen Shi's Metagross has also achieved Mega Evolution—and its strength has jumped to mid-Elite!"
The arena became a volcano.
Cheers surged like a tidal wave, banners swinging wildly, the crowd chanting in unison:
"Chen Shi! Chen Shi! Chen Shi!"
In the lounge, Steven's eyes were glued to the screen.
"So that… is Mega Metagross?"
Back on the field, the rain summoned earlier finally dissipated.
Cynthia recalled Glaceon immediately and sent out Lucario.
She knew—
Once Mega Metagross hit the field, Glaceon had zero chance.
Not with the typing disadvantage.
Not with the level disparity.
Not with the raw power difference.
Lucario was her only answer.
But did she truly believe Lucario could beat a Mega Metagross?
Yes.
She actually did.
Because—
Cynthia reached into her coat and pulled out a familiar lipstick-shaped tube.
Her voice softened.
"Chen Shi… this has always been one of my favorite gifts."
"Whether before… or now."
She smiled, placing her finger on the embedded Keystone.
A radiant light erupted—
Perfectly mirroring Chen Shi's transformation earlier—
"Lucario—MEGA EVOLVE!"
"Luuuu—CARRIO!"
Lucario's Mega Stone blazed.
Light connected trainer and Pokémon in one heartbeat.
Mega energy roared over the arena.
When it faded—
Mega Lucario stood proudly upon the battlefield.
Black markings intensified, the fur deepened in color, its aura flared violently.
Its limbs sharpened, spikes multiplied, and its stance radiated controlled ferocity.
Its power level?
Elite late-stage.
Just one step from pseudo-Champion.
The audience collectively gasped.
Two Mega Evolutions—
Back-to-back.
The arena trembled from excitement.
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