"This Golem is really well bred."
Ignoring Will's loud comments, Julian glanced at the Golem with some admiration.
It had cyan qualifications, knew over a dozen moves, and had just used Rock Blast and Rock Throw effectively.
Most Pokémon use Rock Blast to create new rocks and then blow them up. Only a few Pokémon with exceptional qualifications can cause the rocks they made earlier to explode when they use Rock Blast again.
In addition to blocking Donphan's Rollout, the earlier Rock Throw served as a detonator for the Rock Blast.
The opponent's strategy was clever, using Rock Blast to make Donphan hide behind the rock formed by Rock Throw. When the rock detonated, the damage from such close range was definitely more severe.
"Wow, that's some serious strategy."
"Unbelievable!"
"High school students these days are so scary."
"Why can't my Golem's Rock Throw be detonated? Which legendary Pokémon can explain that?"
The viewers were equally amazed by the tactics displayed by the Golem's Trainer.
"Donphan, use Earthquake!"
Zosh was frustrated by the opponent's clever plan, but thankfully, Donphan wasn't knocked out by the explosion.
In big public events like this, Pokémon moves aren't limited since the battlefield has a massive energy shield strong enough to handle powerful attacks, like a pseudo-Elite level Earthquake.
Donphan jumped high and then landed hard on the ground. The impact created a loud roar, causing the whole venue to shake.
Since trainers stand outside the energy shield, they are safe from the aftereffects of Pokémon moves.
Golem let out a cry, as the Earthquake caused it significant damage.
"Finish it with Bulldoze!" Zosh shouted.
Donphan steadied itself and charged at Golem, its two front feet raised high, surrounded by powerful Ground-type energy, before crashing down onto Golem.
Seeing this, the Golem Trainer's eyes flashed with determination.
"Use Self-Destruct!"
A blinding white light erupted from Golem, followed by a deafening roar. A massive fireball shot into the sky, and thick black smoke engulfed the entire arena.
When the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were unconscious.
"Donphan and Golem are unable to battle; it's a draw," the referee announced.
One of Donphan's long tusks had been blown off by the explosion, while Golem looked worse for wear, its rocky body covered in cracks.
Zosh glared angrily at the opposing Trainer, then recalled Donphan and handed it over to the medical staff, who would take it for treatment.
The medical services at large events are well-organized, and it's rare for Pokémon to suffer severe injuries due to slow treatment.
"Self-Destruct is a ruthless move," someone commented.
"Look at how battered his Pokémon is."
"Is that Golem going to be okay?"
"Self-Destruct can really hurt a Pokémon badly; in some cases, it can even be fatal."
Comments flew across the live stream.
Self-Destruct is incredibly powerful—its base power is 200, compared to Hyper Beam's 150. While it deals massive damage, it also leaves the user badly hurt. Any Pokémon using Self-Destruct ends up seriously injured.
Trainers who care about their Pokémon usually avoid letting them use Self-Destruct unless it's absolutely necessary or in a life-or-death situation.
There's also a move called Explosion, which is even stronger than Self-Destruct. If used, it often results in the user being knocked out as well.
If used effectively, a pseudo-Elite Pokémon could defeat an Elite Pokémon.
Some extremist groups have taken to using Pokémon that know Self-Destruct.
In Eastern Europe, where terrorist attacks are more common, several groups use Self-Destruct to target important cities.
Pokémon that can learn Self-Destruct are quite common, like Golem, Weezing, Forretress, and Electrode. In particular, Voltorb and Electrode, with Electrode being the evolution of Voltorb, have a natural knack for Self-Destruct.
These two Pokémon are often sought after by extremist groups because they can deal more damage and take less harm when using the move.
'If they can't win, they just blow up. They have plenty of Pokémon like this. Who dares to fight back?.'
"This Trainer doesn't deserve to compete," Will said angrily, but Julian pulled him back. If he hadn't, Will might have confronted the other Trainer.
"You'll encounter even tougher situations and more brutal scenes than this," Julian said calmly.
The world of Trainers has both light and dark sides, just like the real world.
"Where there's light, there's also darkness," he continued.
"I don't care! I'm going to get stronger! If I see someone hurting Pokémon or using them for bad things, I'll definitely stand up to them," Will declared.
"Alright, but don't be a hot-headed idiot. We are here to compete. You should cheer me on instead," Shen chimed in.
"Shen, this is my dream, not just some school project," Will replied, feeling down.
Meanwhile, Shen had already headed to the battle arena, not hearing him.
Her rival approached, excitement shining in her eyes.
"Machamp, I chose you!" Shen called, unleashing her strongest Pokémon.
Her opponent brought out a fiery Infernape.
Will looked at the other girl, noting her striking features and strong build, similar to Shen's and remarked, "What's with girls nowadays? Why do so many beautiful girls prefer Fighting type Pokémon?"
"Isn't it good to like Water-types? You'd think they'd choose something cute!" he added.
In reality, more female Trainers do prefer Water-types than males, while Fire-types tend to attract more male Trainers.
Since over 90% of Fighting-type trainers are male, it's rare for women to choose Fighting Pokémon, especially beautiful ones.
For many female Trainers, looks matter more than type. They often prefer Pokémon that are cute or charming.
Of course, Lucario and Gallade are exceptions; both are seen as attractive representatives of the Fighting type.
"This Golem is really well bred."
Ignoring Will's loud comments, Julian glanced at the Golem with some admiration.
It had cyan qualifications, knew over a dozen moves, and had just used Rock Blast and Rock Throw effectively.
Most Pokémon use Rock Blast to create new rocks and then blow them up. Only a few Pokémon with exceptional qualifications can cause the rocks they made earlier to explode when they use Rock Blast again.
In addition to blocking Donphan's Rollout, the earlier Rock Throw served as a detonator for the Rock Blast.
The opponent's strategy was clever, using Rock Blast to make Donphan hide behind the rock formed by Rock Throw. When the rock detonated, the damage from such close range was definitely more severe.
"Wow, that's some serious strategy."
"Unbelievable!"
"High school students these days are so scary."
"Why can't my Golem's Rock Throw be detonated? Which legendary Pokémon can explain that?"
The viewers were equally amazed by the tactics displayed by the Golem's Trainer.
"Donphan, use Earthquake!"
Zosh was frustrated by the opponent's clever plan, but thankfully, Donphan wasn't knocked out by the explosion.
In big public events like this, Pokémon moves aren't limited since the battlefield has a massive energy shield strong enough to handle powerful attacks, like a pseudo-Elite level Earthquake.
Donphan jumped high and then landed hard on the ground. The impact created a loud roar, causing the whole venue to shake.
Since trainers stand outside the energy shield, they are safe from the aftereffects of Pokémon moves.
Golem let out a cry, as the Earthquake caused it significant damage.
"Finish it with Bulldoze!" Zosh shouted.
Donphan steadied itself and charged at Golem, its two front feet raised high, surrounded by powerful Ground-type energy, before crashing down onto Golem.
Seeing this, the Golem Trainer's eyes flashed with determination.
"Use Self-Destruct!"
A blinding white light erupted from Golem, followed by a deafening roar. A massive fireball shot into the sky, and thick black smoke engulfed the entire arena.
When the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were unconscious.
"Donphan and Golem are unable to battle; it's a draw," the referee announced.
One of Donphan's long tusks had been blown off by the explosion, while Golem looked worse for wear, its rocky body covered in cracks.
Zosh glared angrily at the opposing Trainer, then recalled Donphan and handed it over to the medical staff, who would take it for treatment.
The medical services at large events are well-organized, and it's rare for Pokémon to suffer severe injuries due to slow treatment.
"Self-Destruct is a ruthless move," someone commented.
"Look at how battered his Pokémon is."
"Is that Golem going to be okay?"
"Self-Destruct can really hurt a Pokémon badly; in some cases, it can even be fatal."
Comments flew across the live stream.
Self-Destruct is incredibly powerful—its base power is 200, compared to Hyper Beam's 150. While it deals massive damage, it also leaves the user badly hurt. Any Pokémon using Self-Destruct ends up seriously injured.
Trainers who care about their Pokémon usually avoid letting them use Self-Destruct unless it's absolutely necessary or in a life-or-death situation.
There's also a move called Explosion, which is even stronger than Self-Destruct. If used, it often results in the user being knocked out as well.
If used effectively, a pseudo-Elite Pokémon could defeat an Elite Pokémon.
Some extremist groups have taken to using Pokémon that know Self-Destruct.
In Eastern Europe, where terrorist attacks are more common, several groups use Self-Destruct to target important cities.
Pokémon that can learn Self-Destruct are quite common, like Golem, Weezing, Forretress, and Electrode. In particular, Voltorb and Electrode, with Electrode being the evolution of Voltorb, have a natural knack for Self-Destruct.
These two Pokémon are often sought after by extremist groups because they can deal more damage and take less harm when using the move.
'If they can't win, they just blow up. They have plenty of Pokémon like this. Who dares to fight back?.'
"This Trainer doesn't deserve to compete," Will said angrily, but Julian pulled him back. If he hadn't, Will might have confronted the other Trainer.
"You'll encounter even tougher situations and more brutal scenes than this," Julian said calmly.
The world of Trainers has both light and dark sides, just like the real world.
"Where there's light, there's also darkness," he continued.
"I don't care! I'm going to get stronger! If I see someone hurting Pokémon or using them for bad things, I'll definitely stand up to them," Will declared.
"Alright, but don't be a hot-headed idiot. We are here to compete. You should cheer me on instead," Shen chimed in.
"Shen, this is my dream, not just some school project," Will replied, feeling down.
Meanwhile, Shen had already headed to the battle arena, not hearing him.
Her rival approached, excitement shining in her eyes.
"Machamp, I chose you!" Shen called, unleashing her strongest Pokémon.
Her opponent brought out a fiery Infernape.
Will looked at the other girl, noting her striking features and strong build, similar to Shen's and remarked, "What's with girls nowadays? Why do so many beautiful girls prefer Fighting type Pokémon?"
"Isn't it good to like Water-types? You'd think they'd choose something cute!" he added.
In reality, more female Trainers do prefer Water-types than males, while Fire-types tend to attract more male Trainers.
Since over 90% of Fighting-type trainers are male, it's rare for women to choose Fighting Pokémon, especially beautiful ones.
For many female Trainers, looks matter more than type. They often prefer Pokémon that are cute or charming.
Of course, Lucario and Gallade are exceptions; both are seen as attractive representatives of the Fighting type.
In battles, when a Trainer's command skills and a Pokémon's strength are similar, the side that has a type advantage holds a significant edge over the other.
For instance, among the 18 top Elites in Drakoria, the Dragon Elite triumphed over the other 15 Elites during the first Elite Challenge.
Among the three Elites who remained unbeaten, two were the Ice-type Elite and the Fairy-type Elite.
Ice-type Pokémon deals double damage to Dragon-types, while Fairy-types are even more formidable, as they are immune to Dragon-type moves entirely.
The last of the undefeated Elites was Julian's grandfather, John, who managed to defeat the Dragon Elite through sheer strength.
Speaking of John, he currently holds the title of the No. 1 Elite among the 18 in Drakoria.
Why is Steel-type Elite John regarded as the strongest of the 18? He is the only Trainer who defeated all 17 other Elites using only Steel-type Pokémon during the first Elite Challenge.
Even the Ground-type and Fire-type Elites, who typically have an advantage over Steel-types, couldn't match his skill.
Unless one side has an overwhelming advantage in strength, defeating an opponent with a type disadvantage is quite unlikely.
Will felt confident that he would win this match. He had seen his opponent's previous battle and understood Venusaur's abilities. He believed Venusaur was weaker than his own Charizard and he also had a type disadvantage against it.
Under these circumstances, he truly did not believe he could lose.
"Venusaur, Mega Evolve!"
As Will launched a Flamethrower, the opponent suddenly raised his sleeve, revealing a brilliantly colored gemstone.
A dazzling light streamed from the gem toward Venusaur, which also emitted its own vibrant glow. The two lights intertwined in the air.
At the same time, a massive white light enveloped Venusaur. When the light faded, a Pokémon larger than the original Venusaur stood before the audience.
The appearance of Mega Venusaur and its previous form were similar, but the flower on Mega Venusaur's back was larger, and the "trunk" below the flowers had thickened.
The sight of Mega Evolution astonished the audience. Many had only seen such an event on video screens and had never witnessed it live.
On the broadcast, comments began pouring in.
"Mega Venusaur is amazing!"
"Wow, the scene of Mega Evolution is breathtaking!"
"Why hasn't Charizard Mega Evolved?"
"Charizard: I wish I could Mega Evolve too, but I don't have a Mega Stone!"
Venusaur's Mega Evolution captivated many viewers, with some even cheering for Mega Venusaur, including those who had previously supported Charizard.
"What's the deal with this guy? Where did he get a Mega Evolution Stone?" Zosh asked, puzzled.
Mega Evolution Stones are rare resources, whether in Drakoria or other regions, and cannot be bought with money. One could trade a pseudo-legendary Pokémon for a Mega Evolution Stone, but the reverse is not guaranteed.
This highlights just how scarce Mega Evolution Stones truly are.
The head teacher, Sam, didn't know the background of the opposing Trainer and turned to Julian for answers.
"I'm not sure either, but this Venusaur seems very well-trained. Maybe it's someone from the Grass-type gym," Julian replied.
It was a nationally recognized gym, much like their own Steel-type gym.
There are two national gyms in Yale Province: Steel and Grass.
"If it's from the Grass-type gym, Will might be in trouble," Shen said, concern etched on his face.
Pokémon: Venusaur (Mega Venusaur)*
Level: 41 (51)*
Qualification: Green
Ability: Overgrow (Thick Fat)*
Item: Miracle Seed
Gender: Male
Moves: Petal Blizzard, Petal Dance, Vine Whip, Seed Bomb, Growth, Sunny Day, Razor Leaf, Synthesis, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder
Move Discs: Giga Drain, Magical Leaf, Protect, Hyper Beam, Grassy Terrain, Venoshock, Bulldoze, Body Slam, Earthquake, Power Whip
Genetic Moves: Ingrain, Nature Power, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm
After Mega Evolution, Venusaur's level increased by ten, and its ability became Thick Fat. This ability halves the damage taken from Fire-type and Ice-type moves.
This shift made things even harder for Charizard, as its type advantage had effectively disappeared.
Mega Venusaur flicked its Vine Whip, easily deflecting Will's Flamethrower.
"Venusaur, Power Whip!"
Will, momentarily stunned, snapped back to reality and shouted, "Charizard, dodge!"
But Power Whip was faster. Just as Charizard began to flap its wings, it was struck by Mega Venusaur's powerful vines.
It felt like being hit by a meteorite, and Charizard crashed to the ground.
"Venusaur, Body Slam!"
Charizard reluctantly opened its eyes to see a massive figure looming overhead. Darkness engulfed its vision, followed by a sharp pain, and then everything faded to black.
"Charizard is unable to battle; Venusaur wins!"
The referee looked pitifully at Charizard, who lay fainted beneath the weight of the attack. If it had been hit harder, it would have been a much worse situation.
Will walked off the stage, while his rival stayed put, clearly eager to continue the battle.
"He's strong," Will admitted to Julian, who was getting ready to take the field next.
"Just for you," Julian replied.
Upon hearing this, Will instinctively paused, looking at Julian's back as he whispered, "You won't die, if you stop pretending."
Julian knew he could wait until his opponent could no longer hold on, thus releasing the Mega Evolution.
According to the rules, when one player finishes, the next must enter the arena within three minutes. As long as they start battling within that time, it's all within the regulations.
Looking at his opponent now, it seemed unlikely they could last even two minutes. Although Mega Evolution is powerful, it requires a deep bond between Trainer and Pokémon to succeed.
Moreover, Mega Evolution is a significant test for the Trainer as well. During Mega Evolution, both the Trainer's mental and physical strength are drained continuously.
A normal Trainer with a Mega Evolution Stone can only maintain that form for about five minutes.
Of course, five minutes can be enough to change the outcome of a battle in a regular match, but if you're in the wild or a secret realm, failing to resolve a conflict during Mega Evolution can leave you vulnerable once it ends.
At that point, if you need to escape, you may not have the strength left to do so.
So if you face opponents in the wild or in secret realms, Mega Evolution should only be used as a last resort.
In battles, when a Trainer's command skills and a Pokémon's strength are similar, the side that has a type advantage holds a significant edge over the other.
For instance, among the 18 top Elites in Drakoria, the Dragon Elite triumphed over the other 15 Elites during the first Elite Challenge.
Among the three Elites who remained unbeaten, two were the Ice-type Elite and the Fairy-type Elite.
Ice-type Pokémon deals double damage to Dragon-types, while Fairy-types are even more formidable, as they are immune to Dragon-type moves entirely.
The last of the undefeated Elites was Julian's grandfather, John, who managed to defeat the Dragon Elite through sheer strength.
Speaking of John, he currently holds the title of the No. 1 Elite among the 18 in Drakoria.
Why is Steel-type Elite John regarded as the strongest of the 18? He is the only Trainer who defeated all 17 other Elites using only Steel-type Pokémon during the first Elite Challenge.
Even the Ground-type and Fire-type Elites, who typically have an advantage over Steel-types, couldn't match his skill.
Unless one side has an overwhelming advantage in strength, defeating an opponent with a type disadvantage is quite unlikely.
Will felt confident that he would win this match. He had seen his opponent's previous battle and understood Venusaur's abilities. He believed Venusaur was weaker than his own Charizard and he also had a type disadvantage against it.
Under these circumstances, he truly did not believe he could lose.
"Venusaur, Mega Evolve!"
As Will launched a Flamethrower, the opponent suddenly raised his sleeve, revealing a brilliantly colored gemstone.
A dazzling light streamed from the gem toward Venusaur, which also emitted its own vibrant glow. The two lights intertwined in the air.
At the same time, a massive white light enveloped Venusaur. When the light faded, a Pokémon larger than the original Venusaur stood before the audience.
The appearance of Mega Venusaur and its previous form were similar, but the flower on Mega Venusaur's back was larger, and the "trunk" below the flowers had thickened.
The sight of Mega Evolution astonished the audience. Many had only seen such an event on video screens and had never witnessed it live.
On the broadcast, comments began pouring in.
"Mega Venusaur is amazing!"
"Wow, the scene of Mega Evolution is breathtaking!"
"Why hasn't Charizard Mega Evolved?"
"Charizard: I wish I could Mega Evolve too, but I don't have a Mega Stone!"
Venusaur's Mega Evolution captivated many viewers, with some even cheering for Mega Venusaur, including those who had previously supported Charizard.
"What's the deal with this guy? Where did he get a Mega Evolution Stone?" Zosh asked, puzzled.
Mega Evolution Stones are rare resources, whether in Drakoria or other regions, and cannot be bought with money. One could trade a pseudo-legendary Pokémon for a Mega Evolution Stone, but the reverse is not guaranteed.
This highlights just how scarce Mega Evolution Stones truly are.
The head teacher, Sam, didn't know the background of the opposing Trainer and turned to Julian for answers.
"I'm not sure either, but this Venusaur seems very well-trained. Maybe it's someone from the Grass-type gym," Julian replied.
It was a nationally recognized gym, much like their own Steel-type gym.
There are two national gyms in Yale Province: Steel and Grass.
"If it's from the Grass-type gym, Will might be in trouble," Shen said, concern etched on his face.
Pokémon: Venusaur (Mega Venusaur)*
Level: 41 (51)*
Qualification: Green
Ability: Overgrow (Thick Fat)*
Item: Miracle Seed
Gender: Male
Moves: Petal Blizzard, Petal Dance, Vine Whip, Seed Bomb, Growth, Sunny Day, Razor Leaf, Synthesis, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder
Move Discs: Giga Drain, Magical Leaf, Protect, Hyper Beam, Grassy Terrain, Venoshock, Bulldoze, Body Slam, Earthquake, Power Whip
Genetic Moves: Ingrain, Nature Power, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm
After Mega Evolution, Venusaur's level increased by ten, and its ability became Thick Fat. This ability halves the damage taken from Fire-type and Ice-type moves.
This shift made things even harder for Charizard, as its type advantage had effectively disappeared.
Mega Venusaur flicked its Vine Whip, easily deflecting Will's Flamethrower.
"Venusaur, Power Whip!"
Will, momentarily stunned, snapped back to reality and shouted, "Charizard, dodge!"
But Power Whip was faster. Just as Charizard began to flap its wings, it was struck by Mega Venusaur's powerful vines.
It felt like being hit by a meteorite, and Charizard crashed to the ground.
"Venusaur, Body Slam!"
Charizard reluctantly opened its eyes to see a massive figure looming overhead. Darkness engulfed its vision, followed by a sharp pain, and then everything faded to black.
"Charizard is unable to battle; Venusaur wins!"
The referee looked pitifully at Charizard, who lay fainted beneath the weight of the attack. If it had been hit harder, it would have been a much worse situation.
Will walked off the stage, while his rival stayed put, clearly eager to continue the battle.
"He's strong," Will admitted to Julian, who was getting ready to take the field next.
"Just for you," Julian replied.
Upon hearing this, Will instinctively paused, looking at Julian's back as he whispered, "You won't die, if you stop pretending."
Julian knew he could wait until his opponent could no longer hold on, thus releasing the Mega Evolution.
According to the rules, when one player finishes, the next must enter the arena within three minutes. As long as they start battling within that time, it's all within the regulations.
Looking at his opponent now, it seemed unlikely they could last even two minutes. Although Mega Evolution is powerful, it requires a deep bond between Trainer and Pokémon to succeed.
Moreover, Mega Evolution is a significant test for the Trainer as well. During Mega Evolution, both the Trainer's mental and physical strength are drained continuously.
A normal Trainer with a Mega Evolution Stone can only maintain that form for about five minutes.
Of course, five minutes can be enough to change the outcome of a battle in a regular match, but if you're in the wild or a secret realm, failing to resolve a conflict during Mega Evolution can leave you vulnerable once it ends.
At that point, if you need to escape, you may not have the strength left to do so.
So if you face opponents in the wild or in secret realms, Mega Evolution should only be used as a last resort.
Nolan, didn't look as tough as it might suggest. His face was soft and smooth, typical of a 'dreamy boy.' Standing over 1.8 meters tall, he had a striking presence. With good facial features, he was often called a lady killer drawing the attention of many girls around him.
In contrast, Julian wasn't bad-looking either. He shared some of the good looks from his parents, but he was quiet and reserved. He had an aura that made people feel like he was off-limits, which didn't help his popularity.
It seemed this guy was the grandson of a well-known Rock Elite, which added to his mystique.
Nolan was similar to Julian in school when he was just starting out; he was relatively unknown. But once he became a Pokémon trainer, he quickly made a name for himself. His starter Pokémon, a Pupitar, turned out to be a Pseudo-legendary, and his background soon became public knowledge.
"Pupitar!"
Nolan called out, sending his trusted Pokémon.
Pokémon: Pupitar (Rock/Ground)
Level: 45
Qualification: Blue
Ability: Shed Skin
Item: Hard Stone
Gender: Male
Moves: Iron Defense, Tackle, Rock Throw, Bite, Scary Face, Payback, Rock Slide, Stomping Tantrum, Dark Pulse, Crunch, Earthquake, Screech
Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Protect, Dig, Rock Tomb, Sand Tomb, Substitute
Genetic Moves: Sandstorm, Earth Power, Ancient Power, Outrage
-
Pokémon: Metagross (Steel/Psychic)
Level: 50
Qualification: Purple
Ability: Light Metal
Prop: Metal Coat
Gender: no gender
Moves: Tackle, Agility, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Hammer Arm, Bullet Punch, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Scary Face, Meteor Mash, Hyper Beam
Disc Moves: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense, Protect, Light Screen, Psycho Cut, Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Psyshock, Icy Wind
Genetic Moves: None
Julian was surprised to see Nolan's Pupitar. Blue-qualified Pokémon were rare and often belonged to trainers from prestigious families.
Most families had numerous descendants, while Julian's family was small, with him being the only male heir. In families like Nolan's, the best Pokémon usually went to the chosen heir, while others had to make do with what they could get.
Nolan must have been the heir of his family, the only one who could handle a blue-qualified Pupitar, especially with his grandfather being a Rock-type Elite. Julian knew that raising such a Pokémon was no easy task. Pupitar evolved into Tyranitar, but it needed to reach level 55 first, which was slow for a Pokémon.
Pseudo-legendaries were known for two things: their slow evolution and their even slower leveling-up process. It took a lot of resources to raise them. For instance, if someone bought a Pupitar for 100 million, they might need to spend at least a billion more to fully develop it into Tyranitar.
While pseudo-legendaries provided immense power in battle, they were also incredibly costly. For example, Metagross, another strong Pokémon, consumed energy cubes worth 100,000 a day. An average family struggled to save that much in a year.
As the match between the two pseudo-legendaries began, the crowd grew. The number of viewers in the live broadcast room skyrocketed from one million to two million and continued to rise.
"Let's go, Nolan!" someone cheered.
"It's only Pupitar now, not Tyranitar!" another chimed in.
"I don't care; I'm cheering for him!"
With its ferocious and domineering appearance and the ability to control sand, Tyranitar has the title of "Desert tyrant". In some movies, he often appears as a monster that destroys the city.
Some time ago, the famous Actor Tyranitar also starred in "Tyranitar Vs King Kong" as the villain but won the support of many audiences, shouting that the evil Tyranitar will eventually defeat the righteous, King Kong.
"Blind guess, Metagross wins" one fan shouted.
"It's the grandson of the Rock Elite against the grandson of the Steel Elite!" another added.
"Pupitar is too ugly; I'm supporting Metagross!"
The two Pokémon faced off, as far as Attributes were concerned, neither of them had an advantage. Although Pupitar's Ground type was strong against Metagross's Steel type, the Steel type also had a good matchup against Rock type.
"Pupitar, use Screech!" Nolan commanded.
"Metagross, use Agility!" Julian countered almost simultaneously.
Nolan wanted to weaken Metagross's strong defense, but Julian had anticipated his move.
"Nolan was read!" a commentator exclaimed in surprise.
Pre-reading was a skill where trainers guessed each other's commands to counter them effectively. Metagross, with its Light Metal ability, and thanks to various enchantment potions had improved speed.
Before Pupitar could unleash its screech, Metagross swiftly crossed the battlefield, covering nearly two football fields in a blink.
"Metagross, Hammer Arm!" Julian shouted.
With two mighty strikes, Metagross slammed its arms down on Pupitar. The impact created a loud bang, cracking Pupitar's armor and sending fragments flying. Fighting-type moves were particularly effective against Rock types, and Hammer Arm was one of the strongest.
But it came with a cost; Metagross's speed would decrease after this move.
However, even slowed down, it would still be faster than Pupitar, which was still in its metamorphosis stage.
"Pupitar, use Dark Pulse!"
Nolan said, clenching his fists. He hadn't expected to be one step behind his rival.
Pupitar unleashed a wave of dark energy, but Julian was ready.
"Metagross, use Light Screen!" he commanded.
A translucent barrier appeared in front of Metagross, absorbing the impact of the Dark Pulse. Metagross stood behind the screen, calm and confident, as if it knew the attack wouldn't break through.
"Metagross, Agility, then Hammer Arm again!" Julian continued, his next moves.
"Pupitar, create a Sandstorm!" Nolan called out, sensing the urgency.
The ground around Pupitar transformed into swirling sands, but it was too late. Metagross had already closed in, its arm glowing brightly as it struck down.