"Liam… Senior, why are you here?"
Steven quickly walked over to the fence, then looked at Liam, who was smiling on the other side. In the end, he still reluctantly addressed him as "Senior."
"Hehe, I'm just passing by. Didn't expect to run into you here. It's nothing, don't mind me, just continue what you were doing."
Liam waved his hand with a smile, indicating he was just a passerby.
"…Senior, this is my alma mater. I learned a lot about Pokémon here. I assume you're not in a hurry, right? How about it, would you like to take a look around? I can be your guide."
Knowing Liam's personality, Steven didn't mind his casual attitude. Instead, he pointed behind him at the large campus and extended an invitation.
"Uh… well…"
Caught off guard, Liam hesitated slightly.
But after thinking it over, he had already arrived at Rustboro City, and Meteor Falls wasn't far away. He had also been roughing it in the wild for several days. Since Steven invited him, it would be a good chance to relax and take a look around this so-called Trainer School.
With that thought, Liam nodded in agreement.
Seeing Liam accept, Steven smiled rare and warmly, then led him toward the school gate and personally welcomed him inside.
After entering, Steven enthusiastically guided Liam around the entire Trainer School.
The group of students following behind Steven were all dumbfounded, clearly feeling like this was not the Steven they knew.
Liam and Steven ignored the confused students and focused on touring the school.
From the main academic building at the entrance, to the Pokémon breeding base behind it, then the large library, gymnasium, trainer lecture hall, dormitories, cafeteria, and more.
After making a full round, the two eventually returned to the battle field on the school's training grounds.
Then—
"Senior, after walking around for so long, you must be getting a little bored. In that case, how about a Pokémon battle? Think of it as an extracurricular activity."
At the end of the tour, Steven finally revealed his true intention. He stepped onto one side of the battlefield, already holding a PokeBall, and smiled at Liam.
"Heh, so that's what you were planning. Alright then, I was also curious about your current strength. Let's do it. I accept your challenge."
Liam shook his head helplessly, then walked to the opposite side, a PokeBall sliding into his hand as he smiled.
"Great, Senior. If we battle again, I'll get a clear sense of how strong I've become… Alright, no more talk, let me explain the rules."
Steven shook his head to steady himself, then took out another PokeBall and opened both at the same time.
"Senior! Same as before, a 2 vs 2 battle! And the Pokémon I'll use are still these two!"
"Come out, Metagross! Sceptile!"
"Meta!"
"Shaaa!"
Two beams of white light shot out. The familiar steel Metagross appeared once more, along with Sceptile, one of Hoenn's starter Pokémon. Two powerful Pokémon stood before Liam.
"Oh? Even your Grovyle has evolved. You've improved a lot, Steven. Looks like this battle won't be easy."
Liam examined both Pokémon and saw how well they had been trained. Each one was outstanding. He smiled and praised Steven.
But Steven simply clicked his tongue.
"Hmph, are you mocking me, Senior? Enough talk, send out your Pokémon. The battle is starting."
Steven urged him forward. As his voice fell, Sceptile stepped forward calmly, taking its place at the center of the battlefield.
"Oh? Sceptile first again? Same order as last time. In that case, I'll stick with the same choice. Come out, Electabuzz!"
A flash of white light appeared as Electabuzz stepped onto the field. Upon seeing Sceptile, Electabuzz showed a clear look of disdain, recognizing it as a previously defeated opponent. Its interest in the battle seemed low.
"Shaaa!!"
Sceptile, however, was excited to face its former opponent. But seeing Electabuzz's dismissive attitude instantly turned that excitement into anger. Its pine-like tail stood straight up as its fury peaked.
"Hmph! So your Elekid has evolved into Electabuzz. But that arrogant personality hasn't changed at all. It's honestly annoying. Senior, you'd better warn your Electabuzz. Underestimating my Sceptile will cost you! Sceptile, show your former opponent your current strength! Charge in and use Leaf Blade!"
With no referee present, Steven directly ordered the attack.
Sceptile let out a low growl. The leaves on its right arm expanded and elongated into sharp green blades. Then it dashed forward at high speed, like a streak of green light, instantly closing the distance and slashing down with both blades.
"Electabuzz! Fire Punch!"
Liam was prepared. Against a fast opponent like Sceptile, this kind of direct assault was the most common and effective.
"Buzz!!"
Electabuzz's right fist ignited with flames, colliding head-on with Leaf Blade.
BANG!
The clash echoed loudly. Sceptile's arm met Electabuzz's flaming fist, but in the next instant, burn marks appeared on Sceptile's arm.
"Sha!"
The pain made Sceptile grunt, but it did not retreat. Instead, it pushed harder, kicking off the ground and forcing Electabuzz backward.
"Sceptile! Again! Leaf Blade!"
"Sceptile!!"
"Electabuzz! Ice Punch!"
"Buzz!!"
BANG!
Repeating the motion, Sceptile withdrew its right arm and slashed again with its left, glowing green. This time, Electabuzz countered with Ice Punch.
Frost spread instantly across Sceptile's blade, freezing its entire left arm in moments.
"Sceptile!!"
Seeing the ice spreading further, Sceptile decisively spun and used its tail to knock Electabuzz away, then leapt backward to create distance.
"Sceptile? Are you alright? Can you keep going?"
Steven frowned, seeing one arm burned and the other frozen.
"Sceptile!!"
Sceptile responded with a firm cry.
"Good. Then let's continue!"
"Sceptile! Use Double Team and close in!"
As Sceptile moved, its figure split into multiple afterimages that filled the battlefield, surrounding Electabuzz in a circle.
"Buzz…"
Even surrounded, Electabuzz's expression remained full of disdain, its eyes cold as it watched the shifting clones.
"Now, Sceptile! Use Bullet Seed!"
"Sceptile!!"
At Steven's command, all the Sceptile clones opened their mouths, firing a barrage of golden seeds from all directions, leaving no escape.
"Knock them all down! Electabuzz! Full power—Discharge!"
"Buzz!!"
Just as the seeds were about to overwhelm Electabuzz, it slammed its fist into the ground. Instantly, powerful electric currents burst outward, covering the entire battlefield.
Boom boom boom boom!
The clones were destroyed one after another under the barrage of electricity. In moments, the entire field was cleared, with no Sceptile in sight.
"Huh? Where is it? Not good—Electabuzz, watch out! It's above!"
Realizing the real Sceptile was missing, Liam suddenly looked up.
There—Sceptile had hidden in the air and was now diving down rapidly.
"Buzz!"
Electabuzz noticed too and prepared to retreat.
But—
"It's too late to notice now! Sceptile! Give it everything and finish this! Use Frenzy Plant!"
"Sceptile!!"
BOOM!!
Steven shouted excitedly. Using its downward momentum, Sceptile slammed its fist into the ground.
In an instant, with a thunderous roar, massive black root-like plants burst from the ground. They spread wildly, covering the entire battlefield. Electabuzz, unable to escape in time, was caught.
A thick root wrapped around Electabuzz like a tentacle, lifting it into the air, completely restraining it no matter how it struggled.
At the same time, countless massive roots rose around it, towering overhead and casting huge shadows—
Then they came crashing down mercilessly toward the trapped Electabuzz.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!