After receiving the command, Solrock, although intimidated by the overwhelming presence of Mega Metagross, still erupted with astonishing fighting spirit under the will of its two trainers. At the same time, Lunatone increased its energy output even further, the glow of its Helping Hand ability flowing like a tangible warm current, continuously pouring into Solrock's body.
The flames surrounding Solrock, already blazing fiercely, became even more terrifying. Within the crimson fire, streaks of golden patterns began to emerge, as if it were trying to burn through the entire rainy sky itself.
With a thunderous boom, Solrock transformed into a blazing meteor, tearing through the curtain of rain, carrying heat intense enough to melt steel as it charged straight toward Mega Metagross.
Theo raised his voice and called out, "Metagross, show them the true power of your Mega Evolution!"
Mega Metagross responded instantly. The four massive metallic claws in front of it crossed into an X shape, and a layer of pale golden light spread across its body. This was the move Iron Defense.
This move drastically enhanced its defensive power, and when combined with the already massively increased defense granted by Mega Evolution, it made it practically indestructible.
At the same time, the deep blue cross-shaped mark on Mega Metagross's forehead flickered faintly. An invisible wave of psychic power spread outward, gathering the surrounding raindrops into streams of water that coiled around its metallic claws, further reducing the power of Solrock's incoming Flare Blitz.
Then came a deafening explosion.
The blazing Solrock slammed head-on into the water-wrapped metallic claws.
The violent collision generated a powerful shockwave that blasted the rainwater at the center of the battlefield in all directions. Thick white steam instantly spread, obscuring everyone's vision.
The audience erupted into noise, then fell into tense silence as they all held their breath, staring at the cloud of steam, desperate to know the outcome.
"What happened?" Liza asked anxiously.
Tate shook his head, his face pale. "Something's wrong… I can't sense Solrock through psychic feedback…"
Before he could finish speaking, a metallic roar rang out from within the mist.
A moment later, an orange-red figure shot out of the white fog like a cannonball and slammed heavily onto the battlefield with a loud crash.
It was Solrock.
The flames around its body had completely dissipated. The Light Screen and Reflect barriers that had once covered it were shattered, and it was panting heavily, struggling just to keep itself floating.
As the mist gradually cleared, Mega Metagross was revealed, still hovering calmly in its original position. It had not even been pushed back a single step. The water on its claws had evaporated, yet there was not even the slightest mark of damage on them.
"How… how is that possible?" Tate cried out in disbelief, his face filled with shock. Even with Lunatone's full support, Solrock had failed to break through the opponent's defense.
The audience exploded into uproar.
"My god! That was Flare Blitz, a move with type advantage, and it did nothing?"
"That defense is insane, it's like an impenetrable fortress!"
"How do you even fight something like that?"
Theo watched Mega Metagross on the field, a faint smile appearing on his lips. This was exactly the vision he had when he first obtained Beldum.
After Mega Evolution, all of Metagross's abilities had been drastically enhanced. Combined with the system's rewards that boosted its defensive and special defensive capabilities, it had now truly become an immovable, indestructible fortress.
"It's our turn to attack now," Theo said calmly.
At his command, the deep blue cross on Mega Metagross's forehead flared brilliantly. A surge of powerful psychic energy enveloped its body.
With its greatly increased speed after Mega Evolution, its form turned into a streak of silver light, leaving behind an afterimage as it vanished from its original spot and appeared instantly in front of Lunatone.
"So fast!" Liza's pupils shrank as she urgently warned through telepathy, "Lunatone, dodge!"
Lunatone's body glowed blue as it attempted to evade, but in the next instant, it felt a powerful psychic force locking onto it. To its horror, its body became completely immobile.
The four massive claws of Mega Metagross gleamed with sharp metallic light, like four giant axes, slicing through the air as they struck toward Lunatone.
At the same time, the four shorter arms behind it snapped outward with a sharp clank, accurately smashing into Solrock, which had been attempting a sneak attack from behind.
Two dull impacts sounded almost simultaneously.
Lunatone was struck head-on by the claws. Just like Solrock earlier, the Light Screen and Reflect barriers around it shattered instantly. It was sent flying, crashing onto the battlefield and rolling across the ground.
Meanwhile, Solrock suffered another heavy blow. Fine cracks began to appear across its rocky shell, and it let out a pained cry.
"Solrock! Lunatone!" Liza and Tate shouted at the same time, their faces filled with anxiety.
But Mega Metagross showed no intention of giving them any chance to recover.
Before they could react, the deep blue cross on its forehead burst forth with an intense blue light.
Liza and Tate both turned pale. They could feel their psychic connection with their Pokémon being heavily disrupted, as if an immense weight was pressing down on their minds, preventing them from sending commands.
Through their twin telepathy, Tate poured his own psychic power into Liza.
Gritting her teeth under the strain, Liza barely managed to break through part of the interference and issued commands to both Pokémon at once.
"Lunatone, use Moonlight to recover! Solrock, use Psychic to hold it back!"
Solrock struggled to lift itself, its eyes glowing blue as it released a distorted wave of psychic energy toward Mega Metagross. Meanwhile, Lunatone began emitting a soft silver glow, restoring both itself and Solrock.
But all of it was in vain.
The blue cross on Mega Metagross's forehead flared again with blinding intensity. Solrock's Psychic attack struck that light and vanished instantly, like a stone sinking into the ocean.
Immediately afterward, an even more overwhelming surge of psychic power erupted from Mega Metagross, like an invisible giant hand lifting both Solrock and Lunatone into the air.
Both Pokémon cried out in pain, their bodies twisting violently as they struggled, but they could not break free.
They tried to resist with their own psychic abilities, but against Mega Metagross's tsunami-like mental power, it was as futile as waves crashing against a cliff.
"It's over," Theo said softly.
Mega Metagross let out a low roar, controlling the suspended Solrock and Lunatone and slamming them violently into each other.
In the next instant, its body flashed forward, appearing right before them. All four massive claws swung simultaneously, striking like a volleyball spike and sending both Pokémon flying out of the battlefield.
Two heavy impacts rang out.
Solrock and Lunatone crashed hard outside the arena, their eyes rolling back as they completely lost the ability to battle.
…
(End of Chapter)