"Thank you for your hard work, Pelipper."
Winona recalled the defeated Pelipper into its Poke Ball.
"Is this the last one...?"
Winona looked up at the sky. The rain had gradually lessened.
The rain caused by the Drizzle ability had completely disappeared.
Watching the dark clouds above begin to disperse, Winona's eyes gleamed as she threw out the Poke Ball in her hand!
"Soar through the sky! Altaria!"
Bang—
"Altaria~!"
A sky-blue bird soared through the air! Its body was covered in cotton-like, cloud-like feathers that looked soft and perfect for petting.
This adorable Altaria was actually a Dragon-type Pokemon.
So how should Pokemon like Gyarados and Charizard feel about that?
Something that looks like a dragon isn't a dragon, but a bird is a dragon...
Steven could sense from this Altaria's presence that its strength wouldn't be any weaker than Scizor's.
It was a true Quasi-Champion-level Pokemon!
"Skarmory, you performed excellently." Steven smiled as he recalled Skarmory into its Poke Ball.
Skarmory's advantage in battle lay in setting up entry hazards, and this kind of direct offensive combat wasn't really its specialty.
Perhaps its advantages would only become more apparent during the League Tournament when both sides could freely switch Pokemon.
"Metagross, go!"
"Meta-gross!"
Metagross appeared before Steven, its four limbs tucked in as it floated through the air.
"A Shiny Pokemon..." Winona looked at the stone attached to Metagross's arm with some confusion.
"I think I've seen a similar stone somewhere before?"
"If I remember correctly, it's a stone that allows Pokemon to undergo Mega Evolution, right?"
Currently, very few people in the Hoenn Region could utilize Mega Evolution, and even in the Kalos region, practitioners weren't numerous.
Before Professor Sycamore published his research paper on Mega Evolution, even fewer people were aware of the phenomenon.
Moreover, this Metagross exuded an immense sense of pressure.
It was well known that Metagross's ability wasn't Pressure, so this oppressive aura was emanating purely from its own overwhelming strength!
The final battle had begun!
"Will-O-Wisp!"
Winona wanted to halve Metagross's physical attack power, which would significantly increase her advantage.
"Block it with Psychic! Then close in and use Ice Punch!" Steven commanded.
If Will-O-Wisp was skillfully manipulated, its flight trajectory could be controlled.
Steven didn't dare gamble on whether the opponent's Will-O-Wisp control was lacking. He simply needed to use a move to disperse those several Will-O-Wisp flames!
However, he couldn't use a close-range move to disperse Will-O-Wisp, as Metagross might also get burned and afflicted with the Burn status.
Under the Burn status, a Pokemon's physical exertion would be affected by the burn, preventing it from exerting its full power and resulting in reduced attack strength.
In this real world where training could maximize all stats, Metagross's Ice Punch could severely injure or even knock out Altaria in a single blow!
Metagross's eyes glowed with blue light, and an invisible Psychic force dispersed the several blue Will-O-Wisp flames released by Altaria!
After dealing with the Will-O-Wisp, Metagross quickly advanced toward Altaria!
Seeing the chilling aura emanating from Metagross's clenched fist, Altaria immediately began flapping its cloud-like wings vigorously!
An aerial chase commenced!
Compared to Altaria, which flew with its wings and appeared light and agile, Metagross—though fast—seemed somewhat clumsy in comparison.
Steven was also experiencing aerial combat for the first time, his mind working to figure out how to restrict Altaria's movements.
Using Psychic alone wasn't efficient. To fully restrict Altaria's movements, the output power of Psychic would need to be increased substantially.
That would make Metagross, which flew using magnetism, even slower.
After all, Altaria and Metagross were of the same rank. The difference in their strength wasn't as vast as the gap between a high Elite-level and a Champion-level Pokemon.
As Metagross moved, Altaria would inevitably break free from the Psychic hold.
"Will-O-Wisp!" Winona immediately shouted upon seeing Altaria create some distance from Metagross.
Altaria executed a sudden dive and sharp turn, with several blue Will-O-Wisp flames igniting around it before flying toward the pursuing Metagross.
Metagross came to an abrupt halt, releasing a powerful Psychic wave to disperse the Will-O-Wisp once again!
But at that very moment!
"Flamethrower!" Winona raised her hand and commanded.
"Altaria~!"
Altaria opened its small beak, and the flames it released were incredibly hot and fierce!
However, the intelligent Metagross had already devised a countermeasure!
Simultaneously, Steven's voice rang out.
"Don't stop the Psychic!"
Metagross's Psychic energy converged to a single point, forming an invisible, solid barrier!
The Flamethrower couldn't break through the thick wall condensed from Psychic energy!
The flames scattered in all directions, like fireworks blooming across the sky!
"Next time, I'll have Metagross learn Gravity to pin down these fast-flying opponents," Steven thought to himself.
"Flash Cannon!"
Since you fly so fast, I'll disrupt your rhythm!
Metagross extended both arms, firing two parallel silver-white energy beams!
"Dodge!"
Altaria continuously performed aerial flips with its high mobility, evading Metagross's Flash Cannon attacks.
Actually, there was another purpose for using this particular move...
Steven observed Metagross, which had essentially transformed into a stationary cannon platform.
Metagross could understand the strategy too, right?
Metagross appeared to be aiming at Altaria, but in reality, it was carefully observing Altaria's movement patterns!
"Meta-gross!"
Metagross deliberately launched a Flash Cannon with a wide gap between the beams, its true purpose being to lure Altaria into passing through the middle of the two attacks!
Altaria ascended slightly, then descended at an angle!
It intended to pass through and dodge between the Flash Cannon beams!
It took the bait!
Metagross quickly ceased firing the Flash Cannon!
Altaria had just begun adjusting its posture when it was caught by an invisible giant hand!
As long as Altaria's movements and position were predicted, concentrating Psychic on a single point could effectively restrict its actions!
Steven's lips curved upward. What he could conceive, Metagross could execute.
Steven's lips moved slightly, but he made no audible sound.
Next... was to briefly incapacitate the opponent.
Steven's gaze shifted to a nearby totem pole, and he calmly thought:
Slam it!
Metagross spun around, and Altaria's body—like a kite with a severed string—was violently slammed against the totem pole!
The impact left Altaria disoriented, its body swaying unsteadily through the air!
The battle should end now!
"Ice Punch!" Steven shouted.
"Meta-gross!"
Metagross charged fiercely toward Altaria, raising its right arm and dragging a pale blue trail through the air!
This was the frigid aura emanating from Ice Punch!
"Altaria, descend and dodge!"
Altaria suddenly saw three Metagross figures before its eyes. A powerful sense of danger made it fold its wings and enter free fall!
Bang—
It narrowly avoided Metagross's Ice Punch!
Metagross pursued relentlessly!
Altaria shook its head, feeling helpless as Metagross continued its unrelenting pursuit.
If it attempted to spread its wings and fly, that momentary pause would allow Metagross to land a devastating punch.
Altaria's eyes regained their clarity, fixed intently on the approaching ground!
Then... it would suddenly fly upward when close to the ground!
Altaria's strategy was transparent to Metagross.
"Psychic!"
Metagross decisively stopped its magnetic levitation, relying on its free-falling momentum to use Psychic and control the Altaria ahead of it!
Altaria's body stiffened, and its eyes widened in shock.
Bang—
A cold, chilling punch struck Altaria squarely on its back!
The immense force and impact drove it violently toward the ground.
Boom!
Altaria crashed into the battlefield, kicking up a massive cloud of dust!