Cynthia clicked her tongue, visibly annoyed for the first time.
"Garchomp—Dragon Claw! Tear this space apart!"
She was aiming straight at the Trick Room distortion itself.
Peter only smiled faintly.
"You can't just rip space open like that."
"Fake Out!"
Whoosh—
Under the influence of Trick Room, Lopunny blurred forward instantly, appearing at Garchomp's flank. A massive palm-shaped burst of energy slammed into its side, interrupting Dragon Claw mid-formation.
Cynthia's eyes narrowed.
She immediately escalated.
"Dragon Rush!"
"Like I'm scared of you!" Peter's lips curled with fierce arrogance.
"High Jump Kick!!!"
"Mi——Lo!!!"
BOOM—
Knee and draconic aura collided.
The shockwave blasted Lopunny skyward.
Without Mega Evolution, even a battle-worn Champion-level Garchomp could still suppress her effortlessly.
Cynthia exhaled.
This should be the end.
But—
A white bandage shimmered into existence around Lopunny's knee midair.
Her expression twisted in pain—
Then steadied.
Her eyes reopened.
Cynthia: "…?"
Before she could question it—
Peter had already given the next command.
"Just like that—Healing Wish!"
Light bloomed again.
Lopunny closed her eyes peacefully.
Cynthia opened her mouth—
But no sound came out.
For the first time in a long time—
She was speechless by a "dirty" play.
Peter recalled Lopunny and grinned.
"This time, it's really the last one."
He raised the final Poké Ball.
"Go—Vigoroth! It's all yours!!!"
"Vaaah——!!!"
The battered Vigoroth reappeared—
And under Healing Wish—
Returned instantly to full health.
Cynthia's fingers twitched.
This is supposed to be 1 vs 6.
Why does it feel like 1 vs 8?!
She inhaled slowly.
"Dragon… Rush!!!"
This time—
She was serious.
Truly serious.
Sensing her will, Garchomp unleashed tangible dragon pressure that made the very air tremble.
Peter raised an eyebrow.
"Trick Room's still active~"
"Vigoroth—Ice Punch!"
"Vaaah!"
The roar hadn't even finished—
And Vigoroth was already in front of Garchomp.
Cynthia's pupils shrank.
Even with Trick Room—
That speed made no sense.
Wasn't this the crippled Vigoroth with weakened legs?!
Peter grinned.
Minimum Speed Vigoroth under Trick Room—
Was maximum Speed.
Absolute priority.
A blur.
"Graah—!"
The freezing fist smashed into Garchomp's face.
Four-times super-effective.
With early-stage Powerleaf Spinach enhancement and over 130 Attack investment—
Even a Champion-tier Garchomp, after relentless rotation damage, felt it.
Its head snapped back nearly thirty degrees.
Of course—
That was all.
"GAHHH!!!"
Dragon Rush arrived.
The sheer draconic pressure shattered Trick Room itself.
Blue dragon energy tore through Vigoroth's crossed arms.
BOOM—
The battlefield exploded.
Cracks spidered outward in four directions.
Blood splattered.
Vigoroth's arms fell limp.
Peter watched quietly.
He knew.
Only now—
Had Garchomp truly gone all-out.
And yet—
He smiled.
"Thanks for the Dragon Rush~"
Cynthia's heart skipped.
Before she could issue another order—
Brilliant Fighting-type energy had already condensed around Vigoroth's dangling arms.
"COUUUUNTER!!!!"
"VAAAHHHHHH!!!"
His eyes turned crimson.
Muscles bulged grotesquely.
Blood sprayed from reopened wounds.
Both fists came together—
And hammered forward like divine gates being shattered.
Garchomp crossed its fins defensively—
But—
BOOM!!!
It was driven backward.
Step after step—
Each footprint sank several centimeters into the ground.
Fractures radiated outward.
Another step—
Then finally—
It stabilized.
Its breathing was heavier—
But it stood.
Vigoroth, however—
Was finished.
Using his last bit of strength—
He punched the ground—
Embedding his arm into it—
To keep himself upright.
Because he was afraid.
Afraid of falling.
Afraid of collapsing—
And ruining everything his partners had fought for.
Silence filled the plaza.
Cynthia glanced at her phone.
19 minutes. 43 seconds.
She opened her mouth.
"Garchomp—Drag—"
"Wait."
Peter's voice cut through the air.
"Cynthia… you've lost."
"…What?"
Her eyes widened.
She looked down.
Garchomp's front foot—
Was three fingers beyond the arena boundary.
The condition she herself had set.
Force Garchomp outside the field—
And you win.
She froze.
Then—
Exhaled.
"…So I did."
Vigoroth blinked weakly.
"Vaa…?"
The belief that had been holding him upright faded—
And he tipped backward—
Only to fall into familiar arms.
Peter caught him from behind.
"You did it, Vigoroth… I told you—you could."
The Pokémon turned his head.
In Peter's eyes—
He saw shimmering moisture.
Once—
He had been a weak little Slakoth.
And Peter had held him like this.
Encouraging him.
Believing in him.
Now—
He had stood until the very end.
For his trainer.
For his partners.
Warmth flooded his chest.
Then power—
Raging, overflowing.
"VAAAHHHHH—!!!"
Brilliant white light exploded outward.
Peter's system notification rang in his ears:
[Ding! Vigoroth's bond has erupted—entering early evolution state!]
[The Power Ability trait has further awakened!]
[Mission Complete: Challenge the Master]
Reward: Cross-Species TM "Toxic" & Cross-Species TM "Dazzling Gleam"!
[Garchomp acknowledges you. Master Points +50!]
The light faded.
Standing in the crater—
Was no longer Vigoroth.
It was Slaking.
Beige body cloaked in thick brown fur.
A ring of white mane around its neck flowing up to its crown.
Towering at 2.1 meters.
Arms over a meter long—
Thicker than a grown man's waist.
Even its once-withered hind legs had strengthened.
Cynthia stared.
Slowly—
She smiled.
"You really are terrifying."
Not because of raw strength.
Not because of gimmicks.
But because—
This boy—
Would never stop fighting.
And neither would his Pokémon.
And somewhere—
Far beyond this plaza—
A mountain peak awaited him.
--------------
T/N:
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