Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

There was no denying that Aggron's sturdy steel armor gave it impressive durability.

Despite the damage it sustained from Stomping Tantrum, it managed to charge right up to Garchomp.

If this had been before Garchomp used Swords Dance, Aggron might have successfully landed its attack.

But now, bolstered by Swords Dance, Garchomp's offensive power was on a completely different level.

Boom!

Aggron's massive body fell with a resounding crash at Garchomp's feet.

"Aggron is unable to battle! The victory goes to Garchomp!"

Lance, acting as the referee and witness, made the announcement. His voice carried a hint of surprise.

He wasn't just amazed by the outcome but also by Luo Yuan's growth as a trainer.

Lance's keen eye had noticed the improvement in Luo Yuan's Pokémon selection, tactical decisions, and timing during the battle.

Compared to his performance at the Pokémon League and as a newly appointed Elite Four member, Luo Yuan had made tremendous progress.

Coupled with the unique skills of his team of Pokémon...

"I take back what I said earlier," Lance thought to himself. "Maybe Luo Yuan really does have a chance to win this."

---

Luo Yuan had taken the first win.

"Return, Aggron!"

Steven retrieved his fainted Pokémon. Losing the opening round was not something he had anticipated.

After all, despite all his preparations, Luo Yuan was still a newly minted Elite Four member—the youngest in history, no less.

While youth symbolized potential and promise, it also suggested inexperience and inconsistency.

Now that Steven had lost the first round, it was impossible for him not to feel the pressure. The battle was being broadcast live across Hoenn, and losing to a younger opponent carried a significant blow to his image.

Still, as a Champion, Steven's mental fortitude was exceptional.

He quickly composed himself, analyzing his next steps and planning his strategy against Garchomp.

While Steven managed to stay calm, Joseph Stone, the mastermind behind this battle, was not as composed.

He'd already been frustrated by Silph Co. turning this battle into a promotional event for their holographic communicators. Still, he had consoled himself with the belief that the actual battle would favor his side.

But now...

With Steven losing the first match, the edge Joseph had built up in his mind crumbled instantly.

"This is just an isolated misstep. Steven will get serious in the next round," he reassured himself.

Yet, a nagging thought lingered in his mind—if Luo Yuan could outmaneuver Steven once, what was stopping him from doing it again?

Meanwhile, Silph Co.'s president observed his rival's frustration with quiet amusement.

"You have no idea what kind of opponent you're up against," he thought smugly.

At first, he had been uneasy about Luo Yuan's true identity.

But now, he couldn't care less.

So what if he's tied to Team Rocket?

With someone like Luo Yuan backing them, the opportunities for Silph Co. far outweighed the risks.

The president even began to dream of Silph Co. expanding across the entire world—a vision he had previously only dared to imagine in his sleep.

---

Though the tension was high, all of this had transpired within a matter of minutes.

Steven finally decided on his second Pokémon.

"Go, Claydol!"

Bang!

A burst of light revealed a mysterious Pokémon with a black body, red-ringed eyes, and an enigmatic presence.

Although Steven prided himself on being a Steel-type specialist, his roster—like Lance's "Dragon" team—contained several unconventional choices.

Claydol was one of those outliers.

"Claydol, huh? That's troublesome," Luo Yuan murmured, narrowing his eyes.

Steven's decision to send out Claydol was undeniably a smart move.

As a Ground/Psychic-type Pokémon with the Levitate ability, Claydol was immune to Garchomp's Ground-type moves—a significant part of its offensive repertoire.

The obvious choice for Luo Yuan would be to switch Pokémon.

But doing so would mean losing the Swords Dance boosts Garchomp had painstakingly built up, and Luo Yuan wasn't willing to let that go to waste.

Steven had effectively presented Luo Yuan with a tactical dilemma.

It took Luo Yuan only a few seconds to make his decision.

"Garchomp, I'm leaving this to you."

If he was going to push forward, he would do so without hesitation.

The Swords Dance had already set the stage, and this was the perfect moment to seize the momentum.

Battles were as much about spirit as strategy. There was no future for the timid.

Luo Yuan locked eyes with Steven, his determination unwavering.

Their Pokémon mirrored their trainers' resolve and simultaneously launched their attacks.

Dragon Breath VS Psychic!

The two moves clashed mid-air. Psychic energy tried to suppress the Dragon Breath, only to be partially consumed by it. Meanwhile, the remnants of Dragon Breath dissipated under Psychic's force.

The collision left both Pokémon momentarily stunned. Claydol's body stiffened under Dragon Breath's paralyzing energy, while Garchomp winced from the mental strain caused by the Psychic backlash.

It was now up to the trainers to take control of the situation.

Luo Yuan's eyes glimmered faintly with a subtle blue light.

In the next instant, a psychic link connected him and Garchomp, alleviating its mental pain and allowing him to process sensory data from the battlefield at a heightened level.

The entire arena seemed to fall under Luo Yuan and Garchomp's domain.

And then, Garchomp moved.

Swinging its arms, it unleashed several air blades toward the hovering Claydol.

At the same time, Garchomp tilted its head back, gathering energy into its jaws. A bright yellow orb formed and expanded before being released in a devastating blast.

Boom!

A surge of energy hurtled toward Claydol—Dragon Pulse.

Steven had already anticipated Garchomp's actions the moment it started charging.

"Claydol, Teleport!"

At Steven's command, all of Claydol's eyes opened, glowing blue as its body was enveloped in psychic energy.

In an instant, Claydol vanished from its position, leaving Dragon Pulse to crash harmlessly into the ground.

"Missed," someone muttered from the sidelines.

But Luo Yuan didn't flinch; instead, a faint smile appeared on his face.

For most trainers, Teleport was a frustrating move, allowing the opponent to vanish unpredictably.

But against a psychic master like Luo Yuan, Teleport was as futile as performing a magic trick for a magician.

"Behind you, Garchomp!" Luo Yuan called, issuing his next command before Claydol could reappear.

---

...

Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.

Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.

WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it... or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.

If you had fun, you know what to do:

👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]

Heads up—Patreon's 50% off for all tiers during May. So if you were on the fence? Now's the time.

And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.

👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]

Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.

—Leaf