It's hard not to feel a bit itchy.
A battle of super evolutions between inheritors is considered "traditional" in Carlos.
Koruni absentmindedly sipped her soup, drinking half and spilling half, which made Kokobur furrow his brows.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
He coughed heavily twice, bringing Koruni's scattered senses back, seeing her embarrassed face, he sighed silently and turned to Baimu, "Lord Baimu, if you have no pressing matters, why not stay at the Gym tonight? The rooms are spacious and plenty."
"Thank you for your kindness, but I do have things to attend to."
Baimu ignored Koruni's suddenly bright eyes, declining the invitation.
Of course, he wasn't a fool; he knew Kokobur's intentions behind the invitation, so he directly said to Koruni, "However, I am very interested in Miss Koruni's Mega Lucario. I wonder if there's an opportunity for a no-holds-barred match?"
"Sure, sure!"
The juvenile Gym Leader sprang up, clapped her hands on the table, and nodded frantically.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Kokobur coughed forcefully, glared at his restless granddaughter, then turned and said, "Sorry for the scene."
Baimu chuckled without saying a word.
Koruni's character is very similar to Ash Ketchum, both are of the cheerful, lively type, and they are extremely passionate about Pokémon battles, even having recorded a hundred consecutive wins herself.
How could such a Trainer remain indifferent when seeing Aggron and others?
——
After dining.
After some time to digest.
The sky outside had completely darkened, with numerous lights illuminating the Refining Tower, making the originally dim castle appear bright.
The battle arena.
Koruni glided around the walls on her roller skates, skillfully spinning in place and looking at Baimu across her.
"Are we really deciding the outcome with only one Pokémon?"
"Yes."
Baimu nodded, glancing at the response from Balza on his phone.
Fifteen minutes…
It should be enough to resolve the battle, right? After all, it's just one battle, and Koruni isn't Mikoli; Lucario shouldn't be that troublesome.
"Alright then."
Koruni was somewhat disappointed; she actually wanted to battle with both of her Pokémon that could mega evolve once…
If possible, an all-out battle would also be acceptable.
Kokobur walked slowly to the referee's seat and said loudly, "I'll act as the referee for this match! Do you agree?"
They both agreed in unison.
As for refereeing, although it requires certain battle expertise and knowledge, unless special situations arise, there's actually no sense of presence; anyone can do it.
"Now, let's begin…"
Kokobur announced the rules loudly, Baimu silently took out a Pokeball.
At the moment he shouted to begin.
It was thrown out!
Bang!
A flash of white light.
"Chomper~"
Mawile landed, the red ribbons on her head fluttering in the wind.
Opposite, Lucario appeared, with its evenly proportioned figure and sharp eyes, clearly looking fairly unapproachable.
Baimu and Koruni exchanged glances; one grasped a necklace, the other swiftly punched and kicked.
"Mega evolve!"
"Life! Explode! Mega evolve!"
Instantly.
Brilliant colors completely enveloped both Pokémon, with lightning-like mind chains connecting mid-air, erupting with even more dazzling light.
Shortly after breathing.
Both revealed brand new stances.
"Awoo!"
Mega Lucario stood tall with boiling energy stirring a vortex, causing the hair at the back of its head to flutter like a tied band.
Indeed very cool.
But the size… much shorter than imagined, probably only about 1.3 to 1.4 meters?
About the same level as Mega Mawile.
"Chomper!"
"Sorry, sorry!"
Upon hearing the protest, Baimu immediately apologized; his thoughts, if entirely uncovered, would basically be sensed by Mega Mawile.
The latter had little care for its height, primarily unhappy with the trainer's mocking attitude.
What's wrong with being short?
Did it eat your family's rice?
...Even if it did eat your family's rice, shouldn't think this way! Doesn't it care about its image?
Mega Mawile slightly turned its head, its gaze showing dissatisfaction.
Seeing they didn't attack immediately and even chatted idly, Koruni couldn't help but show the demeanor of a Hall Master.
"Being distracted in battle isn't good behavior! Lucario, Wave Missile!"
"Ugh——"
Mega Lucario let out a long, low growl, with its claws slightly gathered at its sides, the energy quickly converging towards the center, transforming into a constantly pulsating blue light missile!
"Awo!"
Whoosh!
The light projectile spun its way towards Mega Mawile.
Meanwhile.
Mega Lucario slightly retracted its right foot, abruptly disappearing from its original spot!
This is one of Koruni's reliably tested attack strategies, using the Wave Missile to attract the opponent's attention, and then relying on its speed to loop behind the opponent for a fast and strong strike.
Having once been defeated by Mega Mawile, she knows better than to engage such Pokémon head-on.
However.
As a Gym Leader, Koruni seemingly forgot that even the same species of Pokémon, under different trainers' nurturing, can exhibit different changes.
This remains true even after mega evolution.
"Rush."
Mega Mawile calmly angled its body sideways, its eyes moving side to side, as black and red light flowed through the giant jaws at the back of its head, swiftly snapping in both directions!
Bang! Crunch!
A cloud of smoke exploded.
The incoming Wave Missile was bitten into pieces by one of the giant jaws, while the other jaw similarly and precisely bit the Mega Lucario that had dashed behind it!