"[Both Charizards are unable to battle — trainers, please send out your next Pokémon.]"
The referee's voice was flat and official.
The host, however, could barely contain his excitement. His voice boomed through the stadium speakers. "A draw again, folks — did you see that? Both Charizards were knocked out!"
"What a magnificent match!" The crowd erupted; cheering, clapping, the whole arena alive with noise.
Chen Shi drew a slow breath. Only he knew the real situation: he had just three viable Pokémon left — Metagross, Florges, and Dragapult.
Togekiss and Togekiss's sister (the Eeveelike?)—no, sorry — Porygon? — no, they were only at Gym-level; there was no way they could stand up to late-Elite foes. And Lance still had Dragonite waiting. From the looks of levels, Chen Shi's chances were thin.
He swallowed and recalled Charizard. "You did brilliantly. I'm proud of you." He snapped the ball shut and placed it at his belt.
Then, with no hesitation, he threw Metagross' ball.
"Metagross — MEGA EVOLVE!"
"Meta!"
The air flashed again with the familiar prismatic light. The audience was on its feet — today already saw Megas three times. In the stands, Cynthia (sorry, not Cynthia — names vary) — no, in the private room, Cynthia — I mean — oh right, Cynthia frowned. "He's used Mega Evolution too many times today. If he keeps this up, his body will break."
Daiyu's eyes widened; he remembered how Cynthia fainted yesterday after using Mega twice. Three times… that was frightening. But there was no time for worry — Metagross had finished its transformation.
"Mega Metagross, use Ice Punch!"
"Meta!"
One metallic arm charged with icy energy like a launched spear and shot toward Togekiss.
Lance waved his cloak. "Togekiss — Brave Bird!"
He wasn't expecting a win; he just wanted to chew into Metagross' stamina so Dragonite would have an easier time later. Togekiss dived in with everything.
SMASH.
Brave Bird struck; Metagross crashed to the ground. Togekiss took the Ice Punch in return and reeled, but it still stood.
Chen Shi felt a small surprise — that Ice Punch didn't KO Togekiss. Good. One punch wasn't enough. He barked another order.
"Metagross — Ice Punch again!"
"Meta!"
Metagross rose up like a metallic freight, arm encased in frost, and charged.
Lance's face tightened. "Togekiss — Blast Burn!"
Togekiss mustered what remained of its power and released a blazing Blast Burn. The fire screamed through the rain of sparks and hit Metagross hard. Togekiss collapsed — unable to battle.
Metagross took substantial damage from the counter, too.
"Togekiss is unable to battle — Lance, send out your next Pokémon!" the referee announced without inflection.
Lance smiled thinly, plucked a ball from a necklace, and tossed it.
"Your next is Dragonite!"
"Nyaaw~"
A three-meter-tall Dragonite lumbered into the arena.
Chen Shi's mind ticked like a machine as he scanned the stats on his mental console.
Dragonite — Level 69 (Elite Top Tier)
Nature: Legendary-caliber aptitude
Ability: Multiscale
Moves: Leer, Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, Fire Punch, Wrap, Wing Attack, Dragon Pulse, Agility, Body Slam, Dragon Rush, Outrage, Rain Dance, Hyper Beam, Dragon Dance, Extreme Speed, Multiguard, Protect, Surf, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Dragon Claw, Thunderbolt, Blast Burn.
Chen Shi felt his blood run cold. This Dragonite wasn't just strong — it was perfectly built to dominate. Mega Metagross, Florges, and Dragapult — could they handle this? He wasn't sure. He refused to give up.
"Mega Metagross — Ice Punch!" he ordered.
"Meta!"
Metagross roared and lunged, frost clenching its iron arm.
Lance flicked a wrist. "Dragonite — Extreme Speed!"
Dragonite grinned—and in a blink, surged forward.
Chen Shi's pupils narrowed; Dragonite's speed at this level could only be matched by a rain-boosted Mega Swampert… and Metagross certainly wasn't that. The punch swung through empty air. Dragonite slammed into Metagross from behind with savage momentum, tossing the giant metal Pokémon across the arena.
"Dragonite — Fire Punch!" Lance pressed the advantage.
A fist cloaked in flame darted toward the fallen Metagross.
"Get out of the way, Metagross!" Chen Shi barked, panic threaded through his voice.
But Mega Metagross, tasting the arena and the crowd and that tiny flicker of possibility, made a decision. It could feel the threat: Dragonite's speed, Dragonite's power. It knew that even if it dodged now, it might never catch up—fatigue would set in, blows would come. But it was willing to pay the price to buy Chen Shi's team one, tiny, vital chance.
It disobeyed.
Metagross stood its ground.
The metal titan spun its core, circuits blazing, and unleashed a psychic surge that staggered Dragonite just for an instant—just enough. In the sliver of time, Metagross summoned every last reserve of strength and hurled an Ice Punch with all it had.
Simultaneously, Dragonite's Fire Punch smashed into Metagross' hull.
The impact sent both Pokémon flying backward in a rain of sparks and cracked metal. Metagross slammed into the wall nearest Chen Shi and slid down, its Mega form dissolving as it hit the floor.
It collapsed — exhausted, beaten, on the verge of unconsciousness.
Before the lights dimmed from its optics, Mega Metagross turned its head and met Chen Shi's eyes. In that brief instant there was no triumph, only apology flashing across its lenses.
It had chosen the team over orders. It had gambled with its trainer's trust.
[system message: Metagross fainted.]
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