"Did it somehow survive with minimal HP?"
Steven scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.
"I can understand, and even explain, you triggering Steadfast."
But what Steven couldn't figure out was that Riolu seemingly shouldn't have been able to withstand that Hydro Pump...
"Yet it can still stand. Steadfast doesn't prevent fainting, does it?"
"Rio!"
Riolu moved even faster, throwing a swift punch through the air.
The force of the punch carried considerable aura energy, sending the unprepared Piplup flying!
"Piplup!"
Piplup crashed to the ground, rolling in pain.
"That's dirty! It ambushed me!"
Piplup stood back up, clutching its rear, glaring fiercely at Riolu.
Piplup's condition wasn't good at this moment, having been struck first by Quick Attack and Vacuum Wave, in addition to the stamina drain from using Hydro Pump and Whirlpool.
However, compared to Riolu, it was still in slightly better shape.
Riolu looked like it only had a sliver of strength remaining.
"Should we stop here?"
But Steven observed Riolu, and it clearly wouldn't give up so readily.
Proposing to end the battle prematurely would likely backfire.
He could only steel himself and continue.
"Piplup, Water Gun!"
Water Gun would be sufficient to defeat Riolu in its current condition.
Using a more powerful move, Steven worried that Piplup would be the first to collapse from exhaustion.
Piplup angrily fired a small stream of water.
Riolu, however, dodged it with nimble movements!
"Then use Peck to finish this!"
It seemed that Piplup's ranged moves couldn't connect with Riolu anymore.
In that case, it might as well go all-in.
"Piplup!!!"
"I'm charging!"
Piplup shifted its weight forward and rushed at Riolu.
Riolu's speed suddenly increased!
Quick Attack!
Bang—
Piplup was violently knocked backward by Riolu, its round head tilting back sharply.
Gritting its teeth!
Piplup stomped its foot down firmly!
It steadied its center of gravity and swung its head forward!
Bang—
Riolu was struck hard by Piplup's headbutt.
Both Pokémon collapsed to the ground.
One lying prone, the other flat on its back.
Steven jumped down from Metagross and threw a Poké Ball at Riolu.
The Poké Ball absorbed Riolu inside.
It rested on the ground, shaking.
Bang—
To Steven's surprise, Riolu, having lost its ability to battle, actually broke free from the Poké Ball!
"What's happening?"
Observing its expression, still straining from time to time...
This...
"This Pokémon didn't faint—it simply ran out of all its energy and can't move."
Steven had no choice but to first retrieve a Hyper Potion from his bag.
He initially sprayed it on his own Piplup, then took out a Water-type Pokéblock and placed it into Piplup's beak.
Shortly after, Piplup awakened from unconsciousness.
"Piplup?"
Piplup sat on the ground in a daze, shaking its head.
It watched Steven tending to Riolu's injuries.
It huffed proudly, placing its flippers on its hips, its face full of satisfaction.
"In the end, I still won!"
Steven glanced at Piplup, choosing not to mention that Riolu hadn't actually fainted.
After all...
Piplup had still won by defeating a stronger opponent.
There was no need to discourage it.
After recovering its strength, Riolu opened its eyes.
Steven remained quite puzzled.
Logically speaking, even if Riolu hadn't fainted, how could it break free from the Poké Ball when it was completely powerless?
"Is this really the power of 'determination'?"
Riolu looked at the human with four distinct auras before it with a complex expression.
To Riolu, this situation was truly bewildering.
"You still don't acknowledge me?" Steven looked down at Riolu, asking curiously.
If it simply didn't acknowledge him, Steven would turn around and leave immediately.
If the battle wasn't sufficient, Steven would call out Scizor for another round.
If a Pokémon didn't acknowledge you at all, then capturing it was pointless.
For example, a Charizard choosing to sleep during battle...
Or a Froakie, dissatisfied with its Trainer, refusing to obey commands until it was returned...
These were all cautionary examples.
Steven wouldn't do anything cruel to Riolu like some villainous organizations might.
"Let it go free, and free myself as well."
"Rio..." Riolu's tone was filled with hesitation.
It seemed this Pokémon didn't refuse to acknowledge him.
Rather, it was still deliberating.
Being able to break free from the Poké Ball while powerless suggested that this Riolu still possessed considerable untapped potential within it.
Riolu looked down at the ground, its heart conflicted.
The person before it met all its previous criteria.
It had lost, so it should rightfully follow him.
Perhaps it should follow him and discover what those four distinct auras truly represented?
"Rio."
Riolu made its decision and nodded toward Steven.
Steven understood and retrieved a brand new Poké Ball.
Just as Riolu raised its paw, preparing to press the button at the center of the Poké Ball...
Its body suddenly trembled!
It turned its head to look somewhere behind them.
"Piplup?! (⊙ˍ⊙)"
Piplup widened its eyes and looked behind Steven.
Steven turned to look at his Metagross.
At this moment, Metagross had its eyes tightly closed, and its internal energy was overflowing across its body's surface.
The invisible pressure made the Pokémon on the cave's first level tremble.
Piplup was bewildered.
"I was the one who battled!"
"Why did the team's strongest member get even stronger?!"
"According to standard logic, shouldn't my strength be increasing?!"
"It's entered the Champion rank, hasn't it?" Steven slowly smiled.
Accumulating strength before breaking through was indeed the correct approach.
Metagross had simply remained patient for a while and naturally stepped into the Champion rank.
Now, he could walk with even more confidence!
"Is this the importance of establishing a solid foundation early on?"
Riolu clenched its fist and resolutely pressed the Poké Ball's button.
Ding—
The Poké Ball in Steven's hand completed the capture in the blink of an eye.
Riolu had been in Mistralton Cave precisely to become stronger.
Ever since it had encountered Trainers, it had remained here, waiting for worthy Trainers to seek it out.
However, it only battled Trainers with pure hearts.
It was a Pokémon with its own principles!
After witnessing Metagross's strength, Riolu had even fewer concerns.
"Meta..."
Metagross exhaled deeply, opening its bright red eyes.
Its overall aura had become significantly more powerful.
Scizor was initially similar to Metagross in strength, but its early foundation wasn't as solid as Metagross's.
Now it was steadily progressing to the Champion level.
Metagross, on the other hand, had entered the Champion rank without any obstacles.
Lairon evolved into Aggron, Metagross entered the Champion rank.
Plus, he captured the highly promising Riolu.
Three joyous occasions at once!
"Why don't I arrange an internal training battle?" Steven smiled as he stood up, looking at Metagross.
Aggron needed to familiarize itself with its new body and strength, and Metagross also needed to consolidate its newfound power.
So why not have a proper three-versus-one battle!
In any case, for the time being, he wouldn't find an opponent that would satisfy Metagross.
Skarmory, Aggron, and Scizor versus Metagross!
Steven wouldn't command them, but would let them battle autonomously.
As for the location...
"Let's find an open area outside!"
If they fought inside Mistralton Cave...
An Champion -rank Metagross would probably demolish the entire cave.
Perfect.
Let Piplup and Riolu observe together.
"Piplup..." Piplup noticed that Steven had no intention of including it in the battle, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness I just finished battling."
"Otherwise, facing the team's strongest member, I'd probably be serving as the warm-up act!"
"That kind of misfortune."
"I'm not interested!"
Piplup chuckled to itself.
If it cheered enthusiastically for Metagross...
Next time it accidentally wets its pillow and blanket, maybe Metagross would overlook it!
"How wonderful~~~"