Sceptile shot forward at blinding speed.
Metagross's eyes glowed blue.
A surge of psychic force erupted instantly.
Sceptile felt its body tighten mid-charge, invisible restraints locking it in place. Gritting its teeth, it forced its arms forward. The green blades on its forearms extended into gleaming edges—
With a cross-shaped slash, it brought both Leaf Blades crashing down onto Metagross's head.
The strike scraped across the metallic "X" on Metagross's face, leaving a faint mark.
The impact made Metagross pause for half a second.
But Psychic never faltered.
Pinned in midair, Sceptile couldn't move.
And anger only strengthened Metagross's power.
Its heavy limbs swung down mercilessly—
Meteor Mash.
The blow landed squarely.
Sceptile was sent flying back faster than it had charged in.
"Press the attack!"
Metagross followed up immediately. Swift stars scattered like rain—Swift, a move that never missed, struck Sceptile one after another.
Bruised and burning with anger, Sceptile forced itself upright.
Ash's Sceptile had officially entered the Elite tier—Level 61.
Though still slightly weaker than Aiden's Metagross, it was strong enough to exchange blows.
"Metagross, Flash Cannon!"
"Sceptile, Bullet Seed!"
Golden seeds sprayed forward in rapid succession. Metagross endured the barrage, steel energy condensing before it—
Flash Cannon fired.
"Sceptile, Quick Attack—dodge!"
At the last moment, Sceptile evaded—
But under Metagross's psychic control, the Flash Cannon curved in a sharp U-shape midair.
It struck Sceptile cleanly.
The explosion blasted it away, flames licking across its body.
Ash clenched his teeth.
Using psychic force to alter a move's trajectory… he hadn't expected that.
"What a brilliant tactic from Aiden!" the commentator roared. "Using psychic power to redirect the attack—Ash is in trouble!"
"Meteor Mash!"
"Leaf Blade!"
The two Pokémon clashed at close range again.
Sceptile was fast, its attacks sharp and relentless, constantly creating openings.
But Metagross's defense was overwhelming. Though slower, its psychic foresight predicted Sceptile's movements.
The gap gradually widened.
Psychic froze Sceptile in place once more.
A beam of orange light erupted—
Hyper Beam.
The explosion sent Sceptile crashing down.
It did not rise again.
Ding! Metagross defeated Sceptile. Gained 1,785 experience points. Level up. Current level: Lv.67.
First round—
Victory: Aiden Flint.
Ash lowered his head briefly.
But his fighting spirit only burned brighter.
"Then… I'm counting on you, Bulbasaur!"
Aiden's brows lifted slightly.
Ash's second Pokémon was his veteran from the very beginning—
The Bulbasaur that had refused to evolve.
Despite remaining in its base form, its level had reached Elite tier.
Ding! Bulbasaur's current attributes:
Pokémon: Bulbasaur
Divinity: None
Level: 60
Ability: Chlorophyll
Type: Grass / Poison
Aptitude: Purple
Bond Evolution: Locked
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Vine Whip, Leech Seed, Poison Powder, Solar Beam, Power Whip, Razor Leaf…
An Elite-tier Bulbasaur.
If it had chosen to evolve, its power would likely be terrifying.
What a pity.
"Since it's Bulbasaur… then you're up."
Aiden recalled Metagross.
Pidgeot descended onto the field.
"Pidgeot!"
Seeing the small Grass-type on the grassy battlefield, Pidgeot's interest sharpened instantly.
"Bulbasaur, use Grassy Terrain!"
Before engaging, Ash set the field with recovery and buffs. Combined with the Grass battlefield, it favored Bulbasaur immensely.
"Pidgeot—don't give it the chance. Quick Attack!"
Pidgeot's speed was already exceptional.
With Quick Attack, it became a streak of white light.
In an instant—
Bulbasaur was seized in its talons and carried high into the sky.
"Bulba! Bulba!"
Snatched like prey, Bulbasaur struggled desperately.
"Bulbasaur, don't panic!" Ash shouted. "Vine Whip—wrap its wings!"
Vines shot out, tangling around Pidgeot's body and wings.
The interference destabilized Pidgeot midair.
"Pidgeot—Brave Bird!"
Flames ignited around its body.
The burning aura incinerated the vines instantly.
And against a Grass-type—
The fire-laced impact was devastating.
With the restraints gone, Pidgeot hurled Bulbasaur downward.
"Bulbasaur! Use Vine Whip to reduce the fall—bounce back up!"
At the critical moment, vines lashed outward to soften the descent.
But Pidgeot was already diving.
Brave Bird blazed like a comet.
The fiery collision struck Bulbasaur midair.
Flames exploded outward, igniting patches of the grassy battlefield.
Bulbasaur crashed down hard.
"Bulbasaur! Don't give up!"
Even covered in wounds, even surrounded by fire—
Bulbasaur forced itself up.
"Bulba…"
"Impressive willpower," Aiden said calmly. "But against absolute strength… it's futile."
"Pidgeot—Hyper Beam!"
Orange energy gathered in its beak.
The beam fired.
It struck Bulbasaur directly.
The explosion's shockwave flipped it over.
When the smoke cleared—
Bulbasaur lay still.
Unable to battle.
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