Lucario's Aura rampaged uncontrollably within her body. She clutched her head in pain.
"Lucario?" Korrina's excitement turned to panic. She noticed something was wrong.
"Luca...!" Lucario's pain intensified. The world through Aura vision distorted. Even her childhood trainer looked twisted and evil. She could barely recognize her.
"Student Li Yuan! What... what's happening?" Korrina tried to connect with Lucario via Aura, but her calls went unheard. Lucario roared in agony.
Helpless, Korrina looked to Li Yuan. Only he could stabilize Lucario now.
"Not a big problem. She just can't handle the excess Aura yet. Beat her up, and she'll be fine," Li Yuan waved his hand casually.
"Ah? Is that really okay?" Korrina worried. Lucario was already unstable; wouldn't beating her make her crazy?
"It's fine. Just break her Mega form and revert her. Now you know Mega Evolution isn't easy to master. I'll help you coordinate properly later," Li Yuan comforted her.
"Then... okay. I'm counting on you!" Korrina hesitated but chose to trust Li Yuan. No one knew Mega Evolution better than him. Plus, his Affinity made him trustworthy.
"Shasha, time to work." Li Yuan summoned his Shiny Gardevoir.
Lucario was strong—Pseudo-Elite rank. Only Gardevoir could suppress her steadily. Huanhuan and Eevee couldn't.
Gardevoir's appearance triggered cheers. Li Yuan's matches had multiplied viewership because people came for his hacks—and the Shiny Gardevoir.
It was the only chance to see such a rare Pokémon. And she could Mega Evolve!
Soon, the familiar psychic cocoon formed. Gardevoir transformed rapidly. The cocoon shattered, bursting with evolution light.
Unbound Gardevoir reappeared!
Li Yuan chose Unbound form because Eternal form was too bullying~.
Not that Eternal was weaker; it had high burst damage (double Fairy damage). But Unbound had a high ceiling (random stat boost every turn).
Unfortunately, the boost was random. Boosting Attack was useless. Unbound needed three precise Special Attack boosts to surpass Eternal.
But according to Li Yuan's research, Gardevoir's favored stats (Sp. Atk) had higher boost probabilities. Given time, Unbound would surpass Eternal.
Li Yuan chose Unbound mainly to test his new Psychic power.
Like Sabrina and Caitlin, Li Yuan could boost his Pokémon.
Unbound Gardevoir went from Veteran+ to Gym Leader+.
Li Yuan poured his psychic power into her. Her aura skyrocketed, reaching Pseudo-Elite, matching Lucario.
Another Pseudo-Elite?
Are Pseudo-Elites cheap now?
He's only 19!
A 19-year-old with Pseudo-Elite power was insane in any country. And he was a "cheater" Pseudo-Elite. Cheaters always fight above their level.
Korrina didn't expect Li Yuan to hide his strength against Diantha. Unbound Gardevoir was only Gym Leader level then. How did she reach Pseudo-Elite in less than a month?
"Gardevoir, release her." Li Yuan nodded with satisfaction. The boost was as expected.
Although not as strong as Sabrina's boost (a full tier jump), his power was new. This was satisfying enough.
"Received." Unbound Gardevoir nodded coldly. The massive psychic power suppressed her emotions, making her as cold as Sabrina.
But she obeyed. She spread her arms, leaned back, and pulled the Mind Blade from her chest. The psychic sword distorted space; no matter could maintain its form before it.
Then, under Korrina's "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut" gaze, Gardevoir teleported behind Lucario.
Lucario sensed the terrifying energy but couldn't react due to chaotic Aura. The Mind Blade slashed through her body effortlessly.
The blade passed through without leaving a scratch.
But Lucario seemed drained instantly. Her Mega form collapsed. She fell to her knees, unconscious.
One slash! Again!
One slash to insta-kill a Pseudo-Elite?
What is that sword? It broke Diantha's shield and now passed through Lucario harmlessly. Does it have a 'wall-hack'?
Terrifying. No one in this tournament can beat him.
Just declare him the winner. Let others fight for second place.
"Alright. Lucario is fine for now. Will you take her for treatment, or continue?" Li Yuan smiled.
"I choose... to forfeit." Korrina's mouth twitched. She lost all will to fight.
A Pseudo-Elite was insta-killed. Her remaining Pokémon weren't even Pseudo-Elite. Sending them out was just asking for a beating.
Why suffer? Forfeit. Go date him early and fix Lucario's instability.
The audience fell silent. This was the first forfeit in National Tournament history.
Wasn't she afraid of being called unsportsmanlike?
Apparently not. And no one blamed her. Only those facing the monster knew the despair.
He's a Wall of Sighs. Unsurpassable.
Korrina not having a mental breakdown is already strong.