"What a coincidence," Misty couldn't help saying.
"What do you mean?" Max asked, confused.
Misty lifted her chin proudly.
"The Viridian Gym is also the strongest Gym in Kanto."
Although Misty got along well with Max, when it came down to it, she naturally stood on Sam's side.
And more importantly—
This was Kanto vs Hoenn.
As the future Gym Leader of the Cerulean Gym, she wouldn't hesitate for a second.
Her words instantly stirred up the crowd.
"The strongest Gym Leader in Kanto? Then this match is going to be amazing!"
"Who do you think will win?"
"Of course it's Mr. Norman! His strength is unfathomable—I've heard he's already reached the Elite level!"
Aside from Ash, Misty, and Brock, almost everyone believed Norman would win.
---
The Battle Begins
The arena quieted.
Both Trainers grew serious.
After confirming both sides were ready, the referee raised his hand—
"Battle… start!"
Without hesitation, both threw their Poké Balls.
"Come out—Charizard!"
"Come out—Exploud!"
---
Exploud Appears
Exploud, the evolved form of Loudred, appeared on the field.
Its massive purple body and oversized mouth made it look intimidating.
Unlike most Pokémon, Exploud fought using sound as a weapon.
Pokémon: Exploud
Type: Normal
Strength: High Elite-level
Potential: Elite
The moment Sam checked its strength, his expression tightened slightly.
Norman was taking this seriously.
Very seriously.
---
Opening Moves
"Exploud—Howl," Norman commanded calmly.
Instead of attacking, he chose to boost first.
Exploud let out a deep roar, its momentum rising rapidly.
Sam didn't hesitate either.
"Charizard—Dragon Dance!"
Even though Charizard wasn't a Dragon-type, its draconic blood allowed it to use dragon-based techniques.
As it danced, its speed and power surged.
Both sides finished strengthening almost simultaneously—
And attacked at once.
---
Clash of Fire and Sound
"Charizard—Fire Spin!"
Flames burst from Charizard's mouth, spiraling into a blazing vortex that trapped Exploud.
But Norman remained completely calm.
"Exploud—Hyper Voice."
Then—
It happened.
A massive sonic blast erupted from Exploud's mouth.
The entire arena shook.
Spectators instinctively covered their ears.
Even Sam winced.
There was no way to block it.
The sound waves slammed into Charizard midair, dealing heavy damage.
Although Fire Spin looked impressive—
It barely affected Exploud.
But Hyper Voice?
That was real damage.
---
A Gap in Power
Sam's expression darkened.
The difference between low Elite and high Elite was still significant.
Charizard's endurance and attack power were still lacking.
For a brief moment—
Sam hesitated.
What move should he use next?
Then—
Something changed.
---
The Awakening
The Key Stone on Sam's wrist suddenly began to glow intensely.
His eyes lit up.
Finally…
This was what he had been waiting for.
All those battles in the Battle Tower—
All for this moment.
Sam raised his right hand high.
The Key Stone resonated with the Mega Evolution Stone X on Charizard.
"Come on—Mega Evolve, Charizard!!!"
His voice echoed across the arena.
---
Shock and Awe
"Charizard can Mega Evolve?!" Ash shouted in excitement.
Having seen Mega Evolution before, he immediately understood what was happening.
"If that's true… then my Charizard can too!"
Brock stayed silent.
Even he didn't fully understand Mega Evolution yet.
Around them, the audience was completely stunned.
"Mega Evolution…? What is that?"
Unlike Kanto, Hoenn hadn't widely revealed information about it.
For most people here—
This was their first time witnessing it.
---
Norman's Reaction
Norman smiled slightly.
"Mega Evolution… this just got more interesting."
As a Gym Leader, he knew exactly what this meant.
He had even been searching for a Mega Stone himself—
But hadn't been lucky enough to find one.
---
Charizard X Appears
A brilliant white light engulfed Charizard.
Its form began to change.
The flames intensified—
Its body shifted—
Power surged.
Then—
The light faded.
Standing in the arena was a completely different Pokémon.
Mega Charizard X.