"Bastiodon, use Taunt!"
Byron made the first move.
Bastiodon's base Speed was a pitiful 30—but its Defense? A monstrous 168.
Against a physically offensive, speed-reliant Pokémon like Lopunny, Byron's strategy was simple:
Force it to attack recklessly.
Tank everything.
Counter.
But—
"Lopunny, Fake Out!"
Whoosh—
Before Taunt could even be released, Lopunny became a streak of light, vanishing from sight and reappearing at Bastiodon's flank—
Smack!
A palm strike landed sharply at its neck joint, interrupting the move.
"Sweet Kiss!"
"Mi-lo~"
With a playful wink, a glowing pink kiss-shaped light flew straight into Bastiodon's shield-like face.
"Grrr…!"
Its eyes spun.
Confusion.
"Bastiodon, snap out of it! Use Earthquake!"
"ROOOAR—!!"
Red light flickered in its eyes. Bastiodon leapt up and slammed down violently—
BOOOOOOM!
The battlefield trembled.
Peter nodded slightly.
Byron truly was a veteran Gym Leader.
Rather than trying to locate Lopunny precisely while confused, Bastiodon opted for wide-area devastation.
Smart.
But—
"Lopunny! Use the rebound force—High Jump Kick!!!"
"What?!" Byron's head snapped upward.
At some point—
Lopunny had already leapt skyward!
"Predicted…?!"
Byron barely had time to react before Lopunny's long leg, wrapped in pale crimson Fighting aura, sliced through the air—
"Bastiodon! Wake up!!"
Too late.
Confusion triggered.
BOOM—
Her knee struck Bastiodon's cheek.
The 300+ kilogram fortress Pokémon was launched backward and crashed heavily into the ground.
Lopunny landed lightly, breathing hard, locking eyes with Peter.
"Do you feel it?" Peter grinned.
In his hand, the Keystone burned hot.
"Mi-lo!"
She nodded.
She could feel it.
Every attack felt stronger.
Faster.
Like her limits were dissolving.
"Then—Lopunny! Respond to my expectations!
Let our bond ignite—MEGA EVOLVE!!!"
BUZZZZ—
In an instant, Peter and Lopunny's consciousness intertwined.
Blinding golden light burst from both Keystone and Mega Stone, illuminating the entire arena like daylight.
Twin spiraling chains of rainbow energy wrapped around Lopunny's slender figure—
Evolution light exploded skyward.
"W-What is that?!" Byron gasped.
Then—
The light faded.
And something new stood at center field.
…
Mega Lopunny
Her height surged from 1.5 meters to nearly 1.7.
The fluffy ear tips streamlined into whip-like braided appendages.
Her legs were wrapped in torn black stockings, minimizing drag.
Arm and foot fur refined for combat efficiency.
A clover-shaped crest adorned her forehead.
Pink eyes blazed with battle lust.
Mega Lopunny ♀ Lv.36 (Advanced)
Ability: Scrappy
(Normal- and Fighting-type moves hit Ghost-types. Immune to Intimidate. Partial resistance to mental interference.)
Talent: 640
HP: 80
Attack: 180
Defense: 80
Sp. Atk: 40
Sp. Def: 80
Speed: 180
Description:
A Lopunny that achieved Mega Evolution through soul resonance with her Trainer. Her power vastly surpasses her species' limits. Her whip-like ears and explosive legs can shatter steel effortlessly.
"Mi-lo!"
Gone was her usual gentleness.
A faint, feral smile curved her lips.
Her gaze toward Bastiodon was savage.
"Bastiodon, use Rest!" Byron chose the safest route.
High Jump Kick's quadruple effectiveness had already cut deep.
And confusion was still active.
"Grrr…"
Bastiodon roared and dropped into sleep.
Its wounds began closing rapidly.
Peter smirked.
"Three turns. Finish it."
WHOOSH—
Lopunny vanished again.
Before Bastiodon's eyes fully closed—
She was already beside it.
Deep crimson Fighting energy gathered at her knee—
BOOOOM!!!
The kick struck its unarmored abdomen.
The 300+ kilogram Bastiodon was launched over ten meters into the air.
"ROOOAR!!!"
It was knocked awake by sheer pain.
Byron's eyelid twitched.
How could a Pokémon only at Advanced tier possess near-Gym-tier power?!
With quadruple effectiveness, the move's effective output reached absurd levels.
Under 180 Attack talent—
Even Bastiodon's legendary Defense couldn't endure.
"Again! High Jump Kick!"
FLASH—
Lopunny reappeared midair—
"Don't underestimate us! Bastiodon—Metal Burst!!"
Metal Burst—
A Steel-type counterattack, returning 1.5× the damage received.
Brilliant metallic light enveloped Bastiodon.
Peter's eyes sharpened.
Unlike Counter, Metal Burst had a broader area.
For a slow tank like Bastiodon, it was more reliable.
Byron truly was experienced.
But—
"Too slow."
Peter shook his head faintly.
"Lopunny's speed exceeds the blast expansion."
Byron's pupils contracted.
"Bastiodon! Rest again—!"
"Too late."
Peter lowered his cap brim.
Then slowly lifted his head.
"High. Jump. Kick."
"MI—LO!!!"
From above—
Through the smoke—
Lopunny plummeted like a meteor.
Her knee struck Bastiodon's spine.
CRACK!
The grey carapace shattered.
Both Pokémon crashed down like artillery shells.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Dust filled the arena.
Lopunny flipped gracefully and landed beside Peter.
Light shimmered.
She reverted.
Her fur messy.
Lips dry.
Pink eyes still blazing.
Energy exhausted.
Mega Evolution consumed immense stamina.
She would need training to sustain it longer.
The dust settled.
Bastiodon lay unconscious.
Byron's figure blurred—
And vanished.
…
[Ding!] Simulation Victory Achieved!
Reward: +50 Universal Talent Points!
[Ding!] Achievement Unlocked: "Evolution Beyond Evolution"
Reward: +100 Master Points!
Peter exhaled slowly.
He clenched the Keystone.
Today—
They hadn't just won.
They had crossed into a new era.
And this—
Was only the beginning.
--------------
T/N:
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