Hearing the challenge, Peter's eyes gleamed with confidence.
"Of course. Please go easy on me, Mr. Byron."
"Hahaha! Then witness the might of my steel body!" Byron laughed, hurling a Poké Ball.
"Go—Bronzong!"
In a flash of light, a massive bronze bell hovered onto the field. Its arms extended from the crossbar above, ancient patterns etched across its surface, its red eyes glowing faintly.
[Bronzong Lv.48 (Elite High)]
"Hm… so your Bronzor has evolved."
A calm, magnetic voice echoed from behind.
Everyone turned to see a purple-haired man in a suit leaning casually at the entrance—Lucian.
"You all go ahead. I'm just here to watch~" he said, book already in hand.
But—
Buzz… buzz…
His phone vibrated mid-step.
He picked up.
"Lucian… did you forget something?" came a smooth, unmistakable voice.
He glanced at the date.
Wednesday.
…Not his shift.
But—
Today was Cynthia's shift.
And if he wasn't there…
"…!!!"
A bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple.
He hung up instantly, forcing composure.
"Ahem… I just remembered something urgent. I'll be taking my leave!"
Without hesitation:
"Slowbro, Teleport!"
Whoosh—
Gone.
Whitney tilted her head, confused.
"Why did Elite Four Lucian even come here?"
Peter rubbed his chin.
"Probably about to cross the entire Sinnoh region in under 30 minutes…"
Byron and Riley exchanged a silent look.
"…Makes sense."
With that little interruption over, the match began.
Peter sent out his Pokémon.
Blissey.
The chat instantly lit up.
"THE PINK DEMON IS BACK!!"
"Ever since watching Peter, I swear Normal-type is broken 💀"
"+1!!!"
…
Byron lifted his shovel.
"Bronzong, Iron Defense!"
The steel fortress began boosting immediately.
Peter smiled calmly.
"Blissey, use Fling."
"Lucky~"
The pink Pokémon gave a sweet, harmless smile… then casually pulled out a crackling orb of electricity and hurled it.
Clang!
The Light Ball struck Bronzong with a metallic ring.
Damage? Negligible.
But—
Electric sparks spread across its body.
Paralysis.
"?!" Byron blinked. He had never seen that interaction before.
Peter didn't explain.
"Blissey, Stealth Rock."
"Bronzong, use—"
Crackle!
Paralysis triggered.
It couldn't move.
Blissey clapped its tiny hands. Jagged stones scattered invisibly across the battlefield, waiting.
"Bronzong, Body Press!"
"Bwooom—"
The massive bell lunged forward.
Slowed by paralysis, it was clumsy—but still dangerous.
Peter waited… waited…
Then, just as it was about to hit—
"Substitute."
"Lucky~"
Blissey split cleanly into two, leaving a decoy to take the blow.
Byron frowned.
"Turn around—Hypnosis!"
Psychic waves rippled outward—
"Baton Pass."
The real Blissey vanished.
Only the Substitute remained… and a baton spinning through the air.
Peter threw his next Poké Ball.
"Braviary—use Whirlwind!"
"SKREE—!"
The deep-blue eagle appeared midair, catching the baton. A violent gust erupted—
Bronzong was blown straight back into its Poké Ball.
Another ball popped open.
Bastiodon appeared—
CRASH!
Stealth Rock triggered instantly, smashing into its steel face.
Dust flew everywhere.
Before it could even react—
WHOOSH!
Another Whirlwind.
Back it went.
Third Pokémon—
Steelix appeared—
BOOM!
More Stealth Rock damage.
Byron's hand tightened around his shovel.
Trembling.
What… was this?!
Force switches… into Stealth Rock damage… repeatedly?!
He stared at the battlefield, where Braviary hovered calmly behind Blissey's Substitute, endlessly cycling his team.
Attack? Blocked by Substitute.
Defend? Forced out.
Evade? Impossible for his slow, heavy Pokémon.
For the first time—
He felt helpless.
The livestream exploded.
"NEW TECH JUST DROPPED—WHIRLWIND + STEALTH ROCK!!!"
"BRO THIS BREAKS STURDY 💀💀"
"Hi guys, I'm Byron, my mental is gone, please vote for me"
"How is Blissey THIS CUTE and THIS EVIL???"
…
Peter gave another calm command.
"Braviary, Whirlwind."
But Byron wasn't done yet.
He slammed his shovel into the ground.
"Steelix—Dig!"
"ROOOAR!"
Steelix spun rapidly and burrowed underground—avoiding the gust.
Peter raised a brow.
Not bad.
"Good. Keep it up! Use Taunt!"
Steelix burst from the ground, sneering provocatively.
Braviary's eyes flared with anger.
Peter smiled faintly.
"So you want a fight… then let's fight."
"Braviary—Rock Smash."
"SKREE—!"
It dove down, talons slamming into Steelix's head.
"Take it—and ROAR!"
"ROOOOAR—!"
A deafening howl exploded outward—
Braviary was forced back into its Poké Ball.
A new one opened—
Ursaring appeared, confused.
Byron grinned, beard bristling.
"Strategy like this… doesn't come with a patent, right?"
Peter blinked.
Before he could reply—
"Steelix—Stealth Rock!"
Sharp stones scattered across his side of the field.
Peter's brows lifted slightly.
"…Not bad, Uncle Byron."
Now Steelix could run the same cycle:
Roar + Stealth Rock.
The chat went wild again.
"BRO HE LEARNED IT MID-FIGHT 💀💀"
"Gym Leader adaptation is INSANE!"
"PETER'S DAILY STRAT COUNTER???"
"Wait… what item did he throw earlier?? How did it paralyze??"
A comment slid across the screen:
"I'm_not_a_lost_crybaby: New 'cursed item' Light Ball now available in Professor Peter's shop…"
"EVERYONE GO SHOP NOW!!!"
"SHOP META 💀💀💀"
…
On the battlefield, Peter's eyes sharpened slightly.
The match had just gotten interesting.
--------------
T/N:
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