Flow State.
Mega Aggron's base Attack stat is 140.
After being hit by Milcery's [Charm], its Attack is currently at -1.
Even with its attack power significantly reduced, judging by the deep trenches plowed into the battlefield and how it completely overpowered Sprigatito in their clash just now, this steel behemoth's combat prowess is still terrifyingly high.
Especially that move, [Heavy Slam].
Its power far exceeded the Meteor Mash of that [Huge Power] Mega Metagross from before.
Which means its ability isn't the original Filter, but most likely... Heavy Metal?
It took Hakuya only a split second to process all the information on the battlefield.
The Heavy Metal ability doubles the Pokémon's weight.
And the move [Heavy Slam] uses the user's heavy body to crash into the opponent. The heavier the user is compared to the target, the greater the move's power. That explained why this Mega Aggron's Heavy Slam was so devastatingly strong.
"The heavier the weight, the greater the power, sure... but if it gets bogged down by something, it won't be so easy for it to break free and build momentum..." Having grasped the crux of the issue, Hakuya's eyes sharpened as he commanded, "Sprigatito, run toward the edge of the battlefield!"
In official Pokémon battles in reality, intentionally leaving the designated battlefield boundaries would result in a warning or penalty from the referee.
In the Randomized Emerald, the battle rules were much the same, perhaps even more rigid.
If a Pokémon from either side actively stepped out of the pre-defined battlefield, it would be considered unable to battle.
Therefore, as Sprigatito neared the boundary line, the diving Aggron chose to cancel its [Heavy Slam], forcefully braking to a halt right before the system could penalize it.
In an instant, the friction from the sudden stop ignited visible flames against the rocky ground.
Compared to its opponent, the faster and much smaller Sprigatito naturally braked much quicker, already prepared for her next move.
"Now! Use a full-power Petal Blizzard right at its feet!"
Following Hakuya's command, a fierce storm of petals crashed down from the sky.
Mega Aggron, preparing to tank the hit, crossed its arms. But it quickly realized the attack wasn't aimed at its body, but at the ground beneath its feet and the surrounding rocky terrain.
"..."
Before cyber-Roxanne could process what was happening, the rocky ground surrounding Mega Aggron was violently smashed into a massive crater by Sprigatito's desperate bombardment.
Immediately after, a torrential flood of thick, sticky substance poured into the depression.
—It was the whipped cream Milcery had sprayed all over the field earlier.
An immense volume of cream swarmed Mega Aggron before it could even react.
Its powerful steel legs and the heavy armor enveloping its body were instantly coated in the thick cream. No matter how it struggled, its sheer, doubled weight made it incredibly difficult to generate enough explosive force to break free.
While Heavy Metal increased the power of its moves, in this specific situation, it had completely betrayed its user, severely hindering Mega Aggron's mobility, offense, and defense.
"Sprigatito, use Petal Blizzard repeatedly."
Adhering to the principle of pressing the advantage, Hakuya repeated the command five times.
As Sprigatito's attacks rained down, Mega Aggron's health bar visibly depleted.
Before long, realizing it couldn't easily break free from the cream trap, the opponent immediately changed tactics.
"Aggron, use Metal Claw!"
"ROAR—!!!"
With a few quick leaps, Sprigatito dodged the close-range [Metal Claw]. But as she looked up, several massive boulders instantly materialized in front of Mega Aggron's armored chest.
It was a familiar scene.
As Sprigatito leaped into the air to dodge, the opponent's massive steel tail began to glow once more.
If she used [Quick Attack] to dodge like before, the opponent would anticipate it again, and she would take another devastating [Iron Tail] that would knock her out instantly.
But Hakuya, having already learned his lesson, naturally wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.
"Sprigatito, aim Leafage at the ground!"
"Aggron, Iron Tail."
The howling cyclone of leaves erupted from Sprigatito just as cyber-Roxanne's command rang out.
Unlike [Quick Attack], which was rigidly locked into three predictable landing spots, the strength of using [Leafage] to dodge lay in its utter unpredictability.
—The recoil from the spiraling leaf storm hitting the ground turned Sprigatito's small body into a kite with a snapped string in a hurricane, sending her floating and spinning wildly in bizarre, erratic trajectories.
Let alone cyber-Roxanne and her Mega Aggron failing to predict where Sprigatito would land, even Hakuya and Sprigatito herself had no idea where she would end up the next second.
These unpredictable landing spots forced the opponent to pause and think before every tail swing.
And that brief hesitation was all Hakuya needed to counter their moves.
Using the air currents to flip and dodge attacks, Sprigatito even managed to gather another volley of [Petal Blizzard] mid-air under Hakuya's command, blasting it directly down at the immobilized opponent.
The intense exchange ended.
Mega Aggron was still trapped in the cream field, temporarily reduced to a stationary punching bag.
Sprigatito landed smoothly on her feet, turning her head to shout loudly at her Trainer.
"Meowha—!!!"
—Honestly, I'm getting fired up too!
Looking at Mega Aggron's health bar, which was down to its last sliver, Hakuya felt his body trembling slightly.
It wasn't just excitement from seeing the light of victory; it was because this situation was the result of him, Sprigatito, and Milcery working together. If any one of them had been missing, this would have been impossible.
And now, it was time for the final, decisive strike!
"Show them what we're made of! Continuous Shadow Claw!"
"Meowha—!!!"
Sprigatito, her eyes burning with unyielding resolve, shouted in unison with Hakuya. Claws of dark energy, several meters long, materialized instantly and slashed toward Mega Aggron's armored abdomen like falling autumn leaves in a gale.
Facing the attack, Mega Aggron naturally refused to just sit and wait for death.
Roaring loudly, it swung its flaming steel fists in a torrential barrage toward Sprigatito.
But for some reason, Sprigatito suddenly felt that its speed was pitifully slow.
Darting, weaving, dodging.
Amidst the continuous clang, clang, clang echoing against the steel behemoth, Mega Aggron let out a final, desperate roar. Its face contorting savagely, it fought with everything it had and finally tore itself free from the cream field.
"Don't stop! Take the win right now! Sprigatito, use—"
Just as Hakuya was about to command [Petal Blizzard] to finish it, the brilliant white light of evolution erupted.
Lv 15 Sprigatito → Lv 22 Floragato.
Under Hakuya's astonished gaze, the now much larger cat dashed forward, ducking low. Its right leg, which had somehow gathered Fighting-type energy, shot upward, delivering a vicious kick to the opponent's lower body.
[Low Kick: A powerful low kick that makes the target fall over. The heavier the target, the greater the move's power.]
"ROAR—"
Having just broken free from the cream, only to take the large cat's [Low Kick] head-on, Mega Aggron only had time to let out a single wail before crashing heavily to the ground with a massive boom.
—As expected, as long as I have my Pokémon by my side, there's nothing we can't accomplish.
"I lost... It seems I still have much to learn. According to Pokémon League regulations, if you defeat a Gym Leader, you receive..."
After her defeat, the Rustboro Gym Leader handed over the Stone Badge and a TM, following standard procedure.
When Floragato propped herself up and turned around to look for her Trainer, she saw a familiar figure running toward her.
At this moment, completely ignoring whatever post-battle speech cyber-Roxanne was rambling about, Hakuya didn't even spare a glance at the Stone Badge offered to him. He was overflowing with excitement as he pulled Floragato into a tight hug.
"You did amazing! Sprigatito... oh wait, Floragato!"
Although he didn't understand how Sprigatito managed to break past the level cap and evolve at the last second, Hakuya was in no mood to think about that right now. He just excitedly tackled Floragato, hugging her and rubbing his cheek against hers.
Just like when she was a Sprigatito, her cheeks were incredibly soft.
Only... they felt a bit hot right now?
The very next second, a system notification popped up.
[Trainer Hakuya used Nuzzle on Floragato. Floragato HP -1.]
"EH?! EHHH?!"
Hakuya stared in shock as the large cat's face flushed beet red before she fainted completely.
"Meow... meowha..."
[Floragato fainted. Hakuya's vision faded to black.]