The moment Metagross settled into its stance, the valley changed.
Not visually.
But in weight.
The ground beneath Charizard felt heavier, as if gravity itself had thickened. The air sharpened, carrying a metallic edge that pressed subtly against skin and scale.
Lia felt it instantly.
"This is different from the others…"
Eren didn't take his eyes off the battlefield."Because this one isn't testing you."
Charizard stepped forward, claws digging slightly into the heated stone. Its tail flame burned brighter, but still controlled—no wasted heat, no unnecessary flare.
At Level 63, it stood firmly in Champion Entry.
But the opponent…
Was already beyond that.
The First Exchange
"Begin," the man said casually.
Metagross moved.
There was no buildup.
No warning.
It simply appeared in front of Charizard.
"Block!" Lia reacted instantly.
Charizard crossed its arms, heat surging into its forelimbs.
The impact came like a falling mountain.
A metallic crash echoed across the valley as Metagross's front limb struck Charizard's guard.
The ground shattered beneath Charizard's feet.
It slid backward several meters, claws carving deep lines into the stone.
But—
It did not fall.
Lia's eyes widened slightly.
"We held it…"
Eren nodded once.
"Barely."
Steel vs Flame
Charizard exhaled sharply.
Heat surged—but not outward.
Inward.
Compressing.
Refining.
"Don't overpower it," Lia said quickly."Control the flow!"
Charizard moved forward again—this time slower, more deliberate.
It swung its claw.
Metagross did not dodge.
Instead, it met the attack directly.
Claw met steel.
The clash rang like a hammer striking an anvil.
But this time—
Charizard didn't get pushed back.
The two forces held for a moment, evenly matched.
The opposing trainer raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad."
Doublade Enters
"Now!" Eren said.
Doublade shot forward instantly.
The twin blades split, attacking Metagross from two angles simultaneously.
Metagross reacted with mechanical precision.
One arm blocked Charizard.
Another deflected Doublade.
The remaining limbs shifted position, stabilizing its massive body without losing balance.
Three directions.
Three responses.
Perfect control.
Doublade's blades rang sharply as they struck, but couldn't break through.
It retreated instantly, avoiding a counterstrike that crushed the ground where it had been.
Pressure Rises
Metagross's eyes glowed brighter.
The air around it distorted slightly.
Lia felt her breath tighten.
"That pressure…"
Eren spoke quietly.
"Now it's serious."
Metagross stomped once.
The ground cracked outward in a wave.
Charizard reacted by taking to the air—wings spreading wide, lifting just enough to avoid the shockwave without wasting energy.
From above, it attacked.
A concentrated stream of flame shot downward.
Not wide.
Not explosive.
Focused.
The fire struck Metagross directly.
Smoke rose.
Heat distorted the air.
For a moment—
Visibility vanished.
The Reveal
The smoke cleared.
Metagross stood exactly where it had been.
Unmoved.
Its steel body glowed faintly red from heat—but showed no damage.
Lia's heart skipped.
"That didn't work…"
Eren remained calm.
"It worked."
She blinked."What?"
"Look closer."
Metagross shifted slightly.
For the first time—
Its stance adjusted.
Not because it was hurt.
But because it had been forced to respond.
The Turning Point
Charizard landed again, breathing steady.
Its heat cycle had not spiked.
No wasted energy.
Doublade hovered beside it, blades humming softly.
The opposing trainer smiled.
"Good."
He stepped forward slightly.
"Now let's raise the level."
Metagross's entire body pulsed once.
The pressure in the valley doubled.
The ground beneath Charizard sank slightly under the increased weight.
Lia steadied herself.
"Charizard… adapt."
Charizard didn't resist the pressure.
It accepted it.
Its posture lowered.
Heat redistributed.
Wings adjusted angle.
Balance regained.
The system chimed.
Charizard — Level Increase:Lv. 63 → Lv. 64
Doublade's spectral bond tightened further under the pressure.
Doublade — Level Increase:Lv. 63 → Lv. 64
True Combat Begins
Metagross moved again.
Faster than before.
This time, it didn't strike directly.
It feinted left—then appeared on Charizard's right.
"Right side!" Lia shouted.
Charizard twisted, barely intercepting the attack.
The impact pushed it sideways—but it stayed upright.
Doublade countered immediately, blades flashing toward Metagross's joints.
Metagross shifted again, blocking—but slower than before.
Not by much.
But enough.
The opposing trainer's smile widened.
"Yes… that's it."
End of the Opening Phase
The battle didn't stop.
But something had changed.
Charizard was no longer defending.
It was adapting mid-combat.
Doublade was no longer reacting.
It was predicting patterns.
The gap still existed.
But it was narrowing.
Slowly.
Relentlessly.
Inevitably.
The man crossed his arms, watching closely.
"Let's see," he said quietly.
"How far you can climb… in one fight."
The valley trembled.
The battle had only just begun.