"Come on and let me see how good your Metagross really is"
Alex called, tossing out a Poké Ball. With a flash, a Haxorus appeared on the field, its entire body armored in tough scales. The Pokémon's sharp tusks gleamed like axes, giving Haxorus its fitting name.
Although Haxorus was not a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, its rarity was no less than that of a pseudo-legendary.
Julian knew that Alex, despite being a regular student, had gained his reputation as the junior class leader through a mix of skill, luck, and hard work.
Seeing Alex with such a rare and powerful Pokémon didn't surprise him—in fact, he'd have been more surprised if Alex hadn't had one.
"You're not ready to face my Metagross just yet"
Julian said with a small grin as he called out his own Pokémon.
Instantly, his Steelix emerged, its enormous body hitting the ground with a tremor.
Pokémon: Steelix (Steel/Ground)
Level: 67
Qualification: Cyan
Ability: Rock Head
Item: Metal Coat
Gender: Male
Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Rock Polish, Iron Tail, Dragon Breath, Earthquake, Crunch, Harden, Smack Down, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Slam, Sandstorm, Dig, Stone Edge
Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Body Slam, High Horsepower, Drill Run, Dragon Pulse, Heavy Slam, Breaking Swipe, Rock Slide
Genetic Moves: Defense Curl, Double-Edge, Head Smash, Dragon Tail
--
Pokémon: Haxorus (Dragon)
Level: 70
Qualification: Cyan
Ability: Rivalry
Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Assurance, Taunt, Slash, Dragon Claw, Scary Face, Crunch, Double Kick, Focus Energy, Swords Dance, Outrage, Guillotine, Giga Impact
Disc Moves: Breaking Swipe, Protect, Dig, Brick Break, Earthquake, Dragon Pulse, X-Scissor
Genetic Moves: Dragon Tail, Counter, First Impression, Dragon Dance
--
Steelix, Julian's highest-leveled Pokémon, which was level 66 when he first caught it.
It's not that Julian didn't train Steelix, but that after becoming a pseudo-Elite, the experience and time required to level up each time, was no longer comparable to that of Advanced tier.
Most trainers spend three or four years training their Pokémon from level 61 pseudo-Elite to level 70, the pseudo-Elite peak.
And if you want to shorten the time it takes to level up, pouring in a vast amount of resources was the only way.
Haxorus was at the pinnacle of the 70-level pseudo-Elite stage, just one step away from becoming a true Elite. Although it had cyan qualification, reaching the Elite stage required more than just leveling up.
If you simply level up to become an Elite, you'll only be an ordinary Elite. However, if you want to be the best among Elites, it takes much more.
At level 70, a massive amount of resources needs to be invested, possibly exceeding the total resources used in the earlier stages of development.
Only by doing this would the Pokémon, upon reaching the Elite stage, have a higher life force and strength compared to ordinary Elite Pokémon.
Julian's Steelix had not appeared in official matches and its only public appearance was during the intermediate-level Pokémon riot, where it was sent to guard the entrance of the secret realm.
It was well known that Metagross was Julian's most powerful Pokémon, yet this time, Julian had chosen not to send out Metagross.
Though Steelix's aura was that of a pseudo-Elite, Alex couldn't help but feel enraged by the sense of being underestimated.
He was the representative of Junior year.
He entered the Imperial University as the top student in the national college entrance examination.
Although he was born in an ordinary family, he took great pride in having outperformed many students from prestigious families.
He had also defeated many people from top families, like Julian.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to become a member of the school team, where his strength was second only to that of the team captain.
"Isn't your brother underestimating him too much?" Faye asked, glancing at Thea.
Although she didn't like Alex, who often hovered around Thea, she still acknowledged his strength as a formidable opponent.
"Wait and see," Thea replied.
Although it wasn't clear why Julian hadn't chosen Metagross, but she knew he must have a reason.
The battle was about to begin.
"Haxorus, use Dragon Pulse!"
Alex sneered, as he imagined Steelix taking a direct hit by Dragon Pulse.
"We'll use Dragon Pulse too"
Julian responded calmly.
"Ridiculous"
Alex muttered under his breath, already dismissing Julian's choice.
As a Dragon-type Pokémon, a Dragon Pulse used by Haxorus would naturally be more powerful than a Dragon Pulse used by a non-Dragon-type Pokémon.
As the two Dragon Pulses collided mid-air, a surprising scene appeared. Haxorus's Dragon Pulse didn't overpower Steelix's.
Instead, Steelix's Dragon Pulse gradually gained the upper hand, pushing Haxorus's attack back.
Realizing that the situation wasn't good, Haxorus quickly cut off its Dragon Pulse and swiftly approached Steelix, his palm glowing with a bright white light.
It was Brick Break.
A Fighting-type move that dealt twice as much damage to Steelix.
Despite its massive size, Steelix displayed exceptional flexibility, twisting its body like an Arbok, easily dodging the attack.
"Dragon Tail!"
In a flash, Steelix countered with a powerful Dragon Tail, landing a direct hit on Haxorus's back. The impact sent Haxorus reeling, momentarily dazed by the force.
"Haxorus!"
Alex shouted anxiously, he did not expect that the one to be knocked back would be his Haxorus.
"Roar!"
Haxorus, though knocked back, didn't fall down. After landing, he stood firm on the ground, the large tusks on both sides flashing with red.
Despite his aggressive appearance, Haxorus was typically a calm and mild-mannered Pokémon in normal conditions. However, when angered, he became truly terrifying.
"Haxorus, Guillotine!"
Rage made Haxorus forget the pain in his back, it focused solely on Steelix.
'Crush it, crush it.'
Haxorus moved swiftly across the battlefield, leaving shallow footprints in the ground. Two streams of white air formed along the sides of its tusks as it charged forward.
"Giga Impact!" Julian countered.
Steel-type Pokémon were never afraid of direct collisions from any move—their iron-like bodies were their greatest weapon.
With a violent clash, the two Pokémon collided together.
In that instant, a terrifying shockwave rippled outward. Since the protective barrier hadn't been activated, everyone nearby, faced with the blade-like air currents, immediately released their own Pokémon to shield themselves from the force.
As the two closest to the collision, Julian and Alex naturally responded by quickly dispatching their Pokémon.
Julian sent out his Metagross, while Alex called upon his Alakazam.
After the Pokémon on both sides were locked in a deadlock for over ten seconds, an explosion occurred, a mushroom cloud rose into the air, and from within that cloud, a figure was flung out—
Unexpectedly or not Haxorus.
--
Keep it up, don't let the ranking fall below top 15 guys🎉🎉
*****
Upto 30 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/ReduxMagister