"Klein, let's have a battle."
Lucas's unexpected challenge made Klein pause for a moment. Then, a bright smile spread across his face. "It's been a long time since we last fought. After all these years, let me show you my new powerful partner."
"Alright."
Faced with Lucas's challenge, Klein had no reason to refuse. He slowly retrieved a Poké Ball from his hand.
"Go, Delphox!"
The glow of the Poké Ball faded, revealing a floating purple flame in midair. A shiny, violet-colored Delphox appeared before Klein. It flicked the magic wand in its hand, causing the surrounding purple flames to dance as if imbued with life.
Legend has it that when a Delphox focuses its spirit on the flame burning at the tip of its wand, it can see into the future. In battle, it wields psychic power to control fiery whirlpools of 3,000 degrees Celsius, trapping its foes in flames until only ashes remain.
The swirling flames danced like a magical melody, and Delphox smiled enchantingly. The purple fire around it transformed into a pair of elegant, fiery wings. Seeing this display, Klein let out a sigh.
I told you not to waste energy on meaningless flourishes. There's no need for excessive flamboyance.
For a Pokémon like Delphox, a noble and elegant lady who adored beauty and style, making a dazzling entrance was essential. Otherwise, how could she assert her grandeur?
However, upon seeing her trainer, Klein, Delphox's face flushed slightly. She revealed a shy expression, and the flame on her wand gradually took the shape of a heart, a clear reflection of her emotions.
"I'm counting on you for this one."
To Delphox, Klein's voice was the sweetest sound in the world. It struck right at her heart, making her cheeks turn deep red. Like an infatuated fangirl, she was lost in all sorts of romantic fantasies.
Seeing his Pokémon in such a state, Klein was at a loss for words. While Delphox was undeniably powerful, this was precisely why he rarely sent her into battle—she was not only obsessed with flashy displays but also far too affectionate toward him.
"Hahaha! A shiny Delphox, huh? That's a Pokémon from the Kalos region. Well, I won't lose either! Go, Blastoise!"
The moment Blastoise appeared, it locked eyes with Delphox and instantly had heart-shaped pupils.
However, Delphox was long accustomed to the admiring gazes of male Pokémon. Unlike her usual interactions, she regarded Blastoise with cold indifference, exuding an air of regal aloofness.
The more indifferent she acted, the more Blastoise became enamored. He was utterly captivated by her beauty and, without hesitation, approached her with the utmost devotion, trying to win her favor.
With a light tap of her wand on Blastoise's head, Delphox let out a disdainful snort and turned away, ignoring the big lug. This left Blastoise looking utterly dejected and disappointed.
"Blastoise."
Seeing his Pokémon act so embarrassingly, Lucas raised his mechanical arm. A uniquely shaped Key Stone appeared in his palm, radiating a powerful light that enveloped Blastoise.
"Show your true strength to the one you adore! Mega Evolution—Blastoise!"
Bathed in light, Blastoise's two cannons merged into one massive water cannon. As it transformed into Mega Blastoise, the ground trembled beneath its immense power.
Holding her wand, Delphox narrowed her eyes as she sensed her opponent's increased strength, watching the massive turtle intently.
However, the powerful presence of Mega Blastoise immediately dissipated the moment it finished evolving. It reverted back to its lovestruck expression, shooting countless rainbow-colored water bubbles from its cannon in an attempt to please Delphox.
"Let the battle begin!"
Klein cleared his throat. Delphox swept her wand through the air, summoning countless tiny purple flames that hovered motionlessly in the arena.
The eerie violet fire burned quietly. As the battle commenced, Mega Blastoise regained its composure. Its massive cannon fired a high-speed Water Pulse, surging straight toward Delphox.
"Teleport."
In an instant, Delphox appeared on the other side of the field, seemingly moving in a flash, effortlessly dodging Mega Blastoise's attack.
"I see… those flames were markers," Lucas muttered.
With his extensive battle experience, he quickly grasped Delphox's strategy.
Those floating flames served as coordinates. Delphox had used them to swap places, enabling rapid repositioning. Lucas's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Klein, you really do come up with some creative strategies. But Mega Blastoise's Water Pulse isn't over yet!"
In a flash, the water attack transformed midair, dispersing into a rotating surge that scattered in all directions. It forcefully extinguished many of the floating purple flames. However, before the turbulent water could reach her, Delphox had already swapped positions with it.
Lucas, uncharacteristically talkative in this battle, continued explaining, "The moment Water Pulse struck the flames earlier, Delphox had already marked her coordinates. Now, use Mystical Fire!"
A burst of flames shot toward Mega Blastoise. It didn't fear fire attacks, but as the scorching flames brushed past it, a unique violet imprint seared onto its body.
For a moment, the big lug's face flushed red.
Was this… a mark of love?
Sensing Mega Blastoise's thoughts, Delphox's expression turned fierce. The purple mark suddenly flared with intense light.
In an instant, Mega Blastoise's special attack power dropped by one stage.
Unlike typical Psychic-type Pokémon, Delphox could momentarily foresee the future using the flames on her wand, allowing her to position herself in the most advantageous spots. Additionally, Mystical Fire effectively weakened her opponent's special attacks.
The battle grew more intense, yet both Klein and Lucas were enjoying themselves. This clash between Fire-type and Water-type Pokémon stirred up old memories, reminding them of their journey together long ago.
That time, at the very start of their adventure…
Meanwhile, in an office in the Johto region—
"Incineroar, you've done well."
A young man recalled his Incineroar after it had successfully captured footage of the Twin Islands battle using a hidden camera.
Among all the Pokémon under the command of the enigmatic man with the Yin-Yang mask, Incineroar was the only one to withdraw from the battle mid-way—not because it was his Pokémon, but because it had another mission.
During the Legion Battle, the sandstorm-ravaged environment and the chaos of combat had allowed Incineroar to slip away unnoticed. Neither the raging Tyranitar nor the Mega Gardevoir, too focused on their intense duel, had realized its disappearance.
Fiddling with the Poké Ball in his hand, the young man smiled and tapped his fingers on the desk.
"A promising newcomer… This 'Sandstorm King' is stronger than I anticipated. Don't you think so, Koga?"
Across from him, Koga—the Poison-type Elite Four member—had an incredibly grim expression. His eyes locked onto the seemingly harmless young man before him, barely suppressing the murderous intent in his heart.
"You bastard…"
"Join us, or your past sins in Fuchsia City will be exposed, ruining you forever."
Ignoring Koga's glare, the young man placed an identical Pikachu mask on the table, then turned his gaze leisurely toward the window.
The mission had to continue.
And Koga was the perfect candidate to inherit it.
Additionally, the Hunter Association would dispatch three operatives to assist him.
(End of Chapter)