"Machamp, Daytime Tiger!"
A ferocious white tiger burst forth from Machamp's fist—so vivid it looked alive—as it roared and charged toward Magmar.
With a swift sweep of its arms, searing flames surged out.
Under Magmar's command, the fire condensed into a massive fireball that descended like a meteor, gradually consuming the white tiger.
"Machamp, Shave, then Meteor Fist Barrage!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Ron gave the signal for Machamp to go on the offensive.
Even after reaching Elite Four-tier strength, Machamp hadn't let up on its rigorous training.
Almost instantly after Ron's command rang out, Machamp vanished with Shave and reappeared behind Magmar.
Despite its power, Magmar's reaction speed at this level still wasn't enough to change the outcome.
Machamp's Meteor Fist Barrage exploded in an instant, unleashing its devastating force.
"Roar!"
Magmar cried out in pain, the sheer intensity causing it to howl—but that cry only revealed another opening for Machamp.
"Machamp, Four Tiger Slaughter! Finish with Meteor Swarm!"
Four ghostly white tigers erupted from Machamp's aura, striking from point-blank range. In the blink of an eye, they engulfed Magmar.
The explosion swallowed everything around it—but it couldn't stop Machamp's relentless charge.
The very next moment, Magmar, now unconscious, was sent flying backward across the battlefield.
With Magmar defeated, Machamp's power finally stabilized at Level 69, just one step away from breaking through to Mid-Elite Four tier.
Following a strategy of tackling the easier paths first, Ron had prioritized enhancing Bellossom's strength since arriving at the research facility.
Now, after nearly half a month of focused training, Bellossom had advanced to Level 63, Persian had reached Level 66, and the powerhouse Machamp was at Level 69—only a bit more time and accumulation was needed to step into the next stage.
It had only been about four months since Ron arrived in the Hoenn Region, yet his accomplishments were nothing short of remarkable.
Just thinking about it left him in awe.
"You did great, Machamp. While you're building up for the next breakthrough, make sure to keep refining your Armament Haki—we need you to hit Stage Two soon."
"Alright then—your turn, Bellossom! Grassy Terrain. Gardevoir, use Heal Pulse."
After praising Machamp, Ron quickly turned to issue instructions to Bellossom and Gardevoir.
Due to the ever-present surveillance, Ron couldn't reveal his Fighting Aura, so he had to rely on Bellossom and Gardevoir for healing.
Following Ron's command, a carpet of lush greenery bloomed under Machamp and Magmar's feet, while Gardevoir's Heal Pulse flowed gently, steadily mending Magmar's injuries.
"Pupitar, it's your time to shine. Show me the fruits of your training—let's go!"
Ron gently patted Pupitar on the head, his voice filled with encouragement.
Pupitar's eyes sparkled with excitement as it flew into the air, starting with some warm-up maneuvers.
Once Magmar's injuries had mostly healed, Gardevoir would use Teleport to transport Ron and the team out of the Elite-tier training zone.
"Go, Pupitar! Use Rock Slide from above and dive in! Combine Scary Face with Iron Head!"
Against Pokémon like Graveler, Pupitar's airborne mobility gave it a natural edge.
Launching Rock Slide from the skies, the falling rocks crashed downward with incredible force, targeting Graveler with overwhelming momentum.
Graveler looked up and roared in helpless frustration, countering the falling boulders with a fierce Mega Punch.
Seizing the moment, Pupitar accelerated and charged in.
Its Scary Face flashed mid-dive, paired with its overwhelming pressure, causing Graveler's movements to hesitate for a split second. Like a silver bullet, Pupitar slammed into its opponent with Iron Head.
Before Graveler could recover, Pupitar soared upward again—Rock Slide rained down once more.
In the observation room, Uncle Rin leaned back in his chair, silently watching as Ron commanded Pupitar through the battle.
Ever since Ron arrived at the lab, this had become a daily routine for Uncle Rin—whenever he had free time, he'd come to observe Ron's training sessions.
Regardless of anything else, the fact that someone as young as Ron had such precise command skills and could train his Pokémon to wield such unique battle techniques was already enough to earn Uncle Rin's respect.
Unlike some of those Kanto League folks, Uncle Rin hadn't harbored any ulterior motives toward Ron—especially after learning that Ron was a friend of Steven Stone.
As many know, Steven Stone's status within the Devon Corporation far exceeds even his prestigious rank within the Pokémon League.
"Pupitar, Rock Slide! Pair Scary Face with Iron Head for the attack!"
Pupitar had truly mastered the philosophy of "one trick conquers all." The same combination, over and over—devastating, especially against Pokémon like Graveler that lacked effective counters against Flying-types.
The type advantage from Steel-type moves, combined with Pupitar's considerable weight and the momentum from its jet-propelled flight, made its offensive power overwhelming. After just two attacks, Graveler's expression twisted in pain.
"Finish it off, Pupitar! Rock Slide—Scary Face into Iron Head!"
Graveler, slowed down by the spectral drag of Scary Face, could barely react.
Massive rocks came crashing down, forcing it to stagger back repeatedly. Seizing the perfect moment, Pupitar—like a silver bullet—launched a final strike that knocked Graveler out cold.
With Graveler down as the opening opponent, the opponents that followed were mostly at Pupitar's level or slightly below, intentionally trying to avoid putting Pupitar into a desperate situation.
Battle after battle, the energy Pupitar had been storing up gradually began to surge. Its level continued to climb steadily until it peaked at 35.
...
"Looks like we got lucky this time. Found some pretty good stones," Steven said with a note of regret as he sat down, admiring the minerals in his hand like fine art. "Shame my vacation ends here."
Beside him, his Metagross looked content as well. With no real opponents and growing weary of constant training, occasionally digging for rare stones was a welcome way to unwind.
A light breeze blew through the clearing. Just as Steven was about to pack up, Metagross suddenly went on high alert.
"Someone's approaching?"
"Aggron, you guys return to your Poké Balls for now. Metagross, could you clear the scene?"
Until he knew who he was dealing with, Steven remained cautious.
With Metagross at his side, he silently moved toward the direction where the unfamiliar presence had appeared.
"Doesn't feel like League people. More like Pokémon hunters… or maybe Team Magma. But I can't be sure."
"If only Ron were here. His Gardevoir would easily be able to sense their intentions."
Hiding in the shadows, Steven murmured quietly to himself.
Some distance away, a group of people marched quietly, each carrying a dozen or more backpacks.
But backpacks in the Pokémon world weren't ordinary—they all used spatial-folding technology, allowing them to store a vast amount of supplies.
That many bags on each person immediately triggered Steven's suspicions.
Still, he made no rash moves. Instead, he silently tailed them from behind, intent on discovering exactly who they were.
Back at the research facility, Gardevoir's battle was drawing to a close.
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