Garchomp was locked in battle against Bruno's Pokémon.
One against three.
Facing Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Machamp simultaneously.
Though forced onto the defensive, it showed no immediate danger of defeat.
The floating bridge beneath their feet—formed from the intertwined bodies of Onix—shuddered constantly. Logan and Bruno circled the battlefield, dodging debris and shockwaves while issuing commands, turning the clash into something resembling a world championship boxing match.
"So what's this? Only Garchomp?" Bruno taunted.
Below the floating stone bridge bubbled corrosive poison capable of melting flesh in seconds. Bruno stood firm upon the trembling platform, his stance rooted like iron, pressing the psychological advantage.
Logan remained silent.
Out of the corner of his eye, he observed Cynthia battling Lorelei. Both had deliberately drawn their engagements apart, careful not to interfere with each other's combat.
If they truly unleashed their full power, both Logan and Cynthia could defeat their respective opponents.
But—
Agatha.
The old woman wreathed in ghostly miasma, standing half-concealed behind the rock wall.
She had not moved.
And that was precisely why neither Champion dared fight at full strength.
A Ghost-type master capable of ambush, curses, and spiritual binding—if they committed fully and left openings, a single surprise strike could be fatal.
That was also why Logan relied solely on Garchomp, keeping it in a defensive posture against Bruno's trio.
He had his own reasoning.
"I see… You're conserving dragonair for a final duel with Lance."
Bruno lowered into a horse stance, muscles coiled beneath his bare upper body, nunchaku resting loosely in his hands.
"But if you can't defeat us, you won't even meet him."
"You preserve your Pokémon's strength, yes—but as the Trainer, you're the vulnerable one."
"If something happens to you, it won't matter if your Pokémon are at full power."
Bruno's voice struck like heavy blows.
Logan ignored him.
His rhythm remained steady. Garchomp maintained defense. His real attention never left Agatha.
The old woman let out a low, unsettling chuckle, as if she had noticed his gaze.
Logan didn't mind if Garchomp suffered injuries. Once Yellow was found, her Viridian Power could heal them.
But dragonair—
If exhausted now, facing Lance would be far more dangerous.
Yet Bruno was right.
If he couldn't defeat these three, he'd never reach Lance at all. And if Lance completed his plan…
Victory would become nearly impossible.
But—
Logan was not fighting passively.
He was buying time.
Once Sabrina and Green rescue Red and Blue Oak… I'll be free to move.
His eyes flickered.
Still, pure defense was risky.
At that moment, he looked toward Cynthia.
As if sharing the same thought, she met his gaze.
They nodded.
Suddenly—
Cynthia pulled a Poké Ball from her waist and hurled it toward Logan.
"Catch, Logan!"
The ball flew fast—
But Logan's body had long been altered by Mewtwo's cells. His reflexes far exceeded those of an ordinary human. Like a professional catcher, he rolled forward and snatched it cleanly from the air.
Bruno's heart tightened.
Danger.
"Machamp—hold Garchomp! Hitmonchan, use Mach Punch!"
Hitmonchan leapt, wind coiling around its fists. It ignored Garchomp entirely and aimed straight at Logan.
The punch exceeded the speed of sound.
Even Logan's vision could not track it.
If struck, his bones would shatter.
"Lucario—Detect!"
Logan released the Poké Ball instantly.
Lucario appeared midair, adopting a fighting stance. Its right paw intercepted Mach Punch.
"Counter!"
Lucario's left fist retaliated with identical force. Hitmonchan cried out as it was blasted backward—but Lucario wasn't finished.
Midair, it seized Hitmonchan's arm and yanked it back in.
"Bruno—I should thank you for that year and a half of training. Because of you, I can stand firm even here."
"This is the Secret of Steel you taught me."
"Now I'll return it!"
"Lucario—Close Combat!"
Lucario pulled Hitmonchan forward and drove a brutal elbow into its exposed chest.
BOOM—
Hitmonchan crashed into the cavern wall, severely injured.
Bruno's eyes widened.
"You're using someone else's Pokémon to fight?!"
"Correct."
Logan smirked.
"This Lucario belongs to Cynthia. She entrusted it to me for training—precisely for this moment."
More than a month ago, before Cynthia left for Sinnoh, she had left Lucario in Logan's care to refine its martial strength.
If he wanted to conserve his own Pokémon's dragonair yet defeat his opponents—
Borrowing another's Pokémon was the optimal choice.
Cynthia had begun her journey a year and a half before him. She had more battle-ready Pokémon.
And Logan had spent that time teaching Lucario Bruno's Secret of Steel instead of training Zweilous.
Lucario's Aura synced perfectly with Logan.
Combined with Logan's mastery of Steel's Essence—
Lucario's combat techniques were even sharper under Logan's command.
"Well done, Lucario!"
Cynthia gave a proud thumbs-up.
But then—
"Hehehehe…"
Agatha's voice echoed.
"Bruno, Lorelei… you truly are no match for these two children."
"Cynthia—watch out!"
Logan's expression changed.
Too late.
Cynthia suddenly felt something grip her.
Her body froze.
From her shadow—
A ghostly face emerged.
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