Winning the first two battles had been entirely within Silas's expectations. The final match was the true test.
He raised his hand and gently rubbed Cyclizar's head, his voice filled with praise, then took out a plump Oran Berry from his backpack and handed it over. Cyclizar obediently held the berry in its mouth and stayed by Silas's side, only to be immediately surrounded by Minccino and the others.
"Min Min!"
(You're amazing, Cyclizar!)
Minccino bounced up and down in front of it, its little paws patting Cyclizar's back nonstop. Surrounded by praise from its companions, Cyclizar waved its claws awkwardly.
Today, Cyclizar was finally enjoying the treatment of a little king.
Minccino crouched beside its head and fed it snacks, Dolliv helped apply medicine, and throughout the entire process Cyclizar did not have to lift a single claw.
On the other side, Gym Leader Gurkinn looked at the defeated Heracross without the slightest trace of impatience on his face. He calmly recalled it into its Poké Ball, his bark-like fingers gently rubbing the surface as though soothing an old companion who had fought beside him for years.
When he looked up at Silas, a warm smile surfaced in his eyes.
For veterans like them, being able to witness outstanding juniors gradually surpass them was an incomparable comfort. To pass on the burden from their shoulders and let the next generation uphold the order of the League, to maintain harmony between humans and Pokémon, that had always been the League's original purpose.
"My old friend, I'll leave the final battle to you."
Standing beside Gurkinn, Lucario gave a silent nod and leapt onto one side of the battlefield.
A Mega Stone floated quietly near its body as a steady aura light shimmered around it.
It bent its knees slightly, clenched its fists at its waist, and assumed a standard fighting stance.
There were no unnecessary movements. Its sheer presence alone seemed to tighten the very air in the arena.
Its sharp eyes swept across the field, over Silas, over the small Pokémon, over Cyclizar, and finally settled on the Poké Ball hanging at Silas's neck, conveying unmistakable battle intent.
"Lucario!"
There was no need for more words.
Silas raised his hand and threw a Poké Ball.
"Your turn, girl."
"Kang!"
A burst of white light flared as Kangaskhan appeared brilliantly on the field, the entire Gym trembling slightly under its weight.
Inside the pouch, little Phione waved its tiny hands excitedly, eager to jump out and fight together.
It had been a long time since Silas fought with full power. He unbuttoned the first button of his right cuff, revealing the Mega Bracelet on his wrist. The Key Stone embedded in it shone with a brilliant glow. Raising his left arm, he pressed his right index and middle fingers against the Key Stone.
"Let our voices resound across the world. Mega Evolution!"
"Kang!"
"Phion!"
The Key Stone and Kangaskhanite resonated together. Little Phione hugged the Mega Stone and leapt out of the pouch as two streams of rainbow-blue light collided and intertwined.
The light split in two. One half merged into Kangaskhan's body, while the other gathered above Phione's head, forming a delicate, exquisite Sea Crown.
Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Phione, had entered the battlefield!
Outside the field, Korrina stared in shock.
Big brother, is that Mega Phione even legal?
You can do that?
It could only be said that in the Pokémon world, nothing was impossible.
For example, if Kangaskhan acknowledged Phione as its child, then it could carry it in its pouch and share the same Poké Ball.
As for legality?
Forget that. Do you even understand what the power of bonds means?
"Lucario, Mega Evolve!"
Gurkinn completed his Mega Evolution at the same time, his aura perfectly synchronized with Lucario's.
After Mega Evolution, Lucario's changes were significant.
Its appearance became more imposing. Its fur darkened under the influence of Mega Evolution and aura energy, with more black markings appearing across its body. The fur on its head grew longer and wilder. Its feet and fists turned a vivid red, adding a fierce edge to its presence.
More spikes extended from the backs of its hands and the soles of its feet, and its crimson eyes radiated danger.
Mega Lucario was bathed in explosive power, its fighting instincts fully awakened.
Its physical attack and special attack were both exceptional, and its speed was nothing to scoff at.
"Be careful," Silas reminded, his expression turning serious.
Mega Lucario's aura surged outward, almost material, enveloping the entire battlefield with its formidable presence.
"Lucario!"
With a low growl, Mega Lucario transformed into a red-blue afterimage, closing the distance to Mega Kangaskhan at astonishing speed.
This was its signature move, Extreme Speed.
So fast that even sound seemed unable to keep up, its metallic-glinting fist aimed straight for a vital point.
"Fake Out!"
Most Pokémon would lose the initiative when facing an Extreme Speed into Bullet Punch combo.
Kangaskhan was not most Pokémon.
Bang!
Though it moved second, Mega Kangaskhan's palm struck first, slamming into Mega Lucario and abruptly halting its attack. Its body stiffened for a brief instant.
Little Phione might not excel at offense, but when it came to weakening opponents, it had its ways.
"Phion…"
Phione blinked its round eyes as the Sea Crown atop its head glowed softly blue, attempting to interfere with Mega Lucario using Baby Doll Eyes.
But Mega Lucario's crimson gaze sharpened. Its aura formed a barrier-like shield, blocking the effect.
Its level far surpassed Phione's. This kind of stat-lowering move could only make its attack slightly sluggish for a moment, without any meaningful reduction.
Even Mega Kangaskhan's Fake Out had only caused a brief pause, not true flinching.
Gurkinn's Mega Lucario, through its mastery of aura, possessed a passive mental fortitude akin to Inner Focus.
Silas had suffered from this before. This time, he was prepared.
"Power Up Punch!"
"Kang!"
Mega Kangaskhan swung its fist, layers of watery energy stacking over it. Each successful hit of Power Up Punch would raise its attack by one stage.
Mega Lucario had just recovered from the brief interruption when its eyes flashed with caution. Instinctively, it used Extreme Speed to retreat while crossing its arms to block.
Mega Kangaskhan would not let it escape so easily. It stepped forward in pursuit, its fist smashing straight toward Mega Lucario's chest.
Bang!
The collision forced Mega Lucario back five full steps. Its feet carved deep claw marks into the ground. Pale marks appeared over the black stripes on its arms.
The damage was secondary. The crucial point was that Power Up Punch had taken effect. Mega Kangaskhan's attack visibly rose another level.
"Chase it. Keep using Power Up Punch."
Mega Kangaskhan advanced, the stacked power making its fists even harder.
"Aura Sphere to interrupt it, then Bullet Punch."
Blue aura energy gathered between Mega Lucario's palms, swirling into a basketball-sized Aura Sphere. It hurled it forward and followed close behind.
The Aura Sphere, compressed by its tremendous speed, elongated into an oval shape and shot toward Mega Kangaskhan's face.
The angle was precise, meant to break Kangaskhan's rhythm and force an opening, even if only for a split second, which Mega Lucario could exploit with Bullet Punch.
"Whirlpool, Phione!"
Do not forget. Mega Kangaskhan was two Pokémon.
Phione clapped its tiny hands, summoning a spinning spiral of water in front of them.
With its innate affinity for water energy, the spiral rapidly expanded into a towering Whirlpool, forming a water wall in front of Mega Kangaskhan.
The Aura Sphere collided, exploding into countless splashes, its power partially neutralized.
That was enough.
Mega Kangaskhan reached out and grabbed the Aura Sphere, crushing it instantly.
The explosion's aftermath did not even ruffle its fur.
"Close Combat!"
Since speed exchanges were not yielding advantage, Gurkinn immediately changed tactics, abandoning defense entirely in favor of maximum offense.
Fighting-type Close Combat, boosted by STAB, further enhanced by Adaptability, and super effective against Normal-type.
The sheer calculated power was terrifying.
Even Mega Kangaskhan had to treat it seriously.
Mega Lucario understood. Its entire body surged with fighting energy, its fists glowing crimson as it unleashed Close Combat.
The last time Silas and Kangaskhan had fallen to this very move.
He knew all too well the terror of seven punches in a single second. His pupils contracted sharply.
"Counter it back twice over!"
Trainer and Pokémon were of one mind. Mega Kangaskhan did not hesitate.
Fighting energy gathered across its body as it charged forward.
Both Pokémon abandoned defense, choosing the most straightforward method to decide the battle.
"Lucario!"
Crimson fists blurred into afterimages, raining down like a storm.
Mega Kangaskhan endured with its body, its towering frame forced backward, deep grooves torn into the ground beneath its feet. Its body trembled under the impact.
Phione tried to help but found no opening.
Then inspiration struck.
It placed its little crown atop Kangaskhan's head.
Brilliant blue light burst forth, flowing downward like cascading water, forming a curtain that wrapped around Mega Kangaskhan and restored a small amount of stamina.
"Kang!"
Mega Kangaskhan let out a powerful roar and gently returned Phione to the pouch.
Its gaze sharpened. The accumulated force of the doubled Close Combat condensed into its right fist.
The sheer pressure distorted the air.
Then came an ordinary straight punch.
There were no tricks.
Only raw numbers.
Even if Arceus in its Normal form stood there, it would not walk away lightly from that punch.
BOOM!
The deafening explosion shook the entire Gym.
Mega Lucario did not even have time to cry out.
Its body was sent flying like it had been struck by a high-speed train, turning into a red afterimage that blasted through the rear stone wall of the Gym and crashed outside, carving a half-meter-deep crater into the ground.
After a long while, the dust settled.
Lucario lay unconscious in the crater, automatically reverting from Mega Evolution.
On the field, Kangaskhan, its strength exhausted, also reverted.
Its chest heaved violently. Enduring Close Combat had left it swaying slightly.
But the worried cries from its pouch instantly steadied it, and it relaxed with a gentle expression.
"Phion! Phion!"
"Kang~"
…
"Mega Lucario is unable to battle! The winner is Kangaskhan! Challenger Silas has successfully defeated the Shalour Gym!"
"Girl, we did it!"
Silas walked over and gave Kangaskhan a wide smile.
"Kang!"
Kangaskhan scooped him up in a tight embrace, rubbing its face against him and smearing dust all over him.
Silas laughed and hugged it back.
Having you by my side is the best.
Minccino and the others joined in celebration.
Minccino first helped clean the dust off Kangaskhan before happily leaping into its arms, showering it with praise.
Gurkinn recalled the unconscious Lucario and approached Silas with a relieved smile. In his hand appeared a battle badge with a golden sheen.
"Silas, this is what you've earned. Proof that you have conquered the Shalour Gym."
Silas accepted it solemnly with both hands. "Today was thanks to Kangaskhan, Noivern, Cyclizar, and the others. We will keep working hard together."
Kangaskhan smiled broadly. As long as it was with Silas, everything was good.
The Poké Ball at his waist containing Noivern shook lightly, and Cyclizar stood tall behind him with a proud little expression.
"Phion! Phion!"
Phione jumped out of the pouch, insisting on claiming its share of the credit.
"Of course," Silas laughed, holding Phione and pressing the badge against its chest. "You contributed a lot too. You're a great hero."
Gurkinn added with a chuckle, "You should keep it up. Siebold called last time and said he only lacks the Snowbelle Gym badge before he can challenge the Elite Four."
"What? That fast?"
Two weeks ago, Siebold had only been one badge ahead.
No wonder he was absent during the fireworks festival. He had secretly been grinding.
For a moment, Silas felt a sense of urgency.
But he quickly relaxed.
He was not rushing to challenge for glory. He only wanted a position.
His focus remained on the ranch.
"It looks like it won't be long before we see news on television of Siebold becoming one of the Elite Four."
They chatted and laughed, the tension of the earlier battle completely gone.
As they stepped off the battlefield, Korrina ran toward them excitedly.
"Big Brother Silas, you were amazing! And Kangaskhan was incredible too! I have to battle you someday. Jangmo-o, you want that too, right?"
"Jang!"
Jangmo-o, clearly stronger than before, nodded firmly.
"Then we have to train even harder. We absolutely can't lose to Nemona and Goomy!"
Like a gust of wind, Korrina came and went just as quickly, already dashing off to train her Pokémon.
After exchanging more training insights with Gym Leader Gurkinn, Silas prepared to leave.
Just before he left, Korrina hurried back, holding up her Xtransceiver.
On the screen were Serena and Nemona.
The two girls both expressed their congratulations on his successful challenge.
Who would have thought the three of them would become such good sisters.
(End of Chapter)