"Let's have a delightful duel between Mega Evolutions!"
Dylan was brimming with excitement. Cynthia's Mega Garchomp was her ultimate trump card, her most iconic partner.
Only by defeating Mega Garchomp could one truly claim to have defeated Cynthia!
And his Mega Gengar? That was also his ace… or at least, the ace of his Ghost-type team. Of course, that's not counting his legendaries.
"Whoa~ now this is going to be good—a clash between Mega Evolutions."
Alder's eyes lit up in the viewing room. He was really looking forward to this fight.
These days, he enjoyed watching others battle more and more.
"Mega Gengar… if I remember right, Dylan doesn't use Mega Evolution very often."
Leaf crossed her right leg over her left, her fair calf swinging lazily as she spoke with interest.
"It's not just Mega Evolution," Bruno rumbled. "Dylan rarely uses any form of boosting at all."
"Even without legendaries, his strength is undeniable. And even in Gym battles, he almost never bothered with power-ups."
"Most of the time, he's a Gym Leader receiving challengers. If the challenger doesn't use power-ups, he can't exactly go first himself."
Bruno paid close attention to Dylan. After all, Dylan was the strongest Trainer in the world.
And Bruno was preparing for his second attempt at the Rota Gym.
"Oh? That's true. And Bruno, you've actually earned the Rota Badge before, haven't you?" Leaf shot him a look.
"Haha~ Dylan had faith in me." Bruno gave a wide, toothy grin, though the pride in his voice was impossible to hide.
After all, he had been acknowledged by Dylan himself!
"I'd like to challenge Dylan too, someday." Leaf rested her cheek in her pale hand, the corners of her lips curving upward.
Well—she was one of Johto's Elite Four now, an official top member of the League. Going to challenge Dylan hardly seemed out of place.
"I've already mastered Mega Evolution. I wonder if I could get Dylan to use his as well?"
She had found a Houndoomite and learned to Mega Evolve her Houndoom. Her strength had grown by leaps and bounds because of it.
"Hmph. Dylan doesn't need Mega Evolution to deal with you." Lorelei pushed up her glasses, scoffing.
"Same to you, Lorelei. Still haven't found a Laprasite?" Leaf shot her a sidelong glance, smiling sweetly.
Lorelei huffed coldly, visibly annoyed. She had been searching for a Laprasite or Dewgongite for ages, but without success.
Damn it—did her team really not have a single member capable of Mega Evolution?
Lance, sitting upright with his arms crossed, was equally lost in thought. Just where was his oversized Mega Stone supposed to be?
On the battlefield—
"Since it's Gengar…"
Cynthia raised her arm with commanding force, her gaze fierce.
She took the initiative. Her Mega Garchomp was born to attack.
"Dragon Claw!"
Mega Garchomp charged forward, its scythe-like crimson blades gleaming with blue light.
The colossal land shark barreled toward Mega Gengar with overwhelming ferocity.
"Shadow Ball!"
Dylan countered instantly.
Mega Gengar's claws came together in a twisted dimension, condensing a deep orb of ghostly energy before hurling it straight at Mega Garchomp.
"Tear it apart!" Cynthia snapped.
Mega Garchomp raised its blood-red blade and slashed down with brutal force.
Boom!
The Shadow Ball exploded as it was cleaved, its violent energy shaking Mega Garchomp back several steps, forcing it to slow its charge.
"What incredible power…"
Cynthia's eyes narrowed. This Mega Gengar's Special Attack was terrifyingly strong!
Breaking through with sheer force was going to be harder than she thought.
"Gengar, Icy Wind!"
Mega Gengar's grin stretched wide and malicious. A chilling gale burst forth from its jaws, sweeping toward Mega Garchomp.
It was the best it could do—like Flutter Mane, Mega Gengar couldn't learn Ice Beam or Blizzard, so it had to settle for Icy Wind.
"Dig!" Cynthia countered immediately.
Mega Garchomp burrowed beneath the battlefield in an instant.
"Fly up—Curse!" Dylan seized the chance without hesitation.
Mega Gengar shot skyward, surprisingly slipping between the Stealth Rocks unharmed, as though luck itself guided it.
Its eyes glowed, and a decayed, spectral nail materialized before it.
"Garchomp!" Cynthia's pupils contracted sharply.
Mega Garchomp erupted from the earth, lunging toward Mega Gengar.
But the spectral nail pierced into Mega Gengar's chest.
Mega Gengar let out a twisted, agonized cry—a sound that was both painful and eerily ecstatic.
The nail sank fully into its body, draining its energy.
Ghost-types paid a heavy price for using Curse.
Yet once complete, a sinister, barely visible aura shot forth, plunging straight into Mega Garchomp.
The Ghost-type Curse!
Mega Garchomp's rampaging charge faltered. A wave of searing agony ripped through its body, forcing it to tremble violently.
Damn it…
Cynthia's heart sank.
Ghost-type Curse—it was brutal. Self-destructive, yes, but brutally effective.
Once afflicted, the opponent suffered relentless, crushing damage, far more devastating than poison in the mid-game.
And Mega Gengar's Ability was Shadow Tag.
Which meant Cynthia couldn't even recall Garchomp to cleanse the status.
It was trapped—forced to keep fighting, or wait for death.
And Curse didn't even last that long. Professors had proven it ended faster than a weather condition.
If no recovery move was used, the outcome was certain.
"Toxic."
As the first wave of Curse wracked Mega Garchomp's body, Dylan's smile widened.
Mega Gengar cackled and spat a stream of purple venom toward its suffering foe.
"Garchomp! Dodge!"
Cynthia's expression darkened.
Mega Garchomp tried to leap back, gritting its teeth through the pain.
But it was too slow.
The poison splashed across its body. No matter how it shook, the venom sank straight into its skin.
"..."
Cynthia's lips pressed tight, her face paling.
Toxic.
Dark purple blotches spread across Mega Garchomp's scales.
The poison struck.
Though its first sting was weak compared to the Curse, Cynthia knew what came next.
Toxic only grew stronger with every turn.
"What incredible willpower~"
Dylan praised softly. Despite the pain, Mega Garchomp didn't flinch. It endured, resolute.
"Come now, Cynthia—it's your turn to attack."
He extended his hand toward her with a gentlemanly smile.
"..."
The hell do you mean, my turn?!
Cynthia stared at the grinning Mega Gengar, then at her land shark.
Her silence said it all.
"What's the point in even fighting anymore?"
Iris muttered from the viewing room, dumbfounded.
Curse, Toxic… what was next? Sleep? Confusion? Burn?
Good grief. If she were in Cynthia's place, she'd want to jump Dylan instead.
So this was what he meant by "a delightful duel between Mega Evolutions"?
Iris was convinced Dylan only Mega Evolved Gengar to use Shadow Tag—saving himself the effort of teaching it Mean Look.
"Dylan's scarily good at this…"
Wallace was genuinely impressed. That Mega Garchomp was terrifying, strong enough to defeat Steven's shiny Mega Metagross.
Yet Mega Gengar had so easily pushed it into a corner.
Leon and the others sat in silence, wondering—if it were them on the field, what could they possibly do?
On the battlefield—
"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
Cynthia drew a deep breath, suppressing her turmoil.
Mega Garchomp roared, energy swirling around it as it transformed into a rampaging dragon, hurling itself at Mega Gengar.
It was one of Cynthia's most trusted attacks.
Yet Mega Gengar only smiled wider.
"Protect." Dylan's command was almost casual.
Cynthia clenched her fists. You've got to be kidding me!
A shimmering green barrier flared up, effortlessly blocking the devastating rush.
The dragon's roar shook the air, but the shield held fast.
Exhausted from the charge, Mega Garchomp's form staggered back into view.
"Confuse Ray."
Dylan's voice rang again.
"Dylan!!!"
Cynthia's pupils dilated in fury. Are you serious?!
"Garchomp!"
Mega Garchomp slashed out desperately with glowing claws—Shadow Claw.
But Mega Gengar only grinned wider.
The ghostly light seeped into Garchomp's body.
Curse flared.
Then Toxic.
Mega Garchomp's body convulsed, wracked with unbearable torment.
And then—the Confuse Ray hit home.
The great dragon suddenly spun in circles, chasing its own tail in front of its mocking foe.
The damned Gengar even clapped for it.
From the stands, the audience gasped as one.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Was Dylan always like this?!"
"That poor Garchomp… Curse and Toxic both? Who could survive that?!"
"Heh… a vicious Gym Leader. And now, a vicious Champion."
"Don't you see? Gengar hasn't landed a single direct attack… and yet Garchomp is already nearly finished."
Awe, disbelief, grudging admiration—the crowd was stunned.
And Cynthia?
She was speechless—watching her Mega Garchomp spin in circles while Mega Gengar applauded.
(End of Chapter)