In the tral area, the Dowsing Mae indeed dispyed a rather rge red dot.

  'Now that's the kind of red dot that make thiing'

  At this moment, the snowstorm had finally stopped.

  Perhaps sensing an uninvited guest in its territory, the Elite-level Cydol had already moved to block Dragonite's path.

  Pokémon: Cydol (Ground/Psychic)

  Level: 73

  Potential:

  Ability: Levitate

  Held Item: Light Cy

  Gender: Genderless

  Moves: Hyper Beam, Teleport, Harden, Mud-Sp, Rapid Spin, fusion, Rob, Psybeam, Power Trick, A Power, Imprison, ic Power, Extrasensory, Earth Power, Self-Destruct, Sandstorm, Explosion

  TMs: None

  Egg Moves: None

  ---

  Cydol: "Leave my territory."

  Even though Dragonite was also at the Elite level, its Dragon-type pseudo-legendary status made it an intimidating oppo.

  Cydol's instincts told it that this wasn't a fight to take lightly.

  If a battle could be avoided, that would be for the best.

  Acc to the Dowsing Mae, the red dot's location wasn't actually inside Cydol's territory. Instead, it was in Gigalith's.

  It's just that passing through Cydol's territory was the shortest route.

  Dragonite: "Your pce is so poor. You think I even want to be here?"

  Since Julian wasn't using his psychic powers, he didn't uand what Dragonite just said.

  But judging by Cydol's rea, it definitely wasn't anything good—its eyes even flickered with anger.

  Cydol: "This is your st ce. Leave now."

  If Dragonite hadn't felt so threatening, Cydol would have attacked already instead of wasting time talking.

  Julian patted Dragonite's side, signaling it to desd.

  Dragonite nded, and Cydol followed, though its impatience was clear.

  As ae Pokémon, Cydol had its own pride. If the oppo was stronger, it could endure for a while. But tolerating it forever?

  Impossible.

  "Melmetal"

  With a fsh of white light, Melmetal appeared on the field.

  Pokémoal (Steel)

  Level: 70

  Potential: Purple

  Ability: Iron Fist

  Held Item: Bck Belt

  Gender: Genderless

  Moves: Harden, Thunder Shock, Headbutt, Tail whip, Charge Beam, Thunder Punch, Acid Armor, Fsh on, Thunder Wave, Dynamich, Mega Punch, Double Iron Bash, Protect, Discharge

  TMs: Ice Punch, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Thunderbolt, Brick Break, Electric Terrain, Hammer Arm, Brutal Swing, Thrash, Body Sm, Ice Beam, Darkest Lariat, Heavy Sm, Earthquake

  Egg Moves: None

  ---

  "Mel—"

  Melmetal swung its massive arms with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

  "Alright, isn't this a good oppo for you this time?" Julian said with a smile.

  When he challehe national-level Rock Gym, Melmetal hadn't bee out to battle, because of that, it had been sulking for days.

  Pokémon were just like humans—they all had their own tempers, and eae had a different personality.

  As a Trainer, uanding eaon's temperament was an important skill.

  Melmetal looked at Cydol.

  Melmetal: "This guy? it even take two punches from me?"

  Cydol's anger instantly fred.

  'Where the hell did this big oaf e from? It isn't evee-level yet, and it dares to talk like that?'

  "Double Iron Bash," Julian said.

  Cydol: 'You're just attag straight away?! N?!'

  Before Cydol could react, Melmetal's fists swung forward, aiming straight for it, but in a fsh, Cydol vanished. Melmetal's attack struothing but air.

  At the same time, Cydol reappeared behial, its arms glowing as it fired a Psybeam.

  Pokémon with Teleport often had uable attack patterns.

  Cydol had been sure its attack would nd—but suddenly, Melmetal's legs extended, making its body grow taller in an instant.

  The Psybeam passed harmlessly betweeal's legs.

  For a split sed, Cydol froze in shock, and before it could react—BAM!

  Melmetal's Double Iron Bash smmed into it, sending a wave of pain through its entire body.

  With Iron Fist ability boosting the power of its punches, Melmetal's fighting style was clear just by looking at its massive arms.

  And because of its unique body structure, oppos who didn't uand it would often fall right into its trap.

  Cydol had just made that mistake.

  O wasn't enough to defeat Cydol—after all, it was still ae-level Pokémon, and both its Defense and Special Defense were among its stro stats.

  Furious, Cydol charged up a Hyper Beam, unleashing a golden energy bst from both arms, the shockwave carved a trench more than a meter deep into the ground as it surged toward Melmetal.

  Melmetal didn't dodge, instead, it swung its right fist straight into the beam. Then, as it withdrew its right arm, it immediately punched forward with its left.

  Right, left. Right, left.

  Alternatiween fists, Melmetal pushed against the Hyper Beam, advang step by step. Each time its foot touched the ground, it left behind a deep footprint.

  And the closer Melmetal got to Cydol, the strohe force from the Hyper Beam became. Yet, Melmetal held its ground, using its alternating puo keep pushing forward.

  Cydol stared, dumbfounded for a moment—then, rage took over.

  It was ae-level Pokémohis e oppo ressuring it this much?

  The frustration wasn't just aimed at Melmetal. It was angry at itself—angry that its strength wasn't enough.

  Fueled by this rage, the power of Hyper Beam surged, growing even more intense.

  But even that wasn't enough to stop Melmetal, its Double Iron Bash only sped up, fists swinging so fast that afterimages began to appear.

  Melmetal: Ora Ora Ora Ora!

  A rapid barrage of punches pounded against the Hyper Beam, at st, Cydol couldn't maintaiay longer. Its energy plummeted, and with it, the power of the Hyper Beam weakened.

  Cydol: Not good!

  It tried to hold on, tried to gather more power—but it was too te, Melmetal had already caught its opening.

  Its left fist swung forward—BOOM!

  Hyper Beam was pletely shattered, and right behind it—

  The right fist came flying in. To Cydol, it looked like the entire world was swallowed by a massive fist. Then—

  …The fist stopped right in front of its face.

  Cydol stared, fused, Melmetal looked down at it.

  Melmetal: "Ten-minute break. Then we go again."

  It knew very well—if it knocked Cydol out now, it would be unclear when it'd get another fun oppo, so it wao keep pying a little longer.

  A wave of humiliation surged through Cydol's mind.

  Cydol: "F**K YOU!"

  'Mog me?!'

  It was one of the rulers of Earth Ridge! How dare this brainless lump look down on it?

  Today, either it fell, or Melmetal did.

  A blinding white light erupted from Cydol's body.

  Julian's eyes widened in shock.

  Julian: "Oh, sh—!!"

  *****

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