[Time passed in the blink of an eye.]
[Lately, you had been making frequent trips to the island to treat Latios.]
[Thanks to the specially crafted medicine and energy cubes you prepared, Latios had regained basic mobility.]
[On the surface, his condition seemed to be improving. But only you knew that it was all an illusion.]
[Perhaps sensing your troubled mood, Steven had specifically invited you to a battle.]
[Since Latios's condition wouldn't improve simply by experimenting with medicine behind closed doors, and because you needed a mental reset, you eventually accepted Steven's request.]
"Latias, I'm heading out for a bit. I'll be back around dusk."
Before leaving, Elias made sure to inform Latias as usual.
Hearing this, Latias, who had been engrossed in studying recipes, paused for a moment.
"…I see. Be careful on the way." Her voice was calm.
But if one were observant enough, they would notice that her fingers, gripping the edge of her book, had turned slightly pale—proof that her emotions were far from steady.
Hidden behind the book, her amber eyes held an unreadable expression.
Elias was hiding something from her. That was the conclusion Latias had reached.
In fact, he had been leaving early and returning late almost every day recently, sometimes not coming back until after nightfall.
Given that he had just become an International Police officer, it was reasonable to assume he was busy.
But…
What confirmed her suspicion wasn't just his frequent absences—it was his subtle reaction when she asked what he had been up to.
He had unconsciously glanced to the left.
Like most mothers, Latias knew her "child" very well.
From years of observation, she had discovered a pattern: Elias only glanced to the right when telling the truth. When he looked left—he was lying.
With that in mind, Latias shifted her gaze to the door, which had just closed behind him.
A whirlwind of thoughts filled her mind.
In the end, she sighed irritably.
She could only hope… whatever Elias was hiding was a well-intentioned lie.
---
[After leaving home, you quickly arrived at the agreed-upon location.]
[Perhaps to help you unwind, Steven wasted no time—he issued the battle challenge the moment you met.]
[Having been exhausted all week, you didn't hesitate to accept. Your mind had been in turmoil lately, and you had long been craving an intense battle to vent your frustrations.]
[Soon, you and Steven began your battle in the nearby battle arena.]
[However, neither of you noticed that shortly after the match began, a silver-haired girl had taken a seat in the audience.]
"Metagross, use [Meteor Mash]!" Steven commanded, swinging his arm forward.
A deep mechanical hum resonated from Metagross's body, and a faint golden glow enveloped its massive fist.
Like a shooting star streaking across the sky—
Whoosh!
Fueled by magnetic force, the normally heavy Metagross accelerated at an alarming speed, rocketing toward Salamence.
Its fist sliced through the air with a piercing sound.
Yet, despite the oncoming attack, Salamence showed no sign of panic.
It simply turned its head slightly, locking eyes with Elias.
At that moment, understanding flashed between them.
Salamence let out a low, confident growl.
Their seamless communication did not go unnoticed by Steven.
He frowned.
Elias, as a psychic, had one particularly troublesome advantage—
He didn't need to speak to give orders.
Through telepathy, he could issue commands instantly, making his Pokémon's reactions seamless.
This ability made it incredibly difficult for opponents to predict his next move.
"Metagross, after [Meteor Mash], ascend immediately!"
Steven issued his follow-up command at the perfect moment, just before Metagross's attack landed.
He believed that, in such a short window, not even Elias would have time to adjust his strategy.
However…
As soon as his words left his mouth, he saw it—
A smirk tugged at the corners of Elias's lips.
A bad feeling struck Steven's gut.
Sure enough—
The next second, Metagross's [Meteor Mash] connected—
But it didn't hit anything solid.
A powerful shockwave rippled through the air, yet Salamence's body wavered like a mirage before vanishing entirely.
A [Substitute].
Realizing he had fallen into a trap, Steven immediately tried to pull Metagross back—
But it was too late.
From behind Metagross, Salamence suddenly reappeared.
Its tail glowed with a bright green sheen—
And then—
WHAM!
A devastating [Dragon Tail] slammed down from above.
The sheer force sent Metagross crashing into the battlefield, leaving a web of cracks in the ground.
"Metaaaa…!"
Even a steel-bodied Metagross couldn't suppress a pained cry from the impact.
Before it could recover, Salamence had already launched its next attack—
A roaring inferno erupted from its mouth, forming a powerful [Fire Blast].
BOOM!
The explosion echoed across the battlefield.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Steven, covered in soot, let out a bitter sigh.
There was no need to wait for the smoke to clear—he already knew the outcome.
His Metagross had lost.
With Salamence's sheer power and Metagross's double weakness to Fire, it was inevitable.
As the smoke dissipated under Salamence's beating wings, the unconscious Metagross came into view.
"You did well, Metagross."
Steven recalled his Pokémon, then turned to Elias with a helpless smile.
"I suddenly regret challenging you."
Fighting Elias was always a one-sided beating—Steven couldn't help but feel unfairly treated.
What baffled him most was that in the past, he had been able to put up a decent fight.
Now?
He barely stood a chance.
"Don't sulk. I'll go rock hunting with you later," Elias teased, feeling much more relaxed after the battle.
Steven wasn't weak—he had just faced the wrong opponent.
Just as they were about to leave and grab some dessert, a round of applause suddenly echoed from behind them.
Both Elias and Steven turned toward the source of the sound—
In the once-empty spectator seats, a silver-haired woman now sat casually, her hands clapping together.
It was her who had been applauding.
"A brilliant battle," she remarked.
"Especially that Salamence—its training is exceptional."
Her voice carried admiration, and a fiery gleam flickered in her striking eyes.
Clearly, as a fellow Salamence enthusiast, this match had struck a chord with her.
---
...
If you're reading this, then you've wandered all the way to the end. I'm impressed. Stories are like wine—meant to be savored, not rushed. So if you took your time? Thank you.
Of course, the real thanks goes to WiseTL—the one who turned tangled words into something beautiful. I just got asked to wrap things up with a ribbon. Hopefully this counts!
If you enjoyed the journey and want to support the person who made it possible, you can find them here:
👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Go on. Be generous. They've earned it.
Until next time—read well, rest often, and maybe come visit me at the Hostess of Fertility sometime.
– Syr ✨