Pokémon: Above the Top-Chapter 256: A Silver-Haired Old Friend?

By the time the three of them returned to the Pokémon Center in Mossdeep City, it was already 9 p.m. Just as they were about to wash up and head to bed, they unexpectedly ran into a familiar face.

"Steven?"

"You're the one from Sand Arc Forest... Sato?" Steven was taken aback at first, then smiled.

"Long time no see," Sato nodded. He had heard that Steven was originally from Mossdeep City... looked like that was accurate.

"Hasn't been that long, has it? You guys traveling?" Steven asked directly.

"Yeah, we came to train in Shoal Cave. Also... interested in a rematch?"

"Of course!" Steven smiled, eyes lighting up with battle spirit.

"Ahem, aren't all of your Pokémon still with me?" Nurse Joy reminded them sternly from the side.

"...Then tomorrow morning. I'll wait for you out back," Sato pointed to the battle area behind the Pokémon Center and said seriously.

"No problem!" Steven agreed readily, then added with meaning, "Tomorrow I'll be giving it my all."

"Bring it on. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

After making their battle arrangements, the two went their separate ways. Back in his room, Sato began thinking about which Pokémon he should send.

"Most likely still a Steel-type. But it probably won't be Metagross... no matter how serious Steven is, he wouldn't casually reveal his trump card."

'Apart from Metagross, his other famous Steel-types are these two. If it's one of those...'

Sato didn't overthink it. He quickly made his decision on which Pokémon to use.

The next morning, as usual, Sato took his Pokémon out for their daily training. Ten minutes before 9:00, he casually made his way to the battle arena.

Steven wasn't early either, he arrived exactly on time.

The moment they saw each other, there was no need for words. The fire in their eyes said it all. Without any wasted motion, the two took their positions.

"Now commencing a 1-on-1 battle between Trainer Steven and Trainer Sato. Each side will use one Pokémon. The match ends when one side's Pokémon can no longer battle."

Nurse Joy, acting as the temporary referee, announced this with full formality.

"Sato, last time I underestimated you. This time I'm going all out. Let's go, Aggron!"

"Groaaarrr!"

A flash of red light, and a two-meter-tall steel beast appeared on the battlefield. The ground trembled slightly as it landed.

Aggron looked absolutely fearsome. Its entire body was encased in iron-gray armor, with bone-white steel gauntlets protecting its more vulnerable joints.

Two gleaming horns extended from both sides of its head, and its massive steel tail -nearly as long as its body- was thick and menacing. Even a slight touch from it would hurt like hell, let alone a full-body blow.

The real kicker was Aggron's level: Mid Pseudo-Elite Four!

Although Sato had anticipated this, he still felt a slight jolt... this was about the peak of his power in his previous life.

"Sharpedo, you're up!"

A flash of red light, and Sharpedo appeared floating in midair. By now, Aggron's imposing presence had drawn the attention of quite a few Trainers.

When Steven saw that Sato had only sent out a Elite-level Sharpedo, his eyebrows instantly furrowed and the fire in his eyes faded.

"Heh. Sharpedo, Mega Evolve!" Sato didn't hesitate. He grabbed the Evolution Keystone hanging around his neck and declared loudly.

At some point, a black Mega Ring had already been affixed to Sharpedo's dorsal fin. A brilliant multicolored light burst forth, instantly engulfing the entire battlefield.

When the light faded, a fully armed Mega Sharpedo stood in its place, its aura had risen directly to Pseudo-Elite Four!

Comparing this to Houndoom's Mega Evolution, Sato made a major discovery: the strength of a Mega Evolution boost was directly tied to a Pokémon's natural potential.

Even though Sharpedo was a level below Houndoom, it possessed Elite Four Dark-type potential, so the result of its Mega Evolution was nearly identical.

"This is the newly discovered Mega Evolution?" Steven's eyes lit up; he was clearly intrigued.

"Yep. Feeling fired up now?" Sato grinned, unable to hide his eagerness.

"Haha, absolutely!"

"Sharpedo, Hydro Pump!"

"Aggron, Heavy Slam!"

From the very start, neither of them held back. Sharpedo inhaled sharply, and in the instant its jaws opened, a massive stream of water -nearly a meter wide- roared forward toward Aggron.

At the same time, Aggron's entire body erupted with a brilliant silver light, transforming into a meteor as it charged forward.

Hydro Pump struck Aggron, but it powered through the blast head-on, pushing through for quite some distance before finally coming to a stop.

At that point, Sharpedo's Hydro Pump had run out of steam and quickly dissolved.

"Aggron, Rock Tomb!"

"Sharpedo, Waterfall!"

After Mega Evolving, Sharpedo's Speed Boost ability was replaced by Strong Jaw, but that didn't mean its speed had dropped.

Against this hunk of iron in front of it, Sharpedo's speed was still leagues ahead.

With explosive force, Sharpedo darted straight to Aggron's face. Waterfall detonated with a crash right on impact!

"Groaaar!" Aggron roared in pain, but its eyes remained locked onto Sharpedo. With a sudden swing of its right arm, thick chunks of stone erupted from the ground, trapping both it and Sharpedo in a confined space.

Sato was stunned. This Aggron was savage!

It didn't even spare itself.

But he quickly realized the strategy: for a Pokémon like Sharpedo, which relied on speed, those hard rock walls were deadly.

For Aggron, though? A couple tail swipes would break right through.

"Aggron, Thunderbolt!"

"Sharpedo, use Substitute, Then Aqua Jet, break through the rocks!"

Substitute absorbed Thunderbolt, giving Sharpedo a chance to use Aqua Jet. It slammed through the rocky prison and escaped into open air.

What a backfire. The failed trap made Sato realize something critical: against this Aggron, close combat was absolutely the wrong approach. Trading blows would be suicidal.

Time to kite it.

"Sharpedo, Dark Pulse!"

"Aggron, Flash Cannon!"

The attacks clashed midair and exploded. Neither side took damage.

"Ice Beam!"

"Stone Edge!"

"Hydro Pump!"

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"Thunderbolt!"

---

As the battle wore on, Sato began to feel something was off. Somehow, despite having the upper hand early on, the tide was shifting against him.

He looked at Steven intently. Without even realizing it, he had been drawn into Steven's rhythm, and it had taken him quite a while to notice.

"Sharpedo, use Agility!"