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"Only one Pokémon?" Chris encountered a dungeon with special rules for the first time.
Check out your Pokémon.
The strongest Pokémon right now should be the red Gyarados with the Hurricane Veil.
After thinking about it, Chris finally chose to bring Garchomp into the dungeon.
Gyarados's quadruple weakness to Electric moves is a huge concern. If you encounter an Electric-type Pokémon in the Tower of Mastery, you'll be paralyzed in no time.
The scenery in front of him shifted, and a house appeared in Tower of Mastery.
Looking around, the first floor was empty, with only the Rock stairs leading upward. The sound of voices drifted down from above.
So, Chris climbed the stairs.
The second floor was a vast space where two people were meditating with a Pokémon—an old man with white brows wearing a white training suit, and a girl in a sports protector. Their Pokémon was a Lucario.
"Inhale lightly, adjust your composure and rhythm, and connect with your surroundings. Only by abandoning distracting thoughts can you feel the Pokémon's mind. Be one with your Pokémon!" the old man said slowly, guiding Korrina as she meditated with Lucario.
Hearing Chris's approaching footsteps, the white-browed old man opened his eyes and smiled.
"Let's end today's class here—a challenger has arrived!" The old man stood up.
"Okay, Grandpa!" Korrina quickly opened her eyes, stood up, and turned to face Chris. "Trainer, are you here to challenge the Tower of Mastery?"
"No," Chris replied without hesitation.
Korrina stumbled slightly, taken aback. Shouldn't it be normal for him to nod and say yes, starting the battle immediately?
"So, what are you here for?" Korrina asked.
"I'm here to find a Key Stone," Chris said. He wasn't too interested in battling; all he wanted was the Key Stone.
"Then you're here to challenge the Tower of Mastery! As long as you defeat my granddaughter, Korrina, the Gym Leader of Shalour City, I'll give you and your Pokémon a custom-made Key Stone and Mega Evolution set!" the old man said with a laugh.
"Then let's battle!" Chris declared, pulling out a Poké Ball. He had already recognized the old man in front of him.
The girl was Korrina, the Gym Leader of Shalour City, and her grandfather was Gurkinn, an inheritor and teacher of Mega Evolution. He possessed a Mega Lucario, Mega Blaziken, and Mega Alakazam. In the comics, he also had Mega Heracross and possibly Mega Gengar.
"Show off the results of your training!" Gurkinn told Korrina.
"Got it, Grandpa!" Korrina replied enthusiastically.
"I'll referee this duel." Gurkinn moved to the side.
"This is a Tower of Mastery Challenge. Both sides may use only one Pokémon. The battle ends when one Pokémon is unable to fight."
"Now, both trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Chris and Korrina simultaneously released their Pokémon.
Chris sent out Garchomp, equipped with the "Landorus." The "Crackling Dragon Fang" it inherited from its mother had been fully absorbed, granting Garchomp a 30% chance of lowering the opponent's Defense with physical attacks, as well as an "amplified boost from weather" effect.
Korrina sent out her signature Pokémon standing confidently behind her: Lucario, at Level 65.
"Let's go, Lucario!" Before the battle began, Korrina displayed her glove, which bore a brightly glowing Keystone. The light erupted and enveloped Lucario. In an instant, Lucario's body was surrounded by a radiant energy.
When the light faded, Lucario had Mega Evolved into Mega Lucario.
"Lucario!" Mega Lucario roared, its form exuding an intimidating and refined power. Its black-striped surface and lengthened hair gave it a striking, almost feral appearance. Its blood-red markings on its hands and feet seemed to warn its opponent: I'm not to be trifled with.
"Lucario is only at Level 65, but the suggested challenge difficulty is 70. That's no coincidence," Chris muttered.
Mega Lucario looked so impressive. Chris couldn't help but imagine having one of his own—perhaps a flawless 6V shiny Mega Lucario—but he had no idea where he'd find one.
The two trainers took their positions. Gurkinn raised his hand to signal, confirming that both sides were ready. Then, with a sharp motion, he brought it down.
"The battle begins!"
"Earthquake!" Chris commanded, taking the first move without hesitation.
Chris wasn't concerned about Lucario's strategy. He had one goal: to unleash ten Earthquakes in a row if necessary.
"Garchomp!" With a deep, guttural snarl, Garchomp stomped on the ground.
Instead of the ground shattering, it rippled as though a massive stone had been dropped into water, sending visible shockwaves outward in all directions. Centered on Garchomp, a towering shockwave—one meter high and resembling a wall—spread out with a ferocious roar, like a tidal wave crashing onto the shore.
This was Earthquake, amplified by the power of "Landorus's Treasure!"
"This Earthquake…" Gurkinn muttered, watching in shock. He couldn't help but worry. What if the Tower of Mastery couldn't handle such an attack?
"Lucario, jump!" Korrina commanded. Her initial plan had been to start with Power-Up Punch, but after witnessing this Earthquake, she realized that strategy would have been disastrous.
She wasn't sure Mega Lucario could withstand the Earthquake even with its Mega Evolution's boosted strength.
Mega Lucario pushed off hard with both feet, leaping gracefully into the air to avoid the devastating ground attack.
Chris watched the scene unfold, a sly smile curling on his lips.
If Lucario chose to jump, the match was as good as over.
"Garchomp, Fire Blast!" Chris ordered, calling on a move he'd recently purchased at the Lilycove Department Store.
"Garchomp!" With a thunderous roar, the Dragon/Ground-type opened its jaws, releasing a brilliant crimson fireball. The fireball soared through the air and expanded like a blooming flower, erupting into a massive flame that formed a kanji-shaped inferno aimed directly at Mega Lucario.
"Aura Sphere!" Korrina yelled, desperate to counter.
Mega Lucario, a Fighting/Steel-type, was highly vulnerable to Fire-type moves. In mid-air, it quickly charged an azure-blue Aura Sphere between its hands and hurled it downward, aiming to meet the Fire Blast head-on.