[Brain storage, character and Pokémon images at the end of the chapter]
Sinnoh region, Li-Hai Town.
“The three-way intersection at the back mountain really does resemble the future Mountain of Metagross.”
Standing before Levi was a three-way intersection; this was the fourth location he had searched for based on his hazy memories.
About eighteen years ago, Levi was born into this world where humans and Pokémon coexist.
For Levi, this place was both familiar and strange—familiar because of Ash and Pikachu, but strange due to the environment itself.
What was once just an anime and game in his memories was now something he was experiencing firsthand.
His family home was being demolished, the Pokémon nursery had closed down, and his parents had temporarily gone away on a trip.
Levi finally had the time to search for the Shiny Metagross.
After all, it was too cool, and he couldn’t resist.
Strength is only temporary, but being cool is a lifelong matter.
Cool people should use cool Pokémon!
At the ‘Musashi and James Ramen Shop’ at the foot of the mountain, Levi overheard a couple discussing something.
“I heard someone went to challenge the Shiny Metang on the back mountain again and ended up getting beaten up.”
“That Metang has a very short temper; I hope no one else gets hurt.”
A third wheel rose up between the two.
“Hello there, could I trouble you to tell me more about that?
I can pay for your ramen.”
Given Levi’s appearance, the two did not refuse.
Having forced himself to be a third wheel and paid for their noodles, Levi successfully gathered the information and arrived at the back mountain of Li-Hai Town.
Levi threw two Luxury Balls,
“Lucario, Arcanine, I’m counting on you.”
Arcanine, covered in fluffy flaxen fur with black and orange stripes, and a long, fluffy tail.
Lucario, standing on two legs, yellow on top and blue on the bottom, with white bone spikes on the back of its hands and chest, looked as majestic as a werewolf.
(Leave it to me.)
Lucario nodded with a serious expression.
Lucario could use its Aura Power to convey information through Telepathy.
“Awooo~” “Leave it to me!”
Arcanine grinned like a returning dragon king.
Kneeling on one knee, Lucario placed its palm on the ground, detecting the Aura emanating from the surroundings with itself as the center.
(Aura Power, dwells in my heart.)
Lucario’s Aura could easily detect up to one kilometer away, and the surrounding scenery appeared in Lucario’s mind.
Arcanine, meanwhile, ran out like an arrow released from a bow, its head lowered and its nose twitching.
In less than a quarter of an hour,
(Found it!)
There was excitement in Lucario’s voice.
Following the path upward, Levi arrived at the edge of a cliff extending from the summit.
Standing at the edge of the cliff, Lucario pointed to the ravine below, (It’s down there.)
“Metang, come out!”
Levi’s voice echoed through the valley.
Shortly after, a bright silver Metang with a disc-shaped body, two arms, sharp golden spikes at the joints, and a dazzling metallic luster under the sun, flew out from the ravine.
A normal Metang is blue, while a Shiny Metang is bright silver.
A flash of surprise crossed Levi’s eyes; how could a Shiny Metang be such a cool Pokémon!
Levi estimated the diameter of this Shiny Metang’s disc-shaped body to be nearly 1m, about 30cm longer than the average individual.
Levi locked eyes with the Shiny Metang’s dark red pupils,
“Metang, let’s battle!
If I win, you will become my Pokémon!”
“Wong-ka!”
The Shiny Metang nodded expressionlessly.
“Lucario, retreat for now.”
“Arcanine, I choose you!”
“Awooo~” Arcanine let out a majestic howl.
Levi’s Arcanine had the Intimidate ability, which could lower the Attack of opponents within range.
The Shiny Metang’s body shimmered with a metallic luster, but its Aura remained unchanged.
Arcanine tilted its head in surprise.
Levi whispered to himself, “It looks like its ability is Clear Body, so my Intimidate and Snarl won’t be effective, right?”
Clear Body prevents the opponent’s moves and abilities from lowering its stats.
The Shiny Metang launched the first attack.
Its right claw shimmered as it descended with a Metal Claw aimed at Arcanine’s large head.
“Take the hit, and use Will-O-Wisp at close range!”
The Metal Claw landed accurately on Arcanine’s head, but at the same time, three dark purple flames roared out from Arcanine’s body!
The three cold, dark purple flames swirled, converged, and compressed before exploding on the Metang with a “bang,” continuing to burn on it like parasitic maggots!
Hit by Will-O-Wisp, the Metang was immediately inflicted with a burn.
Even though you have Clear Body, it doesn’t matter, I still have my quality Will-O-Wisp.
The pained Metang’s pupils flickered,
“Flamethrower!”
Levi pressed the attack.
Orange-red flames surged from Arcanine’s open mouth, splashing across the Metang’s body.
The force of the flames knocked the Metang against the cliff wall; it looked pained, and scorched marks appeared on its metallic body.
A layer of blue light appeared on Arcanine, causing its body to float uncontrollably, which also interrupted Arcanine’s Flamethrower.
Floating about 30cm off the ground, Arcanine panicked, paddling its limbs in the air.
“Confusion, is it?”
Levi hadn’t expected the Metang to still be able to use Confusion under these circumstances.
This further proved the talent of this Shiny Metang.
“Break free, Flare Blitz!”
“Awooo!” With a majestic howl, Arcanine, fully engulfed in flames, slammed into the Metang in mid-air.
The Metang, which had intended to dodge, was engulfed in flames; the damage from the burn prevented it from dodging in time.
Bang—hit by Arcanine’s Flare Blitz, the Metang flew backward and slammed heavily into the cliff wall.
“Give it the final blow, Extreme Speed!”
This wasn’t a turn-based game; when you seize an opportunity, you have to press the attack.
Before the Metang could fall, the agile Arcanine kicked off the cliff wall, its body glowing with white light, and in the blink of an eye, it arrived in front of the falling Metang!
Boom—accompanied by an earth-shaking explosion, the Metang’s eyes swirled as it fainted on the ground.
“It wasn’t as hard as they said; it was actually quite simple.”
“Go, Luxury Ball!” Levi threw a Luxury Ball, which was black with yellow stripes in the middle and red stripes on the top and bottom.
The Luxury Ball has a higher catch rate and a comfortable interior; Pokémon live more comfortably inside, which helps increase the friendship between the Pokémon and the Trainer.
The only drawback is that it’s expensive.
The unconscious Metang instantly turned into a beam of red light and was sucked into the Luxury Ball.
Without any wobbling, it was a perfect catch!
Levi picked up the Poké Ball, exchanged glances with Lucario and Arcanine, and held the Luxury Ball high.
“Shiny Metang, Get ☆ Daze!”
“Lucario!”
“Awooo!”