Diantha was already the biggest celebrity in the Kalos region.
From the moment she stepped into the Pokémon Center, she attracted the attention of at least a hundred people.
By the time she and Noah took their positions across from one another on the public battle field outside the Pokémon Center—
Nearly half the citizens of Shalour City had gathered to watch.
Naturally, Noah had no intention of letting such a perfect opportunity to massively increase his Prestige Points go to waste.
He immediately had Serena take out her phone and start a livestream.
This left a certain Electric-type Gym Leader from the Paldea region—currently the world’s number one internet influencer—absolutely furious.
‘Who is this?!’
‘Who’s stealing my viewers?!’
Driven by curiosity, Iono opened the livestream herself.
In doing so, she unknowingly contributed another wave of Prestige Points to Noah.
[Whoa!
Champion Diantha is actually having a battle outdoors?
First time I’ve ever seen that!]
[The comment above…
are you sure you mean ‘battle outdoors’?
That wording sounds a little suspicious.]
[Who is that guy?
Does he have a death wish, challenging Champion Diantha?]
[He’s actually kind of handsome…]
[Why does he look a little familiar?]
…
Serena glanced briefly at the flood of comments racing across the screen before focusing all her attention back on the battlefield.
“Show them the bond we share, Gardevoir!”
The moment Serena saw the elegant Pokémon with green hair and a flowing white gown appear—
Her heart sank.
‘This is bad…’
‘It looked like Champion Diantha was genuinely angry.’
‘She had sent out her ace right from the very beginning.’
Grace and Serena couldn’t help feeling their hearts pound faster.
Both silently prayed for Noah.
“Agumon.”
Noah’s expression remained completely unchanged despite Gardevoir’s appearance.
The Poké Ball he threw automatically opened.
A tiny golden-yellow dinosaur that looked remarkably like a chicken nugget burst onto the battlefield, energetically shouting as it appeared.
[What’s that Pokémon?]
[I looked it up!
It’s a newly discovered Pokémon from Alola called Agumon!]
[I remember who that guy is now!
He’s the Pokémon Professor from Alola who’s been discovering all those new Pokémon lately!]
[That’s right!
I remember now too!
Some people even call him ‘the hottest Professor’!]
[Agumon is a Dragon-type, and he’s actually challenging a Fairy-type Gardevoir?]
The livestream exploded into discussion once again.
…
Seeing yet another brand-new Pokémon, even Diantha looked momentarily stunned before speaking.
“So…”
“You’re planning to challenge my Gardevoir with that little fellow?”
Noah merely smiled.
He offered no reply.
The next second—
He produced a small, pure white handheld device that resembled an old-fashioned pager.
It was…
A Digivice!
Immediately afterward—
Brilliant white light burst simultaneously from both the Digivice and Agumon.
Bathed within the dazzling radiance—
Agumon’s body rapidly expanded.
“Mega Evolution?!”
Diantha blurted out instinctively.
It certainly looked remarkably similar.
After all, it was another completely new form of evolution achieved through an external device, much like the Mega Evolution unique to Kalos.
“Agumon!”
“Digivolve to…
Champion!”
Noah shouted.
At that instant—
The blinding light surrounding Agumon suddenly dispersed.
A completely new form emerged before everyone’s eyes.
“Greymon!”
The instant Greymon appeared—
Both the audience at the scene and everyone watching the livestream completely lost their minds.
[HOLY CRAP!
W-What is that?!
Mega Evolution?!]
[No!
I’m from Kalos.
Mega Evolution uses a Key Stone and a Mega Stone.
What that guy used was completely different!]
[I just checked the Pokédex!
Greymon, Dragon/Fire-type.
It’s Agumon’s Champion form!]
[‘Champion form’?
What the heck is that?
I’ve never heard of it!]
[HOLY CRAP, THAT’S SO COOL!!]
Meanwhile—
Far away in the Kanto region—
Elite Four member Bruno repeatedly waved toward Lance.
“Lance!”
“Get over here!”
“You’ve gotta see this!”
…
A few seconds later, Diantha finally recovered from her shock.
“Good.”
“In that case, I won’t have to hold back anymore.”
As she gently raised one elegant finger—
“Gardevoir!”
“Psychic!”
Gardevoir spread both arms wide.
Deep violet psychic energy surged outward from her body, forming what looked like a massive invisible prison around Greymon.
The crushing force continued tightening inward.
“Greymon.”
“Horn Attack.”
Noah calmly gave the order.
“ROAR!!”
Greymon let out a deafening roar.
Using nothing but brute strength—
It forcibly shattered Psychic’s restraints.
Like a heavily armored tank charging across the battlefield—
Greymon lowered the enormous horn on its nose and thundered toward Gardevoir.
Every single step shook the entire ground surrounding the Pokémon Center.
Yet—
Just as Greymon’s attack was about to connect—
Gardevoir instantly vanished.
Using Teleport, she reappeared behind Greymon’s right side.
“Moonblast!”
Following her Trainer’s command—
Gardevoir gathered a pale pink sphere of energy between her hands.
It exploded violently against Greymon’s body.
Watching remotely from Kanto, Lance looked at the screen with complete disdain.
“So it’s a Dragon I’ve never seen before.”
“But it’s far too clumsy.”
“Nothing impressive.”
…
“So even a Champion-stage Digimon struggles against a Champion-level opponent.”
Noah muttered.
“Greymon, are you all right?”
“ROAR!”
Greymon proudly raised his head.
The attack had barely affected him.
“Mr.
Noah…”
Diantha smiled faintly.
“Would you still like to continue?”
In her eyes—
Although Greymon possessed incredible physical strength—
It was nothing more than a reckless brute.
Her Gardevoir could outmaneuver it with ease until victory was inevitable.
“Champion Diantha…”
Noah smiled.
“It’s never a good habit to start celebrating before halftime.”
As he spoke—
He once again raised the Digivice.
It looked almost identical to what had happened moments earlier.
The Digivice erupted with brilliant light once again.
Greymon’s body also began glowing.
The two lights merged together.
“Don’t tell me…?!”
Seeing this—
Forget the ordinary spectators.
Even Champion Diantha…
Lance…
Professor Oak…
Iono…
Steven…
And countless others watching through phones and televisions—
All stared in utter disbelief.
‘It can evolve again?!’
“Greymon…”
Noah couldn’t help smiling.
“Digivolve!”
Greymon, whose enormous body already rivaled a military tank—
Expanded once again.
This time—
Its height reached that of a three-story building.
Within the brilliant silhouette—
A pair of wing-like structures could be seen extending behind its back.
Finally—
The light faded.
Its body was now covered in armor over more than half its surface.
Its entire left arm had transformed into an enormous mechanical weapon.
An overwhelmingly ferocious dragon stood before everyone.
“MetalGreymon!”
Noah shouted the giant beast’s true name.
“ROOOOOOOAAARRRR!!!”
Responding to its partner’s voice—
MetalGreymon threw back its head and unleashed an earth-shaking roar.
The deafening cry caused not only the Pokémon Center—
But the entire city—
To tremble.
“What…
is that?!”
Even through a computer screen—
Lance, who had looked so confident only moments earlier—
Couldn’t stop his eyes from widening in astonishment.
“Then I won’t hold back anymore, Champion Diantha.”
A confident smile spread across Noah’s face.
Sliding one finger across the goggles on his forehead, he pointed dramatically toward the battlefield and issued his command with absolute confidence.
“Giga Destroyer!”
The hatch on MetalGreymon’s chest immediately swung open.
Two massive missiles—
Trailing blazing flames and decorated with savage, snarling faces—
Exploded outward toward Gardevoir.
…
Only then did Diantha finally snap back to reality.
“Gardevoir!”
“Quick!”
“Use Protect!!”
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The next instant—
A gigantic mushroom cloud rose above the center of Shalour City.
The terrifying explosion nearly deafened both the spectators at the scene and everyone watching online.