"Will both contestants please switch Pokémon!"
The referee, standing far off at the edge of the barrier, raised the flag in his hand and gave the final prompt.
Looking at the lineup across from him,
Xia Yan's mouth twitched.
He actually did not need to switch.
But when he saw Steven smiling as he took out another Poké Ball, he suddenly felt awful all over.
What was this supposed to mean?
So the moment he ran into me, he was bringing out every big move, little move, and combo without explanation?
And now he was even throwing in a changeup at the end.
Then he saw it.
Steven recalled the Mawile Xia Yan had assumed was there for Mega Evolution.
The Pokémon sent out in its place was an ancient-looking great bell forged entirely from bronze.
A Steel-type and Psychic-type Pokémon.
Bronzong!
The instant he saw it, Xia Yan understood the framework behind Steven's lineup.
Sandstorm Trick Room!
Damn it, Steven had really taken every suggestion Xia Yan had ever made to heart!
But Xia Yan did not feel the slightest bit gratified right now. Instead, he almost wanted to cry.
"Steven, you've hidden things deeply enough. I've never even heard you mention a Heatran like this," Xia Yan could not help saying.
Steven merely adjusted his cuff lightly.
Then he said slowly,
"Do you remember the rampage of Hoenn's ancient twin gods? Groudon's revival made the magma inside Mt. Chimney boil. As it happened, I was collecting magma ore near Mt. Chimney at the time."
So,
from that time onward,
Steven had already caught Heatran?
No wonder this Heatran did not seem to lack rapport with Steven at all. It was proof that they had been together for quite some time.
Steven continued,
"However, I had not fully caught