Charmander Evolved

Ice Beam hit dead on.

Venusaur was powerful, but its sheer size made it a sitting target.

So Xu Mu won this round with ease.

After Ice Beam struck, Greninja followed up with Blizzard, knocking Venusaur out cold.

One against three!

When Venusaur fell, everyone froze.

This rookie Trainer had defeated three of Venerable Dongfeng's Pokémon using nothing but a mid-Elite Four Greninja!

"A Battle Genius!"

The expert from Western Europe delivered his verdict on Xu Mu in an instant.

A Battle Genius and Tactical Master like him would be wasted if he didn't become a Trainer!

Venerable Dongfeng's face darkened.

He had never imagined that a routine mission would put his reputation on the line!

Losing three Pokémon to one rookie Trainer would make him the laughingstock of his peers for life!

"Venusaur, return."

After recalling his Pokémon, Venerable Dongfeng decided not to drag this out.

It was time to get serious and bring out his main fighter!

"Kangaskhan!"

The moment his late-Master-level Kangaskhan appeared, the experts watching let out cries of astonishment.

Venerable Dongfeng's ace, Kangaskhan!

That kid had actually forced him to bring it out!

"Kangaskhan, Mega Evolve!"

Venerable Dongfeng held nothing back. After summoning his ace, he used Mega Evolution to raise Kangaskhan's strength straight to Master Peak.

"Kid, you'll probably never see an evolution this incredible again in your life!"

Seeing Xu Mu staring at Kangaskhan, Venerable Dongfeng assumed the Mega Evolution had scared him speechless.

He finally had a chance to show off, and he seized it with both hands.

Xu Mu couldn't be bothered to answer.

I've seen more Mega Evolutions than your ancestors ever did!

"Greninja, no more holding back. Battle Bond!"

Without hesitation, Xu Mu answered Venerable Dongfeng with a demonstration.

You think I've never seen Mega Evolution? Heh. Let me show you an evolution that doesn't even need a stone!

Ever seen this?

Beep, beep, beep. Next time, think before you run your mouth.

Slapping you down this hard makes my hand hurt!

Ignoring the stunned looks from the assembled experts, Xu Mu synchronized his mind with Greninja and launched his attack!

So what if it's a Mega-Evolved Kangaskhan?

So what if it's at Master Peak?

We can handle it!

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

"Water Spiral Shuriken!"

"Fire in succession!"

There it was—Vortex Greninja's signature combo!

Greninja formed hand signs and created a dozen or so shadow clones. Each one then conjured two enormous Water Spiral Shuriken!

They hurled them straight at Kangaskhan!

"Don't be afraid! They're all fake—only two are real! Kangaskhan, use Detect, then Bullet Punch!"

Venerable Dongfeng didn't know the difference between Shadow Clone Technique and Double Team. He thought those Water Spiral Shuriken were mere illusions.

He reassured Kangaskhan while ordering its counterattack.

Reality slapped him in the face yet again.

The experts behind him closed their eyes in helpless silence. The slap came as fast as a Twister...

With a pained cry, Kangaskhan was battered senseless by the storm of Water Spiral Shuriken.

It had been ready to unleash Bullet Punch, only to have the move interrupted outright.

"No rush. Let it have a taste of Rasengan—Water Pulse!"

With Greninja holding the advantage, Xu Mu had no intention of letting up.

Greninja gathered a Water Pulse in its palm, then used Quick Attack to appear behind Kangaskhan.

Boom!

A point-blank hit!

Rasengan—Water Pulse dealt Kangaskhan a crushing blow!

The watching experts stared in disbelief.

What kind of move was that?

The sudden transformation was one thing, but what was that move supposed to be?

And Mega Evolution usually raised a Pokémon's strength by only one small step. How had Greninja jumped several?

Was that even fair?

The experts turned to Venerable Dongfeng with pity in their eyes, their faces full of questions.

It was one against four now...

Where had his dignity as an expert gone?

Venerable Dongfeng felt miserable too!

Who could have known the kid was this strong?

If he had known Greninja was such a monster, he never would have provoked Xu Mu!

Now a rookie Trainer had nailed him to the pillar of shame and slapped him down again and again.

Wait. Could this kid even be called a rookie Trainer?

With strength like that, who would believe him?

Venerable Dongfeng silently recalled Kangaskhan, his face black as ink.

"Steelix!"

As he sent out his next Pokémon, Venerable Dongfeng braced himself for a fifth straight defeat.

Sure enough, in less than three minutes, Greninja had pummeled Steelix until it was on the verge of going down.

"Explosion!"

No matter what, I won't let this kid beat all six!

Gritting his teeth, Venerable Dongfeng gave Steelix the order to use a self-destructing move.

Xu Mu had to admit he had let his guard down this time. He hadn't dodged!

Explosion struck Greninja head-on, and Xu Mu, whose mind was linked to its, cried out in pain too.

Greninja's stamina plummeted, and its transformed state ended automatically.

Greninja dropped to one knee. It had clearly reached its limit and could no longer fight.

Seeing his plan succeed, Venerable Dongfeng burst out laughing!

He sent out his final Pokémon—Typhlosion!

"What the hell are you laughing at? A rookie Trainer beat five of your Pokémon, and you still have the nerve to laugh?"

"At your age, you can't even beat someone who got his Starter Pokémon less than a month ago. Have you wasted your whole life?"

"You're useless. Pack your bags and make way for the next generation!"

"A parasite like you in a position of power is a blight on this entire nation!"

Seeing Venerable Dongfeng laugh, Xu Mu was instantly annoyed.

Against someone who valued his pride more than his life, Xu Mu let loose.

He knew how to talk trash too!

"Charmander, you're up next. Can you do it?"

Xu Mu called Charmander over, though he wasn't entirely confident.

"Char!"

[Leave it to me.]

Charmander patted its chest, a strange smile curling at the corners of its mouth.

[A showdown at this level, at a decisive moment like this—who better to step onto the field than me, the chosen one?]

[I've kept my head down all this time for this glorious moment!]

[Today's my chance to make a name for myself and become famous in a single battle!]

[Come on! I've spent ten years grinding monsters in the starter village. Let me fight!]

In a battle between Elite Four- and Master-level Pokémon, he was sending out one that had never even evolved?

Was this a joke?

"Kid, just admit defeat. I'm afraid my Typhlosion might hit too hard and hurt your little Pokémon!"

Xu Mu was speechless when Venerable Dongfeng mocked him yet again.

If the last five beatings didn't teach you, I'll keep going until you remember me!