Mega Lucario

"Xu Mu, I'm going first!"

Once Cynthia entered battle mode, she was fierce.

After Greninja and Lucario traded a few words, Lucario flew into a rage. Cynthia knew her Pokémon must have lost the trash-talk exchange.

As expected of Greninja. He can face a Master Class opponent head-on, and it's not just his strength. That composure is something else!

Of course, she might admire her opponent, but she showed no mercy when she spoke.

"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"

No wasting time. She opened with Aura Sphere to see what Greninja was made of!

With a shout, Lucario formed an Aura Sphere in his hand and hurled it at Greninja!

Xu Mu watched the charging Lucario and said calmly, "Spiraling Water Shuriken. Knock that ball down."

"Croak!"

[Easy!]

Greninja casually flung a huge Water Shuriken. It carried the spinning force of a Rasengan, making it terrifyingly powerful!

Boom!

Sure enough, when the moves collided, the Water Shuriken knocked the Aura Sphere away!

It kept hurtling toward Lucario!

But the Aura Sphere had done its job. The collision had knocked the Water Shuriken off course, and Lucario swiftly dodged it.

"Greninja really is something. That power is incredible!"

Cynthia praised him, then continued, "Lucario, we need to step it up too. Use Bulk Up!"

With Xu Mu making no aggressive move, Cynthia seized the chance to have Lucario strengthen himself.

"Luca!"

Lucario obeyed at once.

He pumped his arms, his muscles standing out as he gathered more power to boost his attacks.

"Powering up? Work Up!"

Xu Mu remained calm. Even against Cynthia, he had absolute confidence.

When it came to giving commands, Xu Mu had never feared anyone!

"Croak!"

Seeing Lucario power up, Greninja refused to fall behind and used Work Up.

"Meteor Mash!"

Lucario finished his Bulk Up first, and Cynthia immediately ordered him to attack!

Before Greninja could finish Work Up!

But the instant Lucario's fist struck Greninja...

Pop!

Greninja vanished into thin air!

"When did he do that? I didn't even notice!"

Shocked, Cynthia searched every corner of the field for Greninja.

"That one was a fake! Be careful, Lucario!"

Lucario hadn't expected Greninja to use Double Team without him noticing. Even as his opponent, he hadn't sensed a thing!

"Croak!"

[Kid, why don't you go home and farm? Pokémon battles are too dangerous for you!]

Greninja suddenly appeared above Lucario, taunting him as he drove an Ice Punch downward!

Thud!

The descending fist struck home.

The punch slammed into Lucario's face and sent him flying.

"Croak!"

[See? I told you it was too dangerous for a little baby like you!]

Greninja didn't stop at hitting him. He kept up the trash talk, hammering away at Lucario's resolve.

"Luca!"

Unable to take any more, Lucario roared, scrambled to his feet, then turned to Cynthia and raised his arm!

Cynthia murmured, "We're using that power already?"

"All right. Let me see how your training with my father paid off, and whether you've truly mastered that power!"

With that, Cynthia raised her arm too!

An exquisite bracelet on her wrist gave off a mysterious glow.

A closer look revealed that the light came not from the bracelet, but from the Key Stone set in it.

"Lucario, Mega Evolve!"

"Luca!"

Cynthia and Lucario cried out together. The instant the Key Stone's light met the glow of the Lucarionite, Lucario's form began to change.

Red spread across his skin, and his gaze sharpened!

"Luca!"

[Come on, frog! Let's fight again!]

The evolved Lucario did look cool. Even Xu Mu had to admit that Mega Lucario looked impressive.

As for his strength, it was probably nothing special...

"Greninja, let's transform too."

Xu Mu intended to beat Lucario so thoroughly he would have no choice but to accept it.

They could transform and evolve too!

Greninja nodded, and dazzling light burst from his body!

Then—Battle Bond!

Power surged through Lucario, and his urge to fight had never been stronger. He had just started thinking he could pound that frog into the ground!

But now the frog was transforming too!

What was going on?!

"Ahem. Greninja, I'll leave the rest to you. You know what I want."

Xu Mu spoke quietly, signaling Greninja to get to work.

They had dragged this out long enough. Lucario must have shown his full strength by now. It was time to crush that arrogance!

"Croak!"

[Don't worry, young master!]

[I know how to deal with this brat who thinks he's above everyone!]

[I promise he'll behave himself whenever he sees you from now on!]

With that, Greninja used Shadow Clone Technique, summoning dozens of clones in an instant!

These weren't mere shadows. Every one of them was solid and could fight!

Cynthia knew that, but before she could warn Lucario, she heard the sounds of a scuffle!

The smoke was so thick she couldn't see what was happening inside!

Four Greninja clones seized Lucario's limbs!

The others used Lucario for target practice, pelting him with Water Shuriken!

Without the spiraling force, the Water Shuriken weren't especially powerful, but they hurt just enough.

Greninja himself appeared behind Lucario.

"Croak!"

[So you Mega Evolved?]

[Does that make you strong?]

[Is it helping?]

[Forget it. With skills like yours, stop embarrassing yourself. Go home, find a female Pokémon, get married, and farm.]

[Look, I'm standing right behind you and you still can't hit me. Frustrating, isn't it?]

As he spoke, Greninja kicked Lucario in the backside.

[See? I can make it even worse!]

[Listen, kid. From now on, show my young master some respect. Got it?]

[Otherwise, I'll beat you every time I see you!]

Greninja was acting like a schoolyard bully who had cornered Lucario in an alley.

"Luca!"

[Never! Even if you beat me to death, I'll never let him steal Cynthia away!]