Xu Mu Versus His Future Father-in-Law

Xu Mu panicked. How could he not?

He had talked the man's daughter, who wasn't even eighteen, into living and traveling with him.

They hadn't done anything, but it still sounded bad!

And now her father had come looking for him in person!

How could Xu Mu not panic?

Besides, who was Cynthia's father? The Chief of Western Europe!

A man at the very top, with half of humanity's territory under his authority!

How could Xu Mu not panic?

"Are you serious?"

Xu Mu swallowed and asked, hardly daring to believe it.

Cynthia's face was already flushed, and his question made it turn even redder.

"Yes. Hurry and get ready. Father will be here in a few minutes."

With that, Cynthia hurried off and disappeared from Xu Mu's sight.

Xu Mu didn't know why she'd run off so quickly, but he had problems of his own. Meeting her father without warning? Who could handle that?

Whatever. If I'm shameless enough, I'll have meat on the table every day!

Xu Mu shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. He'd deal with whatever came. What else could he do?

Before long, Cynthia led a middle-aged man into the villa.

His blond hair was just like Cynthia's.

The hooked nose on his face gave him not an air of arrogance, but a distinctive authority.

"Hello, Xu Mu. I'm Cynthia's father."

"Hello, Chief Kale."

Xu Mu had already changed into more formal clothes and fixed his hair. He looked even more handsome now...

They shook hands and exchanged polite greetings.

"Cynthia told you why I'm here, didn't she?"

Xu Mu froze. Why you're here?

Isn't it to call me to account?

I ran off with your daughter. Shouldn't you be here to fight me?

"Yes."

Xu Mu nodded despite his nerves. He had no idea what Kale would say next, so he could only hold himself together.

"Good. Then let's go out to the yard. If you can beat me in a battle, I'll agree to your engagement to Cynthia."

With that, Kale turned and walked out of the villa.

He left behind a crimson-faced Cynthia and a stunned Xu Mu.

"So your father came to test me? He wants us to get engaged?"

Xu Mu was dumbfounded. No wonder Cynthia had been so shy!

For a sweet, bashful girl like her, it must have taken all her courage just to stand in front of him and tell him!

Cynthia nodded, then hurried away again, leaving Xu Mu baffled.

What's going on?

Was this all decided for me?

Did they find out I'm the ultimate privileged heir and a child of destiny?

Xu Mu looked around blankly.

Whatever. If it's a battle he wants, it's a battle he'll get!

He's just a Chief, right?

I'll beat him even if it kills me!

For the sake of his future happiness, Xu Mu resolved to push himself and give Cynthia's father a real fight.

By the time he reached the yard, Kale had been waiting for a while.

Kale smiled faintly when he saw him.

"Come on. You have three Pokémon, right? How about two against two?"

Xu Mu had no objection. Arceus was still young. Though it was powerful, it might not be ready for a battle at this level.

"Go, Metagross!"

Without any flourish, Kale sent out a member of his main team: Metagross!

It was at the late Champion level, only one step from the peak.

Metagross appeared with a roar, radiating a terrifying pressure!

"That's the battle aura Pokémon develop at the Champion level. Only after mastering it have they truly crossed the threshold."

Knowing Xu Mu was unfamiliar with this, Kale explained it carefully.

Xu Mu nodded his thanks, then his gaze turned grave.

Cynthia's father isn't holding back at all. He's gone straight to his main team. Isn't that bullying?

I'm a Rookie Trainer, and you're going all out against me!

"Greninja, I'm counting on you!"

"Kooga!"

[I, Greninja, will brave fire and water for the Xu family for generations to come!]

Knowing a fierce battle lay ahead, Greninja shouted his declaration the moment he appeared!

Kale heard him and smiled.

"So this is the little fellow who came back from the border? He's full of spirit!"

After that brief praise, Kale's expression grew focused. He was getting serious!

"Greninja, Battle Bond!"

"Metagross, Mega Evolution!"

Almost simultaneously, both Pokémon began to change!

Metagross, already at the late Champion level, surged straight to the peak after Mega Evolving!

Its four enormous metal arms filled Greninja with crushing pressure!

What terrifying power!

"Don't be afraid, Greninja! Spiral Water Shuriken!"

Xu Mu opened with a finishing move, ordering Greninja to launch a Spiral Water Shuriken to buy time to form the signs for the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Stop it with Confusion, then Meteor Mash!"

The rapidly spinning Water Shuriken was suddenly caught in an invisible barrier. It couldn't advance another inch.

Then Metagross swung all four massive arms, launching its attack at Greninja from a distance!

Boom!

Caught off guard, Greninja was sent flying!

"Greninja!"

Xu Mu ran over in alarm. Greninja hadn't lost consciousness and was struggling to stand.

"Don't force yourself. We're still young. It's only one battle."

Xu Mu caught hold of him and helped him up, speaking softly.

"Trust me. I'll help you grow stronger. Treat this loss as a lesson."

Xu Mu's voice was calm. Greninja soon recovered his composure, cast Metagross a frustrated look, and sighed.

"Kooga!"

[I'll grow stronger. Next time, I'll defeat him!]

Greninja set Metagross and the Champion level as his goals, clenching his fists to encourage himself.

Seeing that Greninja was taking it well, Xu Mu had him sit to one side and summoned Charizard!

"Charizard, Mega Evolution!"

"Mega Charizard X!"

Charizard had been at the early Elite Four level, but with the power of the Torch Dragon Bloodline, Mega Evolution raised him straight to the late Elite Four level!

Even so, Metagross and Kale were unimpressed.

Too weak!

"Green Lotus Core Flame—Flamethrower!"

Xu Mu roared, throwing himself into the attack alongside Charizard!

"Roar!"

Mega Charizard X roared and unleashed a stream of blue-green flame!

It surged forward with fierce momentum!

But Kale didn't even give an order. Metagross used Confusion again and stopped the Flamethrower.

Meteor Mash!

Bang!

A crushing punch!

Charizard had no chance to dodge, not even a chance to use Protect!

Metagross knocked him out with a single blow, sending him flying!

"Xu Mu, you lost. It seems I can't let Cynthia get engaged to you yet."