"He has a top-tier Shiny Metagross." May stared at the screen, her hands trembling slightly.
Lin Hao let out a helpless sigh. "What's a Hidden Examiner?"
"A veteran Elite Four-level expert the League specifically assigns to test exceptionally strong rookies," May explained, her face pale. "This examiner's code name is Iron Defense. His Metagross has incredibly high defense. They call its defenses unrivaled!"
"Oh." Lin Hao rolled over. "Iron Defense, huh? Pikachu's working overtime tomorrow."
"Are you crazy?!" May shouted. "Metagross is Steel-type and Psychic-type! Your Electric-type Pikachu can't do any damage to it! Besides, Metagross weighs seven hundred kilograms. No matter how strong Pikachu is, there's no way it can throw seven hundred kilograms with one hand!"
"Seven hundred kilograms?" Lin Hao rubbed his chin.
"Yes!"
"That's pretty heavy. An over-the-shoulder throw really wouldn't work." Lin Hao nodded in agreement.
May let out a sigh of relief. "So you're switching to Charizard?"
"Nope." Lin Hao yawned. "Pikachu, no throwing tomorrow. Just smash it with your fists. Got it?"
"Pika!" Pikachu waved a fist.
May lost all hope. She was certain that Metagross would easily crush Lin Hao in tomorrow's semifinal.
The next day, the crowd at the magnificent Central Stadium on the Indigo Plateau was twice as large as yesterday's, and surging waves of heat swept through the stands.
Up in the official box, President Charles Goodshow stroked his beard and smiled. "With Iron Defense taking the field, we should finally be able to force this boy to show his true strength, shouldn't we?" He watched the arena expectantly.
Champion Lance stood beside him with a grave expression. "President, Metagross's defense is too high. If Lin Hao uses Pikachu again, he'll definitely lose."
Down in the arena, Lin Hao strolled lazily onto the battle platform.
"Kid," Iron Defense said, his expression darkening, "I watched your earlier matches. Your Pikachu's strength is absurd, but against absolute defense, all those flashy tricks are laughable!"
"You're noisy." Lin Hao sounded impatient. "Hurry up and fight. I've got lunch to get to."
Iron Defense was so furious he laughed. "Go, Metagross! Make him admit defeat!" He hurled a specially made Luxury Ball.
Bang! White light burst forth, and a massive Shiny Metagross, its entire body gleaming with dazzling silver light, crashed to the ground.
Boom! Its tremendous weight smashed a deep crater into the ground, and the clang of metal rang throughout the stadium.
"My goodness! It's a Shiny Metagross!" the commentator shouted himself hoarse. "A rare Steel-type pseudo-legendary! What an extraordinary presence!"
The stands erupted in an uproar, and the spectators rose to their feet as one.
Lin Hao casually patted his shoulder. "Pikachu, go on."
"Pika!" Pikachu hopped nimbly onto the field and scratched its ear in boredom.
Iron Defense sneered at the sight. "You're really not switching Pokémon? You're asking for it! Metagross, use a heavy Meteor Mash! Crush it!"
Whumm! Metagross's thick steel arm instantly blazed with blinding white light. With a shrill whistle through the air, it smashed straight toward Pikachu, seven hundred kilograms behind the blow!
"Pikachu, block that," Lin Hao said halfheartedly.
Pikachu raised both arms and crossed them in front of its chest.
Bang! A dull metallic crash rang out! The terrifying force sent Pikachu's tiny body skidding backward more than ten meters, leaving two deep furrows in the ground.
But it didn't fall. It hadn't even lost a single hair.
"Impossible!" Iron Defense's eyes widened. It had actually taken Meteor Mash head-on?!
Inside System Space, Mewtwo sighed helplessly. (So fake. Master's Pikachu maxed out its defense ages ago. That lousy hunk of iron couldn't even tickle it. Skidding back all that way? What terrible acting.)
Ho-Oh was scornful. (Exactly. He might as well let me go out there and act. At least I could pretend to cough up blood.)
Lin Hao offered a satisfied assessment in his mind. (Not bad. Pikachu's acting has improved. Extra food tonight.)
Back in the arena, the entire crowd cried out in amazement. "It held out! Pikachu actually held out!"
Iron Defense gritted his teeth. "That was just luck! Metagross, use a full-power Zen Headbutt!" Metagross charged fiercely once more.
"The show's over. Let's wrap it up." Lin Hao casually slipped his hands into his pockets. "Pikachu, Mega Punch. Add a little lightning."
"Pika~chu!" Pikachu grinned excitedly. It made no attempt to dodge Metagross's attack and clenched its tiny right fist.
Rumble! Savage golden lightning instantly wrapped around its fist. Lightning Enchantment: Mega Punch!
Pikachu leaped up and brutally slammed its fist down at Metagross's steel forehead.
"You don't know your own limits! You'll break your hand punching steel!" Iron Defense laughed arrogantly.
Yet the instant that tiny, glowing fist touched Metagross's forehead, there came a crack! It was the crisp sound of metal shattering.
Metagross's supposedly unrivaled head caved in completely!
Boom! The force spread outward, and that single punch drove the seven-hundred-kilogram Metagross straight into the ground!
The stone slabs across the battlefield heaved like waves and shattered, while thick clouds of dust shot into the sky.
The entire stadium fell silent. The commentator stared at the deep crater in the field.
As the dust cleared, Metagross lay sprawled in the center of the enormous crater, its eyes rolled back. Web-like cracks covered its steel armor, and it was completely unconscious.
A seven-hundred-kilogram pseudo-legendary with absolute defense, knocked out by one devastating punch. Pikachu blew the dust off its fist and hopped back onto Lin Hao's shoulder.
In the stands, President Charles Goodshow yanked out a large clump of his own beard. "Th-this... What the fuck kind of monster is that?!" he cried out involuntarily.
"Referee, can you announce the result?" Lin Hao yawned again.
The referee stiffly raised his flag. "Metagross is unable to battle! Lin Hao from Pallet Town advances to the finals!"
The entire stadium erupted in wild cheers! Lin Hao walked off the platform.
That night, just as May was about to fall asleep, the encrypted Communicator in her pocket kept ringing. She answered the call.
On the other end, Charles Goodshow's voice was grave. "May! The plan has changed! Tonight, before tomorrow's final..."
"You must uncover his last trump card at any cost, by any means necessary! Someone is watching you from the shadows."
Before you continue