On the officials' platform, Johto's Elite Four sat with Wallace and Caitlin, the heavyweight guests watching the match together.
The old man and the other Elite Four members were very eager to see how Gary would perform in the first semifinal.
"Charizard against Garchomp? Has Young Master Mao been drinking counterfeit booze?" Will could not help voicing his confusion as soon as he saw the matchup.
"Yeah, this really isn't Young Master Gary's style." Bruno rubbed his chin.
"What is Gary's style?" the old man asked curiously.
"Well... countering you to death, being sneaky, ruthless, and shameless..." Bruno muttered under his breath.
Lance rolled his eyes. "Say that louder if you've got the guts. See if Lorelei doesn't slap you when you get back..."
"Not necessarily~ I spotted an interesting item on Gary's wrist." Wallace smiled with a keen look in his eyes.
Steven had really put him through the wringer with that thing back then~
"Come on, brat. Let me see what you've got." On the battlefield, Longye grinned viciously and crooked a finger at Gary.
Garchomp fixed its scarlet eyes on Charizard, holding both fins in front of itself.
"Tch~" Gary smiled disdainfully and raised his right hand without the slightest hesitation, dazzling his opponents with his gleaming Mega Bracelet.
"Charizard, answer my expectations and surpass your limits! Mega Evolution!"
Boom! Charizard roared, brilliant light bursting from its entire body. Countless chains of light shot from the X stone that appeared on its chest, shining in concert with the Key Stone in midair.
"Aoooh~" Its draconic roar rang throughout the stadium. Under the spectators' astonished gazes, Charizard's body slowly grew taller and larger within the light of evolution.
The white evolutionary light slowly faded, revealing azure tail flames, pitch-black skin, powerful muscles, and crisscrossing scars that glowed ruby-red