Rustboro City, Devon Corporation.
A handsome blue-haired man in a suit nodded politely with a smile to every employee he passed.
Though prideful as the "absolute number one," he remained courteous, gentle, and humble.
Programmers adjusted their glasses, eyes glistening.
So cool, President Steven!
"P-President Steven!" A data analyst suddenly stood up, reporting nervously:
"A competitor to Pokémon: Battle seems to have appeared on the market. I suggest acquiring its parent company before completion..."
"I've heard about it."
Steven smiled. "That guy... probably wouldn't agree to an acquisition. Let's compete fairly."
"Understood!"
The analyst added, "Also, Pokémon: Battle is about to receive an update. Your ranking..."
"You need me to log in for activity, right?"
Steven pondered briefly before nodding. "Then tonight it is. I'll go online."
The employees of Devon Corporation were well aware of their vice president's perfectionism.
In everything—training, battling—President Steven pursued flawlessness.
The only way to describe him:
"I got first place in the end—strong and amazing."
As for collecting, Steven perfectly inherited his father's hobby.
Whether digging himself or purchasing at high prices, he always obtained rare ores for his collection.
Even in business, a field he wasn't naturally inclined toward, Steven single-handedly propelled Devon Corporation's gaming platform, earning him the title of "Business Genius" in the industry.
Nearly perfect in every way.
He might even rival Natsume-sensei.
As dusk fell, Steven returned to his seaside villa in Mossdeep City.
From here, he could see the rocket launch pads of the Space Center and Wailmer leaping from the ocean.
His home was filled with rare ores and a few of his beloved Pokémon—Beldum.
"Wallace Cup in Sinnoh—interested in being a judge?"
A call came through, his friend Wallace's lazy voice on the line.
Steven chuckled helplessly. "I'm not exactly skilled in the Contest domain."
"Steven actually has a weak point?!"
Wallace feigned shock before bursting into laughter. "Just kidding. Mainly, with you there, we could sell tickets at higher prices."
"Enough talk."
Steven cradled the phone between his shoulder and ear, flexing his long fingers. "I've got something important tonight."
"What is it?"
"World's number one."
Steven smiled gently, his eyes sharp as steel.
"I won't let anyone take it easily."
"Good luck~" Wallace shrugged.
After hanging up, Steven connected to the matchmaking interface, murmuring to himself:
"Is it Caitlin? Or perhaps Mr. Master ..."
Until the interface displayed an exceptionally handsome black-haired young man—
ID: [Natsume-sensei, Are You Serving Dinner Today?]
Steven's lips curled, a glint flashing in his deep eyes.
"Just as I thought."
...
On-screen, Steven's striking profile appeared.
Natsume sighed. "Almost as handsome as me."
"I've never seen someone so shameless!"
"Go get him, Big Brother of Dirty Strategies!"
"This isn't about dirty strategies."
Natsume-sensei suddenly turned serious. "This is a battle of faith."
"Even with Pokémon of weaker species, even in a type-disadvantaged crisis..."
"Believe in your Pokémon."
Natsume's gaze sharpened. "Go, Dusclops! Sylveon!"
For a moment, fans felt their hearts skip—Natsume-sensei looked cool.
Even though his usual streaming style was comedic...
Even the most critical fans had to admit:
This man… was dangerously handsome!
"Then."
Steven's blue hair swayed as he elegantly drew two Luxury Balls, declaring firmly:
"Skarmory, Metagross—I'm counting on you!"
"Skarmory!" The silver-armored bird spread its razor-sharp wings, soaring into the sky.
THUD!!
"Metagross!!" The silver-white pseudo-legendary landed with earth-shaking force, its X-marked forehead and piercing red eyes radiating intensity!
Is this the world of the rich?!
We're playing the same game… but Steven's Metagross has a skin?!
Fans mourned as Natsume-sensei faced this mismatch.
"Natsume-sensei, just forfeit. Losing to Steven isn't embarrassing!"
"Fairy-type against Steel-type… Natsume-sensei, are you the Master of Reverse Battles?"
Paul frowned deeply.
The situation defied everything he thought he knew about Natsume-sensei.
Forcing Sylveon into play, with frail backup Pokémon…
Can he really win?
Paul muttered, "Against Champion Steven?"
Even with team composition advantages, Steven didn't dare lower his guard.
As Professor Oak once said of Natsume-sensei: Strategist.
A single misstep could let Natsume-sensei seize the chance for a reversal.
"But."
Steven's eyes gleamed with pride. "I never misstep!"
"After Tailwind, use Meteor Mash!"
"Skarmory!" The avian shrieked, flapping its wings to summon a gale that boosted even Metagross's speed.
"Metagross!!"
The silver-white beast, like a berserk war god, clenched its metallic claws into fists, erupting with crimson light. Then—
A comet-like punch tore through the air, hurtling toward Sylveon!
Fans gulped.
"Won't this one-shot her?"
"Metagross could sweep the whole team alone—how is this fair?!"
As the Meteor Mash descended, Sylveon vanished—replaced by Dusclops, its single eye staring impassively.
Ally Switch!
"Press on!" Steven commanded sharply.
"Metagross!" The pseudo-legendary roared, its fist crashing down.
BOOM!!
Dusclops was sent flying, barely clinging to consciousness!
This is the might of a pseudo-legendary!
Paul's mind screamed. All that talk of faith and love… just lies!
"Sylveon~"
Amid the chaos, Sylveon cutely yawned, blinking sleepily at Metagross.
Move: Yawn—after a delay, the target would be forced into Sleep.
"Bought time with Ally Switch?"
Steven murmured coolly, "Skarmory, Taunt Dusclops! Metagross, Earthquake!!"
He knew Dusclops aimed to set up Trick Room.
But with Tailwind, Skarmory's Taunt perfectly countered it.
Metagross's Earthquake would finish Dusclops for sure!
"Skarmory!" The bird's sharp gaze locked onto Dusclops—
But a red beam recalled Dusclops mid-taunt.
"Metagross!!" The iron juggernaut slammed its fists into the ground.
The earth split violently, fissures spiderwebbing across the battlefield.
"Sylveon!"
Sylveon raised her head, a shimmering Reflect shielding her, weakening the quake's force.
"Minccino!" The newly sent-out Cinccino endured the tremors, its scarf fluttering as faint electricity crackled around it.
"Wait, Natsume-sensei put Thunder Wave on Cinccino?!"
"90% accuracy—will it even hit?!"
Under tens of thousands of watching eyes…
The tiny Cinccino puffed its cheeks—
ZAP!
Skarmory was paralyzed!
"OHHHHHHH!!"
"It hit! Thunder Wave actually hit!"
"This is the bond between Natsume-sensei and dirty strategies!"
Natsume wiped sweat.
That dramatic over a 90%-accuracy move…?
Meanwhile, Steven frowned.
Metagross was asleep, Skarmory paralyzed—yet neither Pokémon had taken real damage.
What is Natsume-sensei planning?
"Return!" Natsume recalled Cinccino, sending Dusclops back out.
Steven withdrew his sleeping Metagross, tossing another Luxury Ball:
"Aggron, go!"
CRASH!!
The metallic titan landed—only to be met with a ghostly ember, igniting its body.
"More status conditions…"
Steven's unease grew. "Aggron, Earthquake!"
The ground quaked again. Dusclops and Sylveon, already weakened, stood no chance.
BOOM!!
In an instant, Aggron scored a double KO!
Natsume-sensei's stream flooded with "GG"s.
"It's over. Sylveon's gone—how's he winning this?"
"Did Sylveon just die to stack buffs for Natsume-sensei?"
"What's left in his team?"
"Onix and Cinccino… Natsume-sensei, just surrender!"
In Natsume-sensei's private chat, several big names watched the duel of titans.
"Every move Natsume-sensei makes is razor-thin," Red noted.
"Steven's also countering his predictions, stopping Trick Room."
"But…"
"But Natsume-sensei's never this suppressed," Blue Oak finished.
"With Gengar, he'd have put them to sleep by now," Gold mused.
Ash stayed silent, recalling Natsume-sensei's words:
This battle is for the underdogs.
To prove even weak Pokémon can reach the top…
Brock narrowed his eyes.
"Speaking of Onix… there's one move it can use."
"'Rage'—each hit it takes powers it up further."
"Maybe that's Natsume-sensei's plan…"
Red and Blue Oak froze—then understood.
Onix, with Rage and Sturdy, grew stronger and faster with every hit.
Cinccino's Tail Slap (with Skill Link) could trigger this perfectly.
Pokémon: Battle didn't display Abilities—only those with deep knowledge could execute this.
And now…
Blue Oak's lips thinned.
Against the indomitable Champion Steven…
Natsume-sensei had used sleep, burns, paralysis, and Ally Switch to stall his offense.
This strategy…
Might actually work.
Red tipped his cap, smirking.
With Onix and Cinccino now entering the field after the sacrifices…
It's Natsume-sensei's turn to attack.
"Go, Onix!"
The colossal rock snake stood tall, while Cinccino puffed up defiantly.
Steven's instincts screamed danger as he sent out Metagross.
Metagross and Aggron—symbols of raw power, beloved by trainers.
Compared to them…
Onix and Cinccino seemed almost laughable.
But when Onix's body glowed crimson, its armor shedding as its aura rivaled even legendaries—
Fans collectively held their breath.
"ONIX!!!"
The beast roared, eyes bloodshot!
"Holy—he actually pulled off the combo?!"
"This strategy exists… but the execution is insane!"
"Not just predicting the opponent—zero room for error, against Champion Steven!"
"Natsume-sensei, you god!!"
Rage-powered Onix stood tall, its gaze imperious.
A historic moment—fans' eyes widened.
"Cinccino, Helping Hand."
Natsume-sensei's voice was calm.
"Onix, Earthquake."
BOOOOOOM!!
Onix's tail smashed down—the entire arena collapsed into fissures!
With Cinccino's help…
The quake swallowed Metagross and Aggron whole.
Onix's Earthquake—triple KO!!
The stream went wild.
"I'M LOSING IT!!"
"HE KILLED HIS OWN TEAM TOO?!"
Steven stared, then laughed wryly, brushing sweat-damp hair back.
I let my guard down.
Assuming Sylveon was Natsume-sensei's ace…
Only to fall for this strategy.
His newly sent Skarmory and Cradily looked up—
As Rock Slide rained from above.
CRASH!!
Amid the rubble, only Onix remained, its crimson aura unchallenged.
The stream fell silent—
Then exploded.
"HE ACTUALLY WON?! HOW?!"
"Time to release my Beldum and catch an Onix!"
"Ally Switch, Yawn, Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp… Natsume-sensei, you're the dirtiest!"
"Natsume-sensei, I declare you the dirtiest!"
"NATSUME-SENSEI IS GOD!! MOM LOVES YOU!!"
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