"Come forth, visitor from beyond the stars—Deoxys!"
With Tobias' throw, a humanoid Pokémon landed upon the battlefield. Its chest bore a meteorite crystal, and its long arms coiled like strands of DNA. Its expression was unreadable as it stared down Paul and his Mega Metagross.
"Deoxys…"
Paul's eyes flickered with emotion.
Among the strongest Pokémon in existence, Deoxys was in a league of its own—shifting freely between four forms, wielding a vast movepool, and carrying the enigmatic Psychic typing that made it nearly flawless.
Paul remembered: when he first set out on his journey, the Pokémon he most desired to capture was Deoxys. He had scoured the Devil's Sea countless times, seeking the fallen meteorite shown in the anime.
In the main world, he found nothing. In the anime world, he once encountered and even saved a Deoxys—but in respect for its will, he did not capture it.
Who would have thought his first true encounter with Deoxys in this main timeline would be here—in Tobias' hands.
Paul didn't waste time. He knew Deoxys could also use Gravity, and he would not allow it the chance.
"Earthquake!"
"GRROOO!"
Mega Metagross slammed into the ground, sending seismic shockwaves roaring toward Deoxys.
Tobias remained calm. "Teleport! Then Fire Punch!"
Deoxys' body distorted, shifting into Attack Forme before vanishing and reappearing above.
"Flash Cannon!"
"Grrooo!"
Sensing the distortion overhead, Metagross instantly rotated and fired a blinding cannon of steel.
BOOM!!
As expected, Deoxys materialized right there—only to be blasted out of the sky by the cannon's force.
"Double Team! Fire Punch!"
Rolling across the battlefield, Deoxys steadied itself and split into dozens of physical clones. Each burning with fire, they swarmed Metagross like moths to a flame.
"Psyshock!"
Metagross unleashed an eruption of psychic power, obliterating the illusions in one sweeping wave. Only the true Deoxys remained, its body curled as it charged energy.
"Shadow Ball!"
Tobias' voice rang out. Massive Shadow Balls, larger than Deoxys itself, were hurled one after another in a relentless barrage.
"Flash Cannon!"
Unshaken, Metagross gathered power again, unleashing another silver beam. The reinforced blast pierced through the incoming orbs, detonating them mid-air, and once more hurled Deoxys backward.
Twice struck, even Deoxys began to falter.
But at Tobias' command—"Recover!"—a white glow engulfed Deoxys, erasing its wounds in an instant.
Paul narrowed his eyes. The scene echoed the past when he once battled and wore down Mewtwo through sheer attrition.
"Finish this quickly. Psychic, then Meteor Mash!"
Psychic power burst forth, freezing Deoxys in place. In a flash, Metagross rocketed forward like a comet, air shattering as it closed the distance.
"Defense Forme—Protect!"
Deoxys' body thickened, shifting to Defense Forme as a green barrier materialized. The comet-strike slammed into the shield, sending ripples through the air.
Metagross, however, did not relent. It pressed forward, continuing to crush the barrier with unstoppable force.
"Fire Punch!"
Switching back to Attack Forme, Deoxys' fists ignited with flames as it swung against Metagross head-on.
Paul's eyes gleamed coldly. He gave the command that made even Tobias widen his eyes:
"Good. Now—Explosion!"
"GRROOO!"
Metagross' eyes flashed. With its Psychic grip preventing Deoxys from fleeing, its body shone with blinding white light.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky as the battlefield's defense systems activated to contain the blast. The ground quaked violently, rattling the entire stadium.
When the smoke cleared, a colossal crater scarred the arena floor. Both Metagross and Deoxys lay broken within, seemingly unconscious.
The arena officials stared, pale. "Could you hold back a little, my dearest Champion…?"
Who would believe that this scene of devastation, like a bombing site was a brand-new Battle Dome just completed?
"..."
Tobias gaped at the pit. He had imagined many ways Deoxys might be defeated, but never in a mutual annihilation.
Then—a movement...
Deoxys' tendrils twitched.
"Deoxys! Stand up!" Tobias shouted, voice trembling with hope.
Paul focused his gaze. "Still able to fight?"
Though its body was shattered, pieces missing entirely, Deoxys slowly rose. Its form glowed white as it began to regenerate.
But its Recover was sluggish. The Explosion had damaged its very core.
"Lucky to still be standing… Return, Metagross."
Paul recalled his partner with a curt remark. Seeing Tobias' determination unbroken, Paul drew another Poké Ball and hurled it forward.
"Prepare yourself—Electivire!"
"Vireeee!"
With a flash of light, Electivire emerged onto the ruined battlefield.
At first, it blinked in confusion.
'What happened here? This place looks like it hasn't been maintained for centuries…'
Then it glanced across the field—Deoxys' battered body… and then, shockingly, its wounds knitting back together.
"Vireee?"
Electivire turned toward Paul as if to ask: 'You're seriously sending me against this thing?'
Paul's sharp eyes gave only a firm answer: Yes.
"Vireee…"
With a resigned grunt, Electivire accepted. Allowing Deoxys a moment to finish healing was the last courtesy it would grant.
As soon as Deoxys' form was restored, Electivire struck.
Its muscular frame blurred into golden lightning, tearing the air as it broke the sound barrier. Plasma surged through its fists.
"Plasma Fist!"
BOOM!!
Before Deoxys could react, before even completing a form change, Electivire's fist crashed down. It could only cross its arms in defense as the blow landed—
And the battle raged on.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion echoed across the battlefield. Deoxys was blasted away like a cannonball, crashing into the arena's protective barrier before bouncing back down.
"Thunder Cage!"
With a single motion, Electivire hurled a prison forged of unending lightning. The construct grew larger as it traveled, until Deoxys was fully trapped within its crackling bars.
This relentless assault had already left Deoxys battered, and now the Thunder Cage's shocks continued to wrack its body. Raising its gaze, it saw Electivire already cloaked in stormlight, charging forward with its ultimate strike—Giga Impact.
"Psycho Boost!"
At the critical moment, Deoxys unleashed its power. A concentrated sphere of pure psychic force shot forth, shattering the Thunder Cage before colliding head-on with Electivire.
BOOM!!
The collision shook the sky, but Electivire did not slow. Through the explosion's smoke, it drove itself straight toward Deoxys.
This time, Deoxys managed to shift into its Defense Forme. Crossing its arms, it summoned a shimmering barrier to meet Electivire head-on.
BOOM!!
Another thunderous crash rang out. Shield and body alike were sent plummeting into the earth under Electivire's crushing momentum. Only the ground itself kept Deoxys from being overwhelmed entirely.
"Teleport!"
Sensing it would soon be completely suppressed, Deoxys vanished in a blink, reappearing in a hundred meters away to put distance between itself and Electivire.
"Skill Swap!"
Tobias remained calm. If Deoxys could take Electivire's ability, its terrifying Electric power would be halved.
But as the move took effect, Deoxys' expression changed.
Not only did Electivire have two abilities, but both were firmly embedded in its very being, unmovable as if fused into its core.
Skill Swap failed!
What Tobias didn't know was this: after devouring an Electrum Crystal, Electivire's abilities had become permanently fixed. They could be nullified or copied, but never exchanged.
"Vireeee~!"
'Little bro, what are you even trying? Let me show you how it's done!'
Electivire grinned. In an instant, it charged itself to the brim and thrust its arms skyward. A torrent of lightning pierced the heavens.
The sunny sky darkened instantly, swallowed by black storm clouds as golden thunder writhed across them.
When its power reached the limit, thunder roared. Bolts cascaded down in endless waves, turning the battlefield into a sea of lightning. An Electric Terrain spread in all directions.
Caught within, Deoxys had no escape. Once again, it was forced into Defense Forme, struggling to hold Protect against the endless sky-borne strikes.
Electivire gave no reprieve. With eyes glowing red, it condensed raw lightning into a suit of crackling armor. Then, with a thunderous leap, it broke the sound barrier and charged Deoxys directly.
Feigning a shield-break, it swung—Plasma Fists ignited in its arms.
CRACK!!
BOOM!!
Deoxys froze, staring blankly as the fist bypassed its crossed arms and sank into its core. Its body was hurled like a projectile.
Before it could even hit the wall, Electivire was already there—meeting it midair with another punishing strike.
One punch stopped its flight. Then came another. And another. Electivire unleashed its combo punches—each blow different, each one crushing. Deoxys had no chance to retaliate.
"Vireeee!"
With the final punch, Deoxys' eyes went dim. Its body flickered, turned translucent—then vanished entirely. Only the meteorite core from its chest clattered to the ground.
"Vireeee?!"
Electivire blinked in alarm.
'Did I… just kill it?'
It darted back to Paul's side, crossed its arms, and stood there pretending the whole thing had nothing to do with it.
"..."
Tobias' jaw dropped. His eyes locked on the unmoving meteorite, horror spreading across his face.
"It's fine. Return. Torterra, Life Dew."
Paul recalled Electivire, then released his Torterra.
"Raaa~"
The great tree on Torterra's back glowed, releasing orbs of life energy that drifted into the meteorite.
Bathed in this power, the core pulsed faintly with light—then stilled once more.
Lifting it with psychic power, Paul returned it to Tobias.
"Its injuries cut deep, damaging its essence. It'll need a week to recover."
"...Thank you."
Tobias understood. Deoxys wasn't dead. It had simply triggered its failsafe, retreating into its core to protect itself. He pressed the meteorite close to his chest and exhaled.
Then, with rare humility, he said: "Your Champion's title is deserved. You're even stronger than I imagined. I lost."
He had once believed his strength was enough, that with his team of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, he could rival even the likes of Cynthia without ever battling her directly.
But today's defeat showed him just how far beyond Paul truly was. A Champion who had defeated the previous one with ease… was on another level entirely.
"With your talent, the Masters Eight is within reach." Paul's tone was calm, but his words were genuine.
Yes, Tobias had been crushed here. But against ordinary trainers, his power placed him among Sinnoh's top four. And as Deoxys grew stronger, his potential was limitless.
"Maybe, someday." Tobias smiled faintly, letting go of his ambition for the World Coronation Series—for now. Instead, he bowed slightly and said: "May you defeat all who stand before you, and become the world's strongest Trainer."
With that, Tobias turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"You were amazing, Paul."
From the waiting area, Reggie greeted him with a wide smile.
"Victory was inevitable." Paul cast him a sidelong glance, answering coolly.
"Still, I think you're incredible." Reggie's eyes sparkled with pride.
Paul only muttered, "Oh," and walked toward the training center.
"Go study."
Not long after, the Battle Dome announced it would close for half a day to repair the arena.
The official stared at the massive crater in the battlefield, tears welling in his eyes.
"This was brand new… it doesn't look like it at all anymore… ~"
(End of Chapter)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to access the complete chapters, please visit: patreon.com / PMadz_23