"Jason, Jason! Do you think the fight over there is done?"
Gast couldn't contain herself anymore—her excited voice piped up at his side. No trace of the earlier gloom remained; evolving, plus helping Jason take down a Ceruledge, had juiced her confidence. She zipped loops around him.
"If it's not done, I wanna go fight too! This time I'll show them how strong I am after evolving!"
She pumped her little fists, itching to go. Back when the Armarouge vs. Ceruledge melee started, she'd been too weak and was relegated to "ob"-ing on the sidelines—as Jason put it, just a spectator. That stung. Now she felt she'd fully grasped her new power—and needed a worthy opponent to prove it.
Jason was draped on Liko's right shoulder—great view, and soft, very comfy. He extruded a length of jelly into a sturdy lilac rope and lashed it tight around the ankle of the unconscious Ceruledge. So a quiet black-haired girl walked with a small purple slime on her shoulder, and said slime dragged a Pokémon bigger than the girl along the cave floor—thumping rocks with a thud, thud.
Liko felt none of the weight—Jason carried it all. But the trio turned heads—one hundred percent.
At Gast's question, Jason chuckled. "Next time. I'll make sure you get a real fight."
He didn't dampen her fire. Truthfully, he thought her potential was huge. But the young lady was too playful—three days fishing, two days sunning—hated boring training. She sat on a treasure trove and didn't know how to mine it. He figured being grabbed and then seeing a mass battle would jolt her laziness. Maybe she'd finally commit to training for real.
He'd already drafted, in his head, a "from gremlin to god" regimen. When they got back, he'd coach her a bit…
He could almost see it: not long from now, a Gengar so strong it scared Trainers by name—etched into battle history.
Satisfied by Jason's answer, Gast beamed—feeling recognized for her evolved power; happy as a kid with candy. "Yay! It's a date!"
She whooped and cut ahead to scout. Ghostly phasing was perfect for caves—she slipped through walls and zipped back to report the best route.
Watching her perk up, Jason let his focus slide off her and onto another target: the pendant at Liko's chest.
Terapagos.
Whether from low energy or something else, the pendant had shown no anomaly—not even in the height of the earlier fight. Quiet as any gem. He guessed Iron Boulder had grabbed Liko, rather than hurting her, because it sensed the special aura emanating from the pendant. As a Paradox, it would be sensitive to such power.
Jason tried pouring all his attention into the pendant—observe, analyze, unlock Dex progress like he'd done before. A second—five—ten—no response. Terapagos remained greyed-out—0%. "Huh? No go?"
Surprised, he tried different angles—same result. He gave up with a sigh. Looked like he'd have to wait for it to awaken on its own.
With Gast's tireless scouting, their pace quickened. Soon, loud energy clashes and Pokémon roars rolled from ahead.
They were back.
At the edge of the clearing stood two figures, eyes on the center—Cynthia and Iono. Cynthia still steady as ever, self-belief written on her face. Iono looked anxious, eyes tight on the field—clearly worrying for Cynthia.
"Miss Cynthia! Iono!" Jason called.
Both turned. Seeing Jason, Gast—and the timid black-haired girl behind—they both blinked in surprise.
The Gastly had evolved!
"So you were right—there was a lost person nearby," Iono huffed, scanning Liko up and down, still a little incredulous. When Jason had said he was going to rescue someone, she'd assumed he was angling to duck out. Apparently not.
Pinned by two powerful strangers' gazes, Liko flustered; the introvert in her surged. She shrank, and managed a whisper of a greeting: "H–hello…"
Cynthia's sharp eyes took in the dust on her clothes and the tired lines on her face. She nodded gently in reply, then looked past Liko to the "luggage" Jason had dragged in. When she saw the limp Ceruledge, the calm in her eyes rippled.
"You dropped that Ceruledge?" she asked Jason on Liko's shoulder. The girl clearly had no team; that left Jason.
Jason perked up at once. He puffed his jelly, lifted his head. "Heh-heh," he bragged, "it kidnapped Liko, so I stepped in. After an earthshaking duel, I took it down and saved the innocent maiden!"
Iono's deadpan cut through it. "Really?" Hands on hips, head tilted, she stared him down. "You can beat a Ceruledge now?"
Three big words were written in her eyes: I don't buy it. Not long ago she'd seen him glued to Milotic's hip, sniping Shadow Balls from the safety of Cynthia's shadow—not daring to go head-on. Since when did an errand turn into a solo Ceruledge KO? That growth curve was steeper than her chat numbers—hard to credit.
Jason snorted. You dare doubt your future #1 top gifter? "Of course! I'm strong—I just couldn't be bothered earlier!"
"Ooh~" Iono drawled, playful. " 'Couldn't be bothered'? Then go solo that Iron Boulder."
"Nonsense—this is strategic concealment of power."
"Right—looked a lot like strategic hiding behind someone."
He shot her a look but didn't snap—just airily, "It's not no solo—it's a delayed solo, a measured solo, an optimized solo. With rhythm."
"You're babbling. Come here and let me hug you!"
One pivot and Jason's resistance crumbled. She was waiting for me. "Witness my greatness!" he declared—and leapt into her arms, suffering several enthusiastic scritches.
"I hadn't had enough…" Liko mumbled, a little forlorn.
Iono's face was pure satisfaction. Jason's texture was nicer than any of her Pokémon.
Cynthia watched, eyes lingering a beat on Jason. The Ceruledge was truly down, and they'd come back unharmed—that said enough. To beat a not-so-weak Ceruledge… Jason had grown a lot while they weren't looking.
She let the topic drop and turned back to the real matter: the field. Jason and Iono quieted and looked too. In the center, Garchomp and Iron Boulder were trading brutal blows. Every claw tore a sonic whisper from the air; every slam shook the ground. Draconic light and Ground shockwaves bloomed over and over, raising dust clouds.
"Jason—will Garchomp win?" Iono asked, tight.
Jason poked about in her arms, earning a murderous look—then answered, "Of course. Master Garchomp's a monster."
"I think so too."
Cynthia raised her voice. "Garchomp—Draco Meteor!"
All sound died. Garchomp threw back its head and roared; the tremor cut through the dust and echoed around. Dragon energy condensed to a blinding sphere at its snout—
—and burst into dozens of destruction-laden meteors, long tails flaming, that hammered down on Iron Boulder.
Draco Meteor.
Sensing mortal danger, Iron Boulder braced—metal frame roaring—but the first impact cratered it, and the second, third, fourth followed—each detonation tearing the cave open again, thunder rolling unbroken as the cavern shook. Craters flowered; debris blasted up to the ceiling.
Iono held her phone high, the lens drinking it in. Her chat went feral.
[W O W]
[So this is Champion-level… I'm stunned!]
[Haven't seen Garchomp go this hard in ages!]
[Cynthia! So strong! So beautiful!]
[Hands off my lady, chat.]
[Garchomp: Heard you were hard? Try my meteor delivery.]
The feed refreshed faster than ever—pure awe and praise.
Iono couldn't help grinning, proud as if she'd won the match herself. A clash of titans was a treat.
"See that, fam? This is Miss Cynthia's power! It's just… it's…" she flailed for words—
"Unstoppably strong!" Jason filled in.
"So cool! Did you see that? Garchomp's move was so cool!" Gast jabbed him again and again, her moony face wobbling him in her excitement.
Across, the Armarouge and Ceruledge clans were struck dumb—especially the two leaders, cold sweat prickling their backs. Watching Iron Boulder finally topple under the meteor storm broke them of all pretensions. Earlier, they'd fancied themselves able to face foes of that tier?
We were insane.
They thought back to Garchomp's earlier Dragon Rush hissing inches above their heads—the blue afterimage ringed in gold dragonlight. Death's scythe. If that had been aimed at them, they'd already be on their next life as eggs.
They shivered in unison—fear turning to raw reverence when they looked at Cynthia.
The battle was over. Cynthia recalled Garchomp, looking soft at the ball. "Good work," she murmured. Then to Iono: "Call Geeta. She'll want to see Iron Boulder with her own eyes."
"Mm!" Iono nodded, wiping the smile into a professional mask, and dialed the Champion Chair. A few words, and she hung up. "Done! Geeta said she's coming with a team—told us to wait."
With time to spare, Jason didn't idle. He dragged the Ceruledge he'd beaten toward the two clan camps. The leaders stared as he hauled in one of their own; he relayed, crisp and clean:
"Bosses—this one is the kidnapper of that human girl. And from what I know, it's in league with Iron Boulder. The plan: use Iron Boulder's power to remove both of you in battle, then take over both clans as the new leader."
As expected, they went pale.
What? This one—so ambitious? Colluding with an outsider to snatch their thrones?
"Outrageous!" Armarouge's boss flared, spewing heat. "Clean house!" Ceruledge's boss was blunter: purple fire lit its blades as it glared murderously at the unconscious traitor. Fear for their lives had just given way to righteous fury; they gladly found a new target.
Selective memory forgot their own earlier cooperation with Iron Boulder.
They moved to vent—then turned to Jason with stiff gratitude. "Thank you—for unmasking this traitor."
Jason waved it off with a sage's air. "A trifle."
When the venting settled, Jason seized the moment—raising his true ask. "Now that things are calmer, a request. As you saw, I'm still weak. To better protect my companions, I need to raise my combat power."
Both bosses sobered. Jason continued, "I'd like Armarouge's boss to select a few strong Armarouge to spar with me—help me train."
"No problem!" Armarouge's boss agreed on the spot. Jason had just helped expose a Ceruledge traitor—that favor had to be repaid. If Jason wanted it personally, it would oblige.
But Ceruledge's boss bristled. It stepped forward, tone edged with pique. "Why only Armarouge? Do you look down on us?"
It smelled like bias—an insult.
Jason sighed—then shifted—Ceruledge reappeared.
"Th—this is…" The Ceruledge boss was stunned, staring at the pure Ghost energy. Jason explained, easy as anything: "It's not that I slight you. I need Armarouge's strength—but the other forms I can turn into can't handle them."
"So I chose to become you—to spar with Armarouge."
It was face-saving, framed to flatter—and it worked. Confusion and irritation melted into glee. So he thinks only Ceruledge can beat Armarouge? That's not being skipped—it's being honored.
"I see!" the Ceruledge boss beamed, thumping its chest. "We'll cheer you on from here—teach you how to properly thrash Armarouge!"
On the side, Armarouge's boss' temple throbbed—but one glance at Jason, then at the Trainer with the Garchomp watching, and it swallowed the complaint.
So, while Geeta's team made their way over, Ceruledge-Jason traded friendly rounds with Armarouge elites—and the Ceruledge boss coached him on proper Ceruledge technique. Two-pronged gains: Ceruledge form mastery up, Armarouge Dex progress climbing.
By the time Geeta rushed in with League staff—
[Fire Warrior Pokémon Armarouge — Dex Entry Complete!]
~~~
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