After checking on Steven Stone — who was still hopelessly obsessed with digging rocks — Chen Shi simply took his Pokémon deeper into Meteor Falls to battle wild Pokémon.
"Metang, use Bullet Punch!"
"Betta!"
Metang shot forward like a steel rocket, its metallic fist smashing directly into a wild Zubat.
The Zubat screeched, spiraling into the cavern wall.
"Metang, again."
"Betta!"
Another flash of steel — another clean knockout.
"Good work, Metang."
"Betta."
Metang wasn't proud.
The opponent had simply been too weak.
"Char!"
Charmander tugged on Chen Shi's sleeve, eager eyes blazing.
Chen Shi chuckled.
"Don't worry, I'll find you a proper opponent soon."
Charmander brightened instantly, following Metang as they went searching again.
Morning Training
Chen Shi rotated battles between Charmander and Metang, letting them handle wild mid-tier and high-tier Pokémon.
Neither lost a single match.
Charmander's flames burned hotter each time.
Metang's strikes grew heavier, sharper — cleaner.
By noon, they returned to find Steven Stone.
"Steven Stone, lunch. Put down the shovel."
Steven Stone reluctantly set aside his gear, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Chen Shi unpacked their portable mealboxes and the two sat on the cavern floor to eat.
"So?" Chen Shi asked. "Any good finds this morning?"
Steven Stone didn't bother with suspense — he immediately pulled out two stones.
One — a High-Grade Moon Stone.
The other — a Mega Mawile Stone.
Chen Shi blinked.
Meteor Falls' Mega Stone density was absurd…
But Steven Stone's luck was even more absurd.
Mawile itself wasn't remarkable — base stat total 380 — but its Steel/Fairy typing was incredible.
And after Mega Evolution?
Huge Power.
Not "attack increase."
Not "attack boost."
Doubles the user's Attack.
In this world, only two species naturally wielded Huge Power:
Azumarill
Mega Mawile
(Marill's line gained it after evolving, but Mawile obtained it only in Mega form.)
Mega Mawile was a monster in the making.
Chen Shi glanced at Steven Stone.
"Steven Stone… have you ever considered catching a Mawile?"
Steven Stone blinked, thinking seriously.
"If it really gets Huge Power after Mega Evolution… then yes, it would be strong."
"You like Steel-types, right? Mawile is perfect for that."
Chen Shi didn't exaggerate.
Mega Mawile was one of the strongest offensive Mega Evolutions ever.
Steven Stone nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll think about it."
Whenever Chen Shi talked seriously about strength, Steven Stone listened instinctively.
And Then — Trouble
As the two talked, the wall of Steven Stone's freshly dug tunnel suddenly bulged.
Not collapsing—
Pushing outward.
Someone was digging from the other side.
BOOM.
A hole burst open.
Voices echoed through.
"Yoshino, where's the meteorite? We've found a bunch of weird rocks but not the real one!"
"Stop whining. Lord Tabitha said we must find it."
"I heard he got five Bagon. Whoever finds the meteorite gets one!"
"WHAT?! A Bagon?! I want it! Quick, dig faster!"
Finally, they broke through.
Two men in red uniforms with horned emblems stumbled into the cavern.
Chen Shi instantly recognized them.
Team Magma.
He didn't hesitate.
He released Dragapult and Swampert.
"Catch them. Don't let anyone run."
"Kyah!"
"Laachi!"
The Magma grunts jolted, scrambling to release their Pokémon—
Too slow.
Dragapult's tail whipped the first grunt straight into the cavern wall.
Swampert grabbed the second by the throat and lifted him off the ground like a rag doll.
Chen Shi collected their Poké Balls and locked them away.
The grunt caught by Swampert — Yoshino — snarled.
"Kid, you know who I am?! Fight me fair and square if you have guts!"
Chen Shi smiled politely.
"Oh, I know.
And no, I don't."
"You—!"
He choked on his own words.
Wasn't the Alliance supposed to preach about "fair battles"?
Steven Stone looked confused. "Chen Shi… who are these?"
Chen Shi raised a brow.
"Team Magma. Don't tell me you don't know?"
Steven Stone slapped his forehead.
His father had mentioned a dangerous organization recently.
Steven Stone's expression darkened.
He glared at Yoshino.
Chen Shi didn't waste time.
"Let's make this simple."
"What are you doing here?"
"What's the meteorite for?"
"How many people came?"
"What's their strength?"
Yoshino snorted.
"Are you stupid? Why would I tell you anything?"
Worst-case scenario: he gets arrested.
Team Magma would bail him out.
He wasn't afraid.
Chen Shi shrugged.
Then released Leafeon.
"Leafeon, see that guy on the ground?"
"Cut off his foot so this one can watch."
Leafeon lazily flicked her tail —
LEAF BLADE.
In the next instant—
SLASH.
"AAAAAAAAHHHH—!!"
The grunt on the ground snapped awake with a scream that shook the cavern.
His foot lay severed beside him.
Blood everywhere.
Steven Stone swallowed hard.
Even Yoshino turned ghost-pale, his whole body trembling.
Chen Shi smiled kindly.
"You want to keep your feet?"
"Or should we take something else?"
Yoshino's voice cracked.
"You—! Y-You're not afraid of Alliance punishment?! You should take me to prison!"
Chen Shi sighed.
"Leafeon."
"Bu~ii."
Leafeon stretched lazily, blade gleaming again.
"WAIT!! I'll talk!! I'll talk!!!"
Yoshino broke instantly.
"We're looking for a meteorite!"
"I don't know what it's for!"
"The operation leader is Admin Tabitha — he's almost Elite-level!"
"Three senior grunts, more than ten mid-level ones!"
"The base is in a nearby cavern! I'll draw you the map!"
Chen Shi nodded.
"See? That wasn't so hard."
Yoshino stared at him with pure terror.
This boy wasn't an Alliance trainer.
He was a monster.
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