I, Gary, Want to Become a Pokemon Master

"Mr. Steven... you came?!" Professor Ward was surprised. He hadn't expected Steven to be Scizor's opponent.

"There's no one more suitable than me here, right?" Steven smiled calmly.

Ward considered it and nodded. "Then, Gary, do you have any objections?"

[Ding! Task Issued: Defeat Steven 1v1 / Reward: Master Rare Candy ×1]

Gary was stunned. The system actually issued a task—and the reward was a Master Rare Candy! Even if it was only one, it was already a great prize.

At high levels, it could take one or two years of training to increase a single level. A Master Rare Candy could save all that time.

"I have no objection," Gary said firmly. Since a system task was on the line, he would take this battle seriously.

Steven didn't hesitate and walked to the opposite side of the battlefield. "My Pokémon for this battle will be…" He threw a Poké Ball with elegance.

Whoosh!

A massive, armored Pokémon landed heavily on the battlefield.

[Lv. 72 Aggron ♂ / Champion-tier Potential]

"Aggron!!" Gary's expression tightened. He had been expecting Steven to use Metagross—but Aggron?

Although Aggron wasn't Steven's ace Pokémon, it was his second strongest after Metagross and still extremely formidable. Steven often brought it along during his fossil digs and expeditions.

In fact, in the future World Championship, this very Aggron was defeated by Ash's Gengar.

"Gary, show me the strength of your with Scizor," Steven said, making a gentlemanly gesture to invite the first move.

"I won't hold back," Gary warned.

"This is a battle—there's no need to," Steven replied with a faint smile.

The moment the words fell—

"Scizor, use Brick Break!"

Whoosh!

A crimson flash tore across the battlefield, and in the blink of an eye, Scizor appeared right in front of Aggron.

Bang!!

There was a heavy impact. Aggron slid back, dragging its feet across the ground with a loud screech of steel. Scizor now stood where Aggron had originally been.

"Rrrooarrr!"

Aggron gritted its teeth in pain. Although it had blocked Brick Break with its arms, the attack still inflicted serious damage.

"Oh?" Steven raised an eyebrow. "It actually hurt Aggron?"

He was genuinely surprised. Aggron's defense was immense, especially as both a Steel- and Rock-type Pokémon. Even though Fighting-type moves dealt 4× damage, Aggron's armor usually let it tank attacks with ease.

Plus, Brick Break only had a base power of 75. Without a Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB), it shouldn't have been so effective.

What Steven didn't know was that Gary's Scizor had a special ability: EX Technician—which doubled the power of any move under 80 base power. That meant Brick Break, normally 75 power, now hit like a 150 power move!

And after Mega Evolution, Scizor's physical strength was magnified even further.

"It seems I can't take you lightly." Steven's gaze turned serious. "Aggron, use Rock Tomb!"

"Roooaah!!"

Aggron roared as several massive boulders materialized above it, flying toward Scizor with force.

"Break through with Bullet Punch!" Gary countered.

Clang! Clang!

Scizor's metallic claws moved in a blur, slashing the incoming rocks into powder. With each strike, silver flashes danced across the field, and the path to Aggron was cleared.

"Hisss…" Professor Ward inhaled sharply. "Such force… and the energy readings just spiked. This is exactly what we expected from stable Mega Evolution energy output!"

Scizor powered through the debris and closed in.

"Protect!" Steven commanded quickly.

Aggron activated a shimmering barrier just in time. Scizor's claws struck it, sparks flying. But the instant the barrier dropped, Aggron's horn lit up with a silver glow.

Bam! Bam!

Smart Strike landed, catching Scizor by surprise and knocking it back nearly ten meters. Even so, the damage was limited.

"Use Double Team and follow up with another Brick Break!"

"Zaaah!"

Scizor charged again, but this time dozens of red afterimages followed. The battlefield was now filled with illusionary Scizors, all rushing toward Aggron.

"Iron Defense!"

Aggron's armor gleamed as its body hardened further. A metallic shine enveloped it, and blue waves of energy pulsed around its form.

Bang!!

A Scizor struck from the side, and even though Aggron blocked the hit, it still slid back a few meters.

"Mega Scizor's offense is no joke," Steven muttered internally. "This test is already producing better data than our previous simulations."

"Aggron, use Stone Edge!"

Sharp, jagged stone blades formed around Aggron and launched in all directions. The area-wide attack cut through the afterimages, instantly erasing all clones.

Even the real Scizor was hit—but it had raised its defense just in time with Iron Defense, and the attack barely scratched it. Scattered Stone Edge hits had reduced effectiveness if not focused.

"That won't work," Gary said. "My Scizor's defenses are solid."

Steven nodded, then smirked. "Let's try something else. Aggron, use Flamethrower!"

"Roooaah!!"

Aggron opened its mouth and unleashed a stream of fire.

Gary's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Aggron to know a Fire-type move. Its Special Attack was so low… why teach Flamethrower?

"Scizor, Swords Dance to block it!"

Scizor began spinning like a top, building centrifugal force while raising its attack. The rotation also disrupted the flames, flinging them away and preventing direct damage.

"Now—Smart Strike!" Steven ordered.

Aggron's horn gleamed again and shot forward like a drill.

But just before it hit—

Clang!

Scizor's claws clamped down with Vice Grip, intercepting the horn mid-attack.

"What?!"

"Roaar!"

Steven and Aggron both gasped.

"Zaa-ZAAAH!!"

Scizor squeezed with tremendous force. The metallic horn—constructed with energy—couldn't withstand the pressure. It shattered into fragments, falling like glittering shards.

"Smart Strike was crushed!" Professor Ward exclaimed in disbelief.