Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

It can freely control Mega Evolution?

"Cinnabar Island's underground minerals seem to be triggering its latent Mega Evolution energy," Blaine analyzed. "It can temporarily Mega Evolve in battle."

The wind shifted suddenly.

Before Delphox could react, Mega Mawile had already appeared behind it.

With one claw, it gathered an overwhelming dark aura and struck Delphox's face directly.

A violent explosion of force blasted outward.

Delphox's fire shield shattered, and it was sent hurtling through the air, crashing to the ground.

That's all you've got?

Mega Mawile stood with a proud, arrogant smirk, watching as Delphox struggled to rise.

Clearly, it had no fear of battle—if anything, it relished the fight.

Standing side by side, Agatha and Blaine observed the capture battle unfold.

"Delphox is acting on its own," Agatha mused. "Klein isn't stopping it?"

"Maybe he wants to see if Delphox can push past its own limits," Blaine suggested.

In the next instant, Mega Mawile raised one hand toward the sky, gathering an immense steel energy.

Muscles tensed and expanded, a surge of power coursing through its body, reinforcing its already formidable physique.

It radiated a savage, indomitable aura, giving even veteran trainers an unsettling sense of danger.

Then—

Boom!

The ground beneath Mega Mawile shattered as it launched itself forward.

Like a predatory hawk, it closed the gap in an instant, swinging a devastating punch at Delphox.

Sucker Punch!

A dark-type attack that guaranteed a first strike if the opponent attempted to act.

Delphox had no time to evade.

The impact sent it flying once again, breaking its elegant stance.

Its once-graceful form was now battered and disheveled.

How dare this brute treat me this way!

Delphox's temper flared.

Its fur was scorched, its hairstyle ruined—and for a Pokémon as proud as Delphox, this was unforgivable.

The flames around it erupted violently, forming a swirling inferno.

Mega Mawile's ability—Huge Power—doubled its physical attack strength.

With another calculated step, it crushed a boulder underfoot, using the debris to deflect Delphox's fire, before leaping clear.

But Delphox's eyes flashed coldly.

With a flick of its wand, it soared higher into the air, locking onto Mega Mawile from above.

Klein had seen enough.

"Delphox, shift coordinates to C3. Use Mystical Fire, then follow up with Grass Knot to restrain it."

Finally, Klein issued his first command.

On its own, Delphox couldn't overpower Mega Mawile.

Now, it had to fight strategically.

Mid-air, Delphox's body shimmered, teleporting to an unexpected angle of attack.

Then, it channeled every ounce of its psychic energy into its flames, unleashing a massive fireball!

At the same time, flaming vines sprouted from the ground—coiling tightly around Mega Mawile's limbs.

But rather than retreating, Mega Mawile lunged forward, gripping the burning vines with its bare hands.

It smirked.

Using the momentum, it propelled itself forward, closing in on Delphox.

With a swift pivot, it lowered its stance, bracing its muscles—

Then, with a sharp twist of its waist, it unleashed another Sucker Punch.

Its massive steel jaws gaped open, preparing to bite down on Delphox mid-air.

Klein remained calm.

"Shift to B7."

Delphox vanished in an instant.

A barrage of fiery lotuses erupted around the battlefield, blocking Mega Mawile's advance.

As it adjusted its stance, Klein's commanding presence became more evident.

Mega Mawile began to realize something—

Under this trainer's orders, Delphox was becoming a completely different opponent.

Interesting.

If you can defeat me under his command…

Then I'll acknowledge him as my trainer.

Sparks filled the air as Delphox repositioned again.

From above, three massive fire lotuses descended, crashing toward Mega Mawile.

In response, Mega Mawile closed its eyes briefly.

Then, with one fluid motion, it reached out—

Grabbing hold of the very air itself.

With its Huge Power ability at full force, it compressed that energy into a single devastating charge, plunging headfirst into the flames.

Once again—

Sucker Punch.

But—

The flames erupted, swallowing the battlefield.

Mega Mawile blinked.

Where is she?

"Explosion Blaze!"

From directly below, Delphox struck.

Its wand ignited, forming an unstoppable column of fire that engulfed Mega Mawile completely.

The force of the attack sent Mega Mawile flying.

Impossible…

I lost… to an old lady?!

Its Mega Evolution faded.

Before it could react, a Poké Ball spun through the air, capturing it.

For the first time in a long while, Klein felt a rare sense of anticipation.

The Poké Ball wobbled violently, resisting—

Then, after a moment—

Click.

The capture was complete.

"Congratulations," Agatha said.

"You've captured a truly remarkable Pokémon."

Klein nodded.

"Thank you, both of you."

Agatha and Blaine had deliberately set this up, allowing Klein to prove himself.

He wasn't oblivious to their intentions.

Holding the Poké Ball tightly, he let his Pokédex synchronize the data, generating a new combat card for Mawile and its Mega Evolution.

Then, he looked up.

"Blaine. Agatha."

"No matter what challenges lie ahead—"

"I will surpass my limits—and become the strongest trainer in history to protect this land."

Agatha smirked.

"Then we'll be watching closely."

Meanwhile, at the Cinnabar Island harbor…

A massive cruise ship slowly approached the dock.

"So this is Cinnabar Island…"

Rosa took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the island breeze.

Beside her, Emboar rumbled happily, enjoying the heat.

"Hey," one of the trainers sitting nearby asked. "Is there any famous trainer on this island?"

Another trainer flipped through a magazine.

"The Cinnabar Gym shut down a long time ago. But this island is home to not one—but two Elite Four members."

"Two Elites?!"

For the rookie trainers, Elite Four members were figures so high above them that they felt almost mythical.

The mere thought that two of them lived here filled them with excitement.

Even Rosa found herself curious.

She turned her attention toward their conversation.

Who… are these two Elites?