The tension inside the Lavender Gym was palpable. Though the building was only half-complete, with scaffolding still leaning against unfinished walls, the battleground at its center was alive with energy. Munchlax stood with one stubby arm raised, tiny fingers glowing as they flickered with Metronome's strange rhythm.
At first, it looked almost comical—such a small Pokémon wagging his hand at a towering Garchomp. But within seconds, sparks of violet light began to bloom around him, buzzing with a power that made the very air feel unstable. The laughter that had started among a few of the Gym students died instantly.
Cynthia's sharp gaze locked on the little Pokémon, her voice low and unsteady. "That… aura… impossible. Metronome shouldn't summon something like this."
Her Garchomp snarled, body tensed as every instinct screamed danger. "Gaarrrchomp!" The mighty dragon's scales bristled, tail cutting anxious arcs behind her.
Even Mr. Fuji, normally so calm, gripped his cane until his knuckles whitened. "I have read whispers of this kind of power in the oldest records," he murmured, "but to see it manifest from a single wag of a hand…"
The students along the walls leaned forward, eyes wide. One of them gasped, "What kind of move is that?!"
Ethan Carter's heart pounded as he recognized the distortion in the air. "No," he muttered, voice tight. "That isn't a move any ordinary Pokémon could create. That's the strength of a god."
Munchlax let out a cheery cry—"Ka~!"—and swung his glowing fist downward.
The air split apart. A crescent blade of violet energy slashed forward, its edge sharp enough to shear through reality itself. Jagged cracks in space trailed behind it, shrieking as though the world itself had been wounded.
"Garchomp, move!" Cynthia cried.
But the crushing aura weighed heavily. Garchomp lurched sideways with sheer force of will, narrowly evading the brunt of the strike.
The Spacial Rend carved into the battlefield, tearing a black rift into existence. For an awful heartbeat, the rent in reality yawned wider, pulling debris and light into its depths. And then—horror struck—Garchomp herself was dragged into the crack, swallowed whole by the void.
"No!" Cynthia's composure shattered as she rushed forward. "Garchomp!"
Gasps echoed across the Gym. A student cried out, and Mr. Fuji's lips quivered as he whispered, "This is no ordinary attack. This… is a power belonging only to the Legendaries."
Then the rift pulsed again. With a violent shudder, Garchomp was spat back onto the floor, battered and weakened but alive. Cynthia dropped to her knees beside her, clutching the Poké Ball in trembling hands.
But the danger had not ended. The void widened once more, glowing fiercely, and from within it stepped a colossal shape.
Sleek lavender plates shimmered with a divine glow. Pearl-white lines traced across its body, and burning golden eyes pierced the Gym. With each step, the fabric of the room seemed to bend.
Everyone froze.
"Palkia…" Cynthia whispered, her face pale. "The God of Space. The one my grandmother devoted her life to studying."
Mr. Fuji's cane clattered to the floor. "Arceus have mercy… a true Legendary."
The students could only gape, awestruck and afraid.
Ethan's chest tightened. So it's true. Munchlax's Metronome pulled Spacial Rend itself… and drew Palkia here.
For one suffocating moment, Palkia's eyes fixed on Ethan, then Cynthia, then the trembling Munchlax. Ethan felt as if his very soul was being weighed against infinity.
Then, with a ripple of warped light, Palkia turned. Its colossal form dissolved back into the rift, and the wound in space sealed shut with a sound like shattering glass being rewound.
Silence swallowed the Gym.
Exhausted, Munchlax plopped onto his bottom, panting heavily. "Ka~…" He blinked up at Ethan, looking both drained and proud.
Ethan rushed forward, shoving energy cubes into his tiny hands. "Here, eat. Quickly." He looked toward the old man. "Mr. Fuji, more food—please!"
Still shaking, Mr. Fuji signaled to volunteers, who hurried in with carts of fruit and bread. Munchlax immediately began stuffing his cheeks, humming happily between bites.
He looked up mid-mouthful and chirped, "Ka~! Ethan, I'm awesome!"
Despite himself, Ethan laughed. His heart was still pounding, but he gave Munchlax a thumbs-up. "Awesome? That was beyond awesome. You shocked everyone here. Even Mr. Fuji can't deny it. You just pulled off something that called forth a god."
Munchlax grinned proudly, cheeks puffed full of food.
But Ethan's smile faltered when he noticed Charmeleon standing apart. His partner's eyes burned with hurt, and Ethan felt the system pulse: Charmeleon's intimacy had dropped from 62 to 61.
He thinks I'm forgetting him… Ethan thought with a pang.
Kneeling, he stroked Charmeleon's head gently. "Hey. Don't ever think that. You're still my number one partner. A genius among your kind. We'll reach the summit of the world together—you and me."
Charmeleon's eyes softened, though doubt still lingered.
"You feel like Munchlax's luck makes your effort meaningless, don't you?" Ethan asked softly.
Charmeleon hesitated, then nodded.
Ethan smiled faintly. "No. Your work is never wasted. You grow stronger every single day. That's real strength. Munchlax… he's different. His power comes from chance—fortune. Without it, he couldn't match you. And haven't you noticed? After one use, he's drained. You're the one with endurance. You're the one I'll always rely on."
Charmeleon blinked, then brightened. His intimacy ticked back upward, from 61 to 63. With a joyful cry, he leapt into Ethan's arms.
Ethan laughed, hugging him tight.
From the side, Charmeleon shot Munchlax a sharp look, tail flame flaring—don't forget who comes first. But Munchlax only grinned, cheeks still stuffed with food.
Ethan sighed fondly. Rivalry was natural, but it could easily spiral. For now, at least, the balance held.
Yet he couldn't ignore what had just happened. A Level 17 Munchlax had leapt to Level 27 in a single battle by defeating a Level 40 Garchomp with a god-tier move. If such fortune struck again, his growth might skyrocket beyond reason.
Cynthia finally stood, pale but resolute, her Garchomp recalled. "No," she said firmly, facing Ethan. "I can't accept this loss. It was luck, nothing more. Once my Garchomp recovers, we'll fight again. And next time, I'll prove that fortune isn't everything."
Ethan's lips curled into a grin. "Then I'll be waiting."