"There's no other choice. The opponent has too many Pokémon; it's impossible to prepare a specific response for all of them. In this case, it's better to send out our strongest Pokémon and bet everything on it."
Lucien spoke firmly, though deep down he also felt somewhat uneasy.
However, when he saw his two teammates beside him, he regained some calm.
By sending out their strongest Pokémon and using a three against one, their chances of victory were still quite high.
"Now, the match begins."
Seeing that both teams were already in position, the referee raised the small flag and gave the signal.
Immediately, the cheers of the cheerleaders filled the entire stadium, raising the excitement to the maximum.
The instant the match began, both sides threw their Poké Balls at the same time, and ten Pokémon appeared simultaneously on the field.
The lineup of the Daleron Imperial Pokémon University team was Dragonite, Salamence, Metagross, Swampert, and Sceptile: a very classic formation made up of three pseudo-legendaries and two starters.
On the side of Ironvale City Pokémon University, however, the lineup was made up of Meltan, Aggron, Bisharp, Empoleon, and Magnezone: a completely Steel-type combination, something extremely rare.
"Meltan!"
"Now things really get complicated."
Seeing Meltan come out, Lucien's eyelids trembled.
After watching the World Championship, probably anyone would feel fear toward that Electromagnetic Cannon of his.
The speed at which it fired that terrifying electromagnetic beam, and the power it reached, were truly frightening.
After the ten Pokémon appeared, Dragonite, Salamence, and Metagross immediately rose into the air, facing Meltan head-on.
"Three Quasi-Elite-level pseudo-legendaries!"
They really are quite an interesting opponent.
Ethan smiled faintly and directly gave the order: "Substitute!"
As soon as he heard Ethan's order, Meltan moved with extreme speed.
Almost instantly, its mercury-like body began to ripple.
Then it split into three, transforming into three Meltan that floated motionlessly, facing the three pseudo-legendaries.
"That was Substitute!"
"Could Meltan be planning to use that method to face the opponent's three Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon?"
Seeing Meltan's movement, that idea immediately appeared in everyone's minds.
"Salamence, use Flamethrower!"
On the field, seeing Meltan's action, the captain of the Daleron Imperial Pokémon University team gave the order.
Then Salamence opened its mouth and spat out an intense blaze that advanced to engulf Meltan.
Although Salamence was not a Fire type, its fire was naturally very powerful.
"Meltan, Thunderbolt!"
Ethan gave the order in response.
From the center of Meltan's nut, an electric beam condensed and shot out.
Boom!
In midair, both attacks met.
With a violent explosion, the two dissipated in the air at the same time.
At the same time, Dragonite and Metagross also launched their attacks. And Ethan directed the other two Meltan to face them.
Boom, boom, boom!
In the next instant, under the incredulous gaze of all the spectators, the three copies of Meltan each separately faced one of the opponents, and for a while the battle was completely even!
"What terrifying mastery of the move Substitute."
"Those three Meltan look completely real, as if each one had Quasi-Elite-level strength!"
A spectator was dumbfounded. Developing the move Substitute to that degree was simply too powerful.
Facing three opponents by himself in that way... that completely broke all known logic.
"Meltan, keep using Substitute!"
At that moment, Ethan gave another order again.
Then the three Meltan pushed back their respective opponents.
After that, their mercury bodies rippled again and, once more, each one split into two, becoming six Meltan!
"It can still keep using Substitute?"
"Those six Meltan... don't tell me each one has Quasi-Elite-level strength?"
One of the spectators suddenly murmured that, and immediately the entire stadium fell silent for an instant. Everyone turned their eyes to the field.
And just as everyone was fearing, the Meltan began to fight in a ratio of two against one, and with the help of their Magnet Pull ability, they directly began to suppress their opponents.
"What is going on here?!"
"Six Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon?!"
Not only the audience; even the five members of the Daleron Imperial Pokémon University team were stunned.
Originally, they had planned to surround a single Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon of the opponent with three Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon.
But now, the situation had transformed into six Quasi-Elite-level Meltan facing their three pseudo-legendaries of the same level.
Furthermore, they discovered that those six Meltan, thanks to the Magnet Pull ability, seemed to form a single body, coordinating with each other much better than the three Pokémon on their own team.
Because of that, after only a brief exchange, Salamence, Dragonite, and Metagross began to look clearly suppressed.
Especially Metagross, who was completely trapped by Meltan's Magnet Pull ability, to the point of having practically no ability to resist.
On the other hand, Dragonite merged with the wind and displayed astonishing speed. But Meltan was even faster: the Magnet Pull ability of the six had already covered the entire field.
In that instant, the principle of magnetic attraction and repulsion was pushed to the extreme. The six Meltan fully deployed their magnetic levitation ability, showing a speed even superior to Dragonite's.
And, in addition, among their magnetic abilities an electromagnetic storm had also formed, causing violent electric currents to run across the field and giving off terrifying power.
Under those circumstances, the three Quasi-Elite-level pseudo-legendaries did not take long to be defeated.
Facing three Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon all by himself, and moreover practically crushing them completely, Meltan's strength left the entire stadium shocked.
"It seems Meltan's Substitute move is already close to perfection. After gathering enough Steel-type resources, I'll be able to have Meltan try to evolve."
Seeing that, a faint smile appeared on Ethan's face, while he thought with some anticipation.
(End of chapter)