Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!-Chapter 390: Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! []

Metagross's claws dug into the ground, carving deep trenches before finally steadying its body.

Its glowing red eyes glared at Dragonite, filled with seething rage.

So you were faking all that pain earlier?!

Hovering mid-air, Dragonite casually turned its gaze skyward, whistling nonchalantly as if the entire situation had nothing to do with it.

Metagross's fury only deepened.

"..."

The spectators were deathly silent.

Moments ago, it had seemed like Metagross had the upper hand, relentlessly pressuring Dragonite. But in the blink of an eye, Dragonite had flipped the script entirely.

The abrupt shift felt like being caught in a whirlwind.

Viewers watching the livestream couldn't help but question not just Steven's ability as Hoenn's Champion but also the overall strength of trainers from the Hoenn region.

How could the Champion of Hoenn struggle against a mere Elite Four member from Johto?

Steven's fans, meanwhile, were fervently defending him on forums, turning online discussions into heated debates.

Steven, however, had no time to worry about public opinion. He realized now that he had fallen for Luo Yuan's act.

Relief and dread churned in his chest.

He was relieved that he'd noticed something was off and pulled Metagross back in time. If he had stuck to his earlier strategy, Metagross's stamina might have been drained bit by bit without him realizing, leaving it wide open to a finishing blow.

Luo Yuan's tactics and acting skills are both outstanding, Steven thought as he looked at his Pokémon.

Crack.

Metagross dislodged its claw from the ground, shards of stone falling away as it rose.

Steven's eyes lingered on the debris for a moment before an idea struck him.

"Metagross, Rock Slide!"

Rock-type moves were doubly effective against Dragonite's Flying typing.

With a thunderous roar, Metagross lifted a massive boulder, hurling it toward Dragonite.

But Dragonite, now fully revealing its agility, easily dodged the rock. With a slight movement of its wings, it evaded the attack while charging up a Dragon Pulse in its mouth, firing it straight at Metagross.

Unfazed, Metagross countered with a Flash Cannon, the two energy beams colliding mid-air.

The clash caused an intense shockwave that cracked the ground beneath them, sending pressure rippling across the arena.

Yet for Metagross, the worst wasn't just being outplayed earlier—it was now struggling even in a direct beam battle against Dragonite.

Its earlier scuffles with Dragonite had drained its stamina, leaving it faltering in the energy exchange.

Sensing this, Metagross detonated its Flash Cannon mid-air, creating a massive explosion that swallowed Dragonite's Dragon Pulse and obscured the battlefield in a cloud of dust and debris.

"Twister!"

Luo Yuan seized the moment, pointing toward the dust cloud.

Dragonite roared, unleashing a spiraling column of draconic energy.

The Twister tore through the debris-strewn battlefield, sweeping up the scattered rubble into a whirlwind of stone and wind that surged toward Metagross.

"Agility!"

Metagross's speed surged as it turned into a blur, narrowly evading the Twister.

But Luo Yuan had anticipated this, already preparing the next move.

"Extreme Speed!"

With a powerful beat of its wings, Dragonite charged forward at blinding speed.

In the blink of an eye, its massive frame closed the distance to Metagross.

Metagross, however, wasn't about to sit still. Its glowing eyes calculated Dragonite's trajectory with mechanical precision, and with a sharp lateral movement, it dodged the attack just in time.

Whoosh!

The two Pokémon barely missed each other.

But before Metagross could celebrate, a sharp whistle from behind caught its attention.

"Aerial Ace!"

Dragonite, still mid-flight, twisted its massive body in an almost impossible maneuver. It spun gracefully through the air, its tail slamming down toward Metagross in a perfectly aimed strike.

Caught off guard and unable to turn in time, Metagross had no choice but to take the full brunt of the attack.

Boom!

Dragonite's colossal frame crashed into Metagross, pinning it to the ground.

The sheer weight of Dragonite's massive body left Metagross immobilized, buried deep in the arena floor.

"Metagross!"

Steven's command to dodge was reduced to a shout of concern.

A faint hum signaled Metagross's response.

Despite its battered state, Metagross wasn't ready to give up. It mustered its remaining strength and delivered a powerful blow from below, striking Dragonite square in the stomach and sending it reeling upward.

Dragonite flapped its wings to regain balance, patting its belly as it did.

The slight jiggle of its rounded abdomen seemed to dissipate much of the impact, leaving Dragonite virtually unscathed.

Its stocky body acted almost like a physical version of the "Thick Fat" ability, reducing the damage it took.

"..."

Steven stared at Dragonite in disbelief.

For the first time, he found himself thinking that facing Lance's Dragonite might have been preferable to dealing with this monstrosity.

Is this really a Dragonite? Steven wondered. Or some bizarre creature masquerading as one?

Meanwhile, Metagross was nearing its limit. Its once-pristine turquoise armor was now riddled with cracks and scratches, and its energy was visibly waning.

But Steven refused to back down.

"Metagross, steel yourself! Show them the will of iron!"

Metagross vibrated in response, its determination undiminished.

Following Steven's command, it charged toward Dragonite once more.

"Psychic!"

Metagross unleashed a wave of mental energy, clearing debris from its path and disrupting Luo Yuan's psychic link with Dragonite.

With the way clear, it lunged at Dragonite, its head glowing with intense psychic energy.

"Zen Headbutt!"

Dragonite's response, however, was characteristically straightforward and brutal...

---

...

"GACHA!!"

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