Chapter 0614: Battle Against Lucian! The Champion League Climax(Two-in-One)

Brilliant evolution light erupted across the arena.

Gengar stuck out its tongue, a shimmering evolutionary stone resting on the tip, its grin stretching wide.

"Gengar~ヽ(≧▽≦)ノ"

Dazzling white light engulfed Gengar, a shockwave rippling outward, making Mega Gallade’s cape flutter.

The audience gasped in shock and disbelief.

"Here it comes—Gengar’s Mega Evolution!"

"Natsume-sensei’s Gengar has mastered Mega Evolution too?!"

"This… is a Champion’s ace!!"

Bruno’s sharp gaze locked onto the light-cloaked Gengar, as if trying to gauge its newfound strength.

By the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second level, Flint and Aaron stiffened.

If I were in Lucian’s position… how would I handle Natsume-sensei’s Mega Gengar?

Cynthia allowed a faint smile, her gray eyes fixed on the dissipating glow.

That was the Mega Gengar that had once shielded its Trainer—and battled a god!

As the arena trembled—

The light faded, revealing Mega Gengar’s sinister grin, its body now studded with jagged spikes, dark red mist swirling beneath it.

"Gengar!"

Mega Gengar’s limbs melted into the shadows, connected to the abyss, while a yellow third eye snapped open on its forehead. Above it, the rainbow Mega Evolution symbol blazed brightly!

Lucian adjusted his glasses with one hand, the other tucked into his suit pocket, his expression grave.

"A Champion-level Mega Gengar…" he murmured. "It rivals even Cynthia’s Garchomp."

Having absorbed energy from the Griseous Orb fragment, Gengar’s mastery over antimatter was flawless. Post-Mega Evolution, both gravity and shadow became its weapons.

This was Natsume-sensei’s strongest Pokémon after Sinnoh—the Mega Gengar that had slain a deity!

The camera cut to Natsume’s close-up.

One hand in his pocket, he offered the lens a faint smirk and a nod.

The arena exploded. Fans lost their minds.

"Damn it, Natsume-sensei just styled on us!"

"Mega Gengar is seriously cool!!"

"Clash of the titans—this is the peak of the Sinnoh Elite Four battles!"

"Gengar!"

Mega Gengar bared its teeth in a taunting grin, its evolutionary stone now hidden in the shadows, flicking its long tongue at Mega Gallade.

"Gallade…"

Mega Gallade spread its red-and-white blade arms, calm and poised, its snow-white cape billowing dramatically.

"Both sides have chosen Mega Evolution!" the commentator rasped. "This battle may decide the match!"

The tension peaked—Natsume and Lucian issued their commands simultaneously.

"Gengar, Dark Void!"

"Gallade, Psycho Cut!"

The battlefield was still under Gravity’s effect, raising Dark Void’s sleep-inducing odds.

Yet Gallade, boosted by Baton Pass, was sharp as an unsheathed sword—its twin blades gleaming with lethal intent.

Two strategy masters. Two different approaches. Both creating the perfect opening for their Mega Pokémon.

If Gallade felled Gengar, the rest would be a clean sweep.

But if it failed… Lucian risked a shutout on the Champion League stage!

The crowd held its breath. The commentator roared:

"The battle begins—Gengar strikes first!!"

"Gengar!"

Mega Gengar’s limbs submerged in crimson-black mist as its third eye gathered swirling dark energy, launching a massive black sphere forward!

"Gallade!"

With its Inner Focus ability heightening its mental fortitude, the heart-shaped crest on Mega Gallade’s chest burned hot.

HUM—

Pink energy surged, extending its blades by a full meter as it crossed them in an X-shaped slash—

BOOM!!

The explosion sent smoke billowing.

When it cleared, Gallade stood unharmed at the epicenter, cape swaying, gaze razor-sharp.

The audience hissed in shock.

"It… sliced through Dark Void?!"

"Did Psycho Cut just crit?!"

"Lucian is Sinnoh’s strongest Elite Four!"

"That’s the Calm Mind boost at work."

Bruno crossed his arms. "If it was a critical hit… even Mega Gengar wouldn’t withstand it."

Jasmine, hands folded over her white dress, murmured, "But Natsume-sensei’s Gengar has the speed advantage… and it hasn’t shown its full moveset yet."

Bruno stayed silent.

What made Natsume dangerous was his unpredictable strategies.

In other words—status moves were his trump card.

Even I know Gengar must be holding one…

How would Lucian, famed for his intellect, not anticipate it?

"What comes next," Bruno narrowed his eyes, "is a battle of wits!"

SHING—

Under Lucian’s command, Mega Gallade charged forward, twin blades radiating psychic energy as it swung down!

A flash of steel—

The crowd tensed. At Gengar’s size, one clean hit could decide the match!

"Gengar!"

Mega Gengar grinned wildly, swimming through the shadows like it was freestyling, even mimicking a breath before darting aside with eerie speed.

Natsume smirked.

Of course—Gengar loves shadow-swimming. Mega Evolution just made dodging easier!

CRACK!

Psycho Cut cleaved the ground like tofu, leaving a razor-straight fissure in its wake.

The crowd gulped.

Psychic and Ghost types were mutual counters—one solid hit could decide everything.

The elusive Mega Gengar. The balanced Mega Gallade.

Their duel was a dance on knife’s edge, sweat beading on the viewers’ brows!

"Gengar~"

Having dodged Psycho Cut, Mega Gengar slid to the opposite side of the field.

At the same time, the shadows beneath it writhed to life—striking from behind like vipers, coiling around Gallade’s ankles!

Mega Gengar’s ability: Shadow Tag!

Having dodged Psycho Cut, Mega Gengar slid to the opposite side of the field.

At the same time, the shadows beneath it writhed to life—striking from behind like vipers, coiling around Gallade’s ankles!

Mega Gengar’s ability: Shadow Tag!

"Gallade!?"

Mega Gallade whipped its head around.

Twin tendrils of darkness lashed out, shackling its legs in an instant.

Mega Gallade’s eyes narrowed—just in time to see Mega Gengar’s gaping maw and tauntingly waggling tongue.

"GengarGengar~ (≧▽≦)ノ"

"Mega Gengar’s Shadow Tag takes effect!" the commentator announced. "The distance between them widens again!"

Unlike the game’s instant activation, this real-world Shadow Tag extended through physical shadows—even briefly immobilizing its target.

The effect was fleeting, but enough to give Natsume-sensei room to command.

‘Gengar, Perish Song!’

Natsume’s Power of One resonated in Gengar’s mind.

Lucian closed his eyes. The moment Shadow Tag landed, danger prickled his instincts.

Is this it? The strategy I’ve been preparing for since before the match.

In this situation, Natsume-sensei’s command can only be one thing—

"Shadow Tag… Perish Song…"

Lucian predicted it perfectly. His eyes snapped open as he barked:

"Gallade, Taunt!!"

[Taunt: Prevents the target from using status moves for a short duration!]

The crowd gasped.

"Did he just call Natsume-sensei’s move blind?!"

"Holy—Lucian actually gambled right?!"

"You strategy players are all insane!!"

"Gengar~?"

Mega Gengar happily opened its mouth, ready to sing—only to freeze at Mega Gallade’s disdainful glare.

"Gallade—"

With an arrogant shake of its head, Mega Gallade flung its cape aside before crouching low, blades poised.

"Gallade! (σ｀д′)σ"

"Gengar… (。•ˇ‸ˇ•。)"

Mega Gengar’s eyes welled up with injustice.

Last team dinner, they wouldn’t let me sing. Now this?!

"Gengar! (#｀皿′)"

Crimson light erupted from its eyes.

Fine. No Perish Song… I’ll just murder you instead!

"So it comes down to offense after all…"

Natsume had wanted the safer Perish Song play—then gang up on the weakened Girafarig.

But Lucian’s prediction had caught him off guard.

By the second-floor windows, Flint scratched his afro in disbelief.

"Lucian actually out-read Natsume-sensei?!"

"See? Reading books does pay off~" Aaron mused, chin in hand.

"Taunt locks out most of Mega Gengar’s moveset," Cynthia noted.

Flint and Aaron blinked.

Perish Song. Gravity. Dark Void. All sealed under Taunt!

Flint’s face twisted.

"But… that Dark Void was basically an attack move already."

Natsume studied his Taunted Mega Gengar.

Tobias can stuff Legendaries in Poké Balls. Ash can use Snarl to wake up.

So my Dark Void dealing damage is totally fair, right?

But Gallade’s assault wasn’t over.

Lucian leveled his final blow:

"Gallade, Earthquake!!"

With Gravity sealed by Taunt, Mega Gengar had nowhere to hide!

"Gallade!"

Its elbow blades smashed into the ground. The arena trembled as shockwaves erupted, debris surging toward Gengar like a raging beast!

The audience recoiled at the sheer force.

"Gengar!"

Mega Gengar grinned wildly at the incoming quake.

Though its antimatter control paled next to Giratina’s, it had mastered fragments of its power—

Like Shadow Force, Giratina’s signature move. Gengar’s simplified version: Phantom Force.

Upon activation, Gengar would enter a ‘Shadow Force’ state—untouchable by any attack.

In other words, an unstoppable Q-skill—

As the Earthquake surged closer, Natsume commanded:

"Gengar, Phantom Force!"

Mega Gengar’s lower half already melded with the shadows, making the transition seamless.

Lucian’s breath hitched.

In the blink of an eye, Mega Gengar vanished.

The Earthquake struck empty air, leaving only a ravaged battlefield.

Then—

From the darkness behind Gallade, Mega Gengar reappeared—its spiked fist already swinging down!

"Gengar! (▼皿▼#)ノ"

POW!!

The punch sent Mega Gallade stumbling. As it whirled around—

Mega Gengar’s palm was already glowing with a swirling black hole, point-blank against Mega Gallade’s face.

BOOOOOOM—!!!

The arena fell silent. Only the sound of collective gulps could be heard.

"Did… did Gengar just punch it?!"

"With Gallade’s trash Defense, Phantom Force was the better move anyway…"

"Taunt backfired—should’ve just let Gengar sing Perish Song!"

"Gallade…"

As the smoke cleared, Mega Gallade clung to consciousness, propping itself up on one knee with its elbow blades.

"Gengar~"

Mega Gengar tugged playfully at Gallade’s cape, flashing a friendly grin—while a swirling Dark Void hovered ominously in its palm.

"Gallade…"

With a complicated look, Mega Gallade’s body flickered weakly—its Mega Evolution unraveling.

THUD.

Then, wisely, it faceplanted into the dirt, swirls in its eyes.

Lucian: "……"

Given the arena’s condition… this was the most reasonable choice!

"Gallade is unable to battle!" The referee’s flag swung down.

HUM—

On the big screen, three of Lucian’s Poké Balls dimmed.

The arena erupted—cheers rising in unison!

With only a sliver-health Girafarig left, the outcome was inevitable!

"Let’s give an early congratulations—"

As the commentator spoke—

Lucian sent out his final Girafarig. Natsume snapped: "Phantom Force!"

Mega Gengar dove into the shadows without hesitation—its fist lashing out for the kill.

Like a base race in the final seconds, Natsume-sensei went full tryhard, spamming attacks on the nexus!

"Tournament Champion Natsume claims victory in this Champion League match!!"

"Girafarig is unable to battle!"

The referee’s flag swung.

"The winner is Tournament Champion Natsume!!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Fireworks lit up the arena—celebrating the Champion League victor.

He’d now earned the right to join Sinnoh’s Elite Four… and was unquestionably its strongest member!

The livestream chat lagged under a flood of "CONGRATS!!"

"NATSUME-SENSEI IS INSANE!!!"

"GENGAR WENT FULL MURDER MODE!!"

Amid the roaring crowd, Gold wiped his nose, grinning.

"Told ya!"

Everyone ignored him. "Will Natsume-sensei challenge for the Champion title next?"

"We’ll probably find out tonight…"

The cheers surged like tidal waves.

Lucian sighed, pocketing one hand—weariness giving way to a resigned smile.

It’s not that I was weak… Natsume-sensei was just too cunning!

He approached Natsume, offering a handshake. "Congratulations, Natsume-sensei."

"After this match, you should get some rest, right?" Natsume asked.

Lucian smiled wryly. "If only."

That battle was… brutal. Just brutal. No winning that!

The audience’s roars swallowed the arena.

The livestream had hit 10 million viewers—longtime fans tearing up.

"After all this time, Natsume-sensei finally went to stomp the Elite Four cup!"

"Gengar 1v3’d Sinnoh’s strongest Elite Four? Shutout?!"

"This isn’t even a rookie stomp—it’s bullying! (lol)"

"He’s back. This is the Piplup Cup all over again—my youth has returned!"