Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 572: Dignity Lies Only on the Blade’s Edge; Truth Resides Solely Within Firing Range!

Chapter 572 - Dignity Lies Only on the Blade’s Edge; Truth Resides Solely Within Firing Range!

Steven's confidence returned.

Johan's words had reminded him of his true reason for joining the "Youth Masters World Championship."

First, he wanted to battle to his heart's content alongside his Pokémon—to savor the joy of battle.

Second, he wanted to face off against his teacher, Johan.

Third, he hoped to achieve a respectable ranking.

But rankings were never his top priority.

Even winning or losing wasn't the most important thing.

And besides...

The match wasn't over yet—why worry prematurely?

What he needed to do now was enjoy this clash with Johan!

"Whew—"

Exhaling deeply, Steven smiled. "Thank you, Teacher."

Johan merely shrugged, mentally kicking himself.

Why talk so much during a battle? Just focus on fighting...

But as a teacher, he couldn't help but want to guide his student.

That's just who he was.

"Bring it on, Teacher!" Steven shouted, throwing his fifth Poké Ball.

From the light emerged a doll-like, humanoid Pokémon in a yellow dress with glossy black hair and huge pigtails—though on closer inspection, those pigtails were an enormous gaping mouth!

Mawile, the Deceiver Pokémon. Steel/Fairy-type. They appear cute to lure in prey—then clamp down with their massive jaws. Adorable—no, terrifying! Rotom quipped.

"Fwee~~" Mawile gave Johan a playful wink, red eyes sparkling with mischief.

Johan's expression turned odd.

He looked at the cute Mawile, then at the dashing, well-off Steven.

...Yeah, that tracks.

Wasn't this one his suggestion back then?

Mawile's typing mirrored that of Tinkaton: dual Steel/Fairy with only Fire and Ground as two-times weaknesses. But it also resisted eight types and was immune to one. Fantastic defensively.

Despite a low base stat total—even with Mega Evolution—Mawile had its strengths.

Steven wouldn't use his Mega slot on it in this match, though.

But base stats alone didn't define a Pokémon's strength in the real world.

Still...

Johan had never seen Steven use this Mawile before.

As if sensing his thoughts, Steven smiled.

"I met her in Kalos while looking for diamonds."

Johan nodded in understanding.

"Fwee~" Mawile winked again, nervously rubbing her little hands, both timid and eager.

Such a "lovely" opponent...

Time to send in a knight.

Johan released a Luxury Ball.

From the red flash emerged a black-armored warrior with twin blades—the elegant Ceruledge. Its swords hummed, radiating heat as flame surged around it.

"Goka!"

Ceruledge cracked its neck, fire oozing from its armor. It raised one sword and pointed at Mawile.

Where the blade points, the heart follows.

Steven and Mawile were ready.

A hot breeze lifted Johan's black bangs and fluttered his jacket as he smiled.

"Come."

Ceruledge + Johan + that line = full audience hype.

"Damn! He's flexing again!"

"Still... gotta admit, Johan really is cool."

Steven didn't react, but Mawile puffed up in indignation.

Oh, I'm cute, so you go cool mode, huh?!

Angry!

She spun 180 degrees, baring her massive black jaw in Ceruledge's face, rows of jagged fangs glinting.

Intimidate!

Even knowing what to expect, the sudden shift from adorable to savage startled many.

Ceruledge's grip tightened—its physical attack stat dropped.

Battle resumed.

"Fake Out, move in!" Steven ordered.

"Fwee!!"

Mawile dashed forward, her stubby legs moving fast. She wasn't fazed by Ceruledge's flames—impressive for a Steel/Fairy-type facing Fire.

But just as she neared—

FOOM!

Blue fire erupted around Ceruledge, then shifted to crimson-gold.

CLANG! freeweɓnøvel.com

Her massive jaws clamped down—but not on Ceruledge's body. Somehow, she'd bit its cannon arm instead.

Grinding against metal.

Screeech!

Mawile's attack failed to connect as Ceruledge hadn't used an offensive move.

But she'd still managed to get in close and clamp onto the cannon.

"Now, Crunch it!" Steven shouted.

"Fwee!!"

Dark energy surged through Mawile's jaws—biting down hard.

You've seen cannons dodged.

But this?

CRUNCH!!

A crack ran through the cannon.

BOOM!!!

Ceruledge fired—point-blank, inside Mawile's mouth!

She was blasted backwards, slamming into the ground.

"Fwee..." black smoke trailing from her fanged pigtails.

Luckily, the jaws were external armor-like Tinkaton's hammer. Otherwise, she'd be cooked.

Mawile shook off the hit, emerging from the crater looking feral.

"Fwee!!" she pointed at Ceruledge.

You're going down today!

"What a brutal clash..."

"Shot right down the throat?"

"But Crunch cracked its cannon!"

"Wait—Crunch hit the cannon, but the armor cracked?"

Johan winced.

Damn. Armor's cracked again.

But hey, it's Steven—he could bill the "Trainer's Institute."

"Ceruledge, Will-O-Wisp!"

Ceruledge split its cannon. Wisps of fire spun out toward the furious Mawile.

"Dodge with Fake Out! Then Swords Dance!"

Mawile zipped left, evading fire while gathering power.

Sword-like chimes rang out—her attack rising as she danced.

Nice combo...

But—

"Taunt."

Ceruledge beckoned smugly.

"Fwee!!" Eyes flaring, Mawile's fury broke her Swords Dance.

"Not pre-read, but Johan's reaction's insane—and Ceruledge's speed is no joke," Leon commented.

Mawile, enraged, charged blindly.

Steven's eyes flashed.

Perfect.

"Again, Crunch!"

As Mawile neared, her massive jaws gaped—recreating her earlier tactic.

CLANG!

But Ceruledge put up Protect, blocking her advance.

"Too cautious..." Steven sighed.

Still, the attack wasn't fruitless.

Her jaws caught onto Ceruledge's abdominal plating, grinding.

"Fire Blast!"

Cannon locked, aimed downward.

"Power-Up Punch!" Steven fired back.

Mawile's jaws clamped tight, but her fists were free—

BAM BAM! Two blows to Ceruledge's knees.

CRACK.

More cracks in the armor.

Power-Up Punch raised her attack further.

Then—

WHOOSH!

Ceruledge fired point-blank again.

Mawile's head burned, but she held on.

"Again, Power-Up Punch!"

Protect!

BAM BAM! Another two punches.

"Ceruledge's armor again?!" Johan grimaced.

Three breaks already?

Seriously?

But Mawile was burning.

Still—she endured.

Now what?

"Baton Pass!" Steven declared.

Mawile retreated, passing her accumulated buffs.

The announcer gasped.

"Clutch timing. That Mawile nearly went down."

But Steven had pulled it off.

He soothed the now-returned Poké Ball.

"Thanks, Mawile. I'll make it up to you."

The Ball shook indignantly.

You better!

Steven smiled, withdrawing another ball.

Time for the ace.

He and Johan locked eyes.

"This is our growth!"

Go, Metagross!

From the light emerged the dazzling Shiny Metagross, Steven's pride.

It absorbed Mawile's baton-passed buffs. Its aura flared.

"GONG-GONNNG!!"

Steven's signature Pokémon had entered the field.

The crowd erupted.

"Shiny Metagross!!"

"Let's gooo! Beat Johan and become Hoenn's champ!"

Some noticed Steven's earlier words.

"Our growth"?

Did Johan help train this Metagross?

But Johan and Steven both knew—it wasn't about battle strength.

It was emotional growth.

Metagross, once solitary and hesitant, had changed.

Johan smiled faintly.

Steven had sent in his strongest.

Time to answer.

Ceruledge's armor was shattered—but its eyes blazed.

Time to clash.

"Ceruledge, Pulse Barrage Cannon!"

"Metagross, Zen Headbutt!"

Both roared.

Metagross glowed with metal light and psychic power, forming into a missile of destruction.

Ceruledge's body burst into flame—gold and blue mixed—channeling aura, fire, life-force, and psychic energy into a single devastating blast.

BOOOOM!!!

The arena was swallowed in flame.

The last time this cannon had been used, it nearly broke the arena's defenses.

The staff looked panicked.

"Here it is! The legendary Pulse Barrage!"

"No! That's GODSLAYER FLAME BARRAGE!!"

The question: could Metagross withstand it?

From the inferno—

"GONG-GONNNG!!!"

Metagross emerged, psychic shields flickering, limbs scorched—but standing.

"HE BLOCKED IT!!"

"The first ever to tank that cannon!"

Steven clenched his fist.

"Zen Headbutt—again!"

Metagross surged through the fire, headbutting Ceruledge.

Johan flinched.

It's a 2x fire weakness—how did it survive that shot?

Ceruledge staggered. Time for retreat.

But—

"Goka!!"

It refused.

Its body wobbled, flames fading, but its eyes blazed fiercer than ever.

It would not back down.

Johan exhaled and rolled up his sleeves.

"If you're staying, then I'll back you to the end."

Aura: full power.

The Zen Headbutt landed.

The arena trembled.

Dust clouded the battlefield.

Was Ceruledge down?

Then—

CLANG!!

Sparks flared.

Both Pokémon were sent flying.

Wait—it wasn't Ceruledge?

No—its form had changed.

Right hand: sword.

Left hand: cannon.

A fusion form.

Sword and cannon at once.

"Wha—?" Leon blinked. "He can do that?!"

Johan smiled.

Sword form = speed.

Cannon form = power.

Fusion = brief invincibility.

Three seconds—barely—but enough.

Ceruledge drew its sword through the air.

Then raised its cannon again.

Dignity lies only on the blade's edge.

Truth resides solely within firing range.

Sword within seven steps. Cannon beyond seven steps.

Let's fight.

Metagross wasn't fazed.

"GONG!"

Four arms flared.

Two blocked the fire blast. Two struck with Meteor Mash.

Clang! Boom!

The attacks collided and both withdrew.

Johan whispered, "That's enough, Ceruledge."

It had held the fusion form longer than ever.

"Goka..." Ceruledge nodded.

You've grown.

Steven, meanwhile, had closed his eyes.

A breeze lifted his pale blue bangs.

He kissed his tie pin—Mega Evolution trigger.

"Mega Evolution."

"GONG-GONNNNNG!!"

Shiny Mega Metagross roared.

The rainbow light burst into the arena.

Steven and his ace Pokémon were perfectly in sync.

This was their peak.

"GONG-GONNNNNG!!!"

The colossus of polished steel and psychic wrath stood before them.

"Here it comes—Shiny Mega Metagross!"

"Let's GOOOO!!!"

The crowd erupted.

Johan and Ceruledge shared a glance.

They'd lured out the Mega.

"Gotcha," Johan smirked.

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Powerstones?

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