Facing battle, the ancient mighty dragon never rejected a challenge. The moment it switched into hunting mode, a savage light flared in its eyes!

Even the opposing Hydreigon was startled!

Wait—you've got Intimidate as an Ability? Is that even legal?!

"Sha-shaa!"

That blue dragon might be fierce, but I am the true "evil dragon"! Hydreigon would never allow Drayden to lose face, so it bellowed back at Walking Wake. The two colossal dragons locked gazes, the atmosphere turning so tense it could snap.

The battle—began!

With Drayden's roar, Hydreigon howled to the sky!

Draco Meteor—one of the most destructive Dragon-type moves. When unleashed by a Dragon Pokémon, its might was unparalleled. Yet its drawback of sharply lowering Special Attack afterward made trainers cautious about spamming it—especially on a Special Attacker like Hydreigon.

"Hydreigon, show them your strength!"

Drayden brimmed with confidence. Hydreigon's move pool was deep—no matter the opponent, it always had a way to strike back!

He had already observed Walking Wake's abilities from Iris and Burgh's earlier tests. Drayden even discovered that in sunny weather, it grew stronger—meaning this water dragon could possibly wield both Water and Fire moves!

What? A Water/Dragon using Fire-type attacks?

Even Kingdra couldn't do that. But as a Dragon Master, Drayden could tell from the subtleties of battle.

Water/Dragon had only two weaknesses—Dragon and Fairy—but that didn't mean other moves wouldn't work!

"Earth Power!"

Ground-type energy ripped through the arena, threatening to lower Special Defense.

But Hikaru's eyes narrowed, gathering strength.

Walking Wake acted first—Water Jet!

BOOM! The water burst forward. Despite Earth Power shattering the stage, Walking Wake surged upward on a torrent, striking Hydreigon with priority!

"Catch it—Dragon Pulse!"

Drayden's eyes gleamed. Hydreigon's twin pseudo-heads weren't just for beams—when needed, they became fangs to clamp down enemies!

CRASH! Hydreigon blocked the water, grabbed Walking Wake's crest, and channeled Dragon power into its jaws.

At the same time, Walking Wake's mouth glowed with its own Dragon Pulse!

The clash of Dragon energy exploded, blasting them apart. Hydreigon floated midair, heads whipping.

"Pursuit!"

Drayden's command hit in perfect sync with Hydreigon's rhythm.

"Grandpa and Hydreigon are so in tune—they don't even need Dragon's Heart to know each other's thoughts!" Iris whispered, eyes wide with excitement.

Dragon Pulse had already chipped away at Walking Wake. Pursuit doubled in power against damaged foes, and with STAB on top, the strike landed brutally.

Many challengers had fallen in exactly this way—knocked out in one blow at Opelucid Gym!

CRASH! Hydreigon's strike landed. Walking Wake roared in agony. It hurt worse than even Giratina's Draco Meteor! Back then, most meteors had missed, and it was in spirit form… flesh was far more fragile!

"Ready? Time to end this!"

Drayden's voice rang out. Hydreigon growled, and Walking Wake stiffened.

Taunt!—it couldn't use status moves anymore.

The ceiling of Opelucid Gym resembled a black cosmos. Now, it blazed like a false sun!

Hydreigon lifted its heads, Dragon power swirling. A tear in the heavens split open—

"This is Draco Meteor's true form," Drayden bellowed.

"One method is tearing the skies and pulling real meteors down from space!"

"The other is forging Dragon energy into blazing orbs, hurling them skyward, then detonating them into a meteor storm!"

"Now—watch the first. Behold—Draco Meteor!"

"Dragon of Water, feel it! Sense the star-rifts, the resonance between Dragon energy and the cosmos! Gather your power, center it, and release—control it, and you'll command both forms of Draco Meteor!"

Celestial Dragon Meteor!

Walking Wake stared, entranced by the meteors tearing through the roof.

Damn it! If only Riolu were here—Copycat would blow them away!

Still—it had its own way.

From its mane, Walking Wake pulled out a golden apple—a hidden treasure that restored all health and cured all status. But that wasn't all…

Chime—

Its claws brushed another object. A shimmering scale.

The Heart Scale. A gift from another world's Latios. A shard of memory itself.

It could recall moves long forgotten—or perhaps, unlock new ones.

Memories swirled. Ancient skies. Primordial stars. What if… I too once commanded meteors?

Draco Meteor fell like rain—yet Walking Wake roared back! A rift tore open above it—meteors answering its will!

The gym floor shattered under the dual meteor storms. But when the dust cleared—Hydreigon lay defeated.

Walking Wake still stood.

"You… used items to endure, then instantly learned Draco Meteor?" Drayden gaped, then laughed booming laughter.

"Incredible! The teaching is complete—you've beaten Opelucid Gym!"

"Age only sharpens the hunger for victory—that is life's power! Next time, I'll win!"

[Victory! You defeated Opelucid Gym's Drayden. "Newborn Power" greatly strengthened!]

[Your Pokémon's EV gains and growth rate increased!]

[Extra: Pokémon gain +30% affinity for learning/self-learning same-type moves!]

Walking Wake roared triumphantly. Riolu pumped its fist, eyes shining.

That move—Draco Meteor. If I Copycat it, perfection!

"Waa-ooh!" The blue pup bounced, determination burning. Mountains and rivers may block the way, but training and thought would overcome them!

Walking Wake chuckled proudly—then panicked internally.

Damn, nearly died there! Good thing I pulled through… Wait, why am I talking like Torterra now?

Meanwhile, Duraludon began collecting the fallen meteors.

Stone is food. If ground-stones feed me, then sky-stones should too. Eat meteors, learn Draco Meteor. Simple logic.

And thus, it discovered a shocking truth—

Draco Meteor is just an infinite buffet!

Why mine rocks when the heavens rain stones for free?

"Guhh-houu!" Duraludon's eyes gleamed with new hunger. The cosmos—was its cafeteria.

Click-clack.

Iron Valiant approached Walking Wake.

[Now, praise is required.]

It analyzed Hikaru's earlier words, then delivered its own stiff embrace, blades buzzing with Fairy light.

Walking Wake shrieked, diving behind Duraludon.

New ally… terrifying! This must be the aura of a dragon-slayer!

(End of Chapter)

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