Kanaz City, Devon Corporation.

A handsome blue-haired man in a suit greeted every employee he passed with a polite smile and nod.

Despite his pride and arrogance as the “absolute number one,” he was courteous and gentle to everyone.

Programmers pushed up their glasses, eyes misty.

So handsome, President Steven!

“P-President Steven!”

A data analyst suddenly stood up, nervously reporting:

“There seems to be a competing product for Pokémon: Battle on the market. I suggest acquiring the parent company before its release…”

“I’ve heard as much.”

Steven smiled faintly: “That guy’s unlikely to accept a buyout… Let’s go with fair competition.”

“Understood!”

The analyst added, “Also, Pokémon: Battle is due for an update. Your ranking…”

“I need to be active again, right?”

Steven paused in thought, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll log in tonight.”

Steven’s obsessive perfectionism was well-known among Devon’s staff.

Whether in training or battling, everything Steven did could only be described as:

“In the end, I’m number one — strong and brilliant.”

And when it came to collecting, Steven had inherited his father’s passion flawlessly.

Whether digging them up himself or purchasing them at high prices, he always managed to acquire rare mineral specimens.

Even in the field of business, which wasn’t his strength, Devon’s gaming platform was a result of his efforts — earning him the title “business genius.”

The nearly perfect Steven.

Truly on par with Mr. Lu.

As evening fell—

Steven returned to his seaside villa in Verdanturf Town.

From here, he could see the rocket launch pad at the heart of the cosmos and Wailord breaching in the sea.

Steven’s home was filled with rare minerals, and a few of his favorite Pokémon — Beldum.

“The Mikuri Cup in Sinnoh — interested in being a judge?”

The phone rang, and his friend Wallace spoke in a lazy tone.

Steven smiled helplessly. “I’m not exactly good at the coordination field.”

“Steven has something he’s not good at?!”

Wallace feigned shock, then burst into laughter. “Just kidding. Mainly, if you show up, ticket sales will skyrocket.”

“No more of that.”

With the phone cradled between his shoulder and ear, Steven flexed his long fingers. “I’ve got something important tonight.”

“What is it?”

“World number one.”

Steven smiled gently, but his eyes gleamed like steel.

“I won’t give it up so easily.”

“Good luck~” Wallace shrugged.

After hanging up, Steven entered the matchmaking queue and muttered:

“Will it be Caitlin… or Master Mustard…”

Until the matchmaking screen showed a striking black-haired youth with the ID 【DidMrLuEatToday】.

Steven’s lips curled slightly, a glint flashing in his deep eyes.

“As I thought…”

…

On screen, Steven’s dashing figure appeared.

Lu Ye muttered, “Almost as handsome as me.”

“I’ve never seen anyone this shameless!”

“Go, big bro with the dirty strats!”

“This isn’t a dirty strat.”

Mr. Lu suddenly grew serious. “This is a battle of belief.”

“Even if your Pokémon have bad base stats. Even if you’re at a type disadvantage…”

“You’ve gotta believe in your Pokémon.”

His eyes sharpened. “Go, Dusknoir, Sylveon!”

For a moment, even the chat was stunned by Mr. Lu’s charisma.

Even though his usual streams were more comedic—

Even the pickiest of fans had to admit.

This man… is stupidly handsome!

“Well then.”

Steven’s blue hair danced in the breeze as he gracefully drew two Luxury Balls.

“I’m counting on you, Skarmory, Metagross!”

“Screech!” The silver-armored Skarmory flapped its blade-like wings and soared into the sky.

Boom!!

“Kangin!!” The silver-white Metagross slammed onto the field, the X on its forehead gleaming, eyes glowing a fierce red!

Is this the world of the rich?!

Same game — and Steven’s Metagross has a skin!?

Chat mourned Mr. Lu’s cursed matchmaking.

“Just give up, Lu-bao. Losing to Steven isn’t shameful!”

“Fairy vs. Steel… Mr. Lu, are you the master of type disadvantage?”

Paul frowned.

The current situation shattered everything he thought he knew about Mr. Lu.

He forced out Sylveon, and his backups were weak as heck.

“Can he really win?”

Paul whispered, “That’s Champion Steven!”

Even with a lineup advantage—

Steven wasn’t careless at all.

As Professor Oak had once described Mr. Lu — a master of tactics.

One misstep, and Mr. Lu would seize it to turn the tide.

“But.”

Steven’s gaze sharpened, his smile confident. “I don’t make mistakes.”

“Tailwind, then Meteor Mash!”

“Screech!” Skarmory shrieked, whipping up a tailwind that even boosted Metagross’s speed.

“Kangin!!”

Metagross, like a raging war god, clenched its glowing red fists. Then it launched forward, Meteor Mash crashing down toward Sylveon!

Chat swallowed hard.

“This… this is gonna be an insta-KO, right?”

“Metagross could sweep the whole team by itself — how do you even fight this?!”

The crimson tail of Meteor Mash blazed behind it. As Metagross bathed in red light, its iron fist crashed down—

But Sylveon suddenly turned into a blur.

Standing before Metagross now was Dusknoir, reaching out with its large hand, its single eye expressionless.

Field Swap!

“Continue!” Steven ordered.

“Kangin!” Metagross roared, smashing forward with Meteor Mash.

Boom!!

Dusknoir was hurled back, barely able to stand, on the verge of fainting!

“This is the power of a pseudo-legend!”

Paul yelled internally, “Forget love and belief… it’s all lies!”

“Bui~”

In this fierce battle, Sylveon adorably yawned, squinting at Metagross with sleepy eyes.

The move “Yawn” — if not interrupted, the target will fall asleep next turn.

“Used Field Swap to stall, huh?”

Steven muttered, calmly saying, “Skarmory, Taunt Dusknoir! Metagross, Earthquake!!”

He knew Dusknoir aimed to use Trick Room.

Tailwind-boosted Skarmory’s Taunt perfectly blocked that strategy.

With Metagross’s power, this Earthquake would obliterate Dusknoir’s remaining HP!

“Screech!” Skarmory locked onto Dusknoir with sharp eyes, like it could see right through him.

But a red beam recalled Dusknoir back into its Poké Ball.

“Kangin!!” Metagross roared, smashing the ground with its iron fist.

The shockwaves cracked the earth, rumbles echoing across the battlefield.

“Bui!”

Sylveon raised her snowy-white neck, calling out loudly. A glimmering Reflect shield appeared in front of her, dampening Earthquake’s force.

“Lino~!” Minccino hit the field, enduring the quake with grace, waving her snowy scarf as sparks of static danced across her body.

“Wait, why do all Mr. Lu’s Pokémon have Thunder Wave?!”

“That move only has 90% accuracy — will it even land?!”

In front of tens of thousands of viewers—

Adorable Minccino puffed her cheeks, and with a “crack!” of static, struck Skarmory!

“ohhhhhhhh!!”

“It hit! Thunder Wave actually landed!”

“That’s Mr. Lu’s bond with his dirty strats!”

Lu Ye wiped his sweat.

That’s a bit much, right?

It’s just a 90% accuracy move hitting…

Meanwhile, Steven frowned.

Metagross was asleep.

Paralyzed Skarmory couldn’t keep up.

But neither Pokémon had taken any real damage.

What was Mr. Lu trying to do?

“Come back!” Lu recalled Minccino, sending Dusknoir back out.

Steven recalled the sleeping Metagross, throwing out a Luxury Ball:

“I’m counting on you, Aggron!”

Boom!!

The steel beast slammed into the ground — and a wisp of flame immediately engulfed its metallic body.

Another status condition…

Steven’s unease deepened. “Aggron, Earthquake!”

The tremors struck again. Dusknoir and Sylveon, both in bad shape, couldn’t withstand the brutal force.

BOOM!!

Aggron’s Earthquake took down both in one sweep!

Chat filled with GG messages.

“It’s over. Even Sylveon’s gone — what now?”

“Was Sylveon just a sacrifice to buff Mr. Lu?”

“What’s left?”

“Onix and Minccino… Mr. Lu, I’m out!”

Meanwhile, in Mr. Lu’s chat group—

Several top players were also watching the showdown of the final bosses.

“Mr. Lu’s calls are so tight.”

Red frowned. “Steven even used Mr. Lu’s predictions against him to stop Trick Room.”

“But…”

“But Mr. Lu being this suppressed doesn’t feel like him,” Blue commented for Red.

“If it were Gengar, Mr. Lu would’ve already put them to sleep,” Gold added, arms behind his head.

Ash fell silent, recalling what Mr. Lu had once said.

He’d use these seemingly weak Pokémon—

To prove that even small ones could stand at the top of the world...

Brock narrowed his eyes.

“Speaking of Onix, I remembered one of its moves.”

“When Onix is under Rage, each hit it takes boosts its power.”

“Maybe Mr. Lu’s planning to use that…”

Red and Blue blinked — then suddenly understood Mr. Lu’s tactic.

Onix with Rage and the ability Sturdy Armor — each hit boosts its speed and power.

Minccino’s multi-hit move and ability Skill Link could perfectly trigger this combo.

In Pokémon: Battle, traits aren’t labeled.

Only Trainers with deep knowledge of moves, abilities, and tactics could execute this strategy.

Now—

Blue’s lips tensed, pupils contracting.

Facing the overwhelming Champion Steven—

Mr. Lu had used Yawn, Burn, Paralysis, and Field Swap to perfectly shut down his offense.

This tactic—

Might actually work!

Red tilted his cap down, smirking.

After that double KO, Onix and Minccino entered the field—

Now—

It was Mr. Lu’s turn to attack!

“Let’s go, Onix!”

The massive rock beast towered beside Lu Ye. Adorable Minccino puffed her cheeks, eyes fierce.

Steven felt a surge of danger and sent Metagross back out.

Metagross and Aggron — symbols of power and popularity among Trainers.

In comparison—

Onix and Minccino looked laughably silly.

But—

As crimson energy surged through Onix, his Sturdy Armor shattered layer by layer, and his presence began to overpower Metagross.

The kind of pressure that felt like a legendary Pokémon.

Chat gulped in unison.

“ROOOAARRR!!!”

Onix roared skyward, blood vessels bulging in his eyes!

“Holy sh*t, Mr. Lu actually pulled off this combo!!”

“This strat is real… but it’s insanely hard to pull off!”

“You gotta predict perfectly, can’t afford a single mistake — and he’s doing it against Champion Steven!”

“Mr. Lu, forever a god!!”

Enraged Onix, glowing red, stared down the battlefield beside the black-haired youth.

This moment — worthy of history books — left the audience breathless.

“Minccino, use Helping Hand.”

Mr. Lu calmly commanded:

“Onix, Earthquake.”

RUMBLE RUMBLE!!

Onix’s massive iron tail slammed down, fracturing the battlefield, swallowing everything in its path!

With Minccino’s assist—

Onix’s Earthquake, friendly fire included—

Swallowed both Metagross and Aggron!

Triple kill!!

The stream exploded with “HOLY SH*T!”

“I’m f*cking fired up!!”

“Wiped out everyone — even the teammate!!”

Steven stood stunned, brushing back his sweaty bangs with a helpless smile.

So I got careless after all...

He thought Sylveon was the ace—

Didn’t expect to get ambushed by this strategy...

Skarmory and Cradily watched the falling Rock Slide in shock.

BOOM!!

The field lay in ruins.

Only Onix, glowing red with rage, remained standing — looking down on everything.

Chat was silent for a long moment.

Even the scrolling messages seemed to vanish—

Then suddenly—

A flood of “OHHHHHH” drowned the screen.

It wasn’t silence.

The server had crashed under the sheer number of messages!

“Did he actually f*cking win?! Is this real?!”

“I get it now. I’m releasing my Beldum — going to catch an Onix!”

“Used Field Swap, Yawn, Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp… You madman, Mr. Lu!”

“Mr. Lu, I crown you the king of cheese!”

“Lu-bao’s amazing — Mommy loves you!!”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read