Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [341]

“Milotic used [Confuse Ray] to send Metagross into a frenzy!”

Down on the field, Metagross crashed heavily to the ground—but the confusion hadn’t worn off.

Its out-of-control arm continued lashing out, striking itself in a wild frenzy.

Thanks to the spherical joints that allowed such fluid range of motion, Metagross was now hitting itself with almost comical ease.

The sharp clang of metal-on-metal rang out across the stadium, making both the audience and livestream viewers collectively wince.

[That looks painful!]
[How does Metagross even manage to hit itself like that…]

Sabrina hadn’t expected Milotic’s [Confuse Ray] to have such a potent effect.

Now Metagross was fighting not only Milotic—but itself. The pressure on it had more than doubled.

Meanwhile, the water around Milotic’s body began to gather once again, its next attack already charging.

Realizing she had no time left to strategize, Sabrina gave a decisive command. “Metagross, use Psychic to restrain your arm—then [Zen Headbutt]!”

“Metaaa!”

Metagross activated its psychic powers, forcefully locking down its flailing arm.

Then, swaying in the air, its body wrapped in a shimmering psychic aura, it surged forward—straight at Milotic!

[Zen Headbutt]

At the same moment, Milotic completed its preparations.

The iridescent scales on its tail glimmered under the lights, casting a brilliant rainbow sheen. It lashed its tail out—

—raising a tidal wave even more immense than before and sending it crashing toward Metagross.

Metagross, charging at full speed, slammed headfirst into the oncoming wave—

Boom!

A muffled explosion thundered across the arena.

Under the tense, breathless gazes of the spectators, Metagross broke through the towering wave with unstoppable force, charging straight for Milotic!

Sabrina’s supporters erupted with excitement.

[Metagross!]
[Lady Sabrina is the strongest!]
[Come on—crush August, Ms. Sabrina!]

Milotic responded by blasting a high-pressure stream of water from its mouth.

Compared to its earlier [Hydro Pump] or [Surf] attacks, this one didn’t seem quite so overwhelming.

Just as everyone assumed Metagross would power through like before—

—it suddenly grimaced in pain the moment the water hit.

Sabrina’s brows knitted. “That’s…”

“I added salt to the attack.”

[Brine]

Against Pokémon with less than half their stamina, it does double damage.

While real battles don’t play out with that kind of precision, there was no doubt Metagross had taken far more damage than usual.

And to make matters worse—

The blow disrupted Metagross’s grip on its own arm.

Wham!

The unrestrained arm swung wide in a full arc, building up power—then slammed squarely into Metagross’s own head. Already reeling from the saltwater, the impact sent its mind reeling into blankness.

Mid-flight, Metagross—carried by its own momentum—described a wide parabola as it crashed down.

BOOM.

It plowed a deep trench through the ice-cold battlefield and finally came to a halt—

Right in front of Milotic.

[Metagross is unable to battle.]

“Metagross was taken out... by its own [Hammer Arm]? That’s unexpected,” Brandon commented dryly.

No one had predicted such a dramatic exit.

[Metagross—the invincible Metagross—has fallen! (cry)]
[If only the confusion hadn’t lasted that long... it could’ve kept going!]
[Exactly. Don’t give up, Ms. Sabrina! Don’t lose to a lucky guy like August!]
[Wait—I gotta ask. Is ‘Ms. Sabrina’ the same person as ‘Lady Sabrina’? Did I miss some meme or nickname change?]

In the spectator stands, Gary Oak’s face froze.

Crap. He slipped up!

But August was in the middle of a battle—no way he’d notice, right...?

Back on the field, Milotic let out a delighted cry and spun around, flinging itself at August.

“Wuuu~!”

It coiled tightly around him, impossible to peel off. Poor Eevee, stuck on August’s shoulder, was nearly being smothered.

“The bond between August and Milotic is amazing. No wonder their coordination during battle was so seamless,” Iono said sincerely, watching Milotic nuzzle August over and over.

[I declare: Milotic is the most beautiful Pokémon in the world!]
[Blasphemy! Don’t you know this chat belongs to the Gardevoir gang?]
[Uh… am I the only one who thinks Grimmsnarl is kinda pretty?]
[Whoever said Grimmsnarl… I respect your freedom, but please see a therapist.]

...

With the win secured, August recalled Milotic into its Pokéball.

It was definitely because Milotic had taken a hit from [Psychic] in the previous match—not because its clingy personality was starting to wear him down...

“Let me guess—who’s next? Alakazam? Espeon? Surely not Mr. Mime...” August asked, eyes fixed on Sabrina.

She sighed. Of course he knew—aside from the Metagross she’d trained in secret, he was familiar with her entire lineup.

Before she could answer, August sent out his next Pokémon.

“Gonga!”

Gengar leapt out of August’s shadow, landing on the battlefield with a dramatic pose, arms spread wide in a spooky grin to try and startle the crowd.

Unfortunately—

The crowd greeted it with surprise, curiosity, even smiles from some kids pointing and giggling—but no fear at all.

Gengar felt an overwhelming sense of failure.

After all the time it had spent honing its scare tactics... and aside from Eevee, not a single person or Pokémon had ever been successfully spooked!

Sabrina frowned. “You’re seriously sending Gengar in as your second Pokémon?”

It wasn’t that she had anything against Gengar—just that August always treated it more like a mobile backpack than a serious battler.

She mostly remembered it either lurking in August’s shadow or pulling pranks on Eevee and Togepi...

So Gengar’s combat ability...? Sabrina wasn’t sure.

Gengar: “!”

Just as it was recovering from the sting of its flop, Sabrina’s words landed like another blow.

But then—

August’s voice cut through: “Don’t underestimate Gengar. It’s strong—really strong.”

Gengar turned, staring at its trainer with tearful eyes of gratitude.

“Gongga!”

With renewed determination, it raised its fists and faced Sabrina.

I, Gengar—will prove myself today!

“Whatever just happened, August’s Gengar seems to be fired up again!”

“And here comes Sabrina’s next Pokémon!”

Alakazam materialized on the field, two spoons in hand.

The moment it appeared, a powerful psychic pressure surged outward, blanketing the stadium.

“Incredible presence. That Alakazam is exceptionally powerful,” Brandon said, his expression growing serious.

“If I were in August’s shoes right now—one-on-one, even using the Regi trio—I’m not sure I’d have a guaranteed win.”

[Alakazam! So cool!]
[I heard two seats on Kanto’s Elite Four are opening this year. Surely Lady Sabrina will be one of them!]
[Wait—has no one noticed Gengar looks totally unfazed?]

Despite Alakazam’s oppressive aura—

Gengar looked completely calm.

Sensing the surprise in the crowd, Gengar puffed up its chest.

Please... I’ve followed Boss August through thick and thin, across regions and countless battles. You think I’m gonna be scared of some Alakazam?

Alakazam, huh... big deal.

Gengar clenched its claws. Two [Shadow Balls] formed instantly—and launched straight at Alakazam.

Caught off guard by the sudden ambush, Alakazam still reacted with lightning speed.

Its spoons crossed in front of it, and its body vanished in an instant.

Boom!

The [Shadow Balls] detonated at its former location, blasting a crater into the arena.

Unlike Metagross and Milotic—who didn’t know each other—Gengar and Alakazam were all too familiar.

From the very first move, the battle hit a fever pitch.

Using [Teleport] to dodge, Alakazam reappeared behind Gengar, spoons bending ever so slightly.

A beam of prismatic light shot forth—

[Psybeam]

But Gengar had expected this.

The second [Shadow Ball] it had held in reserve was flung backward—

—colliding with the [Psybeam] in a crackling explosion!

BOOM!

The shockwave hit both Pokémon.

Alakazam raised a [Light Screen] to shield itself, gathering psychic energy at the tip of one spoon—

[Psycho Cut]

Slash!

An invisible blade tore through the blast’s aftermath, still arcing straight for Gengar.

But Gengar reacted fast!

A dark vortex opened beneath its feet—[Shadow Sneak]—and swallowed it whole, letting the [Psycho Cut] strike only empty space and carve a deep gash in the ground.

From the sidelines, Sabrina’s eyes flashed blue.

[PsychicPrettyGirl]: It’s [Shadow Sneak]. Alakazam, stay alert.

Alakazam: “...”

Ever since my trainer met that guy, she’s gotten so weird. It’s telepathy—why are you giving yourself a codename mid-message...?

Grumbling internally, Alakazam’s eyes gleamed as it foresaw a glimpse of the future.

It [Teleported] again—

Just in time to avoid a [Shadow Claw] lunging out of a rift in space.

Before Gengar could retract its claw, a [Psycho Cut] sliced through it, dispersing the ghostly energy.

Gengar shivered, visibly shaken.

That was way too close...

“Gong-ka~!”

Gengar grinned mischievously, unleashing a wave of dark, sinister energy.

[Dark Pulse]

The black shockwave engulfed half the battlefield. Alakazam couldn’t dodge—it had to raise another [Light Screen].

The barrier quaked violently under the force of the [Dark Pulse].

It couldn’t block it all—Alakazam winced from the damage.

Gengar seized the opening, crooking a finger at Alakazam in challenge.

That mocking gesture sparked a flare of fury in Alakazam’s mind.

Psychic energy exploded from its body, condensed into a blast—

[Psychic]

The sudden surge startled Gengar, who yelped and ducked back into the shadow realm.

Alakazam tried to [Teleport] away again—

—but just as its spoons began to glow, the light fizzled out, like a candle doused in water.

[Teleport] failed.

[PsychicPrettyGirl]: That’s [Taunt]. Use [Psychic] to attack behind you!

Sabrina reacted instantly, relaying new orders via telepathy.

Alakazam followed without hesitation—

But Gengar was already in front of it.

WHAM.

A devastating [Shadow Claw] struck home.

Alakazam gritted its teeth, retaliating—but Gengar vanished with another [Shadow Sneak].

Sabrina’s brows tightened.

[PsychicPrettyGirl]: Use [Psybeam]—attack all directions!

This way, even Gengar wouldn’t be able to dodge!

Alakazam fired prismatic beams in every direction.

But Gengar didn’t appear in front of, behind, or beside it—

It emerged directly beneath its feet.

“How did Gengar see through Alakazam’s every move?” Iono was stunned.

[Luck?]
[Once is luck. Twice in a row? That’s a strategy.]
[Just interview the pro later and find out!]

Seeing Alakazam pinned by [Shadow Claw], Sabrina’s eyes widened. “Impossible...”

She’d used telepathy specifically so August couldn’t hear her commands—so how had Gengar predicted Alakazam’s actions?

August smiled faintly and pointed to his ear.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: You forgot to switch your telepathy channel.
[Mew]: mew~
[Cute Eevee]: eevee-ee~
[Gengar]: Gonga!

“.....”

With all those voices suddenly chiming in on her channel, Sabrina was done.

She never imagined that’s why her strategy had failed.

And August wasn’t done rubbing it in.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Honestly, if you’d just shouted instead of using telepathy, Gengar wouldn’t have had time to react at all...

Her face froze.

Next second—Sabrina forcibly kicked August, Mew, Eevee, and Gengar out of her telepathy channel.

Then she raised her hand, revealing the Keystone on her wrist.

“Alakazam—[Mega Evolve]!”

Alakazam crossed its spoons in front of its chest. The [Mega Stone] floated between them as multicolored light enveloped its body.

In an instant—

It appeared again, now seated cross-legged midair like a mage in robes, a string of floating spoons suspended before it.

Mega Alakazam had arrived.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: She's mad now!
[Gengar]: Gonga!

Gengar nodded solemnly in agreement.

---

T/N: ONE CHAPTER TODAY ONLY??? WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS WORLD!!!! MY FAV TL WISETL IS WASHED :SOB: :SOB: :SOB:

This is a fan translation of 我，宝可梦称号大师！ by 落唯 白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!