"Master Mustard, before we begin, can I ask why you're giving me the Secret Armor?"
Summer couldn't understand Mustard's reasoning for offering Kubfu to him. Was it because he helped fend off Galarian Moltres?
"Reason?" Mustard chuckled. "Simple! Because the Secret Armor seems to like you, Little Summer!"
"Wait, what?!"
The dojo students all gasped. Did that mean the Secret Armor was… alive?!
Kubfu likes me? Summer was confused. He hadn't even interacted with it before. Maybe it saw one of my battles?
As a Fighting-type Pokémon, Kubfu was serious by nature, constantly training to reach the peak of martial arts. It also had a habit of seeking strong mentors, choosing only those it admired. This likely tied into its evolution process.
Seeing how determined Kubfu was, Summer couldn't just refuse this challenge. If it had already chosen him, then he had to prove himself worthy. He nodded firmly.
"I understand, Master Mustard. Let's have our battle."
"Oh-ho! That's the spirit! A true Trainer should never hesitate!" Mustard laughed heartily, then clapped his hands. "Alright, let's eat first! Gotta fill up if we want a proper battle, hoho~!"
The dojo disciples exchanged uncertain glances.
Did Summer even know how strong their master was?!
This was the man who held the Champion title for eighteen years!
At the table, both Clara and Avery tensed up. Summer was insanely strong—they had both been crushed by him before. But if he really managed to beat Master Mustard… wouldn't that mean the dojo's greatest treasure was leaving with him?!
Marnie, on the other hand, had no doubt.
Master Mustard is incredibly strong. But… Summer is someone even I trust.
She clenched her fist slightly, silently rooting for him.
"Well, we shouldn't waste Honey's hospitality," Summer smiled. "Besides, I'm really curious about her cooking."
Marnie smirked. "I won't turn down a free meal. Alright, let's dig in."
Honey beamed. "Enjoy, you two! I promise, my food won't disappoint~"
As soon as Summer and Marnie sat down, the dojo disciples all sped through their meals. The moment they finished, they rushed outside to grab the best spots for the upcoming battle.
The dojo's backyard battlefield was surrounded by towering cliffs, making it a perfect natural arena for combat.
The first wave of disciples lined up neatly behind a red boundary line. When Clara and Avery arrived, they glanced around in confusion before approaching a senior disciple.
"Why is everyone standing so far back?" Clara asked.
The senior smirked. "Because this battlefield is directly above a Galar Energy Hotspot—there's enough energy here for Dynamax battles. We need to stay at a safe distance to avoid getting caught in the attacks."
The moment the words Dynamax battles registered, Clara and Avery immediately dropped the idea of moving closer.
These senior disciples sure were brave.
In an official stadium match, spectators were seated far away and protected by barrier shields. Here? No such safety net.
Just to be safe, they both took another step back.
Meanwhile, Marnie and Honey had secured the best possible vantage point—the cliffside. From here, they could oversee the entire battlefield, ensuring they wouldn't miss a single moment of what promised to be an explosive battle.
"I didn't think Summer would agree to a three-on-three Dynamax battle," Marnie muttered, her arms crossed as she gazed down. "I've never even seen him use Dynamax before."
Honey chuckled, crossing her arms. "Oh? Are you worried about him, Marnie?"
Marnie paused, then shook her head with a small smile.
"No. I believe in him. He's not just strong—he's full of surprises. And he's annoyingly serious. If he agreed to this battle, that means he's already confident he can win."
Honey laughed. "Oh my~ I'm a little jealous of you."
Before Marnie could react, Honey cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and called out:
"Go get 'em, darling! Show them what you've got!"
Marnie blinked, then narrowed her eyes.
Oh. So that's how it is, huh?
There's no way I'm losing in a cheering match.
She cupped her own hands around her mouth and yelled with everything she had:
"Summer! Beat him, and make it look good! Marnie's counting on you!"
Down on the battlefield, Mustard burst into laughter.
"Ohoho! I heard Honey's cheers loud and clear! And you, Little Summer, did you hear Marnie's support?"
He reached for his jacket, then performed a flawless backflip, shedding both his outer coat and hat in one motion.
The moment his feet touched the ground, his posture shifted completely.
One foot stepped forward into a deep stance, his left hand extended forward, while his right hand rested behind him—a classic martial arts pose.
His once drooping eyebrows lifted, flowing freely in the wind. His aged demeanor vanished, replaced by an intimidating aura of a true master.
His sharp gaze cut through the battlefield like a hawk surveying its prey.
His sheer battle spirit was overwhelming.
In an instant, the carefree old man was gone.
Summer exhaled slowly.
In the game, I was impressed by Mustard's transformation. But experiencing it in real life…?
This is the power of a Champion who reigned for eighteen years.
"Alright, Master Mustard!" Summer stepped forward, grabbing a Poké Ball. "I'll start with this—Rillaboom, let's go!"
He tossed out the Poké Ball, and Rillaboom emerged, slamming its wooden drum against the ground. Instantly, lush green grass spread across the battlefield.
It had already sensed Summer's determination and responded with equal seriousness.
"Good, good! Nice fighting spirit! In that case…" Mustard smirked. "I'll go with this!"
A Poké Ball soared through the air, releasing a black-and-blue octopus.
Grapploct.
It flexed its powerful tentacles, its four striking limbs clasped together in a respectful bow, while the remaining three supported its weight. The last tentacle was coiled tightly around its waist like a belt.
A Pokémon of pure muscle and technique, capable of crushing opponents with overwhelming force.
Summer narrowed his eyes. Grapploct is a close-combat specialist. If it closes the gap, Rillaboom will struggle.
Which meant—
"Rillaboom! Dynamax!"
The crowd gasped in shock.
Opening with Dynamax?!
Wasn't the strongest move supposed to be saved for the end?!
Summer had already thought it through. Rillaboom's strongest move—Acrobatics—would be useless against Grapploct's incredible martial skill. Instead of wasting time on precision strikes, he'd go all-in with sheer overwhelming power.
He recalled Rillaboom, allowing his Dynamax Band to absorb the surrounding Galar Energy, channeling it into the Poké Ball.
In an instant, the ball swelled to massive proportions.
With a single powerful throw, Summer sent Rillaboom soaring into the air.
BOOM!
The Dynamaxed Rillaboom landed with a thunderous crash, its drum now the size of a small building. It let out a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the ground.
For the first time, Rillaboom felt the raw energy of Dynamax coursing through its body. The power was intoxicating, dangerously chaotic.
Without Summer anchoring it, it might have lost control.
But its trust in Summer was absolute.
Mustard chuckled. "Hoho~ Super Gigantamax, huh? Looks like you managed to find Max Mushrooms after all!"
Grapploct flexed its tentacles, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"Alright then, Grapploct! It's time to get serious!"
"Rillaboom, use Max Airstream! Try to control the wind!"
Rillaboom nodded, then slammed its massive drum. The four thick vines sprouting from it followed suit, producing a powerful, rhythmic beat.
The sound waves manifested into a massive tornado, ripping across the battlefield, surging straight for Grapploct.
Mustard grinned wildly, his old Champion instincts awakening.
"Oho! So that's how it is, huh? You think I haven't studied Dynamax battles just because I never participated in one?!"
"Grapploct—jump straight into the tornado's core!"
"OCTO-LOCK!"
Grapploct launched itself into the air with a powerful push from its tentacles, curling its body tightly to shield its vital spots. As it spun rapidly, it maneuvered into the calm center of the tornado, where the force of the wind was weakest.
The raging storm of air blades slashed relentlessly against its body, but it endured. When the winds finally died down, Grapploct remained airborne, bruised and battered, yet still burning with determination.
Mustard's voice rang out across the battlefield. "Even in desperate times, there is always a way forward! Grapploct—use Reversal!"
Reversal. A move that grew stronger the lower the user's HP was. And right now, Grapploct was barely hanging on.
Using a sudden burst of Water Jet propulsion, Grapploct shot toward the colossal form of Gigantamax Rillaboom. Mid-flight, it twisted its body and lashed out, all four tentacles striking Rillaboom's massive drum with a deafening boom.
The shockwave rippled through the battlefield. Rillaboom staggered, its eyes widening as a surge of pain coursed through its body. Gigantamax Pokémon had a crucial weakness—every attack they received was amplified across their entire form. No matter where they were hit, the force reverberated throughout their entire being.
This was why Dynamax battles were so unpredictable. Even the smallest Pokémon could bring down a giant with the right strategy.
Grapploct had spent all of its remaining strength in that attack. As its energy drained away, it hung limply in the air, beginning its slow descent toward the battlefield.
Summer saw his opportunity. "Rillaboom, use Max Airstream again!"
Before the attack could be executed, Mustard let out a chuckle. "Hohoho~ Dark-type moves sure feel like cheating sometimes! Grapploct, use Topsy-Turvy!"
A dark aura enveloped Grapploct's body. In an instant, Rillaboom's previously light and nimble movements became heavy and sluggish.
Topsy-Turvy—an ability that inverted all of the opponent's stat changes.
The speed boost Rillaboom had gained from Max Airstream was now completely reversed, slowing it down instead of making it faster.
Another howling windstorm slammed into Grapploct, sending it crashing into the ground. Its battle was over.
But even in defeat, it had done its job. It had endured two powerful attacks, delivered a devastating counterstrike, and neutralized Rillaboom's speed advantage. It was a warrior's battle. A fight with no regrets.
The dojo disciples were stunned. Even though Mustard had lost his first Pokémon, he had successfully forced Summer to burn through Gigantamax early. Some of the senior students couldn't help but admire their master's strategic brilliance.
Clara and Avery, however, swallowed nervously.
"This… this old man is terrifying," Clara thought, gripping her sleeves.
Avery, sweating bullets, muttered under his breath, "If I were the one battling him, I'd be knocked out instantly… No, worse… He'd probably sweep my entire team with a single Pokémon!"
Up on the rocky ledge, Marnie clenched her fists.
"Master Mustard… he's even stronger than I expected."
She had watched countless battle videos of him from the past, but seeing it in real time was something else entirely. He wasn't just the former Champion—he was still evolving.
But so was Summer.
Marnie bit her lip and whispered to herself, "Come on, Summer… show them what you've got. Win them over—make them all cheer for you instead."
Mustard recalled Grapploct, his expression filled with pride. "You fought beautifully, my friend. I felt your spirit in every strike."
Then, he reached for his second Poké Ball.
"Your turn—Hawlucha!"
A red and green blur shot out, flipping mid-air before landing with a dramatic flourish. Hawlucha spread its wing-like cape wide, its fiery-red chest puffed out with pride. Its sharp emerald mask glinted in the evening sun, resembling the legendary luchadors of the ring.
Mustard let out a hearty laugh. "Hohoho! Guess it's my turn to Dynamax now!"
He stomped forward, sending dust flying into the air. Then, in one smooth motion, he recalled Hawlucha into its Poké Ball.
The black Dynamax Band on his wrist flared to life, glowing a deep crimson. The Poké Ball in his hand expanded threefold, crackling with energy.
"Hawlucha, let's put on a show!"
The moment Dynamax Hawlucha landed, it let out a resonating battle cry.
For the first time, both sides had Dynamaxed Pokémon on the field at the same time.
The sheer pressure of their auras clashed, filling the battlefield with a tangible intensity. The ground trembled beneath their weight, and even the wind itself seemed to pause in anticipation.
This was no longer just a battle.
This was a fight between giants.
"Max Airstream!"
Both trainers shouted simultaneously.
Two massive wind cyclones erupted from either side, barreling toward one another.
The moment they collided, the entire battlefield was engulfed in a howling vortex of cutting winds and flying dust.
The force of the impact was so powerful that even the senior dojo disciples had to shield their eyes.
When the raging winds finally began to die down, everyone—Mustard's students, Marnie, Honey—leaned forward, their eyes filled with anticipation.
As the dust settled, their expressions turned to pure shock.
The battlefield had completely changed.
And the result…
Was completely unexpected.