Fast—unbelievably fast!
Ron had faced his fair share of major battles since becoming a Trainer. He had encountered many formidable opponents and witnessed the strength of top-tier Trainers. But never had he seen a strike delivered with such blinding speed.
He couldn't help but wonder—if it had been Machamp or one of his other Pokémon in place of Gourgeist, could they have withstood that blow?
"Sorry about that, Ron. Looks like I stole your target."
"Oh, right—should introduce myself. I'm Steven. Nice to meet you."
As Ron stood pondering the situation, a young man with striking blue hair gently descended from the back of a shimmering white Metagross, landing softly in front of him.
Truth be told, Steven hardly needed to say anything. The moment Ron laid eyes on that white-bodied Metagross and sensed its formidable power, he had already guessed the identity of the man before him.
"Good day. I'm Ron, a Trainer from Kanto," Ron replied, his tone respectful.
Though Steven carried himself without airs, Ron wasn't about to let his guard down. On the contrary—he responded with sincerity and formality.
"Alright, alright—no need to be so formal," Steven chuckled. "We're about the same age, after all. Just call me Steven."
"And besides, you've already done so much for the Hoenn League. It's my fault I didn't get a chance to thank you in person sooner."
Steven's voice was warm and genuine as he stepped off Metagross's back. His demeanor was so mild and gracious that even Ron was caught a little off guard.
But it made sense.
First off, Ron was a Trainer from the Kanto League. If Steven, as the Champion of Hoenn, acted arrogantly, it would only give others the impression that the Hoenn League was full of prideful elites—not a reputation he wanted.
Secondly, Ron had already done plenty to earn Steven's goodwill. Since arriving in Hoenn, he had repeatedly assisted Elite Four member Drake in thwarting Team Aqua's plans. Later, in the climactic conflict between the Hoenn League and Team Aqua, Ron had played a pivotal role. He not only saved Wallace but also helped him secure a critical advantage in battle, leading to a decisive victory.
Given Steven's deep friendship with Wallace, Ron had already earned his respect. And on top of all that, Steven was aware that Ron wasn't formally affiliated with the Hoenn League—yet.
He also had some insight into the inner workings of the Kanto League. Depending on how things developed there, who was to say Ron wouldn't consider a shift in allegiance one day?
So for many reasons, Steven had every motivation to make a strong first impression.
Ron's character and potential had already been proven time and time again.
Otherwise, even if it were a Mid Elite-level Trainer standing here, Steven wouldn't have been nearly this accommodating.
"You flatter me, Mr. Steven," Ron began, a bit unaccustomed to such praise. But under Steven's gaze, he quickly corrected himself. "Sorry... Steven."
"No need to be modest," Steven smiled, then turned to glance at the unconscious Gourgeist nearby. "But this Gourgeist—it's something that needs to be dealt with immediately. Left unchecked, it could endanger even more Pokémon."
Ron nodded. "About that Gourgeist..."
He then proceeded to explain everything—how he had previously encountered a Trevenant and the strange connection between that Trevenant and the current Gourgeist.
"I actually came across something like that in a book once," Steven said after a moment. "It was a rare volume detailing Ghost-type Pokémon."
He continued, "When you defeated that Trevenant, it must've left behind a seed—its last remnants. Normally, it would've just withered away, becoming a harmless ordinary seed. But this particular one was consumed by the Gourgeist."
"Given that both Pokémon share the Ghost and Grass dual typing, the resonance between them was extremely high. Over time, the remnants of Trevenant's consciousness began to take root inside Gourgeist, gradually overriding its mind and personality."
"If we hadn't intervened today, it might've eventually reached Champion-level strength unchecked—causing devastation across the region."
"I see…" Ron murmured, clearly impressed. "You really live up to your reputation, Steven. To even know something like this…"
Steven chuckled lightly. "It's nothing special. My family just happens to own a private library, and we've collected quite a few rare books over the years."
Despite Ron's evident admiration, Steven Stone didn't seem particularly fazed. His tone remained light, as if having such accomplishments was just standard fare.
Ron was about to say more, but the sight of Steven's white Metagross convinced him otherwise. Wisdom won over words.
If Wallace could be called wealthy, then Steven was on a whole different level—an aristocrat among elites.
"Metagross," Steven said with a cold glint in his eyes, "eliminate this Gourgeist. Make sure there are no lingering threats."
With that command issued, Steven turned and began contacting the League personnel to have Bert taken away.
For someone whose mind had been corroded by Ghost-type Pokémon, the best fate that awaited them… was lifelong imprisonment.
And so, unconscious, Bert brushed past the shadow of the Dark King himself—never realizing how close he had come to doom.
"Well then, Ron," Steven asked with a smile after settling the matter, "what do you plan to do next?"
Ron responded honestly, "I'm still searching for new Elite Four-level Pokémon to battle. I want to make my Machamp and Persian even stronger."
"If that's the case, come with me," Steven said casually. "I'll take you to a place that'll definitely be worth your while."
"And don't even think about refusing. Just consider it my way of thanking you for everything you've done."
Ron opened his mouth, likely to object, but Steven had already cut off any argument with his insistence.
"…Alright. Then I'll be in your care," Ron finally agreed.
"Glad to hear it. Come out, Skarmory!"
With Ron's agreement, Steven summoned a Champion-tier Skarmory, which screeched proudly as it emerged.
Steven climbed up, motioning for Ron to join him. "Skarmory, take us to the old spot on Mt. Chimney."
The metallic bird chirped in acknowledgment, rubbing its beak affectionately against Steven's cheek before spreading its wings and lifting off.
Once airborne, it manipulated the air currents around them to create a smoother ride—an advanced maneuver only a top-level Pokémon could perform.
During the flight, Steven began discussing Pokémon strategies with Ron. While it was more of a one-sided lecture—Steven doing most of the talking and Ron listening—the content was undeniably rich.
After all, for someone like Steven, who would inherit the Devon Corporation and walk away from the Champion's title if necessary, a deep academic foundation was just par for the course. You could tell just by the private library his family owned.
Add to that his years of personal experience as a Trainer, and it was clear that Steven had plenty of insight to offer Ron.
Eventually, their talk shifted to more casual subjects—personal interests.
Unlike the adventure-loving Ron, Steven's passion was rather humble: digging up rare and unusual rocks.
Yet, being the heir to a tech empire and the current Champion of the Hoenn League left him little time to indulge in his dream of being a stone researcher. A small tragedy in a larger-than-life story.
If Ron hadn't been afraid of being dropped from a great height by Skarmory, he might've flipped Steven the bird right then and there—and thrown in a "Filthy rich bastard" for good measure.
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