*Title Hidden*

"Not on Mt. Chimney?" There was silence from the other side.

If the "Red Orb" wasn't on Mt. Chimney, then their efforts would have been in vain.

"Tabitha and Blaise are still holding on, but they're not having an easy time dealing with the encirclement of the police."

"Hmm, speaking of which, Brodie is quite skilled. He managed to infiltrate the police force and provided us with a lot of information."

Maxie, the boss of Team Magma, remained silent for a long time. Though most of Team Magma's members had been dispersed, in order to successfully obtain the "Red Orb," he and the three highest-ranking members stayed behind.

Along with a subordinate known for superb disguise skills, referred to as The Man of a Thousand Faces, Brodie.

Just five individuals, just five, under pursuit by numerous police officers, had blasted through one possible hiding place after another for the "Red Orb," but still couldn't find its exact location.

"What do you think we should do, Courtney?" Maxie asked.

"Let's change the world, Boss Maxie," came a sickly sweet laugh, and Maxie made a decision.

"Contact Blaise, Tabitha, Brodie. We're retreating."

...

...

Somewhere on Mt. Chimney, a chubby figure, who was hiding, received the message and his expression changed.

"Boss Maxie!"

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

Not just him, but the Team Magma members scattered elsewhere were also shocked. Cold sweat dripped down their faces. "The mission... failed?"

Failing to find the "Red Orb" meant this operation was a blow to the very purpose of Team Magma's existence.

However, out of trust in their boss, they gritted their teeth and fought for a safe retreat.

Ordering the retreat, Maxie was also deeply unwilling, but if they delayed, not only Brodie's chances of exposure would increase, but if they were truly surrounded by the police, there was no way the few of them could successfully break through.

...

Several hours later.

At the peak of Mt. Chimney, a young man with short silver-blue hair and eyes of the same color appeared with a Metagross.

His expression was calm, but his gaze was focused. He carefully scanned the surroundings and took out a walkie-talkie.

"Just now, my Metagross and I circled around Mt. Chimney. Aside from Pokémon' life signs, we didn't find any humans."

After saying this, Steven looked frustrated. Clearly, before his arrival, those criminals had been frequently appearing in the sight of the police.

After he arrived, he immediately commanded Metagross to move through the air, using its brain that was comparable to a supercomputer to unleash its psychic power, examining every inch of Mt. Chimney.

The conclusion was that there were no signs of human activity.

Apart from the police force, there were no other suspicious individuals.

"It was a futile journey," Steven sighed. It seems he can't fulfill the task given to him by his grandfather.

"You...you scouted the entire Mt. Chimney?!" The liaison officer receiving Steven's message exclaimed in surprise.

Even their police force's finest investigators, along with their Pokémon counterparts, whether flying, psychic or ghost type...could never completely scout the entirety of Mt. Chimney.

This Steven, with just one Metagross, managed to circle a few times and assert that there was no one...

Is it reliable?....

A profound sense of doubt instantly filled the liaison officer's heart. It was too absurd.

Such perfunctory support made Steven's words lose all credibility in his mind.

Everyone has vanished...Did that mean they had been busy for nothing?

The criminals who caused such a heinous incident have managed to escape?!

This... This... This was a slap in the face to the police force.

"How could they escape from such a tight encirclement?" The liaison officer couldn't believe it. If an Elite Four member had said it, he might have believed it, but that youth... He felt it necessary to report it to the higher-ups.

Regarding the information Steven conveyed, the liaison officer adopted an ambiguous attitude, even though the other party has higher authority.

"Hmm... Why is there no sound?" Steven shook the communication device in his hand and tapped on it. "Did it turn off?"

Steven felt puzzled. He always felt that this was an unpleasant trip. Allowing the criminals to escape has left him extremely annoyed.

Just as Steven hesitated about whether to separate from the police and go after them, the Metagross beneath him suddenly let out a loud roar.

"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"

The moment it roared, Steven instantly turned into a different person. His expression became more focused and calm, his gaze sharp as he swiftly looked above.

The position where Steven was situated was already close to the highest point of Mt. Chimney. However, at an even higher altitude, a faint blue icy light carrying a massive chill descended.

"Chirrrrp~~~~~"

Ice Beam, Altaria!

In the blink of an eye, the next second after Meteor Mash shattered Ice Beam, Steven was fully immersed in the battle.

This is Altaria from the highest peak of Mt. Chimney, the most powerful Pokémon on Mt. Chimney that Steven and Metagross attracted with their unbridled scanning.

"Chirrrrp~~~~~"

Altaria roared out angrily as Ice Beam was pierced by Meteor Mash.

This human entered its territory. As the ruler of Mt. Chimney, Altaria usually stayed at the highest point and rarely ventured out.

Most Pokémon on Mt. Chimney were aware that this is its territory. Furthermore, the number of Pokémon that can adapt to the living conditions here are very few. Therefore, Mt. Chimney is practically Altaria's forbidden land. Steven and Metagross' actions had directly angered it.

Flying up was one thing, but using psychic powers without hesitation to scan through its habitat was nothing short of provocation for the proud Altaria.

So, that Ice Beam was the greeting.

"Troublesome..." Steven grumbled inwardly. He hadn't expected there to be Pokémon on Mt. Chimney capable of sensing Metagross' psychic power. A miscalculation.

However, Steven wasn't worried in the slightest. He didn't fear battle; in other words, he didn't believe that Metagross would lose to this Altaria.

"Chirpp——"

As a loud and resounding cry almost echoed throughout Mt. Chimney, many Pokémon and police officers raised their heads, looking towards the direction of the peak of Mt. Chimney, searching for the source of the cry.

Even Steven was stunned by the resounding cry of Altaria, amazed at its penetrating power.

It seemed a fight was inevitable.

Steven scratched his head. Since it had come to this, he wouldn't back down. If it's a fight it wants, then fight it shall be.

"Metagrossss——" Metagross roared unwillingly. In an instant, intense sparks flew between Altaria and Metagross, igniting fighting spirit. The atmosphere grew tense!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Moves were exchanged one after another, although it seemed evenly matched, Altaria's mood was extremely serious.

Although it was currently an even match, Altaria was clearly about to fall into disadvantage. What's more terrifying was that Steven had been staying on Metagross the whole time, showing no signs of going down.

This massive, four-legged tank-like Pokémon, with its red eyes and bared fangs, not only fought with Altaria but also had the presence of mind to protect the human!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Not long after, Altaria got careless for a moment and took the first blow, letting out a painful cry as it once again flapped its pristine white feathers.

Danger! Metagross' move was exceptionally powerful, dealing significant damage to Altaria.

"This is just a misunderstanding...but I suppose explanations might not work." Steven watched Altaria, teetering and refusing to yield as it took flight, and shook his head in resignation. "Since it has come to this, I'll have to weaken you first."

"Metagross, pursue!"

While Altaria was recovering from the previous attack, he commanded to continue the suppression!

Steven's gaze was sharp, but in the next moment, he was instantly taken aback because... it seemed he was being ambushed.

This Altaria had reinforcement?

"Altaria, Dragon Pulse!"

Chapter 154 Altaria vs Metagross

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