I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 680: The Legendary Megalith! Steven VS Alain

I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 680: The Legendary Megalith! Steven VS Alain

Hoenn region, Kanaz City.
A little over ten kilometers to the north, Meteor Falls is famed for its natural meteor crater and eroded terrain.
Adjacent to Meteor Falls lies a ruined town, its walls broken and overgrown, the stone monuments worn smooth and hard to read.
Morning mist swirled, the light unable to pierce the heavy fog, giving the ruins an added air of mystery.
On a raised mound above the low ground, a blue-haired man in a suit strolled casually, eyes scanning the area with a childlike curiosity, searching for any hidden mineral deposits.
Unfortunately.
Steven withdrew his gaze. A breeze lifted his tie and the hem of his black suit;
his blue hair fluttered with the wind as he stood with his hands in his pockets, looking out from the mound.
“This must be the ruins of the Meteor People.” Steven murmured.
The Meteor People were an ancient tribe of Hoenn, their totem and faith centered on the Dragon God.
According to legend, they were trainers skilled with Dragon-type Pokémon and worshiped the origin of Mega Evolution—the “Prismatic Meteor.”
Over the ages the Meteor People have nearly vanished from Hoenn, and that “Prismatic Meteor” has been lost to time.
Steven had come specifically to study the Meteor People’s ruins and to search for any clue about the Prismatic Meteor’s whereabouts.
After all… meteors had an irresistible pull on Steven.
Compared with champion duties in Hoenn, collecting minerals was clearly more suited to Steven.
Finding nothing.
Steven did not feel discouraged;
he turned and walked deeper into the ruins. The PokéNav in his pocket suddenly beeped.
The PokéNav is a communication device invented by Devon Corporation, combining location, contact, and Pokédex functions.
Teacher Lu had a more fitting nickname for it:
little genius watch-phone!
Steven grabbed the watch-like PokéNav and the projection screen expanded.
“What can I do for you, Teacher Lu?” Steven said.
“Steven, are you busy?”
“Busy collecting minerals.” A trace of helplessness creased Steven’s brow. “I haven’t found anything all morning.”
As expected of you, Meteor-Mystery Steven!
“Then I’ll be brief.”
Lu Ye said, “It’s about a custom saddle for flying Pokémon. I heard Devon Corporation is good at custom gear, so I called to ask.”
“You caught a Flying-type Pokémon?” Steven said in surprise.
“Not exactly…”
Lu Ye glanced to his side.
Latias was sulking and hiding, refusing to let Lu Ye see her—probably because they had only just met and weren’t familiar yet;
that was understandable.
“More like a traveling companion,” Lu Ye said.
Steven nodded and smiled. “Devon does offer custom work. Not to boast, but Devon fabricated the high-temperature suits for Team Magma and the pressure-resistant suits for Team Aqua.”
Lu Ye blinked.
Even an evil organization has to buy equipment from Devon…
Could they learn a thing or two from Giovanni? He just outright took over the evil capitalist building, Silph Co.!
Lu Ye: “As for the saddle, I don’t have many requirements—only one…”
“Go ahead, tell me.” Steven said with a smile.
“Remember to include guard rails.” Lu Ye said gravely.
Steven: “……”
Considering aerial maneuvers of difficulty, he wants guaranteed safety in flight?
I understand Teacher Lu’s concern… I’ll suggest extending it into a full-body suit to the gear department.
With Devon’s tech, inventing a portable spacesuit would be no problem.
Steven thought for a moment, then nodded his agreement and said:
“Got the requirement. By rough estimate, it’ll take about a week.”
“Also, could you do me a small favor?” Steven suddenly remembered something important.
The cost of a custom saddle was trivial to Steven;
Teacher Lu believed “even brothers should account fairly,” but curiosity still edged into Lu Ye’s tone.
“What favor?”
“There’s an unearthed half-stone tablet with ancient writing,” Steven said. “Rather than hire other experts, I’d rather ask you.”
“That’s just reciprocity, right?” Steven smiled.
Lu Ye had no objection and felt a flutter of emotion.
If Steven hadn’t mentioned it I almost would’ve forgotten… Lu Ye is, after all, a specialist in ancient scripts!
Professor Rowan focuses on evolution research, Professor Elm studies breeding and eggs, and Lu Ye is undeniably the ancient script expert.
In a Pokémon world where ancient civilizations thrived, that line of research was surprisingly practical…
Lu Ye: “Send it over now if you can. I have time.”
“Okay, hang on.”
Steven sent a photocopy of the bamboo slip;
the characters had been lifted with a blue luminescent agent for clarity.
Lu Ye skimmed it and read aloud:
“■■■■■!”
Steven froze. “W-what does it mean?”
Lu Ye cleared his throat. “Sorry, I forgot to switch the language system… ahem, translated it reads.”
“The path to the megalith begins with a gate.”
Lu Ye reminded him, “Also, this tablet seems to be half of a whole, so this sentence probably has a latter half. The full meaning only becomes clear when combined.”
A look of surprise and gratitude crossed Steven’s eyes.
The path to the megalith… that should be the Prismatic Meteor, no doubt about it.
“Thanks, Teacher Lu. I’ll have the custom gear sent to your home in a few days.” Steven smiled.
“No need for that trouble. I’ll be in Hoenn next week—let’s meet then.” Lu Ye said.
“You’re coming to Hoenn?” Steven exclaimed.
“Yes… making home visits to some students.”
“Fine, see you then.” Steven smiled again.
After they broke the connection, Lu Ye felt moved.
A man who’s always mining—Steven, the perfect champion!
Just knowing Steven and Wallace are both in the Hoenn region lends a lot of security.
In the Special Episode: Emerald, to stop the Hoenn legendaries Steven once worked non-stop for 22 days until he collapsed… His conviction as a champion is beyond doubt.
Lu Ye pondered for a moment.
Come to think of it… that tablet looks familiar.
It seems related to the origin stone of Mega Evolution?
He shook his head.
I can’t quite place it… no harm done!
“Let’s go, Latias.”
Lu Ye spoke to the empty air.
“Let’s stop by the Goldenrod City Gym for dinner!”
“This counts as a gym test…?” Latias muttered in objection.
“Why not? Look at Chef King Siebold—culinary skill is also a form of training!” Lu Ye jibed.
“Lati…”
Latias nodded in a trusting way, amber eyes thoughtful.
Following this person could really broaden my horizons…
**
After the call ended, Steven passed on his requirements to Devon Corporation.
“Yes… from an aerial combat perspective, consider both safety and maneuverability… mm, add fixed guard rails—”
Then.
Steven pressed deeper into the ruins. The Keystone brooch at his lapel grew faintly warm.
It was the Keystone reacting to a nearby source of special energy.
“Is there another Keystone in the area?” Steven wondered.
Keystones are rarer than Mega Stones;
when one is found in ruins it often signals hidden danger.
But that also meant this trip wasn’t in vain!
At that moment, Steven paused;
his peripheral vision caught a hasty girl behind him.
“Alain, hurry up! I can already see the ruins ahead!”
A red-haired girl with a dome-shaped green hat bounded forward. She was under 1.5 meters tall, wore overalls that made her look comical, and her face was lit with natural excitement.
“Is this the legendary Meteor Village…?”
A cocky young man wearing a blue neck ornament and hands in his pockets followed behind, surveying the area. His expression suddenly tightened when he turned his head.
Manon hopped and skipped and spotted a shadow down the slope;
her face changed.
I’m—going to bump into someone!
Manon squeezed her eyes shut out of reflex and suddenly felt warmth against her forehead.
A blue-haired big-brother gently pressed his hand to her brow, his other arm shielding her to prevent her from rolling into the low ground at either side.
“You okay?” a pleasant, gentle voice asked.
Manon looked up, meeting the blue-haired man’s gaze, her cheeks flushing as she immediately stepped back and bowed.
“S-sorry for causing trouble!”
“Manon!”
Alain’s brow knitted as he pulled his hand from his pocket and glared at the blue-haired man.
“This guy’s dangerous… get away!”
“Huh? Ah!”
Manon, bewildered, glanced around and then hopped aside from Steven to hide behind Alain.
Alain fixed his stare on the unperturbed blue-haired man;
a bead of cold sweat ran along his temple.
The last time he’d felt such a crushing sense of pressure was at the Miare City café.
This man in front of him is too dangerous!
A trace of helplessness flickered across Steven’s face.
Could retirement have been too long… do modern trainers only know Wallace these days…
“Allow me to introduce myself.”
Steven placed a hand over his chest, the corners of his mouth curving, his irises a sky-blue hue.
“In the Hoenn region, I am Steven Stone.”
Alain looked at him with a “who are you?” expression.
Manon covered her mouth and gasped, tugging at Alain’s sleeve from behind and whispering:
“Alain, he’s the Hoenn champion—Champion Steven!”
“Isn’t that Wallace?”
“That’s rude… Steven is the previous champion!” Manon called out.
Alain’s brow furrowed. So that’s why I felt threatened…
But!
Alain’s expression hardened in an instant. He extended his arm;
the Keystone set into his bracelet burst with a tide-like glow.
Compared to when he battled Teacher Lu’s Blastoise, Charizard and I have grown stronger!
Steven’s gaze landed on the Keystone on Alain’s bracelet.
“A Keystone…”
So that was the source of the energy reaction just now…
“My name is Alain.” Alain’s eyes burned. “My goal is to become the strongest Mega Evolution user. Steven, please battle me!”
“Even though I’m retired.” Steven jangled his mining tools he carried and smiled gently. “I’m still very busy, you know.”
“When the eyes of trainers meet, battle follows.”
Alain said solemnly, “That’s what Mr. Lu taught me!”
Lu Ye…
Steven rested a hand on his hip, closed his eyes to think for a beat, then smiled.
“A Mega Evolution user, huh… I understand. Then, please Mega Evolve first.”
His implication was clear: Steven planned to go first, expecting Alain couldn’t even activate Mega Evolution.
Alain’s brow tightened. He’d matured a lot since before;
he inhaled deeply and threw his Poké Ball while raising his arm high.
“Respond to my heart, Charizard—Mega Evolution!!”
“Roar!!”
Dazzling light exploded;
Charizard beat its wings and roared. Brilliant radiance enveloped it, spikes formed on its wings, and blue flames poured from its mouth!
“Looks well-trained.”
Steven smiled slightly, removed the Keystone brooch from his lapel, and his aura shifted;
his focus sharpened.
A powerful gust swept Steven’s suit coat as a thunderous sound resounded and a white Metagross crashed to the ground in a spectacular flash.
Steven kissed the Keystone brooch lightly and fixed his gaze.
“Metagross, Mega Evolve!!”
“Kong!!”
Two entirely different surging auras clashed. Mega Metagross folded its four pairs of iron fists together as fierce white light surged from its body, rocketing like a meteor toward Mega Charizard.
“Charizard, Dragon Claw!”
Mega Charizard’s foreclaws projected pale-green draconic shadows, attempting to block the onrushing Mega Metagross.
But Comet Punch smashed through with overwhelming force, its thunderous momentum exploding outward in gusts!
One exchange decided it!
Alain stood stunned for a long moment, staring blankly at Charizard as it collapsed and reverted from Mega form.
Was that… a critical hit from Metagross?
This was the second time Alain had felt the gap between his strength and a champion’s.
He had again encountered an impenetrable chasm in power.
Yet!
Alain grit his teeth—this level of strength was not forever unreachable!
“I have other matters to attend to.”
Steven recalled Metagross into its Poké Ball, a warm smile on his face.
“We’re heading into the inner part of the ruins next… do you two want to come along?”
Manon glanced at the dejected Alain and said earnestly, “We’ll go!”
“Manon!” Alain barked softly.
“Relax… weren’t you the one who said you wanted to figure out the tablet’s meaning anyway?” Manon mused, ruffling Alain’s hair into a chaotic mess with a giggle.
Alain fell silent.
This tablet was something he’d discovered while investigating ruins and collecting Mega Stones. He hoped a trip to Hoenn might yield answers.
“The tablet…” Steven’s heart stirred slightly. “I have some knowledge in this area… may I take a look?”
Alain blinked, then silently nodded. He rummaged in his pack and handed Steven the closely matching half of the tablet.
Steven examined the stone, his expression growing solemn. He looked up toward the mysterious depths of the ruins.
“Seems… I’ll have to trouble Teacher Lu again.”
……
“You already found the tablet’s other half so quickly?”
Lu Ye laughed. “Efficient, Steven!”
“It’s a long story.” Steven sighed lightly. “Do the contents match?”
After inspecting, Lu Ye said:
“They do. The second half reads, ‘When the two stones’ lights are combined by the key, a new road will appear’…”
Before he finished, a strong sense of déjà vu washed over him.
A chill passed down Lu Ye’s spine;
a cold bead of sweat rolled along his brow.
This plot… seems oddly familiar?
Steven finding a prismatic meteor, then Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre awaken!?
Steven exhaled in relief and smiled:
“I have no problems with this. Thank you, Teacher Lu!”
“No problem.”
Lu Ye adjusted his breathing. His eyes fell on a young man who looked familiar in the footage, and he froze.
“Is that… Alain?”
“You two know each other?” Steven asked in surprise.
“We met once.” Lu Ye’s expression was complicated.
All right… everything’s lining up!
Alain traveling with Steven, his Mega Charizard X getting schooled by an old Groudon’s Cliff-Slash!
In theory… from their traveling together to the awakening of two great beings would take about a month.
Lu Ye looked up at the clear blue sky and made a decision.
Whatever—if necessary I’ll get people to help… I can even call Darkrai back as a bodyguard.
As long as there’s no aerial combat, I, Lu Ye, am invincible!
……

Chapter 680: The Legendary Megalith! Steven VS Alain