October 11th, League Calendar Year 204. The second semifinal match of the Masters Tournament was about to begin at the stadium.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!" the announcer's voice boomed over the roaring crowd. "Next up, we have a crucial showdown between Naoki and Steven Stone. The winner will advance to the finals and challenge the reigning champion, Leon!"

The cheers grew louder as the two Trainers walked onto the battlefield.

"All right, enough talk! Both players are ready, so let's get this match underway!"

Across the field, Steven gave a polite, confident smile. "Mr. Naoki, please give me your best."

Naoki returned the smile. "Don't hold back, Steven."

The two tossed their Poké Balls almost in sync.

Twin flashes of light illuminated the rain-soaked battlefield. Naoki sent out Dragonite, while Steven revealed his first Pokémon, Cradily, the ancient fossil Pokémon from a bygone era.

"Cradily, take root!"

Obeying Steven's calm command, Cradily anchored its tentacle-like roots deep into the ground, drawing strength from the earth.

Dragonite flapped its wings and conjured a heavy rainstorm, activating Rain Dance. Sheets of water poured from the sky, blanketing the entire stadium.

Naoki had been planning his usual Rain Dance and Thunder combo but stopped himself. He knew that with Cradily rooted in the ground, most of the electric current would be harmlessly channeled into the soil, blunting Thunder's power.

Steven noticed Naoki's hesitation and seized the moment.

"Cradily, Meteor Beam!"

Cradily began to glow, absorbing power into its body. A brilliant stream of white light pulsed around it as the ancient Pokémon charged the powerful Rock-type attack.

Naoki's eyes sharpened. "All right, use Hurricane! The opponent's still charging. Be ready to dodge that beam!"

Dragonite roared in response. Massive gales whipped into existence, merging with the driving rain to form a spiraling tempest. The winds howled across the battlefield, buffeting Cradily from all sides.

Despite the battering wind, Cradily's deep roots kept it steady, slowly siphoning more strength from the soil.

Then, with a blinding flash, Meteor Beam fired. A devastating beam of rock energy cut through the storm toward Dragonite.

But Naoki's warning had paid off. Dragonite was already watching for the attack, and with a sudden burst of speed, it twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Steven's voice was calm but firm. "Cradily, Power Whip!"

Twin green tendrils lashed out like striking snakes, snapping toward Dragonite.

Dragonite banked hard to the side, narrowly avoiding the first strike, then lunged forward to grab hold of one of the vines.

"Now, Thunder Wave!" Naoki commanded.

Electricity exploded from Dragonite's body, carried along by the rain-slicked vine. The current raced down toward Cradily, wrapping its body in crackling light.

Cradily let out a strained cry. Its roots dampened the shock from an offensive electric move, but Thunder Wave wasn't about raw damage. It was about control.

Sparks danced across Cradily's body, and its movements froze. Paralysis had set in.

"Don't let it recover! Keep up the Hurricane!" Naoki ordered.

"Cradily, Rock Blast!" Steven countered instantly.

But before Cradily could even move, the paralysis flared again, locking its body in place.

Rooted and immobilized, it was like targeting a practice dummy.

Dragonite's hurricane winds slammed into Cradily with relentless force. The rain-soaked gales tore through its defenses, leaving deep gouges across its body.

And thanks to the Storm Bun Naoki had crafted from Lugia's feathers, Dragonite's mastery over the wind was sharper and stronger than ever.

Just two more Hurricanes, and the ancient Pokémon finally gave out. Its once-vibrant roots shriveled, withdrawing into the earth as it slumped forward, fainted.

Cradily was down.

"Cradily is unable to battle!" the referee declared.

"As expected of you, Mr. Naoki," Steven said with a composed smile as he returned Cradily to its Poké Ball. "If that's the case, I'll have to give it my all."

The second battle began immediately.

This time, Steven wasted no time in calling out his strongest Pokémon, Metagross. Its pale silver body gleamed in the torrential rain, radiating an almost sacred aura as it descended onto the battlefield.

"Dragonite, use Thunder!" Naoki called.

"Metagross, Light Screen!" Steven countered without hesitation.

Both commands rang out at nearly the same moment.

Having studied Naoki's past battles, Steven already knew about Dragonite's signature weather tactic. Combining Rain Dance with Thunder allowed Naoki to strike with pinpoint accuracy using an otherwise unreliable move.

And just as Steven had anticipated, a massive bolt of lightning tore through the rainclouds. But before it could hit, Metagross' eyes flashed, and a shimmering wall of psychic light materialized above it, intercepting the attack.

The battlefield lit up with a blinding display as the lightning hammered against the Light Screen. Sparks exploded where the two forces collided, neither side giving way at first.

Steven's eyes narrowed. He had expected the Light Screen to hold easily, but the sheer force of Dragonite's Thunder felt… different. Stronger.

Cracks of light began to form across the barrier's surface.

"It won't hold…" Steven realized. He made his decision in an instant.

"Metagross, disengage! Move, now!"

The moment the Light Screen shattered with a sharp crack, Metagross dropped its defensive stance, lightened its weight, and burst forward with startling speed. Even as stray arcs of lightning rained down around it, the Iron Leg Pokémon charged fearlessly toward its target.

"Psychic!" Steven commanded.

Energy surged from the cross-shaped crest on Metagross' face, condensing into a massive pulse of psychic power that slammed directly into Dragonite. The force was so great that the Dragon Pokémon was hurled down into the wet battlefield below, carving a deep groove in the earth.

"Dragonite, hang in there!" Naoki called, his tone serious.

But Steven refused to let up.

"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"

Before Dragonite could regain its footing, Metagross' four glowing steel fists struck in rapid succession, each blow like a falling star. Dragonite grunted as it was knocked back down, the rain splashing up around its body.

Naoki's eyes sharpened. If Metagross kept up the pressure, Dragonite would never recover.

"All right… Dragonite, whip up a Hurricane! Throw off its movements!"

Ever since consuming the Storm Bun, Dragonite's mastery over air currents had reached an extraordinary level. Even without consciously trying, a single thought was enough to stir the winds into a violent swirl.

"One more time, Meteor Mash!" Steven pressed his attack.

Just as Metagross prepared to launch forward, a fierce, roaring gust burst from Dragonite. The sudden gale locked its joints for a moment, disrupting its momentum and opening a window for Dragonite to counter.

With a powerful beat of its wings, Dragonite surged into the air, then dove straight at its opponent.

"Fire Punch!" Naoki called sharply.

Dragonite's fist ignited in a fierce blaze, clashing head-on with Metagross' meteor-like punch. The collision erupted in a deafening boom, the shockwave rolling across the battlefield like an explosion. Both Pokémon were hurled backward from the impact, skidding across the wet arena floor.

Steven's brows knit in concern. Dragonite's endurance was remarkable, far greater than he expected. Could it be from constantly drinking Naoki's Life Goat's Milk? No, if this battle kept going like this, Metagross would be in serious danger.

Without hesitation, Steven reached for the Keystone on his glove.

"Metagross, let's push beyond our limits!"

The bond between Trainer and Pokémon blazed to life. Metagross' Mega Stone resonated in a flash of prismatic light, merging its power with Steven's determination. In the blink of an eye, Metagross' form expanded and shifted, its body transforming into a titanic Mega Metagross nearly three meters tall, its four legs now fused into a single, sleek body, each limb ending in massive, clawed arms.

"Mega Metagross!" the announcer's voice rang out over the roaring crowd. 

Naoki met the sight with a steady gaze. "All right… Dragonite, Thunder!"

A roaring bolt split the sky, lancing down toward the rain-slick arena. But Mega Metagross' newfound speed was astonishing. Psychic energy propelled its heavy frame across the battlefield in a blur, the lightning bolt striking harmlessly behind it.

Naoki's eyes widened. "It's that fast…?"

"Meteor Mash!" Steven's voice was firm.

Mega Metagross slammed its massive fist into Dragonite's chest, the blow so heavy that the Dragon Pokémon was knocked backward through the air. Before it could recover, Mega Metagross hung in place for a heartbeat, then focused its psychic energy into a blinding sphere.

"Hyper Beam!" Steven commanded.

A brilliant beam of white energy exploded from Mega Metagross' core, engulfing Dragonite in its blinding light. The impact detonated with a thunderous boom, the force shaking the very arena. When the smoke cleared, Dragonite lay sprawled and unmoving.

"Dragonite is unable to battle!" the referee announced.

Naoki exhaled slowly. Mega Metagross truly lived up to its fearsome reputation. Its combination of raw power and incredible speed was overwhelming.

Still, Steven had now used up his only Mega Evolution for the match. What remained was a Mega Metagross already at half strength and his final Pokémon. Naoki still had two fresh Pokémon ready to fight.

"Thank you for your hard work," Naoki said quietly, recalling Dragonite into its Poké Ball. "Rest well."

Steven kept Mega Metagross on the field, unwilling to switch out while it still had time left in its empowered state.

Naoki, seeing his opponent's intent, made his own decision.

With a flick of his wrist, he released his second Pokémon.

A flash of white light burst forth, revealing Pawmot. The Pokémon stood proud in ornate metal armor, its head crowned with a regal helm reminiscent of Zacian and Zamazenta. A crimson cape billowed behind it as if moved by an unseen wind, and clutched in its paw was a small, gleaming golden hammer.

Its expression was that of a king, brimming with a majestic aura. Its cape fluttered behind it without a breeze, giving it a commanding presence.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as soon as the Pokémon appeared.

"Wait… is that a Pawmot? From the Paldea region?"

"It looks like a Pawmot, but… that's not its usual coloring! And, are those pieces of armor? What's with that weapon it's holding? It looks like a miniature war hammer!"

"That can't be real. The Pawmot I know doesn't look like that…"

Murmurs filled the stands as all eyes locked onto Naoki's partner.

...

In the battle against Steven, Naoki made no secret of his strength, allowing Pawmot to unleash his true form as the "King of Hammers."

The small golden hammer it gripped gleamed under the stormy light. Infused with the King's Power inherited from the Calyrex, the weapon radiated a noble, almost sacred aura. The intricate engravings on its surface matched the patterns found on the sacred blades of Zacian and Zamazenta.

Pawmot's eyes locked on Mega Metagross with unshakable resolve. Rain trickled down its fur, its red cape-like tail fur whipping in the wind. Despite its size, the electricity dancing across its cheeks made it feel like a giant on the battlefield.

Steven's expression hardened. He could tell, this Pawmot's strength was no less than Naoki's Dragonite.

The third battle began.

Pawmot, King of Hammers, versus Mega Metagross!

"Metagross, use Zen Headbutt!" Steven commanded sharply.

Mega Metagross shot forward with incredible speed, psychic energy flaring across its forehead like a comet. It streaked through the rain toward Pawmot.

Naoki didn't flinch. "Meet it head-on. Hammer throw!"

Pawmot spun, swinging the golden hammer in a smooth arc before hurling it forward with both paws. The weapon cut through the rain with a sharp whistle and met Mega Metagross's charge head-to-head.

CLANG!

The impact rang out across the arena. The seemingly small hammer carried shocking weight and force, halting Mega Metagross's momentum for just a fraction of a second.

"Wild Charge!" Naoki called without hesitation.

Pawmot lunged, seizing the hammer's handle as it rebounded. Lightning exploded from its fur, racing down the weapon in a blinding surge. The golden hammer became a conduit for raw electric fury, striking Mega Metagross squarely.

The shockwave rippled through the battlefield. Even a Pokémon with Mega Metagross's mental resilience was forced to pause, its systems locking up for those crucial two seconds.

Pawmot didn't waste them.

With a fierce cry, it twisted its body and brought the hammer down in a full, overhead swing. The blow landed with a bone-rattling boom, driving Mega Metagross into the soaked ground.

The impact triggered a flash of white light, Mega Evolution's aura shattering. The great steel titan reverted to its normal form, steam and rain hissing off its armor.

"Metagross, hang in there!" Steven urged, shock flickering in his eyes. The sheer destructive power packed into Pawmot's small frame was beyond anything he had expected.

Metagross stirred, still able to fight. Steven didn't hesitate. "Hyper Beam!"

The steel behemoth roared, a brilliant white sphere condensing in front of its mouth before it fired a searing beam across the rain-soaked arena.

"Dodge it!" Naoki countered instantly.

Pawmot sprang sideways, water spraying beneath its paws as the beam tore past, scorching a deep line into the ground where it had stood. Without missing a beat, Pawmot kept moving, closing the gap toward Metagross.

Seeing his Hyper Beam miss, Steven's eyes flickered with resignation. He knew the momentum was gone.

In a blinding flash of lightning, Pawmot surged forward, the golden hammer crackling with power. The blow struck true, and Metagross's mighty frame shuddered before it collapsed, the referee's voice ringing out over the storm.

"Metagross is unable to battle!"

Steven exhaled slowly. He was down to his last Pokémon.

Still, a faint smile crossed his lips. Win or lose, having the chance to face Mr. Naoki in the World Championships made this year worth it.

"Let's go… Aggron, I'm counting on you!"

With a burst of white light, a towering steel-plated behemoth slammed onto the battlefield. The impact shook the drenched ground beneath them, droplets of rain scattering like glass.

The crowd gasped at Aggron's sheer size and armor. Its heavy tail scraped the arena floor, leaving deep grooves in its wake.

Pawmot didn't flinch. It twirled its golden hammer once in its paws, the cape-like fur on its tail swaying in the wind, and then dashed forward without hesitation.

"Aggron, Rock Tomb!" Steven barked.

Aggron let out a metallic roar, the ground splitting open as massive boulders erupted upward, stacking into an imposing wall that sealed off Pawmot's path.

For a moment, it seemed Pawmot was cornered until the little fighter leapt forward, hammer raised high.

CRACK!

One swing. The first boulder shattered.

CRACK!

Another fell apart in chunks.

In the blink of an eye, the golden hammer smashed through the Rock Tomb like it was made of sand, sending shards flying in all directions as Pawmot burst through the debris in a blur of motion.

Naoki's lips curled into a confident smile. "Close Combat!"

Aggron barely had a heartbeat to register the order before Pawmot was already at its chest, the hammer engulfed in fierce fighting energy.

"Protect!" Steven countered instantly.

It was far too late.

The first hit slammed into Aggron's plated chest with a deafening boom, denting its armor. The second strike rattled its frame, and the third brought the giant down to one knee before a final, crushing blow knocked the Steel/Rock titan flat on its back.

The referee's voice cut through the stunned silence.

"Aggron is unable to battle! Pawmot wins. Naoki advances to the finals!"

The crowd was still frozen in awe, the image of the small, golden-hammer-wielding Pawmot toppling two of Hoenn's most iconic Steel-types seared into their minds.