Reincarnated Into a Pokémon World and Can See Their Hidden Potential?!

The stadium was still recovering from the whirlwind that was Pidgeotto's fierce yet heartbreaking battle. The audience murmured in awe and sympathy as Ray returned his beloved partner to the Poké Ball.

But the battle wasn't over.

Ray held his final Poké Ball, his eyes blazing with quiet intensity.

"You're up," he whispered.

He tossed the ball into the arena, and from the burst of red light emerged Charmeleon.

The moment he landed, Charmeleon didn't pose or roar. He simply looked at the spot where Pidgeotto had fallen, and his claws clenched.

His tail flame flared.

[Charmeleon – Level 38 | Aptitude: Core Purple]

He turned slowly toward Metagross, who still stood tall and unreadable, the metallic titan showing no hint of fatigue. But for Charmeleon, this wasn't just a fight anymore—it was personal.

"He's angry," Lance noted from across the field, narrowing his eyes.

Ray nodded. "They're not just teammates. They're family."

Charmeleon raised his head and let out a fierce cry that echoed across the arena, startling even the nearby spectators. His flame roared upward, pulsing with raw emotion.

"Let's begin!" the referee announced.

Battle Start – Charmeleon vs. Metagross

Metagross wasted no time. It launched forward with the same brutal efficiency it had shown earlier, its steel limbs cleaving the air like wrecking balls.

"Charmeleon, keep your distance!" Ray called.

Charmeleon sprang back with nimble footwork, barely dodging a devastating smash. He responded with a burst of fiery retaliation, launching jets of flame toward Metagross's legs and joints. Steam hissed as heat met cold steel.

The crowd erupted. Fire had the type advantage—but Metagross had raw power, resilience, and a strategic mind behind it.

Blow after blow, Charmeleon used his agility to slip around Metagross, launching fire-based attacks, disrupting its movement, keeping the pressure on.

And yet… it wasn't enough.

Ray watched, his hands tightening at his sides. Charmeleon was fast and burning hot with fury—but Metagross was still gaining ground. Slowly, methodically, the gap between them closed.

Charmeleon took a glancing hit to the side and skidded across the field. He rose again, panting, growling.

[Charmeleon – Condition: Pressured]

Ray's heart pounded. "Come on… I know you're stronger than this."

He thought of their training, of the late nights analyzing opponent patterns, the moments Charmeleon trained in silence while the others rested. He remembered how Charmeleon had always acted like a protector, especially around Pidgeotto.

"You're not just fighting for yourself," Ray whispered. "You're fighting for your brother."

Metagross charged again.

But this time, something changed.

Charmeleon didn't dodge.

He roared—a roar that shook the battlefield—and met Metagross's charge head-on.

The two clashed in a blaze of light and steel. And at that exact moment—

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Charmeleon has leveled up! New Level: 40]

Ray's breath caught in his throat.

A surge of orange-red light enveloped Charmeleon, burning hotter, brighter, fiercer. His movements sharpened, his flame intensified, and his presence grew.

The crowd gasped in unison.

Charmeleon pushed Metagross back, claws ignited, eyes glowing with primal energy. For the first time, Metagross stumbled.

Lance's expression tightened.

Ray didn't waste the chance. "Now, Charmeleon—burn it down!"

With a guttural cry, Charmeleon surged forward. His entire body was aflame, his claws slicing through the air with blinding speed. Each movement flowed like liquid fire, unpredictable and unrelenting.

He ducked a counterstrike, spun under Metagross's leg, and unleashed one final, searing uppercut of flame directly into its core.

Metagross groaned—then collapsed with a metallic thud that reverberated through the arena.

Silence.

Then the referee raised his hand. "Metagross is unable to battle. Charmeleon is the winner. Victory goes to Ray of Glendale."

Ray collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed.

Charmeleon turned to face him, his chest rising and falling, flame burning wild and alive.

Ray ran toward him and embraced his partner without hesitation. "You did it. You did it."

Charmeleon rested his forehead against Ray's chest, quietly growling with pride and exhaustion.

Above them, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

Lance returned Metagross and gave Ray a small, respectful bow. "You're stronger than I expected. That Charmeleon… he's something else."

Ray bowed in return. "So is your Metagross. That was the hardest battle I've ever had."