Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

Most importantly, the Rock/Fairy type is four times weaker than Goku's Steel type, which he excels at!

Let alone winning, even losing gracefully is not an easy thing.

So what tactics could allow Diancie to put up a fight against Steven's Steel-type Pokémon?

Xia Chen thought for a moment and realized that the only thing he could take advantage of was the information gap.

After all, Diancie is a completely new opponent and a new Pokémon for Steven.

However, I have data from my previous life's game, so I have a clearer understanding of it.

Thinking of this, Xia Chen summoned Zoroark from his Poké Ball, then pulled Diancie aside and whispered something before the battle.

Including the moves she has mastered, and which one she is best at, the most basic one.

Diancie answered each question, but her tone was full of tension and unease. Although she had made her decision, she couldn't help but hesitate before the battle.

Can I, who has never fought before, do it?

Xia Chen gently reassured her, "Don't be nervous. Just imagine that you're standing opposite a lump of iron. Just focus on yourself. Trust me, Diancie, we can win!"

Xia Chen spent a long time mobilizing Diancie before the battle. It wasn't until Daigo urged him for the third time that Xia Chen leisurely took Diancie's hand and walked to the other side of the battlefield.

Before Xia Chen could even finish speaking, Dai Wu confidently opened his mouth.

"I won't use Steel-type moves in this match, so you won't say I'm bullying you."

Xia Chen's expression was strange. "Are you sure? Let me make this clear beforehand, Diancie's energy level is close to that of a Heavenly King."

Judging from Daigo's surprised expression, he hadn't expected Diancie to be this strong.

But words spoken are like water spilled; the promise of the noble young master Wen is harder than diamonds.

He forced a smile and scoffed, "That's not even at the Champion level yet, is it? It's about the same as my Metagross!"

Xia Chen raised an eyebrow. A year ago at the World Youth Championship, that shiny Metagross was only a two-star gym leader. A year later, it's almost an Elite Four member.

This growth rate is almost half that of my own Pokémon!

This isn't meant to be sarcastic or boastful; it's simply a matter of applying the standards for judging an elf's strength.

Being able to reach half the level of one's own Pokémon is already considered the growth rate of a top champion.

As expected of Daigo-san...

…………

In the midst of pre-match trash talk and anti-trash talk.

The match has finally begun.

The match was held at Mikel's house, and Mikel naturally served as the referee.

The format is the most basic 1v1, with the option of super evolution or crystallization, but neither side will likely use it.

Diancie doesn't exist, and Steven's side also knows that Diancie doesn't exist, so they won't use her for the sake of fairness.

The Pokémon he chose to battle against Diancie was Metagross!

A Pokémon of similar strength to Diancie. You have no battle experience, so I won't use Steel-type moves. It's perfectly fair.

"Battle begins!"

As Mikuri gracefully lowered his arm, Xia Chen and Daigo simultaneously issued their first commands.

"Tianci, sandstorm!"

"Metroidvania, Rock Polish!"

Both of them tacitly avoided a direct attack and instead used variation techniques.

The difference is that Xia Chen is weather, while Metagross is enhancement.

Mikoli on the sidelines looked somewhat surprised.

Metagross's speed boost from grinding against rocks is understandable; its straightforward, charge-and-ram style of attack is its favorite tactic.

But what does "[sandstorm]" mean?

The two main effects of sandstorm weather are that it raises the Special Defense of Rock-type Pokémon—however, Metagross is a physical attacker.

Secondly, it causes continuous damage to Pokémon other than Rock, Steel, and Ground types—Metamorphose is a genuine Steel-type Pokémon.

Neither of these methods is very effective, so what is the purpose of sandstorms?

Mikoli frowned and pondered without success, then shook his head with a helpless smile.

It's fortunate that it was Xia Chen who issued this order; if it had been someone else, he would have definitely thought that person was a complete idiot.

Diancie's energy release rate was not slow. While Mikoli was thinking, the battlefield was already covered by dense sand and stones that were raging everywhere.

Mikoli took out the dustproof goggles she had prepared beforehand, put them on gracefully, and continued to watch the game.

On the other side, Metagross's Rock Polishing was also completed, and its polished platinum-gold body shone exceptionally brightly.

Even in a sandstorm, it is bright and conspicuous.

At the same time, Daigo commanded, "Metroidvania, charge! Comet... Ice Punch!"

His commanding habits made him instinctively want to use Comet Punch, a STAB move that deals more damage, but after realizing that Steel-type moves were "banned," Steven immediately changed his mind and used Ice Punch, one of the three Farmer's Punches.

The biting cold energy rapidly flowed from Metagross's steel body to its steel claws, making the already hard steel claws appear even sharper under the icy blue aura.

The [Rock Polish] skill I just used greatly increased Metagross's speed, making its blurry figure resemble an armored vehicle with the accelerator floored.

The overflowing ice energy left a trail of ice on the battlefield, making Metagross advance even faster.

In the sandstorm, Diancie looked panicked as she faced the Metagross, which was displaying sharp fangs.

In her first battle, she was completely overwhelmed by the intense, fast-paced attack, and instinctively closed her eyes—

This is the subconscious avoidance action of all living things when faced with danger.

Just then, Xia Chen's words of comfort reached Tianxi's ears.

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems if we follow the tactics we just discussed."

Although it was only a short sentence, it was a powerful boost to the nervous and anxious Diancie.

She mustered her courage, looked directly at the rapidly approaching Megalodon, and began to gather her energy.

Xia Chen shouted, "Diamond Storm!"

…………

Diamond Storm, Diancie's signature move.

Rock-type special attack, dealing 100 damage in the game, which isn't particularly high compared to moves like Meteor Shower which have 130 power.

The key point is that moves like Meteor Shower and Leaf Storm will significantly reduce a Pokémon's Special Attack.

However, Diamond Storm has a chance to greatly increase physical defense after use!

The probability isn't some 20% or something that's just for show; it's a full 50%!

Half the expected value, and the powerful effect that only he and Diancie currently knew about, led Xia Chen to choose to use this move first.

Even though it only deals half the damage to a Steel-type Metagross.

Daigo didn't pay much attention to the name of the move he had never heard before in Xia Chen's instructions.

Since Diancie, like Little Diamond, is a Rock/Fairy type Pokémon, this exclusive move must be of either Rock or Fairy type.

But no matter what kind, it can't avoid being resisted by the powerful steel type, so what's there to worry about?

Moreover, it's only a matter of time before you test the power of a new Pokémon you've never battled before.

With that in mind, Daigo did not interfere with Metagross's attack.

Diancie unleashes her Diamond Storm at incredible speed—it's her most proficient move.

Because its essence is the same as that of the creator of holy diamonds.

While we can't create the Holy Diamond yet, the Diamond Storm is a piece of cake.

The enormous pink diamond atop Diancie's head shone brilliantly, from which countless rock-type energy particles surged forth, rapidly coalescing into one magnificent and hard pink diamond after another.

Points converged into a surface, and countless pink diamonds instantly coalesced into a diamond band that isolated Diancie from the front.

Calling it a diamond storm isn't quite accurate; it's more like a ring system surrounding a major planet.

This is the limit that Diancie, who has never attacked anyone with any moves before, can achieve.

Fortunately, Metagross attacked first, so as long as the "Diamond Ring" could complete its defensive counterattack mission, that would be enough.

As the Metagross, wielding its Freeze Fist, charged into the diamond formation, its momentum was immediately halted by the powerful energy, and its speed visibly decreased significantly.

This is the first line of defense against the Diamond Storm weakening Metagross's fierce offensive.

On the second level, unnoticed by Steven and Metagross, Diancie was suddenly enveloped in a dense orange light—

The additional effect of Diamond Storm has taken effect, greatly increasing Diancie's physical defense!

Oblivious to this, Metagross continues to struggle through the diamond storm.

Finally, as it charged through the storm and reached Diancie, unleashing its long-awaited, freezing punch, it felt as if it had crashed into a thick, steel-cast city wall.

The Megalodon was taken aback; it wasn't moved?

Metagross wasn't the only one surprised; Diancie was even more so.

She was prepared to be beaten, but she only realized what was happening after the fists had already landed on her…

That's it?

It doesn't feel any different from accidentally tripping and falling while walking...

"Give me a shout!"

Xia Chen's notification tone was transmitted to Tianxi's mind through telepathy.

Tianxi paused for a moment before recalling what Xia Chen had told her on the battlefield: "If you get hit, pretend it hurts a lot."

Almost forgot, in a flash of inspiration, Diancie's acting skills kicked in, and she naturally staggered back several steps under the impact of the Ice Fist.

At the same time, it did not forget to let out a painful groan.

Fortunately, Diancie's acting skills were quite good; her hasty reaction fooled Metagross, and even more so, it fooled Steven, who was already unable to see clearly outside the sandstorm.