(A/N: Shoutout to our new Patreon, LazyAsh! Don't worry, even if you're lazy, you've still leveled up straight into the Legends tier! Bonus Chapter!)
"Pidgeot loses the ability to fight, Greninja wins!"
Behind John, the arena wall was so devastated that the energy shield's edge was clearly visible, its surface showing an extensive web of cracks so dense they seemed ready to shatter at the slightest touch. Beyond that barrier sat the audience.
Every spectator looked absolutely terrified.
Just a little bit more!
The energy shield had been moments away from complete failure, and they would have faced the full aftermath of that devastating attack.
There was only one thought in their minds: next time I buy a ticket, I'm never sitting behind the trainers again!
Inside the energy barrier, Pidgeot had reverted from its Mega Evolution, lying unconscious in a crater roughly three meters deep and tens of meters wide.
Ultimate Spiral Water Shuriken!.
An ultimate technique developed by John and Greninja together. The power source wasn't just Greninja's aura energy, but John's as well.
John and Greninja were separate individuals, but their bond evolution made them essentially two bodies sharing one mind.
The conduction and flow of aura energy between them was far faster than typical trainer-Pokemon waveguide connections.
During his training period, John had frequently exercised his aura, enhanced by his specialized aura gloves.
He could easily form Aura Spheres on his own now.
Greninja's aura power combined with John's aura power.
The destructive force of this finishing move far exceeded even Z-moves!
Mega Pidgeot's Normal/Flying typing offered no resistance to Fighting-type attacks, unlike pure Flying-types.
The instant knockout had been within John's expectations.
Hearing the referee announce the battle results, sparse applause echoed from the audience.
It wasn't that they didn't want to "congratulate" John, they were still processing Greninja's shocking final blow, unable to snap out of their amazement.
"What move did Greninja use just now? How did it suddenly teleport from in front of Mega Pidgeot to behind it?"
"Must have been Teleport, right? Can Greninja even learn Teleport?"
"Aggron can learn Wonder Room, so why can't Greninja learn Teleport!"
"What was that final attack? It looked like a miniature sun!"
"Never thought Elite Damon's ace Pokemon Mega Pidgeot would be one-shotted by John's Greninja!"
"I'd call it the World's Strongest Greninja! Anyone disagree?"
The scattered applause gradually brought everyone back to reality, and soon the ovation thundered through the arena.
With his ace Pokemon defeated and only one Pokemon remaining, while none of John's team had fallen, the absolute difference in combat ability was clear for all to see.
Those who had been expecting Damon's Mega Pidgeot to stage a dramatic comeback, or hoping he'd defeat John's Pokemon to regain the advantage, felt their hopes shatter.
At the VIP table, Donna also stared at her mentor in astonishment.
"Teleport can be learned too?"
Saul was equally surprised, throwing up his hands.
"Even with the Lustrous Orb, I never managed to get a Pokemon to master Teleport!"
As for the opponent himself, Flying Elite Damon stood frozen in place, the corner of his mouth twitching as he repeatedly muttered four words:
"Teleport..."
Damon was absolutely certain he'd identified the move correctly.
The technique Greninja used to avoid Mega Pidgeot's final strike was definitely Teleport!
One second, Mega Pidgeot had the advantage, overwhelming Greninja with absolute speed and seemingly about to deliver the finishing blow. The next second, Greninja used Teleport to escape, then instantly defeated Pidgeot with that incomprehensible move that kept expanding mid-flight...
This was getting ridiculous!
He couldn't understand it...
But... thinking about it from another angle...
If a brute like Aggron could master Wonder Room, then perhaps it wasn't unacceptable for a swift and agile Pokemon like Greninja to master Teleport...
Like hell it was acceptable!
Greninja learning Teleport was far more shocking than Aggron controlling Wonder Room!
While Aggron lacked Psychic typing, it wasn't a Dark-type that resisted Psychic moves like Greninja!
Damon looked at John with a mixture of confusion and intense curiosity.
How had John taught his Pokemon to master moves that seemed impossible for their species?
Yet these moves were perfectly suited to their fighting styles.
He recalled Pidgeot into its Pokeball and threw out his fifth.
A Salamence emerged.
As a Dragon specialist from Dragoncrest's Dragon Den, all of Damon's Pokemon except his ace were Dragon-types, even Charizard became part Dragon after Mega Evolution.
John recalled Greninja with some reluctance, then decisively sent out Gardevoir for Mega Evolution.
The elegant Fairy Queen in her black dress immediately commanded everyone's attention.
High above, the mighty Salamence instantly sensed the threat from its natural enemy, its intended roar turning into a pathetic whimper as it obediently flew closer to its trainer.
Mega Gardevoir versus regular Salamence.
The battle ended within a minute, Salamence falling to a Moonblast that drew countless pink stars from the heavens.
The quick victory was possible because Damon had already lost his will to fight.
Aggron's double knockout, Greninja's ace elimination, and now facing the Fairy-type queen that all dragons feared most in the final match.
Damon had fallen into complete confusion.
Who am I? Where am I? Why am I fighting this battle?
When a trainer loses their fighting spirit, their Pokemon's defeat becomes inevitable.
John successfully defeated all four of Damon's Pokemon in perfect condition!
"Salamence loses the ability to fight. Trainer Damon's four Pokemon have all been defeated, so the winner of the Elite Challenge is Trainer John!"
As the referee's announcement echoed across the arena, the entire National Pokemon Competition Center erupted in thunderous applause.
Everyone celebrated the coronation of the new Elite Four member.