"That move... was that Aqua Tail?"
The announcer's uncertain voice echoed through the grand stadium.
Serperior certainly knew some tail-based moves, but Aqua Tail shouldn't be one of them. If it could naturally use Water-type techniques like that, it wouldn't be at such a disadvantage against Fire-type opponents.
Because of the earlier chaos caused by Houndoom, the announcer hadn't clearly caught Silas's command. All he could do was make an educated guess based on appearances.
The audience, too, looked confused.
But no matter how noisy the crowd got, the two trainers and their Pokémon remained completely focused on the battle.
Shizuo reacted quickly.
"Let's use Double Team as well!"
Whatever move Serperior was charging, the energy signature was clearly Water-type — something Houndoom should definitely avoid.
Immediately, Houndoom stopped its attack. The flames flickering along its fangs gradually faded.
Without any exaggerated movements, seven or eight copies of Houndoom appeared across the battlefield — just like Serperior's earlier illusions.
In an instant, the fight seemed to turn into a chaotic group battle between packs of the same species.
Aside from the two trainers, no one could tell which were the real ones.
"Natural Gift, huh? A Water-type variant from a held Berry?"
Shizuo, ever the experienced battler, quickly deduced what Silas had commanded earlier.
So, Silas must have swapped Serperior's held item before the match — the only question was which of the four Berries that grant a Water-type effect.
It didn't really matter, though. The four Water-type Berries (Wacan, Passho, etc.) didn't differ much in power output when used with Natural Gift, and since there was no same-type attack bonus involved, the damage would be within Houndoom's endurance range.
"One Water-type Natural Gift isn't going to be enough," Shizuo muttered, adjusting his glasses with mild disappointment.
He was right. Natural Gift's type and power depend entirely on the Berry the Pokémon holds but once used, the Berry is consumed.
And while the move Recycle can recover a consumed Berry for reuse, Serperior cannot learn Recycle.
That meant it could only use Natural Gift once per battle.
Against an opponent of equal strength, even a super-effective hit wouldn't immediately decide the match — especially since Houndoom had already taken evasive action.
In Shizuo's mind, keeping Serperior's usual held item, the Miracle Seed, would have been better, as it enhanced its Grass-type attacks more consistently.
Under the tense stares of both trainers, Serperior completed its Water-type energy charge, whipping its glowing tail toward the many Houndoom clones.
A chorus of shattering illusions rang out, the arena filling with fragments of silvery light.
Moments later, only the two real Pokémon remained.
Smack!
Serperior's tail struck Houndoom square across the face, forcing it to stagger backward.
Unfortunately, after using up so much time and energy dispelling the clones, the Water-type energy remaining on Serperior's tail had all but dissipated — Houndoom wasn't hurt very badly.
If anything, the pain only ignited its rage.
"Gruuuuh…"
Houndoom growled, baring its fangs as flames flickered deep in its throat.
"Houndoom, rush in and Bite! Don't let go!"
Shizuo's timing was, as always, perfect.
Houndoom instantly lunged forward, hind legs driving off the ground as it pounced toward Serperior.
"Use Natural Gift again," Silas said evenly.
"What?!"
Shizuo's pupils constricted in disbelief — that shouldn't have been possible.
Silas, of course, wasn't about to explain.
Blue light once again flowed across Serperior's body, gathering at the tip of its tail.
"Bite it, then follow with Fire Fang!"
Even though his opponent's move defied logic, Shizuo still reacted calmly, giving quick counterorders.
He knew that Natural Gift shouldn't work twice without a Berry. There had to be a cost.
And indeed — there was.
During one of their special training sessions, Silas had discovered, with help from Zero (his AI analysis device), that Serperior's body could store a small amount of Water-type energy.
It made perfect biological sense as a plant-like Pokémon, water was a natural component of its being.
With effort (and a little "external assistance"), Serperior had learned to perform Natural Gift without actually consuming a Berry — drawing upon its internal stored Water-type energy instead.
This ability, however, had strict limitations.
First, the preparation was painstaking. The energy couldn't appear from nothing; Serperior had to pre-store it before the match.
And being a Grass-type Pokémon, it could only safely store small amounts of Water-type energy. Trying to store other or multiple elements at once would destabilize it.
That meant Silas had to plan his battle strategies very carefully.
Second, the stored energy wasn't infinite. While it could be used multiple times, each use drastically weakened its power — roughly halving each time.
Silas had calculated that by the third use, the attack's strength would be no stronger than a simple Water Gun.
In other words, two solid hits were the limit and even the second one would already show a noticeable drop in power.
But for Houndoom, even taking one direct Water-type strike was dangerous.
"This second hit… consider it payback," Silas murmured, smirking.
Across the field, Shizuo adjusted his glasses and smiled back wordlessly.
Houndoom, unaware of any strategy, had only one instinct to bite and burn.
Serperior's tail, glowing with rippling blue energy, whipped sideways toward it.
Houndoom didn't flinch. It lunged straight in, jaws wide, clamping down hard on Serperior's tail — carefully avoiding the glowing portion.
Both Pokémon cried out in pain.
Serperior's tail struck Houndoom's side just as Houndoom's teeth sank deep into the tail's base.
And then came the heat — Houndoom's fangs ignited in flames as it unleashed Fire Fang, searing Serperior's scales.
"Shreeee!"
Serperior's scream drowned out Houndoom's growl.
But this was no good sign for Silas.
Smack!
Gritting through the pain, Serperior swung its body and hurled Houndoom away.
The Dark Pokémon hit the ground hard, rolling before landing on trembling legs.
Its stance was unsteady — it had clearly reached its limit.
After taking four direct hits, two of which were super effective Water-type attacks, Houndoom was barely standing.
If not for sheer willpower, the fierce Pokémon wouldn't have released its bite so easily.
Serperior wasn't in great shape either.
Its tail base was scorched black, white smoke rising from the burns. The lingering heat from Fire Fang caused the wound to ache more sharply over time.
Still, Serperior's remaining stamina far exceeded Houndoom's and that made all the difference.
Silas's unorthodox Natural Gift tactic had paid off; without it, overcoming the type disadvantage against a Fire-type like Houndoom would have been nearly impossible.
"Use Magical Leaf," Silas commanded, pressing the advantage.
Since Serperior hadn't been holding a Berry, its held item must have been a Miracle Seed, boosting its Grass-type power.
Even if resisted, the added damage would be enough to finish Houndoom off.
Dozens of blue-purple glowing leaves spun through the air, slicing toward Houndoom.
"Use Hyper Voice!"
Facing the incoming Magical Leaf, Shizuo commanded his Houndoom to counterattack head-on.
The wolf-like Pokémon's deep, echoing howl reverberated across the battlefield, directed straight at Serperior. The endless roaring sound was so grating that it made the audience want to cover their ears.
"Well then, let's just see who drops first," Shizuo muttered calmly, arms crossed. With both a numerical and strength advantage on his side, he didn't seem to care much.
Besides, a straightforward clash like this didn't require much tactical finesse—it conveniently hid his true power as a trainer.
And to its credit, Houndoom was still remarkably strong.
Even after losing so much stamina earlier, it still managed to endure three volleys of Magical Leaf before finally collapsing.
"Houndoom is unable to battle! Serperior wins! Contestant Shizuo, please send out your next Pokémon!"
The referee swiftly raised his flag to declare the result.
Serperior, battered and bruised all over, panted heavily. Its emerald eyes still shone with determination, but its body was on the verge of exhaustion.
Still—a win was a win, however hard-fought it had been.
Unfortunately, this small victory did little to change the overall flow of the match.
"It's up to you now, Rapidash."
Without wasting a moment, Shizuo recalled his fallen Houndoom and immediately sent out his fifth Pokémon.
"Use Flamethrower."
He didn't give Silas any chance to recover or strategize—he went straight for a full-power Fire-type attack.
A torrent of fire burst from Rapidash's mouth, crossing the battlefield in an instant.
The next moment, Serperior's green body was engulfed by crimson flames. It no longer had the energy to dodge such a fast, overwhelming attack.
When the fire finally faded, Serperior lay motionless on the ground, unable to continue battling.
In the blink of an eye, the outcome had reversed again.
"Serperior is unable to battle! Rapidash wins! Contestant Silas, please send out your next Pokémon!"
The referee quickly raised his other hand's flag, barely lowering the first one in time.
Silas silently took out Serperior's Luxury Ball and recalled it. Rapidash had held back slightly—its flames had stopped just short of causing serious injury. Serperior was merely on the edge of being knocked out, nothing more.
It was a silent gesture of sportsmanship between trainers.
"Togekiss, I choose you!"
Silas threw his next Luxury Ball into the air.
Between Ampharos and Togekiss, there was no real debate. Against a Rapidash, the one with the advantage of flight was the obvious choice.
Silas wore a wry smile.
Still, he knew full well that in the face of such a massive power gap, even the advantage of altitude wasn't as great as it seemed—it only meant Togekiss wouldn't be instantly defeated.
Especially since Rapidash excelled in both speed and endurance, a Pokémon built for long-distance chases and high-speed charges.
This was going to be a drawn-out fight.
Silas had already anticipated that before the battle even started.
And sure enough, things unfolded exactly as he predicted.
Despite its aerial mobility, Togekiss's long-range attacks weren't particularly effective.
Whenever it tried to keep its distance, Rapidash used its incredible speed and reflexes to dodge easily—its Air Slash attacks rarely found their mark.
And when Togekiss got too close, Rapidash's explosive power was no joke. After one close encounter where Togekiss was nearly struck by its iron-shod hooves, Silas immediately abandoned any plan of engaging in close combat.
At that range, the reaction speed of a Pesudo–Elite-level Pokémon like Rapidash left Togekiss with no hope of victory.
Rapidash's impressive physique and strength weren't just for show.
Even with Shizuo deliberately holding back a bit, Togekiss could only sustain its offensive for so long before running out of steam.
Then Rapidash truly took control of the fight.
Fire Spin, Flamethrower, Inferno, Fire Blast, Heat Wave—
The battlefield was awash in blazing red. The fire-type moves poured out of Rapidash as if without limit, wave after wave.
Under the relentless assault, Togekiss could only rely on its aerial agility to dodge and weave through the inferno, occasionally firing off a long-range Air Slash that barely grazed its target.
Fortunately, Rapidash couldn't fly—otherwise, watching it gallop just beneath Togekiss's flight path would have been almost comical.
Fifteen minutes later, the exhausted Togekiss finally fell from the sky.
The entire audience erupted into applause for its bravery.
"You did your best."
Silas looked down at the Poké Ball in his hand, speaking softly to the sleeping Togekiss inside.
There was no response—Togekiss was too tired to move.
The damage was one thing, but the mental strain was another. Dancing on the knife's edge for that long was exhausting beyond belief. Getting knocked out instantly would have been easier.
"Ampharos, I'm counting on you."
Silas exhaled slowly and threw his final Luxury Ball.
The moment the pink, shiny Ampharos appeared on the field, the entire main arena erupted like a thunderclap.
Every eye sparkled, especially those of the girls in the crowd.
Ampharos was already cute in its usual yellow form—but its shiny pink color only amplified its charm.
"Kyaaaa~!"
The shrieks filled the air.
"Ampharos!"
Ampharos tilted its head with a snort, unimpressed by the humans' reaction.
Then its gaze shifted toward its opponent—Rapidash.
"Ampharos!"
The tone was sharp and clearly taunting.
"Neighhh!"
Rapidash pawed the ground furiously, snorting flames from its nostrils.
"Honestly…"
Even at this critical moment, Silas could only press his hand to his forehead helplessly.
He knew all too well how easily his Ampharos could provoke its opponents.
Still, he made a mental note to teach it better manners later. Picking fights wasn't exactly the mark of a "harmonious" Pokémon—especially when you weren't guaranteed to win.
"At least not next time we're outmatched," he muttered.
"Rapidash, use Flame Charge! Ampharos, use Discharge!"
The commands came simultaneously but the difference in reaction speed was painfully clear.
Ampharos's Discharge formation was still building when Rapidash was already halfway across the field.
Engulfed in roaring fire, Rapidash crashed straight into Ampharos before the electric field could fully expand.
Boom!
The impact sent Ampharos flying backward at a speed far beyond anything its own body could achieve, slamming it into the wall at the edge of the battlefield.
Cracks splintered across the impact site.
"Fwa…"
Ampharos groaned weakly, small hands trembling as it tried to push itself up.
Rapidash, now standing tall with its mane blazing brighter than ever, looked magnificent.
Despite being so badly hurt—almost to the point of fainting—Ampharos still hadn't lost its attitude.
Its taunting hadn't stopped.
Silas, who had just been worrying for it, could only shake his head and sigh in exasperation.
This little one had always been stubborn like that. It wasn't the type to give up just because of pain. In fact, it often trained until Silas had to physically stop it to prevent injury.
If he hadn't always kept a close eye on its condition, Ampharos's body wouldn't still be in one piece.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Ampharos's pink appearance was causing an uproar. The crowd—especially the women—kept cheering its name and even booing Rapidash for hurting it.
Ampharos ignored them completely, eyes locked on its fiery opponent.
"Ampharos, Zap Cannon!"
Silas's command rang out.
Despite its fatigue, Ampharos's face broke into a faint, confident grin. This was exactly why it liked its trainer—Silas always understood what it wanted to do.
Brilliant arcs of electricity sparked to life around Ampharos's body.
On the other side, Shizuo and Rapidash, showing mutual respect, didn't interfere.
"Rapidash, prepare Fire Blast."
"So I told you, didn't I? You really don't know how to hold back when I tell you to save some strength for dodging."
------
In the Pokémon Center, inside a quiet hospital room, Silas sat beside Ampharos's bed. The pink Pokémon lay there, wrapped in layers of bandages.
"Ampharos~"
Ampharos looked away bashfully, letting out a sheepish little cry.
Silas rolled his eyes. "Next time… do you even know how many 'next times' we've had already?"
The scene, of course, took place after the round of sixteen match had ended.
As for the result—just one look at Ampharos's condition made it clear enough.
For a Pokémon to be so badly injured that even Nurse Joy and Chansey couldn't immediately heal it was a rare occurrence indeed.
Thankfully, the injuries weren't life-threatening. It would just need time to recover.
...
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