"Haunter, Hypnosis!"
"Monferno, close your eyes!"
As Caleb gave his command, Ash countered instantly without missing a beat.
Blue light shimmered from Haunter's hands, pulsing in rhythmic waves toward Monferno — but with its eyes shut, the Hypnosis slid right off, unable to take hold.
Caleb: Huh?
That works?
Well… battling Ash meant throwing common sense out the window. Expected, really. Nothing unusual. Moving on.
"Haunter, use Toxic!" Caleb called again.
"Gwaaa!"
Haunter's hands clapped together, forming a massive orb of purple poison energy. With a snap, it launched straight at Monferno.
"Monferno, quick, dodge it!" Ash shouted.
The Speed-boosting Choice Scarf kicked in. Monferno's figure blurred, slipping past the Toxic just in time.
Caleb: Okay, now that's just excessive.
"Now, Monferno! Flame Wheel!"
With a shout, Monferno's tail flared into a blazing spin, launching itself at Haunter.
"Protect!"
A green shimmer flared up — Haunter's barrier held, deflecting the scorching attack.
Caleb looked down at the scorched marks on the ground.
Why does that Flame Wheel look suspiciously like Flare Blitz?
"Gwaaa (╬ಠ益ಠ)" Haunter shivered. One second slower, and it would've been ghost toast.
Before Ash could press the attack again, Caleb snapped, "Knock Off!"
Haunter zipped forward and slapped Monferno hard across the face — a clean, echoing smack that knocked the Choice Scarf clean off.
The scarf hit the ground.
So did Monferno's pride.
One beat passed. Then another.
Wait. Did I just get slapped?
Then came the inferno.
Monferno let out a roar, and flames exploded from its body.
Blaze activated.
Caleb flinched. Here we go…
"That's Blaze?!" Korrina turned in disbelief to Bea and Maylene.
The other two stared, equally stunned.
"This doesn't look like the Blaze I know…" Bea muttered.
"It is." A voice behind them cut in.
The three turned — the voice belonged to a man removing a fake mole from his face.
"Bruno of the Elite Four?!"
"Shhh," Bruno said, placing the mole back.
"I came to watch promising talent," he whispered. "And I've found it."
That Monferno — this kind of Blaze? If properly trained, it could go beyond Sinnoh's current Fire-type Elite.
Still…
Bruno sighed quietly. No matter who wins here, the final champion's already decided.
The Masked Royal.
He knew the truth — it was Kukui, the Alola professor.
And Kukui was no joke. Easily Elite level. Possibly higher.
Back in the arena, Monferno continued burning.
Hotter. Brighter. Unrelenting.
Haunter stared, glancing at its hand.
Wait… my slap did this?
It was just a basic hit! It never caused this before!
The flames surged higher.
Monferno's eyes turned white. The power was overwhelming. It lashed out in all directions.
"Monferno!!" Ash sprinted forward.
And hugged it.
In the middle of the flames.
The crowd gasped.
Ash didn't hesitate — he held on, despite the searing heat.
"Remember our promise?! You said we'd grow stronger — together!"
"RAAAHH!!"
"You're stronger than this rage! Don't let it consume you!"
"RAAAHHHH!!"
To the crowd, it was raw emotion — unbreakable bonds between Trainer and Pokémon. The spirit of a true Fighter.
Caleb and Haunter? Not so impressed.
Haunter pointed. Uh, is he just… hugging him in the fire?
Caleb: Yup. Still no idea how he's not burning alive.
Inside the blaze, Monferno trembled.
Voices echoed in its mind—
"Is that all you've got?"
"Let go of your past… live for tomorrow..."
"Ash is waiting…"
It remembered.
Paul's disdain.
Meowth's promise.
Ash's hand.
The flames pulsed.
Monferno's eyes began to clear.
"You're back!" Ash shouted, overjoyed.
"RAHHH!!" Monferno roared, flames bursting anew.
Blaze — Stage Two.
Unleashed.