The coliseum was alive again.
Roars echoed across the massive arena as one battle after another unfolded beneath the morning sun. Trainers clashed with fire and steel, the air filled with the sound of commands, thunderous impacts, and the pulse of a kingdom hungry for spectacle.
A silver-haired girl and her Luxray clashed with a cloaked mercenary using a Toxicroak sparks and poison flying. Across another field, a lean knight from the borderlands faced off with an Obelian monk, whose Pangoro shattered the stone tiles with raw power. The crowd gasped, cheered, and chanted names from every corner of Ravios.
And then…
A pause.
A subtle shift.
The announcer's voice echoed out, louder than before, drawing the attention of every soul present.
"NEXT MATCH: SHION OF RIVERLEAF VS. VINCENT ALCREST!"
The crowd stirred instantly. Cheers erupted some for Shion, now known to fans for his fierce Lycanroc and strange, scrappy underdog nature, and others for Vince, the charismatic Ground-type specialist who tore through the preliminary with razor precision.
Shion stood near the corridor, staring toward the arena gate, heart pounding beneath his cloak.
He could hear them chanting now.
He could hear his name.
And it still didn't feel real.
His hand gripped Kiba's Poké Ball.
"You alright?" Ren's voice broke through the pressure, calm as ever.
Shion glanced to the side. Ren stood beside him with arms crossed, Mila nearby with her usual composed smirk, and Bidoof... half-asleep in his satchel, as always.
Shion gave a half-hearted grin.
"Yeah. Just… getting ready..kinda nervous I didn't expect to go this far."
"You earned it," Mila said simply.
"Vince won't go easy on you," Ren added. "But he respects you. That's why he's serious now."
Shion took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and gave a single, firm nod.
---
The Waiting Room
Vince was already getting ready, strapping his gloves, adjusting the collar of his combat coat. His Flygon's Poké Ball hung at his belt, but today… he had someone else in mind.
He glanced back as Shion entered.
The room was quiet.
Vince offered a small nod. No words.
Just respect.
Shion nodded back.
Then came the call.
"Shion , Vincent Alcrest please proceed to Arena Four!"
---
The Arena
The sun cast long rays over the crowd, banners flapping in the breeze. Ravios' grand arena, a sea of spectators, stood in awe of the two trainers now walking across the battlefield.
On one side Vince. Calm. Focused. A war-veteran's discipline behind a youthful grin.
On the other: Shion. Slightly trembling. But eyes burning with resolve.
"Both trainers, prepare your Pokémon!" the referee called out from the center.
No hesitation.
Vince threw his Poké Ball. "Let's shake the ground, swampert!"
With a flash of white, a massive Swampert landed on the stone arena, its arms crossed, muscles bulging, gills flaring.
Shion tightened his grip and tossed his own. "Let's go, Kiba!"
The orange-colored Lycanroc appeared in a low, prowling stance, fangs bared, tail twitching, its eyes locked on the opposing titan.
The crowd exploded. A wave of shouts, chants, and gasps filled the sky.
"Battle Begin!"
"Rock Slide!" Shion shouted first, opening with range.
Kiba howled and stomped down, sending jagged boulders flying toward Swampert with surprising speed.
Vince didn't blink.
"swampert, Surf."
Swampert stomped the ground as a wave of water rose unnaturally fast, conjured from the earth's latent moisture. The water crashed forward in a roaring tide, shattering the incoming rocks and surging toward Kiba.
Shion's eyes widened. "Kiba, Accelerock dodge!"
A silver streak of motion.
Kiba darted along the side of the arena like a living comet, the Surf crashing behind it and soaking half the battlefield.
"Now, Drill Run!"
Kiba spun mid-dash, forming a glowing spiral of energy around itself, aiming to slam directly into Swampert's chest.
But Vince was ready.
"Counter it with Hammer Arm!"
Swampert's massive forearm surged with white-hot power as it swung down just as Kiba hit. A shockwave exploded from the impact as the two moves collided Kiba was knocked back hard, flipping mid-air but landing on all fours, growling.
The crowd screamed at the exchange power vs. speed.
Shion clenched his fists.
He had to break through Swampert's defenses. That power difference was real.
"Accelerock again, then pivot into Crunch!"
Kiba blurred forward again, moving erratically this time, then twisted to bite low aiming under Swampert's thick arm.
"Don't let it!" Vince barked. "Protect!"
A shimmering green dome snapped into place just as Kiba's fangs struck forcing the Lycanroc to recoil.
"Rock Slide, again!" Shion snapped, layering pressure.
Kiba leapt back and stomped, summoning another rain of boulders, but this time, aimed not to strike but to scatter.
The field was now a mess of cover and obstacles.
Vince frowned. Clever.
Shion wasn't just attacking he was shaping the battlefield.
---
Ren leaned forward slightly, arms crossed. "He's forcing Swampert to reposition."
Mila nodded. "And giving Kiba cover to dash around."
"Smart," mila added. "Kiba's faster. Swampert can't match that mobility."
Ren narrowed his eyes. "But Swampert doesn't need to catch him. Just one clean hit…"
---
Swampert's feet slammed down, trying to push forward through the debris.
"Swampert ,Ice Punch keep your guard up!"
The moment Kiba dashed from behind one of the rocks, Swampert was ready, fist coated in frost.
"Counter, Kiba!" Shion yelled.
The Lycanroc took the hit and struck back instantly with a retaliating blow, enhanced by the pain it just took. The crack echoed across the coliseum as both Pokémon were thrown back by the sheer force.
Both sides panted now.
Scratches. Mud. Cracks in the ground.
Shion's heart pounded.
Kiba was giving everything. Vince was calm, but he could see his focus sharpening.
This wasn't a friendly spar.
This was real.
A true battle.
Dust billowed across the arena as both Pokémon stumbled back, panting bruised and battered.
Kiba's orange coat was matted with dirt, its breaths sharp, ears back. Across the field, Swampert's massive chest heaved with effort, its forearms nicked and cracked with shallow bite wounds. The battlefield itself was war-torn cracks spidering across stone, debris from shattered rocks scattered like landmines.
And the crowd…
They were on the edge of their seats. Holding their breath.
Watching.
Waiting.
Shion wiped sweat from his brow, eyes never leaving Kiba.
Vince exhaled quietly, brushing his fingers across the Poké Ball still at his belt. "You're better than I thought," he said calmly, his voice carrying over the noise.
Shion gave a small, lopsided smile. "You too. Though, I kinda expected that."
"Then you know I'm not done."
"Neither are we."
---
Ren leaned forward, elbows on knees, eyes locked on the field.
"He's doing better than I thought," he muttered.
Mila tilted her head. "Kiba's evolved since Riverleaf. It's faster. Stronger. And Shion's learned to use the terrain."
Ren nodded. "Still... Swampert's a nightmare matchup."
"True. But he's adapting."
---
Shion's brain worked on overdrive.
Water-Ground. Heavy hitter. Thick defenses. He'd tried flanking, speed, hit-and-run.
But Vince wasn't cracking. Swampert was like a fortress every time Kiba struck, it struck back harder.
But there had to be a way through. He needed to shake him force Vince into a mistake.
Then, it clicked.
He looked at the field.
The rocks.
The terrain.
And he remembered something Fena once told him: "You don't beat a mountain by pushing it you move the earth beneath it."
"Kiba! Rock Slide again! Scatter them in a V-formation trust me!"
Kiba howled and began shifting the stone with well-placed stomps angled deliberately.
Vince narrowed his eyes. "You're building another trap?"
"Swampert, Bulldoze clear the path!"
With a roar, Swampert smashed its fists to the ground, sending tremors across the field. The rocks quaked and slid but Shion wasn't focused on the front.
He was watching the ground behind.
The moment Swampert advanced
"NOW Accelerock, into Drill Run!"
Kiba launched forward like a rocket, zig-zagging through the disrupted rocks.
It looked like a straightforward rush.
Vince reacted.
"Ice Punch! Head on!"
The Swampert's arm flared blue and that's when Kiba jumped.
High. Higher than anyone expected.
Straight over the attack.
And then spun.
Mid-air, the Lycanroc twisted, legs glowing as it formed a spiraling attack aiming straight for Swampert's exposed back.
"Drill Run DOWN!"
A flash of light and motion.
Then
A massive crack as Kiba's Drill Run slammed directly onto Swampert's shoulder, forcing the giant creature to one knee with a thunderous crash.
The arena shook.
Gasps rose from the audience.
"KIBA CRUNCH!"
Kiba lunged forward, jaws glowing dark, and sank them into Swampert's side with brutal force.
Swampert bellowed and then the light in its eyes flickered.
It stumbled.
And collapsed.
Dust lifted again silent for a breath.
Then
"SWAMPERT IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! SHION ADVANCES TO THE NEXT ROUND!"
---
The Crowd Erupted.
People leapt to their feet. Cheers surged like thunder, rising from every corner of the stands.
Some shouted Kiba's name. Others just screamed.
But in the middle of it all, Shion dropped to one knee, panting as hard as his Pokémon, a relieved, disbelieving grin on his face.
"We… we did it, Kiba."
Kiba, though exhausted, barked with pride, tail wagging slightly.
---
Mila blinked. "He actually won..."
Ren allowed himself a small smile. "Barely. But yeah… he earned it."
"Not bad for a guy who started his journey a couple months ago," Mila added. " he's improved a lot "
"Not bad at all."
Mila smiled as she look at two of her friends in the field
Ren look stoic as ever but his mouth curve into a smile a little
---
Vince returned Swampert, offering a quiet, respectful nod to the Poké Ball before walking across the field.
Shion looked up as Vince approached.
For a moment, both boys were silent then Vince held out a hand.
"Hell of a battle." he said with a smirk
Shion grinned and clasped it.
"You weren't too bad yourself."
Vince laughed. "I was great, you just happened to be insane."
They both chuckled, walking together toward the exit.
Behind them, the crowd still roared.
---
Far in the rafters, a figure with violet hair stood silently, her Gengar beside her in the shadows.
Orla watched Shion's retreating figure with an unreadable smile.
"Hmm he seems interesting.…"
She turned away, cloak swirling behind her.
"Let's see how far you climb."
---
The gentle hum of healing machines pulsed in the background as Shion leaned back against the bench in the Pokémon Healing Chamber. The soothing light of the chamber bathed both him and Vince in a calming glow as their Poké Balls rested in the healing slots. Neither of them spoke for a moment just letting the tension drain from their bodies.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.
"Found you two," Mila said, stepping in with Ren behind her. A soft smile tugged at her lips. "Congrats on the match."
"You were amazing," Ren added, nodding at Shion.
Shion blinked, flustered by the praise. "Oh uh, thanks. I just… tried my best."
Mila turned to Vince and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "You too, Vince. That was one of the closest matches of the day."
Vince chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Close but not enough. Still, I'm hoping I'll get into that wild card bracket thing you mentioned, Mila."
"You have a good shot," she reassured him. "They'll be picking a few based on performance. And that battle definitely impressed people."
As their Pokémon finished healing, the conversation shifted toward the fight itself.
"I seriously thought you were gonna lose when Swampert pulled off that Ice Punch," Vince said with a grin, nudging Shion lightly.
Shion gave a sheepish laugh. "Yeah, me too. I just… kind of threw everything at it and prayed. Kiba pulled through somehow."
"Pulled through?" Vince raised an eyebrow. "It turned into a freaking missile."
Shion laughed again, a bit shyly, scratching his cheek. "Kiba always goes all in."
"You're not bad, y'know," Vince added, his grin softening. "You've got good instincts. Adapting mid-battle like that… impressive."
Shion blinked, surprised by the compliment. "Thanks. I learned a lot watching people like Ren and uh, you, I guess."
Ren gave a faint smile. "You're improving fast."
Their conversation was cut short by a long, grumbling growl.
Everyone froze and glanced around.
"...Was that you?" Vince asked.
Shion looked equally baffled. "No, I thought that was…"
"IT WAS ME!"
Bidoof burst out of Shion's satchel, his whiskers twitching with fury.
"I'M STARVING. FEED ME."
Shion sighed, smiling in resignation. "Guess that settles it."
"Food it is," Mila declared with a grin. "There's a place nearby. You guys coming?"
As the group nodded and began to head out of the chamber, Shion suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Actually," he said, hesitating, "You guys go ahead. I just remembered there's someone I need to check on first."
Mila tilted her head. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Just… an acquaintance," Shion said quickly. "I'll catch up later."
He gently set Bidoof on Vince's shoulder. "Take care of him for a bit?"
"WAIT DONT LEAVE ME WITH THESE STRANGER! " Bidoof protested as Shion jogged off
---
The halls of the clinic were quiet, the midday sun casting long shadows across the polished floor.
Shion pushed open the door slowly and stepped inside, hoping maybe Kaela was awake by now.
To his surprise, she was.
There, sitting up stiffly in bed with a half-annoyed expression while a doctor examined her arm, was Kaela. She hadn't noticed him yet. Shion waited quietly until the doctor finished and left the room.
Kaela turned and paused.
"…Who are you?" she asked flatly.
Shion blinked. "Huh?"
"You're…?"
"It's me. Shion. From Avia Hollow?" he said hesitantly. "You, uh, showed me the way to the clinic that one time."
She stared at him a moment longer.
"…Oh. That kid," she muttered, recognition dawning.
Shion rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah. That one."
Shion then sit at the chair next to her bed
The silence that followed was… well, not comfortable.
"So…" he began, unsure how to even start. "What happened to you?" he asked. Even though he got a brief idea from what her noivern told him he still want to hear it from her
Kaela looked away. "Nothing that concerns you."
Shion opened his mouth to protest, but then shut it again.
"…Right. Sorry."
Kaela glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She let out a small sigh.
"You helped me, didn't you?"
Shion looked up, surprised. "Well, yeah. You were passed out and your Noivern was freaking out. I couldn't just leave you."
"…Thanks," she said, quietly.
Another pause.
"I got into some trouble. Followed someone I shouldn't have."
"Who?" Shion asked, leaning in.
Kaela hesitated, then gave a vague description a girl with long violet hair. Sharp smile. A Gengar that never left her side.
Shion's heart skipped a beat.
"That sounds like… someone I saw at the tournament," he muttered. "She beat my friend ."
Kaela gave him a sharp look. "Then stay away from her."
"But who is she?"
Kaela's tone shifted, firm and cold. "I said don't get involved. This isn't your fight. I'm already dragging in enough people."
Shion lowered his eyes. "I wasn't planning on doing anything reckless. I just thought…"
He stood up. "I'm glad you're okay. That's all."
Kaela didn't respond at first. But as he reached the door
"…Thanks. Again."
He looked over his shoulder. She wasn't smiling. But her tone was… softer.
Shion nodded once, then stepped out.
---
By the time Shion found the restaurant, the smell of grilled meat and sweet pastries was already thick in the air. The plaza was packed trainers, citizens, merchants, everyone buzzing about the tournament.
At a table near the corner, he spotted them.
Vince was chewing loudly on something skewered and dripping in sauce. Mila was sipping juice with a smug look. Ren, ever stoic, was quietly feeding a small fruit to his Haxorus, who had somehow crammed itself into a chair.
And then there was Bidoof eyes gleaming with fury as it chomped on a pie nearly the size of its own head.
"There he is!" Mila waved.
"About time," Vince grinned. "We were about to send a search party."
Shion slid into a seat with a smile and a grateful sigh. "Sorry. Had something I had to take care of."
"How's your friend?" Ren asked quietly.
"She's awake," Shion said, nodding. "Still recovering."
Bidoof narrowed its eyes.
"You LEFT me."
"I bought you two pies."
"…You're forgiven."
They all laughed.
And for a little while, as they ate and joked and relaxed, the tournament, the pressure, the battles it all melted away. Just for a moment, they were kids again. Traveling, talking, laughing. Sharing stories beneath the bright Ravios sky.
Tomorrow would bring another round.
But for now, this was enough.