"This isn't getting us anywhere..."
Ethan Black let out a slight sigh. They were being completely countered. And on top of that, he had the disadvantage of being a close-range fighter.
"Damn it, Charmeleon, don't give up! Use Flamethrower again!" shouted Alex Baxter, refusing to accept defeat.
Charmeleon launched Flamethrower, but as expected, Metang dodged it effortlessly.
Meanwhile, Shelgon, after completing its second power-up with Dragon Dance, withstood two more Rollout attacks, and with a powerful Headbutt, sent Sandshrew flying once again.
"There's no way... That Metang is Psychic-type, its reflexes are way too fast. Charmeleon can't even hit it!"
Alex Baxter was desperate after several failed attempts.
"I'm not doing well either," sighed Ethan Black. "After two uses of Dragon Dance, Shelgon could sweep through an entire team..."
Truly, these pseudo-legendary Pokémon lived up to their name. They were unstoppable!
"What's wrong? Are you going to surrender?" Lucas Silver mocked, seeing their frustrated expressions.
"Heh, heh, heh..."
From the sky, Metang joined the mockery, flying in circles and making provocative gestures. Charmeleon, furious, roared nonstop. He was about to explode with rage!
"That's it... we've lost," Alex Baxter muttered, resigned.
"Then let's give u—"
BOOM!
Just as Ethan Black was about to surrender, a powerful energy burst across the field, and a dazzling white light lit up the entire arena.
"What!?"
Ethan Black immediately looked over. Charmeleon was wrapped in the light of evolution! Its body elongated, its neck grew, and wings emerged from its back.
A majestic orange figure was taking shape within the glow.
"GRAAARGH!!"
A draconic roar echoed through the stadium. Charizard shot into the sky like an arrow and, taking advantage of Metang's confusion, instantly seized it with its claws.
Metang was startled by the sudden grip, and before it could react...
FOOOOSH!
A brutal flamethrower engulfed it, scorching every inch of its metallic body.
"Is that... Charizard?!"
"Charmeleon evolved!"
The stadium erupted in euphoria! Everyone watched Charizard in the sky in absolute awe.
"Damn it! Did it have to evolve right now?!"
"Metang, get out of there and use Psyshock!"
Lucas Silver turned pale with rage and desperation.
Metang, sensing the imminent danger, tried to gather psychic energy... but it was too late.
Charizard released one claw, raised it with force, and a green emerald claw of dragon-type energy instantly formed.
SLASH!
Dragon Claw!
Metang was slammed into the ground like a meteor, creating a massive crater on the battlefield.
BOOM!
Without giving it a chance to breathe, Charizard blasted Flamethrower straight into the crater, filling the stadium with a blazing light and suffocating heat.
The crowd was petrified.
"Metang!" Lucas Silver cried out, his heart sinking.
"What the hell is that Charizard doing?!"
"Shelgon, use Dragon Breath!"
Marcus Foster reacted just in time. Charizard had already descended to the ground and was about to strike Metang again with Dragon Claw.
BOOM!
Dragon Breath hit Charizard right before he could attack, making him roar in pain and fury. But instead of stopping...
Charizard tore through the attack with a slash, dispersing the energy into a dense, vibrating cloud of smoke.
...SILENCE...
Until—fwoooosh!—a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
Charizard shot out of the mist at full speed, and with Dragon Claw, struck Shelgon so hard it slammed into a wall.
But Charizard didn't stop.
He took flight again, charging Dragon Claw once more, determined to follow up with another attack.
"Rhydon, stop him!"
A Poké Ball opened right in front of Charizard, releasing Rhydon.
BOOM!
Rhydon stretched out both claws and stopped Charizard's attack cold.
"GRAAARGH!!"
Charizard, eyes blood-red with rage, roared furiously. He began charging another flamethrower in his mouth.
BAM!
But before he could unleash it, Rhydon landed a crushing punch straight into him, knocking him out instantly.
Charizard hit the ground with a heavy thud.
The entire stadium fell into absolute silence.
"What... what just happened?"
The crowd stared wide-eyed at Rhydon, then at the unconscious Charizard. They couldn't make sense of it.
"Metang!"
"Shelgon!"
"Charizard...!"
The trainers were the first to react, rushing into the field to check their Pokémon's condition.
After confirming they were alive, they quickly used healing potions and returned them to their Poké Balls, taking them urgently to the stadium's medical area.
"Was this... the end of the battle?"
"Looks like it. That Charizard went berserk and took out Metang and Shelgon all by himself..."
The audience, still processing what had happened, erupted into comments and debates.
Everything revolved around Charizard, who, after evolving, unleashed a brutal power that both impressed and terrified everyone.
(End of chapter)