"Just as the moon has phases, battles have winners and losers."
In the final moments of the Autumn Festival, the final match of the Sun and Moon New Challengers Tournament became the main event.
As protagonists of both the tournament and the evening gala, Ethan Black and Alex Baxter appeared dressed in formal attire.
"Why the hell do we have to play the villains while they get to be the knights?!" shouted Alex Baxter backstage, disgusted at seeing himself in his Demon King costume. "Is it because they have more influence?! This is unfair!"
But even though he grumbled, when the host announced their entrance, Alex Baxter adjusted his villain outfit and went out with as much demonic attitude as possible.
In front of them, Lucas Silver and Marcus Foster, dressed as knights, were already waiting. They spun their Poké Balls confidently between their fingers.
"Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
"2 vs 2 battle! Each trainer will use a single Pokémon. The match ends when both Pokémon on one team lose the ability to fight."
The referee, dressed in ceremonial robes and waving a symbolic scepter, signaled the start of the grand final.
The four stars of the match entered the field, drawing a thunderous ovation from the crowd.
"Charmeleon, show these fools the power of the Demon King!"
Alex Baxter was still deep into his role. As soon as the battle began, he gave a dramatic order.
Charmeleon understood the theater, and with a fiery spirit, spewed a burst of fire straight toward Metang, which floated in the air.
"Fly up and dodge!"
Metang propelled itself into the sky and evaded the attack with ease.
"Damn it, another one that can fly!"
Alex Baxter frowned. Charmeleon's face also showed annoyance. Clearly, flying opponents were already testing his patience.
"Shelgon, Dragon Breath!"
Marcus Foster smiled confidently as he gave the order.
Shelgon let out a low growl, followed by a dragon's breath that shot straight toward Sandshrew.
"Defend with Gyro Ball!"
Ethan Black ordered immediately. He couldn't allow Sandshrew to be hit by Dragon Breath's paralysis effect.
"Blocked perfectly with Gyro Ball? Not bad," commented Marcus Foster. "Then let's try this: Ember!!"
Shelgon fired several small balls of fire that drifted toward Sandshrew.
"Not using Flamethrower? ...He must be setting a trap," thought Ethan Black, narrowing his eyes.
He knew that Shelgon had used Flamethrower in past battles. Switching to Ember gave it away: surely they wanted Sandshrew to keep spinning so the Ember flames would cling to him, wrapping him in a vortex of fire.
"These two... with their pseudo-legendaries. They definitely belong to some powerful organization that has explored Secret Kingdoms. They're not easy opponents!"
"Sandshrew, you don't need to defend! Just use Sand Attack to block it!!"
Sandshrew scattered sand to dissipate the Ember attack.
Marcus Foster raised an eyebrow with a slight smile of recognition. If Ethan Black had fallen for something that simple, he would have been disappointed.
"Looks like long-range attacks aren't useful... Shelgon, use Dragon Dance!"
A fearsome, draconic aura enveloped Shelgon. The energy seemed to materialize around its body!
"Sandshrew, use Rapid Spin! Don't let it power up!"
Sandshrew charged at full speed, trying to interrupt the buildup of energy.
Ethan Black's expression was grim. He couldn't believe Shelgon knew Dragon Dance, a move it didn't learn by leveling up. That was only possible through an egg move.
Clearly, this Shelgon had exceptional breeding and lineage!
"Dragon Dance this early?"
"Marcus wants to finish this quickly..."
"Then I can't hold back either. Metang, use Psyshock!"
Metang dodged Charmeleon's Flamethrower and, with glowing eyes, unleashed a powerful psychic burst.
"Charmeleon, dodge!"
Charmeleon, just having finished Flamethrower, couldn't counterattack. It could only evade.
BOOM!
The psychic-type move exploded against the ground, generating a shockwave that sent Charmeleon flying.
"Damn it!"
Alex Baxter clenched his teeth. They had a type advantage, but their opponents could fly, slippery as eels he couldn't strike.
"Meeetang..."
Metang taunted from the air, further infuriating Charmeleon, who fired a series of useless Flamethrowers at his elusive rival.
BOOM!
Meanwhile, Sandshrew managed to hit Shelgon with Rapid Spin, but its defense was so high that it withstood the blow without flinching, all while Dragon Dance's energy continued to wrap around it.
"Sandshrew, use Scratch!"
Sandshrew stopped and slashed fiercely with its claws.
"Shelgon, use Headbutt!"
Shelgon endured the hits, finished its power-up, and retaliated with a headbutt charged with white energy, sending Sandshrew flying.
Shelgon empowered by Dragon Dance... was an unstoppable wall.
"Sandshrew, use Rollout!"
"You're going to power up with Rollout? Then we'll keep powering up too! Dragon Dance again!"
Shelgon, with its high defense and increasing strength, became Sandshrew's greatest natural enemy. Ethan Black found himself without clear options.
And to make matters worse, on the other side of the field, Charmeleon was also being overwhelmed by Metang.
(End of chapter)