Hundreds of people blocked the entrance to the cerulean stadium, a human tide screaming his name.
Devon Corp private security, dressed in black tactical suits, formed an impenetrable perimeter the moment Enzo arrived.
"Mr. Enzo! Is it true that Devon is pressuring you to win?" "Enzo! Enzo! Are you afraid of facing Bea?"
The questions were bullets fired in the chaos, but Enzo walked with the indifference of a monarch.
However, a reporter, shorter and more agile than the others, managed to breach the security barrier, shoving a fuzzy microphone inches from Enzo's nose.
"Enzo! Sources confirm you were seen at an intimate dinner last night with an Officer Jenny! What is your relationship with the law enforcement clan?"
Enzo's stride stopped. The silence spread momentarily through the front rows.
Enzo turned his head slowly. His eyes, visible just enough to show a cold amusement, fixed on the camera lens. He smiled. Not the smile of a boy caught in the act, but the smile of someone controlling the narrative.
"I have no comments regarding my private life," he said, his voice calm and projected.
"So you don't deny it?" the journalist insisted, trying to provoke him.
Enzo simply winked at the camera, turned his back, and continued walking, leaving the journalist talking to herself while the crowd went wild with the mystery.
He approached the barricades where the fans were crushed against the metal. It was a surreal sight. Most of the teenagers were wearing replicas of his style: baggy black clothes, masks, tactical caps. Many held products from Devon's new "Dark Urban" line.
Did I just accidentally create Team Yell? Enzo thought, suppressing an internal laugh. All they're missing are the trumpets.
He stopped to sign a few shirts and Poké Balls extended toward him. That was when an arm burst through the confusion.
"Enzo! Sign mine, please!"
Enzo looked down. It was a teenager, maybe two years younger than him. He had an incipient reddish mohawk, ripped pants, and a denim vest full of pins. He had a punk attitude that Enzo recognized immediately.
Time stopped for Enzo.
He knew who that kid was. He wasn't just any fan. That was Sidney. The future Elite Four member of the Hoenn region. The Dark-type master who would one day terrorize trainers with his Mega Absol.
Enzo recovered his composure and took the boy's Poké Ball. Discreetly, as the permanent marker touched the red metal, Enzo activated the system to analyze the Pokémon.
Scanning... Target: Poochyena. Level: 12. Ability: Run Away.
Enzo suppressed a sigh. He hasn't caught the Absol yet. It's just a Poochyena.[dp1]
He finished the signature and handed the ball back, looking the boy in the eyes.
"I like your style," Enzo said, genuinely. "What's your name?"
The boy looked like he was about to faint. His idol, the Dark-type master, had complimented his style.
"S-Sidney! My name is Sidney!" he stammered, vibrating with emotion. "I came from Hoenn just to see you beat up all these rich kids! My dream is to become a powerful Dark-type trainer like you!!"
Enzo laughed, a raspy, approving sound. The crowd around them quieted down to listen.
"I like you, Sidney. You've got right mentality," Enzo said, lowering his voice to something conspiratorial. "You know what? Give me your contact info."
There was a collective gasp of envy from the crowd.
"What? Seriously?" Sidney almost dropped his phone trying to fish it out of his tight pants.
"If I ever go to Hoenn..." Enzo said as the boy passed his digits into the phone Enzo held out, "...I'll give you a call. We need more trainers like you."
Sidney passed the contact, shaking. The crowd's respect for Enzo skyrocketed. He wasn't just an untouchable celebrity, he valued his "own."
Enzo said goodbye with a wave and finally entered the coolness of the stadium, leaving behind a Sidney who looked like he had just won the lottery.
The air conditioning hummed, but it couldn't cool the atmosphere.
Steven hadn't arrived yet.
Enzo walked to the corner where Brock was talking to a girl with short orange hair.
"Brock," Enzo greeted with a nod.
"Enzo," Brock replied, serious but cordial. "Ready for today?"
Enzo nodded then turned to the girl. Misty. Daisy's younger sister. Enzo mentally prepared himself for the usual disdain he received from the Cerulean Gym Leader, but Misty surprised him.
"I love the jacket," she said with a bright smile, pointing to his Devon outfit. "It's a shame the collection is all black and grey. If they had something in water-blue, I'd buy the whole stock."
Enzo blinked, surprised. "I'll talk to Steven."
"Do that," she laughed. "And good luck today. Keep annoying my sister Daisy, please. I love seeing her face when you win. She turns purple."
Enzo let out a genuine laugh. "You can count on that."
He walked away to sit in his usual corner, pulling out his phone to check messages, but he didn't have time. The sofa beside him sank.
Enzo looked to the side. It was Nessa. The future Water Gym Leader of the Galar region. She was stunning, with a model posture, and she knew it. A little further away, leaning against a wall with her arms crossed and eyes focused on the floor, was Bea.
"Congratulations, Enzo," Nessa said, her voice soft but loaded with intent.
Enzo blocked his phone and looked at her, amused. "Congratulations? I don't even know when I was born, so I doubt it's my birthday."
Nessa laughed, an elegant sound. "Not that, silly. The last time I was in this city, you were just an orphan nobody cared about. Today? I arrived and saw your face everywhere. Billboards, buses..."
Enzo shrugged. "That's all Devon's work. I just signed a paper."
Nessa leaned slightly toward him, lowering her voice.
"Yes, but... don't you feel the pressure? Before, getting here was already a miracle. But now? After Devon bet millions on your image? If you get eliminated today... won't it be a disgrace? I'm just worried about you, Enzo."
It was a classic tactic. Sowing doubt under the guise of concern.
Enzo smiled.
"Of course you are," he said calmly. "I understand. I also got super worried when I saw the amount of money Chairman Rose is investing in the Galar League."
Nessa's smile faltered for a fraction of a second.
"The giant stadiums, the sponsorships for prodigies, the mega Wild Area project..." Enzo continued, as if commenting on the weather. "If I were you, or your friend over there, I wouldn't be able to sleep. Just imagine what Chairman Rose would say if, after all that astronomical investment, you lost to just 'some orphan' from Kanto."
Nessa bit her lower lip, the attack turned against her with surgical precision.
"I don't know who you think you are."
The voice came from behind. Bea pushed off the wall and walked toward them. Her aura was heavy, pure contained aggression.
"But I only need one match," Bea said, looking Enzo up and down. "Two rounds. That's what my Machamp needs to wipe your whole team. You should be more careful with your words."
Enzo leaned back on the sofa, sighing and looking at the ceiling.
"I hate 'being careful'," he replied, bored. "Maybe that's what makes us different. I would never send a friend of mine to try and unbalance an opponent's mentality before a match. But, to each their own strategy."
Bea clenched her fists.
"And about those 'two rounds'..." Enzo lowered his gaze from the ceiling directly to Bea's eyes. "If I were you, I wouldn't be so confident. Overconfidence is poison."
Bea opened her mouth to respond, but the double doors of the room burst open.
Silence fell over the room.
Steven Stone entered.
But it wasn't the impeccable, elegant Steven as usual. He had deep, dark circles under his eyes, his hair was slightly disheveled, and most shocking of all, the heir to Devon Corp was carrying, with his own hands, a massive duffel bag that looked like it weighed a ton.
Steven ignored everyone. He walked past everyone, and went straight to the men's restroom.
BAM. The door slammed shut.
Enzo's phone vibrated in his pocket.
[Steven Stone: Get in here. NOW.]
Enzo stood up. Bea took a step forward, as if she wanted to block his path.
"Excuse me," Enzo said, stepping around her without waiting for a response.
He entered the bathroom. Steven was leaning against the sinks. As soon as he saw Enzo, he picked up the duffel bag and threw it in his direction.
"Catch!"
Enzo caught the bag. The weight almost dislocated his shoulder. It made a metallic sound, the sound of things colliding.
"What the hell...?" Enzo unzipped it.
His eyes widened.
The bag was full. Dozens and dozens of sparkling, colorful stones with the DNA symbol in the center. Mega Stones. Key Stones. There was an incalculable fortune inside.
"How many do you think are in there?" Steven asked, with a manic, exhausted smile.
"This can't be..." Enzo murmured. "This is..."
"It can, it can!" Steven laughed, splashing cold water on his face. "I cleaned out every antique shop in Kalos. Whenever a lead appeared, I bought it. Strange stones in street markets? Bought them. Family heirlooms in auctions? Bought them."
"And why are you giving this to me?" Enzo asked, zipping the bag quickly.
"Because I can't keep this a secret!" Steven confessed, shaking with excitement. "But you can. You have to keep this until we have a date to study them in the lab. If my father sees this now, he'll confiscate everything for 'corporate analysis'."
Enzo nodded, mentally calculating the firepower he had just received.
"Okay. They stay with me." Enzo paused. "And the Tower of Mastery? Did you get anything?"
Steven's smile vanished.
"That old man... Gurkinn," Steven spat the name. "He wouldn't sell a single one. I offered double the market value. I even thought about buying the entire tower and the land around it, but he said 'legacy has no price'."
Enzo had to make a Herculean effort to keep a straight face hearing Steven talk about buying a world heritage site as if it were a Sitrus Berry.
"Leave old Gurkinn to me," Enzo said. "Keep looking in your region. Hoenn must have these stones too. And we have to contain the information if we want to monopolize this."
"Monopolize... yes," Steven murmured, agreeing.
"Did you train at all for today?" Enzo asked.
Steven looked in the mirror, fixing his jacket. "No. And honestly? I don't mind losing. The faster this tournament ends for me, the faster I can go to Hoenn to look for more."
They left the bathroom, Enzo with the bag discreetly stowed on his back while Steven fixed his tie.
"Attention, Trainers! Please proceed to the stage!"
Enzo and Steven exchanged a look and walked to the arena.
The stadium lights were blinding. Thousands of people roared.
At the commentary table, the composition was different. Gym Leader Daisy was there, next to her was Professor Birch, and to everyone's surprise, a mountain of muscle with military sunglasses: Lt. Surge.
Surge's presence was a clear message to Daisy, she couldn't be biased today.
Daisy stood up, visibly more restrained due to the intimidating presence of the Lieutenant beside her.
"Welcome everyone to Cerulean City!" she announced. "I hope you are ready to see the semi-finals of the Kanto Junior Tournament! With us, we have the 6 finalists!"
Enzo, Steven, Bea, Nessa, Brock, and Misty lined up on the stage.
"For this phase," Daisy continued, "numbers from 1 to 6 will be drawn. Each trainer will compete in a Double Battle. You may use all 4 members of your team. Whoever runs out of Pokémon or forfeits, loses."
Lt. Surge grabbed the microphone, his voice booming like thunder.
"But there's a twist, soldiers! Today we don't just want winners. We want efficiency! Of the three winners today, the one who defeats their opponent in the least amount of time and with the fewest Pokémon lost will win a Golden Ticket straight to the Grand Final!"
The crowd cheered.
"The other two winners," Surge continued, grinning, "will have to kill each other tomorrow to see who proceeds to the final. Are you ready to draw the numbers?"
A golden bowl appeared. One by one, the trainers drew a ball.
Enzo unscrewed his ball. Number 1.
The giant screen began to rotate the matchups, stopping with a heavy digital sound that echoed throughout the stadium.
[MATCH 1: Enzo (Kanto) vs. Nessa (Galar)]
The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Nessa shot him a look from across the stage—a seductive, dangerous glance designed to disarm. A classic Charm attempt. But Enzo didn't flinch. He treated the seduction like a failed status move, smiling back with cold amusement.
At the commentary table, Daisy leaned into the microphone, unable to hide a vindictive smile.
"It looks like luck has run out," she said, her voice laced with sweet poison. "Nessa is no amateur. She will finally show Enzo what the true power of Water can do when handled by a professional."
Beside her, Lt. Surge scoffed, adjusting his military sunglasses. He looked sideways at Daisy with a predatory smile.
"Are you so sure, doll?" he teased, his deep voice resonating. "Want to bet? I'll put my month's salary on Enzo taking her down."
The tension at the judges' table became palpable, sparks almost flying between the electric leader and the water leader. Before Daisy could respond with an insult, Professor Birch stepped in, laughing nervously into the microphone.
"Now, now! Let's calm down, colleagues!" said Birch, cutting the heavy atmosphere with an analytical tone. "Regardless of who wins, what I am truly anxious to see is Enzo's team. Against an opponent of this caliber, will he finally be forced to use more Pokémon? The depth of his team remains the biggest mystery of this tournament!"
While the commentators calmed down, the screen rotated again to define the remaining matches.
[MATCH 2: Bea (Galar) vs. Brock (Kanto)]
Bea clenched her fists, her eyes fixed on Brock. It was the test of brute strength she wanted.
[MATCH 3: Steven Stone (Hoenn) vs. Misty (Kanto)]
Misty widened her eyes, looking at the Devon heir. Steven didn't even look at the screen; he was checking his watch, clearly planning to end the match as quickly as possible to get back to his stones.
Lt. Surge regained control of the broadcast.
"Destiny is set, soldiers! Enzo and Nessa, get to your positions! The battle for the Golden Ticket starts now!"
[MATCH 1: Enzo vs. Nessa]
The stadium lights flickered and the field transformed. The ground opened up to reveal an Olympic pool divided by floating islands of earth.
Nessa entered the field with the confidence of a queen, spinning two Ultra Balls on her fingers. Enzo walked with his hands in his pockets, his gaze hidden by the brim of his cap.
"Let's see if you swim as well as you talk, Enzo," Nessa teased, tossing the spheres.
Enzo used the system to verify Nessa's stats:
[ SYSTEM SCAN — TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Specimen: Toxapex
Level: 41
Potential: BLUE
Ability: Regenerator
Typing: Water / Poison
Moves Detected: Toxic Spikes, Recover, Baneful Bunker, Scald.
Observations: "Defensive core specimen. Specializes in attrition warfare. Battlefield denial protocols are active."
[ SYSTEM SCAN — TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Specimen: Pelipper
Level: 39
Potential: LIGHT BLUE
Ability: Drizzle
Typing: Water / Flying
Moves Detected: Hurricane, Scald, U-turn, Tailwind.
Observations: "Weather manipulation unit. Atmospheric control capabilities detected. Frequent tactical repositioning is noted."
[ SYSTEM SCAN — TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Specimen: Barraskewda
Level: 40
Potential: LIGHT BLUE
Ability: Swift Swim
Typing: Water
Moves Detected: Aqua Jet, Close Combat, Psychic Fangs, Drill Run.
Observations: "Extreme velocity signature confirmed. High synergy with rain-field. Priority execution is optimized."
[ SYSTEM SCAN — TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Specimen: Drednaw
Level: 42
Potential: BLUE
Ability: Strong Jaw
Typing: Water / Rock
Moves Detected: Liquidation, Rock Slide, Crunch, Ice Fang.
Observations: "High-impact striker. Jaw musculature reinforced beyond baseline. Aggressive frontline deployment is recommended."
Pelipper! Barraskewda! Show him the deluge!"
Pop! Pop!
The blue pelican spread its wings, and at once dark clouds swallowed the stadium ceiling. Rain came down in a torrential sheet (Drizzle). Beside it, Barraskewda sliced through the water with impossible speed, its fins turning into silver blurs under the rain (Swift Swim).
Enzo didn't hesitate.
"Houndoom. Krokorok. To the stage."
The hellhound landed on one of the earthen islands, the fire on its back hissing violently under the rain. Beside him, a desert crocodile adjusted his sunglasses and stared across the flooded arena with visible annoyance.
Commentary Table
Daisy: "Ha! What a rookie mistake! A Fire-type and a Ground-type in the rain against Nessa? Enzo just signed his own death warrant. This will be over in one turn."
Lt. Surge: "Don't be naive, kid. Look at the dog's stance. He ain't shaking. The boy has a plan."
Prof. Birch: "Barraskewda's speed is doubled in this weather. Right now, it's the fastest Pokémon on the field. Enzo is in serious trouble if he doesn't have a countermeasure."
Nessa saw the Krokorok and smiled. Perfect target.
"Barraskewda! Liquidation on Krokorok! End him!"
Barraskewda became a living torpedo. The crowd barely tracked it before the strike landed. Water exploded against "Krokorok's" chest with enough force to crack the stone beneath him.
The stadium held its breath, waiting for the instant knockout.
But when the water settled, the "Krokorok" was still standing.
And laughing.
Its body shook, blurred, and dissolved into purple smoke.
In its place stood a small black fox with a wicked grin.
Zorua.
"What?!" Nessa shouted.
"Now," Enzo said calmly.
Zorua seized the moment of shock. He howled and mocked Pelipper with a shrill, taunting cry (Taunt), locking the bird out of support plays. At the same time, Houndoom opened his jaws and launched a ghostly-blue flame into Barraskewda (Will-O-Wisp).
The fish shrieked as the burn took hold, smoke rising from its scales. Its physical power dropped instantly.
Commentary Table
Daisy: "But— but that's cheating! He tricked her!"
Lt. Surge: "HAHAHA! It's called strategy, sweetheart! The fish is burned and the bird just got muzzled! Masterstroke!"
Nessa ground her teeth and recalled Barraskewda at once.
"Fall back! Go, Drednaw!"
The giant turtle crashed onto the field, jaws snapping, heavy enough to shake the floating island. Enzo's eyes narrowed. Houndoom couldn't stay in front of that thing for long.
"Switch."
He recalled Houndoom in a red beam and threw another ball.
This time, the real Krokorok landed on the field.
The instant his feet touched the stone, he roared, releasing a menacing pressure that washed over Drednaw (Intimidate). The turtle visibly stiffened, its attack power dropping.
"Don't think you're safe!" Nessa shouted, pointing at the fox. "Pelipper, Scald on Zorua! Drednaw, Rock Slide on both!"
Boiling water screamed across the rain. At the same time, giant rocks tore loose and came crashing down.
"Zorua," Enzo murmured, "open the path."
The little fox understood.
He didn't dodge.
He ignored the Scald and the falling boulders and instead turned on Drednaw, forcing out false, pitiful cries that twisted the turtle's nerves and shattered its focus (Fake Tears). Drednaw's Special Defense plummeted.
A second later, the combo hit.
Scald and Rock Slide collided with the center of the field.
Zorua was buried under the avalanche, taking the full force of both attacks. When the dust settled, he didn't get back up.
But Krokorok endured.
The earlier Intimidate had weakened Drednaw just enough. Krokorok came out of the dust battered, furious, and grinning. He slammed both claws into the ground.
A spiraling vortex of sand exploded around Drednaw (Sand Tomb), trapping the turtle in a grinding abrasive whirlpool.
Referee: "Zorua is unable to battle!"
Commentary Table
Daisy: "And there goes the first one! I warned you—Enzo is losing pieces!"
Prof. Birch: "No, Daisy, look closer. Barraskewda is burned, Pelipper was shut down, and Drednaw is trapped with its Special Defense broken. Zorua paid for all of that. It was a calculated sacrifice."
Enzo's jaw tightened for half a second, but he didn't look away from the field.
"Houndoom. Back in."
The hellhound returned to the rain-soaked island, steam hissing around his paws. Nessa, seeing the Taunt on Pelipper had expired, made a quick call.
"Pelipper, out. Toxapex, take over!"
Pelipper vanished in red light, and Toxapex landed in its place, spikes clicking and poison already pooling under it.
The field had become chaos.
Houndoom and Krokorok on one side.
A trapped Drednaw and an immortal Toxapex on the other.
"Don't attack," Enzo said. "Ruin them."
Houndoom threw back his head and unleashed a black, snarling bark (Snarl). A wave of dark sound rolled across the field, clipping both opponents and lowering their Special Attack. At the same time, Krokorok narrowed his eyes and raked his claws together, sharpening them with deliberate precision (Hone Claws).
Nessa clicked her tongue. They were trying to scale.
"Toxapex! Toxic Spikes!"
Purple spikes spread across the islands and into the shallow water lanes. The poison seeped into Houndoom's and Krokorok's paws the moment they moved.
Their life started draining.
Drednaw roared inside the sand trap, furious and bleeding from the abrasive vortex.
"Drednaw, Liquidation on the dog!" Nessa ordered.
The giant turtle charged through the sand, water gathering around its jaws. Houndoom was already poisoned and weakened by the rain. That hit would kill him.
Enzo saw it too.
But before he could speak, Nessa made a second adjustment. Her eyes flicked to the field, then to the pressure building on Drednaw.
Toxapex was buying time—but not control.
Drednaw was trapped, weakened, and one clean special hit from collapse.
She needed to restore the pace.
"Fall back, Toxapex! Pelipper, back in!"
The blue pelican burst onto the field again, wings opening wide as it tried to reclaim command of the rain and cover Drednaw.
Enzo's eyes sharpened.
He had been waiting for this.
"Houndoom," he said quietly, "this one is yours."
Pelipper opened its beak, boiling water gathering for another Scald.
"Scald!" Nessa shouted.
Houndoom moved first.
Even with poison burning through his veins and rain hissing against his hide, he planted his paws, locked his crimson eyes on Pelipper, and fired a concentrated wave of dark energy straight through the storm.
"Dark Pulse!"
The black blast hit Pelipper mid-cast.
The bird shrieked as the attack tore across its chest and flung it sideways through the rain. It slammed into the broken edge of the arena island, wings twitching, then slipped into the flooded gap below with a heavy splash.
Referee: "Pelipper is unable to battle!"
Commentary Table
Daisy: "Pelipper is down?! He took out the weather engine!"
Prof. Birch: "Exactly! Enzo delayed that knockout until the moment Nessa needed Pelipper most. Houndoom didn't just attack—he cut the heart out of her field control."
Lt. Surge: "HAHA! That's it, kid! Even half-dead, that Houndoom bites like a demon!"
Nessa's face tightened. She had no time to mourn the loss.
"Back in, Toxapex!"
Toxapex re-entered the field in a flash of red light, poison dripping from its spines.
At the same time, Drednaw lunged.
Its Liquidation had not stopped.
"Houndoom, now!" Enzo shouted. "One more! Dark Pulse!"
Houndoom didn't dodge.
He accepted the hit.
At point-blank range, he fired another blast of dark energy into Drednaw's face—into a target whose Special Defense had already been shredded by Zorua's Fake Tears.
The exchange landed at the same time.
Drednaw's Liquidation smashed Houndoom and sent him crashing into the stadium wall.
Houndoom's Dark Pulse detonated across Drednaw's snout like a cannon blast.
The turtle staggered, dropped to one knee, and barely stayed standing.
Houndoom slid down the wall, smoke rising from his body. He tried to rise.
He couldn't.
Referee: "Houndoom is unable to battle!"
Commentary Table
Lt. Surge: "Damn it! This is a disaster! The dog took Pelipper with him, but the kid is still pinned! His last unit is poisoned and fighting two at once!"
Daisy: "Face it, Lieutenant. Nessa still has Toxapex on the field and Barraskewda in reserve. Enzo's down to one poisoned Pokémon."
Krokorok stood alone in the rain.
Poison pulsed through his body. Sand still churned around Drednaw. His chest rose and fell hard.
Nessa saw the opening.
"End this! Drednaw, Jaw Lock!"
The giant turtle charged, jaws wide, aiming to clamp down and finish the match before Krokorok could move again.
Enzo didn't call for a dodge.
He looked at his Pokémon and spoke in a low voice.
"Show them."
Krokorok's eyes burned blood-red.
Pain. Poison. Rain. The pressure of standing alone.
All of it ignited the latent power inside him.
A blinding white light exploded from his body, swallowing the center of the arena. The crowd screamed as the silhouette stretched, broadened, and grew monstrous. Red-black scales rippled into place. The snout lengthened. The claws thickened.
The light burst apart.
KROOKODILE.
He roared.
The sheer malice in that roar made Drednaw hesitate mid-charge. The aura crashed over the turtle again (Intimidate), reducing its attack to almost nothing.
Jaw Lock landed on Krookodile's arm.
He didn't even flinch.
Krookodile smiled.
Then he grabbed Drednaw by the shell with one hand and drove his foot into the ground.
EARTHQUAKE.
The floating island split apart.
The point-blank shockwave blasted through Drednaw's body and shattered the already broken terrain. The turtle's eyes rolled back, and it collapsed into the sand vortex.
Referee: "Drednaw is unable to battle!"
The stadium exploded.
Nessa's confidence cracked for the first time. She was breathing hard now as she threw her next Poké Ball.
"Barraskewda!"
The fish returned to the field, still burned, scales scarred from Houndoom's Will-O-Wisp. Toxapex shifted beside it, ready to finish what remained.
It was Krookodile against the world.
"Barraskewda, Aqua Jet! Toxapex, Venoshock!" Nessa screamed.
"Go deep," Enzo whispered.
Krookodile slammed both claws down and vanished into the earth (Dig) a fraction of a second before the attacks connected. Water and poison crashed into empty ground.
Underground, the poison from the Toxic Spikes flared through his veins. Krookodile trembled—but kept moving.
The earth beneath Toxapex bulged.
Then exploded.
Krookodile burst upward like a land shark and uppercut the defensive wall straight into the air. Toxapex spun once, crashed onto the broken stone, and lay still.
Referee: "Toxapex is unable to battle!"
Barraskewda screamed and launched itself for one final suicidal strike, rainwater trailing behind it like a blade.
"End it," Enzo said, already turning his back.
Barraskewda slammed into Krookodile's chest with Aqua Jet—but the burn from Houndoom's Will-O-Wisp had stolen nearly all of its power.
Krookodile didn't move.
He caught the fish in one massive hand.
His tail ignited with dragon-green energy.
DRAGON TAIL.
BAM!
He drove Barraskewda into the shattered island so hard the arena shook.
Silence covered the stadium for one stunned heartbeat.
Then the referee raised the flag.
Referee: "Barraskewda is unable to battle! The winner is Enzo!"
Commentary Table:
Lt. Surge: "YES! DID YOU SEE THAT?! HE DISMANTLED HER STRATEGY PIECE BY PIECE! PAY UP!"
Daisy: (Mouth open, speechless) "This... this shouldn't be possible..."
Prof. Birch: "Fascinating! He used Nessa's aggression against her. Zorua and Houndoom were pawns sacrificed to create the king, Krookodile, and in the process, he hid his last pokemon for a future match. An absolute tactical victory!"
Enzo patted his newly evolved Krookodile on the head, ignoring the applause.