"Return, Infernape. You've done well—get some rest."
Lucas withdrew Infernape into its Poké Ball. After a brief moment of reassurance, he threw out his sixth and final Pokémon.
"Salamence, I'm counting on you!"
"Rrrroar!!"
With a thunderous cry, a massive Salamence soared through the skies. Its presence radiated overwhelming pressure, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Upon spotting Paul, its eyes narrowed with barely concealed fury.
"…Is that—?!"
Paul's eyes widened in disbelief. Just a single glance had left him stunned.
This Salamence… its power was on par with an Elite Four's!
But that wasn't what shook him. What truly caught Paul off guard were the subtle details—the way it moved, the way it glared at him. He recognized this Salamence.
"You adopted that Salamence?!"
Yes. This was that Salamence—the one that once belonged to Hunter J!
And the fury in its eyes? It wasn't just raw aggression—it was personal. Paul had been involved in the downfall of its former trainer, and it remembered.
As for the word "adopted," Paul wasn't just being sarcastic. He knew the story behind it.
After the fall of Hunter J, there was no way a Pokémon as dangerous as her Salamence could just be released into the wild or casually rehomed. It was placed in a secured reserve—off-limits to the public.
"I encountered it by pure chance." Lucas explained simply.
"After a few… trials, we came to trust one another."
He didn't go into the specifics—the difficulty of forming that bond, the battles they'd fought together, or the fragile foundation of mutual respect that had brought them to this point.
Though they hadn't reached perfect synergy yet, due to limited time and familiarity, the fact remained: an Elite-level Salamence was an Elite-level threat. Its strength was not up for debate.
"…Alright." Paul muttered, his voice now grim and focused. "Let's do this."
Lucas had brought out one of his strongest partners to face him. That alone said a lot.
Elite-Class Salamence vs. Honor-Class Torterra. The battle begins!
"Salamence—Flamethrower!"
Salamence didn't hold back. A roaring stream of fire erupted from its jaws, racing across the battlefield with terrifying speed. In the blink of an eye, it was upon Torterra.
The regenerative growth strategy had its merits—but it came with a critical flaw. Torterra needed to stay rooted. It couldn't dodge.
Against most opponents, that was manageable. Against someone this strong? It was like becoming a stationary target.
Fortunately, Torterra had already been rooted for a while. Its power had surged.
"Protect! Then Light Screen!"
Unable to evade, Torterra instantly threw up a shimmering shield. The flames smashed into the green barrier but couldn't break through. The moment the Protect faded, a translucent wall of energy—Light Screen—shimmered into place, covering Torterra in a second layer of defense.
Lucas had seen enough of Torterra in battle to know better than to rush in.
"Dragon Dance! Then Flamethrower again!"
Despite the rage simmering in its chest, Salamence moved with grace and control. Its body arced through the sky, weaving a mysterious aerial rhythm as it powered up. Meanwhile, the fire in its throat never stopped—streams of searing flame continued to batter Torterra's defenses.
"Stone Edge!"
Torterra didn't resist. Its eyes glowed with brilliant blue.
Massive stone pillars erupted around it, forming a protective barrier. From between the cracks, sharp stone blades launched one after another toward the airborne dragon.
"Dodge!"
Powered by Dragon Dance, Salamence's speed had become terrifying. It twisted and rolled midair, effortlessly weaving through the flurry of stone blades, never ceasing its dance—or its flames.
"Watch your back—counterattack!"
Just as Salamence was convinced it had dodged everything, Lucas' warning rang out.
Salamence didn't hesitate. It spun midair and unleashed another burst of Flamethrower—right as several sneaky Stone Edge shards curved around to strike from behind.
The fire intercepted most of them in time—but not all. A few slipped through the defenses, slamming into Salamence's body and drawing blood.
Enraged, Salamence's pupils dilated. An orange beam—Dragon Pulse—exploded from its jaws, vaporizing every stone in its path. It tore through the battlefield, punching through Light Screen and slamming into Torterra with reduced but still substantial force.
"Raaaaa…"
Torterra flinched, a visible frown of pain crossing its face. But it endured. With a deep breath, it summoned another ring of stone pillars and launched another round of stone blades.
"Mix in Magical Leaf! Scatter the attack!"
At Paul's command, glowing green leaves burst into the air, swirling from all directions. Like a leafy storm, they danced in tandem with the Stone Edge shards, masking their paths and turning the attack into a dazzling—and deadly—barrage.
Sharp blades hidden within glittering leaves. The perfect trap.
"Keep dancing—then Hurricane!"
Lucas' voice cut through the chaos.
Salamence didn't falter. It flapped its wings powerfully, whipping up a colossal storm around itself.
Hurricane!
The moment the swirling wind gathered force, it surged outward in a spiraling torrent, shredding through the air. The Magical Leaf and Stone Edge barrage was swallowed up before it could reach Salamence.
Not only was the incoming assault neutralized, but the chaotic wind created massive turbulence across the entire field.
In the eye of the storm, Salamence's wings flashed once more. It launched another Dragon Pulse at the now-exposed Torterra.
"Endure it—use Leech Seed!"
Torterra didn't even flinch as the beam slammed into its shell. It had already anchored itself deeply into the earth, its body glowing faintly with an emerald light.
From beneath the leaves of its tree-like shell, several glowing seeds burst forth, launching toward the airborne Salamence.
Even mid-flight, Salamence's instincts kicked in—its wings twisted, changing altitude to dodge.
But Paul's timing had been perfect. The Hurricane it had summoned had disrupted its own flight control just enough to slow its reflexes.
The seeds struck true.
Shff! Shff!
Vines erupted from the embedded seeds, wrapping around Salamence's limbs like shackles.
Leech Seed successful!
The draining effect began immediately. Bits of Salamence's vitality flowed through the vines and into Torterra. At the same time, Torterra's shell pulsed green as its Overgrow-boosted regeneration kicked in, healing its wounds little by little.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
Even if Leech Seed didn't do heavy damage up front, that steady drain would accumulate over time. In a long battle, it was a nightmare.
But… time was not what he planned to give Paul.
"Fly!"
Salamence soared upward in an instant—ascending straight into the clouds at blinding speed.
Paul frowned slightly. That wasn't just retreat—it was setup.
Two-turn move incoming.
He immediately barked his command: "Dig underground, now!"
Torterra lowered its body and smashed into the earth, quickly disappearing from view.
Salamence's attack will miss…
Or so Paul thought.
Lucas' voice rang out from the opposite end of the field.
"Target prediction—adjust trajectory and strike!"
BOOM!!
In a split-second dive, Salamence plummeted from the sky—but instead of aiming at where Torterra had been, it changed course mid-descent and struck several meters to the side with terrifying precision.
KR-KOOM!!
The entire battlefield shook as stone and dirt exploded upward.
And sure enough—
"RAAAAA!!"
The shockwave and debris unearthed Torterra, who hadn't tunneled deeply enough yet. Caught by the edge of the impact, it was sent flying out of the ground and slammed back onto the surface.
"Wood Hammer! Don't give it breathing room!"
Despite the damage, Torterra's response was immediate. Glowing with green energy, it charged forward, front legs glowing bright as it readied its signature counterattack.
Salamence, now hovering above the battlefield, tensed its wings.
Lucas' voice was calm but sharp. "Zen Headbutt—aim low."
Salamence twisted its body, horns glowing with a psychic sheen. Then it dove again—not from above, but on a low arc just off the ground.
CLANG!!
The two collided mid-charge—Wood Hammer and Zen Headbutt crashing into each other with a sickening force. A shockwave erupted, pushing both Pokémon back.
Torterra gritted its teeth. Salamence hissed, shaking off the impact. Neither one was willing to give an inch.
"Torterra! Earth Power—now!"
From beneath its feet, a golden glow erupted. Cracks spiderwebbed across the battlefield, followed by massive bursts of energy erupting upward, aimed directly at the airborne Salamence.
"Air Slash! Clear the blast zone!"
Salamence's wings flared wide, blades of wind slicing downward to disrupt the Earth Power eruption before it could fully materialize.
The golden geysers shattered mid-formation.
But the force of the canceled explosion created another wave of shock and wind.
Both Pokémon were forced backward, glaring at each other, battle-worn and breathing heavily.
A standstill—for now.
But the tide could turn at any moment.
Paul's eyes narrowed.
This Salamence—no, this battle—was unlike anything he'd faced in the tournament so far. Every exchange was fatal. Every command demanded absolute precision. Every second felt like a duel not just of Pokémon, but of philosophies.
And it wasn't over yet.
Torterra exhaled heavily, stomping a foreleg as its breathing grew deeper. Its shell was cracked in places, the edges of its tree's foliage scorched from repeated blasts. Yet its legs remained firm—anchored, grounded.
Across the field, Salamence hovered low, its breathing ragged but eyes sharp with predatory intent. The Leech Seed vines were still clinging to its limbs, though slightly frayed from the fierce air currents it had summoned earlier.
Paul's gaze remained calm, but his thoughts were racing.
I've already forced Salamence to consume more energy than expected… If this keeps up, Overgrow and Leech Seed together will tip the scales.
But Lucas gave no sign of concern. Instead, a faint smile flickered across his face.
"You're not the only one who knows how to manipulate the battlefield." he said quietly.
Paul's pupils narrowed slightly.
"Salamence—Dragon Dance!"
The crimson dragon roared, body igniting with a swirling aura of draconic energy. It twirled mid-air, wings outstretched, forming a glowing spiral of wind and power as its Attack and Speed surged.
He's doing it now? Paul realized instantly. He's prepping for the kill.
He barked a sharp command: "Stone Edge—surround it completely!"
Torterra slammed its front limbs into the ground again, summoning jagged stone spires—not just one, but a ring of sharpened pillars erupting around Salamence like a cage.
No escape. The moment it moved, it would skewer itself.
But Lucas didn't seem fazed.
"Crush the ring." he said coolly. "Use Steel Wing!"
Salamence's wings glowed silver. With a growl, it spun and smashed the surrounding stones mid-flight, shattering the rock pillars one after another in a dazzling, metallic arc. The shattered fragments were flung outward, some even striking Torterra's shell with sharp impacts.
And in that very moment—
"Now—Dragon Rush!!"
The command struck like a lightning bolt.
Salamence dove, enveloped in blazing blue draconic energy, its mouth wide in a thunderous roar.
Paul reacted instantly.
"Counter with Frenzy Plant!!"
A trembling rolled through the ground as Torterra summoned its most devastating Grass-type technique.
BOOM!!
Giant vines—thick as tree trunks—erupted from the earth and lashed upward like titanic whips, colliding head-on with the incoming Salamence.
The explosion of force and energy blinded the battlefield in a burst of dust and shockwaves.
CRACK! BOOM!!
Salamence tore through the first vine with raw power, then twisted to avoid the second—but the third slammed into its flank, knocking it off course.
Still, the momentum of Dragon Rush carried it through. It crashed into Torterra just as the final vine struck it from behind.
Both Pokémon were hit.
The two Pokemon were flung apart, skidding across opposite ends of the battlefield.
Torterra's shell smoked from the impact, its breath ragged. Its legs twitched, but it stayed standing.
Salamence tumbled mid-air, wings flaring as it barely managed to stabilize itself, landing roughly on its claws. It staggered once—just once—but refused to fall.
Both sides were bloodied. Drained. Near their limits.
And then, almost imperceptibly, Salamence's knees buckled slightly.
The Leech Seed vines pulsed one last time—and snapped.
The effect was over.
Torterra breathed in, barely able to hold its stance. Its tree was falling. But its Overgrow aura still burned faintly.
Paul's voice rang out, hoarse but steady:
"…Earthquake!"
Torterra raised up and slammed all four limbs into the ground with primal force.
Lucas' answer was immediate.
"Take flight. Sky high—then finish it!"
Salamence pushed off the ground and soared upward, wings flaring one last time as it rose above the shockwave's radius. The quake tore through the field below, but missed its target.
Then—
"Use Draco Meteor!!"
From high in the clouds, Salamence summoned the last of its power, roaring toward the heavens as a brilliant orb of energy spiraled skyward.
It burst.
And then rained fire.
Comets—burning blue and gold—fell like judgment from above.
Paul's expression darkened.
"Withdraw! Use Protect!!"
Torterra instantly pulled into its shell, a green energy dome forming around it just as the first meteor struck.
BOOM! CRASH! CRACK!!
One by one, the meteors slammed into the field, cracking earth and uprooting boulders. The battlefield became a cratered ruin in seconds.
The dust settled.
Torterra's shell lay in the center, scorched—but still glowing faintly with protective energy.
Then—it moved.
It was still standing.
Barely.
Paul exhaled sharply, then slowly raised a hand.
"Torterra, return."
The Grass-type looked back at its trainer one last time before the red light of its Poké Ball enveloped it.
The crowd was silent for just a second.
And the battle… still wasn't over.
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