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The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting pale silver light over the ocean. Waves rolled and crashed against each other below, churned into great white peaks by the force of the ongoing battle. Shockwaves from the clash of Pokémon spread outward across the water's surface, sending spray flying in every direction.
At the same moment, both Edwin and Whitney issued commands to their Pokémon.
"Greninja, Water Shuriken!" Whitney called out firmly.
Greninja responded instantly. Water energy gathered rapidly around its hands, condensing into a spinning disc of razor-sharp water. With a sharp motion, it hurled the Water Shuriken toward the enemies ahead, the attack cutting through the night air with precision.
"Salamence, use Dragon Dance!" Whitney continued without pause.
Compared to Edwin, Whitney's full commitment to the battle gave Jacob a far greater sense of reassurance. She had already sent out Greninja and Garchomp, and now she called forth a third Pokémon — her King level Salamence.
Salamence took to the air, Dragon-type energy surging fiercely around its body as it twisted and spun in a powerful Dragon Dance. Its speed climbed. Its attack sharpened. It was ready.
"Giovanni… cover me," Whitney said, her voice steady. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bracelet fitted with a Key Stone. Raising her right hand high, she turned to Garchomp.
"Garchomp, Mega Evolve!"
Every eye on the battlefield turned toward Whitney and Garchomp. The Key Stone on Whitney's bracelet began to glow, and in response, the Mega Stone embedded at the tip of Garchomp's tail lit up with the same brilliant light. In an instant, the two stones resonated, and a blinding flash erupted across the sea.
Even Jacob showed a flicker of surprise as he watched.
Whitney was holding nothing back. She had deployed two Champion-level Pokémon and one King level Pokémon, and now she was using Mega Evolution on top of that. It was a full commitment to this battle.
Garchomp's Mega Evolution, huh, Jacob thought quietly. There are bound to be differences between a game and reality. In the game, Mega Garchomp loses some Speed. But in a real battle, it probably isn't that straightforward.
Nearby, Edwin shifted uncomfortably. He glanced at the full-force Whitney, then looked toward Jacob, then back again. He was not sure how to feel.
Whitney… you're really making this awkward for me, he thought, though he said nothing aloud.
We're both newer to his side, and you're already going all out like this. Standing next to you, I look like I just wandered in by accident. Boss Jacob is going to think I'm not serious about this.
And on top of all that, I don't even have a Mega Stone. My Pokémon can't Mega Evolve.
Jacob looked at the two of them, his expression calm but sincere.
"Whitney. Edwin." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "I promise — neither of you will regret this decision."
They were fighting hard for him. He was not going to let that go to waste.
"Rooaar!"
Garchomp's roar tore through the night. Its body had transformed completely. Its frame was larger and more angular, its eyes wild and fierce. The sweeping wings it once bore had reshaped into massive, blade-like scythes. It looked nothing short of terrifying.
Whitney had truly caught Jacob off guard in the best way. A Champion-level Garchomp after Mega Evolution still fell short of Peak Champion rank, but it was without question one of the most powerful Pokémon at the Champion level. It was a genuine force.
Then, without warning, the battlefield shifted.
Meyer's ace Pokémon, Gholdengo, flared with intense golden light. Steel-type energy surged from its body in powerful waves, filling the air with a dense, metallic pressure.
Jacob felt it immediately. So did the others.
That Gholdengo, Jacob assessed quickly. Its strength is second only to Swampert on their side. One step below Quasi-Master rank — roughly on the same level as Iron Valiant.
"Gold Rush!" Meyer commanded.
Waves of silver Steel-type energy burst outward in all directions, carrying immense pressure like a tidal surge. It was important to note that Gholdengo had already used Nasty Plot once earlier in the battle, sharply boosting its Special Attack. Now, using Gold Rush — a powerful Steel-type move that also gained a Same-Type Attack Bonus — the output was nothing short of devastating.
Worse still, Gold Rush was a multi-target move. It hit every Pokémon on the field.
Jacob's mind moved fast. Even with the Aurora Veil that Gigantamax Lapras had set up earlier with G-Max Resonance, a quasi-Champion level Pokémon taking a direct hit from this could be knocked out on the spot. Even a Champion-level Pokémon would come away severely hurt.
There was only one option.
"Grimmsnarl, block Gold Rush!"
Jacob's voice rang out with firm resolve. Gigantamax Grimmsnarl had already used Max Guard and had no defensive moves remaining. But someone had to step forward and take the hit.
Gigantamax Grimmsnarl did not hesitate for even a moment.
It stepped in front of all the allied Pokémon, planting itself firmly between them and the incoming attack. Then it crouched low, spreading its enormous arms wide. One by one, it gathered every Pokémon into its embrace, curling its massive body inward — and turned its back to face Gholdengo's Gold Rush head-on.
The silver wave of Steel energy crashed into Grimmsnarl like a wall of scorching metal. It flooded across its back in searing waves, burning like lava against its skin.
"Rooooaar!"
Gigantamax Grimmsnarl let out a roar of pain, its already harsh features twisted into something even more savage. But it did not move. It held its ground.
On the other side of the battlefield, Ocean and Owen had not been idle. They were directing their Pokémon to target Gigantamax Lapras.
"Manaphy, Tail Glow!"
"Simipour, Aura Sphere!"
"Bruxish, Psychic Fangs!"
"Walrein, Ice Fang!"
Four Pokémon attacked Gigantamax Lapras in quick succession from different angles.
Jacob watched Gigantamax Grimmsnarl absorb the punishment, its pained cry still ringing in the air. His jaw tightened. His eyes sharpened.
"Hatterene!"
His voice was clear and decisive.
"G-Max Freefall!"
He had deliberately held Gigantamax Hatterene back from taking the hit — and for good reason. Of all the Pokémon present on his side, Gigantamax Hatterene had the highest raw offensive output by a significant margin. That power needed to be used, not spent on blocking.
Gigantamax Hatterene heard the command. It saw the state of Grimmsnarl. And rage filled its eyes.
Fairy-type energy erupted from its body, shooting upward into the night sky like a pillar of light. The sheer force of it tore through the darkness, bright and furious.
G-Max Freefall?
Meyer and the others stiffened. The name meant nothing to them — they had never encountered this move before. Their expressions grew cautious.
They had done their research on Jacob's Gigantamax Lapras. They knew that beyond its enormous size, it possessed a unique Gigantamax move: G-Max Resonance. That move could deal powerful Ice-type damage while simultaneously setting up an Aurora Veil — a combination of offense and defense that was remarkably difficult to deal with.
Now, hearing the name G-Max Freefall, they could only assume it was something on the same level. Something that needed to be handled with care.
They braced themselves.