"Next, I'll be using this partner."
Gym Leader Chuck released a formidable Hitmonchan. Also known as the "Punching Demon," it wore a skirt-like samurai armor that was incredibly hard, serving as a natural defense. It wore boxing gloves and was capable of delivering spiraling punches that could shatter concrete. However, its stamina was its weak point; it required a brief rest after every three minutes of intense combat.
"Hitmonchan, show Gym Leader Feng Che the fruits of your grueling training!" Chuck encouraged.
"Come back, Sigilyph."
Feng Che recalled Sigilyph and sent out Pidgeot. This Pidgeot was the offspring of the Pidgeot pair from Death Island and had been raised on Salac Berry elixirs since it was a hatchling. It had recently evolved, and its size was twice that of a normal Pidgeot, with a wingspan reaching five meters.
"Pidgeot, this is your debut match. Give it your all!"
"Alright! The second round between Gym Leader Chuck and Gym Leader Feng Che begins!" the announcer shouted.
"Hitmonchan, use a combination of Ice Punch and Thunder Punch!" Chuck commanded simply. He knew that against a high-speed flier like Pidgeot, standard moves were useless.
Hitmonchan's left fist glowed icy blue while its right turned golden yellow. It slammed its left fist into the ground, causing a four-meter-high pillar of ice to erupt. Immediately after, it struck the pillar with its right fist. The violent electricity shattered the ice into thousands of jagged, electrified shards that flew across the entire arena like shrapnel.
"Pidgeot, Extreme Speed!"
Feng Che remained unperturbed. Pidgeot flapped its wings and transformed into a white blur. In its Keen Eye vision, the incoming shards moved in slow motion. It effortlessly wove through the storm of ice.
"Hitmonchan, use Mach Punch to lock onto its position!"
Hitmonchan focused its gaze, its left fist blurring as it transformed into a streak of light, closing the distance to Pidgeot instantly. It raised its golden right fist, aiming a heavy blow, but the strike only hit an afterimage. The real Pidgeot had already used Aerial Ace to flash behind Hitmonchan.
Pidgeot unleashed an Air Slash, the massive blade of wind striking Hitmonchan's back and sending the fighter face-planting into the dirt.
"What just happened? Why did Hitmonchan fall?" "I don't know! I just saw a flash of light and then he was on the ground!"
"Falkner, what do you think of this Pidgeot?" Whitney asked the Johto Flying-type specialist, her voice tense.
"Gym Leader Feng Che's strength is immense," Falkner replied solemnly. "His commanding ability is several times mine. Perhaps only my father could go toe-to-toe with him. My Pokémon wouldn't stand a chance—that Pidgeot's speed is likely exceeding Mach 2. Even I can barely track it."
"Feng Che," Chuck called out, "your Pidgeot is terrifying. It must have been raised on Salac elixirs from birth to reach such speeds."
"Indeed," Feng Che smiled. "It was meticulously raised to be the fastest Pidgeot in the world. How will you counter it?"
"Simple. Those on the path of martial arts possess a sixth sense. My Hitmonchan can use Mind's Eye to capture its location!" Chuck declared. "Go! Thunder Punch!"
Hitmonchan charged like a golden bolt of lightning. Pidgeot used a sequence of Extreme Speed and Aerial Ace to dance around the strikes.
"Try dodging this!" Chuck snorted.
Hitmonchan used Mind's Eye to lock on and exhaled sharply, unleashing a barrage of compressed, golden fist-shadows—a combination of Aura Sphere mechanics and Thunder Punch. If Pidgeot were hit, the paralysis and impact would be devastating.
He's truly Gary's mentor; his techniques are brilliant, Feng Che thought. "Pidgeot, use Air Slash to intercept!"
Pidgeot's wings whipped up a gale filled with thousands of thumb-sized, razor-thin wind blades. Under the stadium lights, they shimmered like rainbows, clashing with the tidal wave of golden fists.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A massive shockwave swept through the stadium, accompanied by a howling wind. In the spectator stands, disaster struck. Hats and wigs were torn from heads and sent tumbling into the air.
"My hat! It was expensive!" "No! My brand-name wig! I saved for months for that!" "Wow, look, Mommy! Wigs and hats are flying!" a child laughed, pointing at a nearby man's suddenly very bald head.
Psychic-type Pokémon guarding the stands immediately intervened, using their powers to return the items to their owners and erecting a golden light barrier to turn the gale into a gentle breeze.
High on the VIP podium, Agatha watched the battle intently. To prevent the "Masked Man" or the "Pure Heaven Sect" from causing a disaster, she had deployed an army of Ghost-type Pokémon to hide in the shadows of every single spectator.
"The boy is growing too fast," Agatha muttered. "In such a short time, he's become an Elite-level trainer. Give him a few more years, and he'll be a Champion—perhaps even a Master."