"Power up!"
Just as Wallace intended, once Gyarados's Ice Beam coated the battlefield, a slick layer of ice formed across the surface.
Sceptile was fast—blindingly so—but when friction vanished, even the swiftest blade could slip.
The instant Sceptile lost footing and slid—
"Now! Gyarados, Ice Beam!"
A pale blue beam shot forward, freezing Sceptile solid mid-motion.
Encased in ice, Sceptile's momentum halted completely.
"Keep pressing! Waterfall!"
Gyarados surged forward, its massive body crashing toward the frozen figure.
At the critical moment—
A roar split the sky.
A flash of green light.
Blade-like leaves cleaved through the ice from within.
Sceptile burst free, Leaf Blade flashing as it shattered the frozen shell around its body.
Wallace's eyes widened slightly.
"You really can't underestimate it…"
"Gyarados, Hyper Beam!"
Golden energy gathered in Gyarados's maw.
Freshly freed, Sceptile narrowed its gaze.
"Solar Beam!"
Under the blazing sun from earlier Sunny Day, Sceptile fired instantly.
A searing green-white beam collided head-on with Hyper Beam.
The explosion swallowed the battlefield in dust and shockwaves.
"Gyarados! Full power Surf!"
Knowing Hyper Beam would cause a brief stiffness, Wallace had already given the follow-up command.
But Sceptile was faster.
A flash of green streaked through the smoke.
Leaf Blade slashed across Gyarados's scales, carving visible marks even through its hardened armor.
Pain sent Gyarados into a frenzy.
Surf surged—
Yet Sceptile leapt onto the crest of the wave itself.
"Gyarados! Dragon Rage!"
Water spiraled violently, forming a towering vortex. Multiple afterimages of Gyarados twisted within the torrent, creating the illusion of five massive bodies rotating in unison.
The water dragon tornado roared toward Sceptile.
Sceptile's eyes remained steady.
Another Solar Beam fired point-blank.
The vortex shattered.
"Now! Dragon Tail!"
Dragon-type energy wrapped around Sceptile's tail.
Boom!
Gyarados was smashed and sent flying.
But in that instant—
"Crunch! Hold it—don't let go!"
Like a massive serpent, Gyarados coiled around Sceptile midair, jaws clamping down viciously.
Crunch tore into Sceptile again and again.
Sceptile cried out in pain.
"Dragon Pulse!"
A burst of draconic energy erupted at close range.
When the light faded—
Gyarados finally collapsed.
But Sceptile's stamina was nearly depleted, body battered and bleeding from the relentless bites.
Aiden lifted his Poké Ball, ready to recall him—
Then—
A brilliant green aura ignited around Sceptile's body.
Overgrow had activated.
"Sceptile… you…"
Aiden's eyes softened.
Reliable.
Always reliable.
Wallace exhaled sharply.
Even this hadn't been enough to bring down Aiden's starter.
He recalled Gyarados and sent out his third Pokémon.
"Ludicolo, I'm counting on you!"
"Ding! Ludicolo's current attributes are as follows:"
Pokémon: Ludicolo
Level: 85
Ability: Swift Swim
Type: Water / Grass
Potential: Gold
Bond Evolution: Not unlocked
Mega Evolution: Not unlocked
Moves: Rain Dance, Fake Out, Giga Drain, Zen Headbutt, Teeter Dance, Blizzard…
"Ludicolo, huh?" Aiden smiled faintly. "Sceptile—Grass Pledge!"
When trainer and Pokémon's hearts resonated as one, Pledge moves surged in power.
Now, with Overgrow active and sunlight still lingering—
The amplification was terrifying.
"Power up!"
With a roar, a pillar of green energy burst from the ground, launching Ludicolo into the air.
"Now! Leaf Storm!"
Countless razor-sharp leaves spiraled upward in a violent storm.
"Ludicolo—Rain Dance!"
Midair, Ludicolo summoned rain, replacing the sunlight before Leaf Storm reached full amplification.
The downpour weakened the solar boost just enough.
Ludicolo survived.
"Teeter Dance!"
A strange rhythmic sway spread across the battlefield.
Sceptile's vision blurred.
Confusion began to creep in.
But then—
A memory surfaced.
Inside the system space.
The blessing of the blue pixie—Azelf, the God of Will.
The willpower that refused to bend.
Sceptile's eyes snapped clear.
A fierce Dragon Pulse exploded outward at point-blank range.
Ludicolo was blasted away.
When the dust settled—
Both Pokémon collapsed.
But even as Sceptile teetered on the brink, its eyes remained wide and fierce, standing upright on the battlefield.
Wallace inhaled sharply.
A monster.
Aiden quietly recalled Sceptile.
"In the first half alone, you defeated three Master-tier Pokémon by yourself. Sceptile… you truly deserve the title of ace."
The Poké Ball trembled lightly in response.
Wallace gave a small, genuine smile.
"Your Sceptile is incredible. That willpower… even I'm ashamed in comparison. Perhaps now I understand why so many Legendaries choose to follow you."
Aiden chuckled.
"Of course. I trust my Pokémon."
As the first half concluded, both trainers stepped back to rest.
The decisive battles still awaited.
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