The referee raised his flags.
"This is a three-on-three battle!The battle begins now!"
The crowd erupted with excitement.
Raven Drake made the first move.
"Go, Houndoom!"
Houndoom appeared with a fierce roar.
Elior smiled confidently.
"I'll start with you... Lucario!"
Lucario leaped onto the battlefield.
"Houndoom, Flamethrower!"
A stream of fire raced toward Lucario.
"Lucario, dodge! Then use Bone Rush!"
Lucario sidestepped the flames and rushed forward, striking with its Bone Rush staff.
Houndoom jumped backward at the last second.
"Use Smokescreen!"
Black smoke covered the battlefield.
Lucario's vision disappeared.
"Dark Pulse!"
A burst of dark energy shot out from the smoke.Direct hit!
Lucario slid backward but stayed on its feet.
Elior remained calm.
"Close your eyes!"
Lucario obeyed.
Using its aura, it sensed Houndoom's exact location.
"Now... Aura Sphere!"
A glowing sphere of Aura energy flew through the smoke.
BOOM!
The smoke cleared.Houndoom had taken a direct hit.The audience erupted into applause.
Both Pokémon were breathing heavily.
"Houndoom, Fire Fang!"
"Lucario, Force Palm!"
The two Pokémon charged.
CRASH!
Both attacks landed.
For a moment, neither Pokémon moved.
Then...Houndoom collapsed.
THUD..
"Houndoom is unable to battle!"
Raven returned Houndoom with a smile.
"Excellent... Just as I expected."
He threw another Poké Ball.A bright light flashed. Luxray appeared.Its piercing eyes locked onto Lucario.Lucario was already exhausted from the previous battle.The referee looked at both trainers.
The second battle was about to begin.
Far away, on the shores of **Aether Isle>... Umbreal arrived at the entrance of the ancient chamber.Inside, the golden light of the Three Keys continued to grow brighter.Umbreal whispered to himself:
"I'm not too late..."
The ancient ruins suddenly trembled.
Something within the chamber had begun to awaken.
TO BE CONTINUED...