Faced with Crabominable's seemingly prescient Bubble Beam, Combusken ultimately failed to dodge. Just as it neared its opponent, the stream of bubbles struck it squarely, sending it flying backward.
Fortunately, Bubble Beam didn't pack too much power. Combusken only shook its head briefly before struggling to its feet. However, the move's secondary effect had kicked in—its speed had dropped significantly.
With that opening exchange, Combusken was clearly on the back foot.
"Combusken, use Flamethrower!"
Since it couldn't get in close, Rex switched tactics to long-range. Combusken's fire-type moves were no joke.
As the intense column of flame surged forward, Hala calmly ordered, "Crabominable, use Bubble Beam to block it!"
But Combusken's Flamethrower overwhelmed Crabominable's counterattack, continuing forward with searing heat.
"Rock Tomb, now!"
Hala quickly switched commands. Crabominable raised a rocky barrier in front of itself, not targeting Combusken but creating a wall to absorb the incoming flames.
Boom!
The fiery blast smashed into the rock wall, heating it until it glowed red-hot—but it held. Crabominable remained unscathed behind it.
With the wall now shielding Crabominable from ranged attacks, Rex ordered another Flame Charge, aiming to regain speed and get in close.
While Crabominable couldn't shoot through the barrier with Bubble Beam anymore, Combusken's speed ramped up with every step.
Reaching the rock wall, Combusken launched into the air with a powerful leap, clearing the barrier and landing a Double Kick toward Crabominable hiding behind it.
"Crabominable, Power-Up Punch!"
Crabominable didn't flinch. At Hala's command, its massive fists shot up to meet Combusken's kicks mid-air. Not only did it block the attack, but after the punch's power increased from the clash, Crabominable launched a devastating counter.
Bang!
Combusken was sent flying.
"Combusken, can you still fight?"
Rex watched as Combusken struggled to stand. It tried multiple times but couldn't quite manage it. Knowing the gap in power, Rex didn't want it pushing too far.
"Combusken!"
Though exhausted and battered, Combusken's eyes were full of resolve. It didn't want to lose—this match mattered. It wouldn't give up so easily.
That fierce unwillingness to back down ignited something within it.
Blinding white light erupted from Combusken's body, completely enveloping it. The spectators could no longer see its figure within the shining cocoon.
"It's evolving!"
Even Hala's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Combusken to evolve at this moment, though his confidence in Crabominable's strength remained unwavering.
Kiawe and the others watching from the sidelines were practically bouncing with excitement. Witnessing evolution up close was a rare thrill.
As the light faded, a towering Blaziken stood where Combusken had been—over two meters tall, with hair like roaring flames. Compared to normal Blaziken, this one's presence was even more striking.
Rex quickly scanned it with his Pokédex: Blaziken had just learned Blaze Kick and Bulk Up.
"Blaziken, it's your show now—use Bulk Up!"
Still basking in the afterglow of evolution, Blaziken clenched its fists. Every muscle in its body tensed, and a surge of power radiated outward.
Crabominable, meanwhile, wasn't standing idle. It charged toward Blaziken while the fire-type powered up, but by the time it reached striking range, the boost was complete.
Now with a fresh evolution and a boost to its strength, Blaziken was finally able to trade blows evenly with Crabominable. The two began exchanging a flurry of strikes at high speed.
Crabominable's footwork was sluggish, but its fists moved with frightening precision—massive arms pounding like hammers, honed by countless hours of disciplined training.
Of course, that wasn't surprising. As a master of fighting-types, Hala had surely put Crabominable through rigorous regimen.
But Blaziken wasn't inexperienced either. It had trained alongside Machamp, and it deftly slipped around Crabominable's attacks, redirecting force and countering with well-timed strikes of its own.
However, the damage Combusken had taken earlier still lingered. Blaziken's stamina was fading fast. Evenly matched as they were, Blaziken couldn't keep up the attrition game.
"Blaziken, fall back! Use Flare Blitz to finish this!"
Rex had no choice now—it was all or nothing.
Understanding the plan instantly, Blaziken collided one last time with Crabominable's fists, then sprang back, widening the gap between them.
Flames erupted violently from Blaziken's body.
The temperature soared. Even among the spectators, most stepped back in alarm—except for Kiawe, who barely flinched.
"Going all in, huh?" Hala chuckled. "Crabominable, meet it head-on! Use Focus Punch!"
Both trainers were laying it all on the line.
Blaziken charged like a meteor wreathed in flames, while Crabominable pulled back one giant fist glowing with focused power.
BOOM!
The impact shook the battlefield. Dust and smoke erupted from the center, engulfing both Pokémon in a swirling cloud of debris.
When the smoke finally cleared, both Pokémon had reappeared—but Blaziken had collapsed.
Crabominable still stood tall.
(End of Chapter)