Should he really send out Zekrom now?
The thought flashed through N's mind, because he realized—he genuinely had no idea how to deal with Dylan's current team.
And this was only Dylan's third Pokémon. Actually, not even—the first, Glimmora, had just made a brief appearance before being recalled.
But the real problem was...
"I'm the one chosen by Zekrom!!"
N looked at Dylan, his gaze suddenly resolute.
He was the Hero chosen by the Dragon of Ideals. How could he back down now?
This was a full 6-on-6 battle. He couldn't seriously let himself be forced into using Zekrom just to beat a single Arbok, could he? That would be pathetic!
"Vanilluxe! I'm counting on you!"
N made up his mind. No matter what, he wouldn't use Zekrom unless absolutely necessary.
A flash of light burst from the Poké Ball, and a Pokémon resembling a double-scoop of ice cream appeared in front of N, radiating a soft chill.
Its lower body was made of icy crystals, while its upper half had two swirled heads—one smiling sweetly, the other wide-eyed and grinning.
It was the pure Ice-type: Vanilluxe.
Ding~ Vanilluxe. Ice-type. Blizzard Pokémon.
Ability: Ice Body.
Moves: Sheer Cold, Blizzard, Ice Beam, Mirror Coat, Icicle Spear, Avalanche...
When both heads get angry, it unleashes furious blizzards from its horns, burying everything around it in deep snow.
Vanilluxe, huh…
Alder glanced at N. Looked like N didn't have any better options.
As a multi-type trainer, N had no shortage of "friends." Thanks to his affinity with Pokémon, wild ones often willingly followed him.
In the wild, N could easily swap out team members as needed.
That was his unique charm.
But for this battle with Dylan, N had specially assembled a well-rounded team of carefully selected partners.
Now that Klinklang was down, though, he had no other good counters for Poison-types.
"At least it floats," Iris muttered. "So long as it doesn't get slammed to the ground, it won't trigger Toxic Spikes."
On the battlefield.
"Vanilluxe, Blizzard!" N shouted.
Vanilluxe let out a swirling cry as icy blue energy surged around it. A fierce snowstorm howled across the battlefield.
Freezing winds swept through the arena, dropping the temperature dramatically.
A powerful Blizzard indeed.
Dylan silently noted the strength—N's power was real. He was, after all, the one chosen by Zekrom. That wasn't something just anyone could claim.
"Arbok."
The blizzard surged forward, blanketing most of the battlefield.
Arbok flicked its tongue and raised its head to stare directly into the blizzard's maw.
FWOOOOSH!
Snow and wind roared, engulfing Arbok's entire position, leaving no space untouched.
The ground was coated in thick frost.
But when the Blizzard finally faded…
There was no sign of Arbok.
"Dig?" N muttered.
He spotted a black patch of disturbed earth—the hole had already frozen over.
Then, the ground directly beneath Vanilluxe bulged.
"Below you, Vanilluxe!"
N had sharp eyes. He caught it immediately.
Vanilluxe gathered cold energy in its mouth, firing an Ice Beam downward at the rising mound.
But—
"It's a feint!" N realized too late.
From behind, Arbok burst from the ground, shooting toward Vanilluxe like a coiled spring.
"Vanilluxe!"
The Blizzard Pokémon noticed too late. Its Ice Beam was already spent, and before it could charge another—
WHAM!
With its body glowing earthen brown, Arbok smashed into Vanilluxe.
The floating Pokémon shrieked as the Dig attack nailed it directly, sending it flying.
"So sneaky!!" Iris shouted.
This Arbok had faked a surface breach just to bait N. That snake was devious!
"That Dig hit hard," Alder muttered.
Ground isn't super effective on Ice, but that was a clean, powerful strike.
And Dylan wasn't going to let up.
"Rock Slide!"
Of course.
"Protect!" N yelled.
Arbok landed, its eyes still locked on Vanilluxe. Stones materialized above and plummeted down.
Vanilluxe raised a shimmering green shield just in time.
BOOM! BOOM!
The stones crashed against Protect but couldn't break through.
Arbok slithered forward, its predatory gaze fixed on its prey.
"Rock Tomb."
Dylan's voice remained calm and steady.
From the ground, massive stone pillars erupted around Vanilluxe, trapping it on three sides.
"Ice Beam!" N countered quickly.
Vanilluxe floated higher and fired beams of freezing energy, encasing the falling rock walls in thick ice.
Three towering frozen walls loomed like a glacial prison.
"Shadow Sneak."
But Arbok used this moment to strike.
Its eyes flashed with dark light—it vanished in a blur of purple and black, racing toward Vanilluxe.
"Vanilluxe!"
N saw it coming. Too late.
Vanilluxe turned just in time to see Arbok's glowing tail crashing toward it.
WHAM!
A direct hit to the face. Vanilluxe wailed in pain, sent spiraling through the air.
"Fire Fang!"
Same move, same follow-up—just like with Klinklang.
Arbok lunged with burning fangs bared.
Alder shook his head.
It was the same trap again. Use Rock Tomb, force a reaction, then capitalize with priority.
And now, Vanilluxe had no way to defend in time.
"Dylan… you're too strong," Alder whispered.
Even without legendaries, Dylan's battle instincts were terrifying.
N was no slouch either. Honestly, he was probably stronger than Iris, even without Zekrom.
If he hadn't declined the title, Alder might've named N as the Unova Champion.
But now, watching N get overwhelmed like this…
Was there really this big a gap between champions?
No—Alder shook his head. This wasn't about champions in general.
It was just Dylan.
But then he remembered Lance.
That guy also had the power to suppress N, even with Zekrom.
Alder's expression turned strange. He suddenly recalled something.
"Iris… is ranked above Lance in the tournament seedings."
The Elite Tournament was coming. Because Lance wasn't currently a champion and Iris was, the League had placed her several ranks above him—for Unova's pride.
"…uh-oh."
Alder gave Iris a worried look. He hoped she wouldn't become Lance's "prey."
But then again—if he hadn't retired smartly, he might've ended up in Lance's crosshairs instead.
So maybe a little hardship was good for Iris. Character-building.
While Alder spaced out—
Arbok sank its Fire Fang deep into Vanilluxe and slammed it into the ground.
FWOOM!
A flash of deep purple light—Toxic Spikes kicked in.
Vanilluxe cried out, its airy voice full of pain, but Arbok wasn't done.
"Rock Slide!"
More boulders crashed down.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The heavy impacts drowned out Vanilluxe's cries. Dust and debris filled the air.
N could only watch helplessly, fists clenched, breathing ragged.
When the dust cleared, Arbok had slithered back to Dylan's side, cool and composed.
And beneath the rubble—
Vanilluxe's swirled eyes were spinning.
"Vanilluxe is unable to battle. Arbok wins."
Alder declared.
"Sheesh… that snake's ridiculously strong."
Iris stared, lips twitching. Another one of N's main Pokémon defeated without even landing a real hit?
Wasn't Arbok supposed to be… mediocre?
Iris glanced at N—the normally gentle, smiling young man now looked grave, drenched in sweat.
He only had three Pokémon left. His Carracosta was poisoned—it'd be Arbok's chew toy.
And Zoroark couldn't float—on a field laced with Toxic Spikes, it'd be crippled.
Facing that menacing Arbok…
"Zekrom! I choose you!!"
N gritted his teeth and threw his fifth Poké Ball.
He wanted to hold out longer.
But at this rate, Arbok was going to wipe his whole team.
The ball opened mid-air. A surge of pressure filled the arena as lightning crackled—
A massive black dragon emerged in a blaze of blue sparks.
The Dragon of Ideals—Zekrom—entered the battlefield.
Arbok lifted its head, hissing rapidly as it looked up at the legendary.
That overwhelming pressure… the sheer difference in species.
It wasn't unfamiliar—it had felt this many times in Dylan's care.
But this time, it was… different.
Arbok turned to look at Dylan.
"Bro… seriously?? Are you insane?! I'm just a snake!!"
"Let's settle this!"
N stared at Arbok, face solemn.
No matter what—it had to go down.
Arbok: ???
End of Chapter 382.