"Dylan, is this how you always treat your challengers?"
Lance's voice was low as he asked the question, his tone unreadable. Dylan blinked in surprise.
"Why would you ask that, Lance?"
He looked genuinely curious.
"Of course not. I cherish every challenger who comes my way," Dylan said with a smile so warm it practically glowed. "It's just that you, Lance, are special."
Lance's face twitched again.
Oh, fantastic!
So I don't even count as a challenger now? You're targeting me on purpose?!
Lance was shaking with rage. Honestly, Dylan deserved to be tied to a lamppost!
"Because you're the most unique senior I've ever known," Dylan continued with heartfelt sincerity. "We share something in common."
He wasn't lying—Lance had always treated him like a true junior, and Dylan had never forgotten that.
So now…
He needed to help Lance understand the pain of facing Ice-types.
This was a public service. A dramatic example. A devoted student's way of looking out for his teacher.
"…"
Lance's expression shifted.
Suddenly, hanging Dylan from a lamppost felt… a little harsh. Maybe Dylan really was a good junior after all.
"Gyarados!"
Lance said nothing more and threw out his Poké Ball.
With a thunderous roar, Mega Gyarados materialized before him, glaring viciously at the poised Alolan Ninetales No. 4.
"Oh? Gyarados again? Lance, it's not exactly easy for Gyarados to handle my Ninetales right now," Dylan noted casually.
Ordinarily, it wouldn't be too hard. Mega Gyarados was undeniably powerful, especially offensively.
But this Ninetales had received two Nasty Plot boosts via Baton Pass. That meant she could now stand toe-to-toe with even Mega Gyarados. Closing in on her wasn't going to be easy.
"The hail's about to end."
Lance responded calmly.
And indeed, just as he said, the snowy weather was beginning to fade. With hail gone, Ninetales No. 4's Snow Cloak would no longer be in effect, and her boosted defense from Snow also vanished.
For Ice-types, snowy weather was critical. Many of their abilities and moves relied on it.
Still, Dylan could always swap her out with Ninetales No. 1—whose condition was still decent—to reset the weather.
But then Dylan realized something.
"Ninetales, Baton Pass!"
"Taunt!"
Both trainers shouted at nearly the same time.
Mega Gyarados's eyes glowed with a black sheen—but Ninetales's body had already turned to white light and vanished into her Poké Ball.
She was just a fraction faster.
"…That was way too practiced," Lance muttered with a frown. Taunt had a good shot at preventing Baton Pass if timed together. But this Ninetales had clearly been trained to execute Baton Pass in the blink of an eye.
"Whew, good thing I played it safe. If Taunt had landed, it'd be a mess," Dylan said with a grin as he returned Ninetales to her Poké Ball.
If Taunted, Ninetales would've been locked out of status moves—forcing her to stay in and fight Mega Gyarados.
"Hmph."
Lance crossed his arms and let out a sharp breath.
"Well then, Lance, it's time I introduced the ace of my Ice team. You've seen it before."
Dylan took out a Luxury Ball.
Lance's eyes flashed. He already had a hunch.
"I've been waiting for this moment ever since I caught it."
Dylan tossed the Luxury Ball into the air.
"Articuno, ready for battle!"
"Cawwww—!"
With a melodious cry, a gorgeous ice-blue bird soared through the lingering snow.
This was Articuno, one of Kanto's legendary bird Pokémon.
"Whoa, Dylan's really turning up the pressure now—he's sending out Articuno!"
"I mean, it makes sense. Articuno fits perfectly as the ace of an Ice-type team. It's strong, but not overpowered."
"Right. And Lance is definitely worthy of seeing Dylan bring out Articuno, but still…"
"His chances of winning are looking worse and worse. All three of his Dragonite are down. Now Dylan brings out Articuno…"
"Is Lance about to be shut out completely?"
The crowd was abuzz with commentary. As for Dylan using Articuno—well, nobody found it strange.
Articuno might be a Legendary, but it wasn't unbeatable.
Heck, Dylan had used Entei once and lost to a Snorlax.
But right now, Articuno added even more pressure to Lance's already crumbling hopes.
"This Articuno…"
Lance stared at it without expression. He wasn't unfamiliar with it—he knew Dylan had caught it.
If he remembered correctly, he'd seen it in the Rocket base in Celadon City. Back then, he'd even praised Dylan for capturing it.
Now he had to face it himself.
Lance wasn't afraid of Articuno per se—if not for Dragonite's 4x Ice weakness, his ace could go toe-to-toe with it.
But now? Yeah, this was going to hurt.
"A legendary Ice-type bird… Articuno of the Kanto trio. Lance, I saved this one just for you."
Dylan sounded like he was offering a fine wine to a guest of honor.
…Lance's chest heaved once more. It took real effort to hold back the string of curses burning his tongue.
"Gyarados, Stone Edge!"
He called out sharply.
This wasn't Ninetales. This was Articuno. The difference in battle capability was significant.
And this one had inherited two Nasty Plot boosts.
Mega Gyarados roared—jagged rocks materialized and launched toward Articuno.
4× effective!
"Blizzard."
Dylan smiled faintly. He didn't even have Articuno use Hurricane.
With a high-pitched cry, Articuno flapped its glowing ice-blue wings, unleashing a massive snowstorm.
The icy cyclone clashed head-on with the flying rocks.
But it didn't take long—Stone Edge was shattered and blown apart, the blizzard slamming into Mega Gyarados.
Ice and wind surged as Gyarados let out a pained roar.
Even with Ice resistance, that Blizzard had stung.
"…That strong?" Lance's brows knit. There was no doubt—Articuno's power exceeded that of the Ninetales.
"Freeze-Dry."
Dylan snapped his fingers.
Articuno opened its beak and fired a narrow, icy-blue laser.
Freeze-Dry—super effective against Water-types!
Still reeling from the Blizzard, Gyarados struggled to stay aloft. It tried to dodge, but it was too late.
The beam struck squarely, ice surging over its body.
Freeze-Dry had hit hard.
And this time, Gyarados couldn't hold on.
BOOM!
It crashed to the ground with a seismic thud.
"Freeze-Dry," Dylan said again.
Articuno fired another beam toward the fallen Gyarados, now partially shrouded in smoke and ice.
"Protect!" Lance barked.
The beam was blocked by a green barrier—barely. Gyarados had managed to activate Protect just in time.
"Aqua Tail!"
As Protect faded, Lance gave the next order.
They had to close the distance—otherwise Articuno would keep its range and pick them apart.
With a roar, Mega Gyarados surged forward like a serpentine missile.
"Blizzard," Dylan murmured.
Articuno lifted into the air, wings outstretched. Another snowstorm blasted forth.
The wide range made dodging impossible.
Gyarados raised its icy tail to try and cut through the blizzard—but the moment it entered the gale, the water froze instantly.
The attack blew it back, smashing it to the ground once more.
"No way to close the gap. Gyarados can't even get near Articuno," Leaf shook her head from the sidelines.
If Gyarados could get in close, it would stand a chance.
Even a trade would work—Articuno was 4× weak to Rock, after all.
But it just couldn't approach.
Even Stone Edge couldn't get through that blizzard.
There was simply no way.
THUD!
Freeze-Dry hit again—Gyarados collapsed, its Mega Evolution fading as it lost consciousness.
"Gyarados is unable to battle. Articuno wins!"
Leaf announced.
"Holy crap, Articuno is so strong! Gorgeous and deadly!"
"It's because of the Baton Pass! Without those two Nasty Plot boosts, it wouldn't have been this easy!"
"Still, Articuno's just naturally powerful. And Gyarados was Mega Evolved."
"Lance is in serious trouble now… there's no way Dragonair can beat Articuno. What's his final Pokémon gonna be?"
The crowd's chatter reached a fever pitch.
"…"
Lance silently returned Gyarados, breathing hard in and out, trying to calm himself.
But it was no use—he was barely holding it together.
He looked at the scoreboard.
Four of his Pokémon were already grayed out.
At this rate, he really was going to be shut out.
(End of Chapter)