"Empo!!"
Empoleon charged forward with overwhelming momentum! Although Metal Claw wasn't very effective against the Ghost- and Fire-type Lampent, it was absolutely deadly against the Psychic-type Kadabra, whose frail body couldn't take much punishment. If it landed, Kadabra would have no chance of continuing the battle...
...Of course, that was assuming it actually hit.
"Kadabra! Teleport!"
"Kadabra!"
Just as Empoleon's Metal Claw came slashing down, the little girl cheerfully gave her command.
Astonishingly, Kadabra continued firing its Psybeam while simultaneously using Teleport!
Boom!
Kadabra's figure flickered like a mirage before disappearing.
As a result, Empoleon's Metal Claw struck Lampent squarely instead!
However, Lampent's HP and physical defense were both considerably higher than Kadabra's. Furthermore, Steel-type moves dealt only half damage to the Fire-type Lampent.
"Lampent!!"
Although Empoleon slammed Lampent into the ground, sending it bouncing away like a rubber ball, Lampent quickly floated back up again, its face filled with anger as the flame inside its lamp burned even brighter.
"Kadabra!"
Meanwhile, Kadabra, having escaped Empoleon's attack with Teleport, suddenly appeared behind Empoleon—
Its Psybeam, already in the middle of firing, struck Empoleon directly in the back without missing a beat!
"Empo!"
Hit from behind, Empoleon lost its footing and stumbled forward.
"Lampent!"
The instant Kadabra's attack succeeded, Lampent, which had just been knocked flying, seized the opportunity to gather a dark purple Shadow Ball and hurl it straight at Empoleon!
Boom!!
The Shadow Ball exploded on impact, sending up a cloud of black smoke that completely enveloped Empoleon.
"Hehe~ Big Brother, I'm so sorry~ Kadabra and Lampent might have hit a little too hard. Mayoi really does feel bad about it. But you can't blame me entirely! Your Pokémon are just too weak. No wonder you didn't dare battle me at first—you were afraid of losing to a little girl. Shame on you~"
As Empoleon disappeared into the smoke, the little girl, Mayoi, smiled smugly at Liam.
Hearing her words, Liam calmly stepped out from behind Garchomp. Looking at the gloating little girl, a faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"What a brat... You need someone to teach you some manners. Empoleon! Aqua Jet!"
Although the black smoke concealed Empoleon's condition, Liam's bond with his Pokémon allowed him to know exactly what had happened.
Empoleon hadn't suffered much damage from the previous attacks. In fact, it had blocked most of Shadow Ball's power with Metal Claw. The reason it hadn't emerged yet was simply because it had been waiting for the perfect opportunity.
And that opportunity was now.
"Empo!!"
The moment Liam gave the command, Empoleon burst from the smoke already wrapped in surging water!
Like a torpedo, it slammed directly into the unsuspecting Lampent!
"Lampent!"
Caught completely off guard, Lampent was smashed straight into the ground, letting out a painful cry.
"Ah! Lampent!"
Mayoi gasped in shock, covering her mouth as she cried out.
"Lampent!!"
Even with half its body buried in the dirt, Lampent still hadn't lost the ability to fight. Hearing Mayoi's voice, it struggled desperately to free itself—
But Liam wasn't about to give it that chance.
"Empoleon, Bubble Beam!"
"Empo!!"
Standing right beside it, Empoleon lowered its head and unleashed a stream of Bubble Beam.
After a rapid series of popping explosions, Lampent lay unconscious at the bottom of a freshly blasted crater, its eyes spinning.
At the same time—
"Ah! That's not fair! Kadabra! Use Psyshock!"
Seeing Lampent finished off, Mayoi stomped her foot angrily and immediately ordered another attack.
"Kadabra!!"
Kadabra waved the spoon in its hand, unleashing a surge of pink psychic energy.
The powerful Psyshock reached Empoleon in the blink of an eye.
Yet Empoleon made no attempt to dodge.
Just before the attack landed—
"Empoleon! Bide!"
"Empo!!"
Liam's command rang out instantly.
Empoleon crossed its wings in front of its body and endured Kadabra's Psyshock head-on.
Hummm—
The instant Empoleon absorbed the attack, its body became enveloped in brilliant white light.
In the very next moment—
A dazzling white beam exploded outward in retaliation!
Kadabra didn't even have time to react before it was struck head-on!
Boom!!
With a dull explosion, Kadabra rolled backward with its eyes spiraling, its spoon flying off somewhere into the darkness.
It had clearly lost the ability to battle.
"Alright, little sister. The battle's over now, and the winner's already been decided. Stop fooling around. It's dangerous out here this late at night—you should head home."
Seeing Kadabra collapse as well, Liam sighed softly before walking forward and gently trying to persuade the little girl.
However—
Just as he had taken two steps...
Mayoi suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Hehe~ Hehehe~ Hahahaha! The winner's already been decided? Not yet, Big Brother! Kadabra and Lampent can still keep fighting!"
After laughing, the little girl looked at Liam with an eerie smile.
"What? They can still fight? Come on, little sister, stop messing around. If you don't take proper care of your Pokémon, I'm really going to get ang—"
Liam stopped mid-sentence.
The scene before him left him completely stunned.
Kadabra and Lampent—
Both of whom had clearly been knocked out—
Were now slowly floating back up from the ground, swaying gently as they drifted back to Mayoi's side.
Then—
"So Big Brother is really an amazing trainer! Mayoi is truly surprised! It looks like Kadabra and Lampent aren't your match. But… My Kadabra and Lampent won't admit defeat so easily! Big Brother… Let me show you… My partners' true power!"
"Kadabra!"
"Lampent!"
"Evolve!"
"Kadaaaabra!!"
"Lamp! Lamp!!"
Just like that—
At Mayoi's shout...
Both Kadabra and Lampent suddenly became enveloped in brilliant white evolutionary light!
After several powerful cries echoed through the night, the dazzling glow finally faded.
Standing before Liam now was an Alakazam, holding a spoon in each hand...
And beside it… a magnificent Chandelure, its body resembling an eerie crystal chandelier.
"Wh-What the hell is this?!"
Liam stared wide-eyed at the two Pokémon that had just evolved before his eyes.
His mind was in complete chaos, as though countless alpacas had trampled across it.