Around the battlefield, every trainer spectating held their breath. No one made a sound as they focused on the top-tier showdown unfolding in front of them.
It was rare enough to even see a Gym-level Pokémon. Encountering one in the wild usually meant running for their lives, not standing by calmly to observe every detail.
In the center of the field, Duraludon and Corviknight stood ready. Their gazes fixed on each other, prepared to strike at any second.
Rylan and Shiro didn't know what the other was planning, and neither of them wanted to issue the opening command.
Going first meant seizing control, but also exposing one's strategy too soon, giving the opponent a chance to react.
If their Pokémon were fragile and could be taken down in a single hit, then they'd have scrambled to attack. But both of them knew this wasn't a battle that would end in one or two moves. There was no need to rush.
Even so, after just a few seconds, Rylan started to lose patience. He feared Shiro might use that deceptive tactic like before: calling one move, only for Corviknight to do something else entirely.
If that happened, he would lose the initiative and his ability to counter.
Besides, Duraludon was stronger than Corviknight to begin with. What was there to be afraid of?
Thinking of this, Rylan raised his voice and shouted, "Duraludon! Use Rock Tomb!"
Rock Tomb hurled stones at the target and, if it hit, it would reduce their speed.
Rock-type was strong against Flying but weak against Steel. In this case, the damage would balance out. Still, it was a good move to chip away at the foe and weaken them.
As one of Raihan's main Pokémon, Duraludon had trained even non-STAB moves like this to a high degree of mastery.
"Duraaaluu!"
The steel dragon stomped forward with its alloyed legs, raising its two curved claws high while brown, jagged rocks rapidly took shape in midair.
"Corviknight, use Quick Attack to dodge!" Shiro ordered immediately.
The rocks were fully formed and launched forward like missiles, flying straight toward Corviknight. But the bird's speed was already incredible. With Quick Attack, its wings twisted and folded sharply, allowing it to weave through every incoming rock with ease.
As soon as the Rock Tomb was completely unleashed and no longer a threat, Shiro followed up.
"Corviknight, gain altitude and use Screech!"
Screech was a move where the Pokémon released a high-pitched cry that forced opponents to cover their ears, lowering their defense in the process.
Corviknight soared upward, then opened its beak wide as a piercing shriek echoed across the battlefield.
Rylan's face shifted slightly, but he didn't look too worried. He trusted the steel dragon's defense, and also didn't believe Corviknight had what it took to win in close combat against it.
"Duraludon, Focus Energy!" He gave a command of his own.
Focus Energy helped Pokémon concentrate, making their next attacks more likely to land critical hits.
Despite the painful screeching from above, Duraludon grit its teeth and stood its ground. It began focusing its energy as a hazy gray-white glow slowly wrapped around its massive body.
Both Pokémon completed their stat moves at nearly the same time, and low growls rumbled from each side of the field.
Rylan took the lead again. "Duraludon, use Flash Cannon!"
Flash Cannon was a Steel-type move that sometimes lowered the target's special defense.
The steel dragon quickly brought its claws together, creating a blinding gray-blue light in front of its chest. Then an energy beam burst forth at lightning speed, aimed directly at Corviknight.
Rylan's strategy was simple: keep boosting Duraludon's power, then rely on raw strength to bombard the opponent until it couldn't hold on any longer.
With his expression unchanged, Shiro simply ordered, "Aerial Ace!"
The gray-blue beam from Flash Cannon barely grazed past Corviknight's rising silhouette. Aerial Ace not only allowed the bird to shift positions midair to evade the attack but also let it close in quickly for a counterstrike.
Seeing Corviknight fly toward Duraludon, a faint smile crept onto Rylan's face.
Forcing the bird to either go for a long-range exchange or close the distance after dodging—that was exactly what he wanted. The battlefield wasn't big enough for Corviknight to just keep flying around. One wrong move and even a glancing hit would be a major setback.
And what Duraludon wanted was a head-on clash.
If it came down to trading blows, the bird wouldn't last long. That belief came from years of training and the strength Duraludon had built over time, something both it and Rylan were confident in.
Shiro's eyes followed Corviknight as it circled to a position above the Dragon-type.
Aerial Ace usually brought a bird Pokémon to their target's blind spot, but now, front or back didn't matter. Either way, it meant going head-to-head with Duraludon.
So, he lifted his hand high and commanded, "Corviknight, Drill Peck from behind!"
Rylan's response was immediate. "Duraludon, Dragon Claw! Watch your opponent's position!"
Duraludon's alloy-like arms were instantly coated in draconic energy, extending into three sharp, greenish claws. It spread its claws wide without looking up, relying on the wind patterns and sound to judge Corviknight's location.
The bird came diving down fast, but just as it was about to strike Duraludon's back, it abruptly pulled up, ascending sharply. Meanwhile, the dragon claws swiped through the empty air, missing their target.
The people watching the battle gasped as Corviknight flew higher, bringing its claws together. A soft white glow began to shimmer over its steel body.
"That's Hone Claws!" one of the trainers blurted out in surprise. He couldn't understand how the bird pulled off such a move, especially when the original command had been something completely different.
Bryan widened his eyes. He recognized this pattern all too well. It was Shiro's signature battle style. Whenever he faced an opponent with a clear power advantage, he'd use deceptive commands like this to gradually build momentum and tilt the match in his favor.
Raihan also straightened up. Almost unconsciously, he stepped forward to the edge of the spectator stands, focusing intently on Corviknight's movement.
"Hmph."
Inside the arena, Rylan snorted. He had been fooled by this kind of trick more than once. He wasn't surprised, but he also understood this was the time to act fast and adapt.
"Duraludon, quick! Fire Flash Cannon straight up!"
Although he hadn't trained this Duraludon personally, the Pokémon's combat experience was extensive. The moment he spoke, it already knew what it had to do.
It lifted its huge arms, and between its claws, gray-blue light began to swirl once more.
In the blink of an eye, Flash Cannon surged skyward.
But Corviknight had just finished powering up. With a simple roll to the side, it easily dodged the straight-line beam.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!