[Lv. 72 Blastoise / Legend]
"Blastoise!!"
Scott was shocked.
This was the first time he had seen Blastoise in more than two months.
"This is the Blastoise that Scott said once defeated Agatha's Gengar. It looks really strong," Spenser thought to himself.
That morning, Scott had personally informed Spenser that the upcoming challenger was extremely powerful. He even revealed which Pokémon Gary had used so far and warned that his Blastoise was particularly formidable.
However, Scott had also mentioned that Gary rarely used Blastoise in official battles. In fact, he hadn't used it in any of the previous four Battle Frontier challenges. Spenser never expected Gary to bring it out now—against him.
Spenser glanced toward Lapras, floating gracefully in the sea, and instantly realized that Gary's only Pokémon capable of fighting effectively in water was Blastoise. Without meaning to, he had forced Gary to reveal his ace.
"Lapras, be careful," Spenser warned, his tone serious. "That Blastoise is incredibly strong."
"Laapraaas!"
Lapras nodded, its calm eyes reflecting determination. Any opponent that made its Trainer speak with such caution was not to be underestimated.
"Blastoise, use Aqua Jet!" Gary commanded sharply.
"Blaaastoise!"
With a powerful leap, Blastoise dove into the water, but rather than submerging, he began spinning rapidly in midair using Rapid Spin. Streams of water gathered and condensed around him, forming shimmering blue blades that encircled his body. In an instant, he transformed into a high-speed torpedo, hurtling straight toward Lapras.
Seeing Blastoise's frontal assault, Spenser reacted without hesitation. "Lapras, Ice Beam!"
Lapras opened its mouth wide, a brilliant cold light forming at its core. "Laaapras!" it roared, unleashing a freezing beam that struck Blastoise head-on.
The blast instantly froze Blastoise and the water blades surrounding him, encasing them in a sheet of ice.
But—
The freezing wasn't enough to stop his advance. Instead, the transformation of Aqua Jet into a spinning ice projectile made it even more lethal. The high-speed rotation turned the ice into piercing blades of compressed energy.
Bang!!
"Laaah!!"
Lapras wailed as the icy projectile smashed into its body. The frozen shell around Blastoise shattered instantly, and his head and limbs burst out from his shell with explosive force.
"Now! Dynamic Punch!" Gary ordered.
"Blastoise!!"
At barely a meter's distance, Blastoise's fist surged with brilliant orange fighting energy. The air rippled from the sheer force as he drove his glowing punch forward.
BOOM!!
The hit landed squarely on Lapras's neck, sending the Water- and Ice-type Pokémon hurtling backward across the sea. The impact created a massive splash that sent waves crashing onto the shore as Lapras skidded and tumbled over the surface, finally slamming against the shallow waters nearly a thousand meters away.
"La~la~hraaa!!"
Lapras screamed in pain, its eyes swirling as confusion overtook it from the effects of Dynamic Punch.
Gary would never miss an opening that wide. "Finish it, Blastoise—Aura Sphere!"
Blastoise's shoulder cannons rotated downward, and from both barrels burst twin spheres of bright blue energy. The Aura Spheres locked onto their target instantly, flying forward with homing precision.
"Lapras, Protect! Quickly!" Spenser shouted.
But Lapras, disoriented and confused, didn't respond to the command. Instead, it instinctively fired another Ice Beam upward, its aim completely off.
The Aura Spheres streaked through the air like twin comets, closing the distance within seconds.
BOOM!!
The explosion sent a plume of water into the air, and Lapras was thrown violently against the beach. It landed hard on the sand, eyes spiraling as its body went limp.
"Lapras is unable to battle! Blastoise wins!" announced the mechanical referee in its neutral tone.
Spenser took a deep breath, recalling Lapras with a solemn expression. Now, only Arcanine remained—and that Arcanine had already taken considerable damage during the previous fight with Tyranitar. Against a powerhouse like Blastoise, it stood little chance.
Still, Spenser was a Battle Frontier Brain. He would not yield without trying.
"Arcanine, I'm counting on you once more!" he declared, tossing his Poké Ball.
"Arrroooo!"
Arcanine burst forth in a flash of red light, immediately activating its Intimidate Ability.
The Fire-type's fierce aura filled the air, but Blastoise remained unfazed, eyes steady and unyielding.
Unfortunately for Spenser, Blastoise's strength was balanced—his physical and special attacks were both equally devastating. Reducing one made little difference.
Gary raised his hand decisively. "Blastoise, use Water Pulse!"
"Blastoise!!"
Both cannons erupted, launching pulsating spheres of swirling water like high-speed artillery shells. Each one thundered through the air toward Arcanine.
"Dodge them with Extreme Speed!" Spenser countered quickly.
"Arroooh!!"
Arcanine blurred forward, its body turning into a streak of flame and motion. The Water Pulses crashed harmlessly into the sand and sea, exploding into sprays of mist as the legendary Pokémon zigzagged with astonishing agility, steadily closing in on Blastoise.
"Aura Sphere!" Gary switched tactics instantly.
The cannons shifted angle, energy gathering once again.
"Now, Wild Charge!" Spenser roared.
"Ooouuh!!"
Arcanine howled, electricity crackling around its entire body. Sparks flashed across the water as it sprinted straight over the sea surface, moving so fast that it barely sank.
"Blastoise!"
Blastoise launched an Aura Sphere, which streaked toward Arcanine like lightning—but upon contact, the energy sphere ricocheted off the electric aura surrounding Arcanine's body.
BOOM!!
Arcanine slammed directly into Blastoise, triggering an explosion of smoke and water.
"It actually connected… as expected from Spenser, the Palace Maven," Scott exclaimed, eyes widening as the mist began to clear.
When visibility returned, Arcanine was struggling to swim back toward shore. The recoil from Wild Charge had taken its toll, its movements sluggish and labored. The once proud beast now paddled weakly through the water, barely keeping afloat.
Gary sighed softly. "You fought well, Spenser. But this is the end."
He pointed forward. "Blastoise, Hydro Cannon!"
Blastoise rose partly from the sea, about ten meters from Arcanine. The water around him churned violently as blue energy condensed at the muzzle of his cannons, building immense pressure.
"Arcanine, stop swimming! Turn around and use Flamethrower!" Spenser commanded, desperation edging his voice.
Arcanine turned mid-water, exhaling a roaring jet of fire that streaked across the surface. Steam hissed violently as the flame skimmed the waves, boiling the seawater in its path.
"Blaaastoise!!"
The cannons fired. Two colossal Hydro Cannons tore through the sea, displacing so much water that a vacuum corridor opened in their wake. The twin torrents collided with Arcanine's Flamethrower—completely overpowering it.
KABOOOM!!
The explosion of water and steam sent shockwaves through the air. The flames were instantly extinguished, and the full force of the Hydro Cannon slammed into Arcanine.
"Arrroooh!!!"
The legendary Fire Pokémon howled in agony as the blast hurled it out of the sea, smashing it into the shore. It crashed through several palm trees before finally collapsing, motionless.
The Rotom Referee zipped over, scanning Arcanine's vitals. After a brief pause, its mechanical voice announced:
"Arcanine is unable to battle. All three Pokémon of Palace Maven Spenser have been defeated. The winner of this match is—Gary Oak!"
Gary exhaled, relief and satisfaction mingling on his face. "Blastoise, return. You've earned your rest."
"Blastoise…" The mighty Pokémon gave a low rumble before the red light of the Poké Ball enveloped him.
Scott stared at the Trainer who now stood as the victor, his voice a mix of disbelief and admiration. "The fifth facility of the Battle Frontier… has fallen to him as well!"