Alex never imagined he'd be thrown into such a predicament after reaching out to Umbraline for help. He had expected an agent, a team, or at the very least some guidance to get him into the fight.
Instead, they drugged him, beat him, and tossed him into a pit to face Pokémon after separating him from his team. This wasn't what he wanted. He craved fights against people, fighters like himself, a challenge that focused on technique and skill, not monsters that could fold him with a single move.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I've just received word that our fighter is none other than the bounty hunter Alex Wattson! An Elite ranked trainer who's stepped into our arena tonight to give you the show you've been waiting for. He'll need to conquer three more battles to claim the title of tonight's champion, so let's see if he's got what it takes! Give it up for Alex!"
The crowd erupted, chanting his name, and a wave of nostalgia hit Alex. It had been a long time since he'd felt the roar of an audience behind him.
'Not that many people, but it's something,' Alex thought, reminiscing about his MMA career.
He hadn't been particularly famous back then, but he was known well enough to draw cheers whenever his opponent was still an unknown.
The roar of the crowd rose again, this time for the massive Pokémon entering the arena. A hulking yellow giant, standing 7'7" (2.3 m), loomed over Alex by more than a foot and a half.
"And there it is, ladies and gentlemen," the announcer shouted, "his second challenge, a colossal Hariyama!"
Hariyama, eager to begin the battle, charged and lunged first with glowing palms. It unleashed a flurry of Arm Thrusts, five massive strikes coming at Alex in rapid succession, each one capable of crushing a normal human. But Alex was a ghost in the fray, sidestepping with nimble footwork while twisting and weaving his upper body to slip past each of Hariyama's crushing thrusts. He stayed light on his feet, moving quickly and keeping his guard up at all times. The crowd's cheers blurred into a roaring background as he avoided every attack, never letting Hariyama land a solid hit.
Once the move ended, Alex closed the distance to land some body shots. His fists struck with power and precision, but they barely left a mark on the massive Pokémon. Hariyama's fatty exterior absorbed the impacts, dealing minimal damage. It was clear Alex would have a long fight ahead if he focused only on the body.
Hariyama couldn't attack an opponent who was so close and continued to circle him. Annoyed, it swung a massive hand in a Force Palm, grazing Alex and sending him skidding backward across the arena floor.
Alex sprang up immediately, refusing to give the Pokémon any breathing room. As he advanced, Hariyama unleashed a Vacuum Wave, the invisible force hurling Alex through the air and slamming him against the arena walls.
"Oh! That has got to hurt, ladies and gentlemen!"
The giant kept throwing Vacuum Waves, trying to keep Alex from closing the distance. Alex stayed light on his feet, circling the arena to evade the invisible strikes. Gradually, Hariyama's attacks began to miss more often, each thrust growing slower with every failed attempt. Sensing an opening, Alex closed in once more.
Hariyama swung another Force Palm to keep Alex from closing the distance, but he was too small. The attack was aimed too low, just as Alex had predicted. He leapt and delivered a crushing kick to Hariyama's head. The Pokémon staggered but held its ground.
Alex tried to strike again, repeating the jump kick since it had seemed effective, but Hariyama anticipated the move this time. Activating Detect, it evaded the strike, leaving Alex suspended midair.
Hariyama, not letting the chance go, grabbed Alex by the waist, preparing to execute a devastating Seismic Toss, a move that would undoubtedly snap his neck if it succeeded.
Thinking fast, Alex gouged at Hariyama's eyes with his thumbs, forcing it to release him. He followed up with a headbutt, making Hariyama recoil and cancel the move. Wasting no time, Alex flipped forward and delivered a punishing axe kick with his heel to the top of Hariyama's head. The massive Pokémon crumpled to the arena floor, knocked out cold.
Alex landed lightly on his feet, chest heaving but victorious, as the crowd erupted into a deafening roar.
"Unbelievable, ladies and gentlemen! Our contender just demolished a colossal Hariyama in a stunning display of skill and power! Can he keep his winning streak alive, or will fatigue catch up to him?"
Before Alex could catch his breath, his next opponent appeared. It moved on all fours, its brown-and-white fur shining. Muscles flexed under its coat, and its eyes were sharp, teeth showing in a snarl. Its powerful legs and stiff mane promised lightning-fast bursts of speed, every inch of it radiating predatory intent.
"And here comes our contender's next opponent, ladies and gentlemen, a ferocious Lycanroc, Midday Form! He's already faced a humanoid Pokémon, but now we'll see how he fares against one that runs on all fours!"
Lycanroc moved with deliberate caution, circling Alex slowly, teeth bared and muscles coiled. Its blue eyes scanned him, searching for the smallest opening, measuring his speed and reactions. Every twitch of its body and shift of weight was calculated, testing its opponent as much as preparing to strike.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this Lycanroc is studying every move! It is sizing up our contender before it makes its first strike!"
Then, with a sudden jolt, Lycanroc lunged forward, jaws snapping as its teeth aimed for Alex's shoulder. Alex twisted his upper body just in time, letting the attack glance off as he punched the canine's stomach to counter. The contact was brief but enough to gauge the power and speed behind Lycanroc's attacks.
"What a dodge! Our contender barely moves and already counters! This is a masterclass in reflexes!"
Lycanroc followed with a series of rapid Crunch attacks, snapping from various angles and lunging with precision. The Pokémon's agility was impressive, but Alex matched it with nimble footwork. He jabbed at Lycanroc's head or pushed it aside with practiced timing, keeping his balance and maintaining his guard.
"Our contender is reading every move! Lycanroc is fast, but he is faster!" the commentator exclaimed.
Each failed strike fueled the Pokémon's frustration. Its snarls grew louder and more feral, eyes narrowing as it realized that Alex was not only fast but also skilled enough to dodge or redirect every attempt. The probing attacks had revealed little, and now Lycanroc faced a fighter who could read its movements.
After several unsuccessful lunges, Lycanroc switched to long-range attacks. It launched a Rock Throw at Alex, sending jagged stones hurtling through the air. Alex stepped aside with ease, keeping his gaze fixed on the agile canine.
The announcer's voice cut through the roar of the crowd: "Our contender is proving he is not easy prey! Every stone is missing by inches! What amazing dexterity!"
Without waiting, Lycanroc followed up with a massive Rock Slide that sent a wave of rocks tumbling across the arena. Alex sprinted around the arena floor, weaving through the debris while punching stray stones aside when they came too close. He stayed light on his feet, constantly adjusting his position, never giving the four-legged attacker a clear shot.
"It's like watching a dance!" the commentator shouted. "Our contender is circling and dodging with unbelievable speed!"
The constant evasion seemed to enrage Lycanroc. With a snarl, it lowered its head and charged headfirst with Accelerock, aiming straight for Alex.
Alex had no time to react except to bend over with his arms low. The Lycanroc slammed into his midsection, the force driving the air from his lungs, but rather than being thrown aside, Alex wrapped his arms around the canine's neck, holding on for dear life.
Blinded and gasping for air, Lycanroc bucked violently, trying to throw him off. One of Alex's arms slipped free, but he clutched a handful of fur, digging in as Lycanroc thrashed and spun across the arena floor.
"Unbelievable! Our contender is holding on to that Lycanroc like it's nothing! Can he maintain this grip?!"
Lycanroc tried a desperate maneuver, slamming Alex toward the arena wall, but Alex managed to steady himself mid-crash. Using the momentum, he leapt onto Lycanroc's back while still holding onto its neck. Wrapping both arms around, he locked in a choke hold.
Lycanroc thrashed even harder, rocking the arena with its furious movements, but Alex refused to let go. Finally, with a resounding crack, Alex snapped the canine's neck. Lycanroc collapsed, fainted, and Alex staggered back, badly bruised but victorious.
The crowd erupted into cheers. The announcer's voice rang out, exhilarated, "Incredible! Alex takes his third match in stunning fashion, even after surviving that ferocious Lycanroc! What a display of skill, strength, and sheer guts! Our contender has taken down three in a row, tying with Houndoom! But the question is, folks, can he overcome his fourth opponent and claim the title of tonight's Champion?"
From the other side of the arena, a calm but threatening aura began to approach. It walked upright, with focused eyes and measured movements. Its blue and black fur was sleek, with spikes on its arms and chest, a pointed snout, and a long tail swishing behind it. Its ears twitched as it observed Alex, carefully gauging its opponent.
It was an Elite ranked Lucario.
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