"Golduck is unable to battle! Lapras wins!" The referee's voice rang across the arena, and the stadium erupted into cheers.
For the first time, Yozora had suffered a loss. Yet paradoxically, this defeat gave Yukie's fans tremendous confidence.
The Hailstorm Squad.
Although Yukie had only two Pokémon left, it felt as if her true strength had only just begun to unfold.
In contrast, Yozora had lost only one so far—but this could be the start of a downward spiral.
Sure enough.
Yozora sent out Aegislash and Gengar next, both of which were swiftly defeated.
However, before fainting, Gengar dragged Lapras down with Destiny Bond, leaving the Ice-type with grievous injuries.
The battle now reached its climax. Yozora had three Pokémon remaining—including Charizard—while Yukie had two, Lapras among them.
One thing was undeniable: Yukie was gradually closing the gap.
"Nidoking! Yozora sends out Nidoking as his fifth Pokémon!" The announcer's voice rose with excitement. "Lapras is already on the brink of collapse—this might be Nidoking's chance to strike!"
"Nidoking's toxins are dangerous. I have to end this quickly."
Yukie's eyes flashed. "Lapras, Hydro Pump! Now!"
"Use Dig!"
A torrent of water roared across the arena, but Nidoking burrowed underground just in time, narrowly escaping destruction.
"Wooo—"
Amid the howling wind and snow, Lapras scanned the barren field, unable to sense its opponent. A faint tremor of pressure stirred within its chest.
After all—
It was no longer at full strength. Consecutive battles, compounded by Gengar's Destiny Bond curse, had drained its stamina to the limit. It could endure no more.
"Don't panic, Lapras. Use Life Dew to recover!" Yukie called out, her voice gentle yet firm.
But—
Just as Lapras began channeling healing energy, Nidoking burst out of the ground, its jagged poison barbs stabbing deep into Lapras's abdomen.
"Woooahh!" Lapras cried in agony, writhing as venom surged through its veins. In a desperate counter, it unleashed another Hydro Pump, blasting Nidoking across the field.
Nidoking hit the ground and collapsed instantly.
The sheer gulf in strength and stamina was too vast—Lapras's attack left it no chance of survival.
Yet Lapras was faltering too. Poison gushed from its wound in dark purple streams. It trembled, endured for three seconds, and finally crumpled lifelessly onto the battlefield.
"Nidoking and Lapras are both unable to battle!" The referee blew his whistle, raising both red flags simultaneously.
"They're down! Both Nidoking and Lapras couldn't withstand the exchange!"
The announcer's voice rose to a fever pitch. "And now—the final showdown begins! Yukie has only one Pokémon left, while Yozora, who began this battle with such a commanding lead, is also down to two—including his Charizard!"
"Go, Yukie!"
"Yozora, you can do it!"
The crowd's emotions boiled over, both sides of the audience cheering and chanting at once.
"Charizard, let's go!"
"Glalie, it's your turn!"
Almost simultaneously, Yozora and Yukie hurled their Poké Balls into the snowstorm.
Glalie—an Ice-type native to Hoenn, the final evolution of Snorunt.
It resembled a massive floating snowball, with eerie black horns jutting from its head. Beyond its mastery of ice, it wielded terrifying impact force.
[Glalie] (Ice-type): Gym Leader Peak, Champion Potential.
Its level was impressive indeed—the perfect trump card for Yukie's finale.
"Glalie, Blizzard!" Snow was still falling. Yukie seized the opportunity, unleashing the storm at full force.
A howling tempest bore down, and Yozora instantly raised his black bracelet.
Charizard, already worn from consecutive battles and the relentless hail, had less than half its strength remaining.
And now—this overwhelming Blizzard. Yozora couldn't take the risk.
Which meant—there was only one choice.
Mega Evolution.
A dazzling light erupted.
Amidst the furious blizzard, Charizard transformed once more—an evolution beyond evolution itself.
Mega Evolution!
Its body turned jet-black, flames shifting to an eerie azure glow. A fearsome dragon's face emerged, its black wings stretched like a demon's cloak. From the inferno, a monstrous dragon of shadows rose, exuding raw, destructive power.
Mega Charizard X!
With its limits shattered, Charizard's level surged into mid-Elite.
Heat radiated from its body, searing through the snow-laden air.
Mega Charizard X—the Fire and Dragon dual-type.
Though dragons were weak to ice, fire resisted it.
Thus, Mega Charizard X was among the rare Dragons unfazed by ice.
"Ffffhhh—" Charizard exhaled steam. The raging Blizzard crashed against it, but before it could inflict any damage, the ice was incinerated by the sheer heat of its scales.
The crowd gasped as Charizard shrugged off the storm unharmed.
"Unbelievable! Yozora's Charizard has evolved again—and it looks absolutely terrifying!" the announcer cried. The stadium erupted in shock and awe.
For many, Mega Evolution was something they had only ever seen on TV. Witnessing it in person—the explosion of energy, the dragon's transformation—it left them speechless.
"Charizard, Flare Blitz!"
"Roooaaaar!!"
Wings beating, Charizard soared skyward, its body cloaked in raging blue flames. It dove like a meteor, all its might crashing down toward Glalie.
But Yukie had been waiting.
"Glalie, Mega Evolve! Iron Head!"
Light burst from her stone as well.
Glalie transformed, its body now hardened with frozen armor. Its ability shifted to Refrigerate, converting even Normal-type moves into Ice-type attacks—boosted by both STAB and an extra 50% power.
"BOOM—!!"
Flare Blitz met Iron Head.
The collision detonated in a massive explosion, shaking the stadium.
A cloud of dust and smoke engulfed the arena. The audience held their breath.
When the smoke cleared—both Pokémon stood, battered and bloodied, but neither had fallen.
But it was only an illusion.
"Thud—"
Three seconds later, Mega Glalie collapsed. Light flickered as it reverted to its normal form, unconscious.
"Glalie is down! Charizard wins!!" The announcer's voice broke the silence. The referee raised his flag in confirmation.
"Glalie…" Yukie stood frozen in disbelief.
Both had Mega Evolved—yet her ace was felled in an instant by Charizard.
The result was almost unbearable.
But what Yukie didn't know—was that Yozora's Charizard not only held the advantage in typing, but also possessed the ability Tough Claws, turning its physical strikes into devastating blows.
(End of Chapter)