Ampharos blazed across the battlefield like golden lightning, moving faster and faster, until Lapras's Hydro Pumps failed to land even once.
Under the relentless assault, Lapras was beginning to tire.
Yozora's sharp eyes flashed. He had caught the opening immediately."Now, Ampharos—Thunderbolt!"
"Dive underwater, quick!" Pryce shouted in haste.
Lapras slipped beneath the pool's surface just as the surge of electricity ripped through the air.
"Then aim for the whole pool—Thunder!" Yozora commanded.
BOOM!
Ampharos's entire body tightened as it unleashed a colossal bolt of lightning, descending like divine judgment straight into the pool.
CRACK—BOOM!
The floating ice exploded violently, shattered chunks flying everywhere as waves roared high into the air.
Moments later, the arena fell silent again.
The floating ice was gone, the water's surface widened, and Lapras now lay motionless in the pool—unable to battle.
"Impressive," Pryce nodded faintly, recalling Lapras and throwing out his second Poké Ball.
"Mamoswine, go!"
Mamoswine, the evolved form of Piloswine, was massive in size. Its entire body was covered in shaggy brown fur, its hooves white, its large pink nose rimmed with light brown hair. Unlike Piloswine, its eyes were visible, gleaming with ferocity, and its huge curved white tusks radiated crushing power.
A vast chasm of water had opened up across the icy battlefield, separating Ampharos from Mamoswine.
The mammoth Pokémon was a titan of brute force and charges, but it could not run on water.
For Mamoswine, this terrain was unfavorable.
Yet Pryce had sent it out anyway—clearly, he had his confidence.
"Mamoswine, Blizzard!"
Pryce swung his hand down.
Mamoswine snorted, and a howling gale of snow erupted from its nostrils.
Wherever the blizzard swept, water froze over in an instant. The yawning chasm sealed itself shut in mere seconds, revealing the terrifying power of the attack.
The Blizzard's reach was vast, blanketing the arena and sealing all of Ampharos's escape routes. Speed alone would not save it this time.
Moments later, Ampharos was frozen into a solid block of ice—immobile.
"Now, Mamoswine! Take Down!" Pryce roared.
RUMBLE—RUMBLE—
Mamoswine thundered forward, shockingly swift for its massive size. In just a few breaths it was upon Ampharos, tusks slamming mercilessly into the frozen statue.
CRASH! The ice shattered, shards flying everywhere as Ampharos screamed, flung across the arena.
It tumbled more than ten meters before crashing to the ground, eyes shut tight—unable to continue.
"What raw power…" Yozora's brows furrowed as he looked at the mighty Mamoswine.
He knew Ampharos had used Cotton Guard earlier, and with its Stamina Ability, its defenses had been maxed out—doubling its durability.
Yet even that had not saved it.
But then again, Mamoswine's level was simply too high—Elite-level at its peak, bordering on Elite Four.
"Return, Ampharos." Yozora recalled his partner and instead sent out his Eevee.
His Eevee was now at Gym Leader level, no weaker than Ampharos had been.
And if it evolved mid-battle, its level could instantly rise to early Elite.
"Eevee?" Pryce blinked in surprise at the cute little Pokémon."The level isn't bad, but what battle power could an Eevee possibly bring?"
He shook his head with a faint chuckle, raising his arm. "Let's end this quickly. Mamoswine—Blizzard again!"
The deadly winds howled once more.
But Yozora stood calm, voice steady: "Eevee—Flamethrower!"
WHOOSH!
In a flash of radiant light, the adorable Eevee transformed into a fiery Flareon, flames roaring from its maw.
The Blizzard spread wide but diluted its power.
Flareon's concentrated stream of fire cut through the storm, striking Mamoswine directly.
"ROAR!" Mamoswine bellowed in pain.
Though Flareon's level was lower, its strength was undeniable. With Adaptability quadrupling the power of its STAB attacks, its Flamethrower now struck like a peak Elite—perhaps even Elite Four.
And against Ice-types, fire struck for double damage.
The result was devastating—Mamoswine suffered massive damage instantly.
"Mamoswine!" Pryce gasped, stunned. Just a moment ago, that had been an Eevee—How had it suddenly evolved, and its power skyrocketed so far?
"Finish it, Flareon—Fire Blast!" Yozora called.
Flareon roared, releasing a blazing kanji-shaped inferno that swept forward like judgment flame.
Mamoswine's bulk left it no chance to dodge.
The Fire Blast detonated across its body, consuming its last strength.
"Mamoswine, no!" Pryce cried as the Ice-Ground behemoth fell, defeated.
"…Incredible."
He recalled Mamoswine, turning to Yozora with rare admiration."Yozora, for your age—you can already be called a genius. Even more outstanding than I was in my youth."
"You flatter me, Master Liu," Yozora replied humbly. "I've only been fortunate in capturing strong partners."
"Hmph, nonsense. Fortune or not, that's still your fortune." Pryce smirked, before producing his final Poké Ball.
"Go—Weavile!"
The sleek assassin Pokémon emerged, its cold gaze cutting through the air. A Dark- and Ice-type, Weavile was small but radiated lethal intent, speed and power coiled like a blade.
Its level was even higher than Mamoswine's—peak Elite, a true predator.
"Flareon, strike first—Flamethrower!" Yozora shouted.
Ice-types were weak to fire, and Weavile's frailty meant one hit might finish it instantly.
But Pryce only chuckled."Dodge it."
Weavile smirked arrogantly, closed its eyes—and sidestepped the flames as if they were nothing.
Its speed was terrifying.
"Agility!" Pryce barked.
Weavile's aura surged. In the next instant, its figure blurred into countless shadows streaking across the ice.
Flareon spun in confusion, flames lashing blindly, but nothing hit.
"Stay calm, Flareon!" Yozora called.
But just then—Pryce's eyes sharpened."Now, Weavile—Quick Attack!"
"WEH-VAH!"
A blur of black slammed into Flareon, sending it flying.
"Pursuit!"
Weavile darted across the ice, faster than lightning. Before Flareon could land, its claws struck again, sending the fire Pokémon tumbling in another direction.
When it finally crashed to the ground, Flareon's eyes had spiraled into unconsciousness.
The score was now tied, 2–2. Each side had only one Pokémon left.
"Come now, Yozora," Pryce said with anticipation. "Show me—do you still have something stronger?"
Weavile curled its clawed finger, taunting, as if to say it hadn't fought enough yet.
"As you wish. Go—Dragonite!"
A burst of white light, and the massive Dragonite appeared, towering over the sleek assassin.
"Dragonite, hm? You do realize, against Weavile, Dragonite is at a severe disadvantage?" Pryce laughed.
Dragonite's Dragon-Flying typing made it quadruple weak to Ice. One strike could devastate it.
And Weavile's level was even higher.
"Maybe so," Yozora smiled. "But Weavile has to land a hit first."
"…Fair point." Pryce chuckled darkly."Weavile, Ice Punch!"
"WEH-VAH!"
Weavile blurred into a black shadow, claws glowing with chilling frost, streaking toward Dragonite.
"Take flight, Dragonite!"
With a powerful flap of its wings, Dragonite soared high, letting Weavile's strike slice through empty air.
Weavile landed, glaring skyward, its mocking eyes full of challenge.
But Dragonite was no Flareon. Calm and patient, it ignored the taunts, circling steadily above.
"We'll use the skies, Dragonite—Flamethrower!"
Dragonite roared, spiraling overhead, breathing torrents of flame downward.
But Weavile was lightning incarnate, darting across the arena so fast the fire couldn't catch it.
The battle reached an impasse.
Weavile's Ice attacks could one-shot Dragonite.
But Dragonite's fire attacks could crush Weavile if they connected.
It was a razor's edge.
And with each blast of flame, the icy battlefield melted further. The pool beneath revealed itself again—the frozen arena had been nothing more than an ice-covered swimming pool.
The ice broke apart piece by piece, until the arena was nearly all water, steam rising as only a few ice floes remained.
Weavile stood on one, its expression sour.
It could move like a phantom on solid ice, but in water—it would be crippled.
"Dragonite, keep it up! Flamethrower!" Yozora pressed.
With its immense stamina—comparable to a Tier 3 Legendary—Dragonite could breathe fire endlessly.
Soon, only one ice floe remained.
Weavile stood upon it, furious, trapped. No more escape.
"End it, Dragonite—Flamethrower!" Yozora commanded, calm and steady.
Pryce's face darkened. He had to gamble now—or lose for sure.
"Weavile, dive into the water! Then—Surf!"
Flames roared down, melting the last ice floe.
Weavile darted into the pool—and a giant wave rose up beneath its feet.
Balancing atop the crest, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, Weavile surged upward with the wave toward Dragonite.
"Now—Ice Punch!" Pryce shouted.
Frost gathered on its claw, radiating killing cold. Using the wave as a springboard, Weavile launched skyward, a streak of death racing straight for Dragonite…
(End of Chapter)