"Umbreon, Shadow Ball!"
"Umbre~!"
With a few graceful leaps, Umbreon dodged through the waves of heat, her sleek black body gliding like moonlight over molten stone.
A dark energy sphere gathered between her paws, pulsing with ghostly power. When it grew dense enough, she launched it toward the blazing Slugma.
"Slugma, block it with Ancient Power!"
Flannery waved her arms dramatically, unbothered by decorum or restraint-her commands burned with the same passion as her Pokémon.
"Slug~!!"
The molten Pokémon's body shimmered like liquid magma under the sunlight. Jagged rocks of primordial energy materialized in front of it, clashing head-on with the oncoming sphere.
A deafening boom echoed through the arena.
Smoke billowed, and both attacks dissipated at once.
Silas's eyes narrowed. "Evenly matched… Figures. Both of them have low Special Attack-it's like two pillows colliding."
He exhaled softly, calculating. "Not worth pushing the same trade."
Across the field, Flannery grinned. "Heh, not bad! But let's see how you handle this!"
"Slugma, Smog! Fill the field!"
"Slug—Mag~!"
Dark purple fumes erupted from the Fire-type's body, spreading rapidly through the arena like an oily mist. The air thickened with toxins.
Silas smirked faintly. "Don't dodge, Umbreon. Take it."
"Umbre?"
The Moonlight Pokémon glanced back uncertainly but obeyed, standing her ground as the violet haze washed over her.
Flannery blinked in surprise. "You're not dodging? Alright then-Slugma, crank it up!"
The toxic fog swirled around Umbreon, her sleek fur dimming under the haze. Purple spots began to appear across her body.
Flannery's eyes widened. "Yes! Poisoned! Looks like Lady Luck's on my side!"
But Silas's calm expression didn't change. His lips curved slightly.
"Check again."
"Umbre…"
As the two Pokémon locked eyes, faint purple blotches began appearing on Slugma's molten body as well.
Flannery froze. "Wha—?!"
Silas's voice dropped, smooth and sharp. "Synchronize. When Umbreon's afflicted with poison, burn, or paralysis, the same condition reflects back on her opponent."
Flannery's jaw dropped. "Oh, come on!"
Silas chuckled softly. "That's why I didn't tell her to dodge."
He raised his hand. "Now-Refresh."
A pure white glow enveloped Umbreon, washing through her body like a cleansing wave. The purple stains vanished from her fur, and she straightened, unburdened and flawless once more.
Across the field, however, Slugma's molten skin bubbled with spreading toxins.
"Perfect synergy," Silas murmured. "Synchronize and Refresh–an unbeatable pair."
Flannery grit her teeth, her grin returning even fiercer. "Then I've got no choice but to go all out! Slugma, Inferno! Burn it all!"
Silas's eyes flickered. "That's dangerous."
A wave of flame burst from the arena floor, twisting into towering fire pillars that surrounded Umbreon. The battlefield turned into a blazing hellscape-the very image of purgatory.
"Umbreon, Protect! Full power!"
"Umbreee!!"
A green barrier flared around her just in time as the flames crashed down. Firelight reflected in her crimson eyes, defiance burning within the emerald shield.
The pillars erupted skyward, heat warping the air. Sparks scattered like meteors.
For a moment, it seemed the flames would consume her whole-
but when they finally receded, Umbreon still stood, unharmed within her shimmering barrier.
Flannery's fiery confidence flickered. "No way…"
Silas's expression didn't change. "Inferno's powerful, but if you can't maintain the heat, it burns itself out."
As Slugma tried to charge up another attack, its movement slowed-the poison had fully set in. Its body wobbled, molten trails cooling along its shell.
Then-
thud.
The Lava Pokémon stiffened and collapsed.
"Slugma is unable to battle! Umbreon wins!" the referee announced loudly.
Flannery clapped her hands together, laughing in pure excitement.
"What a fantastic battle! The timing, the combo–the use of abilities–wow, I'm fired up!"
She untied the red ribbon from her hair, letting her long crimson hair flow freely like a blazing waterfall in the wind.
"Alright, then it's time for round two! Go, Numel! Let's heat this up!"
"Num~mel!"
The next Pokémon materialized in a burst of light-a camel-like creature with sleepy eyes and faintly bubbling humps.
Silas's expression hardened. "Hmm. Numel… so it's between Oblivious or Simple."
He adjusted his stance slightly. "Either way, it's trouble."
He analyzed quietly:
"Oblivious" prevents it from being affected by Attract or Taunt.
But "Simple"… doubles the effects of stat changes.
Dangerous–if it uses a boosting move, it could skyrocket."
Then, after a brief pause, he smiled. "Good thing Numel doesn't have much to boost with. At most, Amnesia."
Still, he recalled Umbreon's Poké Ball. "You've done well, girl. Rest for now."
"Umbre~…" The Moonlight Pokémon gave a soft nod before returning in a beam of red light.
Silas turned his cap slightly and tossed another Poké Ball.
"Let's end this quick. Go-Sharpedo!"
"Shaaarp!"
The aquatic predator burst forth in a whirl of water, hovering slightly above the arena floor as waves spiraled around it. Its razor teeth gleamed like polished blades.
Flannery froze for half a heartbeat. "Oh, come on! Another Water-type?! I hate those!"
Silas smirked. "Then you're going to hate me even more."
The referee raised his hand. "Round two-begin!"
"Sharpedo, Aqua Jet! Now!"
The water shark surged forward like a torpedo, its body wreathed in compressed water.
The strike hit clean-sending Numel skidding backward across the field before it even had time to react.
"Numel!!" Flannery gasped. "You're kidding me-it's so fast! Acceleration ability, huh?"
Her eyes flared with competitive fire. "Then we'll match your speed! Numel, Flame Charge! Let's go!"
"Numel~!"
Flames engulfed its body as it charged forward
and Silas's mind clicked instantly. "Simple ability confirmed."
Each Flame Charge doubled its speed instead of increasing it by one stage. Within seconds, the sluggish Fire-type became a blazing bullet.
"Numel, Smokescreen! Close the gap!"
A burst of fiery smoke exploded across the field, obscuring sight.
"Keep your Aqua Jet active and bite through!" Silas countered.
"Sharp!"
The water surged again, forming a spiraling current as Sharpedo lunged through the smoke. A dark silhouette of monstrous jaws appeared behind it-the spectral imprint of its Crunch attack merging with water.
The two collided mid-charge-a clash of boiling fire and cutting waves.
When the smoke cleared, Sharpedo's fangs had sunk deep into Numel's shoulder. The Fire-type cried out, magma leaking from its wounds.
"Numel, use Earth Power! Don't give up!" Flannery yelled, refusing to retreat.
The ground trembled as molten energy erupted beneath Sharpedo but with a sharp motion of Silas's hand, the water shark pulled back, shimmering briefly with a translucent shield.
"Protect."
The tremor hit the barrier harmlessly, washing out in a burst of steam.
Flannery threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Ugh! First Synchronize, now Protect and Water-types again?! Why do the calm ones always play so dirty?!"
Silas only smiled faintly. "It's not about being calm or fiery. It's about control."
Numel finally wavered, its body quivering as the poison, burns, and exhaustion took their toll. It fell onto its side with a low groan.
"Numel is unable to battle! Sharpedo wins!"
Flannery let out a half-laugh, half-sigh, clutching her head dramatically.
"Man, I really hate Water-types…"
Her fiery eyes softened into admiration, though.
"You're good, Silas . You fight smart but you've still got one more test."
Silas smiled faintly, his tone calm and confident.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
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(End of chapter)