Tyranitar's Precipice Blades was becoming more and more similar to Groudon's.
This chain of attacks didn't directly defeat Walrein, but it did stop the ice stakes from continuing to pursue Slowking.
Thus, Slowking also caught a brief moment of respite.
Its psychic power gathered from every corner of the space, reforming into three black blades that flew straight toward Crawdaunt, who had drawn all the attention.
With the move Miracle Eye, Slowking could strike Dark-type Pokémon. Crawdaunt took the full force of Slowking's triple slash, giving Drapion and Swampert the chance they needed.
The triple use of Thunder Fang appeared once again: Drapion firmly clamped down on Crawdaunt's claws with its own and, with fangs wrapped in blazing yellow electricity, bit down hard on its opponent's tough shell.
Crack, crack!
The shell began to fracture as electricity coursed from Drapion's fangs into Crawdaunt's body.
Swampert seized the moment—he leaped from the ground like an ape, both fists clenched and wrapped in Ground-type energy. His muscles bulged and tensed as he channeled all his power into his arms.
BOOM!
The Hammer Arm, reinforced by Earth Power, became a devastating blow that slammed Crawdaunt into the ground.
It was driven deep into the earth, still trembling from the electric current.
Crawdaunt's eyes rolled back—it had lost the ability to fight.
"Chhaaaa!"
Drapion roared, raising its arms. Its aura surged, and at that moment, its level rose—it had finally reached Maximum Elite level!
The second defeat was sealed. Shelly was left with only Walrein.
The battle was decided.
Her desperate offensive had been countered by Cain's tactic: launching a direct attack toward the opposing Trainer, forcing Walrein to abandon its offense to save her. That broke the momentum completely.
The ice stakes lost control and fell to the ground, shattering into scattered flakes and crystals.
Walrein lay on the floor, its skin cracked and covered in burn marks. The combination of Precipice Blades and Rock Slide had punished it brutally.
In this chaotic fight, Gengar had transferred Drapion's ability, Sniper, to so many Pokémon that even activating it once made their power terrifying.
Walrein tried to get up—but failed.
Cain, of course, wouldn't give it the chance to rise again.
They had been lucky today that Walrein wasn't at its peak; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to face it.
Moreover, Shelly's other three Pokémon were injured and unable to fight. Had they been available, Cain would not have been able to achieve such a result in a direct confrontation.
The difference between the two Trainers was clear.
But at this point, nothing could change anymore.
Gengar emerged from Walrein's shadow. With just a glance, the exhausted Walrein couldn't resist the Hypnosis.
The sound of snoring filled the air, and Gengar lunged in with Dream Eater, draining away all of Walrein's remaining strength.
Thus, all three of Shelly's Pokémon had fallen.
Shelly, standing in place, had already mentally prepared herself the moment Walrein fell and Crawdaunt was defeated. Still, she hadn't expected it all to end so quickly.
Even though Cain had used eight Pokémon, Shelly felt no resentment about it.
Just like Archie once used nine against Drake, this was a fight of life and death, not a mere game.
Losing meant dying.
And her opponent clearly understood what a true battle meant. That final tactic—attacking the opposing Trainer to divert the strike—proved it.
She could only blame herself for not being strong enough.
Cain, along with his Pokémon, slowly approached Shelly, a faint smile on his face.
Shelly showed no fear. She stared at him coldly; when she had chosen to join Team Aqua, she had already accepted that this kind of fate might await her.
"To fall into your hands... I accept it." Her voice was icy.
Cain looked at her with a smile but said nothing.
Shelly's face hardened. "Do as you wish—kill me if you want!"
But Cain remained silent, his gaze unreadable.
The more silent he was, the more rigid Shelly's expression became, as if she'd imagined something even worse.
Immediately, she pulled up her clothes and stepped back a few paces, shouting fiercely, "What are you trying to do?!"
Seeing her, Cain was momentarily stunned, but soon understood the misunderstanding.
"I was just thinking about how to deal with you," he said calmly.
Without waiting for her reply, he continued, "Truth be told, you're not entirely evil. You have your limits."
He took two more steps forward.
The distance between them was now almost nothing.
Shelly froze, unsure of what to say—until she noticed she couldn't move her body.
From within Cain's shadow emerged another Pokémon.
"Miiis~~!"
That soft whisper carried a strange power that slowly calmed her restless heart.
Cain raised his hand and spoke softly, "Don't resist."
Then, he placed his palm on Shelly's forehead.
Her body stiffened and fell backward—but didn't hit the ground, suspended in midair by Cain's psychic power.
The world spun...
When she opened her eyes again, the scene had completely changed.
In disbelief, Shelly looked at her own hand. She didn't notice anything odd. Quickly, she took a Poké Ball from her belt and saw Walrein inside, safe and stable. Relief filled her chest.
Only then did she look around.
The light was dim, and she was surrounded by damp rock walls.
She was inside a cave.
Drops of water slid down the walls, and as a member of Team Aqua, she understood it was due to the humidity and thick vapor in the air.
In front of her was a small pond. All the light in the cave came from it. She didn't know if it was from the water itself or something else, but the glow was a pale blue that shimmered with the ripples.
"This is..."
Before she could think further, she heard footsteps behind her.
Alert, she immediately turned, clutching Walrein's Poké Ball tightly.
When she saw who it was, she relaxed slightly.
Archie!
And beside him were the Team Aqua executives—Matt and Amber.
They wore their usual outfits, which gave her a faint sense of security.
However, something was strange. Something didn't feel right. She couldn't recall what it was, and her thoughts froze.
Archie's voice interrupted her confusion.
"Shelly, you did well. We've finally found the legendary god." His eyes burned with zeal.
He wasn't talking about her—but about what he referred to.
Or rather... the legendary Pokémon!
(End of Chapter)