Wattson grinned, sensing my desperation. "A resilient choice! But Steel is only half the story, Stephen! Manectric, Thunder Fang!"
"Mawile, meet it with Iron Head!"
The two Pokémon charged at each other across the metallic floor. Manectric's teeth crackled with yellow electricity, and Mawile's entire body glowed with metallic energy.
CRACK-BOOM!
The impact of the two attacks caused a localized explosion of electrical and metallic energy. Mawile's head was encased in Manectric's powerful jaws, but instead of biting Mawile's real head, Manectric clamped down on the giant, fake mouth on the back of Mawile's skull.
Wattson's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the unusual defense. Manectric didn't hesitate; using the momentum and the powerful grip of Thunder Fang, it swung Mawile upward like a metallic doll and hurled it toward the ceiling.
"Manectric, Thunderbolt!" Wattson roared.
Manectric unleashed a huge bolt of electricity at the airborne Mawile.
"Mawile, Fairy Wind! Throw it off!"
Mawile spun, summoning a gust of pink, shimmering wind that intercepted the lightning bolt. The outcome was expected: Fairy Wind, a status and mild offensive move, was no match for a full-powered Thunderbolt. The Fairy energy dissipated instantly, and the electricity slammed into Mawile.
However, the lingering green shimmer of Light Screen—set up by Sableye before its defeat—flared brilliantly, absorbing the worst of the special attack. Mawile was knocked backward, slamming against the steel wall, but it was still in the fight.
I knew I couldn't rely on the Light Screen for long. I had to change the strategy from defense to aggression.
"Mawile, dash! Get in close! Use Fairy Wind as cover!"
Mawile sprang forward, kicking off the wall and using the swirling pink wind as visual disruption. The idea was to keep Manectric distracted while Mawile covered ground.
Wattson was ready. "Don't let it touch you! Thunderbolt!"
Manectric responded immediately, firing a heavy blast of electricity.
"Dodge and Iron Head!"
Mawile was faster than Manectric anticipated. It executed a quick roll, narrowly avoiding the electric column, and was poised to strike. But Wattson had another trick up his sleeve.
"Manectric, Thunder Wave!"
The paralyzing beam was swift, low to the ground, and difficult to see against the reflections of the metal floor. The beam struck Mawile's feet.
Mawile froze mid-charge. Its metal feet locked up, and its entire body began to twitch.
"Now, Thunder Fang!" Wattson screamed.
Manectric charged forward, its teeth blazing. Mawile struggled. I knew I couldn't let Thunder Fang hit a paralyzed target—the damage would be devastating.
"Mawile! Break free! Sucker Punch!"
The inherent priority of Sucker Punch—a dark move designed to hit an opponent who is actively preparing an attack—allowed Mawile to act despite the paralysis. Mawile managed to gather a small burst of energy and whipped its massive rear jaws forward, striking Manectric just as it prepared to bite. The attack was poorly aimed due to the paralysis, but it dealt a solid, painful blow, forcing Manectric to recoil and dodge.
The Sucker Punch had forced Manectric to miss, but Mawile's victory was short-lived. The paralysis took full effect. Mawile's knees buckled, and it sank, crouching heavily on the ground, twitching uncontrollably.
Wattson saw his chance. "Excellent defense, Stephen! But you can't escape the paralysis! Manectric, end this with a full-power Thunderbolt!"
Manectric gathered its energy, launching a huge, whipping bolt of lightning at the immobile Mawile. Mawile could only brace itself.
BOOM!
The electricity slammed into the grounded Mawile. The powerful hit caused a blinding flash of light that filled the arena.
When the light cleared, Mawile remained, battered and scorched, but still conscious—a testament to its Steel/Fairy resilience.
But in the aftermath of the intense electric blast, the shimmering, green Light Screen that had protected us finally shattered, disappearing into nothingness.
Watt announced: "Light Screen has faded!"
The hardness starts here. The protection was gone. Mawile was heavily damaged, paralyzed, and facing a fully charged Manectric with no defense left.
The outcome of this final desperate stand would be determined by the last reserves of strength and will.
The fierce Thunderbolt left Mawile heavily damaged and paralyzed, but still standing. The protection of the Light Screen had vanished, and the atmosphere in the metallic arena intensified with pure electric charge.
"He's paralyzed, Stephen! Finish him, Manectric! Thunderbolt, again!" Wattson roared, his face alight with competitive glee.
I knew I had to end this immediately before the paralysis effect triggered again. Mawile was already twitching uncontrollably.
"Mawile! Dash! Go!"
Mawile strained, forcing its electrified legs into a crippled run toward Manectric. Wattson, anticipating the move, commanded another Thunderbolt.
"Dodge!" I shouted, but the command was interrupted by the paralysis. Mawile stumbled, its movements locking up.
I saw the inevitable lightning strike rushing toward us. I had no choice but to rely on Mawile's resilience and shorten the distance.
"Mawile! Face it! Iron Head!"
Mawile gathered its remaining strength and slammed its metallic, armored skull forward. The Thunderbolt struck the Iron Head directly. The super-effective damage was absorbed by the sheer defense and offensive charge of the Steel-type move. Mawile endured the hit, pushing through the current, and closed the gap with Manectric.
Manectric, confident in its superior speed and the success of its earlier tactic, decided to repeat the move that had stunned Mawile before.
"Manectric, Thunder Fang! Take the mouth!" Wattson commanded, aiming for Mawile's massive rear jaws.
Manectric lunged, its teeth crackling.
"Now, Mawile! Crunch!"
I had prepared for this exact moment. As Manectric bit down on the fake jaws, Mawile channeled its dark energy into the attack. The massive mouth on the back of Mawile's head flashed with dark purple energy, snapping closed on Manectric's face.
"Mawile! Crunch!"
The Dark-type attack was super effective and completely unexpected. Manectric shrieked as the powerful jaws locked down, dealing massive damage to its head and stunning it instantly.
Manectric stumbled backward, disoriented and reeling.
"Get him! Thunderbolt!" Wattson tried to rally his Pokémon one last time.
Manectric shook its head, charging the lightning attack in a last, desperate move.
"Mawile! Jump! Sucker Punch!"
Mawile sprang upward, dodging the final blast of electricity, and delivered a powerful Sucker Punch directly to the reeling Manectric's chin. The dark energy attack hit Manectric while it was attempting to strike, doubling the damage and its impact.
The blow sent Manectric crashing onto the metal floor. It twitched once, the electricity fading from its mane, and went still.