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The transition from the snake-like grace of the Pike to the raw, blood-and-sand atmosphere of the Battle Arena was a literal punch to the gut. This wasn't about luck or "Science." This was about Guts.
"Three turns, Jake," Scott warned as we entered the massive, open-roofed colosseum. "The judges score you on Mind, Skill, and Body. If you can't end it in three turns, they decide your fate. This place eats 'fancy' trainers for breakfast."
🏟️ The Arena Gauntlet: Three-Turn Terror
The Arena is the ultimate test for Jerry (Noble Rattata). In a three-turn limit, you can't afford to set up; you have to strike with the force of a falling moon.
The Team: Jerry (The Anchor), Cobra (The Slayer), and Kage (The Specialist).
The Streak: We carved through the first 20 trainers. Jerry was a blur of gold, ending most matches in a single Extreme Speed. Cobra used his Poison Dragon's Roar to melt through defensive walls before they could even set up a Protect.
The Atmosphere: The crowd was getting louder with every win. Lens had the stream dialed into the stadium's acoustics, making every footfall sound like thunder.
🛡️ The Frontier Brain: Arena Tycoon Greta
Greta didn't walk out; she backflipped into the ring, her yellow belt fluttering. She looked at Jerry, then at me, and grinned. "You've got a lot of fight in those eyes, Anomaly! But let's see if your 'Noble' rat can handle a real black belt!"
[The Beat Starts: STOMP-STOMP-CLAP. STOMP-STOMP-CLAP.]
"Lens! This is the one!" I shouted. "Hit the anthem!"
The stadium speakers didn't just play "We Will Rock You"; they became the beat. 50,000 fans started stomping their feet in perfect synchronization with the legendary Queen track.
Round 1: The Heavyweight Clash
Greta led with Heracross. I sent out Cobra.
Turn 1: Heracross went for Megahorn. Cobra used the "Flicker-Step," spiraling up the beetle's arm.
Turn 2: "COBRA! DRAGON SLAYER'S POISON FIST!" Cobra's needle-hand glowed purple-black, slamming into Heracross's thorax.
Turn 3: Both stayed standing, but the judges scored Cobra higher on Skill. Cobra retreated.
Round 2: The Speed Demon
Greta sent out Umbreon. I sent out Jerry.
The Lyrics: "Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise..."
Turn 1: Umbreon used Confuse Ray. Jerry, being a Noble Rattata, didn't even blink. His "Noble" aura shattered the confusion like glass.
Turn 2: Jerry used Super Fang, cutting Umbreon's massive health pool in half.
Turn 3: Umbreon used Faint Attack, but Jerry countered with a Brick Break that shook the Arena floor. The judges gave the round to Jerry for Mind.
Round 3: The Final Stand
Greta's final ace: Shedinja. A nightmare for anyone without a super-effective move.
The Chorus: "WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU!"The Play: "Jerry! You know what to do! Finish the song!"
The Strike: Jerry didn't use a normal move. He channeled the "Vigor" from the Stamina Band and the rhythm of the crowd. He launched a Crunch that bit through the spiritual armor of the Shedinja just as the third turn ended.
🏅 The Silver Guts Symbol
Greta laughed, wiping the sweat from her brow and giving Jerry a high-five (which he accepted with a very dignified "Noble" nod).
"You didn't just win; you turned my Arena into a concert!" Greta handed over the Silver Guts Symbol. "That Rattata... he's got the soul of a champion. Keep that fire burning, Jake."
[Chat Log: ARENA_MADNESS]
GymBro_Chuck: I'M LITERALLY STOMPING MY FEET IN MY KITCHEN RIGHT NOW!
Hoenn_Hustler: Jerry just 'Rocked' a Frontier Brain. Is there anything that rat can't do?
May_Vigor: Check out those lats on Greta... I need to ask her about her training routine.
As we walked out, the crowd was still chanting the chorus. Three symbols down. Four to go. The Battle Frontier was starting to realize that the "Anomaly" wasn't just a guest—we were the main event.