In response to Tetsuya's objection, the referee was momentarily at a loss, as such a situation had never occurred before.
However, Koga then spoke up, even shouting sternly at the referee, "This is Mega Gengar's Distorted Space! I submitted an application to the League last month for permission to use it in battle, and it was approved. Take a good look at your referee handbook."
A lowly referee, faced with the questioning of such a Seasoned-type Elite Four, naturally didn't dare show any negligence and quickly pulled out the referee handbook.
Everything seemed to be under Koga's complete control.
The referee announced that the match would continue.
On the field, Ariados had already been thrown out of the Distorted Space. It looked like a dried corpse, having completely lost the ability to battle. If not for "official battle rules" forbidding fatal injury to Pokémon in battles, Ariados might have died right there.
At this point, the battle had exceeded all of Tetsuya's expectations. Though he still had five Pokémon remaining, the powerful and unfathomable Distorted Space of this Mega Gengar offered no opening. He simply had no way to break through it.
---◓---
One after another, Tetsuya tread carefully as if on thin ice. Faced with this mysterious Mega Gengar, he was powerless. Every Pokémon that entered the space came back like a dried husk.
Suddenly, a torrent of thoughts surged through Tetsuya's mind. If he lost today, there would be no second chance.
He thought back… originally an ordinary merchant on Earth, fate had transported, transmigrated, reincarnated, traveled, whatever it was… him to this world for over sixty years. Alone, he had schemed and clawed his way up, by any means necessary, and now he was finally within reach of an Elite Four Position. To think…
'Oh Arceus… why do you mock me so?'
"Hmm… the last one should be Drapion, right? In order to raise those Ariados and Drapion… how many Poison-type Pokémon lives have you taken? Does your conscience feel no remorse!?"
Koga's words struck like Thunder, shattering Tetsuya's thoughts.
At last, Tetsuya sensed something was wrong. How could Koga know so many of his secrets so clearly, and use them to break his focus?
He cast a cold sidelong glance at the apprentice beside him but didn't react.
Though the referee and some spectators had questions, they didn't understand what was really happening and assumed it was just a psychological tactic from Koga.
Tetsuya knew that the only thing he could do now was remain calm. Even if he lost the battle, he had to at least preserve his life.
---◓---
His final Pokémon was indeed Drapion.
Drapion swung its pincers wildly, radiating a terrifying aura. Poison dripped from its mouth, instantly corroding the rocks on the battlefield.
Koga secretly admired it.
'What a powerful Drapion… If he had sent it out right after Ariados failed, perhaps Gengar's Distorted Space wouldn't have withstood such poison. But now… Humph.'
Koga let out a cold laugh.
Mega Gengar had already absorbed the vitality of five Pokémon. Its Distorted Space had expanded to a certain size. Drapion now posed no threat.
Tetsuya forced himself to stay calm. "Drapion, Rock Slide."
Drapion raised its pincers to the sky. Boulders collapsed from above crashing down, smashing toward Mega Gengar.
Mega Gengar fired multiple Shadow Balls. The boulders were shattered instantly, and rock debris flew everywhere.
But Drapion's assault didn't stop. Now, Pin Missiles rained down like a torrential storm, piercing straight toward Mega Gengar!
This was a move Drapion had long since mastered to perfection. Mega Gengar could hardly resist.
Koga's heart jolted. He couldn't let that scorpion attack so recklessly. If Tetsuya discovered a flaw in the Distorted Space, things would become troublesome.
Now that Mega Gengar's Distorted Space had absorbed a massive amount of energy, it had expanded accordingly. However, Tetsuya's Pokémon were far too poisonous. If that energy were absorbed directly by Mega Gengar's body, it would be unbearable, and the Distorted Space would collapse with it.
Koga gritted his teeth…
Even if it meant sacrificing Gengar, he had to bring down Drapion!
"…Gengar, expand the Distorted Space. Pull Drapion in."
Drapion was too powerful. Forcibly dragging it into the Distorted Space would certainly result in fierce resistance. But now, Koga had no choice but to take the risk.
Mega Gengar poured in all its strength. The Distorted Space produced an immense suction. The Pin Missiles vanished as if swallowed by another dimension.
Despite Drapion's desperate resistance, it couldn't stand up to the Mega Gengar that had absorbed so much energy -vitality-.
At the brink of life and death, a spark of insight flashed through Tetsuya's mind.
"Drapion, Toxic!"
Though Drapion could barely withstand the suction, it knew being pulled into the Distorted Space would mean certain defeat. It might as well go all out.
A torrent of Toxic was unleashed.
For Mega Gengar, there was no turning back. To win, it had to rely on the Distorted Space.
Koga, too, had lost the certainty of victory he once had. Large beads of sweat rolled down his face, and his pounding heartbeat echoed in his throat.
No matter how resilient Drapion was, it still couldn't reverse the tide…
The Distorted Space gradually swallowed Drapion whole.
Koga's expression finally began to settle.
However, Mega Gengar wore a look of deep agony. The entire Distorted Space seemed on the verge of collapse.
Tetsuya clenched his fists and teeth, silently praying, 'Drapion… break free… You must.'
Koga's face turned tense once again.
---◓---
Inside the Distorted Space, Drapion realized its vitality was steadily draining and launched a frenzied final counterattack.
Pin Missile, Toxic, Brutal Swing…
They churned the entire Distorted Space into chaos. Mega Gengar had to give its all to keep the space stable.
Though Tetsuya now understood what was happening, his chances of winning were slim.
If he had sent out Drapion at the beginning to face Mega Gengar, before the Distorted Space had drained so much energy, its poison and power might have been enough to break free.
But what Tetsuya didn't know was that Koga had never dared let Mega Gengar absorb the poison energy directly. That "toxic" energy was only used to reinforce the Distorted Space.
The Distorted Space now looked close to collapse, and Mega Gengar was barely hanging on.
Koga bit down so hard that his gums bled. '…If I lose today, there will be no second chance. Gengar may not survive this, but the Elite Four Position… is worth far more than a single Gengar!'
Steeling himself, Koga shouted, "Gengar, enter the Distorted Space. Absorb the energy and finish off Drapion, quickly!"
Mega Gengar plunged into the Distorted Space. All the energy within converged into a single massive Shadow Ball, crashing into Drapion like a Meteorite from the sky.
When the dust settled, Drapion was barely clinging to life.
The referee announced the result of the battle!
At that moment, Tetsuya was completely disheartened. In a daze, it felt like his life had reached its end.
Still, even if he were to die now, there was one thing he had to do…
Koga felt no joy in victory. Only he knew the true cost of this win. He immediately recalled Gengar. His trainees had already pushed back the press corps, and he boarded his private vehicle, speeding toward Headquarters.
•
•
Reading Guide.
"Dialogue"
'Toughts'
[Systems, Special Moves, Special Tags, Special Pokémon, Voice through devices.]
"Telepathy" Italics for telepathy
"Whoaaa!" Bolds instead of CAPS for SHOUTING!