The stadium was completely silent.
Lucario and Serperior stood facing each other across the scarred battlefield. Lucario's breathing had become heavy.
The vines of Leech Seed continued to drain its strength.
Serperior was also exhausted, its elegant body covered with marks from Lucario's relentless attacks. Neither Trainer spoke. They simply looked at their partners. They both understood. This exchange would decide the battle.
Serena raised her hand.
"Serperior!"
"Leaf Blade!"
Green energy covered Serperior's tail as it rushed forward like a flash of emerald light.
Elior nodded calmly.
"Lucario..."
"Meteor Mash!"
Lucario charged without hesitation.
Steel met leaves.
BOOOOOOOM!!
A tremendous explosion shook the entire stadium. Dust covered the battlefield. The audience held its breath. As the smoke cleared...Lucario was still standing.
Serperior struggled to remain upright.
It looked at Serena one last time...Then slowly collapsed.
The referee immediately raised the green flag.
"Serperior is unable to battle!"
The stadium erupted into cheers.
Serena smiled as she recalled Serperior.
"You fought beautifully."
She looked toward Elior.
"Let's see if Lucario can keep going."
She threw another Poké Ball. A flash of crimson light exploded onto the battlefield. Gallade appeared, its blade-like arms gleaming. The audience roared.
"Gallade!"
"A Fighting-type against Lucario!"
The referee lowered his flag.
Gallade disappeared instantly.
"Psycho Cut!"
Blades of psychic energy flew toward Lucario.
"Detect!"
Lucario narrowly dodged.
"Aura Sphere!"
Gallade sliced the Aura Sphere apart with one clean motion. The crowd gasped.
The two Pokémon rushed toward one another.
Meteor Mash.
Leaf Blade.
Bullet Punch.
Psycho Cut.
Neither Pokémon gained the advantage.
Their movements became so fast that the audience could barely follow them.
Kai smiled from the stands.
"This is unbelievable..."
Mira whispered,
"Lucario is reaching its limit..."
Gallade leaped high into the air.
"Sacred Sword!"
A brilliant white blade descended.
Elior looked into Lucario's eyes.
"I believe in you."
Lucario remembered every battle. Its journey with Elior. Its defeat against Mega Salamence. Its determination to grow stronger. Its Aura suddenly exploded outward.
Golden light burst across the battlefield.
The entire stadium was illuminated. The audience gasped.
Professor Solan stood up.
"That light..."
"Golden Resonance!"
Lucario's blue Aura transformed into brilliant gold. Its eyes glowed with unwavering resolve. The pressure radiating from it swept across the arena.
Even Gallade instinctively stepped back.
Elior smiled.
"Lucario..."
" Aura Sphere!"
A massive sphere of golden energy formed between Lucario's paws.
It was unlike anything the audience had ever seen.
Gallade charged fearlessly.
"Sacred Sword!"
The attacks collided.
For a moment...
Neither attack moved.
Then—The Golden Aura Sphere broke through.
BOOOOOOOM!!
Gallade was launched across the battlefield. It crashed to the ground and could not rise.
The referee raised his flag.
"Gallade is unable to battle!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
Serena's expression remained calm.
"Excellent..."
"Then face this."
She released her next Pokémon. Luxray appeared with a fierce roar, electricity dancing across its mane. The commentators shouted,
"Serena isn't giving Lucario any time to rest!"
"Wild Charge!"
Luxray charged like a bolt of lightning.
"Bullet Punch!"
Lucario met it head-on. The collision sent sparks flying everywhere. The battle became unbelievably fast.
Wild Charge.
Crunch.
Aura Sphere.
Meteor Mash.
Golden Aura surrounded Lucario during every movement. Its speed and power had reached another level.
Luxray gathered every last ounce of electricity.
"Thunder Fang!"
Lucario calmly closed its eyes. Its Aura sensed every movement.
At the final instant...
It stepped aside.
"Now!"
" Meteor Mash!"
Lucario's fist blazed with golden Aura.
CRAAAAASH!!
The punch landed squarely on Luxray. The Electric-type slid backward across the battlefield before collapsing.
The referee raised the green flag.
"Luxray is unable to battle!"
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Scoreboard
Elior
5 pokemon remaining
Serena
3 pokemon remaining
But Lucario was breathing heavily. The Golden Resonance flickered around its body. Serena reached for her next PokéBall.
A confident smile appeared on her face.
"Lucario..."
"Let's see if your Golden Resonance can overcome the skies."
She threw her Poké Ball.
A burst of blazing fire erupted. Talonflame spread its fiery wings high above the battlefield.
The crowd rose to its feet.
The next battle...
Was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED...