Ground-type Pokémon against Flying-types would naturally be at a huge disadvantage—yet knocking down that move had all been part of the preparation for this moment!
Shauntal's Golurk had been with her for years of training. Though it wasn't quite as formidable as her Chandelure, it was still her second trump card!
Golurk's massive arm suddenly folded in with a bang, its fist retracting, transforming into a cannon. A boulder the size of a small mountain fired like a projectile, hurtling straight at Swanna!
"Feather Dance!"
Whoosh! The rock cannonball smashed through "Swanna"—but it was only a decoy made of feathers.
At the same time, the falling feathers swirled around Golurk, drastically lowering its Attack.
Hikaru whistled. "Well now, using Feather Dance as a Substitute, huh."
Wasn't this Ash's Rowlet's specialty?
"Hehe, that's a trick only Flying-types can pull off!"
Skyla flashed a sly grin. "Golurk's Attack has dropped—and it's not over yet! Scald!"
"Swanna!" Flapping its wings, Swanna spat out icy, steaming water in a powerful jet, hidden by the feather cover, straight at Golurk!
Scald—scalding hot water that weakens an opponent's vigor and can lower their Attack.
"That Attack drop doesn't matter! Golurk—Heavy Slam!"
Using its massive weight to slam into the opponent, the heavier the user is compared to its foe, the more powerful the impact!
The move's power was variable—and Golurk, towering and massive, outweighed Swanna by a staggering margin!
Shauntal smirked. "Golurk's average weight is 330 kilograms—but in reality, it's often even heavier. And Swanna's average weight is only—"
"Twenty-four kilograms!"
If the attacker is at least five times heavier than the defender, Heavy Slam's power maxes out at 120!
Golurk's body shimmered with Steel-type energy. Even blinded by feathers, Ghost Pokémon had their own way of sensing enemies—by spirit!
Swanna's Water-type attack was strong against Golurk's Ground/Ghost typing, but not enough for a one-hit KO. After all—this was an Elite Four Pokémon!
Golurk's eyes glowed, its strength amplified—before crashing Heavy Slam right into Swanna!
Shauntal's glasses gleamed. "Heh! Even if Golurk can't fly, Flying-types are just as restricted in this cavern!"
Skyla gasped. "No way, what is that—?!"
Shauntal snapped her fingers. "Mossy Rock! A Pokémon holding it raises Special Defense when hit by a Water-type move!"
"Hey, don't ignore me!" Burgh barked. "My Flygon hasn't lost yet!"
A blinding white light erupted from Flygon, firing a beam like a cannon!
"I already had Flygon use Bide! Don't underestimate me!"
Bide—endure hits for two turns, then return double the damage!
But what was Haxorus up to…?
Overshadowed by Golurk's size, Haxorus was stomping in a fierce, mystic dance—Dragon Dance!
"Crap—it's boosting!"
Flygon's beam of stored energy rocketed toward Swanna.
Skyla shouted, "Swanna, Roost!"
Swanna dove down to the ground, regaining half its health and temporarily losing its Flying type—just in time to evade Bide's retaliation!
But Golurk's sheer power was overwhelming—even a Flying-type that resisted Steel was nearly taken down by Heavy Slam!
This was the might of an Elite Four Pokémon!
Oh no… Skyla had boasted she'd win and secure an investment for "Radiant Vegetables," but this was slipping away!
Her lips tightened. Shauntal's strength as an Elite Four member was unbelievable, and even Burgh, though "just" a Gym Leader, was tough. Fighting against this team-up was no small pressure!
Since this match only allowed one Pokémon per Trainer, stamina management was everything.
"Now! Earthquake!"
Burgh clenched his fist.
Though Earthquake would also hit allies, Golurk could shrug it off easily—and…
"Golurk, Fly."
Shauntal smirked. Golurk's limbs retracted into rocket boosters, launching it airborne!
The cavern was vast. While cramped for true Flying-types, it was still wide enough for Golurk to dodge Ground attacks.
Meanwhile, Swanna was grounded by Roost—vulnerable to Earthquake!
"Swagger."
Hikaru commanded softly. Haxorus roared at Flygon, sending a confusing wave. Flygon staggered, smacking itself in its daze!
"Argh, playing dirty again!" Burgh fumed.
Hikaru chuckled. "Move combos are part of battling. How is that 'dirty'?"
Burgh always did hate status moves—even against Black, Hilda, or Ash, he'd said the same.
"Fight it with guts! Flygon—ram the ground!"
Shauntal was startled. "Breaking confusion by self-harm?! That's reckless!"
But Burgh was her partner now—and it worked! Flygon slammed headfirst into the ground.
Thanks to Swagger, its Attack was sharply raised—and now confusion cleared!
Hikaru winced. This trick… wasn't it Iris's method for countering Outrage's drawback?
So much for "no cheap tricks"—Burgh was just as shameless!
"Wahaha! The advantage is mine! Flygon's power is through the roof—you're finished!"
"Not so fast." Hikaru smiled. "Pursuit!"
If the target took damage that turn, Pursuit's power doubled!
Self-inflicted confusion damage counted.
Haxorus lunged, cloaked in darkness, slashing Flygon with terrifying force—base 120 Dark-type damage!
Burgh roared, "More tricks?!"
Shauntal suddenly grinned. "Now! Astonish!"
Golurk struck in the opening. Though Astonish was weak, it had a chance to flinch—Haxorus froze in shock!
"Hammer Arm!" Shauntal ordered.
"Air Slash!" Skyla countered desperately.
Wounded, Swanna whipped up a slicing gale, fending Golurk off. "Now, Hydro Pump!"
It had to defeat one of them first!
Against Golurk, Hydro Pump was devastating. But Golurk could Shadow Sneak to evade—so timing was crucial.
Swanna unleashed a massive torrent like a cannon—smashing into Golurk!
Shauntal smiled. "Normally, Golurk would be doomed against Water/Flying-types. But if this were a story… there'd be a twist, right?"
Golurk exploded into rubble. A Substitute!
Skyla gasped.
"Now—Gravity."
Shauntal pressed her palm down. A heavy field blanketed the arena. Flying-types and Levitate lost their immunity—every move now struck truer!
Swanna was dragged down, pinned to the ground.
Golurk's body crackled with electricity. "Thunderbolt!"
A Ground-type using Electric moves? Unthinkable!
But Golurk's punch crackled with golden lightning—
"Swanna, Aqua Ring!"
Water flowed around Swanna, forming a shimmering barrier—an anime-developed counter to Electric attacks, like Misty once used.
The bolt fizzled harmlessly into water. Swanna even healed.
But Golurk vanished—
"Close range beats distance! Thunder Punch!"
Golurk lunged from the shadows, fist bursting with electricity. The Iron Fist ability boosted it another 20%!
CRACK! The Aqua Ring shattered. Swanna screamed, body smoking—quadruple weakness to Electric!
Skyla's eyes widened—unprepared for this.
Shauntal wagged her finger. "Skyla dear, against disadvantageous matchups, you need coverage moves. Don't just assume a Pokémon won't know certain types!"
"Wait—it's still standing?"
Skyla exhaled in relief. "We planned for this. Endure!"
Though grounded by Gravity, Swanna braced itself and survived.
The Elite Four's pressure was overwhelming, and Burgh's Flygon was already back on its wings.
"I'm still in this!" Burgh snarled. "Now it's my turn! Dragon Dance!"
But Hikaru ignored him—watching Swanna.
Trainer and Pokémon's bond surged. Hikaru tapped into Swanna's forgotten memory—
"Don't give up, Skyla. Your Swanna still knows a move even it forgot."
Skyla blinked.
A buried instinct surfaced—an untested move, unused out of doubt.
Swanna's eyes sharpened.
"Flygon—Dragon Claw!" Burgh pressed.
But Swanna raised its head. An invisible force surged, equalizing life energy—Endeavor!
Flygon froze, drained to Swanna's level of exhaustion.
"Now—Dragon Claw!" Hikaru roared.
Haxorus's glowing claws slashed through Flygon. It collapsed, unable to fight.
"Flygon!" Burgh was shocked. What was that move Swanna used?!
"Golurk—Heavy Slam!" Shauntal snapped.
"Now—Guillotine!" Hikaru commanded.
The one-hit KO move—but useless against Ghosts!
Skyla gasped. "But Guillotine doesn't work on Golurk!"
Hikaru whispered, "Of course not… the real move is Stomping Tantrum."
Guillotine was only a feint—bonded memories connected to Haxorus as well.
Having failed its previous move, Haxorus's Stomping Tantrum doubled in power—base 150!
The ground shook violently. Golurk was crushed beneath the blow, toppling with a thunderous crash!
Even an Elite Four's Pokémon couldn't withstand it.
"Quick—Confuse Ray!" Shauntal cried.
"Not yet—Aqua Jet!" Hikaru countered.
Swanna, cloaked in rushing water, slammed first into the already battered Golurk—quadruple weakness to Water!
Golurk crashed down, unable to rise.
Shauntal's eyes widened. "Golurk… defeated?!"
The impossible had happened.
Haxorus roared victoriously—its body gleaming, evolving before their eyes into Haxorus!
[Congratulations! Haxorus evolved! The Dragon Tamer profession's effects have been enhanced!]
[New Effect: Dragon's Aura—Your Dragon Pokémon grow stronger under your care. Dragon-type moves gain +20% power, and you can conduct "Advanced Training" on them!]
[You defeated Elite Four Shauntal and Gym Leader Burgh! Your new power has been strengthened!]
[Your Pokémon's EVs and growth rate have increased!]
As referee Marshal raised his hand:
"Golurk and Flygon are unable to battle! The winners are Hikaru and Skyla!"
(End of Chapter)
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