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With the referee finally recovered and giving the signal, the interrupted match resumed.
"Suicune, Hydro Pump!"
Tobias, as always, rushed to seize the initiative. The moment the referee spoke, he shouted his order to the legendary beast, which was treading nimbly across the rain-soaked air.
In the next instant, a torrent of high-pressure water erupted from Suicune's mouth, blasting toward the back of the crimson Gyarados.
But before the jet could land, a massive red tail surged from the water. With a mighty slap, the Gyarados launched its entire body forward, narrowly dodging the attack.
"Swim forward—Dragon Rage!"
At last, Sato gave his command. His Gyarados's eyes flashed crimson with anger. Roaring, it began weaving through the watery battlefield, its movements strange, almost like a dance.
And with each shift in its path, it unleashed blazing orange energy orbs from its fanged jaws, one after another.
The shockwaves of Dragon Rage pressed down relentlessly. With the Gyarados's uncanny aim, each blast chased Suicune like a chain reaction. The moment Suicune dodged one, the next was already upon him.
On the island where Sato once trained, lacking Technical Machines, his Gyarados had few moves to use. Out of necessity, it had honed its available skills to perfection.
Dragon Dance and Aqua Tail were its favorites, especially Dragon Dance, which it had woven seamlessly into its very movement style. And for long-range battles, nothing pleased it more than unleashing volley after volley of Dragon Rage.
Unlike in the games, Dragon Rage in reality wasn't a fixed-damage move. Though not especially powerful, it was simple to conjure, easy to chain, and with mastery could be fired in rapid succession. Moreover, as a shockwave-type attack, it often knocked enemies back — giving it the qualities of a strong control move.
Through countless battles against hordes of enemies, Gyarados had refined Dragon Rage to near-perfection, able to fire continuously even while moving, keeping an accuracy of over 80%.
Now, under that precise, continuous barrage, Suicune could no longer evade. After dodging the seventh blast, he was caught full-on.
With a deafening explosion, Suicune was blown back — only for the pursuing Gyarados to land another hit, and another, tossing the legendary like a ball across the sky.
Though Dragon Rage wasn't devastating in raw power, the ceaseless impacts chained together made it nearly impossible even for a high-level Pokémon to endure.
"My word! Kira Hayashi's shiny Gyarados is performing miracles here! Look at that speed, that precision — he's using Dragon Rage to juggle Suicune in midair like it's nothing!"
The commentator's voice cracked with shock as the sight unfolded.
Across the stadium and on television screens, the audience wore the same stunned expression. To see a Suicune toyed with like this? It shattered the convictions of many Johto spectators.
Tobias's face darkened. He knew if Suicune couldn't break free of this rhythm, the match would be over.
"Protect! Then get down from the air!"
Desperately, he ordered Suicune to shield itself, then retreat to the water to deny Gyarados further target practice.
With Protect's barrier, Suicune managed to land safely on the surface.
"You finally came down? Gyarados — Iron Tail, finish it!"
Sato's eyes glinted. The moment Suicune touched the water, he gave the killing order.
With another roar, Gyarados fired one last Dragon Rage to force Suicune off balance, then surged forward, tail glowing with brutal steel energy.
"Whirlpool, then Aurora Beam!"
Tobias grimaced. He knew Suicune's slender build couldn't withstand a frontal clash. He ordered it to trap the foe instead.
The crown on Suicune's head blazed, and a massive whirlpool surged up, ten meters wide, engulfing Gyarados.
But to the shock of Tobias, Suicune, and the crowd, Gyarados burst free.
With a flash in Sato's eyes, the red tail struck the waters hard, launching the leviathan skyward. Using Bounce, a move it had mastered since its Magikarp days, Gyarados soared free — then plummeted directly toward Suicune.
As it fell, its terrifying face twisted into a menacing leer using Scary Face. The sheer intimidation slowed Suicune, dropping its speed sharply.
Too late to dodge, the legendary was crushed beneath the Gyarados's full weight, slammed violently across the water.
The crowd gasped. Suicune staggered back to its feet, battered but not broken — proof of a legendary's endurance.
"As expected of a legendary Pokémon… but you're at your limit. Gyarados, end it. Iron Tail!"
Sato's voice rang like a death knell.
"Hyper Beam!" Tobias roared in desperation.
But before the blast could fire, Gyarados's body glowed once more. Its speed surged — Dragon Dance had completed its buff. With blinding swiftness, it dodged the Hyper Beam and brought down its glowing tail.
The strike connected with devastating force. Suicune was hurled out of the arena, landing motionless.
"Suicune is unable to battle! Gyarados wins!"
The referee, though a Johto native, could only announce the result with a heavy heart.
"Damn it… return, Suicune."
Tobias's expression was twisted with frustration. He recalled Suicune silently and stalked off the platform.
The arena fell into a heavy silence. For Johto spectators, seeing their guardian beast defeated was painful.
But Gyarados shattered that silence with a thunderous roar, shaking the air with its victory cry. The audience realized their lapse and quickly erupted in applause for the winner.
"Well done, Gyarados. Rest now."
Sato recalled his partner and left the platform calmly.
By rule, with three of Tobias's Pokémon down, the match paused for a short intermission. Viewers filled the break with heated discussion.
Few had expected this outcome. Tobias, thought invincible with legendaries, had already lost three — two of them legends. Meanwhile, Sato had only lost his Crobat, with shiny Pelipper, Swampert, and shiny Gyarados still fresh.
The challenge before Tobias was clear: defeat five Pokémon with only three remaining. It was an impossible task.
When the match resumed, Tobias's demeanor was oddly calm. But Sato soon realized why — Tobias had given up. He sent out only ordinary Pokémon, holding back his Regirock and Moltres.
The rest of the match was one-sided. Sato's Flygon alone swept Tobias's Magmortar, Electivire, and Houndoom with ease.
"Houndoom is unable to battle! Flygon wins!"
With that, the referee declared the match over.
"Victory! After a grueling showdown, Kira Hayashi has claimed the championship title of Goldenrod Department Store's battle event! Let's give him and his Pokémon a thunderous round of applause!"
The commentator's passionate words rang across the stadium as applause thundered in waves.