Of course, it wasn't really a fatal slash, but in effect, Tyrunt was knocked out midair, losing its ability to battle before it even landed.
Grant had no way of forcing Ash's grass-type to turtle up endlessly—one single use of Growth was all it needed.
Ding! ["Congratulations, host. Servine successfully defeated Tyrunt. Battle EXP sharing activated. Froakie and Servine each gained 7,500 EXP!"]
Froakie leveled up to 25, and Servine to 33!
"Tyrunt is unable to battle! Victory goes to Servine!"
The referee waved his flag. According to Grant's rules, he was only supposed to use two Pokémon, while Ash was allowed to use his full team. If Ash won under those conditions, then the badge was his.
The referee had just begun to announce Ash's victory when—
Grant suddenly pulled out a third Poké Ball. The words froze in the referee's throat.
Grant hadn't thought it through. The battle with Ash had ignited something in him—his blood was pumping, his fighting spirit raging. He wanted more! And so, without hesitation, he threw out his ultimate partner—his third Pokémon.
A towering beast emerged, its body casting a shadow like a building.
It was none other than Tyrantrum, the evolved form of Tyrunt!
But this was no ordinary Tyrantrum. Normally, they grew to just over three meters. This one… stood over 8 meters tall!
"ROOAAARRR!!"
Tyrantrum bellowed, the sound reverberating like a sonic boom. It was so loud, so primal, that Bonnie's Dedenne nearly fainted inside her backpack from sheer terror.
"So strong…" Serena whispered, her heart tightening as if squeezed by an invisible hand. Her palms gripped the guardrail tightly.
The pressure from that enormous dragon was overwhelming, suffocating.
Clemont noticed Serena's fear and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Serena. You know as well as I do how strong Ash is. Sure, Tyrantrum is huge, but don't forget—Ash recently caught an enormous Gyarados. He'll definitely bring it out!"
He chuckled. Knowing Ash's personality, he had no doubt the boy would counter with his Giant Red Gyarados.
"Yes, Ash has Gyarados. He'll win," Serena said, forcing herself to steady her nerves. The memory of that gigantic red beast flickered in her mind, renewing her faith.
Grant's eyes burned with passion.
"Ash, battling you really makes my blood boil. This Tyrantrum is my strongest partner, revived from a fossil. Win or lose, I will still award you my Cliff Badge."
This Tyrantrum's level—43.
The implication was clear: Ash might be in trouble.
Ancient Pokémon were almost always much larger than their modern-day counterparts—especially dragons.
And just as Clemont had predicted, Ash already had a Poké Ball in hand, containing none other than his massive Shiny Gyarados.
"When it comes to size, I won't fall behind! Let's go, Gyarados! This will be our first official battle together!"
From the Poké Ball burst forth the enormous crimson leviathan, its body unfurling like a serpent that reached the sky.
"ROOOOOOOOARRRRR!!!"
The appearance of the giant red Gyarados sent Grant reeling in shock for the third time that day.
What the—?! I thought my Tyrantrum was monstrous enough, and then you send out THAT?!
"Tyrantrum, Rock Tomb!"
Grant wasted no time. This time he wasn't taking chances—he ordered Rock Tomb immediately. No matter how big Gyarados was, this was a battlefield with no water. Without water, Gyarados' strength would be heavily restricted.
Tyrantrum stomped, splitting the earth. Massive boulders erupted from the ground, far larger than those summoned by Tyrunt earlier, and closed in around Gyarados like prison bars.
But Ash only smirked and snapped his fingers.
Dragon-types resisted Water, and Rock resisted Flying. Water-type moves weren't the answer here anyway.
No—Ash had something far more brutal in mind.
"With a body this huge… we'll fight up close! Gyarados, Iron Tail—smash the ground!!"
The crimson giant whipped its tail like a steel hammer. The earth quaked as the impact obliterated the encroaching stones. The tail then slammed into the ground itself.
BOOM!!
It was like a bomb detonating under the mountain. The entire battlefield trembled violently, sending rocks sliding down from the cliffs.
Tyrantrum staggered, struggling to keep its balance.
"What incredible power…" Grant gasped. He never imagined that once this so-called "Golden Magikarp" evolved, it would gain such explosive might.
"ROOOOOAR!!"
Gyarados surged forward, eyes burning with battle frenzy. Ash's blood was boiling too.
This was exhilarating!
"Again—Iron Tail!"
Steel-type moves were super effective against Rock. It was the perfect choice.
"Tyrantrum! Double-Edge—go all out!!"
Grant wasn't about to back down. His Tyrantrum charged with its most devastating Rock-type move, Double-Edge, colliding head-on with Gyarados' Iron Tail.
BOOM!!!
The impact echoed like a thunderclap across the mountain.
And then—unbelievably—
The colossal Tyrantrum was swatted into the air like a rag doll.
Its eight-meter body sailed over the battlefield, crashing down the mountainside with a resounding CRASH! that left a massive crater in the ground below.
Everyone was stunned into silence.
Ding! ["Congratulations, host. Gyarados successfully defeated Tyrantrum. Tenfold EXP Card activated. You gained 84,500 EXP!"]
Level up!
41… 42… 43… 44!
In an instant, Gyarados rocketed up four levels, its body quivering with exhilaration. The crimson behemoth turned and roared proudly at Ash, its eyes gleaming with excitement.
Grant was frozen. His ultimate partner, defeated in a single blow…
"Tyrantrum is unable to battle! Victory goes to Gyarados! The winner is the challenger from Pallet Town—Ash Ketchum!"
The referee's voice snapped everyone back to reality.
Tyrantrum stirred faintly at the bottom of the crater, but though battered, it was otherwise unharmed. Its ancient body was tougher than solid stone.
Grant recalled it solemnly and walked over to Ash.
"Ash, here—this is the Cliff Badge, proof you've conquered the Cyllage Gym. I admit defeat. You are more than worthy."
Ash accepted the badge, his second in Kalos.
"Yes! Ash did it!" Serena squealed, hugging Bonnie tightly and ruffling her hair in sheer delight. Her joy was almost greater than Ash's own.
"Mhm! Ash and his Pokémon are amazing!" Bonnie added, eyes sparkling with admiration as she looked at Ash and the towering Gyarados.
The crimson leviathan rumbled proudly, its body swaying smugly as if basking in its own victory.
"Haha! I've won the Cliff Badge!" Ash cheered.
"ROOOAAARRR!!" Gyarados roared along with him.
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T/N:
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