"Toxapex, Dynamax!"
The moment Nathan's shout rang out, Shiro immediately followed.
"Corviknight, Iron Defense!"
A blinding crimson beam burst from Toxapex's body and shot into the air. The open-air arena darkened, bathed in an eerie red glow as the clear blue sky vanished.
The staff members around the field became frightened, their legs shaking. If this hadn't been the site of an official Gym Challenge match, they would have already fled in panic.
Dynamax. Wasn't it supposed to only happen in the Wild Area?
They had heard stories of the dens formed by Dynamax Pokémon … of the creatures turning feral and bloodthirsty within them.
This was real Dynamax. But why was it happening here?
"Controlled Dynamax!"
In the stands, every challenger, along with Leon, rose to their feet.
Raihan's jaw hung open. He fumbled through his pockets, pulled out the small camera he carried with him, and started clicking frantically. While photographing, he was also keeping watch on the person beside him through his peripheral vision.
Leon's expression was grim. It wasn't his first time witnessing Dynamax, but the sight still stirred something deep inside him.
Dynamax enhanced every aspect of a Pokémon. The aura, the sheer size, the power… all of it pushed a Pokémon to an entirely new tier.
He clenched the Poké Ball hidden in his pocket and tucked the white wristband on his arm beneath his clothes. The crimson light reflecting in his eyes revealed his growing desire.
"Dynamax… Dynamax? Dynamax!" Marvin stared blankly at the red beam, repeating the word over and over.
How could Dynamax appear here? In the middle of a battlefield?
It didn't make sense.
He had only seen Dynamax a few times from afar in the Wild Area. Each time, the company's forces had rushed in to seal off the zone, investigate, and leave fully loaded.
He knew how dangerous a Dynamax Den could be. The red barrier now enveloping the entire arena… this was it.
Could it really happen in a stadium battle?
As Marvin struggled to process it, Nessa grew restless. She leaned forward, scanning the area below, trying to spot Shiro.
What exactly is the company trying to do? Does he really have a chance of winning?
"How is this possible…"
At the back, Edgar furrowed his brows deeply, puzzled in his heart.
The company's original plan for the Dynamax Band... wasn't it supposed to let Leon be the first to use it in a match? Not only would it build momentum for him, but it could also serve as one of his trump cards.
Why waste it on someone like Shiro? Were those decayed sword and shield from the ruins really that important?
He couldn't figure it out.
Boom!
Another explosive sound erupted from the battlefield.
Dynamax energy poured into Toxapex from both the sky and the ground. Its small, one-meter frame expanded rapidly, swelling several times larger in an instant, and continued to grow.
"Corviknight, Hone Claws!"
Shiro didn't waste a second.
The steel bird sensed the urgency. It performed the move flawlessly and almost instantly completed the boost.
"Keep using Iron Defense!" he shouted again.
The crimson light pulsed twice more. Toxapex now occupied nearly a third of the battlefield, coiled like a monstrous mass of tentacles. The sight alone was enough to make anyone's legs go weak.
At the referee's stand, Ryan, who also served as the announcer, stammered with a trembling mouth. "T-this is Dynamax, everyone! This is Dynamax! What usually happens only in the Wild Area has now, thanks to Macro Cosmos' advanced technology, appeared in an official match!"
He steadied his voice and roared, "This is… a rare and extraordinary Pokémon battle spectacle!"
In the corner, a staff member who heard him couldn't help but mutter, "Spectacle... who knows if it'll end up hitting us too…"
A colleague beside him chimed in, "Exactly. Out of nowhere they pull off a Dynamax, and they didn't even warn us!"
"Let's move back a bit."
As they spoke quietly, they noticed most people near the edge of the field were already retreating, including the camera operators.
Toxapex had always looked strange, but after enlarging, its purple-colored poisonous spikes and sharp protrusions became even more intimidating.
"Hahahahaha!" Nathan, standing behind the giant creature, wasn't scared at all. He burst into wild laughter. "Dynamax! This is controlled Dynamax!"
He couldn't have been more pleased with the result.
Here at Hulbury Gym, on his home turf, during the Gym Challenge, under the gaze of dozens of cameras... the first recorded Dynamax battle in Galar was happening.
Right here, in his hands.
No matter how many experiments and simulations the company had done in secret, in the eyes of all Galar and even the entire Pokémon League, Dynamax officially began now.
A proud grin spread across his face. With Toxapex's current power and presence, what could one Corviknight possibly do?
He was ready to sweep through all three opponents.
With that thought, he called out, "Toxapex, use Max Geyser!"
"Toxaa!"
The giant Pokémon roared. The whole arena buzzed from the sound.
It raised its two front limbs. A massive sphere of swirling water, several times larger than Corviknight, formed in front of its core. The water inside kept flowing and churning. The attack hadn't even launched yet, but the air around it began to distort from the overwhelming energy.
Shiro's face darkened. His heart sank
Dynamax. In the games, it was just a battle mechanic. Pokémon grew bigger, gained more HP, nothing more.
But seeing it in person was completely different. The pressure it exuded was far more intense than what he'd felt in the Wild Area.
Out there, the terrain was vast. If he couldn't win, he could retreat at any time.
But here, the battlefield was small. Corviknight had little room to maneuver. If Toxapex's attack speed remained unchanged, its size and physical advantage would make it hard for the steel bird to withstand the onslaught.
Besides... the updated data of Toxapex appeared before his eyes again:
[Name: Toxapex
Type: Poison/Water
Level: 51 (46)
Ability: Merciless
Held Item: None
Moves: Baneful Bunker, Poison Sting, Bite, Peck, Wide Guard, Venoshock, Recover, Pin Missile, Toxic Spikes, Liquidation, Acid Spray, Poison Jab, Water Pulse, Protect, Chilling Water...]
After Dynamaxing, its overall strength had jumped by five levels, pushing it into Elite-level.
On top of that, the size and energy boost from Dynamax…
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