The glistening ice field shimmered under the arena lights, every inch of it slick and treacherous.
Chilly mist rolled across the surface, and the frosted ground reflected the roaring crowd's excitement like shards of glass. The referee stepped forward, his voice cutting through the arena's thunderous noise.
"The second half of the match between Gary Oak and Tyson will now begin! The battle will conclude when all Pokémon on one side are unable to continue. During this phase, each Trainer may still switch Pokémon as allowed under standard Ever Grande Conference rules. Now… release your Pokémon at the same time!"
Gary and Tyson both tightened their grips on their Poké Balls, their eyes locked across the frozen battlefield.
"Go!" they shouted in unison.
"Aaaaltariaaa!"
Tyson's Poké Ball burst open in a swirl of white light, revealing Altaria, the Humming Pokémon.
Her delicate blue body and puff-like cloud wings gave her a deceptively soft appearance, but the determined glint in her eyes told a different story.
The crowd cheered at the sight, though their shouts quickly shifted when Gary's Poké Ball opened.
"Roooaaaar!"
Out soared Salamence, the fearsome Dragon/Flying-type, his crimson wings spreading wide as he let out a deep, rumbling roar. His EXIntimidate ability took immediate effect, the raw aura of dominance lowering Altaria's Attack and Defense on the spot.
Two Dragon/Flying-types now faced each other on the ice, their breath forming visible clouds in the frigid air.
Gary smirked slightly. "So you're opening with Altaria, huh? I can't imagine why—unless you're hoping her Cotton Guard will stall."
In truth, Gary knew Salamence's EX-Intimidate alone was enough to weaken her offensive threat. Altaria's Natural Cure ability was completely irrelevant in this matchup—especially in a direct clash of raw power.
Tyson seemed unfazed. "Don't underestimate her, Gary. Altaria—get ready!"
Gary gave the first command. "Salamence, Dragon Claw—go!"
"Rooaargh!"
Salamence's wings snapped open as he lunged forward with astonishing speed, claws glowing with emerald dragon energy. His talons sliced through the icy mist as he closed the distance.
"Dodge and counter with Dragon Pulse!" Tyson barked.
Altaria spun midair, her cloudlike wings leaving feathery trails as she unleashed a condensed wave of draconic energy.
But Salamence didn't flinch. With a ferocious swing, he cleaved through the Dragon Pulse like it was paper, dispersing the attack's head in a burst of energy.
"What—?!" Tyson's eyes widened. He didn't have long to react before Salamence closed the gap and brought his Dragon Claw down.
"Snap!" The blow landed squarely, though Altaria's feathers suddenly puffed out, forming an almost impenetrable wall of down. The force still slammed her into the ice, but much of the damage was mitigated.
Gary narrowed his eyes. Cotton Guard. Smart… but not smart enough.
"Switch to Dragon Pulse!" Gary called sharply.
"Roooaaar!"
Salamence's maw glowed with swirling draconic power before firing a massive, serpentine pulse.
"Fire back, Altaria—Dragon Pulse as well!" Tyson countered.
Two beams of pure dragon energy collided midair, but the difference was night and day. Salamence's Dragon Pulse stretched nearly ten meters long, a roaring dragon-shaped wave of destruction. Altaria's was less than half that size.
Boom! The two attacks met, exploded, and sent a shockwave ripping through the icy field. Shards of ice and frost blasted outward, and the resulting energy tide staggered both Pokémon.
Salamence recovered instantly, hovering above the icy ground, while Altaria skidded back several meters, feathers ruffled and breathing labored.
Gary didn't hesitate. "Hurricane—let's go!"
Salamence's wings beat furiously, generating slicing wind currents that lashed across the field. The icy mist scattered as razor-sharp wind blades shredded Altaria's cottony feathers.
"Altaria—hold on!" Tyson called, but it was no use. After just two clean hits in the match, she was already in bad shape.
Gary snapped his fingers. "Finish it! Dragon Pulse!"
Salamence unleashed another massive wave of dragon energy, its roar echoing through the arena.
"Moonblast—now!" Tyson ordered desperately.
Altaria summoned a glowing pink sphere between her wings and fired it toward Salamence's attack.
The two moves collided violently. BOOM! The explosion dwarfed the previous one, the resulting shockwave rattling the ice beneath the Trainers' feet. The pink and blue energy scattered, but Altaria, closest to the blast, took the brunt of the force. She tumbled backward and crashed to the ground.
The referee raised his flag. "Altaria is unable to battle! Salamence wins!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, their breath fogging the cold air.
"Gary's done it again—he's leading with another clean knockout!" the announcer shouted. "Tyson is now down to just two Pokémon!"
From the stands, the chatter was electric.
"He's unstoppable!"
"Gary's never lost a single Pokémon this whole tournament!"
"If he wins this perfectly, it'll be the first flawless championship since the Hoenn Conference's founding!"
Gary simply adjusted his cap. To him, this was just another step toward his inevitable victory.
Tyson's jaw was tight as he recalled Altaria. "You did your best. Rest now." He pulled another Poké Ball from his belt.
"Ampharos—battle on!"
"Amphaaaaros!"
The yellow, long-necked Electric-type Pokemon emerged, the red orb on her tail glowing faintly under the arena lights.
Gary raised an eyebrow. "Ampharos? Interesting… didn't expect to see her here."
From the way she carried herself, Gary could tell this was a well-trained, long-time partner for Tyson.
"Salamence, return. Take a break." Gary recalled his dragon and selected his next choice. "Slaking—you're up!"
"Slaaaking!"
The massive, gorilla-like Pokémon emerged with a lazy yawn. But unlike most of his species, there was a spark of alertness in his eyes—proof of Gary's specialized training to suppress Slaking's natural loafing tendency.
The crowd gasped. "It's Gary's famous Slaking! The one that can ignore Truant entirely!" the announcer boomed.
Tyson wasted no time. "Ampharos—Thunderbolt!"
"Meeeeeh!"
Electricity surged from Ampharos's body, coalescing into a blazing bolt of lightning that ripped across the ice toward Slaking.
Gary didn't flinch. "Thunderbolt right back."
"Graaagh!"
Slaking's eyes narrowed as he released his own massive Thunderbolt. The two electric streams met in midair, sizzling violently before dissipating into the icy ground. The resulting steam hissed upward.
"Close in—Mega Kick!" Gary commanded.
Slaking suddenly exploded into motion, sprinting with shocking speed for his size. He leapt high into the air, leg glowing with raw fighting energy.
"Discharge, now!" Tyson countered.
Ampharos sent a wave of electricity outward, but it wasn't enough. Slaking's leg came crashing down. BANG!
"Meeehhh!"
Ampharos cried out as she was sent skidding over ten meters, slamming into the ice.
Gary's voice was sharp. "Body Slam—finish it!"
Slaking hurled himself into the air again, his massive shadow falling over Ampharos.
Tyson's eyes widened. "Ampharos—Thunder!"
"MEEEEH!!"
Electricity erupted from Ampharos's entire body, forming a violent pillar of lightning that shot upward.