Chapter 394: Vs Noland the Factory Head!
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Battle Frontier – Battle Factory]
The final battle for the Battle Factory has begun!
Noland held up three Poké Balls as he explained calmly, "The final match is a standard three-on-three Single Battle."
Azure had a final, crucial choice to make regarding his lineup. His reserves were Scizor, Quagsire, and Tyranitar. His actives were Skarmory, Charizard, and Metagross. He had swapped back Skarmory for its defensive typing and its aerial-heavy set.
Knowing Noland's tendencies toward unpredictable type coverage and brute force, Azure calculated the risks. He needed setup, defense, and power. He confirmed his team: Skarmory, Charizard, and Metagross.
Pikachu and Eevee were screaming encouragement from the stands, and he could feel Leaf's powerful, supportive gaze. He took a deep breath, focusing his mind back on the chess game. Azure had anticipated this battle from the start.
But for this opening move, he had a clear intent as he grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt. He hurled it into the air, declaring, "Skarmory, take the field!"
*Pop*
The metallic bird of prey soared out, landing with a heavy thud, [Leftovers] held securely in its claws. Skarmory screeched as it flapped its wings, "Skaaar!!"
Noland chuckled, accepting the challenge of the Steel/Flying-type lead. He spoke confidently, hurling his first choice, "A sturdy choice, Azure. But durability won't save you from this! Come, my trusted partner, Pinsir!"
*Pop*
Noland's Pinsir appeared, its massive pincers clicking menacingly as it held its item: a glowing [Pinsirite]. Azure's eyes narrowed as he thought, 'So all Frontier Brains are packing Mega Evolution, huh? Wouldn't be fun if they didn't…'
The commentators' voices boomed, feeding data to the massive crowd, "It's a Steel/Flying-type vs. a Bug-type! Advantage Skarmory, but Noland is known for his surprises!"
Azure didn't waste a moment. He ordered, "Skarmory, set up Tailwind!"
*FWP*
Skarmory immediately began generating the swirling currents of wind, granting priority to its team. Noland expected this from his data as he thought, 'Predictable. Always favoring Tailwind in most matches, but let's surprise him.'
Noland's response was unexpected as he ordered, "Pinsir, String Shot!"
*PEW*
A thick, sticky web shot across the field, slamming into Skarmory's metallic wings and body just as it finished generating the wind currents. The Steel Bird's speed dropped instantly, its momentum stifled.
Azure narrowed his eyes. He swiftly commanded a counter, "Cut loose! Steel Wing! Follow it with Agility!"
*SHINNG*
Skarmory sliced through the sticky web with a flash of its steel wings, then pumped its legs with Agility, attempting to recover the lost speed. But by then, Noland was already making his next move.
Noland then commanded calmly with his arms crossed, "If you want speed, you'll have to dodge this! Hidden Power!"
*PEW*
A focused beam of energy shot toward the recovering Skarmory. Azure eyes hardened as Hidden Power will always hit for a super-effective hit.
Azure commanded, "Agility again!"
*Woooosh*
Azure realized he was currently at +3 Speed thanks to the second move, plus the initial Tailwind. Skarmory, moving with blurring speed, effortlessly avoided the projectile that was charging at it.
Noland, however, smiled—a predator's grin. He reached up, grasping the Mega Ring on his wrist as he declared, "Show him what a Factory Head can do, Pinsir! Mega Evolve!"
*SHIIII*
A blinding light enveloped the Stag Beetle Pokémon. When it cleared, Mega Pinsir stood ready, now sporting massive, sharp wings.
*FWP*
It gained the ability to fly, and its ability changed to Aerilate, turning its Normal-type moves into enhanced Flying-type attacks. Azure's eyes tightened as he thought critically, 'Mega Pinsir is faster, stronger, and now poses a serious threat to Skarmory. I need to hurry my setup quickly…'
Azure swiftly ordered, "Stealth Rocks! Set the field!"
*RMBL*
Skarmory used its recovered speed to create the floating, jagged stones that settled around Noland's side of the field. But Noland had anticipated the defensive move, thought, 'And another predictable setup. Time to harm his defenses.'
Noland commanded, "Thief!"
*SMACK*
Mega Pinsir, moving at terrifying speed, swooped low, its sharpened claws snatching the [Leftovers] right out of Skarmory's grasp as it slammed into it. The recovery item now rested in the Mega Pokémon's grip.
The Frontier Brains collectively gasped. Stealing a held item was a brutal strategic blow, crippling Skarmory's defensive longevity.
Green gripped the railing, Pikachu and Eevee letting out concerned sounds. She murmured, analyzing the dire situation Azure was in, "He turned Azure's endurance against him. Skarmory is now on a timer."
Azure knew he had to disable the terrifying attacker immediately. Thus, he quickly ordered, "Toxic!"
*SPLAT*
The poison arc shot out, but Noland's counter was swift and perfectly timed as he commanded, "Substitute!"
*POOF*
An energy double of Mega Pinsir shimmered into existence immediately in front of the actual Pokémon. The Toxic landed directly on the double, rendering the poison useless against the true target.
Noland roared, "Now, shatter that steel! Brick Break!"
*Woooosh*
Mega Pinsir lunged forward, claws glowing with Fighting-type energy. Azure shouted, relying on the shield move to stall the onslaught, "Protect!"
*SHIII*
Skarmory's protective barrier shimmered, but Noland merely smirked, adding an immediate follow-up, "Feint!"
*CRACK*
Mega Pinsir's attack shifted. Feint, a move notorious for bypassing protection, shimmered first, shattering the Protect shield entirely, leaving Skarmory wide open…
*BOOOM*
The Brick Break instantly followed, hitting the Steel Bird with devastating force and slamming it down onto the rocky floor. Azure's eyes twitched as he thought, 'That was ruthless… Noland had used the threat of the powerful attack to bait the Protect, then nullified it with Feint, securing the full damage of Brick Break. And I fell for it...'
*Tmp*
Skarmory struggled back onto its talons, battered but not beaten. However, Noland's Pinsir didn't allow it the chance to recover.
*Zooom*
Mega Pinsir was already rushing in again, its Substitute clone trailing it, acting as an unpredictable shield. Azure, seeing this ordered, "Get rid of that shield! Strong Style Air Slash!"
*SHINNG*
Skarmory blasted a sharp wind blade, impacting the Substitute and dissolving the energy double into light. But Noland grinned as he thought, 'All according to plan. With Protect out, I can one-shot his Pokémon now.'
Noland thundered, "Too late! Guillotine!"
*CRUNCH*
The one-hit knockout move, delivered by the massive pincers, sliced downward toward the exhausted Steel Bird. The attack landed with a horrific, sickening crunch of metal. Noland was confident.
The audience gasped, anticipating the immediate knockout. But the dust settled, and to the shock of Noland and the entire arena, Skarmory was still standing, barely. Its metallic shell was deeply dented, and its energy was almost entirely depleted.
Noland exclaimed, his strategy momentarily interrupted, "How?!"
Azure knew. He smirked as he thought, 'Endure.'
Skarmory had used the defensive move in the split second before the powerful Guillotine connected, sacrificing nearly all its health to remain in the fight for one final, desperate turn. It screeched defiantly, "SKARRR!! (I'M NOT OUT YET!!)"
This was it. Skarmory's last stand.
Azure called out, his voice hoarse but filled with determination, commanded, "You won the endurance battle, Noland… But you left yourself wide open! Skarmory, Strong Style Brave Bird!"
*FWP*
With Tailwind still active, Skarmory gained priority. Its eyes glowed, and the bird flew straight up, gathering the chaotic energy of the field. Mega Pinsir, its pincers still slightly tangled in the dented steel, couldn't react in time.
*ZOOOOM*
The attack was a suicidal dive—a full-force, flying collision of razor-sharp steel and amplified aerial power. The Brave Bird connected point-blank.
*KA-BOOOOM*
The resulting explosion of wind and feathers rocked the Battle Factory. When the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were lying motionless on the ground.
The referee raised two flags, declaring in a stunned voice, "Skarmory and Pinsir are unable to battle! Double Knockout!"
The stadium erupted.
Azure had survived the first confrontation, but at the cost of his strongest defensive anchor and without gaining an advantage. Noland, having neutralized the threat, still had two untouched Pokémon, and Azure was now down to Metagross and Charizard.
Azure looked down at the fainted Skarmory's Poké Ball, a surge of gratitude mixing with his exhaustion. The first round was over, and the Factory Head was far from defeated. Two Pokémon remained on each side.
Azure, with a determined glint in his eyes, sent out his next Pokémon as he declared, "Go, Charizard!"
*Pop*
A mighty roar filled the arena as Charizard burst from its Poké Ball, a brilliant orange-red flame igniting in its throat. Clutched in its tail was a glistening [Charizardite X].
Noland's grin remained, seemingly unfazed. He commanded, hurling his next Poke Ball, "Dragonite, it's your turn!"
*Pop*
Dragonite, a powerful, stocky orange dragon, materialized on the field. It too held an item: a [Bright Powder], shimmering faintly around it.
*BOOM*
But as it landed, the Stealth Rocks scraped against its scales, eliciting a pained roar as its health dipped slightly. Its Hidden Ability Multiscale was useless as it entered the battlefield littered with traps.
The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to be cut with a knife. The Frontier Brains on the podium leaned forward, their comments hushed but intense. Greta mused, "A Dragonite with [Bright Powder]… risky, but it can make all the difference."
Lucy added as she analyzed the battle, curiously stated, "And Charizard with its Mega Stone already out. A bold move from Azure."
Brandon observed, his gaze sharp, "Noland still hasn't shown his ace in the hole yet, either. He's known to carry a Legendary on occasion."
In the stands, Green could feel the electrifying tension radiating from the battlefield. Pikachu's fur was bristling, and Eevee had raised her head, ears perked. Suddenly, Scott appeared beside her, taking a seat.
Scott asked, his voice low, a playful glint in his eyes, "Who do you think will win, Green? I'm curious about your opinion."
Green turned to him, a confident smirk playing on her lips. She stated, her voice unwavering, "Azure, of course. When you get to know the guy, you'll see how much of a pain it is to battle him and what to expect from his unpredictable battling style. You'll see soon enough."
Scott chuckled, settling back into his seat. He thought internally, 'True enough. But you haven't seen him with his Legendary Bird yet; that'll surely surprise you. After all, the Kanto Birds aren't one-of-a-kind Pokémon exclusively native to Kanto…'
His focus, along with Green's, shifted back to the unfolding drama on the field. Azure commanded, "Charizard, Flamethrower!"
*SSSSS*
A searing torrent of fire erupted from Charizard's maw, streaking towards Dragonite. Noland countered, his voice booming, "Dragonite, Hydro Pump!"
*SPLASH*
Dragonite roared, unleashing a powerful jet of water that collided with the Flamethrower, negating the fire and then striking Charizard hard. The super-effective blast sent Charizard tumbling backward, but it quickly took flight, soaring higher into the air.
*Fwp*
Dragonite, surprisingly agile despite its bulk, was right behind it. Noland ordered, "Use Ice Beam!"
*PEW*
A chilling blue ray shot forth, striking Charizard's left wing. A pained cry escaped the Flame Pokémon as ice crystals bloomed on its scales, sending it spiraling into a free-fall.
Azure shouted, "Charizard, recover!"
*Fwp*
Just before hitting the ground, Charizard twisted, regaining its balance with a powerful beat of its good wing. Azure followed up, "Seismic Toss!"
*Zooom*
Charizard swooped down, aiming to grab Dragonite, but the Dragon Pokémon maneuvered away with surprising speed. Instead, Dragonite seized Charizard by the neck, flipping the move around.
Noland yelled, "Slam!"
*SLAM*
Dragonite slammed Charizard into the ground with immense force, kicking up a cloud of dust. Though weakened considerably, Charizard slowly, painfully, got back on its feet, shaking its head.
Its gaze, however, remained resolute.
Azure commanded, sensing its resolve, "Charizard, Dragon Breath!"
Noland roared, "Dragonite, meet it with your own Dragon Breath!"
*BOOOM*
Both Dragon-type attacks collided in a brilliant flash of purple energy, creating a blinding smokescreen that engulfed both Pokémon. When the smoke began to clear, Dragonite was visibly dazed.
As Noland squinted through the dissipating haze, a remarkable thing happened. Charizard, without a direct command from Azure, instinctively used Endure, bracing itself against any lingering impact as it stood holding on, then followed up with Roost, landing briefly to recover some of its health.
From the podium, Brandon's eyes narrowed as he thought, 'Moves without command… much like Spencer's fighting style.'
When the dust finally cleared, Charizard stood ready, its wounds still present but its fighting spirit undeniably reignited. Noland's eyes widened in surprise as he thought, 'What? I had been certain the previous attacks would have knocked it out…'
But Noland was not deterred. He commanded, hoping to finish the job, "Dragonite, Hydro Pump again!"
*SPLASH*
Dragonite, still slightly dazed but regaining its composure, fired another powerful stream of water. Azure yelled, his voice ringing with renewed confidence, "Charizard, Strong Style Tera Blast!"
*PEW*
With Tailwind still active, the first move to go was Azure's side. Charizard gathered energy, firing a pure-energy blast that struck Dragonite, knocking it to the ground before the Hydro Pump could fully form.
Noland quickly recovered, ordering the electrical attack, "Thunderbolt!"
*ZZZZT*
A bolt of lightning crackled towards Charizard. But Azure countered, "Iron Tail!"
*BUZZZZ*
Charizard's tail glowed metallic as the Thunderbolt struck it. Instead of damaging Charizard, the electricity seemed to transfer into the enhanced tail, channeling harmlessly into the ground.
The Flame Pokémon emerged from the attack mostly unscathed, just as the effects of Tailwind faded. Noland commanded, refusing to give up, "Dragon Rush!"
*FWP*
Dragonite howled, soaring into the air, its body wreathed in draconic energy, preparing for a devastating dive. Azure saw the incoming attack as he thought, 'Time to burn that Dragon down for size!'
Azure shouted, "Charizard, Inferno!"
*SSSSSS*
Charizard let loose a massive, swirling vortex of superheated fire. The attack hit Dragonite dead on mid-flight, causing the Dragon Rush to dissipate in a fiery explosion.
*BOOOOM*
Dragonite cried out, its body now scorched and burned, falling to the ground. Upon landing, however, with a surge of residual strength, it slammed its tail into Charizard hard, using Dragon Tail, knocking it away.
*Smack*
But the burn effect was already taking its toll, significantly weakening the attack. Dragonite continued to lose energy, the burn visibly sapping its strength.
It was at this crucial moment that Azure made his move. He held his Mega Glove as he declared, "Charizard, now! Mega Evolve!"
*SHIII*
A blinding light erupted from [Charizardite X]. Charizard roared, its form shifting, growing bulkier, darker, and more powerful. When the light subsided, Mega Charizard X stood in its place, its powerful frame radiating primal energy.
Noland's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly barked, "Dragonite, Agility! Get up there! Follow with Extreme Speed!"
*ZOOOM*
Dragonite, despite its injuries, shot into the sky, then plummeted towards Mega Charizard X with incredible velocity, wreathed in a golden aura. Azure ordered, a surprising command that made Noland's brows furrow in confusion, "Charizard, take the hit!"
*BOOOOM*
The Extreme Speed slammed into Mega Charizard X with tremendous force. But instead of being sent flying, Charizard used the impact, channeling the ground beneath its feet to absorb the shockwave…
*GRAB*
Then, with a lightning-fast movement, it caught Dragonite in its powerful claws!
Azure roared, "Strong Style Mega Punch!"
*BAM*
With a mighty heave, Mega Charizard X threw Dragonite into the ground, sending it crashing onto the battlefield with a resounding thud. Quickly followed up with a Mega Punch as it slammed its fist onto Dragonite's face.
*SMASH*
Dragonite recoiled in pain from the attack. Dragonite slowly staggered to its feet, clearly reeling…
*PEW*
It tried to retaliate with a desperate Dragon Pulse, a swirling orb of draconic energy forming in its mouth. Azure yelled, "Quick Attack to dodge!"
*Zoooom*
To Noland's utter astonishment, Mega Charizard X, with blinding speed, narrowly avoided the Dragon Pulse, tilting its massive body backward just enough to create distance. Noland's mind raced, 'Quick Attack?! It knows that move!!'
Noland was baffled by this move. This move was not in any known data for Mega Charizard X, nor had Azure ever used it with his Charizard in any recorded battle that left him momentarily shocked in the process.
Azure didn't give Noland time to process the shock. He commanded, "Roost!"
*Shiii*
Charizard landed, briefly recovering more of its health. But then Noland ordered, "Quick use Defog!"
*Fwp*
Dragonite flapped its wings as the stealth rocks hidden in the battlefield vanished. With that out of the way and seeing Charizard about to recover Noland, desperate, unleashed his final, most powerful attack, "Hyper Beam!"
*BOOOOM*
Dragonite gathered its remaining strength, firing a destructive, multi-colored beam that struck Mega Charizard X dead on. Charizard crossed its arms as the attack hit it, creating an enormous smokescreen that completely obscured the view.
Azure's voice cut through the roar of the crowd, "End it, Charizard! Dragon Claw!"
Noland's eyes narrowed, doubtful that his Dragonite, already weakened by the burn and previous attacks, could continue. But then, a deafening roar erupted from within the smokescreen, "CHARRRR!!!!"
*ZOOOM*
A powerful, draconic surge of raw energy radiated outwards, shattering Noland's doubts. Mega Charizard X burst through the smoke, its body bruised and damaged, but its claws glowing emerald green…
*SHINNG*
Dragonite, rendered immobile and exhausted after unleashing the Hyper Beam, could only watch as Mega Charizard X landed squarely on its head, bringing its glowing claws down. Dragonite cried out one last time before it collapsed, defeated.
*THUD*
The arena erupted.
Noland stood stunned, looking at his fallen Dragonite, then at Charizard, who stood panting, battered but victorious. It should have fallen, clearly. He turned to Azure, a questioning gaze in his eyes.
Azure, though catching his breath, offered a small smile. He explained, "When Charizard took the Hyper Beam head-on, it used Endure to take the hit and charge right in. I trusted my partner to take that hit, and it trusted me."
Azure once again had defied expectations and secured another victory. Azure commanded, "Charizard, return! You need that rest,"
But then paused as he thought, 'This was the final stretch.'
He had one attack left in Charizard before it was too damaged. Changing his mind, he uttered, "No, stay! Just one more hit."
Noland took a deep, focused breath, a strange smile touching his lips. He reached for his final Poké Ball as he declared boldly, "You've battled excellently, Azure. But I promised them a spectacle!"
*Pop*
Noland released his last Pokémon. The field was instantly enveloped in a cold draft as the regal, icy form of Articuno materialized. It let out a majestic cry that echoed the mountains of the Seafoam Islands.
Green gasped, covering her mouth in shock. Pikachu's ears flattened in surprise, and Eevee chirped nervously.
Azure exclaimed, momentarily dropping his guard, "Articuno?! But… Red already has an Articuno!"
Scott leaned toward Green, smirking broadly at their shock as he explained, "Oh, you two are always so cute when you're surprised. Did you think there was only one of anything in the world? Most of the Frontier Brains have multiple Legendary partners on their teams, Azure. Makes for a much more exciting challenge, doesn't it?"
Green was stunned by his claims, but her focus immediately snapped back to Azure. She knew that look—the moment the shock wore off and the strategist took over.
Noland, sensing the shift in the crowd's energy, explained with a prideful voice, "I met my partner during a journey through Kalos. It had an injured wing. I helped it heal, and it's been by my side ever since. It never uses its full Legendary power against challengers, but it will use all of its skill!"
Azure smiled, the nervousness completely gone, replaced by competitive fire. He noticed the slight shimmer around the Legendary bird: Articuno was holding a [Bright Powder].
Azure called, aiming to land a critical blow before Articuno could mount a defense, "Charizard, Quick Attack, followed by Fire Punch!"
*Zoooom*
Charizard roared, rocketing across the field. But Articuno was faster. The [Bright Powder] effect kicked in at the critical moment…
*Wooosh*
… Charizard's Quick Attack veered narrowly wide, and the subsequent Fire Punch whipped through empty air. Azure froze while Noland grinned.
Noland roared, "Now, Articuno! Blizzard!"
*WOOOOSH*
The blast of super-cooled air was devastating, engulfing the weakened Charizard. The flame on its tail sputtered as the Mega Evolution energy faded.
*Thud*
Charizard collapsed back to its normal form, defeated. The referee announced, "Charizard is unable to battle!"
The Frontier Brains, previously impressed, now smirked with confidence. Noland had sealed the deal.
Only Brandon remained quiet, analyzing the field as he thought, 'Azure still has one Pokémon left. Metagross. Anything can happen.'
Scott watched Green intently. She was calm. Too calm. She knew Azure wasn't done. Pikachu and Eevee cheered, urging their trainer on.
Azure recalled Charizard, thanking it sincerely. He stared across the field at the majestic Articuno in front of him. Azure declared boldly, tossing his final Poké Ball high, "You leave me no choice, Noland. If you want to see knowledge, I'll show you my best! Metagross, the field is yours!"
*Pop*
The massive, four-legged Steel/Psychic-type materialized. It carried its held item, an [Expert Belt], glinting in the light.
Noland wasted no time as he commanded, "Articuno, Ice Beam!"
Azure bellowed, "Metagross, enact Battle Defenses!"
*SHIII*
Azure's Metagross, leveraging its four brains working in perfect concert, executed four separate movements simultaneously in an astounding display of coordinated power as its eyes and cross glowed:
*Zzzzzt*
Magnet Rise. Metagross lifted itself a foot off the ground, negating any natural ground-based attacks.
*THUMP*
Gravity. Unleashing the gravitational forces forced Articuno down, preventing it from utilizing most of its airborne mobility.
*Shiii*
Telekinesis. Subtly manipulated the incoming Ice Beam, diverting the chilling blast harmlessly away from its body.
*Wooosh*
Cosmic Power. Bolstered its physical and special defenses by one stage.
Noland's eyes narrowed. He had expected Metagross to be versatile, but the simultaneous quad-move defense was a frightening level of control. Articuno was now grounded, trapped by Gravity.
Noland countered, intending to activate Articuno's Hidden Ability, Snow Cloak, for maximum evasion, "Hail!"
*RMBL*
Azure frowned at the sudden appearance of the tiny ice pellets and commanded an immediate, multi-pronged attack, "Metagross! Lockdown formation! Miracle Eye, Hone Claws, Grass Knot, and finish with Tera Blast!"
*SHIII*
Metagross glowed, locking onto the legendary bird with Miracle Eye (eliminating Articuno's evasiveness), then boosting its Attack and Accuracy with Hone Claws by +1 Stage. It generated thick, binding vines beneath Articuno that knotted around its feet with Grass Knot, followed by a powerful, multi-colored beam of Tera Blast.
*PEW*
But Articuno was cunning. Showing flashes of phenomenal speed even while grounded, it used Agility to evade the Tera Blast by a hairsbreadth.
*Wooosh*
Then, utilizing the ice already forming on the field from the Hail, it froze the Grass Knot ties, glided briefly out of the way, and prepared its counter. Noland ordered, The massive, freezing storm gathering around Articuno, "Articuno! Use Blizzard, guaranteed hit under Hail!"
*WOOOSH*
Azure grinned, the cornered look on his face vanishing. This was the moment for his trump card to have arrived, as he thought, 'Time to put that technique into good use.'
Witnessing the incoming Blizzard attack, Azure ordered, "Metagross! Delta Shield, Block, then Hyper Beam!"
*SHINNG*
Metagross instantly generated a barrier of swirling light—a unique, dual-layered defense no one in the stadium recognized. It was the Delta Shield, combining the effects of Reflect and Light Screen into one formidable barrier.
*BANG*
The monstrous Blizzard struck the shield, but instead of shattering, the Delta Shield absorbed the damage, flickering only slightly. Before Noland could react, Metagross launched forward, sealing the legendary bird in place with Block.
*FREEZE*
With Articuno momentarily frozen, Metagross began charging the terrifying power of Hyper Beam. Noland's eyes widened in horror, "Articuno, Protect!"
*CLANG*
A desperate, translucent green barrier shimmered around Articuno just as the Hyper Beam detonated. The force of the blast was immense, sending shockwaves across the field, but Articuno was saved.
Noland breathed a sigh of relief, but then his relief curdled into confusion. The Delta Shield was still active. It hadn't dissipated after one hit, nor did it disappear as Metagross is recharging from the Hyper Beam.
The Frontier Brains were baffled. Greta whispered, "What is that defense? I've never seen or heard of this move before…"
Only Green smiled knowingly. This was the technique Azure's Pokémon had learned from the mythical Deoxys he had captured—a technique that blocked attacks for a period, not just a turn.
Azure knew the mechanics and, crucially, the weakness (Brick Break), but Noland did not. And for that matter, none of the Frontier Brains or anyone knew how to counter it. It was his newest trump card; he had for ANY Pokémon that knew the moves Reflect and Light Screen.
Noland, frustrated, ordered, "Tch! Articuno Ice Beam!"
*PEW*
Articuno unleashed another Ice Beam, striking the Delta Shield again. But sadly for them, it held firm.
Before Noland could formulate a plan to break the unprecedented defense, Metagross finished recharging. Azure dictated, "Bind it with Block again! Flash Cannon!"
*FREEZE*
Articuno was sealed in place, unable to fly or retreat. Metagross then opened its maw as a sphere of steel energy condensed and then…
*BANG*
It unleashed a concentrated orb of Flash Cannon. The Flash Cannon slammed into Articuno—a super-effective, boosted hit, thanks to the [Expert Belt], dealing extra damage to it.
Noland gripped the railing as he thought through gritted teeth, 'With Miracle Eye active, Snow Cloak useless. With Delta Shield active, my offensive options were severely limited. With Gravity and Block active, Articuno was a sitting target…'
Realization was soon dawning on him. Azure said casually, his voice calm and firm, "This is checkmate, Noland. You battled bravely, but it's time to end the match. Metagross! Strong Style Meteor Mash!"
*ZOOOOM*
The massive, metallic Pokémon hurtled toward the grounded Articuno, focusing all its strength into a single, devastating impact. Articuno stayed valiantly unmoving on the ground, still restrained by the lasting effects of Block and Gravity.
*CRUNCH*
The final Meteor Mash landed with a colossal CRUNCH, creating a huge dust cloud that obscured the final moments of the battle. Green, Pikachu, and Eevee watched anxiously, then burst into cheers as the dust settled.
*Thud*
Articuno lay still, having been driven hard into the turf, and fainted on the spot. Metagross stood over it, looking utterly satisfied, "Meta~ (That… was satisfying battle.)"
Noland sighed, a complicated mix of defeat and respect washing over his face. He recalled Articuno as the referee nearby declared, "Articuno is unable to battle! The victory goes to the challenger, Azure Sky!"
The stadium erupted in shocked applause. Anabel, the Salon Maiden, who had been watching the final moments alone from a secluded balcony, turned and left quietly, a calculation already forming in her mind.
Noland approached Azure, extending a hand that the young champion immediately shook. Noland said, his voice sincere, "Azure Sky. You are truly a master of strategic adaptation and knowledge. You earned this."
He presented Azure with a striking golden medal, shaped like an open book with mechanical gears: the Knowledge Symbol. Noland affirmed, "Proof of the knowledge you carry, and your ability to apply it under pressure."
Azure took the Symbol, his smile genuine as he replied casually to Noland, "Thank you, Noland. You kept me absolutely on my toes. I almost forgot about Bright Powder on Charizard; that was my mistake, I overlooked."
The waiting reporters, finally able to breathe, descended upon the field, shouting questions at both of them.
"Noland! How did you prepare for this unprecedented challenge?"
"Azure! What was the secret behind that bizarre shield move?"
But Noland and Azure weren't listening to the press. They were already engrossed in conversation, their minds consumed by the intricacies of the match.
Noland mused, tapping his chin about Azure's technique, "If I had known about the Delta Shield, I would have swapped Articuno out immediately for a Pokémon that can deal with your tactics. You clearly hid your techniques well."
Azure countered, recalling Metagross, "And if I hadn't panicked when I saw Articuno, I wouldn't have left Charizard exposed for that wide shot. My initial move set with Metagross was overly defensive. I should have led with Miracle Eye sooner."
A reporter shrieked, waving a microphone desperately, "Wait! Excuse us! Can you please give us some attention?!"
Azure and Noland looked up simultaneously, realization dawning that they had an audience. They shrugged in unison, then immediately resumed their analysis of the quad-move sequence.
The reporters finally yelled in unison, demanding they pay attention to the media. Green merely sighed, shaking her head at the two hyper-focused trainers.
She walked onto the field, Eevee and Pikachu jogging beside her. Green said smoothly, grabbing Azure's arm and pulling him away from the enthusiastic Noland, "Excuse us, gentlemen. He still has a date to finish, remember?"
Azure blushed, suddenly mortified by his lapse. He waved an apology to Noland and the press pool, allowing Green to drag him to the exit.
Green muttered, a loving exasperation in her voice, "Come on, before they tie you down for another lecture."
*Pop*
As they reached the lobby, Green summoned her Alakazam. Alakazam, with a knowing glance, bobbed its head, eyes flashing psychic energy…
*Swf*
With a flash of displaced light, the massive spoon-wielding Pokémon used Teleport, whisking Azure, Green, Pikachu, and Eevee far away from the Factory and back to the quiet remnants of their date.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!