The crowd roared as the referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the second round. Kira released her next Pokéball, and a flash of white light revealed her third Pokémon: Riolu. The small Fighting-type crouched low, its eyes sharp and focused, ready for battle.
Ritchie's lips curved into a confident grin. "You've got spirit, Kira. But let's see how your little fighter handles this. Wartortle, let's make some waves!"
The water splashed across the field as Ritchie's Wartortle emerged, its shell gleaming under the stadium lights, tail flicking like a whip. It stood taller and more battle-worn than Riolu, exuding a calm confidence.
Ray's system flickered to life in his vision:
Pokémon: WartortleLevel: 39Aptitude: Light BlueCondition: ExcellentTrainer: Ritchie Gale
Ray glanced at Riolu, then scanned again:
Pokémon: RioluLevel: 34Aptitude: Deep BlueCondition: Focused, High Combat IQTrainer: Kira Damos
"Riolu's aptitude is higher," Ray murmured to himself, "but Wartortle's level advantage is dangerous. Kira's going to need to play this perfectly."
Opening Moves
"Wartortle, Aqua Tail!" Ritchie commanded.
Wartortle dashed forward, its tail glowing with water energy, slicing through the air in a sweeping arc. Riolu backflipped, narrowly dodging, and landed in a low crouch.
"Counter with Force Palm!" Kira shouted.
Riolu darted forward with blinding speed, slamming its glowing palm against Wartortle's shell. The impact echoed like a thunderclap, pushing Wartortle a few steps back.
Ritchie chuckled. "Not bad. Water Pulse!"
A wave of rippling energy shot from Wartortle's mouth. Riolu sidestepped, but the tail end of the pulse clipped its leg, sending it sliding across the field.
"Stay sharp, Riolu!" Kira called. Her partner sprang back into position, eyes blazing.
An Even Match
The battle quickly turned into a clash of speed versus endurance. Wartortle relied on its sturdy defense and powerful water attacks, while Riolu used agility and calculated strikes. For every Aqua Jet, Riolu answered with a swift counter. For every Water Pulse, there was a feint and a strike to Wartortle's exposed flank.
"They're evenly matched despite the level gap," Ray muttered. "That's Riolu's combat IQ at work—and Kira's strategy."
But then something changed.
The Evolution
Wartortle paused mid-attack, its body glowing with an intense, swirling light. The crowd erupted as the white glow consumed the battlefield. The silhouette of the Water-type began to shift, growing larger and more imposing.
Ray's system pinged urgently:
Pokémon: BlastoiseLevel: 41Aptitude: Core BlueCondition: Freshly Evolved – Power Surge ActiveTrainer: Ritchie Gale
"Blastoise…" Ray's voice trailed off as he stared at the towering creature. The cannons on its shell gleamed dangerously as they locked onto Riolu.
"Now, Kira," Ritchie said, voice cool and confident, "let's see how your fighter handles this."
Blastoise stomped forward, the ground trembling with each step. Riolu stood its ground but looked visibly shaken. Its deep blue aura flared instinctively, bracing for impact.
"Don't back down, Riolu," Kira said softly, almost a whisper. "We'll find a way."
But Ray could see it—the tide had shifted. Blastoise wasn't just stronger. It was a whole different threat now.
To be continued…