The crowd roared as Ritchie smiled confidently, holding his final Pokéball between his fingers. "It's time to finish this, Kira. Let's show them, Pikachu!"
With a bright flash of light, the familiar yellow Electric-type materialized on the battlefield, sparks crackling from its cheeks. Pikachu's eyes gleamed with sharp focus, its tail swishing like a blade ready to strike.
Ray instinctively activated his system:
Pokémon: PikachuLevel: 47Aptitude: Core BlueCondition: PeakTrainer: Ritchie Gale
Ray's eyes narrowed. Level 47... That's the highest I've seen in this tournament so far. Kira will need to be perfect to win this.
Kira took a deep breath and grabbed her final Pokéball. "Koma, you're up!"
Her Machoke appeared with a loud roar, pounding its fists together, the scars of previous battles still visible but healed enough to fight. It glared at Pikachu, ready to protect its trainer's pride.
Ray quickly scanned again:
Pokémon: Koma (Machoke)Level: 44Aptitude: Deep BlueCondition: Battle-HardenedTrainer: Kira Damos
Ray's lips curved slightly. Koma's stronger than before… but Pikachu still has the advantage.
Opening Exchanges
"Pikachu, Quick Attack, now!" Ritchie shouted.
Pikachu became a blur of motion, dashing forward with lightning-fast speed. Machoke barely had time to block, raising its forearms to absorb the hit, but the force pushed it back several steps.
"Counter with Dynamic Punch!" Kira called.
Koma swung with a glowing fist, but Pikachu darted to the side effortlessly, avoiding the strike. A flicker of electricity shot from its cheeks—Thunderbolt!—blasting Machoke square in the chest. The Fighting-type growled, shaking off the sparks, but burn marks were already forming on its skin.
"Pikachu is overwhelming Koma with its speed," Ray muttered under his breath, his fingers gripping the railing. "But… why isn't Kira using her aura?"
Signs of Strain
Ray looked closer at Kira on the trainer's platform. Her posture was tense, her breathing uneven. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and she seemed to be struggling just to keep up with the pace of the battle.
No… Ray realized. Using aura must drain her stamina. She only awakened this ability today with Riolu. She's not used to sustaining it.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ritchie's voice cut through the air.
Pikachu's tail gleamed like polished steel as it slammed into Machoke's shoulder, forcing the Fighting-type to one knee.
"Koma, don't give up!" Kira yelled, but her voice sounded weaker than usual.
A Desperate Boost
Ray suddenly stood up, his voice booming across the arena. "KIRA! EAT SOMETHING!"
The entire stadium went silent for a moment. Kira blinked, startled. "Eat… something?" Then it hit her—she remembered the energy bar she had stuffed in her pocket that morning.
She fumbled for it, unwrapped it with trembling hands, and quickly took a bite. The rush of sugar and nutrients seemed to jolt her back to life. Her breathing steadied, and a warm glow began to flicker faintly around her.
Ray's system pinged.
[Aura Synchronization: Kira Damos – Activation Detected]Status: Partial Activation – Limited Duration
The Turning Point
Kira clenched her fist, determination flooding her face. "Koma! We only have a short window—let's use it! Get ready!"
Machoke's eyes glowed faintly, feeling the resonance with its trainer. Energy surged through its muscles, its stance tightening like coiled steel. Pikachu, sensing the change, crouched low, sparks dancing across its cheeks as it prepared to strike.
The arena buzzed with anticipation. Ray leaned forward, his heart pounding. "This is it… She only has moments to make this count."
The next exchange would decide everything.
To be continued…