The arena was at its boiling point. Both Koma and Pikachu were breathing heavily, their bodies battered and bruised from the relentless exchange. Kira, drenched in sweat and kneeling on one leg, clenched her fist tightly. Her aura was flickering—weak, but still there—barely keeping her connected to Machoke.
"Koma… just one more hit," she whispered.
Her voice trembled, but Machoke heard it. With a final roar, it surged forward, energy erupting from its fist. Pikachu darted to counter, but Kira's command came at just the right time.
"Dynamic Punch—full power!"
The strike landed squarely on Pikachu's side, launching the Electric-type across the battlefield. Pikachu hit the ground with a thud, its body twitching as smoke rose from its fur.
The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers.Ray's eyes widened. She did it… That was a critical hit!
Kira's Moment
Kira's chest rose and fell sharply as she supported herself on one knee. Her vision blurred for a moment, but she managed to smile. "We… we did it, Koma…"
She turned her gaze to the battlefield. Pikachu lay motionless. Even Ritchie's confident grin faltered, his eyes widening at the sight. He clenched his fists, shocked by the sudden spike of strength Machoke had shown in that last instant.
"Pikachu…" Ritchie's voice softened, almost trembling. "Come on, buddy. If you can stand, we can win this. Just one more time."
A Strange Power Awakens
Ray's system flashed unexpectedly in front of his eyes:
[Alert: Special Ability Detected]Trainer: Ritchie GaleViridian Power – Latent Awakening DetectedEffect: Minor Regeneration (Active)
"What…? Viridian Power?" Ray muttered, confused. I've never seen anything like this.
To everyone's astonishment, Pikachu twitched and slowly began to rise. The wounds on its body glowed faintly, closing just enough for it to stand again. Ritchie, unaware of what was truly happening, took a deep breath of relief. "I knew you could do it, Pikachu."
Ray's jaw tightened. He doesn't even know he's doing this…
The Fall
Koma, just as exhausted, staggered forward with sheer determination. It tried to raise its arms for one last strike, but its body gave out. With a heavy crash, Machoke fell to the ground, completely unconscious.
"Koma!" Kira gasped, pushing herself up, but her legs wobbled. The exhaustion from using her aura had drained her completely. Her vision darkened, and she swayed, about to collapse.
Machoke is unable to continue! The victory goes to Ritchie's Pikachu!" the referee announced.
But before Kira could hit the ground, a shadow moved faster than anyone else. Ray. He was already on the battlefield, catching her in his arms with a firm grip.
"You did an amazing battle, Kira," Ray whispered to her, his voice warm but steady. "Rest now. I'll take care of Koma."
Kira's lips curled into a faint smile as her eyes closed. "…Ray…" she murmured before slipping into unconsciousness.
The Rival's Glare
Ritchie, who had started running toward Kira, froze mid-step. His eyes widened as he saw her cradled against Ray's chest. A strange pain stabbed at his chest—a mix of jealousy and frustration. He clenched his fists as his Pikachu limped beside him.
Ray turned his head slightly, his eyes locking with Ritchie's. There was no hostility, but there was something sharp—a fire of determination, a promise of battle. For a moment, neither said a word.
Then, without looking back, Ray carried Kira out of the arena, Koma's Pokéball clipped firmly to his belt.
Ritchie stood in silence, the cheers of the crowd around him drowned out by the pounding of his own heart. His grip tightened. Ray… I'll defeat you. No matter what.
To be continued…