As the echo of the announcer's voice faded into the stadium air, Aurora narrowed her sharp gaze at Ray. "Gyarados," she said coolly, and with a flick of her wrist, the Pokéball flew high into the sky.
With a blinding flash of light and a ground-shaking roar, a massive Gyarados emerged onto the battlefield. Its serpentine body shimmered with power, and its fanged maw snapped with anticipation. A hushed awe fell over the crowd as the water dragon let out a thunderous roar that reverberated through the stands.
Ray furrowed his brows. "That's not an ordinary Gyarados," he muttered. He lifted his hand and pointed his wrist device at the beast.
🔍 [Scanning Pokémon...]
💧🐉 Gyarados – Level 42 – Aptitude: Light Purple
Ray's eyes widened. "Light Purple… that's rare, especially on a Pokémon like Gyarados."
Without hesitation, he recalled Charizard. "You've done your part," Ray said softly as the flame-tailed behemoth vanished in a flash of red. Then he turned to his next partner.
"Dragonair, you're up!"
The elegant, serpentine Dragonair appeared with a melodic cry, its body coiling slightly as it hovered above the battlefield. A soft aura radiated around it—refined, calm, and focused.
🐉 Dragonair – Level 40 – Aptitude: Core Purple
Aurora raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She simply nodded at her Gyarados. The match resumed.
"Crunch!" Aurora commanded.
The Gyarados lunged forward with stunning speed, its gaping jaw glowing a dark violet. Dragonair twisted in midair to avoid the attack, its body coiling tightly before whipping back with a burst of wind.
"Twister, now!" Ray called out.
Dragonair spun midair, unleashing a vortex of spiraling wind and draconic energy. The gust hit Gyarados, but it roared through it, powering forward unfazed.
"Water Pulse!"
With a roar, Gyarados blasted a spinning sphere of water that cracked through the air. Dragonair tried to dodge, but the pulse clipped its lower body, throwing it off balance.
Ray grit his teeth. "Stay focused, Dragonair! Use Agility, weave through its attacks!"
Dragonair shimmered with sudden speed, zipping across the battlefield in elegant arcs. It began closing the distance, dodging another Crunch and responding with a swift Dragon Breath. The searing energy sparked against Gyarados' scales, finally making it grunt in pain.
Aurora didn't flinch. "Twister."
A counter-vortex of draconic winds erupted from Gyarados, colliding with Dragonair midair. The clash sent both Pokémon tumbling, but Dragonair righted itself faster and zipped back into formation, eyes focused.
Ray narrowed his eyes. "Dragon Rush. Full force."
Dragonair's body glowed with a harsh blue light as it charged like a bullet toward Gyarados, who bared its teeth.
"Grab it," Aurora said, just as calmly.
To Ray's shock, Gyarados caught Dragonair mid-charge by the tail with its massive jaws.
"No!" Ray shouted.
Dragonair cried out in pain as Gyarados thrashed it like a ragdoll before slamming it onto the ground with a crack of impact. The entire stadium gasped at the brutal display.
Dust rose. Dragonair twitched, coiled, and floated back up slowly, visibly shaken and wounded. Its breathing was shallow, its movements slower now.
Ray clenched his fists. "Hang in there…"
Aurora simply crossed her arms, watching silently, her Gyarados looming large and ready for the next strike.