"Use Psychic!"
Yozora's sharp command jolted Golduck awake. At once, Golduck unleashed a surge of psychic power, freezing the dozens of Vine Whips mid-air.
The clash began.
Venusaur relied on its brute strength, while Golduck countered with pure psychic force.
But it was far from easy for Golduck.
Blocking Venusaur's Vine Whips with Psychic was like stopping a speeding freight truck with bare hands. The pressure was crushing. Sweat poured down Golduck's forehead within seconds.
"Gol…"
After a tense three-second standoff, Golduck's strength faltered. Its eyes glazed over, consciousness fading.
And yet—even as its body gave in—Golduck hurled a Water Pulse straight at Venusaur.
Boom!
Bang! Bang! Bang…!
Venusaur was blasted backward, but in that instant, its countless Vine Whips snapped free of Psychic's restraint and lashed viciously against Golduck. The Psychic-type was struck with brutal force, sent flying across the drenched battlefield.
Venusaur staggered back a few steps before stabilizing its stance. As a Grass-type Pokémon, it resisted Water Pulse easily and suffered only minimal damage.
Golduck, however, had taken the full brunt of Venusaur's whips. It collapsed to the ground, unable to continue battling.
"Golduck is down! That leaves Yozora with just one Pokémon remaining!" the announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
Yozora recalled Golduck without hesitation and flung his final Poké Ball.
"Beedrill, it's all on you now! Mega Evolve!"
With no other options left, Yozora chose his trump card. His Mega Bracelet shone brightly.
At the same time, Red raised his own Key Stone, shouting:
"Venusaur, Mega Evolution!"
Twin flashes of radiant light burst forth.
Amidst the pounding rain, both Pokémon shattered their limits and ascended into their ultimate forms.
Mega Beedrill's form radiated aggression. Its twin lances gleamed sharper than ever, while three pairs of wings buzzed behind it with terrifying power. Its speed and attack had skyrocketed.
Mega Venusaur, by contrast, grew even larger and more imposing. Its bulk and defensive might had risen dramatically.
"Beedrill may be high-leveled, but its fragile body can't endure too many direct hits," Red murmured calmly before issuing his order. "Venusaur, use Vine Whip!"
"Agility!" Yozora countered instantly.
Swish, swish, swish…
Venusaur unleashed more than twenty Vine Whips at once, striking toward Beedrill with overwhelming force.
Beedrill darted around with impossible speed, weaving through the storm of strikes. Its twin lances sliced through one Vine Whip after another.
But the effort was futile—Vine Whips weren't truly part of Venusaur's body. Severing them caused it no harm. Worse still, Venusaur simply regrew more and more, filling the field with an endless storm of whips.
"What a ferocious assault! Beedrill can't seem to break through at all!" the announcer cried. Venusaur's twenty whips moved with perfect precision, hemming Beedrill into a confined zone, allowing no escape.
"Venusaur, Razor Leaf!" Red's command rang out.
The crowd gasped in unison.
Venusaur, while maintaining its relentless Vine Whip barrage, unleashed a flurry of spinning Razor Leaves.
It was a combination attack.
On their own, Vine Whip and Razor Leaf were modest techniques. But in Venusaur's mastery, they became devastating—attacks as powerful as finishing moves.
Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk!
Dozens of razor-sharp leaves slashed through the stormy air, covering every angle.
Beedrill had no way out.
The audience held their breath. If those blades landed, Beedrill's fragile body would be shredded beyond recovery.
Was this the end?
"Is it over…?" Many of Yozora's fans fell into despair, their hopes dimming.
The Vine Whips had already caged Beedrill. Now, with Razor Leaf incoming, a hit was guaranteed.
And Mega Venusaur's power was monstrous. Beedrill could never withstand such an assault.
"Use Swords Dance!"
Yozora's voice cut through the storm.
At the last possible moment, Beedrill spun like a golden whirlwind, its body becoming a blinding gyroscope.
The swirling gale around it shredded both the Vine Whips and Razor Leaves into pieces, scattering fragrant green dust across the battlefield.
The stadium froze in stunned silence.
"Swords Dance…? Incredible! Beedrill actually used it as a defensive maneuver!" the announcer shouted, his voice trembling with excitement.
Swords Dance—an attack-boosting move—repurposed into a shield?
The crowd erupted.
"Unbelievable!"
"This is genius! Swords Dance as both defense and offense—Beedrill's unstoppable!"
"Charge, Beedrill!"
Hope flared anew. The atmosphere ignited.
"Beedrill, use Twineedle!" Yozora commanded.
Venusaur's combined offense had been dismantled. Its defense was wide open.
Whoosh!
With blistering speed, Beedrill closed the distance in a heartbeat.
Its lances blurred like machine-gun fire, stabbing mercilessly into Venusaur's massive frame.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Each strike detonated shockwaves across Venusaur's body. The titan wailed in pain before its enormous form finally collapsed, crashing into the soaked battlefield and sending water splashing high into the air.
"Venusaur is unable to battle! Beedrill wins!" the referee's whistle confirmed what the audience already knew.
"Woooaaaahhh!!!"
The stadium exploded with cheers.
A single, decisive strike—Mega Venusaur had been defeated in an instant!
"Venusaur is down as well! Red is now down to his final Pokémon!" the announcer cried, his voice nearly cracking from excitement.
At last.
After a brutal exchange, both Yozora and Red had been whittled down to their final combatants.
"Go, Poliwrath!"
Red, face taut with pressure, sent out his last partner.
The rain poured heavier still.
The downpour empowered Poliwrath, but—could a weather boost truly match the force of Mega Evolution?
"Focus, Poliwrath! Hydro Pump!" Red's voice rang steady, brimming with discipline.
"Agility, Beedrill!" Yozora countered.
Hydro Pump after Hydro Pump tore across the battlefield, but Mega Beedrill was too swift, weaving closer with every heartbeat.
"Twineedle!" Yozora commanded with finality.
Beedrill had no need for tricks. Its twin lances were enough.
Whoosh!
Beedrill lunged forward, face-to-face with Poliwrath.
"Hydro Pump!"
The Water-type didn't back down. It unleashed a massive torrent, striking Beedrill head-on—piercing straight through its body!
But it was only a Substitute.
The real Beedrill was already behind Poliwrath, ready to strike.
…
…
(End of Chapter)