Metagross fell with a heavy thud.
Jasmine didn't look surprised.
Losing to a regional champion wasn't exactly shocking. Especially not someone who had swept the entire Indigo league without a single loss.
If anything, she was proud her Metagross had held its own so well pushing Blastoise to the brink, even if it hadn't been enough.
What she didn't know was that Kai's Blastoise hadn't fought in quite a while. Had she known, she might not have kept such a calm expression.
On Kai's end, it had hardly been an easy win. Metagross had hit hard and hit smart. If it weren't for Blastoise's natural bulk and type resistance, the outcome could've been very different.
But Pokémon battles aren't about "what-ifs." They're about decisions. Timing. Execution.
Jasmine accepted the result with grace and immediately sent out her second Pokémon.
"This one's up next!"
She tossed her next Poké Ball, and in a flash of blue light, a slim, upright Pokémon appeared its lithe figure resembling a canine warrior. Spikes protruded from its wrists and chest, and its blue-gray fur shimmered with restrained power.
Kai's eyes lit up in recognition.
'Lucario, huh? Didn't expect that.'
Lucario was one of the most popular Pokémon in the world for good reason. Strong, stylish, and capable of sensing aura. Honestly, Kai had always wanted one himself.
Who wouldn't want to be a full-on Aura Guardian?
He quickly pulled out his Pokédex.
> "Lucario, the Aura Pokémon. A Fighting and Steel type. Lucario can detect aura to read opponents' thoughts and predict movements. It understands human speech and can sense the emotions of those even kilometers away. It bonds only with trainers whose hearts are truly righteous."
Kai narrowed his eyes, recalling Blastoise into its Poké Ball. Time to make a careful choice.
Fighting/Steel was a dangerous combo. Great offense. Strong resistances. Up close, Lucario could shred through defenses with a flurry of precise, devastating strikes.
Kai's fingers hovered over his remaining Poké Balls.
Then he made his decision.
He picked up the Poké Ball with the flame insignia.
He tossed it and in a burst of brilliant light, his Charizard emerged.
With a beat of its wings, it took to the air and locked eyes with Lucario below.
The tension crackled instantly.
Two proud warriors. Two rivals destined to clash.
The referee raised his hand and brought it down sharply. "Battle—begin!"
Charizard exhaled a stream of white-hot flames from above.
"[Aura Sphere]!" Jasmine responded instantly.
Lucario charged up a glowing sphere of blue energy and hurled it skyward.
The two attacks collided midair fire and aura exploding in a shockwave that sent cinders and dust scattering across the arena.
The opening gambit ended in a draw.
Kai's eyes flicked upward. "Time to shift gears."
Charizard changed altitude, wings pumping faster, accelerating in a wide arc above the arena.
Charizard became a blur, slicing through the air toward Lucario.
This was no ordinary strike. The speed, the angle, the weight of the dive everything was calculated to break Lucario's guard.
But Jasmine was ready.
Lucario's eyes flashed as aura poured through its senses. To it, Charizard's rapid descent slowed each wingbeat, every feather, each breath playing out in slow motion.
At the last moment, Lucario sidestepped the incoming strike with precision.
As Charizard zipped past, Lucario grabbed its wing just for a second and used its own momentum to hurl it toward the side!
But Jasmine underestimated Kai's Charizard.
With a snap of its wings, Charizard twisted midair flipping the momentum.
Before Lucario could react, flames erupted from its scales.
Charizard rocketed back toward Lucario, body wreathed in fire.
Too fast. Too close. No escape.
Lucario took the hit head-on.
The arena shook as Lucario was blasted backward like a ragdoll.
"Lucario!" Jasmine called out in alarm.
Lucario slammed into the dirt, skidding across the battlefield before it struggled back to its feet, wincing in pain.
But the worst was yet to come.
Kai didn't miss a beat. "Now [Air Slash]!"
Charizard's wings gleamed as it launched two crescent-shaped blades of compressed air.
Jasmine shouted, "Dodge it—!"
Lucario tried to leap aside, but it stumbled.
Pain surged through its limbs.
It looked down and saw the faint red glow of a burn.
The Flare Blitz had left its mark.
Already exhausted from the impact, Lucario's body locked up from the pain.
The Air Slashes slammed into it one after the other.
Lucario hit the ground once more, breathing heavily, eyes flickering.
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