David Lindenberg smirked at the stranger, crossing his arms. "You wanted a battle here, and I'll admit, this is a hell of a setting."
Ramirez Epsilon turned his attention back to him, his excitement undiminished.
"How do you want to do this? Three-on-three?" David asked, cracking his knuckles.
"Why not?" the stranger nodded, though his gaze was still wandering around the chamber, lingering on the Pokémon and the glowing lava pools.
David strode to one side of the cavern, while Ramirez walked to the opposite end. The heat from the cave walls shimmered between them, giving the illusion that the air itself was shifting.
Eva Lindenberg stepped into the center, glancing between the two men. "All right. This will be a three-on-three match, with no substitutions allowed. First trainer to defeat all three of their opponent's Pokémon wins."
She paused, making sure both men were ready.
"Begin!"
David pulled a Pokéball from his belt and tossed it forward. "Let's start simple. Lickitung, you're up!"
In a burst of white light, a stout, pinkish creature materialized on the battlefield. Lickitung stood on short, thick legs, its round body covered in smooth, rubbery skin. Its stubby arms ended in three-fingered hands, and its small, beady eyes gave it a somewhat vacant expression. But the most striking feature was its tongue—an enormous, slimy appendage nearly as long as its body, flicking out briefly before curling back in.
===
Lickitung
Level: 48 to 49
Name: N/A
Gender: Male
Type: Normal
Affinity: Normal (Full), Rock (Advanced)
Moves: Lick (47 to 49), Defense Curl (44 to 45), Zen Headbutt (47), Power Whip (47), Rollout (46 to 49), Disable (42), Belly Drum (41), Hyper Beam (41 to 43), Double-edge (41), Giga Impact (39), Mega Punch (43), Ice Punch (41), Dig (40), Rock Slide (40), Snore (38), Protect (46), Brutal Swing (38), Thunderbolt (42), Earthquake (37), Work Up (44), Brick Break (38)
Abilities:
Own Tempo – Lickitung cannot be confused or affected by Intimidate
Oblivious – Lickitung cannot be influenced by Attract, Taunt, Captivate
Weak to: Fighting
Immune to: Ghost
Resistant to: None
===
The Fire-types lounging around barely reacted, though a Magby nearby cast a lazy glance at the newcomer.
On the other side of the cavern, Epsilon grinned and reached into his coat. "Interesting choice. Now, let's turn up the heat." He tossed his Pokéball forward. "Let's go, Arcanine!"
The Pokéball burst open, revealing a massive, regal canine cloaked in a thick mane of orange fur, striped with bold black markings. Its muscular frame exuded both power and grace, and when it landed, its large paws kicked up a small cloud of dust. A pair of sharp fangs gleamed as it let out a deep, rumbling growl, followed by a fierce bark that echoed through the cavern. Its tail flicked behind it, a plume of cream-colored fur swaying like fire itself.
Epsilon adjusted his sunglasses, his grin widening. "A battle of endurance, then? Let's see how well your Normal-type holds up against my Arcanine's speed and fire."
Eva flicked her wrist, subtly tapping the scanner device built into her wristwatch. The Arcanine's data flashed onto the small screen—a seasoned Pokémon, with estimated level between 55 and 60. Not an overwhelming advantage, but enough to make things difficult for David's Lickitung, who sat at level 49.
"At least it's not a Lunatone. This is going to be interesting," she thought.
David, meanwhile, wasn't wasting time on scans. His eyes were locked on Arcanine, reading its stance and subtle movements. It was fast—he could tell that much already—but he wasn't about to back down.
"Lickitung, Work Up!"
Lickitung let out a deep, guttural sound as its body tensed, a reddish aura flaring around it. Its muscles flexed, its tongue flicking out in anticipation of the coming fight. The Fire-types lounging nearby stirred slightly, their attention drawn to the battle. Particularly the small Magby, no bigger than a soccer ball, toddled closer, its big round eyes locked onto Epsilon's Arcanine with curiosity.
Ramirez smirked. "Boosting yourself? Fine, let's match that. Arcanine, Howl!"
Arcanine threw back its head and let out a fierce, resonating howl. The cavern walls amplified the sound, making it seem as if a whole pack of Arcanine were calling out at once. Its muscles visibly tensed, its body brimming with newfound power. The flames along its back flickered more intensely.
Eva raised an eyebrow. "They're both setting up—this could get explosive fast."
David was the first to act. "Lick, go!"
Lickitung lunged forward with surprising speed, its long, wet tongue snapping outward like a whip. It smacked across Arcanine's snout with a sharp slap, leaving behind a thin trail of saliva. Arcanine growled, shaking its head in mild disgust, but it seemed only a little affected, certainly not paralyzed.
"Flame Wheel!" Epsilon countered instantly.
Arcanine's body ignited in a swirling blaze as it dashed forward, its whole form becoming a rolling fireball. Lickitung barely had time to react before the massive canine barreled into it, sending the pink Pokémon skidding backward across the rocky floor.
David gritted his teeth. That hit hard. "Defense Curl, then Rollout!"
Lickitung tucked in its limbs and curled into a tight ball, its skin momentarily hardening. Then, with a sudden burst of momentum, it rolled forward like a living pink boulder.
"Extreme Speed!" Epsilon snapped.
Arcanine became a blur. One second, it was in front of Lickitung; the next, it was behind it, evading the rolling attack entirely. The Fire Pokémon circled the battlefield at dizzying speed, kicking up dust and embers with each step.
David frowned. "That speed… he's much faster than Rollout."
Lickitung adjusted, trying to angle itself toward Arcanine, but the larger Pokémon was simply too quick. Epsilon crossed his arms confidently. "You're not going to land a hit like that."
David clenched his fist. Time to break that speed advantage. "Disable, now!"
Lickitung skidded to a stop and its eyes glowed blue. A faint shimmer surrounded Arcanine, ready to lock away its most recently used move—Extreme Speed.
But Epsilon saw it coming. "Taunt!"
Arcanine let out a low, mocking growl, its fangs bared in a smirk. Lickitung flinched, its Disable attempt failing as frustration overtook it. The level of Arcanine's Taunt must have been over the level of Lickitung's Disable.
David cursed under his breath. Taunt would prevent Lickitung from using anything but attacking moves for a while. "Alright then, we'll fight fire with fire! Lickitung, Thunderbolt!"
A sharp crackle filled the air as yellow electricity surged across Lickitung's body. It unleashed the attack in a bright arc, the bolt streaking toward Arcanine.
"Dodge and use Flamethrower!"
Arcanine leapt aside, the Thunderbolt barely missing. It retaliated instantly, releasing a stream of searing flames. Lickitung braced itself, but the blast slammed into it, sending it tumbling backward. The pink Pokémon groaned, shaking off the residual heat.
David had to change the tide. He pointed toward the cavern ceiling. "Rock Slide!"
Lickitung stomped the ground, sending shockwaves through the rocky cavern. A cluster of boulders appeared near the ceiling of the cave, and came crashing down toward Arcanine.
"Agility, get clear!"
Arcanine darted to the side with blinding speed, avoiding most of the falling debris—but one medium-sized rock clipped its hind leg, making it stagger. David saw his opening.
"Earthquake, now!"
Lickitung slammed the ground with its tail. A deep tremor rippled through the cave, shaking the floor violently. Arcanine yelped as the unstable terrain threw it off balance, forcing it to dig its claws in to stay upright.
Epsilon grinned. "Not bad. But let's keep this up."
David smirked. "Agreed."
Both trainers locked eyes, knowing the battle was far from over. The Fire-types watching around them, including the little Magby, leaned in eagerly, captivated by the fierce exchange.
The battle raged on, the cavern glowing with the flickering light of Arcanine's flames and the crackling of Lickitung's Thunderbolts. The surrounding Fire-types had fully turned their attention to the fight, some shifting closer for a better view, while the small Magby toddled even nearer to Epsilon, eyes wide with fascination.
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!" Ramirez commanded, his voice steady and confident.
A stream of scorching fire erupted from Arcanine's mouth, rushing toward Lickitung.
"Rollout, move through it!" David countered.
Lickitung curled into a ball and spun forward, tearing through the flames. It emerged on the other side singed but determined, rolling straight for Arcanine.
"Extreme Speed!"
Arcanine blurred, vanishing from its spot. Lickitung shot past, hitting only air as Arcanine reappeared at its side, slamming into it with brutal force. Lickitung skidded across the cavern floor, groaning as it struggled to right itself.
David was watching closely, his expression unreadable—until he noticed the faint glow on Lickitung's body. That hit did more than damage—it burned.
Eva noticed it too. "Poor Lickitung, he is burned! This is bad news for Dave," she frowned.
David exhaled sharply. Burn was bad—it meant Lickitung's physical attacks would be weaker, and the constant chip damage would wear it down even faster.
"Alright, let's go big then." David decided to use super-effective move.
"Rock Slide!"
Lickitung slammed its tail into the ground. More boulders appeared near the cavern ceiling, tumbling down toward Arcanine.
"Jump back to dodge, Arcanine!"
Arcanine bounded backward, avoiding most of the falling rocks—but one clipped its flank, making it stagger. David's eyes flicked to the walls. Something was wrong.
A few of the looser rocks on the ceiling were shifting too much. The ground beneath them trembled slightly—not from the battle, but from the cave itself.
David's breath caught.
The cave is unstable.
His mind flashed back to the day before, when Jake, Monika, and Petr had been caught in a cave-in. That was not something he wanted to repeat.
"No more Rock Slide or Earthquake. Dammit."
He had to switch tactics.
Lickitung was still trying to keep up, but Arcanine was simply too fast. Every time it rolled in, Arcanine dashed away or countered with a well-placed Flamethrower.
David clenched his jaw. "Lickitung, stop moving."
Epsilon raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Lickitung stopped rolling, standing still in the center of the battlefield. Its burn was still taking its toll, but it steadied itself, tongue flicking out slightly.
Epsilon didn't hesitate. "Flare Blitz!"
Arcanine roared as its entire body ignited in flames, launching itself forward like a comet. The move was powerful, and Lickitung just stood there, seemingly waiting for impact.
Then, just as Arcanine was about to collide—
"Lick!"
Lickitung's tongue snapped out with lightning speed, slamming into Arcanine's face with a wet smack. The fiery beast skidded to a halt, its legs suddenly wobbling.
Eva's eyes focused and she grinned. "Paralysis. Nice."
Arcanine let out a surprised growl, its body trembling as the paralysis took hold. Its movements became sluggish, its limbs momentarily locking up. And then the recoil damage from Flare Blitz injured it.
David grinned.
"Got you!"
"Power Whip, go!"
Lickitung's long tongue retracted, then shot out again, glowing green with raw power. It struck Arcanine with tremendous force, sending the larger Pokémon stumbling back.
Another Power Whip. Then another. Each impact sent tremors through Arcanine's body, forcing it further and further back.
Epsilon's smirk wavered slightly. He wasn't worried—Arcanine could take a hit—but this trainer was good.
Then, as Lickitung went for the final Power Whip—
"Fire Fang!"
Before the tongue could land, Arcanine snapped its jaws forward with incredible speed, biting down hard on the incoming appendage.
Lickitung let out a screech as Arcanine's fangs flared with intense fire. The flames spread across its tongue like dry grass catching an ember.
Then—BOOM.
Lickitung was engulfed in an explosion of fire. The cavern flashed red and orange as the force of the attack sent the pink Pokémon flying backward, rolling limply across the rocky ground. Smoke billowed into the air.
Eva shielded her eyes from the blast. When the dust settled—
Arcanine was still standing, panting heavily, its legs shaking slightly from exhaustion.
Lickitung lay on its back, completely still.
Eva took a breath before announcing the end of the first round. "Lickitung is unable to battle! The first round goes to Epsilon and his Arcanine!"
David crossed his arms, exhaling through his nose. "That Fire Fang was nasty," he muttered.
Epsilon grinned, resting a hand on his hip. "Told you, I'm not a rookie trainer."
David smirked. "This guy… he's good."
But the battle has just begun.
He reached for his next Pokéball. "Alright, time for round two."
David grinned as he recalled Lickitung, giving the Pokéball a small shake before clipping it back to his belt. "That was a damn good round," he admitted, looking at Ramirez with a smirk. "But let's see how you handle fighting against another fire type."
He grabbed his next Pokéball, tossing it high into the air. As it burst open, a massive, three-headed canine landed with a heavy thud, shaking the cavern floor slightly.
The Pokémon before them was a terrifying sight—a further evolution of Houndoom. Its three heads snarled, revealing razor-sharp fangs, while its two whip-like tails flicked behind it. A white, bone-like exoskeleton wrapped around its body, resembling ribs, but the most striking feature was the way flames burned between those bones, flickering like a hellish furnace.
Houndemon had arrived.
===
Houndemon
Level: 66
Name: Fluffy
Gender: Female
Type: Dark / Fire
Affinity: Dark (Full), Fire (Full), Poison (Advanced)
Moves: Nasty Plot (61 to 62), Thunder Fang (58), Poison Fang (62), Leer (59), Howl (64), Bite (64), Incinerate (62), Foul Play (56 to 57), Flamethrower (64), Taunt (53 to 55), Inferno (55), Toxic (63), Tri-Attack (48 to 53), Mud Shot (62), Protect (60), Energy Ball (55), Snarl (59), Flame Charge (62), Psychic Fangs (60), Dark Pulse (64), Shadow Ball (63), Sludge Wave (61 to 63), Hyper Beam (55), Throat Chop (56)
Abilities:
Flash Fire – If hit by Fire-type move, Houndemon absorbs the flames and use them to power up its own Fire-type moves
Unnerve – Unnerves opposing Pokémon and makes them unable to eat berries
Weak to: Fighting, Rock, (Water, Ground)
Immune: Psychic, Fire (Flash Fire ability)
Resistant to: Ghost, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dark
Weakness removed: Water, Ground
===
Eva was about to raise her hand to announce the start of the battle, but before she could speak, Epsilon suddenly shouted.
"BY ALL THE LEGENDS, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE ONE IN MY LIFE!"
His voice echoed through the cavern, startling even some of the watching Fire-types. His face lit up with pure excitement as he took a step forward, his eyes wide with wonder. "I've only read about Houndemon! I knew it was theoretically possible, but to see one—here, in Bohemia!"
Eva and David both exchanged a glance. They had expected some kind of reaction, but this level of enthusiasm? This wasn't the response of just any experienced trainer.
This was the reaction of a scientist.
Ramirez continued, his voice practically bubbling over with enthusiasm. "Its skeletal armor structure—those flame channels running through its ribs—this is beyond fascinating! Does it naturally generate the excess heat to fuel its own fire attacks? How much stronger is its bite force compared to Houndoom? Is it more intelligent than other creatures giving its three brains? Have you tested its maximum speed?!"
David chuckled, shaking his head. "I get the feeling you're more interested in my Pokémon than the actual battle."
Epsilon straightened up, clearing his throat, though his grin didn't fade. "Right, right, I'm getting ahead of myself. But still, this is incredible encounter."
Eva, meanwhile, was watching Fluffy with a hopeful expression. She had already run a mental assessment of the battle ahead. Fluffy had several advantages:
Flash Fire Ability – If Arcanine tried any Fire-type attack, it would only power up Houndemon's own flames. That alone put Epsilon at a disadvantage.
Poison-Type Moves – Houndemon wasn't just Fire and Dark type, it also had a good affinity for Poison-type moves that could slow Arcanine down and wear it out.
Higher level – Unlike Lickitung, Houndemon was on higher level and most importantly, she was fresh and ready to battle.
This round should be in David's favor.
She glanced at her husband, who was still grinning confidently.
"Alright," Eva finally said, raising her hand again. "Round two—BEGIN!"
And so the doggo versus doggo battle started.
The moment Eva gave the signal to start, Houndemon wasted no time. Unlike Lickitung, who had followed David's commands to the letter, Fluffy was excited to battle and to avenge her pink round friend. She acted on instinct, a living embodiment of battle-hardened intelligence.
Her three heads moved independently, each preparing a different move. Her left head narrowed its eyes, a sinister glint flickering in them as Leer took effect. A deep, unsettling pressure filled the cavern, making even the wild Fire-types watching from the sidelines stir uneasily. The intensity of her gaze sent an involuntary shudder through Arcanine, lowering its defenses.
Her right head lifted toward the ceiling, lips curled into a wicked grin as it let out a Howl—a chilling, predatory sound that echoed off the rocky walls, boosting her attack power. The flickering flames in the cave seemed to shudder in response.
Her central head remained still, its eyes closed in concentration as a malicious energy surrounded it. This was Nasty Plot, a dark, simmering aura wrapping around her as she sharpened her mind for an even greater offensive strike.
Eva watched with an curious gaze, her arms crossed. Houndemon was showing its frightening efficiency. It was rare for a Pokémon to execute multiple setup moves so seamlessly, let alone without hesitation. Even Epsilon seemed momentarily frozen, awestruck by what he was witnessing.
"Three moves at once? This is beyond my imagination. I've seen Dodrio do that, but Dodrio is not as rare as this Pokémon..."
Arcanine, despite its exhaustion from the previous battle, attempted another Taunt to lock Houndemon into offensive moves. But it was too slow.
The force of Leer and Howl combined—one lowering defenses, the other filling the cavern with an apex predator's presence—disrupted Arcanine's concentration. The attack fizzled out, and the great kantonian beast staggered backward slightly, paws scraping against the stone.
David smirked. Fluffy wasn't just strong—she was calculated.
"Go!" he said just one word.
With its stat boosts secured, the cerberus-like monster launched into its attack.
All three heads opened their maws simultaneously. The left and right heads fired off twin bursts of thick, clumpy mud like beams—a devastating Mud Shot, which had a side effect of slowing Arcanine's movements. Meanwhile the central head expelled a deep violet wave of sludge, spreading across the battlefield in a toxic flood. Sludge Wave.
The combined assault was brutal.
Arcanine tried to dodge, but the Mud Shot hit squarely on its front legs and in its face, coating its fur and making its movements sluggish. The Sludge Wave followed almost instantly, washing over Arcanine and soaking into its wounds, sending venomous toxins into its system.
Eva raised an eyebrow as she watched Epsilon's reaction—or lack thereof. He was just staring, utterly fascinated by the sheer ferocity and efficiency of Houndemon's battle style.
"Fascinating… Absolutely fascinating…" Ramirez muttered, as if studying a legendary creature in the wild.
David, too, was taken aback. Fluffy was going all-in, hunting like a true predator.
Not wasting a second, Houndemon lunged forward. Her middle head snapped onto Arcanine's neck, fangs sinking deep. Arcanine let out a pained growl, trying to shake her off.
But then, the left head struck, clamping down onto Arcanine's flank—this time, electricity crackled between its teeth.
Thunder Fang.
A sharp yelp echoed through the cave as paralysis surged through Arcanine's body.
"Hold on, Fluffy!" David called, watching as his Pokémon continued to sink her fangs in deeper, shaking her prey like a hunting beast.
Her right head, meanwhile, was already preparing another Nasty Plot, further boosting her strength. She was getting stronger by the second.
For a moment, it seemed like Arcanine was about to collapse under the relentless assault. But then, finally, Epsilon's trainer instincts kicked in.
"Extreme Speed, NOW!"
Arcanine snapped out of its daze, its body glowing with a surge of power. With a desperate effort, it tore itself from Houndemon's grasp.
The sound was sickening—flesh ripped, and tufts of fur, even bits of skin, were left hanging between Fluffy's powerful jaws.
Eva winced, visibly cringing at the brutal sight.
"Poor doggie…" she muttered under her breath looking at heavily injured Arcanine, dripping with blood from flank and neck.
But the cerberus was far from done.
The moment Arcanine tried to use another Extreme Speed, closing in for a desperate counterattack, but Fluffy was ready. She had already opened all three of her maws once more.
This time, she unleashed Sludge Wave at full force, the venomous surge crashing directly into the charging Arcanine.
A loud boom echoed through the cavern as Arcanine was hit once again and subsequently drenched in toxins, taking even more damage.
Epsilon grit his teeth. "Morning Sun, NOW!"
Arcanine struggled to lift its head, glowing faintly as it began to recover…
Fluffy growled, ready to pounce on the Arcanine again. But then—
David raised a hand. "Hold on."
Fluffy blinked with an expression like "What?"
David's smirk widened. "Take a breath. Let them recover a bit. We should enjoy this."
Ramirez stared at him with curious expression, then looked at Houndemon—who stood proudly, licking Arcanine's blood from her fangs.
Even in the middle of battle, she still flicked her tails playfully, barking once in agreement.
The fight was far from over.
As the battle momentarily paused, Fluffy stood in place, her three heads moving in sync. The cavern air vibrated with tension.
Then, she let out another deep, resonating Howl, the sound reverberating off the walls like a war cry. Her presence seemed to expand, her muscles tensing, flames between her rib-like exoskeleton burning brighter. The fire within her ribs no longer flickered—it roared.
At the same time, her right head shut its eyes, tendrils of dark energy swirling around it as she performed Nasty Plot once again. Her dark aura grew thicker, shadows curling at her feet like a living force, increasing her power to a dangerous degree.
Epsilon, however, wasn't idle.
"Morning Sun, again!" he commanded, his voice calm but firm.
Arcanine tilted its head skyward, glowing with an almost divine light. The golden glow mended some of its wounds, but no matter how much energy it regained, the deep purple poison still pulsed in its veins, undoing much of the healing.
Eva observed this with a knowing smirk. Healing is nice, but poison lingers.
"Too bad Morning Sun doesn't get rid of poison." Ramirez shrugged. Despite his words, he didn't sound disappointed. In fact, he seemed genuinely thrilled. His Arcanine shook itself, chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. It was on still its last legs.
Epsilon took a deep breath, eyes shining with reckless, almost mad excitement.
"But it doesn't matter. Let's go out with a bang!"
At the exact moment Arcanine ended its Morning Sun, Houndemon finished her final stat boosts.
The temperature in the cave spiked.
Fluffy's three heads lowered slightly, her middle head opening its maw to reveal dripping saliva—except it wasn't normal drool.
The liquid glowed red-hot, like molten glass, sizzling as it dripped onto the rocky ground below. Each drop hissed violently, tiny embers sparking from the intense heat.
She growled in challenge, fangs bared, tails flicking eagerly.
Arcanine threw back its own head and let out a powerful howl, activating Extreme Speed. It blurred forward, body stretching into a streak of gold fur and pure speed.
"Now—Flare Blitz!"
Epsilon's command was sharp and final.
The running Arcanine burst into flames—a blinding red inferno engulfing its form. The heat from the attack wilted the nearby rock formations, melting some of the icicle-like stalacmites rising from the cavern ground Arcanine ran along.
But then—something changed.
The fire burning around Arcanine shifted from red to blue.
A white-hot blaze, hotter than anything seen before, consumed the great beast.
Eva's eyes widened. "That's no ordinary Flare Blitz."
David, however, smiled.
"Brace yourself!"
Fluffy crouched slightly, but she wasn't afraid. Arcanine slammed into Houndemon at full speed.
The collision was catastrophic. A massive explosion erupted, shaking the entire cavern as dust, smoke, and embers filled the air in a firestorm. Rocks trembled, and cracks splintered across the floor.
For several long seconds, nothing was visible.
Then, the smoke cleared.
And there they were.
Arcanine was barely standing, legs shaking, its once-proud golden fur now scorched and matted. Even with all its strength, it had taken too much damage from exhaustion, poison, and recoil.
Meanwhile, Fluffy stood tall—completely unharmed.
Not only had she activated Protect just in time to absorb the brunt of the impact, but the moment the barrier shattered, she had allowed the Arcanine's flames to wash over her.
And thanks to her Flash Fire ability, the attack only served to fuel her power further.
She grinned. Her body pulsed with raw energy, embers licking at her skeletal frame like a demon reveling in chaos.
David grinned. "Finish this."
But—
"Wait!" Epsilon called suddenly, lifting a hand.
David raised an eyebrow and Fluffy growled in annoyance.
"I forfeit Arcanine. He's too tired. He wouldn't stand a chance now."
Eva, standing at the center of the battlefield, nodded in acknowledgment.
"The fight between Houndemon and Arcanine is over. The winner is Houndemon."
Epsilon smiled warmly, pulling out a Pokéball.
"You did well, my friend. Have a long, good rest." He pressed the button, and with a flicker of red light, Arcanine was recalled.
The cavern fell into a momentary hush.
Then, Epsilon turned his gaze to David, and his grin widened.
"This is fun. But let's go on." His voice was filled with undeniable excitement.
"I'm interested in seeing what else this three-headed miracle can do."
With a fluid motion, he tossed his second Pokéball high into the air.
It burst open, light spilling forth—
And a powerful Pokémon materialized in front of them.
The cavern was immediately illuminated by a warm, golden glow.
A massive moth-like Pokémon hovered in midair, its six crimson-and-gold wings slowly beating, sending ripples of heatwaves through the cave.
Its body was covered in ivory-white fuzz, almost regal in its elegance, and its piercing blue eyes burned with intelligence and power. The air around it shimmered as if a constant dome of heat surrounded it.
Volcarona.
Eva's eyes widened in excitement as she was very fond of bug-types. "WOW! That's some opponent!I know that some people even consider it pseudo-legendary Pokémon!"
Magby, who had been quietly watching Ramirez Epsilon with fascination, let out a tiny chirp of amazement, eyes wide as saucers. Almost as wide as Eva's.
Epsilon smirked, crossing his arms. "The sun never truly sets, Mr. Lindenberg. Let's see how your Houndemon handles the flame of a god."
David chuckled darkly, patting Fluffy on the side.
"Oh, we're just getting started."
Eva stepped forward, raising her hand. "Trainers, get ready!" Her voice echoed through the cavern, bouncing off the heated rock walls.
She took a moment to aimed her watch at the large moth creature, her fingers moving swiftly across the display as she scanned Volcarona. The readout appeared, and her eyebrows shot up.
"Level 75?" she murmured under her breath, "poor Fluffy is only level 66..."
She had expected a strong Pokémon—but this monstrosity??
"This is going to be interesting…"
Volcarona's wings flickered like embers in a forge, its presence alone radiating intense heat and power.
David, unfazed, clenched his fists. "Fluffy, let's start this!"
Houndemon snarled, her three heads snapping forward in perfect unison as she opened all three of her powerful jaws.
A wave of putrid, shimmering purple sludge erupted from her middle head, forming into a dark, noxious Sludge Wave that surged toward Volcarona.
But Epsilon had learned from their previous battle.
He smirked. "Burn it down!"
Volcarona's fiery aura flared up, its body pulsing with intense heat.
Without hesitation, it unleashed a spiraling vortex of flame in front of it—a Fire Spin so powerful that it expanded outward like a raging inferno.
The approaching Sludge Wave was swallowed whole, the toxic liquid sizzling into nothingness as it was devoured by the firestorm.
David frowned, watching as the flames danced in front of Volcarona.
"So, that's how he wants to play it."
He quickly analyzed his opponent, running through Volcarona's known weaknesses in his mind.
"Hmm, Volcarona is weak to Water, Flying, and Rock moves… assuming it still has all its weaknesses. But Fluffy knows none of those move types. Damn. We're going to have to outmaneuver it another way."
Epsilon's smirk deepened.
"Let's attack!"
The moment his words left his lips, Volcarona's wings flared up in a dazzling burst of light, and without warning, it released a massive, spiraling Hurricane.
The wind howled, sending waves of heated air ripping through the cavern, lifting dust, debris, and loose embers into the air. The sheer force of the attack made even the surrounding lava pools ripple from the pressure.
David's eyes widened.
Not just because of the move itself and its raw strength—but because of how quickly Volcarona had conjured it.
"Protect! Then get closer and use Toxic!" David commanded, his voice steady despite the sheer power being hurled at them.
Fluffy reacted instantly.
Her three heads snapped shut for a brief second before her entire body was enveloped in a translucent blue barrier.
The Hurricane struck like a raging storm, but the Protect held firm, the energy shield absorbing the impact.
Through the wind and debris, David caught something.
Volcarona… wasn't stopping.
Eva narrowed her eyes. "What is it doing? It's fueling energy into Hurricane and preparing another move at the same time? That's really something!!"
Volcarona hovered gracefully in the air, its wings beating in slow, deliberate rhythms.
And then—it started boosting.
Its entire body glowed with a mystical aura as it performed Quiver Dance.
David's jaw tightened.
"That's not good."
Volcarona's Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense all rose at once.
But it didn't stop there.
With a single flick of its wings, it started another Quiver Dance.
Its movements became even faster, its body now radiating an eerie brilliance as if it were becoming one with the flames around it.
And yet—the Hurricane was still raging. It was one of the strongest Flying-type moves and Houndemon was still struggling against it.
Volcarona was holding the move effortlessly while stacking buffs on top of itself.
Fluffy growled, feeling the weight of the storm trying to force her back.
David clenched his fists.
If they let this continue, Volcarona would soon become an unstoppable force.
They had to act—now.
David knew he had to move fast. If he gave Volcarona even a few more seconds, it would become unstoppable.
"Fluffy, Snarl!" he commanded.
Houndemon released her Protect, her three heads snapping open in unison as she unleashed a powerful, guttural voice-based move.
The soundwaves ripped through the air, dark energy distorting the battlefield as they slammed into Volcarona.
The massive moth staggered mid-air, its shimmering wings momentarily flickering.
But Epsilon was ready.
He had already figured out that Fire-type moves were useless, and his Bug-type attacks wouldn't be very effective either.
That left him with other options.
The moment Snarl broke its concentration, Volcarona shimmered—and then split into two.
A Substitute clone appeared in front of it, hovering like a shadowy doppelgänger.
David's eyes narrowed. "Damn… Now we have to hit the real one."
But before he could react—
"Attack! Wild Charge!" Epsilon called.
Volcarona flared with crackling electric energy and dove like a bolt of lightning, striking from multiple angles in rapid succession.
Fluffy snapped her maws, trying to land a Toxic, but—
FWOOSH!
Volcarona erupted another Fire Spin, the swirling inferno burning away the poison before it could land.
"Dual Wingbeat!"
Volcarona's wings pulsed with flying-type energy, and in the next instant, they battered against Fluffy in a flurry of rapid strikes.
Fluffy growled in frustration, trying to snap her jaws around the massive moth, but Volcarona's speed was overwhelming.
David clenched his fists.
He needed to take back control.
Then in one moment, the attacking Volcarona appeared right in front of Houndemon's left head.
"Now's our chance—Foul Play!"
A dark aura surrounded Fluffy's fangs, and this time, when Volcarona swooped in for another hit, Fluffy struck.
Her jaws locked onto one of Volcarona's attacking wings, crunching down with savage force.
Then, with a sharp twist, she spun in mid-air and slammed Volcarona into the ground.
The impact sent dust and embers flying, and Volcarona let out a screech of pain—not only taking damage, but also being hurt by its own boosted strength.
"Follow up—Tri Attack!"
Fluffy launched three beams of crackling energy—one red-hot, one icy blue, and one electrified yellow—straight at the fallen Volcarona.
Direct hit.
Or so they thought.
The Volcarona disintegrated right in front of their eyes upon being hit by Tri-Attack.
David's eyes widened in realization.
The real Volcarona hadn't taken the hit.
The Substitute had.
A shadow flickered above them.
The real Volcarona was already moving.
It glowed with wild, uncontrolled energy, its wings flaring violently as it dove in an unpredictable spiral.
"Thrash!"
Volcarona crashed into Fluffy, again and again, its body moving in a relentless, chaotic assault.
Fluffy snarled, trying to catch it, but the overwhelming force of the attack left her unable to get a proper hold.
Epsilon's voice rang out. "Keep it up!"
Fluffy was struggling now.
David gritted his teeth. "Damn it… I have to stop this—"
"Get out of there! Use Protect!"
But it was too late.
One final brutal strike from Volcarona sent Fluffy crashing into the ground, unmoving.
Eva raised her hand.
"Houndemon is unable to battle. Volcarona is the winner."
David exhaled slowly.
Fluffy had fought hard. Harder than ever.
He reached for her Pokéball and pressed the recall button. A red beam enveloped the knocked out cerberus, pulling her back into the sphere.
David held the ball for a moment, then whispered,
"Thank you, Fluffy. You did amazing."
He clipped it back onto his belt and turned his gaze toward Epsilon.
The battle wasn't over yet.
David still had another Pokémon left.
David's fingers hovered over his Pokéballs, his mind racing.
"Marcel the Ambipom is fast—but has not enough super-effective moves. I would have to rely on Metronome. And I don't want to do that. Meganium is at a double disadvantage—no way. Samurott? No, he's too slow."
He needed something swift. Something that could dodge Volcarona's overwhelming power and strike back from unexpected angles.
A small smirk crossed his face as he made his choice.
"I choose you!"
He hurled the Pokéball into the air.
It burst open with a flash of white light, and from it emerged a Pokémon with a graceful flutter—
A Swoobat.
===
Swoobat
Level: 69
Name: N/A
Gender: Male
Type: Psychic / Flying
Affinity: Psychic (Full), Flying (Full)
Moves: Gust (65 to 67), Attract (51 to 53), Confusion (67), Air Cutter (67), Imprison (46), Sky Attack (63), Calm Mind (50 to 55), Future Sight (44), Hyper Beam (48), Thunder Wave (52 to 53), Light Screen (55), Reflect (54), Snore (44), Steel Wing (53), Fake Tears (46), Psycho Cut (58), Trick Room (59), Acrobatics (64), Baton Pass (48), Tailwind (49), Psycho Shift (53), Supersonic (47 to 48), Roost (48 to 49), Signal Beam (43), Teleport (16 to 20)
Abilities:
Unaware – When attacking, Swoobat ignores the target's stat changes
Simple – Doubles the effects of the Swoobat's stat changes
Weak to: Rock, Ghost, Electric, Ice, Dark
Immune to: Ground
Resistant to: Fighting (double), Grass, Psychic
===
The bat Pokémon hovered effortlessly, its silky blue fur shimmering under the battle arena's lights.
A pair of large, heart-shaped nostrils twitched, taking in the scent of the battlefield.
Its wings stretched wide, a delicate combination of inky black and navy blue, their edges flickering slightly with every tiny motion.
The Swoobat's furred chest puffed up, its tiny body deceptively small compared to the broad wingspan that carried it through the air with ease.
Its eyes sparkled with intelligence, a mischievous glint hidden behind its seemingly cute and harmless expression.
But David knew better.
Beneath that charming demeanor, Swoobat was a specialist in aerial combat and mental trickery.
Epsilon grinned as he eyed David's choice.
"Interesting. You're betting on speed now?"
David smirked without any word.
"Let's see if you can keep up."
Eva raised her hand.
"Battle, continue!"
As soon as Swoobat took flight, David wasted no time.
"Calm Mind! Fake Tears!"
Swoobat closed its bright, intelligent eyes, its body relaxing midair as a soft glow of psychic energy surrounded it. Calm Mind was a move of focus and discipline, sharpening its special attack and special defense in preparation for the coming storm.
Then, just as quickly, Swoobat's eyes snapped open, shimmering with overexaggerated sorrow. Its body trembled, and it let out an almost pitiful whimper—Fake Tears.
Though Swoobat looked heartbroken, David knew the truth: it was all an act. Fake Tears sharply lowered Volcarona's special defense, making it more vulnerable to Swoobat's upcoming attacks.
But Epsilon was no fool.
"Quiver Dance!"
Again, Volcarona twirled in midair, wings shimmering with fire and energy, moving with hypnotic grace. Its special attack, special defense, and speed all rose once again.
David's eyes narrowed. He was letting Volcarona get too strong.
"Fly up and use Future Sight!"
Swoobat shot upward, high into the arena's airspace, its eyes glowing with psychic power. A faint, ominous pulse rippled through the battlefield, marking the invisible countdown before a powerful psychic attack would land on Volcarona.
But there was no time to celebrate.
"Wild Charge!" Epsilon commanded.
Electricity surged around Volcarona's body as it launched itself forward, aiming directly for Swoobat.
David clenched his fists. Volcarona was faster. Too fast.
"Dodge it! Use Acrobatics!" David shouted.
Swoobat twisted and spun, performing aerial pirouettes and wild barrel rolls, but no matter how gracefully it dodged, Volcarona kept closing the gap—its Quiver Dance boosts making it unstoppable.
"Reflect!" David yelled desperately.
A shimmering, mirror-like barriers formed in midair just as Volcarona slammed into it.
The first three barriers shattered instantly, but the impact slowed Volcarona down—if only slightly.
"Again!" both trainers yelled at the same time.
Volcarona powered up another Wild Charge, its wings crackling with blue sparks, and Swoobat summoned another Reflect.
The chase continued.
Volcarona, an electric comet streaking through the air.
Swoobat, a nimble ghost, slipping through every gap.
Every time Volcarona charged, Swoobat would twist away, placing a Reflect barrier between them. Every time Volcarona broke through, Swoobat would answer with an Acrobatics dodge, diving through the air like a professional stunt flier.
Swoobat even used Gust, whipping up sudden air currents to knock Volcarona slightly off course, disrupting its deadly precision.
The game of cat and mouse stretched on.
Then, suddenly, Swoobat stopped.
It simply flapped its wings, hovering in place, its small body unmoving as Volcarona raced around it at breakneck speed—a fiery jet of destruction.
Epsilon's grin widened.
"What are you gonna do now, Mr. Lindenberg?"
David smirked.
"Hold onto you hat, fire wizard. Trick Room!"
Swoobat's eyes flashed, and the entire battlefield warped.
The air rippled like disturbed water, as if reality itself had been flipped upside down. A strange, heavy silence filled the arena for a brief second—
—then everything changed.
Volcarona, which had zoomed across the battlefield at blinding speeds, suddenly slowed to a crawl. Its movements became sluggish, as if it were flying through molasses.
Meanwhile, Swoobat began zipping through the air like a bullet.
Epsilon's grin disappeared.
Eva's eyes widened in realization.
"David... waited for this. That's why he let Epsilon used Quiver Dance so many times before using the Trick Room."
He could have used Trick Room earlier, but instead, he let Volcarona boost its speed over and over again.
The faster Volcarona became, the more devastating the Trick Room would be.
Now, instead of being the fastest thing in the battle, Volcarona was the slowest.
Even the small Magby, sitting behind Epsilon, stared at the battlefield in shock, its tiny mouth hanging open in awe.
Epsilon clenched his fists.
"Damn... That was smart," he nodded with an honest expression.
"But I expected nothing less from a Frontier Brain!"
"Acrobatics!"
David's command rang through the cavern, and Swoobat became a blur.
This time, it wasn't using the move for dodging.
This time, it was attacking.
The blue bat glowed with flying-type energy, and with the full force of Trick Room's reversal, it shot through the air at blistering speed.
Volcarona, once a flame of untouchable speed, was now helplessly sluggish.
It tried to follow Swoobat's movements with its six glowing red eyes, but they couldn't keep up.
Then, the first strike landed.
A streak of blue and silver smashed into Volcarona's thorax, sending it reeling backward.
Before it could even react, Swoobat struck again.
And again.
And again.
Swoobat zipped across the battlefield like a razor-edged ghost, hitting Volcarona from every angle, bouncing off cavern walls and weaving between stalactites as it delivered a relentless flurry of attacks.
The massive moth shuddered with every impact, its wings trembling as the damage piled up.
"Fire Spin!" Epsilon yelled.
Volcarona, struggling to regain control, spat a spiral of flames, but—
Swoobat slipped through the gaps effortlessly.
With its enhanced speed, it swerved between the burning vortexes, avoiding every ember, every flicker of fire, and landed another crushing Acrobatics strike on Volcarona's exposed back.
David's grin widened. "Now!"
Swoobat launched one final strike, slamming into Volcarona's head and sending it spiraling toward the ground—
But then, something changed.
Epsilon smirked.
David's own grin faded.
Something was wrong.
As Swoobat went in for one more Acrobatics, Volcarona suddenly released a shimmering golden cloud of Stun Spore.
David's eyes widened.
"No!"
Before Swoobat could pull away, it flew straight through the paralyzing pollen.
The effect was instant.
Swoobat's body seized up, its wings locking in place.
The once-unstoppable bat suddenly became a falling stone, crashing onto the cavern floor.
It struggled, eyes darting in panic, but its body refused to listen.
"Now, Fire Spin!" Epsilon ordered triumphantly.
Volcarona, moving painfully slow, still managed to release another vortex of flames.
The spiraling inferno crashed down upon the helpless Swoobat, consuming it in a blazing prison.
"Uh!" David flinched at the sight of his Pokémon being roasted alive.
The fire raged.
Then, "Again!" Epsilon called out.
A second Fire Spin engulfed the struggling Swoobat, the combined heat and suffocation pushing it to the brink of defeat.
When the flames finally faded, Swoobat's body trembled.
It was paralyzed. Burnt. Exhausted. And besides that heavily damaged.
"It is over, Mr. Lindenberg." Epsilon smiled, mysterious expression on his face.