"Raichu is unable to battle! Garchomp wins!" the referee announced.
Two of Gym Leader Hank's four Pokemon had been defeated.
The advantage he had just reclaimed was reversed by John's brilliant strategy.
Gym Leader Hank reached for his waist, calmly throwing another Pokeball into the arena.
A plump, orange-yellow Pokemon with small wings landed on the battlefield.
Gym Leader Hank's third Pokemon was Dragonite!
Dragonite versus Garchomp?
Dragon versus Ground-Dragon?!
"Garchomp, Mega Evolution!" John raised his arm suddenly, and colorful energy exploded from the Mega Ring on his wrist.
With his experience Mega Evolving Gardevoir, plus the benefits of his teacher's rare Soothe Bell, the speed at which John formed bonds with his Pokemon was remarkably fast.
Especially with a food-loving Pokemon like Garchomp.
Even without the Soothe Bell, John knew exactly how to trigger Mega Evolution. Since Garchomp already possessed a Mega Stone, John and Garchomp's bond had reached maximum strength before arriving at the Draconia Gym, ensuring a successful Mega Evolution.
For this moment, this battle, John would secure victory!
If successful, John could use his three remaining Pokemon against Gym Leader Hank's final ace.
As the rainbow light surrounding Garchomp dissipated, its size increased dramatically. Its head and shoulder blades became more streamlined, its tail more slender. The shark fins on its back stood erect, and its sharp claws—once merely knife-like—transformed into two deadly crimson scythes.
Mega Garchomp was more killing machine than Pokemon!
Its mere presence sent chills down spines!
"GARCHOMP!" Mega Garchomp roared with outstretched arms, radiating fighting spirit.
The reporters surrounding the battlefield practically created smoke with their rapid-fire camera shutters.
Since Greninja, John had truly captured the attention of everyone in the Pokemon world.
Was Garchomp rare? Reporters who regularly covered top-tier Trainers didn't think so. While Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon were precious treasures for most Trainers, those at Gym Leader level could acquire them with relative ease!
But Mega Garchomp? That was different.
Worldwide, fewer than three Trainers were known to possess a Mega Garchomp!
The true treasure was the Mega Stone that enabled Garchomp's transformation.
Saul, watching the battle from the sidelines, was momentarily stunned, wondering where his apprentice had acquired so many Mega Stones. He had thought John only possessed a Gardevoirite.
"The Lucky God—it's not just a nickname after all," Principal Badman murmured, remembering the teasing title his other students had given John.
Gym Leader Hank's expression immediately became extremely serious.
"Dragonite, use Hurricane!"
"WOOOO~" Dragonite's chubby body moved with surprising agility and speed. As it spun around, a massive twister covering most of the battlefield rose from the ground, pushing forward with a thunderous roar, attempting to engulf Mega Garchomp.
Facing the terrifying cyclone, John commanded confidently: "Slash!"
Mega Garchomp slowly raised one scythe-like arm and slashed at the Hurricane before it.
SHING!
The sharp, ear-piercing collision erupted but lasted only a second.
In the next moment, the entire Hurricane was cleaved open from the middle by a white blade of energy, creating a gap more than ten meters wide extending beyond the battlefield.
If Dragonite hadn't dodged quickly, the energy blade would have struck it as well.
John was slightly surprised. Gym Leader Hank hadn't instructed Dragonite to use the Hurricane as cover for a close-range attack sequence. He suddenly realized the Hurricane was merely a test.
It seemed Gym Leader Hank was becoming more cautious after losing a Pokemon to John's tactical maneuver.
"Dragonite, Subzero Slammer!" Gym Leader Hank suddenly commanded, pulling a light blue diamond-shaped crystal from his pocket and pressing it against his straw hat.
Boundless cold air spread throughout the arena, as dense as the mist of a silent winter night.
Well, I take back what I thought about Gym Leader Hank becoming cautious.
John was puzzled. He hadn't seen Hank use any Ice-type Pokemon so far—how did he have an Z-Crystal?
Did Dragonite know Ice-type moves?
And... the battle had barely begun—why use his ultimate move now?
John was speechless, having assumed Mega Garchomp would easily defeat Dragonite...
Unexpectedly, Gym Leader Hank had a Z-Move as his trump card.
Within seconds, the cold air concentrated around Dragonite.
"RAAAAAHHH!!!" Dragonite had landed on the ground, and feeling the ice power from its trainer, it immediately roared skyward.
Instantly, the ground beneath Dragonite's feet erupted with ice. Using Dragonite as its epicenter, ice crystals formed in a ten-meter radius. Dragonite was elevated atop a five-meter ice pillar, turbulent ice mist swirling around its body. Remarkably, its small wings extended into massive ice-formed appendages.
Looking down, Dragonite's eyes locked onto Mega Garchomp below, radiating an intense chill.
Dragonite raised its fist, frost condensing into a dragon's head around it.
"Is the Z-Move Subzero Slamer based on Ice Punch?" John murmured.
The time for analysis was over—now was the time to fight!
"Garchomp, Dragon Ascent!"
"ROOOAR!" Mega Garchomp threw back its head and screamed. Thick, dark green dragon energy enveloped its entire body. Soon, the energy coalesced into the form of a massive dragon, flapping its wings and soaring skyward.
Dragonite's gaze followed Mega Garchomp into the sky. The ice crystal wings on its back flapped, propelling its bulky body upward with surprising speed, its ice-encased fist thrust forward.
All the reporters hastily adjusted their cameras to capture the aerial battle.
High above, Dragonite's body was no longer visible. All that could be seen was an enormous ice dragon head, jaws open wide, lunging toward the dark green energy dragon.