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"Muk!"
Aya's voice rang out in panic as she watched the battle unfold.
Charizard's twin [Air Slash] strikes had ripped two massive gashes through Muk's body, splattering foul sludge across the battlefield. A whole chunk of the Poison-type's form looked like it had been carved off.
The hit had nearly split it in three.
Thankfully, Muk's gelatinous physiology gave it a kind of built-in regeneration. Even though it was seriously wounded, the missing mass slowly began to reform right before their eyes, healing at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Still, it was in agony. Its grotesque expression twisted further as it let out a low, painful wail.
Kai didn't waste a second.
Strike while the iron's hot.
"Charizard—[Heat Wave]!"
Charizard's chest expanded before it unleashed a scorching gust of superheated wind. The air shimmered orange as the attack swept across the battlefield and engulfed Muk entirely.
The moment the blast hit, Muk screamed.
Its sludge-like body began to dry out. Fluids oozed from its sides and steamed off its melting surface.
The intense heat not only seared its outer layers but also halted the healing of its earlier wounds. Its form shriveled and cracked, its movements slowing to a painful crawl.
"Muk! Are you okay!?"
Aya called out desperately, her earlier smugness gone. Muk writhed in place, barely able to move. Its voice was hoarse, its body buckling.
And Kai wasn't done.
Charizard dove.
A brutal [Slash] came down like an executioner's blade, and with a powerful impact—
WHAM!
Muk hit the ground hard, twitching once before going completely still.
"Round one goes to Charizard!" the academy headmaster called out, raising a hand.
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
Though the headmaster's expression remained composed, inwardly he was stunned.
Aya wasn't just any student she was his star pupil. Not only that, but she was the younger sister of Koga, a Gym Leader and an Elite-class ninja in his own right. Aya's skill was far beyond most students.
He'd expected a drawn-out battle. Instead, Charizard had dominated in a clean, decisive win.
So this is the strength of a League Champion…
Aya stood frozen for a few seconds, eyes wide. She rubbed at them, almost disbelieving what she'd seen.
Eventually, she sighed, pulled out her Poké Ball, and recalled Muk.
"Tch… That was on me," she muttered. "I let my guard down and gave you an opening. But that won't happen again."
She pulled out a second Poké Ball and hurled it onto the field.
With a flash of blue light, her next choice emerged a Pokémon that resembled a venomous spider with six legs, bold stripes of yellow, black, purple, and red, and a sharp horn jutting from its forehead.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Ariados, huh?"
It had been a while since he saw one in action.
Curious, he pulled out his Pokédex and scanned the bug.
> Pokédex: Ariados, the Long Leg Pokémon. Bug/Poison-type. Ariados is known for roaming in the dark, hunting for prey instead of staying in one place. Its feet are tipped with small hooks that let it scale ceilings and walls. Once it spots prey, it wraps them in strong, sticky silk and drains their fluids with its fangs. In some regions, its silk is harvested to make durable fabric.
Kai slid the Pokédex away.
Ariados stared at Charizard with glowing purple eyes, cold and calculating, like a predator lurking within its web.
Kai nodded to himself, then recalled Charizard without hesitation.
Though Charizard had taken minimal damage, there was no need to risk unnecessary wear. He already knew which Pokémon to send out next.
With a flick of the wrist, he tossed his second Poké Ball.
A bright flash lit up the battlefield and when the light cleared, standing in its place was a Jolteon.
"Jolt!"
Aya narrowed her eyes.
From a type matchup perspective, Bug/Poison versus Electric wasn't especially disadvantageous either way. That eased her nerves a bit. As much as she hated to admit it, she could feel the pressure Kai was putting on her.
The headmaster raised his hand once again.
"Begin!"
There was no hesitation.
Ariados lunged forward, fangs bared. It struck with [Poison Sting], then [Leech Life], followed by a flurry of [Bug Bite] and [Pin Missile].
But Jolteon was just too fast.
It dodged everything zipping between Ariados' legs, weaving past strikes, dancing along the field with an elegance only possible from a trained Electric-type specialized in speed.
Ariados was constantly missing. And Jolteon?
Jolteon kept striking back. Quick bursts, sudden jolts, and lightning-fast feints that harassed Ariados at every turn.
Aya was grinding her teeth now.
"Web it down! Ariados, use [Sticky Web]!"
Pfff! Pfff!
Strings of white silk shot toward Jolteon, webbing the battlefield in patches of sticky, hazardous terrain. The gooey webs clung to the ground, forcing Jolteon to slow down.
Now, every step had to be more careful. One misstep and its paws could get caught, ruining its agility advantage.
Aya's eyes lit up. "Now! Close in and trap it!"
Ariados skittered forward, ready to strike.
Kai smirked.
He had to admit—Aya had stepped up her game in round two. No distractions, no recklessness. She was all-in this time.
But it wouldn't be enough.
As Ariados closed in, he gave the command.
"Jolteon—end it!"
Jolteon's entire body sparked with raw power. In an instant, it unleashed a massive surge of electricity a net of blinding arcs that lit up the entire battlefield.
The [Thunderbolt] surrounded Ariados, paralyzing it mid-charge.
And then Jolteon lunged.
Its fangs crackled with electrical energy, a fusion of power and precision.
CHOMP!
Ariados froze.
The shock hit like a thunderclap.
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