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Crack! Boom!
Blinding arcs of electricity rippled across the Ninja Academy battlefield.
The flashes were so intense that many of the students shielding the perimeter had to avert their eyes to avoid being blinded.
It lasted several seconds. Then, slowly, the thunderous roar of electricity faded, and the searing glow dimmed.
When the light finally vanished, the students looked toward the field—only to find Ariados collapsed on the ground, trails of smoke rising from its scorched body. It was completely unconscious.
Next to it stood Jolteon, panting softly, its fur bristling with static.
Even though they hadn't seen the final strike clearly, the result was unmistakable.
Ariados had been knocked out.
The crowd buzzed with whispers. The academy's top students exchanged uneasy glances—astonished by Kai's raw power, and growing increasingly worried for Aya.
She wasn't just anyone.
Aya was second only to the headmaster himself—Fuchsia-born, sister of the Poison-type Gym Leader Koga, and widely regarded as a future star in both battle and ninja arts.
And yet, two rounds in… she hadn't landed a clean hit.
Jolteon turned back and trotted toward Kai, brushing its head against his leg in quiet pride.
Kai knelt and gave it a gentle pat. "You did great out there."
Truth be told, the second round had been complete domination. Between [Thunderbolt] and [Thunder Fang], Jolteon had stunned Ariados into paralysis—then ended the fight with a point-blank [Discharge] before its opponent could recover.
Kai could still smell the faint scent of charred bugs.
Across the field, Aya silently recalled her Pokémon.
Her expression was unreadable, but the truth was dawning on her. Kai wasn't just good—he'd grown even stronger since the last time they met. The gap between them had only widened.
She stared at her final Poké Ball.
This was it.
If she could turn things around now, there was still a chance—some flicker of redemption. But if she lost this last round, it would mean only one thing: she wasn't strong enough. Her earlier threats of vengeance? Just empty words.
"Let's go, Venomoth!"
Her final Pokémon emerged from the Poké Ball in a soft shimmer of light.
Kai recognized it instantly.
It was the same Venomoth she'd used during their Indigo League encounter. No doubt, this was her ace.
Odd, though. If he remembered right, her starter was a Venonat—a Pokémon she used proudly when he first challenged Fuchsia Gym. Yet now… there was no sign of it.
He glanced around.
Nowhere in sight.
She must've left it in reserve. Probably not strong enough for this stage.
Kai returned Jolteon to its Poké Ball and took a moment to consider. Then, with quiet resolve, he selected his third and final choice.
With a soft pop of light, his final Pokémon appeared—elegant, serpent-like, gliding just above the ground.
The students gasped.
"Whoa… is that a Dragonair!?"
"She's beautiful!"
"I've never seen one in person!"
Indeed, Dragonair was a rare sight—far less common than its final evolution, Dragonite. Its sleek body, crystal-like orbs, and gentle aura drew immediate attention, especially from the female students now whispering in awe.
Dragonair floated gracefully in a spiral, her clear blue eyes narrowing as she faced Venomoth.
Aya, in contrast, wore a much more serious look.
Kai, however, wasn't thinking like a Champion right now.
In truth, Dragonair wasn't part of his main lineup. She didn't rank alongside his Venusaur, Blastoise, or Scizor. At best, she was in his third-tier rotation, used more for training and versatility than competitive battling.
And yet—he had chosen her for this final match.
Not because he thought he'd lose.
But because sometimes… winning too easily was just as bad as losing.
Kai already held two victories. A clean sweep was within reach. But this wasn't a League tournament. This wasn't about glory or dominance.
This was about people.
Politics. Relationships. Respect.
Aya wasn't just any opponent. She was a top student, a local star, and the sister of a powerful Gym Leader. If he steamrolled her with overwhelming strength, it wouldn't just bruise her ego—it would publicly humiliate her.
And knowing her personality, he had a feeling she wouldn't let it go. She'd chase him across regions trying to settle the score.
So instead, he chose balance.
Dragonair, while elegant and competent, wasn't his strongest. She didn't have a type advantage against Venomoth's Bug/Poison typing either. It made for a fairer fight—and a more diplomatic conclusion.
As the battle resumed, the headmaster raised his hand. "Final round—begin!"
Aya's entire demeanor shifted.
She was all in now. Aggressive, precise, fearless.
The battle exploded into motion.
[Psychic], [Sleep Powder], [Poison Fang], [Gust]—Venomoth came at Dragonair with a barrage of multi-type moves.
With her wings, she easily outpaced Dragonair, zipping around in aerial bursts that forced Kai to play defensively.
But Dragonair wasn't helpless.
She countered with [Agility] to close the speed gap, [Twister] to blow away the lingering [Sleep Powder], and fired off [Thunder Wave] and [Dragon Rage] in measured bursts to create openings.
The result?
A balanced, back-and-forth match full of flashy dodges, sudden counters, and clever tactics.
Unlike the earlier rounds, this wasn't a one-sided beatdown.
This was a battle.
And the students loved it.
Cheers erupted as attacks clashed mid-air, as Venomoth spiraled through Dragonair's twisters, and both trainers issued rapid-fire commands in a flurry of motion and willpower.
This was what they'd come to see.
A thrilling, skillful contest worthy of two elite trainers.
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