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WHAM!
Two figures crashed midair as Dragonair and Venomoth collided in a fierce exchange. A second later, they twisted apart, hovering on opposite ends of the battlefield, wings and tails quivering.
Both Pokémon were exhausted.
Bruised, battered, and on their last legs.
Their trainers Kai and Aya stood at their posts, hearts racing, breaths held. At this point, it was anyone's game. One mistake, one opening, and the match would be over.
Venomoth wheeled sharply in the air, readying for another pass. Sensing an opportunity to regain momentum, Aya raised her voice.
"Venomoth—use [Leech Life]!"
The command was swift and decisive. Kai's eyes narrowed.
A risky move—but a smart one.
If it landed, it wouldn't just deal serious damage. It would heal Venomoth, buying it precious time. In Dragonair's current fragile state, a hit like that would almost certainly be the end.
But Kai was ready.
"Dragonair—[Aqua Tail]!"
Venomoth surged forward with terrifying speed, eyes locked on Dragonair's neck, fangs bared and glowing. The audience tensed. A successful bite could completely flip the match.
But Dragonair's body twisted.
Like a ribbon in the wind, she spun through the air, narrowly evading Venomoth's strike. Her tail, glowing with surging water energy, lashed out in one clean arc.
CRACK!
Venomoth was flung backward—hard.
It crashed into the dirt with a thud, rolling once before coming to a stop.
Its eyes had spiraled into dizzy swirls.
It was out cold.
"Venomoth!!"
Aya froze, then broke into a run. She slid to her knees and gently lifted her Pokémon into her arms. Holding it close, she looked up at Kai with tight lips and a reluctant exhale.
"…I lost."
She said it softly. No yelling. No bitterness.
For a moment, it was quiet.
The final round had been close—closer than the first two. She could've won. Venomoth had a real chance. That mattered to her.
It meant she wasn't completely outclassed. Her growth had been real. Her training hadn't been for nothing.
She hadn't lost because she was weak—she'd lost because Kai was just better.
Even if she had won this round, could she have beaten his fully rested Charizard and Jolteon? Probably not.
In the end, this was the best outcome she could've hoped for.
The academy headmaster raised his hand high.
"The winner of this match is—Kai!"
Applause thundered across the arena. The students cheered—not just for Kai's victory, but for Aya's bravery and performance. It had been an incredible fight, and everyone knew it.
Kai stepped forward, returning Dragonair to her Poké Ball. He offered a small nod toward Aya.
"Your Venomoth was excellent," he said, genuinely. "If she hadn't missed that [Leech Life], this could've gone very differently."
Now that was humility.
If you didn't know any better, you'd think this was a nail-biter from start to finish. But everyone present knew the truth—Kai still had two untouched Pokémon waiting in reserve. This wasn't life or death for him. It was just good manners.
Aya stood and met his gaze squarely.
"No need to sugarcoat it," she said. "You were stronger. I accept that."
Still, her tone had softened.
The edge was gone.
Kai noticed the change but said nothing. He simply smiled quietly.
The truth was—she had done well. Her Venomoth had given Dragonair real trouble. If her other two Pokémon had been a bit stronger, she might've forced a much harder match.
But even so…
Aya wasn't beating him anytime soon.
And for a moment, Kai felt at peace.
Finally, it was over. No more back-and-forth. No more tension.
At last… he was free from her obsession.
Or so he thought.
Aya chuckled, suddenly breaking the silence.
"Don't get cocky. Once I graduate from this academy, I'm going on a training journey. And the next time we meet…" She smirked. "I'm going to beat you."
Kai blinked.
Seriously!?
How is this still happening!?
Can I catch a break!?
He groaned internally.
Later that afternoon, Kai and Erika shared a quiet meal at the academy before setting off again. The headmaster, Aya, and several students came to see them off.
At the front gates, Kai and Erika turned, waved goodbye, and then continued their journey westward down a forest trail.
The sun filtered gently through the trees as they walked side by side.
Erika, fresh from a complimentary beauty session using silken threads spun by academy Pokémon, looked radiant—her skin glowing, her smile bright.
Kai, on the other hand, looked like he'd just aged a year.
He walked in silence, visibly brooding.
Erika noticed immediately.
"…What's wrong with you?" she asked, half-laughing.
Kai sighed. "I really thought I was done with all this. But no—she's already planning our next rematch. I don't think I can take much more of this."
Erika covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. "Most guys would kill to be pursued by a pretty girl."
Kai shook his head. "Not when she's throwing shuriken and threatening to 'avenge her honor' every time we meet. I swear, if I had the chance to redo this whole trip—I would've taken the long way around that academy."
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