Lopunny, Normal-type, High Elite Four level!
Gardevoir, Psychic-type -+Dark-type mutation-, Peak Elite Four level!
In terms of level, Gardevoir was clearly stronger than Lopunny.
But this battle was far from one-sided, because right after Gardevoir appeared, Shuto unhesitatingly removed a brooch from his chest.
"LOPUNNY, MEGA EVOLVE!"
A dazzling burst of multicolored light enveloped both Lopunny and Shuto.
At that moment, the power of Trainer and Pokémon catalyzed each other, granting both a boost in different ways.
Shuto's perception noticeably sharpened, and his synchronization with Lopunny became even stronger!
Lopunny also changed form. Its fluffy ears were now tied into two long Pony-tails, which snapped like whips with every casual swing.
Crack… Crack… Crack!
Clearly two powerful melee weapons!
Mega Lopunny, Peak Elite Four level!
With this, Lopunny was no longer inferior to Gardevoir in the slightest. The outcome was truly undecided.
Mega Lopunny moved.
A brown blur flickered past, and the spot where it had stood was now empty.
Thud!
A heavy impact echoed. Everyone looked toward the sound and saw that the ground beneath Gardevoir had become a two-meter-wide crater.
Gardevoir was nowhere to be seen!
"Gar~?" 'Oh~'
An innocent, cute cry rang out. Lopunny still seemed puzzled as to when its opponent had escaped; which, paired with the crater beside it, felt oddly unsettling.
On the other side, Gardevoir gracefully returned to the battlefield and immediately raised her hand, launching a Psychic at Lopunny.
Pure.
Powerful.
With no concern about being dodged!
In fact, Lopunny could now feel Gardevoir's psychic lock-on with perfect clarity.
'No way to escape…'
If there's no escape, then fight back!
A flicker of hesitation passed through Lopunny's eyes, quickly replaced by fierce determination.
Shadow Ball!
Lopunny raised its right leg high, like kicking a soccer ball, and fiercely fired of a Shadow Ball straight at Gardevoir.
In just a moment, the Shadow Ball was right in front of Gardevoir.
Before Gardevoir could make any other move, the Shadow Ball exploded with a roar, sending Ghost-type energy scattering in every direction, impossible to defend against!
Fortunately, Gardevoir was not Psychic/Fairy-type, so she wasn't weak to Ghost. Otherwise, the damage would've been significant.
Even so, that single move was enough to prove this Lopunny wasn't easy to deal with!
"Go in directly, Psychic."
"Voir!"
Gardevoir raised her right hand. Her blood-red eyes glowed with intense violet light, and a terrifying Psychic force slammed into Lopunny.
In an instant, the bounding Lopunny froze as if paralyzed by a binding spell; it couldn't even blink!
"Brutal Swing, break free!"
"Lop…Lopugnny…"
Lopunny let out a short nasal cry. The muscles in its ears twitched visibly, but it still couldn't break free from Gardevoir's hold.
This was Gardevoir, a Pokémon who had once refused the chance to become a "Legend". Having lived for who knows how long, her Psychic abilities had reached unimaginable levels.
Even against Fujin's Froslass, she had never truly unleashed her full psychic power.
And now, facing a Peak Elite Four level Lopunny, it still wasn't enough to make her go all out.
Perhaps sensing Gardevoir was still holding back, a sharp glint flashed in Shuto's eyes as he gave a new command: "Lopunny… Mirror Coat!"
Mirror Coat: reflects Special attacks with double the power!
Lopunny still couldn't move, but its entire body began to glow red, and the color deepened as Gardevoir maintained her psychic grip.
Shuto's tactic was ruthless. The moment Gardevoir showed the slightest sign of strain, Lopunny would be able to strike back with Mirror Coat, rebounding the attack with twice the intensity.
Or… his own Lopunny would collapse from the pressure, fail to activate Mirror Coat, and be knocked out immediately.
With a single command -Mirror Coat- Shuto had pushed both Pokémon to the edge of a cliff. There was no turning back!
Was it worth it?
Absolutely worth it!
If he could take out Sato's highest-level Pokémon, Gardevoir, at the cost of a single Lopunny, it would be more than a fair trade.
Not to mention… he wasn't out of backup options either!
On the other side, Sato watched silently as the two Pokémon engaged in this dangerously tense standoff.
He had great confidence in Gardevoir, but even he was impressed by Shuto's resolve and composure.
There was no retreat in a clash like this, only waiting quietly for one of the Pokémon to fall.
One minute… two minutes… four minutes…
Time continued ticking by. Both Pokémon remained completely motionless on the field.
Little beads of sweat covered Gardevoir's forehead, but the purple glow in her eyes never dimmed.
The red light surrounding Lopunny flashed continuously, eventually enshrouding it so completely that its form became indistinct.
And still, it held on. Its long ears continued resisting with visible tension.
The silent arena.
A breathless audience…
Even the referee pressed his lips together and held his breath, afraid to disturb the showdown.
Six minutes… seven minutes… nine minutes…
Shuto began to regret it. He realized Gardevoir's psychic power was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
At this rate, the one who wouldn't last… was very likely his own Lopunny!
In the audience stands, Fujin watched the two Pokémon on the battlefield with a heavy expression. At some point, a Froslass had appeared beside him, its eyes filled with worry.
"Gen! Gengengen!"
Golden-eyed Gengar suddenly floated up from beneath the ground, speaking urgently. Sato's expression changed at once, and he quickly gave Gardevoir new instructions.
Crack! Cra-crack! Cra-crack-crack…
Suddenly, rifts began appearing in space around Lopunny, expanding rapidly. Shuto's expression changed dramatically, but he dared not have Lopunny move recklessly.
"Froslass, go help them. Tch, these youngsters are too reckless."
Fujin shook his head helplessly and pulled out his phone to call Goodshow.
On the battlefield, Sato's Gengar had already rushed in on its own, diving directly into one of the expanding Spacial Rifts without hesitation.
Strangely, the rapidly growing Spacial Rift immediately began slowing its expansion once Gengar entered.
A Froslass soon joined the battlefield, and its intense cold winds bypassed Gardevoir and Lopunny, freezing the entire battlefield solid.
The referee was "gently" moved aside by Froslass, and Gengar used Spatial Barrier to lift both Gardevoir and Lopunny into the air.
The sudden developments stunned everyone watching the match, yet no one was foolish enough to ask why the battle was being "paused".
Those bottomless black rifts shook all who gazed at them.
They were… Spacial Rifts!
BOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion suddenly erupted in the sky. Everyone looked u,p but there was no smoke.
Only a lone white cloud in the sky visibly disintegrated and vanished.
Several seconds later, a powerful current of air descended from above, sweeping across the arena like a storm…