On the battlefield, Agatha, the elderly yet formidable Ghost-type master of the Elite Four, stood firm with her cane in hand.
The Scott raised his flag.
"Battle between Gary Oak and Elite Four Agatha, begin!"
Gary threw his Poké Ball high into the air.
"Blastoise, I choose you!"
"Blas-toise!" Ka-Mi!
With a burst of light, the massive shell-backed Pokémon appeared, cannons gleaming on his shoulders. The ground shook slightly beneath his weight.
Agatha raised her hand and, with a small chuckle, tossed her own Poké Ball.
"Gengar, let's show them our power!"
"Gengaaaaar!"
A purple shadow materialized into the wicked, grinning form of Gengar, floating ominously with glowing red eyes. The Scott gasped with excitement—Agatha's Gengar was infamous throughout the Pokémon League for its cunning tactics and terrifying strength.
Gary pointed forward, wasting no time.
"Blastoise, use Water Pulse!"
"Blaaas-toise!" Ka-mi!
The cannons on Blastoise's shoulders swiveled downward, charging energy. With two loud bursts, water spheres shot forward, spiraling at incredible speed toward Gengar.
"Dodge it, Gengar!" Agatha commanded.
Gengar smirked, its body sinking into the floor until it became a black shadow creeping across the battlefield. The Water Pulse spheres blasted past harmlessly.
BOOM!!
The water spheres exploded against the arena wall, sending sprays of water and fragments flying. The sheer destructive force made even Agatha's eyes widen slightly.
(So powerful… a few more of those, and even Gengar won't hold up.)
"Now, Gengar, Shadow Ball!" Agatha shouted.
"Geng-gaaar!"
Emerging from the shadows, Gengar clasped its hands together, condensing a swirling sphere of dark energy. With a sinister grin, it hurled the Shadow Ball straight at Blastoise.
Gary clenched his fist.
"Blastoise, Liquidation—cut it apart!"
"Blas-toise!"
Blastoise's arms glowed as layers of water wrapped around them, forming sharp aqua blades. With one decisive slash, he split the Shadow Ball into two, dispersing the attack. Not stopping there, Blastoise slammed his fists together, the aqua blades extending into enormous ten-meter water sabers. He charged forward and slashed downward at Gengar.
Agatha reacted quickly.
"Double Team, now!"
"Gengaaaar!"
In an instant, Gengar split into a dozen afterimages, clones spreading across the battlefield. The entire ground and sky were filled with identical laughing Gengars.
Blastoise's colossal water blade struck the arena floor.
BOOM!!
The ground shook violently, cracks forming as water gushed out in waves. The clones on the ground vanished instantly, revealing a massive gash across the field.
"Night Shade!" Agatha ordered sharply.
The army of Gengars narrowed their glowing eyes. From each phantom, eerie beams of black light shot forth, striking Blastoise's body.
"Blas-toise!"
The giant turtle grunted as the attack connected, pain shooting through him. Luckily, Night Shade dealt fixed damage—it hurt, but it wasn't devastating.
Gary raised his hand decisively.
"Blastoise, use Rain Dance!"
"Blas-toise!" Ka-mi!
Blastoise raised his arms. Dark storm clouds gathered overhead, thunder rumbling as heavy rain began to pour down on the battlefield. The illusions of Double Team shimmered and flickered. Within moments, only the real Gengar remained visible.
Agatha narrowed her eyes. "Clever boy. Using the rain to expose Double Team illusions. Very resourceful."
"Waterfall, let's go!" Gary commanded.
"Blaaas-toise!"
Water surged around Blastoise's body like a raging torrent. He launched himself forward, propelled like a living missile toward Gengar, who was still airborne.
"Reflect Type, then Toxic!" Agatha countered.
Gary's eyes widened. Of course—Gengar's Poison typing!
"Gengaaaaar!"
Gengar's body glowed strangely, its type shifting to Water, copying Blastoise's attributes. Though this allowed it to endure the Waterfall more effectively, Blastoise's momentum still slammed into Gengar with bone-rattling force.
CRASH!!
Gengar was hurled into the stone wall, leaving cracks as it slid down with a groan.
"Gengaaaaar…"
But Blastoise staggered back as well, grimacing. Purple venom dripped from a wound on his side—Gengar had successfully injected him with Toxic.
"Blas…toise…"
Gary's fists tightened. The poison would grow worse over time. He needed to finish this battle quickly.
"Blastoise, Water Pulse again!"
"Ka-mi!!"
The shoulder cannons roared, unleashing a volley of rapid-fire water spheres, each exploding as they streaked across the arena.
Agatha's voice cut sharply through the storm.
"Phantom Force!"
"Gengaaaaar!"
Ripples distorted the air as Gengar vanished into another dimension, the Water Pulses exploding harmlessly against the arena walls.
From the sidelines, Ash Ketchum leaned forward, eyes wide.
"What?! Gengar just disappeared! What kind of move is that?!"
The Scott, stood stoically, ensuring not to give away any information.
Blastoise growled lowly, cannons shifting, searching desperately. "Blaaas…"
Gary thought quickly. Phantom Force lets Gengar hide in a pocket dimension… but there's always a sign when it reappears. I'll force it out.
"Blastoise, use Dig!"
The turtle tucked his limbs into his shell and spun rapidly before plunging underground. Dirt and stone flew up, leaving a gaping hole behind.
Agatha's eyes widened. "Blastoise can Dig?!"
In the pocket dimension, Gengar lost visual contact of its foe. Rain no longer guided its vision. It emerged cautiously, floating in the air, scanning the ground nervously.
Gary pointed.
"Now! Hydro Pump!"
"Blas-toise!!"
The battlefield erupted as Blastoise burst upward, shoulder cannons glowing. Two enormous jets of water shot skyward, slamming directly into Gengar.
BOOOOM!!
"GENGAAAAAR!!"
The scream echoed as Gengar tumbled through the rain, badly hurt. Even with type resistance, the sheer power was overwhelming.
"Gengar, Hex!" Agatha called out desperately.
"Gengaaaaar!"
Gengar's eyes glowed a sinister red, unleashing waves of cursed energy toward Blastoise.
"Blas…toise!!"
The attack struck hard, exploiting the poison already in Blastoise's system. He groaned in pain, staggering under the pressure.
"Rapid Spin!" Gary ordered quickly.
Blastoise withdrew into his shell, spinning violently, dispersing the lingering cursed energy and charging forward.
"Phantom Force, intercept it!" Agatha commanded, her voice cold.
"Gengaaaar!"
Gengar disappeared once again, slipping into the other dimension. It reemerged in Blastoise's path, colliding hard to shove him back.
Gary clenched his teeth. "Blastoise, Liquidation!"
Agatha's cane slammed on the floor. "Hex again!"
The two voices overlapped.
"Blaaas-toise!!"
Water blades formed along Blastoise's spinning shell as he rocketed forward.
"GENGAAAR!!"
Gengar's eyes blazed crimson as Hex launched once more, locking onto the poisoned Blastoise.