With the searing flames extinguished, Red wiped the sweat off his face. Yet, instead of relief, his expression was solemn—because Logan had already predicted his choice. The moment Red sent out his Poliwrath, Logan had unleashed his own Garchomp.
A mighty dragon's roar tore through the air as Garchomp lunged forward with blinding speed, a speed completely unbefitting its massive size. It charged Poliwrath like a phantom streak, raising its dragon claws high.
Garchomp—the dragon of the earth—was unrivaled in speed on the ground. Its agility was near godlike, so fast it defied human reaction time. To the spectators, it was as though a shadow had flashed past, and suddenly Garchomp was already upon Poliwrath.
Poliwrath, with its burly muscles and dual Fighting typing, was formidable in close combat. Against an ordinary Garchomp, it might've stood its ground. But against a Garchomp far stronger than its own level? A direct clash was suicide.
That was the advantage of dragons—their overwhelming natural superiority. Especially a species like Garchomp, hailed as the "Pokémon closest to gods." Unless they were rare and near-impossible to tame, dragons would've overrun the world by now.
"Poliwrath—Dynamic Punch!"
Red's shout rang with urgency.
Logan smirked. "A head-on clash? Bold. But your Poliwrath will only be hurt by it. Garchomp—Dragon Claw!"
Energy crackled around Garchomp's scythe-like claws, glowing with primal dragon power. It slashed down viciously toward Poliwrath.
Poliwrath's fists glowed with solid fighting energy, ready to meet the attack head-on. To everyone watching, it looked like an imminent clash of titans. But then—Red's anxious face twisted into a sly grin.
"You've fallen for it, Logan!"
Poliwrath's Dynamic Punch didn't strike at Garchomp's claws—it smashed the ground instead, blasting open a crater at its feet.
For an instant, confusion rippled through the crowd—and even Logan faltered. Was that a mistake? If so, then Poliwrath would take the full force of Dragon Claw at point-blank range—guaranteed crippling damage.
But if it wasn't a mistake…
"Snorlax—NOW! Body Slam!!"
From above, a colossal shadow descended. A Snorlax plummeted from the sky like a meteor, its body curled into a massive ball aimed directly at Garchomp.
"Snorlax?! When did Red send it out?!" the announcer cried, voicing the entire crowd's shock.
But Logan understood instantly. His mind raced, then the realization clicked.
"…So that's it." He muttered in grudging admiration.
At the same time Red had thrown Poliwrath's Poké Ball, he had secretly tossed another—Snorlax's. Poliwrath's Dynamic Punch wasn't a misfire at all; it was a deliberate strike to knock Snorlax's Poké Ball into the sky, disguising its summoning until the very moment Snorlax dropped. The steam from earlier—the aftermath of dousing the flames—had hidden it perfectly from view.
"Brilliant…" Logan admitted with a wry smile.
"That's right!" Red shouted proudly. "I picked it up when battling Blue!"
In the stands, Blue scoffed and crossed his arms. During his match with Red, he had used Machamp to catapult Snorlax into the air with a seesaw tactic. Red had stolen the idea—and adapted it. The speed at which Red absorbed tactics and wielded them in battle was frightening.
Still, Logan's eyes narrowed. "…If it were anyone else, they might've panicked. But—"
"Dragonair! Wrap!!"
"Dragonair?!" Red gasped, eyes darting.
A shimmer appeared—Dragonair emerged directly between Snorlax and Garchomp, coiling its long body around Snorlax midair with startling precision. Its serpentine form constricted tightly, twisting, and Snorlax's Body Slam veered off course, crashing violently into the ground beside Garchomp instead.
BOOOOM—!
The earth trembled, leaving a massive crater in the battlefield. Dust and smoke swirled. And there, bound tightly by Dragonair's coils, Snorlax lay immobilized, its limbs locked uselessly against its bulk.
The spectators gasped. In the stands, Sabrina and Green both winced, as though reminded of unpleasant memories.
Red's eyes widened. "You… you hid Dragonair's Poké Ball in Garchomp's mouth?!"
Logan chuckled softly. "We're the same, you and I. You tried to sneak Snorlax into play and ambush me. I hid Dragonair for a countermeasure. Your trick was clever—but mine was ready."
Red grit his teeth as Logan continued calmly:
"Now your Snorlax can't move. Do you know what an electric eel is? Never mind—you'll find out. Dragonair—Thunderbolt!"
Dragonair's sapphire-like body glowed, unleashing a torrent of lightning through its coils. Bolts arced violently, scorching the battlefield as a deafening crack filled the arena.
Snorlax roared in agony, its fur standing on end as its skin seared.
"Thunderbolt doesn't usually work well on a thick-fat Snorlax… but yours is paralyzed and completely helpless. Let's see how long it lasts." Logan sneered coldly.
The sizzling electricity blackened Snorlax's fur, leaving patches of raw, bleeding skin beneath. To the audience, it looked hopeless. Snorlax couldn't possibly withstand such relentless punishment.
"Snorlax—Rest!"
Red's desperate cry cut through the air.
In the middle of the storm, Snorlax's eyes snapped shut. Despite the lightning surging through its body, it slipped into a deep sleep, wounds knitting rapidly.
Logan's expression flickered. "…Tch. I knew it."
And indeed—Red's next order came swiftly:
"Snore attack!"
Snorlax's massive belly contracted, then suddenly expelled an explosive shockwave. The force hurled Dragonair away like a slingshot, smashing it against the arena wall with a thunderous crash.
Logan didn't even glance at Dragonair. His command came cold and sharp:
"Rest won't fully heal what Snorlax suffered. And you've forgotten something. Espeon—Dream Eater! Finish it!"
"WHAT?!" Red froze. "Your Espeon knows Dream Eater?!"
As Snorlax lay asleep, Espeon leapt gracefully onto its belly, violet eyes glowing with a sinister light. The psychic power seeped into Snorlax's dreams—and its body visibly withered, energy draining as though its very soul was being consumed.
"Snorlax! Wake up!" Red shouted desperately. But it was too late.
Snorlax's huge frame shriveled slightly, collapsing limply into the crater.
"One down," Logan murmured coldly, raising a single finger toward Red.
The stadium erupted in delayed thunderous applause. The audience had been holding their breath through the entire exchange, every move too fast, too intricate, too cunning. Now, they screamed themselves hoarse.
"INCREDIBLE! Absolutely incredible!" the announcer cried. "This battle is breathtaking—just as expected of the Indigo League Finals!"
The clash of wits, the hidden tricks, the counters, and reversals—every second was a masterclass in high-stakes battling.
The finals had only just begun.
--------------------
T/N:
Check out my Patreon
[email protected]/FictionalRealms784 - (Replace '@' with 'a')
for 5 Advanced Chapters absolutely FREE—or unlock 35 Advanced Chapters
--------------------