The air inside the Grand Arena was thick with anticipation.
Two giants stood facing each other across the cracked battlefield one a living siege weapon clad in stone and steel, the other a forgotten sentinel from ancient times. Rhyperior dug its heels into the dirt, its drill-arm spinning slowly with a low mechanical whir. Rune loomed still, blue runes glowing faintly along its arms and chest, massive fists clenched at its sides like a colossus waiting for command.
And in between them, Shion and Hagan stood unmoving trainers now dwarfed by the raw power they'd summoned.
The crowd leaned forward as the red battle banner dropped.
"Rhyperior Stone Edge!"
Hagan's command was sharp, and the ground responded instantly. Jagged spears of stone erupted in a circle around Rune like teeth snapping from the earth.
"Rune, take off!" Shion shouted, surprising even himself.
The ancient Golurk's shoulders thrummed with blue fire as jets ignited from its back. With a powerful roar of compressed energy, Rune launched into the air, narrowly avoiding the Stone Edge eruption. The crowd gasped in awe at the unexpected agility.
A flying Golurk.
Mila blinked. "Wait Golurk can fly?"
Vince nearly choked on his drink. "Apparently this one can."
Ren, watching intently, said nothing but his focus deepened.
Above the battlefield, Rune hovered with a low, humming growl of fire and arcane pressure pulsing from its limbs. Dust swirled in the downdraft.
"Now, Heavy Slam!"
Rune's thrusters cut off midair.
The construct dropped like a meteor.
Rhyperior tried to brace.but it wasn't fast enough.
BOOM.
The force of the impact cratered the ground, Rune's full weight slamming into Rhyperior's armored hide. The stadium rattled from the shockwave, dust billowing out in a choking storm. Referees quickly raised protective psychic shields to protect the front rows.
Rhyperior roared and skidded back, deep ruts carved into the ground from the sheer force. Even Hagan narrowed his eyes.
Still, Rhyperior wasn't out.
"Counter with Megahorn!"
The drill on Rhyperior's head sparked green as it charged forward in a low rush, horn first. Rune lifted its arm to block, but the momentum was brutal. The impact knocked the titan off its feet and sent it sliding backward across the stone.
Shion gritted his teeth. "Rune, lock your stance!"
The Golurk's feet sparked with energy. Mystical anchors flared beneath its soles, ancient tech forgotten by most trainers. Rune ground to a halt mid-skid, stabilizing like a monolith rooted to the core.
"Use Shadow Punch low sweep!"
Rune's fist ignited with a purple aura. With surprising fluidity, it ducked low and slammed a ghost-powered fist into Rhyperior's leg.
Rhyperior buckled and howled in pain.
"Rock Wrecker!" Hagan roared.
Shion's eyes widened. "Brace!"
The Rhyperior gathered energy into its drill arm a huge glowing orb formed, trembling with compressed kinetic force and fired.
The blast was deafening.
It struck Rune square in the chest.
The colossus flew backward, crashing into the far arena wall with a shattering boom. Stone and dust exploded in every direction as debris rained down.
The crowd went wild.
From the stands, Mila gasped. "Shion!"
Vince stared. "That was a direct hit. Is it still?"
As the smoke began to clear…
The blue runes glowed again.
Rune pushed off the wall, rising with smoke trailing from its shoulders, its chest cracked but still intact. Its glowing eyes narrowed, and it stepped forward slower, but unbroken.
Ren folded his arms, thoughtful. "That Golurk is tougher than it looks."
Mila exhaled in relief. "He's hanging in there…"
On the field, Shion's hands were clenched into fists, eyes locked on Rune. He could feel its pain but also its determination. It had taken hits before. It would not fall easily.
"Rune, keep your distance Shadow Ball!"
The Golurk's arms drew back, purple energy swirling between its palms. The air shimmered with supernatural charge.
FWOOM. The shadow sphere launched with a thunderclap.
Rhyperior raised its arms to block but the attack burst against its armor, leaving a cloud of ghostly residue that crackled against its skin.
"Drill Run, now!"
Rune leaned forward and charged, its fists glowing, spiraling like drills. For a construct its size, it was shockingly fast.
Rhyperior met the charge, drill-arm spinning, and the two giants collided once again fist against fist, spirals grinding, sparks flying.
A clash of titans.
Back and forth, Rune and Rhyperior traded blows one relying on ancient power and flight, the other on brute strength and relentless durability. The ground cracked beneath their steps. Each hit felt like thunder.
"Rune, rise again!" Shion called.
Rune ignited its thrusters and burst upward once more, this time dodging a retaliatory Stone Edge and turning midair.
"Now use Shadow punch !"
Golurk fist is covered in purple ghostly energy as it charge up a shadow punch and launch the punch to rhypherior
Golurk fist covered ghost energy, and smashed into Rhyperior
The impact was brutal.
The audience exploded in applause.
Hagan, now frowning, raised his voice. "Use Earthquake!"
Rhyperior slammed both fists into the ground.
A shockwave exploded from the point of impact, rolling across the battlefield in a deadly wave. Rune faltered mid-step and was thrown back, crashing into the side wall again.
Shion winced. "Rune!"
Rune's frame sparked part of its shoulder now cracked, one rune flickering.
Still… it rose.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Standing tall.
Dust rolling off its frame.
Rune was breathing hard or whatever counted as "breathing" for a Pokémon without lungs. It looked down at Shion.
Shion nodded.
"We're not done."
The arena was cracked and cratered, dust still curling from the last shockwave. Every breath from the crowd seemed caught in their throats as Rune, battered but unyielding, rose to its feet once more.
Its heavy stone body groaned, one shoulder cracked and sparking slightly. Yet its core glowed faint, steady, resolute.
Across the battlefield, Rhyperior roared, pounding its fists against its plated chest, calling for more. Its armor was scorched, its footing shaken, but its spirit burned hotter than ever.
Shion wiped his brow, breathing hard not from exertion, but from the sheer weight of the moment.
He's not just strong... he's relentless.
But so is Rune.
"Rune," Shion said quietly, more to himself than to be heard, "Let's end this our way."
The Golurk's eyes flashed, as if in answer.
Up in the stands, Mila stood now, gripping the railing. "He's seriously going toe-to-toe with a Rhyperior..."
Vince, leaning forward with wide eyes, added, "And he's not even flinching. That Golurk's a tank."
Ren, arms crossed, nodded once. "Shion's not backing down. He's reading the rhythm now."
Below them, the coliseum's floating camera crystals swirled, focusing in as the referee signaled for the battle to resume.
On the field...
"Stone Edge again!" Hagan bellowed.
Rhyperior raised both arms and slammed the ground. Spires of jagged stone exploded upward like jaws.
"Rune, dodge right and Shadow Punch—keep pressure!" Shion fired back.
Rune's thrusters flared with blue fire. It leaned hard to the side, narrowly avoiding the stabbing rocks as it slid across the field, and then launched forward. Its fist, cloaked in dark purple flame, reeled back and then struck like a hammer across Rhyperior's plated arm.
The impact echoed like a cathedral bell.
Rhyperior staggered, growling.
" Use shadow Punch Once more while you're close!" Shion called.
Rune's other arm crackled with Purple ghostly energy, and with a pivot of its massive frame, it smashed its Shadow charged fist into Rhyperior's ribs.
The punch pierce through its armor, sending sparks flying.
Hagan narrowed his eyes.
"Counter with ice punch !"
Rhyperior's own limb glowed a blue with icy energy, and it responded in kind a heavy swing of its arm slammed into Rune's midsection, sending the ghostly automaton hurtling backward once more. The ground trembled beneath it as it rolled to a stop near the edge of the field.
Shion flinched. "Rune!"
For a moment, Rune didn't move.
Then, stone by stone, it pushed itself upright.
A huge section of its left side had chipped deep cracks now glowing faintly. But its posture held. Its will was iron.
Rune's eyes locked on Shion.
And then, without a word, it flew again.
"Back in the air," Vince muttered in awe. "It's playing high-low mind games."
"He's forcing Hagan to aim up and down constantly," Ren added, his voice even. "That's smart. Every launch is another dodge."
Rune flew in a slow arc, baiting another ranged command.
"Rock Blast!" Hagan shouted.
Rhyperior raised its arms and fired a barrage of jagged stones from the cannon in its palm. The rocks shot toward Rune in bursts one after the other.
"Spin and dodge! Use Shadow Ball midair!" Shion countered.
Rune twisted, boosters flaring and spiraling in a wide roll. Several Rock Blasts missed or grazed, while Rune summoned a glowing orb of ghost energy and hurled it downward.
BOOM.
It struck just behind Rhyperior's right foot, destabilizing its stance. Shion clenched his fist.
"Now, Dynamic Punch!"
Rune rocketed downward with terrifying speed. Its fist began to glow a chaotic, flickering orange light.
The moment the attack began, gasps swept through the audience.
Dynamic Punch was volatile.
If it hit, it would confuse.
But if it missed there would be no second shot.
Rhyperior raised its arms instinctively to block.
But Rune's flight pattern changed mid-dive.
It shifted left at the last second, evading the defense and the glowing punch slammed straight into Rhyperior's side.
Direct hit.
A burst of chaotic energy exploded outward, knocking both Pokémon away from the point of contact.
Rhyperior tumbled.
It roared confused, staggering.
Eyes unfocused.
The crowd rose in a wave.
From above, Ren murmured, "That's his chance."
Mila gripped the edge of her seat. "Come on, Shion…"
On the ground, Rune landed on one knee, visibly winded. Smoke curled from its arms, but it stood.
Shion's heart raced. "Finish it shadow punch!"
Rune's body blurred.
Rhyperior, still dizzy, spun left and right, snarling but no enemy was visible.
Silence fell over the stadium.
Then
Rune emerged behind it, cloaked in ghostly fire, its massive arm pulled back.
Before Rhyperior could react
BAM.
The strike landed flush against the back of its head.
Rhyperior's eyes rolled, its knees buckled.
And it fell.
Boom.
Dust plumed outward.
The arena fell quiet for half a second
Then erupted.
The crowd roared, cheers exploding in waves across the seats.
Referees immediately signaled the end of the match.
Rhyperior lay unconscious.
Rune stood, chest still glowing.
Barely but clearly the winner.
Shion stood frozen for a second.
Then his knees buckled slightly, and he exhaled everything all at once.
He ran forward and wrapped his arms as far as he could around Rune's rocky leg.
"You did it, buddy," he whispered. "You did amazing."
Rune's massive hand gently lowered to his shoulder.
Its core pulsed.
From the stands, Mila stood, clapping with a wide grin. "That was incredible!"
Vince laughed. "That was better than half the exhibition matches I've seen!"
Ren simply watched, a small nod of approval given in silence.