Sam looked at his Lucario.
The Aura Pokémon was panting slightly, its blue fur covered in dust from the Earthquake and the sandstorm.
Tyranitar's final desperate struggle had undeniably caused damage.
"Lucario, return. You've worked hard."
Sam raised his Poké Ball and recalled his partner.
Although Lucario could still fight, it wasn't wise to keep him on the field.
Sam knew Red's lineup perfectly.
The Kanto Champion was a traditionalist: The three Kanto Starters, Snorlax, Lapras, and his ace, Pikachu. That lineup rarely changed.
If Sam kept the Steel-type Lucario on the field, Red would almost certainly send out Charizard next.
It was better to save Lucario for later.
After a split second of thought, Sam grabbed his second Poké Ball.
Across the field, Red was already ready.
Cynthia, acting as the referee, confirmed both sides were set. She waved the flag sharply.
"Round Two! Begin!"
"I leave it to you, Blastoise!"
Red threw his Poké Ball high into the air.
"Blaaast!"
A massive tortoise with twin water cannons emerged.
But Red didn't stop there.
He immediately pressed the Key Stone in his glove.
"Blastoise! Mega Evolution!"
"Roaaar!"
Blastoise let out a deep growl as the rainbow energy of Mega Evolution enveloped him.
His form shifted rapidly.
When the light faded, the two cannons on his back had merged into a single, massive central cannon extending over his head.
Smaller shell-cannons had erupted from his forearms.
He stood like a walking tank, heavy and immovable.
The data flashed through Sam's mind instantly.
[Pokémon: Mega Blastoise]
[Type: Water]
[Ability: Mega Launcher]
[Level: 69 (Champion Peak)]
[Potential: Tier 3-Legendary]
Using Mega Evolution right at the start, Sam thought, impressed.
It looks like Red has perfectly mastered the form. And that potential...
"Legendary."
As expected of the Trainer favored by the World.
"Since you're going all out," Sam said, tossing his ball, "I'll match you. Go, Darkrai!"
Whoosh.
A shadow expanded on the field, and from it rose a figure cloaked in darkness, with white fog trailing like a phantom's hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Hiss..."
The moment Darkrai appeared, a "Dark Void" seemed to expand automatically.
The temperature of the entire training ground dropped several degrees, sending a chill down the spines of the spectators.
"That... what is that Pokémon?"
Ash quickly pulled out his Pokédex.
[Darkrai. Nightmare Pokémon. Dark Type. It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.]
"Darkrai..." Ash stared at the screen.
"Known as the Nightmare Pokémon? A Mythical Pokémon?"
He looked up at Brock, confused.
"Brock, what exactly does 'Mythical' mean? Is it different from Legendary?"
Brock's expression was solemn.
"Mythical Pokémon are the legends within legends. They are so rare that many people question their existence entirely. They possess abilities and potential that far surpass ordinary Pokémon. To think Sam tamed one..."
"In other words," Dawn summarized, clutching Piplup, "it's super strong, right?"
"Right," Brock nodded.
"Ash, I really envy Sam. To command such a unique partner..."
On the sidelines, Cynthia overheard the trio's conversation.
She watched the standoff, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Red will likely lose this round," she murmured softly.
Ash's ears perked up.
"Champion Cynthia? Why do you say that?"
He looked at the field.
"Blastoise is Water, Darkrai is Dark. There's no type advantage or disadvantage. And the battle hasn't even started yet. Why are you so sure Red will lose?"
Ash's question voiced the doubts in Brock and Dawn's minds as well.
Red was a Champion, after all.
Cynthia kept her eyes on the battle, her voice calm.
"I say Red will lose not because Sam is my fiancé," she said with a faint smile, "but because of Darkrai itself. Its fighting style is... weird."
"Weird?" Ash asked.
"How so?"
"If you don't understand the nature of Darkrai, it is easy to fall into a trap," Cynthia explained. Then she pointed to the field.
"Watch. It's starting."
Ash quickly turned his head.
The battle had begun.
"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!" Red commanded.
But before Blastoise could fire, Darkrai's body seemed to lose its solidity.
It didn't dodge left or right. Instead, it melted.
Like a pool of black ink, Darkrai dissolved into the ground and vanished.
"Where is it?!" Ash shouted.
Suddenly, the shadow behind Mega Blastoise distorted.
The black shadow rose up, taking the form of the Nightmare God.
It was completely silent.
Darkrai hovered directly behind the unsuspecting Blastoise, its claws condensing a violent sphere of black energy.
Dark Pulse.
BOOM!
The explosion occurred at point-blank range.
Mega Blastoise didn't even have time to turn around.
The massive impact blasted the heavy, tank-like Pokémon flying more than ten meters across the field.
"No way!" Ash's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face.
He finally understood what Cynthia meant.
Darkrai didn't just use shadows to hide. It was a shadow.
Diving into the ground and attacking from the opponent's own shadow?
The explosion occurred at point-blank range.
Mega Blastoise didn't even have time to turn around.
The massive impact blasted the heavy, tank-like Pokémon flying more than ten meters across the field.
"No way!" Ash's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face.
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