To Takao, the Crystal Steelix was like an insurmountable mountain.
No matter what, he had to defeat it—overcome it first.
Then, he could swap Tyranitar out and conserve strength.For Takao, the priority was clear: if the Crystal Steelix wasn't taken down, he would never be able to drag this battle forward.
"Oh my! It's Tyranitar! Forced by the threat of Crystal Steelix, Takao has already sent out his trump card so early in the match!" the announcer exclaimed.
The arena erupted into cheers.
Many of Yozora's fans were thrilled. For Takao to play his ace so quickly meant he had already been pushed to his limits.
But Yozora wasn't careless. Takao's Tyranitar was strong—Elite Four mid-tier, even stronger than Harrison's Blaziken.
And not just slightly stronger.
Tyranitar was a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, its potential and natural physique far surpassing that of a Blaziken.
What's more, Tyranitar could Mega Evolve.In his semifinal against Dushe, Takao hadn't used Mega Evolution, but that didn't mean he couldn't.Yozora narrowed his eyes. He had to be cautious.
The battle resumed.
"Steelix, Rock Tomb!" Yozora commanded first.
Boom—boom—boom! Huge slabs of stone fell from the sky, crashing down toward Tyranitar.
Yet Tyranitar only raised its head, glaring upward without fear. It didn't even flinch.
Crash!The central boulder slammed down directly onto Tyranitar—shattering instantly into rubble that scattered across the field.
Tyranitar stood tall, utterly unscathed. On its face lingered the faintest trace of a mocking grin.
The two side boulders smashed into the ground beside it, but it hadn't even moved.
Rock Tomb normally boxed an opponent in: one boulder to the center, two to the flanks, leaving no path to escape.
But Tyranitar hadn't bothered escaping at all. It had simply taken the attack head-on.
The result—virtually unharmed.
"As expected of the Desert Tyrant, Tyranitar! Its body is like a monster's—unyielding and indestructible!" the announcer declared in awe.
Takao raised his hand. "Tyranitar, Hyper Beam!"
A golden blast roared forward, slamming into Crystal Steelix and hurling its massive body across the arena, gouging a deep trench into the floor.
Dust billowed up.
Everyone knew how absurdly tough the Crystal Steelix's defenses were. Yet Tyranitar had blasted it backward regardless.
But Takao's frown didn't lift. Knocking it back wasn't enough—if it wasn't defeated, it meant nothing.
He knew well: Tyranitar's true specialty lay in physical might."Charge in, Tyranitar! Use Brick Break!"
Boom, boom, boom—Tyranitar thundered forward like a raging kaiju, each step shaking the ground. The sight alone terrified the younger spectators—many burst into tears, burying their faces into their mothers' arms.
Even the slowing effect of Rock Tomb hadn't touched it.
Of course not. Crystal Steelix's Rock Tomb hadn't hurt Tyranitar in the slightest. Without damage, there could be no secondary effect.
Yozora's eyes tightened.
For a moment, he considered recalling Crystal Steelix.
After all, forcing Takao to use Tyranitar proved his other Pokémon couldn't crack Steelix's defense. If Yozora preserved Steelix, it might serve later.
But after thinking it through, he dismissed the idea.
Steelix was the weakest of his six.
Was there any point in preserving his weakest fighter?No. He would use it to wear Tyranitar down as much as possible.
"Stop it, Steelix—Blizzard!"
The Crystal Steelix opened its massive jaws, unleashing a howling storm of freezing winds toward Tyranitar.
"What?! Blizzard?! Unbelievable! Yozora's Crystal Steelix can use an Ice-type move?!" the announcer gasped.
Even Takao blinked in surprise. "So… it's not a Shiny. It's a Variant Pokémon."
Still, he wasn't alarmed.
The Blizzard barely slowed Tyranitar. It roared and plowed forward through the storm as if nothing had touched it.
Takao laughed aloud. "Good! Just like that, Tyranitar! Keep going—Brick Break again and again!"
The monstrous Pokémon charged, claws glowing white as it slammed strike after strike onto Crystal Steelix's body.
Yozora's face darkened.
Steelix's defense could rival Tyranitar's. But offensively, it was no contest.
Steelix couldn't even pierce Tyranitar's armor. It was nothing but a one-sided beating.
And no matter how strong a wall, given enough time, it would fall.
Sure enough—soon Steelix let out a final metallic wail, collapsing in defeat.
"Tyranitar secures the point for Takao! As expected of his trump card!" the announcer praised.
The crowd roared.
Takao had been famous for years; his fans erupted in cheers, delighted at his comeback.
"Return, Steelix."
Yozora withdrew his fallen Pokémon and tossed out his next ball."Your turn, Scizor!"
A flash of white light—and the red flash of lightning took the field, glaring across at Tyranitar.
Tyranitar's aura was suffocating, radiating power. Even without Intimidate, its presence alone imposed dread.
But Yozora's Scizor stood firm. Trained under harsh conditions, it had forged a heart of steel. Fear would not shake it.
…
Takao made no move to withdraw Tyranitar. Having tasted momentum, he clearly intended to let his ace bulldoze through the first half.
"Scizor, Quick Attack!" Yozora commanded.
Thanks to Light Metal, Scizor was already fast. With Quick Attack, it became a red blur.
It darted around Tyranitar, striking from every angle, leaving shallow dents on its armor with each blow.
Scizor's power outstripped Steelix's—its strikes drew blood. But the wounds were pitifully small.
Barely scratches.
Tyranitar sneered. To it, Scizor was just an annoying insect buzzing about, pricking its hide. At one point, it even reached up and scratched itself lazily.
The crowd burst into laughter.
But Scizor froze, humiliated, its pride deeply wounded.
Through their bond, Yozora felt that burning frustration too. His jaw clenched.
Scizor's natural Attack was already sky-high. On top of that, he had layered Huge Power and Technician, amplifying it to monstrous levels.
Yet still—it could barely break through Tyranitar's defense.
That defense was terrifying.
Quick Attack's power was limited, yes. Stronger moves would bite deeper.
But therein lay the risk.Quick Attack's speed kept Scizor safe—Tyranitar couldn't pin it down. If Scizor used a slower, stronger move, it risked being crushed in a single counterattack.
That, Yozora could not allow.
"Scizor—Swords Dance!"
Scizor spun like a crimson top, whirling with deadly grace.
Swords Dance. The ultimate Attack buff—raising power by two full stages, a sixty percent increase in strength.
A move few Pokémon could ever master. Scizor was one of them.
Takao's eyes gleamed. This was what he had been waiting for.
"Now, Tyranitar—Dark Pulse!"
A wave of black energy erupted toward the spinning Scizor.
"Dodge it, Scizor!" Yozora shouted.
Scizor twisted, slipping out of its spin in time. Twin golden flares ignited beneath its feet—the sign of Swords Dance's completed boost.
If its Attack had been 200 before, now it was well over 320.
If it could only barely scratch Tyranitar earlier, now it could bite much deeper.
"The Scizor's aura has clearly strengthened after Swords Dance!" the announcer cried.
"Charge! Quick Attack!" Yozora commanded.
Shoom—bam—bam—bam!
Scizor became a crimson storm, striking again and again.
This time Tyranitar staggered back under the flurry, its face contorting in pain.
Blow after blow hammered it, forcing it backward five meters, gouging trenches in the ground with its heels.
The Tyrant Pokémon snarled in fury. How could an Elite Four–tier king be pushed back by a Senior-level insect?!
"Unbelievable! Scizor's Quick Attacks are landing hard now! Tyranitar is actually being forced back!" the announcer shouted, swept up in the excitement.
But Takao's expression turned grim."Tyranitar, calm down! Watch carefully, predict its path—Dragon Tail!"
Tyranitar endured a few more strikes before suddenly whipping its massive tail.
Crash! The blow smashed directly into Scizor.
The crimson insect let out a cry as it was hurled like a cannonball across the arena, slamming into the wall with a deafening boom.
It embedded deep into the stone, unmoving.
Scizor had fainted.
The crowd erupted in celebration—Takao and Tyranitar had seized their second victory.
In the end, Scizor and Tyranitar weren't equals.One was Elite-level mid-tier.The other, Elite Four mid-tier.
Tyranitar was a walking fortress, able to endure strike after strike.
But Scizor couldn't survive even one of Tyranitar's counters.
The difference in power and defense was absolute.
…
…
(End of Chapter)