"Ride that flow—Triple Kick!"
Grey gave the order.
Hitmontop, still blazing forward in a rapid spin, drew in energy. The hard centrifugal force tugged the Ice-type energy off the floor, frosting a thin sheen over its legs and tail.
Gary: ? ? ?
Watching those afterimages turn ice-blue fast enough to see with the naked eye, Gary felt something was off.
Don't tell me Triple Kick is "evolving" into Triple Axel?!
Triple Axel is an Ice-type move. Its base power tops Triple Kick—and the effect is the same: each successful hit makes the next one stronger!
If this were just Triple Kick, Gary figured Nidoking could stand there and eat it.
But if it's Triple Axel, Nidoking's going to take a beating!
Panic nipped at him. Even with Thunderbolt flaring as cover, his gut still clenched.
"Nidoking—pour it on! Don't let Hitmontop get close!"
With no time to spare, Gary pinned his hopes on Nidoking holding the line.
Both Abilities boost move power. It should be fine… right?
"Nido!"
Nidoking shoved both hands forward. The golden current wreathing it swelled by about a third, etching black scorch on the floor.
If Hitmontop charged straight through, it would be baptized by Thunderbolt!
Gary gambled: Hitmontop wouldn't dare dive into the storm.
A near-solid electric wall split the two. Hitmontop spun faster and faster, the ice-blue blur stuttering for a heartbeat. Nidoking's throat bobbed. He didn't dare relax.
"Go through."
"What?!"
Grey's call shocked Gary to the core.
Take the hit just to beat Nidoking? Grey, you maniac—
"Gary, you've got this wrong."
Grey looked up at Gary's wide eyes. "For Fighting-type Pokémon, the best training is to harden themselves in the forge."
"So…"
He lifted a finger and tapped the air. "Hitmontop—use Triple Axel!"
"Kopo!"
In the golden thunder, a shard of ice-blue light blazed brighter than anything.
Before everyone's eyes, the spinning gyro of a Hitmontop wrapped itself in Ice-type force and, like a hundred-ton juggernaut at full speed, forced a path through the electric wall!
"If that's how you want it, we won't back down!"
A glint of ice flashed in Gary's eyes—only an instant, but a thousand thoughts raced through it.
"Nidoking—Fire Punch!!!"
The frost glow surged—and Nidoking slid half a step back. Starfire bloomed in its palm!
With Sheer Force behind it, power spiked fast. The blaze rose to match that piercing frost, even threatening to smother it!
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Hitmontop's spinning legs struck several times in a second, and Sheer Force–boosted Fire Punch gave no ground.
Each time Ice and fire touched, dense white steam billowed, fogging the dojo like a fairyland.
"So much power…"
Sweat pricked Gary's clenched palm. Fire Punch should beat the Ice-type Triple Axel, and yet—they were even?!
[Replacing raw force with hit frequency? That's… interesting.]
[That Hitmontop is terrifying. Doesn't its head get dizzy?]
[I got woozy just watching it…]
The chat streamed by; most trainers read the shape of the fight.
Grey's raising was scary. Even elite trainers would struggle to break through one of the Three Generals—Hitmontop.
"Nidoking—use that move!"
Gary barked.
"Nido!"
At the shout, Nidoking's hands moved even faster; the fire around its fists flared more fiercely—seen from afar, it looked like flame cloaked its whole body.
Hitmontop ate several punches; scorched marks spread across its frame.
Thankfully, with Sheer Force, there was no burn.
After that brief burst, Nidoking began to slow; the fire on its fists eased.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Hitmontop's spin held steady. While Nidoking caught its breath, the ice-blue afterimages kept slamming home; frost blossomed across Nidoking's chest—only to be shattered to glitter by the next kick!
"Nido…"
Nidoking grunted. Hitmontop's pressure was brutal—ten hits in only a few seconds, and Nidoking's breathing turned ragged.
Cold air knifed its sinuses; the chill raced wide. Just as it was about to wash over everything, Nidoking raised both arms to guard its head.
A deep violet glimmer seeped from the horn. Hitmontop sensed the wind-up; after the last kick, it broke away in a hurry!
Splat!
Toxic poured out, lashing like a swift serpent at the fleeing top!
Seeing the Toxic, Grey called out clean and quick: "Close the gap with Detect—then Triple Axel!"
"Kopo!"
A faint veil rippled over Hitmontop's body; it barely slipped past the poison.
But the surging venom tracked it like a lock-on, slithering right behind!
"Nidoking—Poison Jab!"
Watching the frost coat Hitmontop again, Gary chose to meet force with force.
"Nido!"
Nidoking roared. Purple light flooded its muscled forearm as it stabbed a heavy punch toward the incoming Hitmontop!
Even the surrounding air shifted; the spiral airflow tugged Hitmontop's line a hair off true!
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The cascading kicks hammered Nidoking's chest. With each hit stronger than the last, it dropped to one knee—Poison Jab fizzled out in its hand.
"Now—Toxic!"
"Nido!"
Biting down on the pain, Nidoking forced out one last Toxic!
Splat!
The poison ball was so dark it was almost black. At this range it pasted right across Hitmontop's face—leaving it badly poisoned!
But that was all Nidoking had left; its last breath spent, it sagged to one knee and closed its eyes.
"Nidoking is unable to battle. Challenger, please send out your final Pokémon."
At Bumiao's call, Gary recalled Nidoking and pulled his last ball.
[No doubt about it—Nidoking did everything it could.]
[Are we finally going to see someone take down Hitmontop?!]
[Why does Grey look even scarier than Sabrina when he fields the Three Generals?]
[No kidding—Grey's the Fighting specialist!]
Hitmontop had carved its image into everyone's mind—especially that Rapid Spin. There weren't many Pokémon who could last more than a few exchanges.
"This is my last sweetheart—go!"
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