"Fennekin, use Ember!"
Jason took the initiative, ordering Fennekin to attack first.
Fennekin opened its mouth, spitting out several small fireballs that streaked toward Larvitar.
"Dodge!"
Lucas licked his dry lips. His heart was pounding wildly.
This feeling was something he had never experienced before. Even back in school—whether it was fierce competitions or reckless adventures—nothing had ever made his blood race like this.
Larvitar lowered its body and shifted to the side, narrowly avoiding every fireball.
"Now—Rock Tomb!"
"You—!"
Larvitar roared. The air above Fennekin rippled as a massive rock slowly took shape.
"Fennekin, move!"
Jason's expression changed instantly.
The stone had appeared directly above Fennekin's head. It wasn't huge, but it was nearly half Fennekin's size. If it landed cleanly, the result wouldn't be pretty.
Fennekin leaped away just in time, the falling rock brushing past its fur before slamming into the ground with a deafening crash.
The impact made Jason's eyelids twitch.
"Wow… are Rock-type moves always this scary?" Lily exclaimed, eyes shining.
Emma nodded silently in agreement.
"Dragon Dance."
Lucas's smile deepened. Instead of pressing the attack, he calmly ordered Larvitar to boost itself.
"Gra—!"
Larvitar let out a low cry. Its small body moved in a strange, ancient rhythm, faint emerald light flowing around it.
"Dragon Dance," Emma murmured. "A Dragon-type move that raises Attack and Speed."
She remembered Ren mentioning that this was a genetic move Larvitar had awakened.
"Fennekin, rush in with Ember!" Jason frowned.
He understood very well how dangerous stat boosts could be. He had to interrupt it.
But it was already too late.
As Fennekin charged out of the dust kicked up by the falling rocks, Larvitar finished its Dragon Dance.
"Use Dragon Dance again!" Lucas shouted after a quick calculation.
Larvitar retreated a step and began dancing once more.
"Ember, again!" Jason was getting anxious. This cousin of his was seriously inhuman.
Fennekin fired another volley of flames.
Larvitar tried to dodge using the lingering rhythm of Dragon Dance, but it was still inexperienced. Despite its efforts, a few embers struck its body.
"Gra!"
Larvitar cried out in pain as sparks exploded against its armor-like skin.
Jason's face darkened—but Larvitar didn't stop.
Enduring the pain, it completed the second Dragon Dance without interruption.
"Jason," Lucas said lightly, the corners of his mouth lifting, "Looks like that's all your Fennekin can do."
"Keep using Ember!" Jason snapped.
"Larvitar, Stomp!"
Larvitar raised one foot—and slammed it down hard.
Boom!
A dull explosion echoed as the entire battlefield shook violently. Emma and Lily, who were watching from the side, nearly lost their footing.
They didn't even notice that, though. Their eyes were fixed on Larvitar's feet.
The ground had cracked. Deep fissures spread through the dirt.
That stomp alone had shattered the earth.
"Holy—!"
Jason barely managed to steady himself, staring wide-eyed. A completely unfiltered curse slipped out.
If that stomp had landed directly on Fennekin, it would've been over on the spot.
The shockwave threw Fennekin off balance.
"Rock Tomb," Lucas said, his excitement rising. Even he hadn't expected the stomp to be this effective.
"Gra!"
Larvitar roared as another massive rock formed overhead.
This one was far larger than before—bigger than Fennekin's entire body.
After two Dragon Dances, Larvitar's Attack had increased by two stages.
"Fennekin!" Jason shouted, panic flashing across his face.
But Fennekin had only just managed to get back on its feet.
Crash!
The falling rock smashed down, burying Fennekin beneath a heap of rubble.
Dust slowly settled.
Under the jagged stones, Fennekin lay still, eyes rolled back.
It had been knocked out.
"I… isn't that a bit too strong?" Lily said in shock.
"Larvitar is amazing…" Emma clicked her tongue.
"It's normal," Ren said calmly. "Rock-type moves are extremely effective against Fire-types. Add in two Dragon Dances, and this outcome was inevitable."
From the very start, the result of this battle had been decided.
Larvitar naturally resisted Fire-type moves, while Fennekin was weak to Rock-type attacks. Add Dragon Dance and that stomp—
Fennekin was basically fighting with its head.
Even if Jason threw out another Vulpix, it would still be crushed instantly by Larvitar in its current state.
Lucas hadn't been bragging at all.
After the battle, Lucas had Larvitar clear away the rocks. Jason immediately sprayed healing medicine on Fennekin.
"Woo…"
Fennekin whimpered softly after waking up, clearly in low spirits.
"It's okay," Jason said gently, rubbing its head. "We'll work harder next time."
"Woo~"
Fennekin jumped into Jason's arms, rubbing against him affectionately.
"Fox Pokémon really are cute," Lucas muttered.
Then—
"Well, my Larvitar is not only stronger," he added smugly, crouching down, "it's cuter too."
He handed Larvitar two energy cubes.
Worth it. Absolutely worth it.
The money hadn't been wasted at all.
"Gra~"
Larvitar chewed happily, lifting its chin with a very human sense of pride.
"Ren!" Lily's eyes sparkled. "I want to draw Dratini!"
"..."
Ren fell silent.