The scoreboard glowed brightly with Gladion leading 5-3. Now that Bruno's last was here, It was inevitable for everyone to see that it was Gladion's win.
The announcer's voice cut through the noise. "Elite Four Bruno might be on the backfoot with the scoreline being 5-3 in favor of Gym Leader Gladion. But do not underestimate him and his ace Machamp. We have seen them do some crazy stuff in the past."
"Bruno's Machamp is a veteran of countless battles. It has stood against the strongest opponents Indigo has ever produced. This is not a Pokémon that backs down. This is a Pokémon that lives for the fight!"
He paused to let the crowd cheer Bruno's name. Then he raised his voice even higher. "But more than that, folks, it is Machamp versus Machamp! The first Pokémon of Gym Leader Gladion versus the very first Pokémon of Elite Four Bruno! Two absolute powerhouses of the Fighting type! Two monsters built from pure muscle and unbreakable will! This is the kind of matchup dreams are made of!"
The crowd roared so loudly that the sound bounced off the stadium walls. Chants of "Machamp! Machamp!" filled every corner.
The announcer leaned into the microphone one last time. "Get ready, everyone! Two titans are about to collide! Who will stand tall when the dust settles? Let us find out right now!"
Gladion internally thought,'Damn, that's a pretty good announcer. He is hyping the fight even if it's clear that I have already won the fight. I should look into hiring him for my gym after the battle. He might get in more crowds to watch the gym battles as well my ace battles.'
Gladion looked across the field at Bruno's ace Machamp. The Pokémon was as bulked up as Guy.
But this Machamp carried scars all over its body. Long lines crossed its chest. Old burns marked its arms.This was a warrior that had seen real war.
'Guy might be tired and injured from the previous battle with Hariyama,' Gladion thought, 'but he has the advantage of bulking up twice. That raises his attack and defense to incredible levels. Though, I doubt he has the skill in martial arts and the experience of Bruno's Machamp. But that would make the fight more interesting, would it not?'
Both Machamp walked to the center of the field without any orders from their trainers. Gladion watched curiously. He had never seen this before.
The two Pokémon locked all four of their hands together. They began to wrestle. Muscles bulged. Veins stood out on their arms. Neither gave an inch. Wide grins spread across both their faces. They pushed and pulled with raw power. The ground beneath their feet cracked slightly from the force.
The announcer's voice rose in excitement. "Oh! Is this the legendary Machamp tradition? When two Machamp meet, they try to wrestle to find out who is stronger! Look at that grip! Neither is backing down! This is pure Fighting-type pride!"
Gladion thought, 'That explains what it is.'
Neither Machamp gave ground. Then, to the shock of both trainers, they headbutted each other at the same time. Their foreheads collided with a loud crack. Blood trickled from small cuts on both heads. The impact broke their lock. They stepped back, still grinning, blood dripping down their faces.
The true battle began with that.
"Power-Up Punch!" both trainers called at the exact same moment.
Two glowing fists collided in mid-air. The shockwave sent dust flying.
Then the dance of punches started. Moves were called. Punches were thrown. Fire Punches met Fire Punches in explosions of flame.
Electric Punches met Fire Punches in bursts of sparks and heat. Bullet Punches clashed against each other with metallic clangs that rang across the stadium.
All four arms moved in blurs. Every punch was met with a counter. Every block was followed by an immediate strike.
The crowd was completely awed. They started chanting together. "This is awesome! This is awesome!" The chant grew louder with every exchange. People clapped in rhythm.
Some punches missed their marks. Fists struck faces instead of blocking arms. Bruises formed quickly on both Machamp.
Burns appeared where Fire Punches landed. Sparks danced across skin where Thunder Punches connected. Blood mixed with sweat. Both Pokémon breathed hard, but neither slowed down.
Bruno ordered, "Brick Break!"
His Machamp's hands glowed white. It delivered powerful chops with all four arms.
Gladion responded instantly. "Poison Jab to counter the Brick Break!"
Guy's fists turned purple with poison energy. He thrust them forward to meet the incoming chops. The Poison Jabs were not powerful enough to fully stop Brick Break.
Guy's fingers bent at unnatural angles. Bones cracked audibly. Pain flashed across his face.
But he had done his job. Poison seeped into Bruno's Machamp through the contact. It's movements slowed slightly. Its breathing grew heavier.
Gladion saw the damage immediately. "Back up, Guy!"
Guy jumped back. He cradled his broken hands but stayed on his feet. With his fingers shattered, close-quarters fighting would be almost impossible. Bruno's Machamp was now poisoned. It would be too slow to pursue effectively.
Bruno noticed Machamp taking a distance. He knew what Gladion planned next. Both trainers called the move at the same time.
"Hyper Beam!"
Both Machamp charged the attack. Energy gathered in their mouths. White light built to blinding levels.
Then two massive beams fired at once. The beams collided in the center of the field. The explosion was catastrophic. A white shockwave rolled outward.
The arena barriers snapped up to protect the audience. The ground cracked in wide circles. The sound deafened everyone for several seconds.
When the dust and smoke finally cleared, Bruno's Machamp stood bloodied. Its chest heaved.
Guy stood straight in a fighting stance. His arms hung at his sides. His eyes were open, but they were unfocused. He did not move.
The referee ran forward and took a closer look. Guy remained perfectly still. The Machamp was unconscious. He had refused to fall even after losing consciousness.
The referee raised his flag. "Machamp of Gym Leader Gladion is unable to battle!
Some people in the audience cried out at Guy's loss. Others clapped with tears in their eyes at his determination. He had stood straight even after being knocked out.
"Yosh! Youth shines once again!" someone in the crowd shouted. Others joined in. Clapping turned into a standing ovation for the fallen Machamp.
Bruno recalled his Machamp slowly. He looked at the Poké Ball with pride and sadness. "I forfeit my Machamp," he said.
"This was not a championship battle. It was just an exhibition match. It is not worth it for Machamp to continue in this condition."
He looked across the field at Gladion. "You fought with honor. Your team fought with honor. Thank you for the best battle I have had in years."
Gladion nodded respectfully. "Thank you Sir Bruno. Your team was a delight to fight with."
The crowd cheered for both trainers.
-----Author Notes------
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