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The cheers inside the arena were deafening. This had been one of the least visually spectacular battles of the day. However, once the commentator explained what had happened, everyone was in awe of Espurr's power.
The advantage of evolution had been completely overlooked.
Espurr won in the most straightforward manner possible.
Hayata still couldn't believe what had just happened. There was a clear difference between evolved and unevolved forms. Both Espurr and Meowstic had removed their limiters. So why did Espurr win?
His rationality and the education he had received since childhood prevented him from losing his temper and openly doubting reality. Suppressing the fire burning inside his chest, he gritted his teeth and threw out his fifth Pokémon.
Luther subconsciously pulled out his Pokédex. He hadn't expected to see this massive defensive wall appear.
"Bastiodon, the Shield Pokémon. It reflects all frontal attacks. Gentle in nature. It feeds on grass and berries."
Bastiodon resembled a Triceratops, except it had an enormous bony shield on its face.
"Rock- and Steel-type, huh?"
Luther considered his options. Bastiodon's physical and special defenses were absurdly high. It wasn't the kind of Pokémon that hit particularly hard, but trying to hurt it felt like scratching an itch.
Wait.
Wasn't Bastiodon the quintessential stalling Pokémon?
It relied on extreme bulk, grinding down the opponent's stamina before slowly cleaning up the endgame.
Luther threw out Houndoom's Poké Ball.
Hayata had once claimed that Houndoom would become useless if its rhythm were slowed down, so Luther had every reason to believe he would win this match with Houndoom.
Ever since Luther's team grew larger, Houndoom developed a sense of security. Aside from training, he mostly slept.
But today, there wasn't a trace of drowsiness in him.
After being released onto the field, Houndoom paced slowly. He even lifted his head to glance at the floating camera above.
He walked with a leisurely gait, as if strolling through his own backyard. The roaring crowd didn't disturb him at all.
"This may not be the main tournament stage yet, but we'll get there. Let's start from here."
That was Luther's promise to Houndoom.
As he aged, his reaction speed and competitive level declined. No matter how hard he trained, stamina was always his limiting factor.
The others on the team were young.
For Houndoom, every battle was a bonus. He had longed to stand on this stage for years. Now that his lifelong wish had finally been realized, his blood was boiling.
This was likely exactly what Hayata wanted. After all, Luther had insisted on one-on-one battles. Unless someone fell, none of the previously used Pokémon would return.
Against an older Pokémon like Houndoom, a drawn-out battle meant certain victory.
Perhaps Houndoom's bulging muscles created too strong a visual impact; no one realized he was aging. Even the commentator praised him as a well-trained young Houndoom.
Suddenly, the referee felt that something was wrong.
The same intense unease he had felt during the psychic clash between Meowstic and Espurr resurfaced.
He hurriedly signaled to Aegislash, motioning for it to shield him more securely. He finally understood that if these two kept battling like this, he might get hurt for real.
"Battle start!"
"Bastiodon, set up Stealth Rock!"
Hayata didn't believe he would lose. Against Houndoom, he was certain he would win. As a Fire/Dark-type Pokémon, Houndoom had no moves that could seriously damage Bastiodon.
Now, Hayata needed to prepare for the rest of the battle.
"I can still turn this around," he told himself firmly.
The fact that no one had ever done it before didn't mean it was impossible; it only meant they weren't capable enough.
"Inferno."
Why start with such a stamina-draining move? Was Luther trying to make Houndoom burn out quickly?
"What is this...?" The referee was the first to sense something unusual.
The temperature of the battlefield was rising.
A scorching wave of heat washed over Hayata's face. At that exact moment, Stealth Rock was successfully set.
Half of the arena began to smoke.
Bastiodon paced restlessly. The ground felt like a giant iron griddle.
And yet... Houndoom's move hadn't even been fully released.
Inferno didn't require any kind of buildup.
The only explanation was that this Houndoom was deliberately channeling his power, trying to set the entire battlefield on fire.
"Protect!"
Flames burst up from the ground, intertwining above Bastiodon's head and forming a massive cage that sealed him inside.
This was a true inferno.
After the previous matches, the arena had only sustained damage during the Psychic clash between Espurr and Meowstic. But now, the Rock-type battlefield had been baked by extreme heat until it cracked open and glowed red.
Even standing at the edge of the field, Luther was sweating profusely. His back was completely soaked.
This was outrageous.
He had never imagined that Houndoom could unleash this level of power.
At Snowpoint Gym, when Houndoom charged forward without hesitation, Luther thought that was its limit.
But this Inferno made him realize... Houndoom was still breaking through.
Though he often seemed like an old dog dozing off, he had never stopped trying to grow stronger.
Protect can shield a Pokémon from most incoming moves.
But it had limits.
Brandon's Regirock shattered Paul's Electivire's Protect with ease.
Now, in the steam-filled arena, it was clear that Bastiodon's Protect wasn't holding completely. The extreme heat was seeping through the barrier little by little.
Cracks spread across the shield.
It was on the verge of collapse, and it would require just one more strike.
Luther looked at Houndoom and the Houndoom looked back at him.
Luther smiled. "Go! This is your stage... Overheat!"
'A Bastiodon invincible from the front?'
After this collision, Luther wondered if the Professors might reconsider how they described Bastiodon in the Pokédex.
Houndoom let out a howl, a charge cry from the battlefield. Within the searing steam, Houndoom's entire body was engulfed in flames. Its original form was no longer distinguishable.
A fire dragon streaked across the arena, crossing it in an instant and arriving before Bastiodon.
The steam parted, causing a distorted, flame-wreathed face to slam into the Protect barrier.
Like a demon emerging from the mist, Houndoom's expression filled Bastiodon with dread.
The Protect barrier shattered at the moment of impact.
Bastiodon knew Hayata was ordering him to counterattack.
But, locked in eye contact with Houndoom, his body stiffened. Instinctively, he lowered his head, using the massive bony shield to defend himself.
The grating crash echoed throughout the arena.
Anyone with basic knowledge knew how hard Bastiodon's skull was.
Overheat collided head-on with the bone shield.
Logically, Bastiodon should have had the advantage.
And yet... Everyone, including Hayata himself, felt that Bastiodon wouldn't last. Its massive, heavy body was being pushed backward. It weighed at least four times as much as Houndoom.
He stomped his feet deep into the smoking ground, trying to halt the advance.
But he was still being driven back.
His head burned.
The terrifying temperature of Overheat, combined with the lingering effects of Inferno, tormented him.
Houndoom's stamina had long since reached its limit. Inferno and Overheat had drained him completely.
And yet... His consciousness was crystal clear.
He could hear his own heartbeat. He could hear Bastiodon's suppressed groans.
Luther's team was young. Everyone except him had an endless future ahead of them.
He didn't.
Others could fight for the future.
He fought for the present.
Squeezing out the last of his stamina, Houndoom increased the temperature of Overheat even more. This time, Bastiodon didn't just feel his head burning; he felt his entire body on fire.
Pain stabbed at him from every direction. He wanted to push Houndoom back with all his might. But the twisted, savage face in front of him shattered his will to resist.
His feet, buried deep in the ground, were forced upward.
Bastiodon had never "run" this fast before.
Houndoom practically carried him across the arena.
Near Hayata's battle position, Houndoom finally swung heavily, flinging Bastiodon away.
As if in warning, Houndoom shot Hayata a sideways glance.
Then, gritting his teeth, he turned back into the steam and walked back to Luther's side.
(End of Chapter)