"A badge that looks like that... it's more like a piece of commemorative art than a simple trophy," the spectators whispered, their eyes glued to the crystalline tree emblem shimmering on the monitors.
Sasaki Sho, however, was unimpressed. He scanned the pristine battlefield, his lip curling. "You spent all this money on fancy sofas and giant screens, but you're too broke to hire a professional referee? Where is the judge, Feng Che?"
"Don't be so quick to judge," Feng Che replied with a thin smile. "The referee has been watching you this entire time."
He snapped his fingers. From the ceiling, a sleek, motorized drone-like device descended. It was encased in a transparent, high-tech shell with a familiar orange glow vibrating inside.
"Allow me to introduce the official arbiter of the Viridian Gym: Battle Rotom," Feng Che announced. "This specialized Rotom form is world-renowned in the Galar region for its impartial and lightning-fast calculations. It operates on the principles of absolute fairness and accuracy."
The Rotom zipped toward the center of the field, its digital eyes blinking rapidly. "Greetings, citizens! I am Battle Rotom-V01, a proud graduate of the 119th Referee Training Program!" To the crowd's amusement, the Rotom displayed a digital copy of its graduation certificate on its screen.
"Enough with the gadgets!" Sho barked, cutting the Pokémon off. "Let's see if your birds can handle a real shock. Go, Zebstrika!"
The Zebra Pokémon materialized with a crackle of static. It was a magnificent specimen: its black body was interlaced with jagged, lightning-bolt-shaped white stripes. Two jagged horns stood tall on its head, and its mane—stretching all the way to its tail—smoldered with actual sparks, looking like an explosion of white-hot electricity.
Zebstrika is known for its volatile temperament and its ability to run at speeds that create sonic booms resembling thunderclaps. As it stamped its grey hooves, the ground beneath it scorched.
Pokémon: Zebstrika Level: 60 Potential: Excellent (Green) Ability: Motor Drive / Lightning Rod Status: Aggressive
"A level 60 Zebstrika... clearly, you came prepared to hunt Flying-types," Feng Che noted calmly. "But a cage is only as strong as its bars. Let's see if you can catch the wind. Corviknight, take the stage!"
With a heavy metallic thud, the Raven Knight landed. Its matte-black steel feathers didn't reflect the stadium lights; they seemed to swallow them. Surrounding its massive frame was that same eerie, cyan-colored Delta Stream, swirling like a protective cloak.
"A Steel-type? You're just giving me a bigger conductor for my bolts!" Sho laughed. "Zebstrika, use Wild Charge!"
Zebstrika let out a neigh that sounded like a lightning strike. Its entire body became a mass of golden electricity as it charged across the field, leaving a trail of melted glass in its wake.