A violent explosion erupted across the battlefield.
Shiftry was blasted downward from the air, plummeting rapidly toward the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Salamence surged forward at terrifying speed, closing the distance in an instant.
Steel Wing activated.
As Shiftry fell even faster, unable to maneuver midair, Salamence struck again—its body flashing with metallic brilliance before following up with a blazing Flamethrower.
The torrent of fire engulfed Shiftry completely.
Sidney's first Pokémon was taken down cleanly.
"Ding! Salamence has defeated Shiftry. Gained 4,895 experience points. Level increased. Current level: Lv72!"
First round.
Aiden's Salamence effortlessly claimed Sidney's opening Pokémon.
Watching his main force fall so easily, Sidney's expression tightened. He had been mentally prepared, yet seeing it unfold so decisively still left him unsettled.
After all, Aiden hadn't used a Legendary Pokémon.
Nor had he even brought out his true first-tier core lineup.
Clearly, in just a single month, this monster had grown again.
"Go, Mightyena!"
Mightyena appeared on the field—Dark-type, Intimidate ability, Purple potential, Level 68.
Aiden smiled lightly.
"Salamence. Keep the momentum going."
Salamence roared, its presence surging once more.
Moxie activated.
After defeating Shiftry, its Attack rose sharply.
However, the moment Mightyena entered, Intimidate triggered—reducing Salamence's Attack again.
The boost and drop effectively canceled each other out.
"Mightyena, use Snarl!"
The Dark-type wolf let out a fierce roar, waves of disruptive sound crashing toward Salamence.
The continuous sonic assault clearly irritated the dragon.
"Salamence—Dragon Rush!"
"Mightyena, Quick Attack! Dodge!"
Salamence shot skyward, a phantom dragon silhouette forming around its body before merging into it.
Then—
It dove.
Even with Mightyena's full-speed Quick Attack, a streak of white trailing behind it, there was no escaping the descending Dragon Rush.
Boom!
The impact detonated across the field, sending Mightyena flying violently.
"Now—Hyper Beam!"
Aiden's calm voice echoed across the stadium.
An orange-gold energy sphere condensed instantly in Salamence's mouth, compressing to a blinding point before erupting into a devastating beam.
The destructive force annihilated Mightyena on the spot.
"Ding! Salamence has defeated Mightyena. Gained 4,700 experience points!"
Two consecutive knockouts.
Sidney clenched his teeth.
"Go, Cacturne!"
Cacturne emerged—a humanoid cactus Pokémon, its green body covered in vicious spikes.
"Ding! Cacturne's current attributes are as follows:"
Pokémon: Cacturne
Level: 69
Ability: Water Absorb
Type: Grass / Dark
Potential: Gold
Bond Evolution: Not unlocked
Mega Evolution: Not unlocked
Moves: Poison Sting, Destiny Bond, Bullet Seed, Pin Missile, Energy Ball, Sandstorm, Ingrain…
Hidden Ability: Water Absorb.
And Destiny Bond.
Troublesome.
Destiny Bond was practically a bug-tier move. If Cacturne fainted while its effect was active, Salamence would be dragged down with it.
Aiden's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Salamence. Watch for a desperate counterattack. Flamethrower!"
The dragon unleashed a fierce stream of fire.
"Cacturne, Sandstorm!"
A raging sandstorm engulfed the battlefield, Cacturne's body fading into the swirling haze.
Flamethrower missed.
"Now—Poison Sting!"
Cacturne burst from the sandstorm, firing a dark purple projectile straight toward Salamence.
Aiden's lips curved faintly.
"Interesting."
"Salamence—Fire Blast!"
A massive flaming sigil erupted from Salamence's jaws, incinerating the incoming Poison Sting midair.
"Salamence, add some heat to that sandstorm. Continuous Fire Blast—full power!"
Salamence's eyes flashed viciously as it poured relentless flames into the swirling storm.
Gradually—
The sandstorm shifted from earthy brown to blazing orange-red.
A firestorm.
Unable to endure the scorching inferno, Cacturne was forced to stumble out of the burning vortex.
"Cacturne! Destiny Bond!"
There it was.
The bug move.
Cacturne's eyes turned pitch black.
A spectral figure manifested and lunged straight toward Salamence.
Even the dragon couldn't block it.
The ghostly form entered its body directly.
If Cacturne fainted while Destiny Bond was active, Salamence would fall with it.
Sidney's intent was obvious.
Even if he lost, he would drag one of Aiden's Pokémon down—so the title of Elite Four wouldn't look so fragile.
Aiden chuckled faintly.
"So you want at least one knockout?"
He raised a Poké Ball.
A flash of red light—
Salamence was recalled.
In its place—
Charizard descended onto the battlefield.
"Charizard. Burn it to ashes—Burn Up!"
"Cacturne, all out! Hyper Beam!"
But Hyper Beam's charge time was slower.
The moment Charizard's body ignited crimson, the battlefield temperature skyrocketed.
Burn Up erupted with overwhelming force, engulfing Cacturne before Hyper Beam could fully form.
The flames swallowed everything.
When the light faded—
Cacturne had collapsed.
"Cacturne is unable to battle! Charizard wins! Since Elite Four Sidney has lost three Pokémon, the first half concludes! Ten-minute intermission!"
"Ding! Charizard has defeated Cacturne. Gained 5,300 experience points. Level increased. Current level: Lv68!"
Three Pokémon down.
The first half ended in absolute dominance.
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