The stadium was silent.Not a single person spoke. The explosion from the clash between Mystveil's Psychic and Beartic's Ice Hammer had covered the battlefield in a thick cloud of dust.
The referee watched closely.
Seconds felt like minutes.
Slowly...
The dust began to settle. Two silhouettes became visible. One was still standing.
The other was on one knee.
The crowd leaned forward.
Finally, the smoke disappeared completely.
Mystveil was struggling to remain airborne.
Beartic was breathing heavily.
Both Pokémon had pushed themselves beyond their limits.
Then...
Beartic's knees buckled.
It crashed onto the battlefield.
BOOM!
The referee immediately raised the red flag.
"Beartic is unable to battle!"
The audience erupted into applause.
But before Elior could celebrate—
Mystveil's eyes closed.
Its psychic aura disappeared.
It slowly drifted downward and collapsed.
The referee raised the green flag.
"Mystveil is unable to battle!"
A roar spread throughout the stadium.
"It's a double knockout!"
Score
Elior
5 Pokémon Remaining
Kai
4 Pokémon Remaining
Kai smiled respectfully.
"That was worthy of a semifinal."
Elior recalled Mystveil.
"You did great."
He clipped the Poké Ball back onto his belt.
Kai reached for another Poké Ball.
"Glaceon!"
A graceful Glaceon landed on the battlefield, its icy breath forming crystals in the air.
Elior smiled.
"Your turn, Skyrend!"
Skyrend soared into the sky with a sharp cry.
The audience cheered.
"Ice Beam!"
A brilliant beam of ice shot upward.
"Dodge! Air Slash!"
Skyrend twisted through the air, barely avoiding the beam before launching razor-sharp blades of wind.
Glaceon slid across the frozen ground, avoiding the attack with surprising agility.
Kai nodded.
"Excellent."
"Now, Mirror Coat!"
Air Slash struck Glaceon. Instead of falling back, Glaceon reflected the attack's energy. The blast sent Skyrend tumbling through the sky.
"Steel Wing!"
Skyrend's wings glowed silver.
It dove from above like a meteor.
Glaceon countered with Ice Shard.
The attacks collided.
The battlefield echoed with repeated impacts as the two Pokémon exchanged blows. Neither trainer gave their opponent a moment to breathe.
Elior suddenly pointed upward.
"Now!"
"Tailwind!"
A powerful wind swept across the arena.
Skyrend's speed increased dramatically.
The crowd gasped. In an instant, Skyrend appeared behind Glaceon.
"Brave Bird!"
Wrapped in blue energy, Skyrend crashed into Glaceon.
BOOOOOOM!
When the smoke cleared...Glaceon was unable to continue.
The referee raised his flag.
"Glaceon is unable to battle!"
The audience roared.
Kai smiled.
"Very well."
He returned Glaceon.
"Weavile!"
The Dark/Ice Pokémon appeared with incredible speed.
The moment Weavile landed—
It disappeared.
"Night Slash!"
Skyrend barely blocked the attack with Steel Wing. But Weavile's speed was overwhelming.
Another slash.
Another.
Another.
Skyrend struggled to keep up.
Elior recognized the danger.
"Return!"
Skyrend flew back into its Poké Ball.
The crowd applauded the tactical switch.
"Lucario!"
Lucario landed gracefully.
It closed its eyes.
Its Aura spread across the battlefield.
Weavile charged immediately.
"Ice Punch!"
"Detect!"
Lucario sidestepped at the last instant.
"Aura Sphere!"
The glowing sphere struck Weavile directly. But Weavile recovered almost instantly. The battle became a blur.
Aura Sphere.
Night Slash.
Meteor Mash.
Ice Punch..
Neither Pokémon gave an inch.
Kai smiled.
"Finish it."
"Triple Axel!"
Weavile spun with incredible speed.
The first kick landed.
The second kick connected.
Lucario blocked the third with Meteor Mash, knocking Weavile backward.
"Now!"
"Bullet Punch!"
Lucario vanished. A single steel-coated punch landed squarely on Weavile.
The Dark-type slid backward before collapsing.
The referee announced:
"Weavile is unable to battle!"
The stadium erupted once again.
Final Score
Elior
4 Pokémon Remaining
Kai
2 Pokémon Remaining
Kai slowly looked at his final two Poké Balls.
.
Then He smiled.
"The real semifinal..."
"Starts now."
Elior looked toward Lucario.
Then at the Poké Balls on his belt.
Infernarx.
Thundrion.
Eclipse Lunashade.
The battle had entered its final stage.
TO BE CONTINUED...