The crowd was on its feet. The atmosphere inside the Luminara League Stadium had reached its peak. The giant scoreboard glowed brightly.
Elior
4 pokemon remaining
Kai
2 pokemon remaining
The commentators couldn't hide their excitement.
"What an incredible battle!"
"Both trainers have shown why they deserve to be in the Top 4!"
"But Kai's ace, Baxcalibur, has yet to enter the battle!"
Kai calmly held up another Poké Ball.
"Mamoswine... let's go."
A brilliant flash of light filled the arena.
A gigantic Mamoswine stomped onto the battlefield. Every step made the ground tremble. The Ice and Ground-type let out a mighty roar.
The audience cheered.
Lucario looked at Elior.
Elior nodded.
"We'll finish this together."
The referee raised his flag.
"Battle... Begin!"
Kai: "Earthquake!"
Mamoswine slammed both tusks into the ground. The battlefield shook violently.
Huge cracks spread in every direction.
Lucario jumped high into the air.
Elior: "Aura Sphere!"
The glowing sphere struck Mamoswine's shoulder. The giant Pokémon barely moved. The audience gasped.
"It endured that!"
Kai wasted no time.
"Ice Fang!"
Mamoswine lunged forward with incredible speed for its size. Lucario blocked with both arms. Its feet slid backward across the cracked battlefield.
Counterattack
Elior: "Meteor Mash!"
Lucario's fist shone like polished steel.
BOOM!
The punch connected directly with Mamoswine's head. The impact staggered the mammoth.
For the first time...
Kai's calm expression changed.
The battle became a contest of endurance.
Earthquake.
Aura Sphere.
Stone Edge.
Bullet Punch.
Ice Shard.
Meteor Mash.
Each exchange shook the stadium.
Lucario was becoming exhausted.
Mamoswine was covered with bruises.
Neither Pokémon backed down.
Kai pointed forward.
"High Horsepower!"
Mamoswine charged like a runaway train.
The audience held its breath.
Elior clenched his fist.
"Close Combat!"
Lucario rushed straight toward Mamoswine. The two Pokémon collided head-on.
BOOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion echoed across the stadium. Dust rose into the sky.
As the smoke cleared...
Lucario stood on one knee.
Breathing heavily.
Mamoswine remained standing.
For one second.
Two seconds.
Then...
Mamoswine's eyes closed.
The giant Pokémon crashed to the ground. The referee raised his flag.
"Mamoswine is unable to battle!"
The crowd erupted.
Lucario smiled proudly.
Then...
Its legs gave out.
It collapsed beside Mamoswine.
The referee raised the opposite flag.
"Lucario is unable to battle!"
Another double knockout!
The audience exploded into applause.
Final Score
Elior
3 pokemon remaining
Kai
1 pokemon remaining
The entire stadium became silent.
Everyone knew what was coming.
Kai slowly smiled. He reached for his final Poké Ball.
"You've earned this."
"Meet my strongest partner."
He threw the Poké Ball high into the air.
A blinding flash of icy blue light burst across the stadium. A massive dragon emerged. Its icy dorsal blade shimmered beneath the sunlight.
Baxcalibur roared so loudly that the stadium trembled. A freezing wind swept across the battlefield. The temperature dropped instantly.
The commentators shouted,
"Kai's ace has finally entered the battle!"
Elior looked at his remaining Poké Balls.
Infernarx.
Thundrion.
Eclipse Lunashade.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Infernarx..."
"Let's settle this."
Infernarx burst onto the battlefield in a pillar of flames. Its fierce roar answered Baxcalibur's.
The heat from Infernarx and the freezing aura from Baxcalibur collided in the center of the arena, creating a wall of steam.
Kai smiled confidently.
"This is the battle I've been waiting for."
Elior nodded.
"So have I."
The referee raised both flags once more.
The crowd stood in anticipation.
Two ace Pokémon stared each other down.
Neither blinked.
Neither stepped back.
TO BE CONTINUED....