The entire stadium stood in silence.
On one side of the battlefield...Infernarx stood with flames blazing around its body.
On the opposite side...
Baxcalibur stood motionless, its icy blade reflecting the sunlight. The difference in temperature between the two Pokémon created a curtain of steam across the arena. The referee raised both flags.
"Battle... Begin!"
Kai made the first move.
"Baxcalibur! Glaive Rush!"
With an explosive roar, Baxcalibur charged like an avalanche. Its icy dorsal blade glowed a brilliant blue.
Elior: "Infernarx! Flamethrower!"
A torrent of flames engulfed the battlefield. The fire crashed directly into Baxcalibur. The audience expected it to stop...
Instead—Baxcalibur burst through the flames. Its body was scorched, but its charge never slowed.
BOOOOM!
Glaive Rush struck Infernarx head-on.
Infernarx was thrown backward across the battlefield. The crowd gasped.
Infernarx slowly rose to its feet.
Its eyes burned with determination.
Elior: "Dragon Claw!"
Infernarx leaped into the air, its claws glowing emerald.
Kai: "Icicle Crash!"
Huge pillars of ice erupted beneath Infernarx. The Fire-type twisted through the falling ice and landed a clean Dragon Claw on Baxcalibur.
For the first time...
Baxcalibur took a step backward.
The crowd roared.
Kai smiled.
"Excellent."
"You've pushed Baxcalibur farther than anyone else."
He pointed forward.
"Now..."
"Dragon Dance."
The audience immediately recognized the move. Baxcalibur's body became surrounded by draconic energy.
Its Attack...
And Speed...
Rose dramatically.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Even Elior could feel the pressure.
Kai: "Ice Shard!"
Dozens of razor-sharp ice fragments shot toward Infernarx.
Elior: "Flame Charge!"
Infernarx charged through the attack, melting many of the shards. But several struck home. Infernarx staggered. It was reaching its limit.
Kai seized the opportunity.
"Finish it!"
"Glaive Rush!"
Baxcalibur vanished from sight.
Its speed had increased tremendously after Dragon Dance. Before Infernarx could react—
CRAAAAASH!!
The icy blade slammed into Infernarx.
The impact shook the entire stadium.
Infernarx crashed into the battlefield, creating a massive crater.
Dust filled the air. The crowd watched anxiously.
Slowly...
Infernarx tried to stand. Its legs trembled.
It looked toward Elior.
A faint smile crossed its face.
Then...It collapsed.
The referee raised the flag.
"Infernarx is unable to battle!"
The stadium fell silent.
Elior quietly recalled his lifelong partner.
He whispered,
"You were incredible..."
Elior reached for another Poké Ball.
A burst of electricity exploded across the battlefield.
Thundrion appeared.
Lightning crackled around its body.
The audience cheered loudly.
Commentator:
"Elior still has Thundrion and Eclipse Lunashade!"
"This battle isn't over yet!"
Elior: "Thunderbolt!"
A massive bolt of lightning crashed toward Baxcalibur.
Kai: "Protect!"
A shimmering barrier appeared.
The lightning exploded harmlessly against it.
Kai: "Now!"
"Earthquake!"
Baxcalibur slammed its tail into the ground. The battlefield split apart.
Thundrion struggled to keep its footing.
Elior: "Jump!"
Thundrion leaped into the air.
"Wild Charge!"
Wrapped in electricity, it dived toward Baxcalibur. The attack landed cleanly.
Baxcalibur slid backward several meters.
For the first time in the battle...
It breathed heavily.
Kai nodded respectfully.
"Impressive."
"But this ends now."
"Icicle Spear!"
Five massive ice spears shot into the sky.
Thundrion dodged the first.
The second.
The third.
The fourth struck its shoulder.
It lost its balance.
Kai: "Finish it!"
"Glaive Rush!"
Baxcalibur exploded forward once more.
The icy blade struck Thundrion directly.
A tremendous explosion echoed through the arena. When the smoke cleared...
Thundrion was lying on the battlefield.
Its eyes slowly closed.
The referee raised his flag.
"Thundrion is unable to battle!"
The entire stadium became silent.
Kai stood calmly behind his battered Baxcalibur. The dragon was covered in injuries...But it was still standing.
Elior slowly looked down at the final Poké Ball on his belt.
The black-and-gold Poké Ball.
It pulsed with a mysterious light.
Without taking his eyes off Baxcalibur, Elior smiled.
"Partner..."
"It's our turn."
The Poké Ball began to glow.
A black-and-gold aura spread across the battlefield. The crowd immediately recognized it.
"Eclipse Lunashade!"
The stadium erupted into thunderous cheers.The final battle of the semifinal...
Was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED...