The entire stadium shook with thunderous applause. Only two Pokémon remained on the battlefield.
On one side...
Kai's battered but unyielding ace.
Baxcalibur
Its body was covered in burns, bruises, and cuts from its battles against Infernarx and Thundrion. Its breathing was heavy.
But its eyes still burned with determination.
On the opposite side...A pillar of black-and-gold light rose into the sky. The air suddenly became still. The sunlight dimmed. A strange eclipse seemed to form above the stadium.
From within the darkness...Eclipse Lunashade slowly emerged.
Its crimson eyes opened.
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers.
"ECLIPSE LUNASHADE!!"
"ELIOR!!"
Even Kai smiled.
"So..."
"This is the Pokémon everyone has been talking about."
Elior gently placed his hand over his heart.
"Let's finish this."
Lunashade nodded.
The referee looked at both trainers.
"This battle will decide the first finalist of the Luminara League!"
He raised both flags.
"Battle..."
"BEGIN!!"
Kai immediately attacked.
"Baxcalibur!"
"Icicle Spear!"
Five razor-sharp spears of ice shot across the battlefield.
Elior: "Shadow Sneak!"
Lunashade melted into its own shadow.
The spears struck empty ground.
The audience gasped.
In the next instant—
Lunashade appeared behind Baxcalibur.
"Dark Pulse!"
A wave of dark energy slammed into Baxcalibur's back.
The Dragon-type staggered but remained standing.
Kai smiled confidently.
"Dragon Claw!"
Baxcalibur spun around with incredible speed.
Its glowing claws sliced toward Lunashade.
"Protect!"
A shimmering barrier appeared. The claws crashed into it. The barrier cracked...Then shattered. The impact pushed Lunashade backward.
The audience roared.
For several minutes, the battle became a spectacular exchange of attacks.
Dark Pulse.
Ice Beam.
Shadow Ball.
Dragon Claw.
Moonblast.
Icicle Crash.
Neither Pokémon gained a decisive advantage.
Both were reaching their limits.
Kai took a deep breath.
He smiled.
"Baxcalibur..."
"One final attack."
The dragon roared.
Ice and Dragon energy surrounded its body.
"Glaive Rush!!"
The battlefield trembled.
Baxcalibur charged like a frozen meteor.
Elior looked at Lunashade.
The two exchanged a silent glance.
No words were needed.
They trusted each other completely.
"Lunashade..."
"Eclipse Burst."
Black-and-gold energy erupted from Lunashade.
The sky darkened once again.
The eclipse above the stadium expanded.
The audience stared in complete silence.
The legendary attack surged forward.
Glaive Rush met Eclipse Burst.
For a moment...
Neither attack moved.
The stadium shook violently.
Cracks spread across the battlefield.
The pressure forced the spectators to shield their faces.
Kai shouted,
"Push through!"
Elior answered,
"Believe in our bond!"
Lunashade's crimson eyes blazed brighter than ever before.
The Eclipse energy expanded.
Slowly...
Baxcalibur's icy aura began to crack.
One crack.
Then another.
Finally—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A colossal explosion engulfed the entire arena. The shockwave reached every corner of the stadium. Dust rose high into the sky. No one could see the battlefield.
Not even the referee.
The Silence
One second passed.
Then two.
Then five.
The smoke slowly drifted away. Two silhouettes stood in the center of the battlefield.
Baxcalibur.
Eclipse Lunashade.
Neither moved.
The crowd held its breath.
A single drop of melted ice fell onto the ground.
Then...
Baxcalibur looked toward Kai.
It smiled.
Its legs gave out.
The mighty Dragon collapsed.
The referee immediately raised the green flag high into the air.
"Baxcalibur is unable to battle!"
He turned toward Elior.
"All six of Kai's Pokémon are unable to battle!"
The referee crossed both flags above his head.
"The winner of the first Semifinal..."
"ELIOR!!"
The silence vanished. The stadium exploded with cheers.
People stood from their seats.
Some trainers clapped.
Others shouted Elior's name.
Even the Gym Leaders rose to applaud.
The commentators could barely contain themselves.
"HE'S DONE IT!"
"ELIOR HAS REACHED THE LUMINARA LEAGUE FINAL!"
Kai recalled Baxcalibur. He gently held its Poké Ball.
"You were magnificent."
He walked across the battlefield.
Elior did the same.
The two trainers met at the center.
Kai smiled.
"You earned that victory."
Elior shook his hand.
"So did you."
Kai laughed softly.
"Don't lose the final."
Elior grinned.
"I won't."
The audience applauded once more.
As Elior walked off the battlefield with his team, Eclipse Lunashade suddenly paused. It looked toward the eastern horizon. Far beyond the sea. Far beyond the Luminara Region.
Toward...Aether Isle.
For just an instant...
Its crimson eyes glowed.
Then the light faded.
Elior noticed.
"What is it...?"
Lunashade remained silent.
But somewhere...
Something ancient had begun to stir.
TO BE CONTINUED...