Rain fell steadily across the battlefield.
Droplets splashed against stone tiles and rolled toward the drainage grates along the arena's edge. The overhead lights reflected off the wet surface, turning the field into a shimmering mirror of silver and blue.
"Ludi! Ludi-colo!"
Ludicolo raised its arms joyfully as the downpour intensified. Water streamed off its wide lily pad hat and soaked into its body. Under Rain Dance, its posture shifted subtly—looser, smoother. Every sway carried greater momentum. Every step slid forward with controlled grace.
It was in its element.
Gary stood unmoving on the blue platform.
"Dazzling Gleam."
"Boke!"
Togetic's small body began to glow.
At first, the light shimmered faintly around its wings, like mist catching moonlight. Then the radiance intensified. Pure Fairy energy condensed in front of it, gathering into a concentrated sphere of brilliance.
The air hummed.
Then—
The sphere exploded outward.
A sweeping beam of sparkling radiance surged across the rain-soaked battlefield, scattering droplets into glittering prisms. The brightness was overwhelming.
Several spectators shielded their eyes instinctively.
The beam widened in an arc—too broad to evade completely.
"Ludi!"
Ludicolo attempted to sidestep with a playful spin, feet sliding lightly over the wet ground. It twisted its torso, trying to let the beam pass by.
But it was a fraction too slow.
A streak of shimmering light grazed its side.
Boom!
Ludicolo stumbled backward, heels skidding across the slick field. It managed to stay upright—but just barely.
Its cheerful grin faded.
Its eyes sharpened.
That hit had weight.
Not crippling.
But dangerous.
Dahlia's confident smile thinned slightly.
So high-level.
And it's only a Togetic.
"Ludicolo, Hydro Pump!"
"Ludiiii!"
Ludicolo inhaled deeply. Water condensed in front of its mouth, spinning violently into a compressed vortex. The rain fed the attack, thickening it, strengthening it.
Then it erupted.
A spiraling column of pressurized water blasted forward, tearing through the rain in a roaring torrent.
"Psychic," Gary said calmly.
Paralysis crackled faintly across Togetic's body, small sparks dancing along its wings.
But it did not falter.
"Boke…"
Its eyes glowed blue.
An invisible force surged outward.
The Hydro Pump froze midair.
The entire column twisted unnaturally, seized by unseen telekinetic pressure. Water warped and bent as if gripped by colossal invisible hands.
The crowd gasped.
Then—
The torrent reversed.
Bang!!
The redirected Hydro Pump slammed straight back into Ludicolo with full force.
"LUDI—!"
The impact hurled Ludicolo across the arena. It struck the wet ground with a heavy splash, skidding several meters before coming to a halt.
Dahlia's eyes widened.
That wasn't a simple deflection.
It was precision manipulation.
And Togetic hadn't even evolved.
Dahlia snapped back to focus instantly.
If raw power wouldn't win—
She would disrupt.
"Ludicolo—Teeter Dance!"
"Ludi! Ludi-colo!"
Burn still flickered faintly beneath the rain's suppression as Ludicolo pushed itself upright. It began spinning again—but this time the rhythm was exaggerated, hypnotic.
Its hips swayed in looping patterns.
Colorful spirals shimmered faintly around it.
The motion distorted perception, designed to induce confusion.
Gary's gaze remained steady.
"Togetic—Attract."
"Boke~"
Togetic drifted forward slightly and tilted its head.
It winked.
Then blew a theatrical kiss.
A faint pink heart shimmered through the rain, drifting gently before striking Ludicolo squarely.
"Ludi…?"
The spinning slowed.
Stopped.
Ludicolo stared.
Its expression softened.
Its swaying resumed—but no longer from Teeter Dance.
From infatuation.
The crowd burst into laughter and cheers.
"No way!"
"It got charmed!"
"Reverse UNO!"
Dahlia blinked in disbelief.
Her Ludicolo was usually the charismatic centerpiece—not the one being dazzled.
"And Togetic knows Attract?" she muttered.
Gary did not answer.
"Finish it. Dazzling Gleam."
"Boke!"
Fairy energy surged again—faster this time.
The beam erupted at close range.
Boom!!
Ludicolo was blasted backward violently.
It struck the ground—and did not rise.
The referee raised his flag.
"Ludicolo is unable to battle! Togetic wins the first round!"
The arena erupted.
Gary had secured Round One cleanly.
Best-of-three.
One more victory would end it.
Dahlia recalled Ludicolo gently, her expression thoughtful rather than frustrated.
"Good job," she murmured. "You danced beautifully."
Gary returned Togetic without comment.
The referee stepped forward.
"Round Two will now begin! Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Poké Balls flew simultaneously.
"Dance for me, Togekiss!"
A radiant white Pokémon emerged gracefully, wings spreading wide as it hovered elegantly.
"Toge—kiss!"
[Togekiss – Level 62/ Elite]
Gary's next choice arrived in a burst of crackling electricity.
"Electivire. Let's go."
"Vire—ELECTI!"
The massive Electric-type landed heavily, fists colliding with a thunderous clap as sparks sprayed outward.
[Electivire – Level 63/ Champion]
The audience roared.
"Two rounds and it's over!"
"If he wins this, it's done!"
"Twenty-to-one payout!"
"Don't get cocky—it's roulette!"
The referee raised his arm.
"Roulette spin!"
Both massive wheels began turning again.
Red.
Blue.
Click—click—click—
Slowing.
Dahlia's red pointer stopped first.
Weather.
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Gary's blue wheel slowed…
Clicked.
Trick Room.
Gary's eyes flickered faintly.
Weather was unpredictable.
Trick Room inverted Speed priority.
Electivire was slightly faster than Togekiss under normal conditions—but not dramatically so.
Under Trick Room, the slower Pokémon would move first.
The dynamic shifted immediately.
The battlefield split open once more.
Two mechanical platforms rose.
On Dahlia's side—
Hippopotas.
On Gary's side—
Porygon-Z.
"Hippopotas—Sandstorm!"
"Hippo—potas!"
A violent wind burst outward instantly.
Sand spiraled across the arena, raindrops evaporating into swirling grit. Visibility dropped as fine particles whipped through the air.
"Porygon-Z—Trick Room!"
"Pory—gon!"
A warped crystalline distortion spread outward from Porygon-Z. The air shimmered as if reality itself had fractured into mirrored layers.
Space twisted.
Speed hierarchy inverted.
The platforms descended.
Sandstorm raged.
Trick Room pulsed faintly across the battlefield like invisible gridlines.
"The second round begins!" the announcer shouted.
"Togekiss—Aura Sphere!"
"Toge—KISS!"
A glowing orb of Fighting-type energy formed before Togekiss's beak and launched forward. The sphere curved midair, homing in unerringly on Electivire.
"Aura Sphere doesn't miss!" someone shouted.
"Discharge—defensive output," Gary commanded evenly.
"VIRE!"
Electricity detonated outward from Electivire in a radial shockwave.
The lightning collided with the incoming Aura Sphere.
Crack!
The orb destabilized and exploded harmlessly to the side, scattering fragments of energy into the sandstorm.
Residual arcs of electricity snapped upward toward Togekiss.
Togekiss ascended sharply, wings beating powerfully to avoid contact.
Gary did not hesitate.
"Rain Dance."
"VIRE!"
Electivire slammed both fists into the ground.
Dark clouds formed rapidly overhead.
Thunder rolled.
Rain began pouring down once more, suppressing the Sandstorm in seconds. The swirling grit collapsed under the weight of water, turning into muddy streaks along the battlefield edges.
The audience murmured in surprise.
"He replaced the weather!"
"That's preparation!"
Dahlia narrowed her eyes.
She hadn't expected Electivire to carry Rain Dance.
"Togekiss—Dazzling Gleam!"
Fairy energy burst outward in a radiant wave.
Boom!
The beam struck Electivire directly.
The Electric-type staggered backward, boots carving grooves into the soaked ground.
But it did not fall.
The level gap was minimal.
It could endure.
Gary's voice sharpened.
"Maximum output—Discharge."
For the first time, his tone carried weight.
"VIRE—ELECTIVIRE!"
Under the rain, Electivire unleashed everything.
Golden lightning exploded outward in all directions, amplified dramatically by the water saturating the field. The rainfall became a conductor, channeling electricity across every surface.
The arena erupted in blinding gold.