The heavy, humid air of the gymnasium seemed to vibrate as the Poké Ball left Julian's hand, cutting through the lingering mist like a meteor.
"I'm counting on you, Gowlithe! Let's show them the fire hasn't gone out yet!"
In a burst of crimson light, the orange-and-black pup materialized back onto the central floating island. His paws hit the damp wood with a solid thud, and he immediately shook his fur, trying to fluff out the matted, wet orange mane that had been flattened during his last disastrous dive into the pool.
"Woof! Woof-woof! (Man, I am never getting the smell of lake water out of my fur!)" Gowlithe barked, his voice raspy but determined. He immediately bared his teeth at Floatzel, and a wave of natural, predatory pressure rolled off him.
Floatzel, despite its exhaustion, winced. The Intimidate ability was doing its work, gnawing at the predator's confidence.
"We don't have all day, Floatzel! Finish this before they find their rhythm! Aqua Jet!" Wake's voice was like a thunderclap, desperate to maintain the momentum he'd gained from taking down Togetic and Sylveon.
"Gowlithe, we need to reset the clock! Morning Sun, now!" Julian's command was sharp, slicing through the roar of the water.
Floatzel didn't waste a second. It vanished into a spiral of high-velocity water, launching itself like a torpedo from the pool's edge. At the same time, Gowlithe stood his ground. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back toward the gym's skylight where the dim light of the afternoon filtered through. Faint, golden points of light began to coalesce around his body, soaking into his fur and mending the jagged bruises and strained muscles from his previous rounds.
Morning Sun was a delicate move. In the clear, desert sun, it could heal a Pokémon to near-full health in an instant. Here, in the damp, overcast atmosphere of the Wetland Gym, it was a shadow of its true self. But as the light faded into Gowlithe's skin, Julian saw the pup's breathing stabilize. It wasn't a full recovery, but it was enough to keep him standing for the collision.
CRASH!
The Aqua Jet slammed into Gowlithe just as the last of the golden light dissipated. The impact was brutal. Gowlithe was skidded backward, his claws screeching against the wood as he fought to stay on the island.
"Now! Reversal! Give it back ten-fold!" Julian roared, leaning over the railing.
He had timed it perfectly. By using Morning Sun, he'd ensured Gowlithe survived the hit, but the Aqua Jet had stripped away that fresh health instantly, bringing Gowlithe back down to that "red zone" where Reversal reached its terrifying maximum potential.
"Woof-woof-WOOF! (I told you! No! More! Water!)"
Gowlithe didn't just counter; he exploded. A shockwave of pure, Fighting-type kinetic energy erupted from his small frame. He lunged forward, catching Floatzel just as the water around the weasel began to disperse. The blow landed flush against Floatzel's chest, sending the larger Pokémon flying backward across the arena.
Floatzel hit the far wall of the gym with a sickening thud, sliding down into the shallow water at the base of the pool.
"Floatzel!" Wake shouted, his eyes wide. He hadn't expected the 'dying' pup to have that much bite left. "Hang in there, buddy!"
Julian's heart was hammering against his ribs. He saw Gowlithe staggering, his tongue hanging out as he gulped in the humid air. The pup was barely holding onto consciousness.
"Take the opening! Flamethrower... no, wait!" Julian's eyes caught the way Gowlithe's legs were trembling. A Flamethrower would take too much out of him right now. "Gowlithe, use Morning Sun again! Recover while he's down!"
Gowlithe didn't argue. He slumped onto his belly, closing his eyes as the faint golden sparks began to gather once more. He needed this. He was running on fumes and stubbornness.
Across the water, Floatzel groaned, shaking its head as it pulled itself out of the water and onto a nearby islet. It looked ragged—its fur was singed from the earlier rounds, and the Reversal had clearly cracked a rib or two.
"You okay, partner?" Wake asked, his voice low and concerned.
"Zing..." Floatzel nodded slowly, slamming a fist against its chest. It wasn't done.
"Good man! We can't let them recover! Use Razor Wind to break his concentration!"
Floatzel leaped back into action, its hind legs launching it onto a higher platform. It crossed its arms, the blue fins on its forearms glowing with a sharp, white light. Two vacuum blades of pressurized air hissed through the mist, aimed directly at the resting Gowlithe.
"That's enough for now! Cancel and move!" Julian commanded. "Move to the left!"
Gowlithe's eyes snapped open. He looked much more alert than he had seconds ago—the second Morning Sun had patched up the worst of the internal damage. He sprang to his feet, a burst of orange fur blurring to the left as the vacuum blades carved deep gashes into the wood where he'd been lying.
"He's recovered too much," Wake muttered, his brow furrowing. "Floatzel, we need to match his power! Bulk Up!"
"Zing!"
Floatzel stood tall, its muscles visibly rippling and expanding under its fur. Its posture became more aggressive, its defense hardening as the Fighting-type energy fortified its body.
"He's buffing up to survive another Reversal," Julian realized. "He knows I'm trying to keep Gowlithe at low HP. Since you won't let us heal, we won't let you grow! Gowlithe, Flamethrower! Burn through it!"
"Woof!"
Gowlithe planted his paws and let out a searing stream of orange-red fire. The heat was so intense it actually began to flash-boil the moisture in the air, creating a thick, white curtain of steam that obscured the center of the battlefield.
Julian waited, his breath caught in his throat. When the mist finally swirled and parted, Floatzel was still standing. It was panting heavily, its fur blackened in several places, but its frame was noticeably larger, its muscles taut. It had powered through the fire to finish the Bulk Up.
"Tch... he took the hit just to get the buff," Julian clicked his tongue. He should have used Will-O-Wisp to cut the attack power, but he'd been too eager to finish it with raw damage. Now, he was facing a Floatzel that was faster, stronger, and tougher than before.
"Don't worry about the burns, Floatzel! This is it! The final charge!" Wake shouted, his wrestling persona melting away into the pure intensity of a Gym Leader. "Aqua Jet, maximum power!"
"Zing!"
Floatzel didn't just use Aqua Jet; it became a deluge. The water surrounding it seemed to roar as it launched itself across the gap, its speed enhanced by the remnants of the rain and the sheer force of its Bulk Up.
Julian looked at Gowlithe. The pup was looking back at him, eyes wide and expectant. They were both at their limits. One move. This was going to be decided by a single collision.
"Gowlithe," Julian said, his voice dropping to a low, steady resonance. "We aren't running anymore. If he wants to crash into us, we'll give him something to crash into. Shine like the sun, partner! Flame Wheel!"
"Woof-woof! (I'm ready! Let's burn this place down!)"
Gowlithe didn't dodge. He tucked his head and tail in, spinning his body into a tight, compact ball. Flames erupted from his fur, fueled by the last of his energy, turning him into a spinning wheel of white-hot fire.