As the Trainers on both sides gave their orders, the two behemoths began to collide.
"Rain Dance first! Gyarados!"
"Roar!"
The dome lights of the arena were completely obscured by thick, dark clouds, and the air temperature plummeted, carrying the distinct, fishy scent of rain and the fragrance of soil.
This was no natural phenomenon.
It was Mega Gyarados's "Rain Dance."
At first, the bean-sized raindrops were sparse, splashing against the energy shield and creating tiny ripples.
But within seconds, the raindrops merged into lines, pouring down in sheets and shrouding the entire battlefield in a grey curtain of water.
"Roar!"
Mega Gyarados let out a long howl toward the sky, its voice filled with wanton arrogance.
The rain was its home turf; every falling droplet was accumulating power for it.
Under the downpour, its already ferocious and menacing body reflected a deep, almost black luster, its muscles knotted and filled with explosive power.
The man opposite, that guy who always wore an unruffled expression, finally twitched his brow ever so slightly.
Steven, of course, knew Ariel's intention.
In the rain, the power of Water-type moves is increased by fifty percent.
However, for Steven's Mega Metagross, its prized silver-white armor would see the threat of Thunder Punch magnified infinitely in this damp environment.
This was a high-stakes gamble.
It was a gamble on Gyarados's resistance, and even more so, on his own decisiveness.
"Metagross, Iron Defense."
Steven's voice pierced through the curtain of rain, calm without a single ripple.
Mega Metagross crossed its four thick, massive arms, shielding itself.
Luster flowed across its silver-white metallic body, and a heavier, more solid texture emerged, as if an invisible barrier had been layered over its armor.
This guy, sure enough, still playing the same old tricks.
Trying to wear me out with that turtle-shell defense of his?
Ariel sneered inwardly, but did not reveal a single shred of it.
The battle situation changed in an instant; any leakage of emotion could become a breakthrough point for the opponent.
Ariel's gaze was locked onto Mega Metagross, his brain working at high speed.
Under the effects of Iron Defense, Metagross's physical defense had reached a terrifying level.
Conventional physical attacks probably wouldn't even count as scratching it.
But Ariel's Mega Gyarados was no conventional physical attacker.
"Waterfall!"
Without the slightest hesitation, the command left his lips.
Mega Gyarados's massive body suddenly sank, then, like a cannonball leaving the barrel, it surged upstream, carrying waves that soared into the sky!
Its entire body was enveloped by a massive, spiraling column of water; it wasn't just water, but a highly compressed energy entity possessing terrifying cutting and impact power.
"Boom—!"
The collision between water and steel erupted with a deafening roar.
Waterfall slammed fiercely against Mega Metagross's Iron Defense, countless splashes spraying wildly in all directions, forming a ring of white waves.
The entire battlefield trembled slightly under this immense force.
Mega Metagross's mountain-like, stable body was actually pushed back several meters by this impact, its four sharp claws carving blinding sparks and deep ravines into the hard ground.
Effective!
Steven was shocked.
Even with Iron Defense activated, Waterfall could still inflict substantial impact on it.
However, Steven's counterattack came at this very moment.
"Thunder Punch!"
Taking advantage of the moment when Waterfall exhausted its force and the water flow paused slightly, one of Mega Metagross's iron fists, flashing with blinding golden light, had already pierced through the water curtain, aiming straight for Gyarados's face!
"Zzzzt—!"
Violent electric currents spread wantonly in the rain, emitting a teeth-grinding sound.
If this punch connected, the super-effective damage would absolutely put Gyarados at a huge disadvantage.
"Use Crunch, knock it down!" Ariel's voice rang out almost simultaneously with his opponent's.
At the critical moment, Mega Gyarados twisted its head sharply and opened its massive jaws capable of crushing steel.
On its stark white fangs, dark purple Dark-type energy surged wildly, forming a larger, phantom set of fangs constructed of energy.
It didn't dodge.
Instead, it chose a head-on collision!
"Clang—!"
Thunder Punch smashed against the energy fangs of Crunch, golden electric light and purple-black shadow energy clashing and annihilating each other.
The escaping current instantly coursed through Gyarados's entire body, forcing a pained, muffled roar from it as its massive frame twitched uncontrollably in mid-air.
But its attack also hit the target.
The immense force of Crunch clamped down tightly onto Mega Metagross's swinging arm.
"Now, Aqua Tail!"
Ariel seized this fleeting opportunity.
Enduring the paralysis and intense pain from the electric current, Mega Gyarados swung its thick tail in a graceful arc through the air, surging Water-type energy gathering at the tip to form a solid blue water blade, which swept fiercely toward Mega Metagross's waist and abdomen with a whistle that tore through the air!
"Bang!"
This strike landed solidly.
Even with Iron Defense activated, Mega Metagross let out a muffled cry of pain as its massive body was lifted off the ground by the immense force, sent flying sideways, and slammed heavily onto the distant ground.
"Boom!"
The ground cracked, and smoke and dust mixed with water vapor soared into the air.
Nice!
Sweat seeped from Ariel's tightly clenched fists.
The rhythm of the battle had finally been seized back.
But he dared not relax in the slightest.
That man, just like his Metagross, was a monster.
Sure enough, amidst the swirling water mist, Mega Metagross shook its massive head and stood up once again.
A clear dent remained on its silver armor, exactly where it had been struck by Aqua Tail just moments ago.
A few faint electric arcs were still dancing at the wound; these were the marks left behind after breaking its defense under the dual attacks of Waterfall and Aqua Tail.
At the same time, Mega Gyarados was not in good shape either.
Its breathing had become noticeably heavy, and tiny snakes of electricity occasionally darted across its body; that was the residual power of Thunder Punch at work.
Both sides had been injured, and the battle had entered a white-hot stage of attrition.
"Interesting."
Steven suddenly spoke up; his face still held no expression, but there was a hint of burning intensity in his eyes.
"Your Gyarados is even fiercer than I imagined."
"Likewise," Ariel replied concisely. "Your tin can is also tougher than I thought."
A harmless bit of trash talk, yet it slightly eased the tense atmosphere within the arena, and a low ripple of laughter came from the audience seats.
But both of them knew that the real decisive battle had only just begun.
"Metagross."
Steven's voice rang out again, this time carrying an unmistakable murderous intent.
Steven's voice had already taken on a subtle, imperceptible hoarseness.
Upon receiving the order, Mega Metagross's four thick arms simultaneously lit up with a metallic luster, and like four screaming meteors, they smashed toward Mega Gyarados from different angles!
Ariel's eyes narrowed, and the command left his lips.
"Crunch!"
Without any flashy dodging, Mega Gyarados chose the most direct and savage response.
It opened its massive maw, capable of swallowing everything, energy surging within its scarlet oral cavity, and instead of retreating, it advanced, biting fiercely toward one of the iron fists!
"Clang—!"
The ear-piercing sound of metal clashing rang throughout the arena, sparks flying everywhere!
Mega Metagross's Meteor Mash was actually caught by Mega Gyarados with its teeth!
The other three iron fists smashed solidly against Gyarados's body, emitting dull thudding sounds, but Gyarados only shuddered, its biting force increasing even further!
"Crack!"
A subtle sound of shattering traveled through Metagross's Psychic link to Steven's mind, causing his heart to contract sharply.
On one of Mega Metagross's arms, its indestructible alloy shell had actually developed a crack!
"Now, Ice Punch!"
Steven seized the gap while Gyarados was biting and decisively gave the order.
Its other free arm was instantly covered in icy blue cold air, striking straight for Mega Gyarados's abdomen!
However, Mega Gyarados shook its head violently, forcibly breaking free from Meteor Mash, and its massive body twisted with an extremely uncoordinated agility, evading the vital spot and letting the Ice Punch smash into its side.
Boom!
The icy blue energy exploded, but it only left a thin layer of frost on Mega Gyarados's pitch-black scales, which vanished in an instant.
Its Water and Dark typing made its resistance to Ice-type moves far greater than before!
The two sides separated once again, facing each other from a distance, heavy panting rising and falling.
Time passed, and just like that, a full ten minutes went by.
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