PWT Arc: Crushed
"Snipe Shot!" Chris ordered and Inteleon sent another water blast at Absol again. Absol ducked and dodged it, trying to get closer to its opponent, but to no avail. Inteleon kept it at shot-length away and Jacky knew that Absol would fall in battle once it got struck by one of the foe's critical hits again. But she also knew Absol would not be able to keep the dodging up for long. Not in its current state. She had to think of something.
'Inteleon can easily hit Absol once it strikes back with any of its melee attacks. That leaves only one option open', she thought. 'I have to attack from a distance, with as many projectiles as possible, so it can't repel them.',
"Absol, let's strike back! Use Razor Wind!"
Absol leapt into the air and fired a hail of blades in Inteleon's direction. "Dodge it, Inteleon!" The water Pokémon jumped back, dodging the blades before they hit the ground. It was acrobatic and fast, but, as Jacky had expected, unable to fend off large-scale attacks. Perfect opportunity to strike back. "Attack with Psycho Cut, go!" she shouted. Absol dashed off while Inteleon dodged the last of the blades and tore its horn across its opponent's side. Inteleon's eyes narrowed as it backed away. "Counter with Snipe Shot!" Chris commanded. Absol jumped to the side and the close counter shot past it.
"Slash!" The second attack also hit.
"I'm impressed", Chris admitted. "It didn't take you long to figure out the weakness of Inteleon's fighting style. You're pretty clever and have a keen eye. But you won't get me that easily. Inteleon! Time for Liquidation!" The lizard gathered water around its hands and attacked.
"Slash, Absol!" Absol returned an attack and their strikes collided.
"Sucker Punch!" Before Absol could react, a heavy blow hit its chest. It snarled and retaliated with Psycho Cut, which Inteleon dodged to create distance again. "Absol! Razor Wind!" Absol threw its head back and fired blades at Inteleon once more, finishing it off. Jacky cheered and waved up at Mari, who gave her a raised thumb. Chris nodded appreciatively. "Hmm... You're really interesting. Despite the heavy blow you suffered at the start of this round, you knew how to keep yourself in the game. Good." He withdrew Inteleon. "Are you ready for round two?"
Jacky's euphoria immediately vanished, because she knew what that meant. Now, the real battle was just beginning. She nodded. "Tyranitar! Your entrance!" Roaring, the Tyranitar reared up in front of Absol and ignited a sandstorm that raged through the arena, wildly and untamed. Jacky panicked slightly and Absol backed away a few steps. "Well then, Tyranitar! We're going to start after that defeat! Ice Punch!" A loud roar followed and the attack hit Absol's shoulder. It cried out and crashed into the wall, almost succumbing to Tyranitar's brutal final blow. Jacky was left breathless. "Ugh... Absol... You have to keep going!" Absol groaned in pain, but clumsily got back up and jumped back onto the field with difficulty.
"Still standing, huh... You seem stubborn. I like that." Chris smiled. "But I don't think you can keep going much longer, despite your determination... Let's see how long you can endure still. Time for your Earthquake, Tyranitar." A stomp of Tyranitar's made the ground shake. "Jump, Absol! Use Slash!" Jacky shouted. Absol managed a jump with the last of its power and its claws lashed out at the opponent. Tyranitar was hit, but the attack barely left a scratch on it. It was as if the attack was completely inaffective. Tyranitar could've easily fended this one off, but it was as though Chris wanted to demostrate to Jacky clearly that it was a useless endeavor. "Stone Edge, Tyranitar. Lights out." As soon as Absol landed back on the ground, pointed rocks shot out of it and rammed into its ribcage. It reared up... and collapsed at last. Jacky held her chest and gasped as soon as her partner hit the floor. She stared at Tyranitar in utter shock. "Not even a scratch... Absol, you really need to rest." She withdrew it, clutching its Pokéball desperately for a few moments before pinning it back to her belt and grabbing the next one. She took a deep breath. "Okay... If only Medicham were here..." She sighed softly. "Chris... your Tyranitar is extremely strong and it even scares me, but fear is not enough for me to give into defeat! What you can't reach can't be crushed! Go, Noivern!" Noivern flapped its wings and rose up into the air. It roared menacingly. Tyranitar roared back, but a lot louder.
"So, you think being in the air keeps you safe?" Chris crossed his arms. "I gotta say, it seems reasonable, yes. You want to stay up in the air, out of reach of any of Tyranitar's attacks, and chip away at it until it succumbs. It is a plan indeed, although... It accounts for one error.",
"What do you mean?" Jacky asked. Chris smiled. "We'll show you. Use Dark Pulse, Tyranitar!" Tyranitar opened its mouth and an intense surge of dark, evil energy shot in Noivern's direction. The dragon hissed and dodged the attack with daring aerial maneuvers. Tyranitar reloaded and took it under fire again. "Dragon Pulse!" Noivern growled and sent off a counterattack. Both attacks clashed, causing an intense explosion. Smoke swirled up.
"Noivern, go! Iron Tail!" Noivern appeared behind Tyranitar and its tail crashed into Tyranitar's back unchecked. The Titan roared and turned around with glowing eyes. This attack had had an effect. Noivern attacked again, but Tyranitar snapped at it, grabbing it with his teeth and forcing it to the ground. "Stone Edge!" As soon as Noivern landed on the ground, the stones shot out of the ground and rammed into its back. It cried out loudly. "Ice Punch!" Tyranitar growled and struck. Noivern couldn't react fast enough and got hit full on.
"Ouch..." Mari sighed. "That one looked painful...",
"Now, use Dark Pulse!" A wave of shadows crashed into Noivern and flung it away. It hit the ground in front of Jacky and raised its head with a groan. "Noi...rrrrgh...!",
"Come on, Noivern! You can still fight, I know it! Get up!" Jacky pleaded. Noivern growled and scrambled back onto its feet.
"She's getting knocked around by Chris like a ragdoll", Mari noticed. "This cannot end well..."
Noivern shot a Dragon Pulse at Tyranitar, but Chris' Pokémon simply blocked it with Ice Punch and forced it to disintegrate. Noivern propped its arms on the ground, breathing heavily. "We need to finish this now before Noivern gets too weak..." Jacky muttered. "Noivern, you have to break through Tyranitar's armor! Only then, we win this, do you hear me? Iron Tail, quickly!" Noivern bravely gritted its teeth and pushed itself off the ground one last time. It lunged at Tyranitar and tried another hit with Iron Tail, but it got blocked off- again. "Don't let up! Heat Wave!" Jacky shouted, starting to become desperate. Noivern waved its wings strongly in order to generate an enourmous stream of hot air. The sandstorm, however, weakened this attack by a mile, so it didn't do much. "Dark Pulse!",
"Dragon Pulse!" Again, both attacks collided, but it was noticeable how little strength Noivern had left. The Dark Pulse crashed right through Noivern's attack and flew hit the dragon so hard that it was hurled onto the ground, kicking up a new cloud of dust. When the sand and dust settled again, Noivern didn't move. Scratches and scrapes littered its body and all strength had drained from its limbs. It was incapable of fighting any longer. Jacky stared at Noivern with widened eyes. "No...!"
Chris loosened his folded arms and withdrew Tyranitar before walking towards her. "You put up a good fight, much like I expected. Thus, my expectations concerning you were not a foolish imagination. Your Pokémon managed to endure what would've forced most others to their knees straight away." He held out his hand to her. "Well fought.",
"Thank you, Chris..." Jacky accepted his hand. Chris smiled slightly before lowering his hand again. Jacky withdrew Noivern. "That was a great fight. But... it was decided before it even started...",
"Oh, please." Chris shook his head. "You must never think like that. I'm not invincible either. No one is." With those words, he left the arena. Jacky begrudgingly watched him go before running out of the stadium herself.