"It looks like Feraligatr did not react in time! What a powerful hit! That must be super effective!"

Feraligatr took Porygon-Z's attack head-on, as it tried to endure it. Although it was able to use Dragon Dance and increase its attack and speed, it seems as though it wasn't quick enough to dodge.

"Feraligatr! Are you okay?" Jira shouted.

The dust cleared and Feraligatr was still standing, with a light blue aura surrounding it. Torrent has activated, giving it an additional power boost.

"Then we'll have to resort to this. Feraligatr! Liquidation!"

"Giga Impact!" Stephen responded. This collide left Feraligatr and Porygon-Z at close range, with the two still standing, it seemed.

"…"

"…"

"Ice Punch!" he shouted.

"Fera…"

"..ra…"

Feraligatr was tumbling as it started to charge the attack. It wasn't obvious if it had the energy left to finish off its opponent. With its last ounce of power, it struck Porygon-Z, which was still recharging from the Giga Impact, before fainting. Its opponent was quickly frozen and defeated.

"Feraligatr and Porygon-Z are both unable to battle!"

"It seems as though this battle is heating up… just like yours did, Ash." Hop said. "Who do you think will prevail?"

"I hope Jira wins." Ash responded. "But I would say either one could take the win. I'm no aura master or something to make a clear prediction..."

"Gengar! Let's get them!" Jira shouted.

"Meganium, come on out!"

"Geng!"

Ash's Gengar suddenly popped out to cheer for Jira's own Gengar. Jira's Gengar was a shiny variant – that's how it got distinguished – but was actually slightly weaker than Ash's own Ghost-type. The two Gengar bonded the day Ash and Jira first met.

"Meganium! Let's stay far away." Stephen said. "We're gonna need to look out for those poison-type moves…"

"Gengar! Use Shadow Ball!"

"Razor Leaf!"

"I'm wondering if Meganium is that guy's ace." Ash thought. "But I'm not sure if Chikorita is given to new trainers in Blackthorn City. I'm aware of Professor Elm, but he lives in New Bark and he is the only one I know who gives them…"

"Now! Sleep Powder!"

"Dodge it! Sludge Bomb!"

"Oh Arceus… Gengar is in for a world of pain. That thing reminds me of Darkrai…"

Both attacks went through each other and struck a direct hit. Meganium took some serious damage, but Gengar was now rendered immobile and could be easily used as a liability.

"Giga Drain!" Stephen shouted.

"That thing will recover its health over time if he keeps using that move…"

"Gengar! Return!" Jira said. Ash's Gengar felt a little disappointed, and returned to its Pokeball.

Although Jira's own Gengar was now difficult to bring into battle again, he realized that Meganium's Sleep Powder is now deactivated thanks to the tournament's Sleep Clause rules, which stated that only one Pokemon could be rendered asleep by the opponent at the same time.

"Meganium! Return as well!" Stephen said, in a move which did not surprise Jira. He thought that he would have to finish the battle with his remaining three Pokemon. Fortunately, two of those were his powerful aces, Weavile and Latios, even though Latios itself was kinda weakened.

"Latios! Let's get them!" Jira shouted.

"Togekiss, come on out!" Stephen responded.

"Oh wow! A Togekiss, how nice!" Dawn thought. "Come to think of it, I have to show my own Togekiss to Ash, it's gotten so strong and graceful…"

"Latios, use Psyshock!"

"Dazzling Gleam!"

"That's not good…" Ash thought.

"Laaaa…!" Latios cried, as it took Dazzling Gleam to its left wing, despite hitting Togekiss with full force. The fairy-type move showed its prowess, and set up Togekiss for its next attack…"

"Air Slash!"

"Dodge it!"

But Latios was not quick enough, and Air Slash hit its right wing this time. That's when Togekiss's sinister ability, Serene Grace, activated. Latios flinched and was rendered unable to move.

"Pikachu… do you remember? When that Togekiss kept flinching you again and again… Cynthia used such tactics as well. No wonder she is so feared."

"Now! One more Dazzling Gleam!"

Latios was in pain and couldn't dodge another super-effective Fairy-type move. It was hit in the stomach and was thrown into the ground for a brief moment, before rising up while obviously struggling. The type advantage seemed to say its word.

"Let's finish it off!" Stephen shouted, as Togekiss understood and began circling in the air for its final move.

"Sky Attack!"

"Latios! Blind Togekiss with Draco Meteor!"

"Wait… what is he doing?"

Latios fired up a Draco Meteor right in the middle of the battlefield, in order to blind Togekiss's finishing move. The Eon Pokemon, thinking of its sister, held its Soul Dew dear and rised up above the stadium, causing Sky Attack to miss by a long shot, and putting Togekiss into a vulnerable solution.

But Stephen had other ideas, as it countered Latios's next Psyshock with another Dazzling Gleam. The two attacks collided for no damage. Latios remained in the air and set up its own finishing move.

"Giga Impact!"

"Sky Attack!"

The dust cleared, and Togekiss proved to be a strong opponent for Latios, as the two were staying on the ground, huffing and puffing. Ultimately, Latios managed to stand up, while Togekiss fainted. Latios felt like an elite strongman in this battle.

"Togekiss is unable to battle! Latios wins!"

"Return, Togekiss. Thank you."

"Meganium, come back out!"

"So it's back…"

"Use Giga Drain!"

"Psyshock!"

Latios fired a Psyshock with barely any stamina remaining, as it nullified the Giga Drain. It wasn't fast enough to see Meganium flying towards it.

"Finish it off with Body Slam!" Stephen shouted.

"Draco Meteor!" Jira countered.

Latios had its meteor in the mouth, but just as it was about to fire, Meganium proved to be quick enough and slammed it into the ground. That was the end game for the Legendary Pokemon.

"Latios is unable to battle! Meganium wins!"

"It seems like Latios wasn't meant to be the chosen one in this battle! With Meganium taking out such a powerful Pokemon and putting another one to sleep, it seems like Stephen is trying to pull off a comeback victory!"

"Return, Latios." Jira said. "Thank you so much. I'll leave it to the rest."

With the fall of Latios, Jira had three Pokemon remaining, while Stephen remained with two. But Jira had to find a way on how to defeat Stephen's powerful starter Pokemon. Especially since he noticed something that looked like a Dynamax Band.

"Crobat! Let's get them!" Jira shouted.

"Use Brave Bird!"

"Lure it in with your vines, Meganium!"

Crobat was too quick and landed a powerful, successful hit on the Grass-type Pokemon. This forced Stephen to call back his Pokemon, as he revealed his sixth and final one.

"Baxcalibur, come on out!"