Asher's Team:
Lago - Rhydon
Crust - Golem
Sebastian - Nidoking
Selena - Nidoqueen
Seraph - Clefable
Barret - Dugtrio
Sonic - Sandslash
Death - Marowak
Colossus - Steelix
Both my Rhydon and Clair's Altaria locked eyes. The dragon arrogantly spread it's wings as an attempt at intimidation, some vain attempt to justify their own arrogance. However, Lago hardly even responded besides a dismissive grunt, him being the picture of focus as he got into a stance that would allow him to lunge into action at my word.
"Dragon Dance!" She suddenly spoke, wanting to power up her pokemon.
I scoffed a little at that and just countered." Rock Polish, then use Ice Beam." I probably still had the boost from Calm Mind, so I might as well make use of it.
Both of our pokemon individually powered up, however Lago finished at a faster pace and opened his mouth, frost being emitted out of his maw, before firing out an Ice Beam that was more potent than normal as a result of his boosts not fading yet.
Clair reacted swiftly." Dodge it, then take to the sky and use Dragon Dance again."
I narrowed my eyes, immediately recognising what she was doing, though I didn't think she'd ever resort to stacking boosts like that. But, unfortunately for her, I had an easy counter to that.
"Knock them down with Smack Down, then use Hammer Arm."
Lago nodded and, just before Altaria started to Dragon Dance, a single hard looking rock materialised in front of his face, he then aimed carefully and fired the rock at the opponent before dashing forward, their arm alight with Hammer Arm.
Altaria was hit by the rock, which was going at high speeds, and as though gravity suddenly doubled, they were suddenly forced downwards and smacked into the ground. The dragon-type hardly had time to register what was going on before Lago leapt into the air with one of his arms raised to strike downwards right where it landed.
Clair, seeing what I'd done, immediately ordered her pokemon to defend." Use Cotton Guard, endure the attack!"
Crossing their arms and letting their wings expand to envelop them, Altaria created an impressive dome of protection within the blink of an eye, just barely in time for Lago to bring his arm down in a powerful downwards strike that buried his opponent into the ground.
The ground shattered as his raw strength fought against the ridiculous defenses of Cotton Guard, that wool proved itself to be unexpectedly tough as though it were steel and not soft cotton. His attack did end up getting through, but it wasn't enough to make that fluffy dragon falter.
Guess we'll just have to break their defenses.
I smirked as I spoke swiftly." Freeze them solid with Ice Beam, then use Breaking Swipe."
Clair grimaced and spoke with desperation clear in her tone." Get out of there Altaria! Don't let them freeze you!"
My smirk faltered slightly as Lago released a barrage of jagged icy rays which were... well less powerful than I'd desired. Certainly not enough to put down the Altaria even with massive type advantage. Though, I hadn't trained him in ranged attacks, neither did I teach him other elemental attacks, so without the boosts it was only expected that the results would be disappointing.
But, nevertheless, the attack did it's job and when struck with the frosty beam Altaria screamed as they were frozen solid, them not even having time to fully release their cotton wings. Then Lago almost immediately followed up with Breaking Swipe, his tail shining a lustrous bright red as he lashed out and shattered the ice with a single powerful swing.
Clair yelled her pokemon's name with worry as they crashed onto the rough ground harshly. Groaning with pain as ice littered their wings and body.
Mercy is pointless in a pokemon battle, so I didn't even hesitate as I ordered." Put them down with Hammer Arm."
Lago nodded as he darted forward at high speeds, both his arms shining brightly as he intended to finish the injured Altaria off with one final attack.
"Altaria, get up!" Clair's pleas went unanswered, her partner slowly getting up; but they'd be finished long before they could stand again.
With one final pump of his legs Lago launched himself high into the air, the force of the jump causing the ground to crack as he prepared to bring both his arms down in a brutal downwards attack.
Clair lost her composure as she screamed." You need to get out of there!"
Altaria pushed itself up defiantly, in some vain attempt to resist the inevitable, however it's attempts proved fruitless as my starter's arms enveloped it's vision.
It was over.
"RHYYYYY!" Lago roared as he threw both of his arms down and, in a show of raw strength, literally shattered the ground underneath them both, burying the enemy beneath them as the ground immediately gave way, spiderweb-like cracks spreading as a small crater was formed underneath where he struck the enemy.
My expression was blank as the dust settled and the unconscious body of Altaria was revealed to the world. But, I wasn't surprised in the least that we won so easily. Clair isn't bad or anything, but, in hindsight, I secretly knew that Lago would bulldoze through her team like this. All that was left was her Dragonite, though that wouldn't last long.
Victory was in sight, and I didn't really care if I was being overly ruthless or acting like a bastard right now. I was no longer Ash Brooks, the loser from my last life. I was Asher Blight, a winner and the future best trainer in the world, and I'll be damned if that gets taken away from me.
Clair returned her Altaria, and without further ado finally threw her final pokemon forward with a determined shout.
"Dragonite, bring me victory!"
I found myself laughing a little inside when I heard her words. Victory? At this point. Clair must mean to take down my starter, because we both know that victory is basically impossible at this point. Even the defiant roar her Dragonite gave out as soon as they hit the field wasn't enough to faze me in that moment.
I grinned madly on the outside, unable to stop myself from relishing the reality of the situation. I was about to win, I was about to show the world just how absolutely busted I was as a trainer. That I was strong enough to crush the dragons which caused Kanto so much trouble in the Indigo war.
It was time to take what's mine.
Clair's Dragonite landed right in front of their trainer, the defiant glare they sent my way was ignored for the most part as Clair began to speak, her voice noticeably weaker than before." I'm no fool, I realise that victory is practically impossible at this point. However, I-
"Refuse to give up?" I finished for her, already hearing that cliché line about five different times before just in this tournament. But, I made small talk regardless, my pokemon was more than happy to use the wasted time.
Clair merely nodded." No dignified dragon master would ever back down from a battle, even a losing one. And, if nothing else, there is no shame in losing to a worthy adversary; which you've proven yourself to be in this battle."
I smirked to her and crossed my arms." We only proved that now? I think the fact we've been dominating the competition already made us worthy. The fact all these guys have years of experience on me is just the cherry on top. When I walk away the victor, who knows where I'll be heading. Gym Leader? Elite Four? Maybe even Champion? I'll just shoot as high as I can before I can't go anymore."
Clair seemed to believe my words as she responded with admittance in her voice." If you continue to grow at this rate then you will likely be able to secure yourself a position among the worlds best. However, Champion isn't a position many can handle. You need to be much more than just a skilled trainer to gain that title."
I frowned slightly at her words, wondering what exactly she meant, but had no need to drag the conversation out anymore." Well, whether I get the that spot or not, doesn't mean I can't just grow stronger. Though, piece of advice, when you're battling you really shouldn't take your eyes off the battlefield."
My frown turned into a smirk as Clair finally whipped her eyes back onto my pokemon, only to see a set of swords floating around him that faded away as a red glow enveloped his entire rocky body. She glared at me, realising that I'd tricked her, but I just responded cheekily." Sorry, but I really need to drive this shit-"
"Hydro Pump!"
Still smirking I was unfazed as I just responded." Use Dragon Rush!"
Lago ran forward, dragon-type energy surrounding his body as his opponent bellowed and let loose a powerful looking blast of water... which he just ignored as he continued to run forward, eventually shifting into an overpowered jump as practically flew forward, the Dragonite barely dodging the assault as he crashed into the ground and picked up dust.
Clair grit her teeth, but eventually barked out." Show them a real Dragon Rush!"
I scoffed at those words as her pokemon bathed itself in dragonic energy." Boost yourself with Rock Pillar, then hit them with Megahorn." This won't take them out, but it'll hurt a lot, that I know.
Clair's Dragonite shot forward to ram into Lago, but before they could execute the attack, a foundation of stone shot out of the ground under Lago, boosting him up as his horn sharpened and glowed with green of bug-type energy, so that Lago's horn was poised to strike right into the orange dragon's gut with enough force to pierce it's hide!
Many people in the stadium screeched in horror when Dragonite roared and cried out from both pain and anguish. Lago was pushed off and plummeted to the ground, however Dragonite was in too much pain as they grabbed where they were injured and keeled over as they hit the ground.
Clair expressed extreme worry for her partner, however I was just finding the disapproval from the crowd annoying and hypocritical. I mean this is pokemon battling afterall, violence was quite literally what they paid to see. If they can't handle that them they shouldn't have come. The way Clair's Dragonite was bleeding profusely from their gut was just what can happen when two pokemon fight. They bleed.
Which was exactly what I was aiming for. Pokemon all possess some kind of natural healing factor, some stronger than others, so when they're knocked they can slowly heal from their injuries regardless of whether they receive outside help, though it's a slow process it does work. Because of this lethality never happens in tournaments, it's just not possible for a pokemon to take enough damage to die in these conditions. Even Clair's Dragonite will heal from that if given-
"Dragonite use Outrage!"
Huh?
Suddenly Dragonite became alight with a red aura and their expression became one of madness and rage, them losing all sense of reason as they lunged at Lago. The pain they were feeling from before being ignored as they reeled their fist back to swing at him, pure adrenaline filling them as everything except their enemy was blocked out.
I stared at the raging dragon for a moment, me actually feeling worried for a second, however that second was fleeting as I got what was happening. They were getting desperate, very desperate. Desperate enough to use Outrage to give themselves an adrenaline boost to block out the excruciating pain of having a hole in you. To be desperate enough to accept the risk of such a tactic was almost enough to make me laugh.
I snorted at the move, just simply saying." Counter."
It was over.
Clair showed panic at those words." Dragonite stop! Don't do it!"
I taunted her as her pokemon closed in, feeling the smugness of victory settle in on my mind." It's too late for that honey, you should have just given it up!" Though, part of me could at least respect her stubbornness.
"DRAAAA!" Dragonite roared at the top of their lungs as a full powered haymaker was unleashed by their arm which would knock most pokemon into next week, though Lago wasn't most pokemon, he just raised his arms in a cross to block.
Upon being hit the orange aura of Counter took effect. The kinetic energy of the swing being stored up into my Rhydon's body as he didn't budge a single inch due to the shock being absorbed. However, within a moment all of that energy was released as his tail glowed orange and he lashed out with a roar of his own.
The tail of Lago buried itself inside Dragonite's gut, spittle and blood flew everywhere as the wind picked up and the still raging dragon was launched backwards at insane speeds. The raw power of the counterattack was enough to make Clair freeze as her pokemon went flying by her right side, her hair picking up in the process.
Then, the world picked back up.
Dragonite hit the stone wall so hard that it literally exploded, cracks spreading on the wall so fast that a few members of the crowd jumped back in fear when the perch they were leaning on started to break. Rocks flew everywhere and dust picked up as a crater was created, a few loose pieces of concrete breaking off and blocking Clair's hallway as a consequence.
Then much to everyone's shock, including me and Lago, a scaled arm that looked battered slowly clawed it's way out of that hole and latched onto the wall by it's side. Then Dragonite placed their foot on the ground, stepping partly out of the dust, their eyes still glowing red, but the fire in their movements was snuffed out.
They huffed and puffed as they shakily stepped forward, snarling with what little strength they could muster... only to collapse onto the ground as they finally passed out. Unable to continue taking a beating.
We'd won. I was the winner of the Indigo Conference.
"Dragonite is unable to battle! Asher Blight is the winner!" But, a lot of the crowd didn't cheer me on. Who could say why. Maybe they were letting the way I'd won get to their head. Maybe it was the overwhelming strength my pokemon had displayed. But, I was the winner regardless.
I let myself smile. It wasn't anything fake like a smirk, but a genuine smile. I didn't need to force it. I was a winner tonight.
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