Ash and Iris felt a little out of place with the other Champions as both were used to watching battles as part of a crowd. Cynthia and Diantha were sitting with them, Alain was quietly brooding in a corner and Lance was watching the screen from the back of the room.
Leon and Steven stepped onto the battlefield and the crowd cheered. Once they quietened down, the referee announced the rules.
"This will be a 6 on 6 battle with substitutions permitted on both sides. Each trainer is restricted to one battle gimmick, either a Mega Evolution, a Z-Move or a Gigantamax form. Let the battle begin!"
"Skarmory, lets go!" Steven sent out a bird made entirely from steel.
"Charizard, Champion time!" cried Leon and his dragon-like ace Pokemon appeared, immediately joining Skarmory in the sky, "Use Heat Wave!"
"Skarmory, Stealth Rock!"
Charizard flapped his wings and send an intensely hot gust of wing flying across the battlefield. Skarmory shrieked in pain but spun and formed jagged rocks around his body. He stopped spinning and sent the rocks floating to Charizard's side of the battlefield, where they disappeared from view.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Charizard fired a pulse of draconic energy which took the shape of a dragons jaws. The jaws slammed shut on Skarmory and it collapsed to the ground while Charizard remained in the air.
"Skarmory is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"
"Thank you Skarmory," Steven said as he recalled the metal bird, "Go Aggron!" A dinosaur like Pokemon with steel plating appeared, "Stone Edge!"
"Dive and use Focus Blast!"
Aggron formed a dozen sharp stones which spun around his body before flying across the battlefield. Charizard darted between them with alarming speed, creating a blue orb of energy between his claws and hurling it at Aggron. The Focus Blast send Aggron sliding back.
"Dragon Tail!"
"Dodge then Dragon Pulse!"
Aggron lunged with surprising agility for such a heavy Pokemon, his tail glowing green as he swung it at Charizard, only to miss and get a Dragon Pulse right to the face.
"Aggron is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"
"Steven hasn't even touched Charizard yet!" gasped Iris.
"Leon's already predicted Steven's strategy," Cynthia said quietly "Good try with Dragon Tail but Aggron was too slow."
"Plus it's massively weak to Focus Blast," Diantha added.
"Claydol, lets go!" said Steven, who was now sweating. A Pokemon that resembled a clay figurine appeared.
"Charizard, Heat Wave!"
"Light Screen!"
Charizard used his wings to blow another powerful gust of searing hot air but Claydol formed a golden screen to deflect it.
"Shadow Claw!"
"Reflect!"
Charizard's claws became shrouded in shadows as he swooped and thrust them at Claydol who formed another screen, this time blue, to deflect the attack.
"Return Charizard," Leon recalled his Pokemon, "Mr Rime, Champion time!" A strange, clown-like Pokemon holding a cane appeared. Stealth Rock reappeared and the closest stones smashed into him, causing Mr Rime to stumble and use his cane to regain his balance. "Rapid Spin!"
Mr Rime made a sweeping gesture with his cane and Light Screen and Reflect both disappeared before he started spinning. Instead of aiming for Claydol, he spun at the Stealth Rocks, shattering them all before redirecting his attention towards Claydol.
"Brilliant," Cynthia murmured, "by combining Screen Cleaner with Rapid Spin, Leon's disabling Stealth Rock, Reflect and Light Screen all in one stroke."
"Earth Power!" yelled Steven and Claydol caused the ground to erupt underneath Mr Rime, blasting the clown into the air.
"Freeze Dry!" countered Leon and Mr Rime, still in midair, pointed his cane at Claydol and blasted a gust of freezing air into it. Mr Rime landed and twirled his cane casually as Claydol collapsed.
"Claydol is unable to battle! Mr Rime wins!"
"What an overwhelming display folks! Leon has just taken down half of Steven's team without losing a single Pokemon!"
Steven took a deep breath to centre himself. His usual strategy had completely failed but he still had 3 powerful Pokemon left.
"Armaldo lets go!" A bipedal, amphibious Pokemon with sharp claws and resembled a mantis shrimp appeared, "Swords Dance.
"Freeze Dry!"
Mr Rime fired another freezing gust of air from his cane but Armaldo ignored it, creating several blue glowing swords which circled his body and crossed together. Armaldo glowed a reddish orange as his Attack increased.
"Metal Claw!"
"Rapid Spin!"
Armaldo lunged and swing a glowing claw but Mr Rime spun out of the way before smacking the Armour Pokemon in mid spin with both his cane and his feet.
"Psyshock!"
"Use X-Scissor"
Mr Rime fired multiple purple blasts of energy from his cane but Armaldo crossed his claws and cut straight through the Psyshock with ease before landing the X-Scissor. Mr Rime crashed to the ground and his cane rolled out of his limp hand.
"Mr Rime is unable to battle! Armaldo wins!"
"Finally!" said Ash, "1 Pokemon down!"
"And 5 to go," Iris reminded him. Ash had rarely heard her speak so quietly.
"Thanks Mr Rime," Leon said as he recalled his Pokemon, "Inteleon, Champion time!" A lizard like Pokemon with a long tail and large, black hands appeared.
"Use Rock Blast!"
"Liquidation!"
Armaldo fired a series of heavy rocks at Inteleon who covered her hands, feet and tail in water as she slammed as many of them away as possible. However, thanks to the Swords Dance boost, one rock penetrated her defence, striking her in the chest with enough force to knock the wind out of her.
"X-Scissor!" ordered Steven and Armaldo crossed his claws and lunged.
"Dodge, then Snipe Shot!" countered Leon. Inteleon was faster than Armaldo, leaping into the air and firing a swift but powerful blast of water from her finger tip at the back of his head, knocking him onto his face. Fortunately for Steven, Armaldo's Battle Armour blocked what should have been a Critical Hit. "Liquidation!"
"Use Metal Claw!"
Armaldo spun around as Inteleon lunged towards him. He managed to thrust a Metal Claw into her chest only to receive 3 water infused blows from hands, feet and a tail that were all surrounded by water for his trouble. Inteleon spun past him clutching her chest while Armaldo collapsed behind her.
"Armaldo is unable to battle! Inteleon wins!"
"Steven's in a corner now," muttered Diantha, her blue eyes shining with concern. Ever since the Kalos crisis, she'd become good friends with the Hoenn champion, so seeing him get utterly dominated was upsetting.
"But he's not out yet," Ash pointed out.
"And Inteleon was hurt pretty badly thanks to Swords Dance," added Iris.
"Metagross go!" cried Steven and his signature shiny Metagross, a Pokemon with a giant X on its face that appeared to be a 4 legged robot, appeared.
"Inteleon, double Dark Pulse!"
"Agility, then Meteor Mash!"
Inteleon fired pulsing black rings from her finger tips but Metagross moved with astonishing speed, dodging both Dark Pulses and turning one of its hands into a golden meteor before smashing Inteleon with a powerful punch, knocking her out.
"Inteleon is unable to battle! Metagross wins!"
"Well done, Metagross, return!" Steven said before Leon had even recalled Inteleon, "Go Cradily!" An odd looking green Pokemon that resembled a Crinoid appeared.
"Wait, Cradily's a Grass type," said Iris, "Why didn't Steven use it against Inteleon?"
"Because he expected Leon to switch Inteleon out if he did," Diantha explained, "Stealth Rock isn't there any more."
Leon was taken aback by Steven's rapid switch but quickly regained his composure and sent out the rabbit-like Cinderace.
"Cinderace, Pyro Ball!"
"Cradily block it with Ancient Power!"
Cinderace repeatedly kicked a rock, igniting it into a flaming ball which he then kicked towards Cradily, who summoned a dozen rocks from thin air. The rocks coalesced into a shield which Pyro Ball exploded against but failed to penetrate. Ancient Power then flew towards Cinderace.
"Use Iron Head!"
The tuft of hair on Cinderace's head flashed white and turned into solid steel as he lowered his head and charged headlong into the Ancient Power, shattering every rock that collided with his forehead. He slammed into Cradily and sent it sliding back.
"Confuse Ray!"
The yellow markings which were often mistaken for Cradily's eyes glowed purple and a ray of light shot towards Cinderace. The Striker Pokemon started banging himself on the head with his fists. Noticing that the tuft on his head had turned silver, Steven realised that Libero was why his Iron Head and been so powerful.
"Earth Power!" he commanded and Cradily caused the ground beneath Cinderace to explode, hurling him into the air.
"Use Pyro Ball!"
Cinderace, still in midair and still confused, heard the command but completely misjudged his kick and flaming ball sailed harmlessly off to Cradily's right without the Barnacle Pokemon even needing to move. Cinderace landed on his feet but since he was facing Leon instead of Cradily, he didn't seem to realise that his attack had missed.
"Cinderace, return," Leon recalled his confused Pokemon, "Champion time, Dragapult!"
A draconic creature that resembled a diplocaulus and was carrying her young in her horns appeared. She hovered above the battlefield with her long tail flicking behind her.
"Cradily, use Ancient Power!" ordered Steven and Cradily summoned dozens of rocks from thin air and launched them at Dragapult.
"Dragapult, Phantom Force!"
Dragapult disappeared into thin air. Cradily looked around, allowing his Ancient Power to disappear as he tried to find the ghostly dragon. Then Dragapult appeared behind him, surrounded by shadowy energy, and slammed headlong into him.
"Giga Drain and Ancient Power!"
Cradily's tentacles glowed light green and it extended them, seizing Dragapult and sapping her energy whilst summoning Ancient Power at the same time. The rocks pummelled the Dragon and Ghost type while Cradily weakened her further with Giga Drain.
"Dragon Darts and Flamethrower!"
Dragapult, still in Giga Drain's grip but no longer being pummelled by Ancient Power, shot her baby Dreepy out of her head and immediately send a stream of flames flying after them. Both Dreepy struck Cradily and his Giga Drain withdrew before the Flamethrower engulfed him. Dragapult kept it up for several seconds as her children returned to their place in her head before giving Cradily respite when he toppled over.
"Cradily is unable to battle! Dragapult wins!"
"Only Metagross left," mumbled Diantha. Everybody else was silent. Lance had moved from the back of the room to see the screen more clearly and Alain had stopped brooding and was watching with rapt attention.
"Metagross, it's all up to you now," Steven said quietly, "let's go!"
The Psychic and Steel type emerged and rumbled menacingly. Metagross was fully aware that it was outnumbered 4 to 1 but it had no intention of surrendering. Steven took out his Mega Stickpin and pressed the Key Stone attached to it. Metagross boomed as it transformed into its powerful Mega form, flexing 4 massive clawed hands threateningly at Dragapult.
"Dragapult Flamethrower!" Leon ordered and Dragapult fired a stream of flames.
"Agility, then Meteor Mash!" Ordered Steven, which was exactly what Leon had been expecting. Metagross effortlessly dodged the Flamethrower and darted back and fourth before turning one of its massive claws into another golden meteor.
"Phantom Force!" Leon ordered and Dragapult vanished into thin air causing Metagross' Meteor Mash to miss.
Metagross was unfazed by its opponent's disappearance. Instead of searching with its eyes, it used its Psychic powers to track Dragapult's movements even while she was invisible, pinpointing the exact place where she would strike from seconds before it happened. As soon as the Stealth Pokemon reappeared, shrouded in shadowy energy, Metagross darted above her.
"Meteor Mash, full force!" Steven ordered before Dragapult could regain her composure.
Instead of just using one hand like before, Metagross turned its entire body into a golden comet and dived. Dragapult barely had time to look up before a 942.9 kilogram Mega Evolution smashed straight down on top of her, crushing her into the ground and kicking a huge cloud of dust into the air. Metagross floated back over to Steven knowing that Dragapult wouldn't be getting up after such a brutal blow.
"Dragapult is unable to battle! Metagross wins!"
Leon grinned, unfazed by how easily Metagross had bested Inteleon and Dragapult. He took out Charizard's Poke Ball and released him back onto the battlefield. Unlike against Skarmory and Aggron, Charizard was grounded this time.
"Charizard, use Heat Wave!"
"Dodge then Thunder Punch!"
Charizard launched a fiery gust across the battlefield but Metagross darted out of range and one of its massive claws became electrified. It slammed the Thunder Punch into Charizard's belly, lifting him off his feet and hurling him into the air.
"Use Shadow Claw!" Leon ordered.
Charizard flapped his wings to redirect his trajectory as his claws became surrounded in shadows. He slashed them down on Metagross who grunted in pain but, despite the blow being super effective, pushed back and forced Charizard to hastily fly out of the range of its massive claws. Leon was momentarily taken aback by how easily Metagross shrugged off the attack.
"Flash Cannon!"
"Focus Blast!"
Metagross fired a powerful silver beam which collided with Charizard's powerful orb of blue energy, creating an explosion. As the smoke cleared, Leon took out his Poke Ball and recalled Charizard before pressing his Dynamax Band. The Poke Ball grew much larger, glowing with Dynamax energy, as Leon hurled it into the air.
"Charizard, Gigantamax!" Leon boomed. The ball burst open and Charizard reappeared, quickly growing to a colossal size as his wings turned into pure flame. The giant Charizard loomed over Metagross and his roar echoed around the stadium. "Use Max Phantasm!"
The giant Charizard's claws became shrouded by shadows but instead of another Shadow Claw, he summoned multiple giant objects made from shadows, including giant chairs, a giant teapot and even a giant boot, which shot towards Metagross. The Mega Evolution dodged several of them but was clobbered by the boot before a giant cup crashed down on it.
"Metagross, full power Thunder Punch!" roared Steven.
This time, Metagross used all 4 of its fists instead of just 1, smashing them all into Charizard simultaneously. Despite the Gigantamax forms massive size, Charizard was pushed back 3 full meters by the Tough Claws boosted attack, forcing Leon to step aside to avoid his flaming tail as electricity coursed through his body. Charizard fell on one knee, visibly shaken as sparks surrounded him.
"Awesome power!" boomed Leon, "But we've got it too! Charizard, G-Max Wildfire!"
Gigantamax Charizard's fiery wings glowed bright red and yellow before being fired off its back, which immediately sprouted new flame wings as a giant flaming phoenix swooped at Metagross. The Mega Evolution dodged it but the bird circled around it, leaving a vortex of fire behind before it descended and engulfed Metagross who roared in agony. The flames died down and Charizard's roar was one of triumph.
"Metagross is unable to battle! Charizard wins! The victory goes to Leon!"
Ash met up with Goh and Hop outside the stadium. Hop was gushing about Leon's performance.
"And that G-Max Wildfire! Whoosh! Metagross never stood a chance!"
Goh glanced as Ash who plastered on a smile.
"Leon's strong, no doubt about that. But Charizard was pretty shaken by that second Thunder Punch," Goh pointed out.
"Nah, Charizard was never in trouble," Hop denied, "the battle was as good as over when Mr Rime got rid of the screens and Stealth Rock."
"Looks like you're gonna need to use all your unpredictability when you face Leon, Ash," Goh said.
"You mean if he faces him," Hop piped up.