Finals Arena (Day)
After some testing, Dominic and Koda learned that Anivoice worked on all Pokemon. Even Ultra Beasts were understood by the boy. Their test was to take place in a wooded area surrounded on all sides by thick trees. At the far end of the circular arena was Present Mic, guarding the way out. Of course, the boys weren't aware of this yet.
"Koda, while I would normally encourage a battle with a teacher, I want to avoid Present Mic at all costs." Dominic told his teammate. He held out a Dive Ball and handed it to Koda. "This Poke Ball contains a Pokemon well-suited to this kind of battle, Araquanid. Should you find yourself in danger, throw the ball and it will appear. With your Quirk, Araquanid should listen to you." Koda took the Poke Ball. "Okay, now we'll split up. Our goal here is to reach the exit, not to engage Present Mic. Understood?" Koda nodded. "Okay, let's go."
Before they could even start their plan, a horrendous yelling noise rang through the arena. The soundwaves forced Dominic and Koda onto their knees, but the situation was far worse for the former than it was for the latter. Dominic's power made his physiology similar to that of a stone or other kind of mineral. Certain noises were enough to break his skin, and in some cases, kill him.
Fighting through the pain, the trainer got out a Luxury Ball and a Poke Ball. "Toxtricity, Noivern! Come out and use Boomburst!" he commanded, throwing the Poke Balls. When the two Pokemon were released, they executed their attacks, letting out ear-ringing shrieks that almost mirrored that of Present Mic's Quirk. Unfortunately, the teacher's power managed to surpass that of Toxtricity and Noivern, launching them into the trees and knocking them out. Dominic swiftly called them back, wondering how they were going to win. 'Toxtricity's Punk Rock Ability should've made it the best Pokemon for this exam. For a sound-based attack to overpower it, and even knock it out, requires a lot of strength.'
Suddenly, there was a moment of quiet as Present Mic's attack ended.
"Koda, do you think you can tell some birds or squirrels to attack him?" Dominic asked, still a bit dizzy.
"Even if I wanted to, the noise would just make them run away." Koda signed.
Another sound blast came, and Dominic's skin began to crack as a result. When it ended, his eye was blazing in anger. "This is starting to piss me off." he said, grating his teeth. He turned to Koda. "I think it's time to call out Araquanid."
Koda nodded in agreement and threw the Dive Ball, releasing the water spider Pokemon. As soon as Koda laid eyes on it, he screamed and ran away.
"We're doomed." Dominic deadpanned. Another barrage of noise came soon after, and in response, Dominic punched the ground. A wall of stone emerged from the terrain to protect him, only for it to shatter under the weight of Present Mic's voice. Both in anger and in agony, the boy slammed his head against a nearby rock over and over again, hoping to block out the sound in any way possible. When the attack ended again, he turned to face Araquanid. "Use Blizzard to make a wall of ice! Make it as thick as you can!" he commanded.
The Water Bubble Pokemon's eyes began to glow, and from one of its six legs, it expelled a flurry of cold wind that solidified into a wall of ice over 3 feet thick. After that, it staggered from how much effort the move took from it.
"Thank you." Dominic said to the Pokemon. Araquanid looked at its trainer, distressed by how much damage he took. It nuzzled against his midsection, worried for him. "I'm fine, Araquanid. You don't have to worry."
Another sound blast came. Araquanid's Blizzard wall took the impact, but shattered as soon as the attack finished.
"Araquanid, do you think you can-" Dominic's question was cut off when another sound blast hit him, rupturing his eardrums and forming a giant crack down the middle of his face. He fell to the ground, unconscious. Araquanid became frantic when it saw this, turning in the direction the attack came from and firing a Hydro Pump. But it didn't realize that Present Mic was far out of its range. The only reason it didn't race towards him was because it wanted to make sure Dominic was safe.
Koda watched this all from behind a tree. 'Xiao-Long was hurt because I ran away.' he thought to himself. As memories of him passing the entrance exam echoed through his mind, reminding himself that he was good enough for UA, he made a decision. "Araquanid!" he shouted, getting the Pokemon's attention. "You won't hit him from this distance! You have to get closer!"
Araquanid seemed to consider his words before looking back at Dominic's unconscious form. It replied to the boy with a series of drowned out chitters.
"Don't worry. I'll keep him safe for you." Koda assured the arachnid. "Now GO!"
Filled with renewed vigor, Araquanid ran through the woods as fast as its six legs could take it. Like a speeding train, it mowed down everything in its path as it prepared another Hydro Pump. When it finally reached Present Mic, he screamed at the sight of such a large bug and tried using his Quirk to defend himself. When all it did was make the water bubble on its head ripple, he realized why Dominic must've chosen it. Sound travels through water much slower than air, making any attack he had at his disposal useless against a Pokemon that covered its whole head in it.
Present Mic's scream as Hydro Pump struck him was enough to rattle the sky.
"Team Xiao-Long and Koda wins!" the PA system announced. Koda carried his classmate through the gate, followed by Araquanid.