Chapter 79: Daredevil PT 2

Iono turned to her floating phone as she chased Kai out into a wide grassland. "Okay, folks! This battle's about to get electrifying, so I'm gonna have to keep the phone floating up here- that way I don't accidentally cut off the stream short by destroying the phone! I swear to you all, that I WILL win against our arrogant, no-good challenger!"

Iono floated downwards, leaving her phone to hang in the air as Kai kept running away. Eventually, Kai spun around as his feet glided against the ground, and smirked.

"This place should be good enough. Nice and empty. You ready?!" Kai cried.

"I dunno…! Are YOU ready!?" Iono replied.

"I asked you first!"

"Yeah, well I asked you second!"

"That doesn't-" Kai did a double take. "What is that supposed to mean!?"

"See- that's okay, I speak a language my chat calls Iono-ese! New chatters ask all the time why I talk like this, and my Moderators always say, 'you'll get used to it!' Isn't that RIGHT!?" Iono spun her head to the phone watching from above and winked. "I don't even have to see the chat to know it's going absolutely CRAAAAAAAZYYYYYY!~"

"Hey Iono!" Kai cried, aiming his rapier at the gym leader. Water began gathering at the tip of his blade and formed an orb of blue, water-type energy. "Here's a lesson on fighting 101! Never turn your back on your opponent, unless you're ME!"

A hydro pump shot out of Kai's weapon and at Iono, who turned and grinned.

"Attacking me with my back turned? That's the first rule they teach you on 'How-to-be-a-Villian 101'! " She said. "Don't ask me how I know that. Anyway, I can't believe y-"

The oncoming attack completely consumed Iono's body, and Kai grinned to himself. The Hydro pump attack flew into the air and shot a blast of wind at the grass below. Kai grinned to himself as the power of the hydro pump became so great that his feet dragged across the grassy floor.

Soon, the hydro pump blast began to dwindle and fade away, and as soon as it did, Kai let out a gasp. Iono was now standing right in front of Kai, smiling wide and brushing off dust on her invoker armor.

"As I was saying…" Iono said with a wink, "I can't believe you decided to use a water type move on me when It's…not very effective."

"Ooohhhh… I'm in danger..." Kai said.

"Yep."

Iono flapped her electric wings together to use Dual Wingbeat- blasting a gust of wind that was so intense that Kai had to cross his arms in defense. The violent wind was slowly lifting Kai out of the ground and shot him into the air. The boy cried out in terror as Iono watched- crouching before launching herself after her challenger.

"Here comes the Hurricane!" Iono started flying circles around Kai with so much speed that she temporarily transformed into a bolt of lightning herself. As she did this- a tornado-like hurricane began forming around Kai's body- the winds became black as thunder clouds began to surround him.

That was when the spectators, including Geeta and Nemona, finally came running to the scene.

"Whoa! What's going on?!" One spectator cried.

"I think Iono's kicking that arrogant dude's butt!"

"Go Iono! Get em'!" Another spectator cried.

Geeta and Nemona turned their heads to each other as everyone in the spectators Croud besides them began cheering Iono's name.

"I think we might be the only ones rooting for Kai…"Nemona said. "I think that's what he wanted, though."

Geeta looked on at the hurricane that was growing in size and frowned.

Shards of earth began being lifted from the ground due to the intensity of the hurricane and began rising into the tornado.

Meanwhile, Kai gritted his teeth- seeing a ball of lightning dart all around the black, thundery tornado that surrounded him. That ball of lightning flew up into the air above him, and exploded like a firework before reaching the very top of the tornado and revealing who had become that said ball- it was Iono.

"Feel that!?" Iono cried. "This is the power that my fans are giving me!" Iono cried. "Everyone's waiting for your defeat, and I'm going to give it a count down!"

Iono raised one hand toward the sky, and a massive thunderbolt flew from the sky and onto her palm.

"This battle will end in five seconds!" Iono shouted as she began absorbing the power of the thunderbolt that was crashing onto her palm. "FIVE.…!"

Kai had little control over his body as it spun about in the wind. His thoughts raced in his mind, but one thought caused him to smile. The thought was:

'Even if the entire world is against you... I'm still with you.'

"Y'know what?" Kai said, "You're right. This battle IS going to end in five seconds…Though I'm the one who's going to win!"

Kai's eyes darted back and forth, and he saw a shard of earth that flew over to him. Kai managed to grab onto the shard of earth and used it as a platform before looking up.

"Go on and charge that thing!" Kai cried. "It won't' make a difference!" Kai cried. He saw another shard of earth that was higher up and leapt onto it.

"FOUR!"

Iono's body began to shine yellow as her wings began to grow in size. Sparks of electricity flew Kai's way, striking the shard of earth that the boy leapt away from.

"You can't stop me!" Kai cried.

"THREE!"

Kai began twirling about like a ballerina as he leapt to dodge the oncoming thunderbolt and landed on another floating platform of earth. Kai's weapon began glowing in response.

"No one can stop me!" Kai cried.

"TWO!"

Kai's heart began racing as he leapt from earth shard to earth shard, coming closer to his opponent as his weapon shone more.

"Aqua..!" Kai pulled his rapier back and prepared to thrust forward.

"ONE!"

"STEP!"

Iono shot down toward Kai as an electric-shield-like aura appeared around her. She was using the move Wild Charge so much force that it completely destroyed the tornado around them. As both opponents drew near each other-only one thing was on every spectator's mind:

Which attack would reach first? Kai's Aqua step, or Iono's Wild Charge?

The answer came within an instant: Iono's fist slammed onto Kai's stomach before his rapier could touch her. Iono dragged Kai toward the ground- and the moment they touched the floor, an orb of lightning remained as Iono flew away from the point of impact. She spun to her phone that flew toward her, then winked just as a giant thunderbolt came from the sky and crashed onto the orb of lightning, causing a huge explosion. The wind coming from the explosion was intense enough to cause the spectators to shield themselves.

"Ugh..!" Nemona shouted.

Geeta glared as she continued to look on.

As the smoke cleared, the only thing that was left behind was a crater.

"Ha!" Iono cried. "Looks like our challenger here bit off more than he could chew!"

Everyone stared at the massive crater and watched the smoke rising from it like a volcano after an eruption. The spectators around Nemona and Geeta were mumbling to themselves.

"Iono definitely won…" Some people said.

"That kid was just too arrogant, he should learn from this…" Another person said.

"Hopefully he learns to not over do it…" Another person said.

The mumbling among the spectators kept going, and shadows loomed over Nemona and Geeta's faces.

"Iono did it!" Someone cried.

"Yeah! Go Iono!" Another person cried.

"Iono! Iono! Iono!" Everyone in the crowd except Nemona and Geeta began cheering the streamer's name. Iono bowed to the crowd. "Thank you, thank you!" Iono winked and waved to the crowd. "It's all thanks to you guys that I wo-"

The earth began to tremble. Geeta and Nemona smiled.

The power of Flow surged through the ground, causing blue sparks to appear around the geyser. Then- at that moment, everyone heard the sound of laughter. Kai's laughter. It was loud and booming- like a Titan Pokemon's voice would be. The sound of Kai's laughter was one that seemed like he heard the funniest joke he had ever heard.

To others, however, Kai's laughter sounded like a villain's who was just about to show the hero how big the gap between their power truly was.

"That's what I'm talking about." Kai cried. "THAT'S. WHAT I'M. TALKING ABOUT!"

Just then, a geyser of water rose from the crater,, and out of the geyser was a single shadowy silhouette of a person. Kai flung himself through the Geyser and onto the ground with a crouch. The chestplate of his invoker armor was completely destroyed, and so, he was shirtless. His body was still sparking with Iono's yellow electricity. A bright smile was on the boy's face despite this.

"This is exactly what I wanted…!" Kai said. "The feeling of having my back against the wall..!" Kai began erupting in laughter all over again. Everyone in the crowd except Geeta and Nemona watched in genuine shock.

"I knew Kai wasn't out of the fight yet!" Nemona shouted.

"Hm.." Geeta said, crossing her arms. "That power of Flow that I'm feeling is showing just how much you've grown, huh, Kai? That fervorous feeling you have for battle is just a showcase of your true feelings, isn't it? This you we're seeing… is the you that's not tied down by your doubts."

"Geeta, I think I wanna give Kai a title, just like I gave you," Nemona said.

"Oh really? What would that title be?"

"El Temerario Blanco. The White Daredevil..!"

Kai grinned as his white hair began flowing rapidly.

"GAAH! How are you still standing?!" Iono shouted. "I already swore to my audience that I'd beat you! That's not going to change!" Iono dove toward the ground so quickly that thunder trailed behind her. Kai backflipped to dodge the giant lightning bolt Iono had temporarily transformed into, and watched the ground tremble under the weight of the attack. Just as Kai landed, Iono appeared in front of him with her fists raised. She began throwing punches rapidly at Kai, who began dodging.

"It's only going to take one more hit..!" Iono cried. "One more, and you're history..!"

That was when one of Iono's fists connected, slamming onto Kai's stomach as a loud thunder bolt sound erupted into the air- and lightning shot out from Kai's back. As Kai could feel his teeth chattering electricity coursed through his entire body.

Instead of falling, Kai began laughing again as he grabbed onto the arm Iono used to punch him. Iono gasped loudly.

"Not GOOD ENOUGH!" Kai roared, punching Iono's stomach himself with so much force that spit flew out of the gym leader's mouth. Kai pulled his fist and stepped back as Iono clutched her stomach- and then Kai kicked Iono on the chin to send her flying like an arrow.

Kai then started sprinting after Iono's now spiraling body. "Let's see you dance… Quaquaval!" Kai roared and threw his rapier, which spun like a top as it flew right past the gym leader and transformed back into Quaquaval.

Quaquaval used his knee and struck the back of Iono's head, sending her into the air, and then, both Quaquaval and Kai appeared behind and in front of her respectively.

Both Kai and his Pokémon began coordinating a team attack on Iono- punching and kicking the Gym leader like choreographed dancers.

"Time to finish this!" Kai cried out After they both delivered a kick that would send Iono's body toward the ground. "Aqua Step..!" Quaquaval and Kai began diving toward Iono and began spiraling in the air. Water energy began flying around the rapidly spinning trainer and Pokemon, and the attack turned into a water-drill like shape.

Iono's body slammed onto the ground with so much force that it bounced upwards- she let out a cry of pain before gritting her teeth. Iono then let out a battle cry as flapped her wings to remain in the air. She aimed both hands out at Kai and fired several lightning bolts.

"This battle is going to end in FIVE..!"

Kai and Quaquaval moved to dodge every lightning bolt that flew Iono's way- and drew near. Iono reached out, touching the water drill with the palm of her hand- and electricity began blasting out.

"FOUR..!" Kai cried.

"I… PROMISED..!" Iono shouted as her body began moving down toward the ground. "EVERYONE… I'D WIN..!"

"THREE!"

"You can do it Iono!" Another spectator cried.

"Just a little more!" Another spectator cried.

"Iono! Iono! Iono!"

Everyone in the crowd began cheering Iono's name.

"TWO...!" Kai cried.

"I can't lose here..!" Iono shouted. "Everyone's on my side, cheering me on..! I can't-"

"ONE! You're FINISHED!" Kai and Quaquaval shouted at the top of their lungs together- a shining blue star-like light shone before Kai and Quaquaval's attack slammed onto Iono's body with full force, causing a geyser of water to spew outward as they flew toward the ground. As soon as they touched the floor, an intense mushroom-cloud shaped explosion flew into the air.

As the smoke cleared, rain began falling toward the ground due to the amount of water that shot into the air. In the middle of the crater was Kai, who was standing on the rapier that Quaquaval became at the last second, which had been stabbed onto Iono's body. Kai flipped, and his rapier flew into the air with him. Kai then grabbed his rapier, then took a bow as though he were accepting applause from a crowd.

But no one was clapping… except Nemona and Geeta.

"WOOO!" Nemona shouted.

Geeta's smile grew.

As he walked over to Iono, Kai's hair reverted back to normal, and the feathers behind his back along with his water dancing shoes faded along with his hair color. Once he reached the fallen gym leader, he looked down at her.

"I-... can't…move…" Iono said.

"Everyone in the crowd was rooting against me, even your viewers were rooting against me. But despite all that… I still won," Kai said, grinning. He offered a hand to Iono. "Sorry about the taunting and stuff, I was really getting into the fight and all… and I wanted to stir up trouble. So yeah."

"Why are you apologizing? That was great!" Iono shouted. "Thanks to that fight I have gotten so many new viewers! And it's all because of you! Your antagonistic nature made me look like the shining hero! I'm so happy I broke 100k views!"

"Oh- so uh… you didn't take anything I did personally?"

"Why would I?"

Kai laughed. "I don't even know why I was worried!" He cried.

Iono's invoker disengaged and disappeared, and as that happened the gym leader took Kai's hand and stood up.

"You won fair and square, and when we get back, I'm going to give you the Electric Badge! We Gotta gotta GOTTA take a picture!" Iono said, grinning wide and showing her shark-like teeth. "We totally have to do a pose that shows our now budding rivalry!"

"Rivalry?"

"Yeah! We've gotta show the viewers that we 'hate each other's guts'. So that people will anticipate the next fight we have together! People love a good rivalry!"

Kai began to grin.

"You know what- you're right!" He cried.

The picture Kai and Iono took was of them glaring at each other, and a spark of electricity showing between them.