"You were a rock, Quagsire. A literal stone wall," Yoshinori muttered to the sphere before looking up at Julian. His face, partially hidden by the blue wrestling mask, looked genuinely strained. "I have to admit, Julian... I'm feeling a bit cornered here. You've outplayed me at every turn."
Julian didn't let the praise get to his head. He watched Togetic, who was hovering beside him, glowing with a faint, pulsing white aura. The "Ancient Power gamble" had paid off in spades. Not only had the move's secondary effect triggered—boosting every single one of Togetic's stats—but it had triggered twice. Between the Nasty Plot and the double-stack of ancient energy, Togetic was currently a miniature god of the battlefield.
"Luck favors the bold, Gym Leader," Julian said with a half-smile. "Togetic's Serene Grace ability just makes that luck a little more... consistent. We put in the work, and the odds just happened to fall our way."
"Maybe so," Yoshinori laughed, though there was a sharp edge to it now. "But 'potential' and 'durability' are two very different things. Your Togetic is glowing like a sun, but he's also breathing like he's run a marathon uphill. He's a glass cannon now, Julian. One good hit, and all that boosted power won't mean a thing."
Julian's eyes narrowed. He knew Wake was right. Togetic was sweating, his wings vibrating with a tired, frantic hum. He was at the edge of his stamina.
"He's got enough left for one more," Julian said.
"Then let's see if he can handle the King!" Yoshinori roared, his spirit flaring up. He reached for his final Poké Ball and launched it with a theatrical spin. "Come forth, Floatzel! Show them the speed of the rapids!"
In a burst of white light, a sleek, orange-furred predator appeared. It stood taller than a Buizel, with a thick, cream-colored underbelly and a massive, yellow flotation sac wrapped around its neck like a life-preserver scarf. It landed on a floating island with the grace of a gymnast, its twin tails twitching with anticipation.
This was Yoshinori's ace—Floatzel. A Pokémon known for its blistering speed and aggressive hunting style.
"Strike first, Togetic! Don't give him a chance to breathe!" Julian shouted. "Magic Leaf!"
"Jia-gei-gu! (Watch me work!)"
Togetic's wings flashed brilliantly. The emerald leaves he produced weren't just sharp; they were vibrating with the massive special attack boosts he'd accumulated. They tore through the air, whistling with a lethal intent.
"Razor Wind! Cut them down!" Wake commanded.
Floatzel crossed its arms, the blue fins on its forearms glowing with white energy. With a sharp snap, it sent out a pair of vacuum blades. Usually, Razor Wind would be enough to neutralize a project-based attack, but Togetic was currently playing on a different level.
The Magic Leaves didn't shatter. They sliced through the wind blades like a hot knife through butter, continuing their flight toward Floatzel.
"Pouch shield! Max inflation!"
Floatzel didn't dodge. Instead, it took a deep breath, and its yellow flotation sac expanded instantly, doubling in size until it covered the Pokémon's entire front like a cushioned barricade. The Magic Leaves slammed into the soft, pressurized rubber-like sac and simply... stopped. They lost all momentum, fluttering harmlessly to the ground as if they'd hit a pile of pillows.
"What?" Julian's heart sank. "He tanked a double-boosted, super-effective hit with a... life jacket?"
"Hahahaha!" Yoshinori's laughter boomed. "I told you, Julian! My team has been through the meat-grinder of water training! We don't just use those sacs to float; we use them as shock absorbers! That's the secret to our defense—turning the enemy's force into air!"
Julian hissed a breath between his teeth. This Floatzel wasn't just fast; it was built like a riot shield. "Fine. If we can't go through the front door, we'll just lift the whole house. Togetic, use Psychic! Get him off the ground!"
"Jia-gei-gu~ (Time to fly, little weasel!)"
Togetic's eyes burned blue. Floatzel, despite its weight and the inflated pouch, was suddenly jerked into the air by an invisible force. It struggled, its paws paddling at nothing as it was hoisted ten feet above the water.
"Slam him down!" Julian yelled.
Togetic swung his hand in a violent downward arc. The psychic pressure intensified, driving Floatzel toward the hard floating platform with the force of a falling anvil.
"Aqua Jet! Now!" Wake's voice was a thunderclap.
"Zing!"
Just as Floatzel was about to hit the wood, its pouch deflated in a hiss of steam, and a massive spiral of water erupted from its body. The Aqua Jet didn't just break the psychic grip; it used the downward momentum to pivot. Floatzel performed a mid-air corkscrew, turning itself into a high-speed blue torpedo.
"Oh no... Togetic, get out of there!" Julian screamed, his voice raw.
It was too late. Togetic had put everything into that Psychic slam, and his reaction time was lagging from pure exhaustion. The Aqua Jet struck him dead center, a crushing impact of high-pressure water and raw muscle. The little fairy was sent flying backward, a trail of white feathers following him as he crashed onto the challenger's platform at Julian's feet.
"Togetic!" Julian didn't wait for the referee. He was already clicking the recall button, the red beam enveloping the unconscious Pokémon just as he was about to slide off the edge and into the dark pool.
The referee looked at the empty platform, then at Julian's Poké Ball, and finally at Floatzel, who had landed perfectly on a distant islet.
"Togetic is unable to battle! Floatzel wins!" the referee announced, his voice echoing in the sudden quiet. He looked at Julian with a slight frown. "Challenger Julian, according to regulations, I must confirm the status of the Pokémon before a recall if it is in a precarious position. Do you have a reason for the immediate withdrawal?"
Julian took a deep, shaky breath, clutching Togetic's ball tightly. "I apologize, sir. He was already unconscious, and I wasn't going to let him fall into the water in that state. It was a reflex to protect my partner."
The referee nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Understood. The call stands. Challenger, you have one Pokémon remaining. Please make your final selection."