"Since that's the case, let me act as the referee."
Seeing this, Byron volunteered. After receiving nods from Lucas and Gary, he stood in the center of the field. "Is this battle 3V3 or 6V6?"
Lucas gestured for Gary to decide.
"I want to give it my all."
Gary said, tightly gripping a Poké Ball.
Lucas smiled and then nodded.
"Arcanine."
"Awooo!"
Arcanine appeared and let out a long howl toward the sky.
Lucas turned his head to look at the Ninetales beside him. Just as he was about to speak, Latias's voice echoed in his mind.
"Lucas, do you need my help? I'm very strong."
Lucas smiled and shook his head at Latias. "Not this time, because I also want to see his progress for myself."
Latias nodded thoughtfully, then flew to the side and began watching the battle seriously.
While Lucas and Latias were talking, Ninetales had already stepped onto the field.
"Shiu."
Hello there.
Ninetales was greeting Arcanine.
Arcanine looked at Ninetales, who was slightly larger than itself, and lowered its head, emitting low growls.
As Gary looked at this massive Ninetales, the image of the Vulpix that loved to act spoiled at the beginning surfaced in his mind; the Manager was also constantly moving forward.
Gary thought.
"Flamethrower!"
Arcanine spat fire from its mouth. Ninetales didn't dodge or hide; as soon as the Flamethrower touched Ninetales, it was absorbed.
"Nasty Plot."
Ninetales tilted its head and blinked its eyes.
Its momentum continued to climb.
"Flash Fire?"
Gary waved his hand. "Arcanine, Close Combat."
Arcanine crashed into Ninetales.
Under Lucas's command, Ninetales blocked the Close Combat with Zen Headbutt.
"Knowing it's the Flash Fire ability, aren't you going to switch?"
Lucas asked softly.
Gary grinned. "Arcanine doesn't only know how to use Fire-type moves."
"Arcanine, Wild Charge!"
No need to switch; I will let every Pokémon exert their strongest combat power to challenge you.
This was what Gary thought in his heart.
"Is that so?"
Lucas pointed his finger. "Flare Blitz!"
Arcanine charged at Ninetales, covered in lightning, while Ninetales also wrapped itself in flames and met the attack.
Like two ordinary heavy tanks, they collided violently. The Heat Wave generated by the impact made Lucas squint. Gothitelle immediately appeared in front of Shieldon and opened a protective barrier.
Then she raised her hand, and the smoke on the field dispersed.
Arcanine was covered in wounds and stumbling; even an Arcanine with double resistance to fire could barely withstand Ninetales' Flare Blitz.
Arcanine bared its teeth.
It hurts like hell.
Ninetales also had wounds on its body, but it was slightly better off than Arcanine.
Seeing the way Arcanine looked at Ninetales, Lucas didn't want to admit it, but the fact was that his baby Ninetales was truly the kind of Ninetales that could uproot a willow tree.
"Arcanine, Reversal!"
"Scorching Sands!"
Scalding sand instantly flew toward Arcanine. After letting out a wail, Arcanine lay directly in the center of the field.
"You've worked hard, Arcanine."
Gary recalled Arcanine into its Poké Ball, said a word, and then threw a second Poké Ball, which was a Nidoking.
Lucas let Ninetales rest and sent out Dash.
The following result was that Nidoking was hit by Dash's four fists, and a Dynamic Punch sent it flying, falling to the ground and losing its ability to battle.
Gary looked at Dash, who was at least twice as strong as other Machamp, looking at its four arms that were thicker than his own life, and the unconscious Nidoking lying on the field.
He recalled Nidoking.
The third to appear, Alakazam, traded a few moves with Gothitelle before being knocked to the ground by Gothitelle.
The fourth, Umbreon, was put to sleep by Lapras's brother's Body Slam.
Looking at Gary's fifth Pokémon, Electivire, Lucas turned to let Lilligant take the stage, only to see Gengar floating over. "Gengar gargar."
Let me do it.
Lucas looked at Gengar in confusion, then followed its gaze to Lilligant, finding that Lilligant's body was gently swaying with the wind, the expectation on her face clearly visible.
"Let her fight the last match?"
Gengar nodded, baring its large teeth.
Lucas nodded. "Okay, then I'll leave it to you, Gengar."
Gengar floated onto the field, its playful smile instantly vanishing, replaced by a cold gaze and a cool expression.
If it weren't for that belly that was obviously a size larger, a serious Gengar would probably be very handsome.
"Thunder Punch."
"Protect."
After Gengar defended against the Thunder Punch, it inflicted Toxic on Electivire under Lucas's command.
Then it used Phantom Force to appear behind Electivire, landing a solid hit.
The poisoned Electivire quickly fell under Gengar's continuous attacks, finally being finished off by Gengar's Hex.
Gary exhaled, recalled Electivire, and then threw out his starter partner, Blastoise.
Blastoise jumped out of the Poké Ball and stood tall on the field, its powerful Aura instantly spreading throughout the entire arena.
Lilligant also danced an elegant dance to the center of the field.
Blastoise looked at the Lilligant in front of it, who was lifting her skirt in a gesture toward it, as if facing a great enemy.
It knew that if you made other Pokémon angry in the Breeding House, you might still be able to beg for mercy, but if you provoked Lilligant, it would be a sound thrashing.
"Blastoise, Ice Punch!"
"Protect!"
After defending against Blastoise's Ice Punch head-on, a petal tornado began to form around Lilligant, all of which swept toward Blastoise.
"Disperse it with Hydro Pump!"
Two cannon barrels fired two powerful water columns, colliding with the tornado formed by Petal Blizzard. After resisting for only a moment, Blastoise was enveloped by the Petal Blizzard.
As the petals scattered, wounds appeared on Blastoise's body.
Seeing this, Lucas shouted to Gary: "Gary, let me see the light you've grasped!"
"Then Manager, please look closely!"
Gary pulled out the wooden plaque from around his neck, gripped it tightly in his hand, and placed it against his forehead. "Blastoise, respond to my call!"
"..."
Blastoise bumped its fists together, and a blazing light radiated from within its shell, merging with the light radiating from Gary's forehead, then enveloping Blastoise.
Blastoise bumped its fists again, its powerful Aura shaking the light away. A small shell grew on each of Mega Blastoise's arms, each containing a water cannon. At the same time, the two cannons on its back merged into one giant cannon. The muzzle of the giant water cannon surpassed Mega Blastoise's head, pointing directly at Lucas and Lilligant.
Looking at Blastoise's firepower threat, Lucas twisted the bracelet on his wrist. "Lilligant, are you ready?"
Lilligant responded to Lucas's words with a magnificent dance.
Gary looked at Lucas, who was dancing in coordination with Lilligant, his eyes stunned for a moment. Then he opened his mouth and shouted at Lucas wantonly: "Manager, this is the light I have grasped!"
"Blastoise, let's go!"
Coupled with the Mega Launcher ability, a powerful Aura began to charge on Mega Blastoise's turret, and suffocating energy began to condense into a ball.
With Gary's roar, Blastoise's Aura condensed into the shape of a giant dragon, surging toward Lucas and Lilligant.
"Dragon Pulse!!!"
Watching the approaching Dragon Pulse, Lucas stopped dancing. His bracelet erupted with a surge even more intense than the one from Gary and Blastoise.
"Bloom——"
The field was instantly covered with grass and flowers.
"Doom!!!"
Lucas also roared out.
A violent beam of light erupted from Lilligant's hands, charging directly at the giant dragon.
Two powerful forces collided. Gothitelle gritted her teeth, constantly cursing Gary and Lucas in her heart.
The psychic power in her hands kept gushing out.
Every time they make such a big commotion, they must want to work me to death.
Gothitelle's internal cursing was non-stop.
As the smoke cleared, Gothitelle landed steadily from the air, her eyes burning with fire as she stared intently at Lucas.
On the field, Blastoise's Mega Evolution had ended, returning to its normal form, sleeping exceptionally soundly on the ground.
Lilligant let out a satisfied breath and then gestured by lifting her skirt.
Lucas felt a chill down his back and secretly turned his head to look, finding Gothitelle watching him.
He grinned and smiled at Gothitelle.
Hehe.
Mother Gothitelle is always sewing and patching things up.
Gary calmed his emotions, recalled Blastoise into its Poké Ball, and said, "You've worked hard."
Was I still unable to make the Manager use his full strength?
Gary knew that Lucas's Gengar could also Mega Evolve, but it hadn't been used in this battle.
Lucas came to Gary's side and patted his shoulder.
"The light in your heart, I felt it."
Lucas let go of his shoulder and walked toward Gothitelle with a smile, apologizing continuously.
Gary raised his head and scratched his hair.
"I am very satisfied."
Gary smiled upon hearing these words.
"We still need to keep working hard, Blastoise, Umbreon——"