"Ninetales is unable to battle!"
Blaze raised the flag, surprise briefly crossing his face.
"Frost, send out your next Pokémon!"
The spectators were just as stunned.
Frost ranked fourth on the ranking, yet his Ninetales had lasted only two attacks against Aaron's Charizard.
The difference was almost difficult to believe.
"Is the gap between first and fourth really that huge, or is Aaron just a monster?"
"Did you see those flames? They turned gold!"
"That Flamethrower nearly cleared the hail from the entire arena!"
"Terrifying... No wonder he conquered the ninth floor."
...
Charizard's overwhelming victory immediately set off a heated discussion among the crowd.
On the battlefield, Frost stared at what remained of Ninetales's once-pristine white coat and felt his heart ache.
"C-Come back, Ninetales!"
He quickly recalled her. Resting inside the Poké Ball would at least ease her pain until she could receive treatment.
Frost took a breath, then looked across the arena at Aaron.
"You really are strong."
Aaron nodded without the slightest hint of modesty.
"Yeah. I know."
Frost stared at him.
"..."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Would it kill this guy to pretend to be humble?
He reached for another Luxury Ball and threw it onto the field.
"Let's see how you handle this."
"Come out, Cetitan!"
White light burst across the arena.
An enormous white Pokémon materialized on the snowy battlefield. Standing nearly four and a half meters tall, it possessed a massive, rounded body, broad feet, short fins, and a whale-like tail. A sharp horn protruded from its forehead.
Cetitan—the Terra Whale Pokémon.
Aaron's eyes lit up with interest.
Another rare Pokémon.
Just where had Frost found so many of them?
He immediately opened the System panel.
[Name: Cetitan]
[Gender: Female]
[Nature: Rash]
[Type: Ice]
[Ability: Thick Fat — Halves damage taken from Fire- and Ice-type moves.]
[Base Stats Total: 521]
[Level: Gym (Mid Stage)]
[Potential: Champion]
[Known Moves: Icicle Crash (Perfect), Liquidation (Perfect), Avalanche (Perfect), Ice Punch (Perfect), Ice Spinner (Mastery), Belly Drum (Mastery), Earthquake (Mastery), Ice Shard (Mastery), Amnesia (Mastery), Protect (Mastery), Play Rough (Mastery), Body Slam (Proficient), Superpower (Proficient)...][Description: Cetitan, the Terra Whale Pokémon. It migrates across frozen regions, protected from the extreme cold by the thick layer of fat beneath its skin. Its immense body grants it exceptional endurance and physical strength.]
...
Cetitan possessed an astonishing base HP of 170.
It was practically a living fortress.
Combined with Thick Fat, which reduced the damage of Fire-type attacks, Charizard's usual type advantage was effectively neutralized.
This Pokémon had clearly been chosen specifically to withstand powerful opponents.
"Begin!"
Blaze brought down the flag.
Frost struck first.
"Cetitan, close the distance with Liquidation!"
"BWOOOHH!"
Cetitan released a deep, whale-like bellow.
Water surged around its enormous body, compressing into a dense, high-pressure layer. It charged across the snowy ground, each step shaking the arena, before launching itself toward Charizard.
Aaron remained perfectly calm.
"Charizard, Fire Dragon's Roar."
A deep growl rumbled through Charizard's chest.
"GRAAAAH!"
It opened its jaws and launched a massive fireball toward the water-shrouded Cetitan.
The attacks collided in midair.
BOOOOM!
Flame and water erupted together.
Scalding steam flooded the arena, rapidly spreading until Cetitan disappeared entirely from view.
Frost's eyes gleamed.
Just as planned.
"Now, Cetitan! Belly Drum!"
A thunderous bellow came from within the steam.
"BWOOOOH!"
Heavy impacts followed as Cetitan pounded its fins against its belly.
Belly Drum sacrificed half of the user's maximum HP in exchange for immediately maximizing its Attack.
At six stages, Cetitan's physical power had risen to four times its normal level.
That had been Frost's real objective from the beginning.
He had expected Aaron to answer Liquidation with a Fire-type attack. The resulting steam gave Cetitan the cover it needed to complete Belly Drum without being interrupted.
Against a Charizard this overwhelmingly powerful, Frost had decided that the only answer was even greater raw force.
Aaron's eyes flashed with brief appreciation.
"That wasn't a bad plan."
Then his expression sharpened.
"But you're underestimating Charizard if you think a little steam can protect you."
He raised one hand.
"Charizard, burn through it."
"Full-power Flamethrower!"
Charizard's eyes blazed with golden fire.
A fierce growl rose from its throat as flames spread across its massive body.
"GRAAAAAH!"
A torrent of golden-red fire erupted from its jaws.
The inferno tore into the cloud below, superheating and scattering the steam in seconds.
Cetitan's enormous silhouette was exposed.
Before she could move, the golden flames crashed over her body.
BOOOOM!
"BWOOOOARGH!"
A pained bellow shook the arena.
Cetitan staggered beneath the flames, smoke rising from her thick hide.
Thick Fat had reduced the damage, but Charizard's fire was still brutally powerful.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
How could it hurt this much?
She had Thick Fat!
...