A massive, seven-meter-high azure wave surged across the battlefield, roaring forward like a feral beast with its maw wide open. It swallowed every energy blast in its path, crashing down with unstoppable force. Any Pokemon caught in its wake was instantly incapacitated.
Not a single Pokemon had withstood the sheer power of the attack.
The battlefield was nearly unrecognizable—almost transformed into a swimming pool. What had started as a chaotic brawl seemed to have ended in an instant.
The spectators stood frozen, stunned into silence.
"That Shiny Gyarados... It's terrifying!"
"Even if it's a Shiny, it shouldn't be this strong!"
"What kind of power level is this? You're telling me this trainer is just a student?"
"Did the Breeders Association set us up? How can a Gyarados of this caliber belong to a student?"
Even Scarlett and the young man beside her were left in awe.
"That Surf attack—it's at the level of a Gym Leader's Pokemon!" The young man gawked, mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Scarlett's pupils narrowed slightly. She didn't wear the same exaggerated expression, but internally, she was reeling.
John had just entered Riverstone University, and his first semester hadn't even ended. Yet, here he was, wielding a Pokemon strong enough to rival a Gym Leader.
And it was a Gyarados. If it had been another Pokemon, Scarlett might have assumed it was on loan. But Gyarados were notoriously aggressive—ruthless even. If it didn't acknowledge its trainer, it wouldn't just refuse to obey; it would lash out violently.
For John to have this Gyarados, there were only two possibilities: he either raised it from a Magikarp or defeated it in the wild.
Either way, it meant John was already on par with the best trainers.
And he was only a freshman.
Scarlett couldn't help but wonder—just how far would John go? For the first time, she felt a sense of anticipation. She was also relieved that she and John were on good terms.
Elsewhere, Ricardo watched, his expression unreadable. His hand drifted toward his waist, fingers brushing against a Pokeball. He could feel the subtle trembling within—the restless energy of his Lucario.
"He's getting stronger again... So strong that I might not even be able to catch up."
Ricardo clenched his fist. He and his Lucario had been training relentlessly since their last defeat at John's hands. They had sworn to win their rematch.
But now... that goal seemed impossibly distant.
On the battlefield, twenty-five of the thirty-three rival trainers had already recalled their fallen Pokemon. Only eight trainers still had Pokemon in the fight.
And that was only because they had played it smart—keeping their Pokemon out of the line of fire. Some had sent their Pokemon soaring high above, while others had burrowed underground to escape the onslaught.
A Braviary flapped its wings above the battlefield. Below, an Excadrill remained hidden beneath the earth, having used Dig the moment the battle began.
The only way to survive the monstrous Surf was to flee to the sky or disappear into the ground.
"Pointless," John muttered, raising his hand. "Gyarados—Thunderbolt!"
The crimson Gyarados shot into the air, electricity crackling through its body. A brilliant arc of lightning burst from its mouth, scorching the sky.
Despite Gyarados being a Water/Flying type—famously weak to Electric attacks—it had been taught Thunderbolt via TM from Mauville City's Iron Spinner. John had planned to teach it Flamethrower next.
But for now, Thunderbolt was more than enough to handle those pesky airborne opponents.
The moment the attack landed, five Pokemon plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground in smoking heaps. Their trainers barely had time to react before their Pokemon were knocked out cold.
Only three trainers remained—each with a Pokemon still hidden underground.
The tension was palpable.
The three trainers hesitated. They had wanted to counterattack, but Gyarados was now flying above the battlefield.
If their Pokemon surfaced, they'd be annihilated instantly.
Who would dare make the first move?
Perhaps they thought John couldn't touch them while they remained hidden.
John smirked. "Gyarados—scorch the ground with Hyper Beam!"
The Shiny Gyarados reared back, a golden beam of energy gathering in its maw. Then, with a deafening roar, it unleashed the blast straight downward.
The ground trembled violently as a massive trench was carved through the battlefield. Dust and debris exploded into the air, creating a deep, smoldering ravine.
One of the trainers panicked. "I forfeit!"
The other two gritted their teeth, steeling themselves.
John simply shrugged. "Another Hyper Beam."
"I forfeit!" The remaining trainers raised their hands in surrender.
One blast had already left the battlefield in ruins. If John fired another... their Pokemon might not survive.
For them, this battle wasn't worth the risk.
With that, the final challengers conceded. The match was over.
The referee, a representative of the Breeders Association, wasted no time in announcing the results.
"The victory goes to Gyarados' trainer—John!"