Both figures blurred simultaneously, vanishing into the billowing smoke. Before spectators could track their movements, the sharp ring of metal against metal echoed from within the haze.
John-Greninja and Mega Pidgeot collided in the obscuring cloud.
The ninja Pokemon raised its gleaming white blade formed by Cut, slashing downward with lethal precision. Mega Pidgeot refused to dodge, meeting the attack head-on as its wing-blades carved through the air like scythes.
The two Pokemon exchanged a flurry of strikes, each putting everything behind their attacks. With each collision, sonic booms reverberated across the arena.
The white energy blade in Greninja’s grasp trembled from the impact, the shock traveling up through its arm as the recoil force sent it flying backward out of the smoke, skidding to a stop in front of John.
Mega Pidgeot was also knocked back. Despite its overwhelming special attack prowess after evolution, its physical strength couldn’t match Greninja’s, leaving it at a disadvantage in direct confrontations.
"Aerial Ace!" Damon commanded without hesitation.
Mega Pidgeot’s fighting style with the No Guard ability was pure aggression, attack relentlessly, never defend!
The Mega Pokemon immediately spun mid-air after being repelled, diving down before pulling up at the last second to skim along the ground at breathtaking speed!
But just like before, Damon’s Tailwind was no ordinary speed boost, and his Aerial Ace was definitely no simple flying attack. These were his signature combination techniques!
Mega Pidgeot became shrouded in an almost transparent wind coat, with dark green flames of Dragon-type energy dancing across its surface. Golden light trailed from its tail feathers, creating the illusion of a blazing comet streaking across the battlefield.
No, add Tailwind to the mix!
The collision of their previous attacks hadn’t stopped the powerful winds generated by Damon’s ongoing technique.
Tailwind speed boost + Aerial Ace acceleration + Quick Attack burst.
Mega Pidgeot’s velocity reached its absolute limit!
John’s naked eye couldn’t accurately track Mega Pidgeot’s movement, only a stream of light piercing through the smoke before Greninja took the devastating hit!
However, unlike John who barely had time to react, Greninja’s extensive "mind’s eye" training kicked in.
Through its heightened awareness, Mega Pidgeot’s movements weren’t impossible to perceive.
But while Greninja’s consciousness could keep up, its physical capabilities fell short. It could see the attack coming but lacked the speed to fully evade, a classic case of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak.
All it could do was summon its Substitute as a shield while activating Protect, then cross its arms and layer on a second Protect for good measure.
Mega Pidgeot tore through Greninja’s Substitute, shattered its first Protect, demolished the second Protect
Wheeling around and taking to the skies, Mega Pidgeot released a triumphant screech.
The cry was both victory declaration and display of dominance.
As the bonded partner in their transformation, Greninja’s injuries affected John as well. He clutched his chest, sweat beading on his forehead from the shared pain.
"Still can’t underestimate the Elite Four," John gritted his teeth.
The only silver lining was that Greninja’s precognitive defenses had prevented a one-hit knockout.
Greninja peeled itself from the wall, leaving behind a meter-deep crater. Looking up at Mega Pidgeot circling overhead like a bird of prey, flames of determination burned in its eyes.
The battle wasn’t over! It still had fight left!
"Pidgeot, finish this! DrillingAerial Ace!" Damon remained stone-faced? this wasn’t the time for celebration.
High above, Mega Pidgeot dove again, this time in a spiraling descent. Just as it seemed destined to crash into the ground, it pulled up and began spinning horizontally across the battlefield.
Mega Pidgeot’s beautiful feathers left golden streamers in their wake, dark green flames wreathing its entire body while a faint dragon silhouette formed around it. The spiral flight pattern made the dragon shape nearly invisible, but its presence was unmistakable.
This time, Damon’s "drilling" command had modified the combination once more, adding Drill Peck to the devastating mix!
The ultimate combination: Aerial Ace + Dragon Rush + Quick Attack + Tailwind + Drill Peck!
John knew this technique differed from the previous assault, more powerful, more refined, but couldn’t identify the specific addition. In the split second between lightning and thunder, all he and Greninja could see was a golden arrow, a living spear, a blazing meteor.
However, having survived the last exchange, John didn’t need to analyze Mega Pidgeot’s new technique.
The command he wanted to give had been decided the moment Damon opened his mouth.
The order wasn’t spoken aloud, there wasn’t time.
It came through their bond.
The instant John thought of Teleport, Greninja was already executing the move.
Just as the golden streak was about to pierce Greninja’s chest, the ninja Pokemon’s form twisted and dissipated like smoke. What followed was Mega Pidgeot’s explosive collision with the arena wall!
The battlefield wall was punctured instantly, Pidgeot’s drill-like beak embedding deep into the energy barrier before finally stopping. Cracks spread for hundreds of meters in all directions, and shattered rock rained down, nearly burying Mega Pidgeot in the debris.
"Greninja, Ultimate Spiral Water Shuriken!" John commanded immediately, unleashing his own ultimate technique!
As his voice rang out, a millstone-sized compressed Aura Sphere was already descending from above.
After executing Teleport, Greninja wasted no time launching its most devastating attack! Follow current novels on novel·fiɾe·net
"Hurricane!" Damon shouted in response.
Mega Pidgeot immediately raised its head, flapping its wings to summon a massive storm across the battlefield.
The descending Ultimate Spiral Water Shuriken!" continued absorbing surrounding aura energy through its rotation, growing exponentially in size!
From boulder to tank, truck, then whale.
Until it eclipsed everything in Mega Pidgeot’s vision.
The light became blinding, consuming everything above. The temperature shifted from warm to scorching, then plunged to icy darkness, the entire process resembling a miniature sun crashing down upon the arena!
Everything dissolved into nothingness.