The battlefield of
Nowhere Gym
was packed with spectators.
At one end stood
Morrigan.
At the other stood
Elior.
The referee raised a flag.
"This will be a three-on-three Gym Battle!"
"Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon!"
"Battle begin!"
Morrigan's first Pokémon:
Phantorch
Elior's choice:
Lucario
"Will-O-Wisp!"
Purple flames flew toward Lucario.
"Dodge and use Bone Rush!"
Lucario leaped forward, creating a bone staff.
Instead of attacking directly, it struck the battlefield, scattering rocks and dust.
The dust cloud blocked Phantorch's vision.
Elior smiled.
"Now, Foresight!"
Lucario's eyes glowed blue.
A mysterious aura locked onto Phantorch.
Morrigan narrowed her eyes.
"...Good."
The Ghost immunity was gone.
"Aura Sphere!"
The attack flew straight through the dust cloud.
BOOOOOOM!
Direct hit.
Phantorch crashed to the floor.
"Phantorch is unable to battle!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Morrigan sent out:
Nightveil
Nightveil immediately took to the sky.
Nightveil moved incredibly fast.
Shadow Balls rained down from above.
Lucario dodged several.
But eventually a Shadow Ball landed.
BOOM!
Lucario staggered.
"Use Extreme Speed!"
Lucario vanished.
Nightveil searched desperately.
Then—
Lucario appeared above it.
"Bone Rush!"
Direct hit.
Nightveil crashed downward.
But before it hit the ground—
Morrigan smiled.
"Phantom Wing!"
Nightveil suddenly recovered and struck Lucario from behind.
CRASH!
Both Pokémon fell.
After several seconds—
Neither Pokémon could continue.
"Both Pokémon are unable to battle!"
The crowd gasped.
Score board:
Elior: 2 Pokémon left
Morrigan: 1 Pokémon left
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Morrigan's ace appeared.
Soulmourne
The same Pokémon that defeated Elior before.
Elior sent out:
Mystveil
Mystveil's Attempt
"Psychic!"
Soulmourne was lifted into the air.
But suddenly—
The ghost Pokémon vanished.
"What?!"
It reappeared behind Mystveil.
"Shadow Eclipse!"
BOOOOOOM!
Mystveil fell instantly.
The arena became silent.
Elior raised his final Poké Ball.
Eclipse Lunashade
appeared.
The same partner that failed during the first challenge.
But this time—
Its eyes held no fear.
Soulmourne floated silently.
Lunashade lowered its stance.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The tension alone shook the battlefield.
Then both trainers shouted simultaneously.
"Shadow Eclipse!"
"Abyss Claw!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Ghost energy and abyssal power collided in the center of the field.
The explosion swallowed the entire arena.
Smoke covered everything.
Nobody could see the battlefield.
Nobody knew which Pokémon remained standing.
As the dust slowly began to clear...
Morrigan smiled.
"...Now this is a real battle."
TO BE CONTINUED...