In a clearing outside the abandoned power plant, Aoki and Tetsuya locked eyes.
Before them, Meowth and Blaziken (Flame Clamor) stood poised for battle, their sharp gazes locked onto each other. Sparks of electricity flickered around Meowth's claws, while Blaziken's fists smoldered with embers.
Tetsuya made the first move.
"Meowth, use Thunderbolt!"
Meowth leaped forward, its fur bristling with golden electricity. A powerful Thunderbolt surged toward Blaziken.
"Blaziken, counter with Flamethrower!" Aoki commanded.
Blaziken inhaled deeply before unleashing a torrent of Flamethrower from its beak. The raging flames clashed against the crackling Thunderbolt, causing a violent explosion in midair. Smoke and sparks filled the battlefield, obscuring the Pokémon from view.
Tetsuya narrowed his eyes as the smoke slowly cleared.
"That's some insane firepower…" he muttered.
He had always known Aoki was a rising star, but seeing Blaziken's sheer strength firsthand made him realize just how powerful Aoki had become in such a short time.
"Your Meowth is strong too," Aoki said calmly. "But my Blaziken won't lose."
"We'll see about that! Meowth, use Double Team!"
In an instant, Meowth split into multiple copies of itself, each identical to the real one. The battlefield became crowded with Meowths, making it impossible to tell which was genuine.
"Flame Clamor, use High Jump Kick!" Aoki ordered.
Blaziken shot forward with incredible speed, its legs coiling before launching it high into the air. It homed in on one of the Meowths, foot glowing with energy.
"Meowth, now! Thunderbolt!"
Suddenly, every Meowth—real and fake—lit up with crackling golden energy. A barrage of Thunderbolts struck out in all directions, turning the battlefield into a storm of electricity.
Blaziken hesitated for a split second, scanning the area.
"Trust me! Jump to the right!" Aoki shouted.
Without a moment's hesitation, Blaziken leaped right—straight into a Thunderbolt!
Tetsuya smirked, expecting a clean hit.
But the moment the electricity made contact, Blaziken remained unfazed. It passed right through, revealing that the attack had been a mere illusion.
Aoki's Viridian Force had guided Blaziken correctly.
"Now, counterattack with Flamethrower!"
Blaziken exhaled a devastating Flamethrower, sweeping across the field. The false Meowths vanished instantly, leaving only the real one.
"Meowth, no!"
The attack struck Meowth head-on, sending it rolling across the ground with its fur singed.
Despite the damage, Meowth struggled to its feet, eyes still burning with determination.
"Meowth, you okay?" Tetsuya called out.
Meowth weakly nodded, uttering a soft cry that only Tetsuya could understand—"I can still fight."
Aoki's expression remained unreadable.
"Blaziken, don't give it a chance to recover. Use another Flamethrower."
Blaziken inhaled deeply, preparing to release another powerful stream of flames.
"Meowth, jump into the air!"
Meowth sprang upward just in time, dodging the incoming attack. But it was clear the feline was getting tired—its movements were slowing down.
Even though Meowth was strong, it still lacked the durability that came with evolution.
"Keep your distance, Meowth! Use Thunderbolt again!"
Tetsuya wasn't about to let Blaziken get too close.
Blaziken, however, had an advantage—its Speed Boost ability had been increasing its speed throughout the battle.
"Blaziken, dodge and close in!"
The Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon became a blur, effortlessly weaving through the web of electricity.
Tetsuya gritted his teeth. If Blaziken got too close, Meowth wouldn't stand a chance against its Fighting-type attacks.
"Meowth, keep moving! Use Thunderbolt everywhere!"
Golden lightning bolts surged in all directions, electrifying the battlefield.
"Blaziken, push through it! Use Smokescreen!"
Blaziken took the attacks head-on, skidding through the battlefield as its body was struck by electric shocks. But it kept going, gritting its teeth as it exhaled Smokescreen, shrouding the entire area in thick, black smoke.
Tetsuya's eyes widened.
"Meowth, be careful! If Blaziken gets too close, use your strongest Thunderbolt!"
Meowth crouched low, ears twitching as it tried to sense movement through the thick haze.
Suddenly, a shadow moved within the smoke.
"Now, Blaziken! High Jump Kick!"
A blur of motion shot toward Meowth at blinding speed.
"Meowth, Thunderbolt, NOW!"
Meowth unleashed a final, desperate Thunderbolt—but it was a fraction of a second too slow.
Blaziken's High Jump Kick connected.
"MEOWTH!!"
The impact sent Meowth flying backward, tumbling across the ground before skidding to a stop.
Blaziken stood panting, its body covered in burns and bruises, but still standing.
Meowth, however, struggled to rise—then collapsed.
Tetsuya ran over, worry flashing across his face.
"Meowth, are you okay?!"
Meowth stirred slightly, but its body had given out.
It had lost.
"Meowth is unable to battle," Tetsuya said with a sigh, picking up his Pokémon gently. He turned to Aoki and forced a smile. "I lost."
Aoki remained calm as Blaziken walked back to his side, looking exhausted but satisfied.
"You put up a great fight," Aoki said. "But now, go heal Meowth."
Tetsuya nodded. "You're right. We'll head to a Pokémon Center right away."
As he turned to leave, he glanced back at Aoki.
"You've really gotten strong."
Aoki merely smirked, watching as Blaziken stretched its arms, clearly enjoying the victory.
He wasn't just strong. He was on his way to becoming one of the best trainers in Hoenn.
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