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Kai had anticipated Jasmine's type of matchup from the start, so he didn't need to change a thing.
Just as he'd planned the night before, he sent out Blastoise.
Yes that Blastoise.
The same veteran partner who had helped carry him through the Indigo League.
Wanting to get it back into form and give it another chance to shine Kai had contacted Chloe at the Pokémon Center and had her transfer Blastoise directly to him.
Now, his trusted Water-type stood on the field again, facing off against Jasmine's Metagross. Its cannons gleamed. Its eyes burned with determination.
Blastoise vs Metagross.
Though not the strongest on Kai's team, Blastoise had always been a reliable powerhouse. Still, against a pseudo-legendary like Metagross, this was anyone's game.
Type-wise, Water attacks didn't have any particular advantage against Steel/Psychic, but the reverse was also true Steel moves only dealt half damage to Water types.
That alone gave Blastoise a bit of breathing room.
But victory would come down to timing, strategy, and willpower.
The referee dropped his flag.
"Battle—begin!"
Metagross launched forward immediately, metal limbs slamming into the ground with a thunderous charge.
Kai didn't flinch. "Blastoise, [Hydro Cannon]!"
Blastoise braced itself, crouching low. Its dual cannons began to glow, energy spiraling inside. With a twin blast—
FWOOOM! FWOOOM!
Twin torrents of water surged from its shell with incredible pressure, roaring toward Metagross like twin tidal lances.
Hydro Cannon was no joke. Even with no type of advantage, a hit could do serious damage.
Jasmine acted fast. "Metagross, [Agility]!"
At the last second, Metagross darted to the side with unnatural speed. The Hydro Cannon whiffed past it, smashing into the far wall of the arena.
Kai wasn't fazed.
Hydro Cannon wasn't a single-shot move it was sustained pressure.
Blastoise adjusted its aim, rotating its shell to track Metagross's movements. The water arcs curved midair, forcing Metagross closer to the battlefield's edge. With nowhere left to run, the torrent slammed into it.
The attack hit dead-on, pinning Metagross in place for several seconds.
But the momentum faded fast the energy used to sustain Hydro Cannon was massive, and Blastoise had already burned through a good chunk of stamina. The stream sputtered out.
Kai was just about to give his next order when Metagross's eyes gleamed.
[Psyshock].
A wave of psychic energy pulsed outward, catching Blastoise off-guard.
Blastoise was hurled into the air, then crashed back down hard, THUD, its heavy body rattling the entire arena floor.
Before it could recover, Metagross closed the distance.
It raised its massive limbs and unleashed a flurry of blinding strikes [Meteor Mash].
Kai recognized the attack immediately but stayed calm.
"[Iron Defense]!"
Blastoise's shell shimmered as its defense hardened.
It didn't dodge. Didn't flinch. It tanked the barrage head-on.
When the last strike landed, Blastoise was still standing.
"Now—[Aqua Tail]!"
Blastoise spun, tail wrapped in surging water, and cracked Metagross squarely across the face.
CRACK!
Metagross staggered, skidding back across the dirt. It regained balance quickly, but Kai had already lined up the next exchange.
Jasmine countered. "Use [Psychic]!"
"[Protect]!"
Metagross's psychic blast struck a shimmering barrier that appeared in front of Blastoise just in time. The beam dispersed harmlessly across the shield.
Up in the stands, Erika leaned forward.
She couldn't take her eyes off the battle.
Metagross was every bit as powerful as its reputation suggested but so was Kai's Blastoise.
Every exchange, every movement it was a clash of veteran warriors.
'Just as expected from one of Kai's championship teams…' she thought.
But then her eyes drifted to Kai himself.
In the heat of battle, something about him changed. His posture. His focus. The way his eyes lit up with passion.
It made him… incredibly attractive.
She caught herself staring, cheeks flushing and looked away quickly.
No, no… not now…
Erika scolded herself. Was this what Jasmine had teased her about earlier?
She clutched her chest, trying to calm her heartbeat.
He really was… kind, confident, a bit sarcastic but always in control. The more time she spent with him, the more…
If only I'd met him earlier… she thought with a pang of longing. Before… her.
She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, and returned her focus to the match.
On the field, the tide was turning.
Both Pokémon were battered now—dents on Metagross's body, scorch marks, and scuffs on Blastoise's shell.
Suddenly, Metagross lunged forward with a psychic charge [Zen Headbutt].
But this time, Blastoise retracted into its shell and spun in place [Rapid Spin].
The maneuver collided with Metagross's head-on rush, causing a powerful recoil. Metagross stiffened, stunned by the unexpected counter.
But Blastoise wasn't done.
Using the recoil to launch upward, it tucked in and surged through the air then came crashing down.
BOOM!
The impact shook the battlefield.
Dust and dirt flew everywhere.
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