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On the battlefield, the two massive Pokémon clashed head-on. After a brief power struggle, it was clear that Nidoking was at a disadvantage.
Taking Feraligatr's Aqua Tail head-on, Nidoking slid backward across the ground, leaving a shallow groove behind.
"Feraligatr! Hydro Pump!"
"Roar!"
"Nidoking! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Nido!"
As Nidoking and Feraligatr briefly disengaged, Liam and Axu simultaneously issued their commands.
Feraligatr opened its massive jaws and fired a spiraling Hydro Pump, while Nidoking let out a low growl as powerful electric currents surged out, colliding with the incoming Hydro Pump. The two attacks met in mid-air, erupting into a fierce explosion that filled the field with black smoke.
"Don't be afraid, Feraligatr! Charge in! Use Ice Fang!"
"Fera!"
Seeing the smoke spread, Axu shouted without hesitation.
Feraligatr roared again, icy breath already swirling in its jaws as it charged straight into the smoke.
"Nidoking! Sunny Day! Get ready for Thunderbolt!"
Liam frowned slightly as he watched Feraligatr vanish into the smoke, then quickly called out to Nidoking.
"Nidoking!"
Responding instantly, Nidoking looked skyward and let out a growl. A red light pulsed over his body as the sunlight above the field intensified and focused above his head.
Gold lightning crackled across his form as Nidoking stared into the black smoke, building power for Thunderbolt, waiting for the right moment.
"Fera..!"
Just as Nidoking finished charging, Feraligatr burst out of the smoke, his water-blue body still trailing tendrils of black mist. His massive maw was now lined with icy fangs, lunging toward Nidoking with a vicious bite.
"Now!"
Seeing Feraligatr appear, Liam shouted, and Nidoking roared as the fully charged Thunderbolt surged forth. The electric current, as thick as a water barrel, shot straight toward Feraligatr.
"Dodge it! Agility!"
Axu had clearly anticipated this, issuing the command the moment Nidoking attacked.
"Fera!!"
At Axu's order, Feraligatr's body blurred, and the Thunderbolt passed through what turned out to be an afterimage. In the next instant, Feraligatr reappeared behind Nidoking.
With icy fangs fully formed, he clamped down hard on Nidoking's shoulder. A wave of frost spread immediately, and the sound of armor cracking echoed across the field.
"Not good! Nidoking! Shake him off!"
"Nido!!"
The intense pain made Nidoking cry out and thrash wildly, trying to break free. But Feraligatr held on tight, jaws locked onto Nidoking's shoulder with unyielding force.
"Nidoking! Use Counter! Now!"
Seeing Nidoking struggle to break free, Liam grew increasingly anxious. He quickly ordered a move that hadn't been used in a long time—his Pokémon's inherited technique.
"Nido!"
Through the pain, Nidoking's eyes snapped open. His purple body began to glow with a white light, and with a mighty roar, that light exploded into a shockwave.
Feraligatr grunted, blood spilling from his mouth as he was blasted off and sent flying. Shards of broken armor and several snapped ice fangs remained embedded in Nidoking's shoulder.
"Feraligatr! Attack again! Use Aqua Tail!"
"Roar!"
Feraligatr staggered up after being flung away by Counter, shaking his dazed head. Hearing his trainer's command, he roared and summoned a torrent of water around his massive tail, then charged once again toward Nidoking.
"Nidoking! Use Protect!"
Nidoking was heavily injured. Ice Fang had done massive damage, and he was on the brink of collapse. He absolutely couldn't take another hit.
"Nido!"
As Feraligatr approached and swung his tail, Nidoking growled and tried to raise a Protect barrier—but unexpectedly, the second use of the move failed. The barrier didn't form, and Nidoking took the full brunt of Aqua Tail once more.
Luckily, due to Sunny Day, the Water-type attack was weakened. Though hurt, Nidoking held his ground. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he reached out with both arms and hugged Feraligatr's tail tightly to his chest.
"Nidoking!! This is it! Use Thunderbolt! Full power!!"
Seeing Nidoking clamp down on Feraligatr's tail, Liam's heart ached, but he knew he couldn't let Nidoking's effort be in vain.
"Damn! Feraligatr! Break free!"
Now it was Axu's turn to panic. Feraligatr thrashed even more violently, trying to get away.
"Nido!"
Hearing Liam's command, Nidoking smiled faintly. Then he roared to the sky as golden electricity coursed violently over his entire body.
Feraligatr's tail, caught in Nidoking's grasp, became the perfect conductor. Electric currents surged straight into Feraligatr's body. The crocodilian Pokémon cried out in agony.
Desperate, Feraligatr gathered another Ice Fang in his mouth and sank his fangs into Nidoking's other shoulder.
BOOM!!
The clash of different elemental forces triggered another massive explosion. The battlefield was once again filled with thick black smoke, completely obscuring the scene.
Both Liam and Axu stared tensely into the smoke, nerves stretched tight. Slowly, the black mist faded, revealing the scene within.
Both Nidoking and Feraligatr lay unconscious on the ground. Feraligatr's jaws still clung to Nidoking, but his once vibrant blue body was now scorched black.
"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Trainers, please send out your next Pokémon."
The referee raised both flags and announced the result.
"Return, Nidoking!"
"Come back, Feraligatr!"
Liam and Axu each recalled their Pokémon into their PokeBalls.
"What an incredible battle! Both Pokémon were brave and unyielding! You can truly see the deep bond between the trainers and their Pokémon—what a spectacle!"
Liam gently patted Nidoking's PokeBall before handing it to a staff member who had rushed over. "Take him to the recovery center," he said, then smiled at Axu.
"Only one battle left. Seeing how powerful your Feraligatr was, I'm now looking forward to seeing your final Pokémon."
Hearing this, Axu gave a wry smile. He handed Feraligatr's PokeBall to another staffer, then pulled out his last PokeBall and tossed it into the arena. With a flash of light, a Pokémon with a metallic sheen appeared on the field.
"My Feraligatr is actually my strongest. I was going to use Blissey, but your Weavile completely counters her… so I had no choice but to use this one."
Liam looked at Axu with a strange expression again, then sighed slightly and patted the Pokémon on his shoulder—his small, round Larvitar.
"Little one, do you see that Pupitar on the field? One day, you'll evolve into something just like that."
"Lar..?"
Larvitar looked at Liam with curiosity, then turned to stare at the Pupitar. Feeling the familiar presence of another of its kind, it happily bounced around on the cold floor.
"Larvitar!"
Clink!
Just as Liam reached out to steady the excited Larvitar, a clear metallic sound rang through the arena. The sound of armor cracking followed immediately. He looked up just in time to see Pupitar glowing with a brilliant white light—its heavy armor shattering away.
As the light blazed brighter, its body began to change rapidly.