The dust cloud hung over the battlefield like a living shroud thick, choking, swirling with rain, mud, and steam. Eighty thousand voices had fallen into an almost reverent hush. The only sounds were the relentless patter of rain on the ruined field and the occasional low, ominous rumble from deep inside the haze. The giant jumbotron screens showed nothing but gray-brown nothingness. Even the commentators were speaking in hushed, tense tones.
Commentator 1: "We still can't see a thing… both trainers are frozen on their platforms… waiting…"
Commentator 2: "This could be the moment that decides the entire quarterfinal. Blastoise versus Swampert two regional legends and neither has fallen yet…"
In the VIP section, Delia clutched Amber so tightly the little girl squeaked. "Big brother… please be okay…" Amber whispered, eyes wide and glassy with worry.
Daisy gripped the railing, knuckles white. "Come on, big man… stand up… you can do this…"
Cynthia still disguised in her wide hat and sunglasses leaned forward, her fingers tapping a silent, anxious rhythm on her knee. "Hold on, Ash… just a little longer…"
Far away in Littleroot Town, Professor Birch stood up from his chair, hands pressed flat against the desk, eyes locked on the screen. "Brendan… Swampert… don't give up now, son…"
In Veilstone City, Sinnoh, Paul sat on the edge of his bed, arms crossed so tightly his knuckles were pale. He had never met Ash, but the name kept appearing in every league highlight. "Tch. If that turtle falls, this match is over," he muttered.
In the Lumiose Gym in Kalos, Clemont adjusted his glasses nervously while Bonnie clutched his sleeve, no longer bouncing. "Big brother Ash's Blastoise is so strong… right?" she asked, voice small. Clemont nodded, eyes wide. "The damage output from both Hydro Cannons was catastrophic… but they're both still standing. This is incredible resilience."
Deep underground in one of Team Rocket's hidden headquarters, Giovanni took a long, slow sip of deep red wine. His Persian purred contentedly on his lap as he stroked its sleek fur. "Impressive endurance… but endurance only delays the inevitable," he murmured, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Then movement.
A low, guttural roar echoed from inside the swirling cloud.
The dust began to thin. Rain washed streaks through the haze, revealing silhouettes at last.
First to appear clearly: Blastoise. Still upright. His massive shell was cracked in multiple places, cannons smoking faintly, dark glasses crooked but still perched on his snout. Rain streamed off him like liquid armor. His chest heaved with exhaustion, but his stance was wide and defiant.
Second silhouette: Swampert. Also upright… but swaying dangerously. Fins drooping. One arm hanging limp at his side. Mud and water dripped from every inch of his body. His breathing was ragged, labored.
The cloud finally parted enough for the stadium lights to cut through.
Both titans locked eyes in a final, exhausted stare-down across the ruined field.
Neither moved.
The silence stretched… stretched… stretched…
Then Swampert's front leg buckled.
He dropped to one knee with a heavy thud that echoed through the stadium.
The crowd gasped.
Swampert tried to push himself up, but his other leg gave way. With a low, rumbling groan of pure exhaustion, the mighty Hoenn starter collapsed forward onto the muddy field and lay still.
The referee's flags shot up instantly.
"Swampert is unable to battle! Ash Ketchum wins the fourth round!"
The stadium exploded like a volcano.
"ASH WINS THE ROUND!" "BLASTOISE IS STILL STANDING!" "WHAT A MONSTER!" "THAT WAS INSANE!"
Blastoise let out one final, triumphant roar weaker than usual, but full of defiance before staggering sideways, barely able to stay on his feet. Ash recalled him immediately, voice soft but overflowing with pride.
"You did it, big man. Rest now. You were incredible."
Current Score: Ash has lost 2 Pokémon (Muk & Kadabra) 4 remaining. Brendan has lost 3 Pokémon (Absol, Mightyena & Swampert) 3 remaining.
Brendan recalled Swampert gently, pressing the ball to his forehead for a moment. "You were incredible, partner. Rest well. I'm proud of you."
He looked up at Ash across the ruined field rain still falling, the ground a mess of craters, mud, toxic puddles and shattered stone and gave a small, tired but respectful smile.
"Two down… but four more to go."
Ash nodded back, rain dripping from his hair. "Let's finish this right."
Brendan took a deep breath and threw his next Poké Ball.
"Breloom! Time to bounce back!"
Breloom burst onto the field springy legs coiled, mushroom cap glowing faintly, fists already clenched in a fighting stance. The crowd cheered for the energetic Hoenn fighting/grass-type.
Ash smiled confidently. "Annihilape! Let's go!"
Annihilape materialized in a burst of ghostly purple energy. The rage-fueled primate cracked his knuckles, eyes burning with controlled fury. The entire stadium fell into confused murmurs. Most Kanto natives had never seen anything like it. Whispers rippled through the stands like wildfire.
"What… is that thing?" "Some kind of ghost monkey?" "Never seen a Pokémon like that in Kanto before…"
Commentator 1: "And Ash sends out… Annihilape? A rare fighting/ghost-type that has only recently been documented in far-off regions! The crowd here in Kanto is clearly seeing it for the first time!"
Commentator 2: "This is explosive Breloom's speed and technique against whatever raw, ghostly power this mysterious Annihilape brings!"
Ash closed his eyes for a split second. A soft blue aura flared around him invisible to everyone else. He sent a clear, calm wave of Aura to Annihilape.
Stay calm. Use the rage, don't let it use you. We've trained for this. I'm right here with you.
Annihilape nodded once, fists glowing with restrained power.
Brendan: "Breloom Mach Punch!"
Breloom blurred forward with blinding speed, fist aimed straight at Annihilape's chest.
Ash: "Shadow Punch counter!"
Annihilape's fist ignited with ghostly shadow energy. The two punches met mid-air Mach Punch's pure speed against Shadow Punch's ethereal power. A shockwave exploded outward. Both Pokémon slid back several feet, feet digging trenches in the mud.
Breloom bounced high Sky Uppercut. Annihilape met it with Cross Chop fists clashing again, sparks flying in the rain.
They traded blows in a frenzy. Breloom used Focus Energy to sharpen his strikes, then Drain Punch to sap strength. Annihilape's ghostly nature let him phase through some hits; Breloom's elasticity let him dodge and counter with low sweeps.
The rain made the field slippery. Breloom used it to slide into low sweeps; Annihilape used it to pivot faster with ghostly steps.
Brendan: "Seed Bomb force him back!"
Breloom fired a barrage of explosive seeds. Annihilape weaved through them like a ghost, closing the gap.
Ash: "Rage Fist finish it!"
Annihilape's fists glowed brighter and brighter rage building with every hit taken and given. He charged through the last Seed Bomb explosion and delivered a devastating Rage Fist uppercut that sent Breloom flying backward, crashing hard into the barrier.
"Breloom is unable to battle! Ash leads 4-2!"
The crowd roared confusion turning into awe.
Brendan recalled Breloom. "You were amazing. Rest."
He threw again. "Combusken! Let's heat this up!"
Combusken appeared fiery legs kicking the air, eyes blazing with determination.
Ash: "Annihilape keep going!"
The hand-to-hand war began immediately.
Combusken opened with Double Kick rapid fiery strikes. Annihilape blocked and countered with Cross Chop.
They exchanged dozens of blows Blaze Kick vs. Shadow Punch, Sky Uppercut vs. Focus Energy-boosted Rage Fist. The rain hissed and steamed off Combusken's flaming legs. Annihilape's ghostly aura flickered with every heavy hit.
Mid-battle, Combusken took a brutal Rage Fist directly to the chest. He staggered, eyes wide then his body began to glow bright white.
The entire stadium gasped.
Commentator 1: "Combusken is evolving!"
Light engulfed the fighting-type. When it faded, Blaziken stood tall, wrists burning with intense flames, eyes fierce and focused.
Brendan grinned. "Perfect timing."
Blaziken exploded forward with a new level of power Blaze Kick barrage after barrage. Annihilape blocked the first few, but the sheer force of the newly evolved Blaziken overwhelmed him. A final, devastating Sky Uppercut sent Annihilape crashing down hard.
"Annihilape is unable to battle! Score 4-3!"
Ash recalled Annihilape. "You fought like a legend. Rest."
He threw his next ball. "Dragonair! Let's go!"
The sleek blue dragon materialized long, elegant body coiling gracefully, eyes calm and serene. The entire stadium gasped a rare pseudo-legendary on the field.
Commentator 2: "Dragonair! One of the rarest non-legendary dragons in the world! The crowd is stunned!"
Blaziken vs Dragonair started evenly. Dragonair used Thunder Wave to paralyze Blaziken momentarily, then Wrap to constrict him, Twister to push him back. But Blaziken's fresh evolution power was overwhelming. Blaze Kick after Blaze Kick scorched Dragonair's scales. Sky Uppercut sent him crashing. Dragonair took heavy damage body bruised, scales blackened.
Dragonair staggered, breathing hard. His eyes flashed with a powerful memory Ash's female Dragonite waiting back home, always believing in him, always waiting for him to come home stronger.
Determination surged through Dragonair like fire.
He began to glow bright white.
The crowd gasped again even louder this time.
Commentator 1: "Dragonair is evolving! Another evolution mid-match!"
Light exploded across the field. When it faded, Dragonite stood tall, powerful wings spread wide, eyes fierce and glowing with new strength.
Dragonite roared then unleashed Draco Meteor.
A storm of dragon-energy meteors rained down from the sky. Blaziken tried desperately to dodge and counter with Blaze Kick, but the barrage was too overwhelming. The final meteors slammed into him.
Blaziken fell.
"Blaziken is unable to battle! Ash leads 5-3!"
Brendan recalled Blaziken. "You were incredible. Thank you."
He threw his last ball his ace. "Sceptile! This is it, partner!"
Sceptile appeared blades sharp and gleaming, eyes locked on Ash's side with absolute focus.
Ash recalled Dragonite. "You made me proud. Rest now."
He threw his final ball. "Gengar! Let's give Brendan the most exciting final battle possible!"
Gengar materialized in a burst of purple-black energy, grinning wickedly, tongue lolling playfully. The stadium lost its collective mind.
Commentator 1: "Gengar versus Sceptile! Ghost against Grass! Speed versus trickery! This is the finale we've been waiting for!"
Ash's Gengar was on a completely different level cursed body mutated, poison orb amplifying toxicity. Sceptile couldn't land clean hits. Shadow Ball after Shadow Ball forced Sceptile to dodge. Sludge Bomb created toxic zones. Destiny Bond threats kept Sceptile cautious.
But Sceptile refused to fall.
Leaf Blade grazed Gengar's side. X-Scissor clipped him. Bullet Seed forced Gengar to weave and dodge.
Gengar laughed Hypnosis missed, Dream Eater grazed, Will-O-Wisp burned Sceptile's leaves.
The two danced across the ruined field Sceptile's raw determination and blade-sharp speed against Gengar's overwhelming ghostly power and trickery.
Finally, Gengar unleashed a massive Shadow Ball in a point blank range totally immobliizing sceptile's movements and locking it on a place no were to run and taking an massive shadow ball attack.
Sceptile collapsed.
"Sceptile is unable to battle! Ash Ketchum wins the quarterfinal!"
The stadium erupted in a deafening roar that seemed to shake the entire plateau.
Ash had advanced to the semifinals.
Brendan recalled Sceptile gently, pressing the ball to his forehead. "You fought with everything, partner. I'm so proud of you."
He walked across the ruined field to meet Ash in the center. The rain had finally begun to ease.
They shook hands firm, respectful, full of mutual respect.
"You're an incredible trainer, Ash," Brendan said quietly, voice carrying over the roar. "I've never faced anyone like you. From now on… you're my rival."
Ash grinned, rain dripping from his hair. "Same here, Brendan. You pushed me harder than anyone has in a long time. That was an amazing battle."
Brendan smiled, eyes bright. "Next stop Sinnoh League for me. I'll be waiting for our rematch. Don't disappoint me."
He turned, waved to the roaring crowd one last time, and walked off the field head high, red bandana still fluttering.
Ash stood alone in the center of the battlefield, rain washing over him, the entire stadium chanting his name.
Then a soft chime only he could hear.
[Ding!] [Hidden Mission Completed: Win Against Brendan Birch] Reward: Hoenn Starters Mega Evolution Stones (Sceptilite, Swampertite, Blazikenite)
Ash's eyes widened in genuine surprise. A slow, happy smile spread across his face.
"Three Mega Stones… for my future team…"
He looked up at the roaring stadium, rain washing over him, the roar of the crowd washing over him like a wave.
The semifinals awaited.
And he was ready.
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