Mustard was seriously considering whether his Urshifu could still reproduce—but quickly realized he'd been completely led off track by that girl.
No, no, no! Focus! This is still a battle!
"Gigantamax Urshifu… that's going to be tricky," Selene murmured, narrowing her eyes at the towering, godlike figure of the Single Strike Urshifu, radiating sheer power.
"Come back, Gengar."
Without hesitation, she recalled her Mega Gengar.
"Withdrawing, huh? A wise move," Mustard said approvingly. Mega Evolution was strong, sure—but sending a Mega Gengar head-on against a Gigantamax Single Strike Urshifu would've been reckless.
After all, Urshifu had a type advantage—and with the massive range of its G-Max moves, even Gengar's speed wouldn't help much.
Switching Pokémon to stall out Gigantamax's duration—that was the smartest play.
"So, what are you going to send out to face my Urshifu—"
Mustard's grin froze halfway through his sentence.
Because he saw it.
A sleek, steel warrior stood there, twin pink blades gleaming under the lights—staring up coldly at the giant Urshifu.
It was the future Paradox Pokémon—Iron Valiant.
"Iron Valiant!" Selene raised her Poké Ball, recalling it only to channel the Dynamax energy from her band.
Dynamax!
The massive ball opened, and Iron Valiant knelt briefly, blades crossed, before its body expanded, glowing with a crimson aura.
The sky swirled with dark red energy.
Once, twice, three times—its body swelled larger with each pulse until the Dynamaxed Iron Valiant rose to its full height, blade slicing the air as it glared directly at the Gigantamax Urshifu.
Mustard froze. His memories snapped back to that day—the same Iron Valiant, the same Dynamax transformation.
And it wasn't just him. Urshifu too clenched its fists, its snarl twisting into something almost feral. It remembered that thing!
Mustard fell silent.
"Selene really doesn't leave her opponents any breathing room, huh?"
From the stands, Blue couldn't help but laugh.
The Single Strike Urshifu was strong—no one doubted that—and its Gigantamax form was awe-inspiring.
But Single Strike Urshifu was quadruple weak to Fairy!
Sending it to face a Dynamaxed Iron Valiant head-on? That was basically asking for it to faint!
Yet if he switched out Urshifu now, it would waste his whole Gigantamax turn.
And if he did recall it… what Pokémon could safely take a Dynamax Fairy-type move?
A no-win situation.
Mustard's mind was torn—but Selene's wasn't.
Without a moment's hesitation, she had Iron Valiant charge forward.
"G-Max Guard!"
Mustard gritted his teeth. Fine, he'd just have to weather the storm!
Urshifu shielded itself, blocking the first Max Starfall.
But when the second came, using G-Max Guard again was risky—the success rate dropped sharply.
Mustard ordered a counter instead—Max Airstream!
The second Max Starfall hit cleanly, making Urshifu roar in pain—but Max Airstream struck back hard, slamming into Iron Valiant.
The Flying-type move granted Urshifu a speed boost, while the Fairy move turned the field into Misty Terrain.
For the third Starfall, Mustard went defensive again—another G-Max Guard.
And with that, he'd finally stalled out Iron Valiant's Dynamax time…
Still, it was exhausting. This wasn't what he'd imagined Gigantamax Urshifu doing!
"This time, Mustard made a different choice," Lillie said softly, giggling behind her hand.
"Mmh, yeah. I'd bet the last battle with Dylan left quite the impression," Leon said with a wry smile.
He'd seen the footage too—Mustard's Urshifu had gone head-to-head with Iron Valiant back then…
…and immediately got put to sleep peacefully.
So this time, Mustard chose to play it safe.
"But taking a full Max Starfall like that did heavy damage," Steven analyzed. "Now that Gigantamax is over, Urshifu's in a natural disadvantage. I think he'll switch."
At least Misty Terrain didn't boost Fairy-type moves.
And Mustard wasn't foolish enough to keep a Single Strike Urshifu against a Fairy-type opponent.
Sure enough, as soon as Gigantamax ended, he recalled Urshifu.
Selene also smiled sweetly and recalled her Iron Valiant—sending out her Mega Gengar again.
The moment he saw that familiar grin, Mustard's head throbbed.
"Urshifu!"
Clenching his teeth, he threw his fifth Poké Ball.
A flash of light—and another Urshifu landed before him, this time with its headband-like fur drooping rather than standing tall.
It was the Rapid Strike Style!
Unlike its fierce counterpart, this Urshifu moved with fluid grace—calm, measured, like a stream rather than a storm.
Beep—Urshifu (Rapid Strike Style), Fighting/Water-type, the Wushu Pokémon.
Ability: Unseen Fist.
Moves: Surging Strikes, Aqua Jet, Focus Punch, Dynamic Punch, Bulk Up…
Description: Its creed is to win through persistence. It attacks its foes again and again, flowing like water.
This Urshifu was every bit as powerful as the last.
"Hm~ Not as fierce as the first one," Selene said thoughtfully, tilting her head. "I liked the boldness of the Single Strike form better."
"Don't underestimate this one, little miss," Mustard chuckled. "Rapid Strike is just as strong."
"Then let me see for myself."
Selene's Mega Gengar cackled, its eyes glinting with eerie light. A shadow beneath Urshifu turned gray—it was trapped.
Shadow Tag. Urshifu couldn't escape.
Mustard Terastallized his Urshifu—into Water type.
"Go! Aqua Jet!"
Urshifu surged forward in a blur of water.
Sure, Fighting types were at a disadvantage against Ghosts—but Terastallized into Water, Urshifu could rely on its powerful Water moves.
Selene, unsurprised, had Gengar float higher and use Curse.
Dark nails appeared, piercing through Gengar's form.
Aqua Jet hit, slamming Gengar hard.
"Surging Strikes!" Mustard roared.
Curse wouldn't stop him—he'd just finish this before it took effect!
Water spiraled around Urshifu's fists as it punched again and again.
The first strike landed—Gengar screeched, completing its curse as gray mist seeped into Urshifu's body.
The pain hit immediately, making Urshifu grunt and tremble—but it forced through the agony, landing a second strike that sent Gengar flying.
Selene watched calmly as Gengar staggered, clearly weakened from its own Curse recoil and the Water attacks.
"Strong hit," she admitted, eyeing her panting Gengar.
"Selene's repeating her old habits again," Leaf murmured in the stands, frowning slightly.
"If she just had Gengar fight head-on, it's not like it couldn't win."
She remembered Dylan had told Selene this during her Rota Gym challenge—Mega Gengar could fight directly with amazing power.
"She's doing it on purpose," Dylan said quietly, smiling faintly as he watched Selene's bright, playful grin.
Selene wasn't someone who ignored good advice. She was a genius—she knew Gengar could've fought normally.
She was just giving Mustard a dignified finish.
On the field, Rapid Strike Urshifu pressed the assault with Aqua Jet, closing the gap again—its Surging Strikes hit cleanly.
But then—
A wave of gray spirit energy surged from the fallen Gengar and poured into Urshifu's body.
The Ghost move Destiny Bond.
"...!!"
Mustard had just relaxed when his jaw dropped.
Destiny Bond?!
He clenched his fists. From start to finish, this Gengar was pure nightmare fuel. And now, even in defeat, it dragged his Urshifu down with it!
Deep breaths. Stay calm.
"As expected of you, Master Mustard. My Gengar's not easy to deal with," Selene said brightly, recalling it with a carefree smile as she adjusted her flowered sunhat.
"So now—please, test this one's strength."
She threw another Poké Ball.
"This is a little cutie I really adore."
The ball opened, and a cheerful, smiling Pokémon floated before her.
"Whimsicott?" Mustard recognized it instantly.
He didn't travel far from the Isle of Armor often—mostly just for official matches in Wyndon—but he kept up with the online scene.
If he remembered right, this bright, sunny little creature had… quite the reputation.
Well, a divisive one.
"'How could there be such an adorable Pokémon as Whimsicott in the world?'"
"'How could there be such a disgusting Pokémon as Whimsicott in the world?'"
Those were the two sides of public opinion.
(End of Chapter)