The sun hadn't even cleared the treetops when Cyrus stepped onto the northern training platform. A thin mist clung to the air, drifting lazily over the arena's shimmering hard-light floor. Above them, the protective dome flickered online, adjusting atmospheric filters and weather dampeners.
Cyrus exhaled. Today mattered—not in the "prove something" way, but in the we-need-to-trust-each-other-with-our-lives way. Bloodmoon Mountain wasn't forgiving, and if they couldn't sync their Pokémon now, they'd never survive what awaited them up there.
Bootsteps sounded behind him.
Kina walked up, hair tied back in a high braid, eyes sharp and awake despite the early hour. Beside her, Sliggoo bounced cheerfully and Alolan Growlithe padded along, tail wagging confidently.
"You ready?" she asked, rolling her shoulders.
Cyrus nodded. "Yeah. Gengar's been buzzing since dawn."
"Probably because he phased into your lampshade at 5 AM and scared you again."
"I didn't scream," Cyrus lied.
Kina smirked. "Sure you didn't."
The banter fizzled when the air shimmered with blue hex-lights — the battle dome finalizing.
On the outskirts, Kellan leaned against a railing, sipping steaming coffee with a grin.
"Ohhh this is gonna be good," he called out. "Don't hold back. I wanna see who almost dies first."
Cyrus glared. Kina waved. Both stepped into their trainer zones. The dome pulsed red—
ROUND ONE — Gengar & Ceruledge vs. Toucannon & Mudsdale
Cyrus threw his Pokéballs with a practiced sweep.
"Gengar! Ceruledge! Let's go!"
Gengar materialized in a spin of purple mist, cackling gleefully as his grin stretched unsettlingly wide.
Ceruledge entered opposite him—armor gleaming, blades flickering with ghostfire.
Across the field, Kina called out:
"Toucannon! Mudsdale! You're up!"
Toucannon exploded into the air with a piercing cry, wings slicing through the mist.
Mudsdale stomped forward, each hoof hitting the floor with the force of falling boulders.
The entire arena trembled.
Kina raised two fingers. "We go fast."
Cyrus nodded back. "Always."
Kina snapped her arm forward.
"Toucannon—Beak Blast! Mudsdale—High Horsepower, Ceruledge!"
A blast of white-hot charge built at Toucannon's beak as Mudsdale lunged, hooves coated in quaking energy.
Cyrus responded instantly.
"Gengar! Smokescreen on Ceruledge — then Shadow Ball pressure! Ceruledge, dodge left and Night Slash!"
Gengar dissolved into smoke, shrouding Ceruledge just as Mudsdale's High Horsepower ripped through the battlefield. Ceruledge burst from the cloud, sidestepping with a ghostly dash. His blades cut through the air—shadow-fire trailing.
Kina swung her arm.
"Toucannon—Sky Drop intercept!"
Toucannon launched downward like a missile, scooping Ceruledge up mid-strike before he could land the Night Slash.
"Whoa—!" Cyrus shouted.
Ceruledge twisted in Toucannon's grip, flames bursting around him.
Cyrus pointed sharply. "Ceruledge! Flame Burst, NOW!"
An explosion of blue-white fire erupted, forcing Toucannon to release him—Ceruledge tumbled but landed in a controlled slide.
On the other side, Gengar had pinned Mudsdale down with rapid-fire Shadow Balls, each one exploding like purple land mines around its legs.
Mudsdale bellowed and dug in, refusing to fall.
Kina barked: "Counter with Stamina—Mudsdale, Rock Slide!"
The ground cracked—massive boulders levitated, then rocketed toward Cyrus's team.
"Gengar, Phase Out!" Cyrus ordered. Gengar slipped into intangibility, stones passing through him—
But Ceruledge took a hit to the shoulder, skidding across the field with a metallic screech.
Kina's eyes sharpened. "Nice hit," Cyrus breathed.
"Not enough," Kina replied. "Toucannon—Bullet Seed barrage!"
Toucannon swooped overhead, firing a rapid stream of glowing seeds like rifle rounds.
Cyrus countered instantly:
"Gengar—Dark Pulse! Ceruledge—Will-O-Wisp screen!"
Gengar fired a shockwave of shadow energy, colliding with the Bullet Seeds mid-air, scattering them like sparks. At the same time, Ceruledge released a storm of ghostly fire wisps, blocking the rest.
For a moment—the battlefield glowed purple and blue, energies colliding, pressure building, trainers shouting through the haze.
Kina went for the breakthrough.
"Mudsdale—FULL POWER Earthquake!"
The arena quaked violently—hard-light plates cracked like real stone.
Gengar tumbled mid-air. Ceruledge was thrown off his feet, flames sputtering.
Cyrus gritted his teeth. Alright. Time to go big too.
"Gengar—Hex! Ceruledge—Shadow Claw, target Mudsdale's blind spot!"
Gengar materialized behind Mudsdale, eyes glowing bright—dark energy slammed into Mudsdale with multiplied force. Ceruledge sprinted forward, blades lengthening with shadow-fire.
Mudsdale staggered—finally showing real strain.
Kina quickly redirected. "Toucannon—Roost, reset stamina! Mudsdale—Double Kick, Gengar!"
Toucannon peeled back to heal mid-air while Mudsdale snapped its massive hooves toward Gengar—
But Gengar phased again, laughing as hooves passed through him before re-forming behind Mudsdale.
And Cyrus saw the perfect opening. He exhaled—
"Ceruledge… finish it. Bitter Blade!"
Ceruledge's arm-blades ignited into massive, luminous swords of searing blue ghost-fire. He dashed forward, sweeping both blades in a perfect arc across Mudsdale's flank.
The strike landed.
A flash of light heralded Mudsdale's forced KO.
Kina withdrew him with a whisper of praise. Then she pointed at Gengar.
"Toucannon—Beak Blast!"
A point-blank explosion of heated energy slammed into Gengar before he could react. He spiraled backward, eyes spinning—
GENGAR KO.
Cyrus inhaled sharply. One-on-one left: Ceruledge vs. Toucannon.
Kina lifted her hand. "Sky Attack."
Cyrus steadied. "Ceruledge—Phantom Rush!"
Toucannon became a streak of white light. Ceruledge became a trail of purple flame. They collided in a shockwave that rattled the dome's barrier.
Light burst. Flame burst. The entire field went white—
Then faded. Toucannon wobbled, barely airborne. Ceruledge dropped to a knee, one blade flickering—then extinguished.
Both fell at almost the exact same time.
The dome flashed: DOUBLE K.O.
Silence.
Then… Kellan shouted from the sidelines, "THAT WAS SICK! RUN IT BACK!"
Kina wiped sweat from her brow. Cyrus let out a breathless laugh.
"Round two?" she asked.
"Absolutely."
ROUND TWO — Meltan & Tyrunt vs. Leafeon & Araquanid
Cyrus cracked his fingers, rolling his shoulders.
"Kina. We go big."
"Oh no," she muttered. "Not Tyrunt and Meltan together."
"Exactly." Cyrus grinned. He tossed two Pokéballs.
Tyrunt stomped onto the platform, roaring high-pitched fury. Meltan shimmered into the field beside him, metallic body gleaming.
Kina called out confidently. "Leafeon! Araquanid!"
Leafeon leapt gracefully, Araquanid rose behind her in a bubble-helmet shimmer.
The battlefield grew tense. Light and sonic energy collided immediately.
"Crunch—both of you!" Cyrus barked. Tyrunt snapped its jaws while Meltan hurled an iron salvo at Leafeon.
Leafeon twisted, landing nimbly, then unleashed Solar Blade at Tyrunt. Araquanid launched Bug Buzz at Meltan.
Kina's heart raced. "Araquanid—Aqua Ring! Leafeon—Razor Leaf, combo!"
Cyrus barked, "Tyrunt—Dragon Tail! Meltan—Iron Head!"
Energy collided—crashes of light, sonic whirs, and sparks across the field. Leafeon fell. Araquanid crashed.
The dome flashed: Leafeon KO. Araquanid KO.
Tyrunt and Meltan staggered but remained standing, victorious.
Kina exhaled. "Alright… fine. You win that round."
ROUND THREE — Ditto vs. Alolan Growlithe (Solo)
Cyrus sent out Ditto. "Chaos commence."
Kina's Growlithe stepped forward, flames flickering nervously.
Ditto wiggled—then Transformed perfectly into Growlithe.
Kina groaned. "Seriously?"
Ditto growled back in perfect mimicry.
"Fire Fang!" she shouted. Ditto countered with a perfect copy.
Flames clashed, growling echoed, sparks flew. Ditto struck again with a shadowed Fire Fang, landing heavier.
Growlithe staggered.
The dome flashed: GROWLITHE KO.
Cyrus laughed. "Ditto wins."
ROUND FOUR — Ditto vs. Sliggoo (Solo)
Kina recalled Growlithe and sent Sliggoo forward.
Ditto transformed immediately.
They collided, rolling, twisting, casting Dragon Breath and Sludge Bomb in mirrored attacks.
Minutes passed—both Pokémon exhausted, battered, and grinning with fatigue.
The dome flashed: TIE
Kina exhaled, smiling. "Finally… a fair fight."
Cyrus nodded, impressed. "Yeah. That was perfect."
Both recalled their Pokémon, stepping toward each other at the midpoint of the arena. Sweaty, heaving for breath, hearts pounding.
Kina crossed her arms. "You're reckless."
Cyrus grinned. "You're terrifying."
She smirked back. "So we're compatible."
He froze. "W-what—?"
"As battlers," she clarified, rolling her eyes. "Mostly as battlers."
He nodded quickly, ears pink.
Kellan leaned over the railing, clapping loudly. "THAT—was combat synergy. Exactly what you two need for Bloodmoon Mountain."
Cyrus looked at Kina. Kina looked at Cyrus. Something clicked. They'd trusted each other with real attacks, real danger, real strategy.
Cyrus extended his hand. "Kina… let's take on Bloodmoon Mountain."
She took it without hesitation. "Yeah. Let's go track a monster."
The chapter closed with the clear momentum of a team now ready to face anything.