Aaron's expression grew slightly more serious as Copperajah's status panel appeared.
[Name: Copperajah (Elephant King)]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Adamant]
[Type: Steel]
[Ability: Elephant King Physique — Raises Copperajah's Defense by 3 stages. Secondary effects from its moves are removed, but their power is increased by 30%.]
[Base Stats Total: 500]
[Level: Gym (Mid Stage)]
[Potential: Champion]
[Known Moves: High Horsepower (Perfect), Heavy Slam (Perfect), Earthquake (Perfect), Iron Head (Perfect), Iron Defense (Master), Play Rough (Master), Superpower (Master), Dig (Master), Rollout (Master), Rock Smash (Master), Bulldoze (Master), Rock Tomb (Proficient), Protect (Proficient), Stone Edge (Proficient)...]
[Description: Copperajah, the Copperderm Pokémon and the evolved form of Cufant. This individual is the Elephant King of its herd and possesses exceptional physical defenses.]
...
"PRAAAAH!"
The moment Copperajah took the field, it raised its trunk and unleashed a booming trumpet.
Its bronze-colored hide gleamed with a metallic sheen.
One look was enough to tell that breaking through those defenses would not be easy.
"Copperajah, High Horsepower!"
Galen immediately attacked.
"BWOOOAAH!"
Ground-type energy surged around Copperajah's massive body.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The giant elephant charged like an armored truck, each step shaking the battlefield and kicking up clouds of dust.
Yellow energy blazed around its enormous frame as it barreled straight toward Greninja.
"Greninja, dodge."
"Then Chidori."
Aaron barely looked concerned.
A Pokémon this large and cumbersome was little more than a moving target for Greninja.
"Gren..."
Greninja slipped aside in a streak of black.
BOOOOM!
Copperajah thundered straight through the spot where it had been standing, its charge tearing across empty ground.
"Nin!"
Greninja was already beside it.
Lightning exploded around its right hand.
CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!
Thousands of birdlike cries filled the battlefield as the electricity compressed into Chidori.
Greninja drove the attack straight toward Copperajah's armored flank.
"Copperajah, Iron Defense!"
Galen had been waiting for exactly that.
Greninja was too fast to chase reliably, so he had no intention of trying.
"PRRRAAAH!"
Copperajah trumpeted in frustration.
A brilliant silver sheen swept across its enormous body.
Iron Defense.
Its Ability had already raised its Defense by three stages.
With another two from Iron Defense, Copperajah was now sitting at +5 Defense.
BOOM!
Lightning Release: Chidori slammed directly into its reinforced body.
Electricity erupted across the point of impact, scattering sparks in every direction.
"BRAAAH!"
Copperajah let out an angry bellow as the impact rocked its massive frame.
But it stayed exactly where it was.
Greninja had hit it cleanly.
And Copperajah had endured it.
Galen's eyes lit up.
"Perfect! Again!"
"Iron Defense!"
"PRAAAAH!"
Copperajah raised its trunk and trumpeted.
Another silver-white sheen spread over its body.
Its Defense reached +6.
The maximum.
Its bronze hide practically gleamed beneath the stadium lights, looking less like skin and more like a fortress wrapped around an elephant.
Copperajah lifted its head proudly.
"PRRAAAAH!"
Its huge eyes looked down at Greninja with open contempt.
That all you've got, little black toad?
Its confidence had gone straight through the roof.
"Hahahaha!"
Galen could no longer contain himself.
"Aaron, what are you going to do now?"
"My Copperajah's Defense is already maxed out at +6!"
He spread his arms.
"Feeling hopeless yet?"
Aaron stared at him.
Then at Copperajah.
Then back at Galen.
"Oh, wow."
He put on an exaggerated look of surprise.
"That's terrifying."
Galen grinned.
"Then let me show you what real despair feels like!"
"I'll even give your black toad one free hit."
"My Copperajah won't dodge."
"Go ahead. Hit it with whatever you want."
Aaron blinked.
Seriously?
Galen had actually offered him a free shot.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"Well... thanks, Galen."
That was awfully generous of him.
Aaron turned toward Greninja.
"Frog Boss."
Greninja glanced back.
"They're looking down on you."
Aaron smiled.
"Think it's about time you showed them a little of what you can really do."
"Grenin..."
The boredom vanished from Greninja's eyes.
For the first time since Copperajah entered the field, its expression sharpened.
Aaron's smile faded as his voice turned serious.
"Greninja."
"Sage Mode."
"Grenin!"
A strange energy began to gather around Greninja.
Then Aaron gave the next command.
"Sage Art: Wind Release — Rasenshuriken."
For the first time in the match, Aaron was finally starting to take Galen seriously.