The morning breeze swept across the battlefield. Neither trainer spoke. Neither Pokémon moved. The silence itself created tension throughout the stadium. Nearly every spectator leaned forward in anticipation. The opening exchanges had revealed one thing—This wasn't going to be a battle decided by brute force. It would be decided by strategy, timing, and trust.
Skyrend continued circling high above the battlefield. Its sharp eyes never left Roserade.
Below, Roserade stood perfectly still. Its calm posture concealed countless possible counters. The commentators spoke quietly.
"Notice how neither Pokémon is rushing in.Both trainers are waiting for the first real mistake."
Mira pointed upward.
"Roserade! Magical Leaf!"
Dozens of glowing leaves spiraled into the air. Unlike Air Slash, they couldn't simply be outrun. They curved gracefully toward Skyrend.
Elior remained calm.
"Fly straight up!"
Instead of trying to dodge sideways, Skyrend climbed almost vertically. The Magical Leaves followed.
"Now—Air Slash!"
Skyrend spun through the sky. Several crescent blades of wind sliced downward.
The Air Slashes collided with the pursuing leaves. Small explosions filled the sky. The remaining leaves lost their momentum and scattered harmlessly. The audience applauded.
Mira smiled.
"Don't let it stay comfortable. Now use Weather Ball!"
A sphere of shimmering energy shot toward Skyrend.
"Aerial Ace!"
Skyrend folded its wings. It became a blue blur diving toward the battlefield. Instead of avoiding the Weather Ball—It pierced straight through the attack. The explosion echoed behind it. Skyrend emerged from the smoke and struck Roserade directly.
BOOM!
Roserade slid backward across the field.
The crowd roared.
The referee observed carefully. Roserade had taken damage. But it quickly regained its balance. Mira smiled proudly.
"You've gotten much faster."
Elior grinned.
"You've gotten better at hiding your real strategy."
Mira suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Now!"
Roserade thrust both bouquets into the ground.
Green vines erupted across the battlefield.
"Grass Knot!"
The vines wrapped around Skyrend's legs the moment it landed. The audience gasped.
Skyrend struggled to free itself. The vines tightened.
"Sludge Bomb!"
A dark purple sphere flew toward the trapped Flying-type.
"Elior!"
Several spectators shouted instinctively.
Elior didn't panic. Instead...He smiled.
"Use Steel Wing."
Skyrend's wings began shining like polished steel. With one powerful slash— The vines were cut apart. Without stopping— Skyrend continued spinning. The Steel Wing collided directly with the incoming Sludge Bomb. The poisonous attack exploded before it could connect.
For the first time—Both Pokémon stood only a few meters apart. Mira immediately acted.
"Petal Dance!"
A violent storm of glowing petals surrounded Roserade. The attack covered almost the entire battlefield.
"Agility!"
Skyrend disappeared into the whirlwind. Its speed increased dramatically. The petals chased it through the air. The audience could barely follow the movements.
Blue streaks...
Pink petals...
Wind...
Flowers...
The battlefield looked like a beautiful storm.
Elior narrowed his eyes.
"There."
For only a fraction of a second—Roserade's guard dropped while controlling Petal Dance.
"Now!Brave Bird!"
Blue flames erupted around Skyrend. It shot forward like a comet. Mira's eyes widened.
"Protect!"
A green barrier formed around Roserade just before impact.
CRAAAAASH!!
The collision shook the stadium. Dust covered the battlefield.
Everyone stared. Slowly... The smoke disappeared. Roserade was still standing—But the Protect barrier had shattered completely. Skyrend landed nearby, breathing heavily after the recoil from Brave Bird. Both Pokémon were visibly exhausted. Neither had fallen.
Neither was willing to surrender.
Elior and Mira looked at one another across the battlefield. Neither smiled this time. They understood the truth. The warm-up was over. From this point onward... Every attack could decide the battle. The referee raised his hand. The first Pokémon of the Quarterfinal was nearing its conclusion.
TO BE CONTINUED...