----
On the battlefield, the contrast between the two Pokémon couldn't have been more dramatic.
On one side, the towering Crystal Steelix, over nine meters long, shimmering with a translucent luster like forged glass, its head alone larger than most people.
On the other hand, the small, hunched figure of Banette is just over a meter tall, stitched and zippered, radiating a twisted aura of resentment.
The visual gap was striking. But Kai knew better than to underestimate appearances.
Size means nothing when you're fighting a Ghost-type.
Morty smirked. From a typing standpoint, Banette's Ghost-type had no advantage over Kai's Ground/Rock-type Steelix. And for once, his Pokémon wasn't at a disadvantage.
"Let's start off strong," Morty called. "Banette, use [Shadow Ball]!"
"Steelix, close the distance!"
Banette hurled a condensed sphere of ghostly energy across the arena, dark, pulsing, and eerily quiet.
But Kai didn't flinch.
Steelix didn't dodge. It barreled forward like a crystal freight train, letting the [Shadow Ball] crash into its armored hide.
BOOM!
The blast sent sparks flying, but Steelix didn't even stagger. It just kept coming.
Kai knew dodging wasn't an option in an indoor arena. Not with something Steelix's size. Drilling underground was the only way to evade, and doing that recklessly could cause the floor to cave in.
So he played it simple.
Steelix lunged forward. Its massive jaws opened wide, its momentum unstoppable.
CRUNCH!
Banette vanished just in time, blinking out of existence in classic Ghost fashion and reappeared behind Steelix.
But it didn't get a chance to act.
SWOOSH!
Steelix's tail snapped around like a whip. With impossible speed for its size, it slammed into Banette's midsection and sent it flying like a ragdoll.
SLAM!
Banette crashed into the floor, twitching from the impact.
From the sidelines, Erika winced.
Morty narrowed his eyes.
That wasn't luck. That was a prediction.
He looked toward Kai. "Let me guess you've fought your share of Ghost-types before."
Kai shrugged. "You could say I've seen that vanishing act once or twice."
Hundreds of times, actually. He had a Gengar once. The tricks never changed, just the puppets.
Morty nodded, impressed.
Round one was clearly Steelix's.
"Banette—[Night Shade]!"
Banette pushed off the ground and fired a wave of spectral energy, distorted, chilling light that rippled across the battlefield and struck Steelix in the chest.
THUD!
Steelix recoiled, letting out a low growl. The blow hadn't left a mark, but it clearly hurt.
Night Shade was unique; it ignored defenses, dealing flat damage based on the attacker's level. And Morty's Banette was no pushover.
Kai winced slightly. "Solid hit."
But what surprised him was what Morty said next.
"You could've dodged that. Why didn't you use [Dig]?"
Kai blinked.
"…You noticed that, huh?"
Morty grinned. "I've been doing this a while."
Kai laughed. "Fair enough. It wasn't strategy, it was courtesy."
He gestured toward the floor beneath Steelix's coils.
"I didn't want to collapse your entire Gym by accident."
Morty's eyebrows rose. Then he grinned widely.
"That's what the stone foundation is for. Trust me, this place was built to handle much worse than that. If it comes down, the League pays for it."
Kai's eyes lit up.
"Well… that changes things."
Morty took a step back. "Then go all out. I won't hold it against you."
Kai gave a nod.
"Steelix, burrow."
Steelix coiled once, then plunged its head downward.
CRACK!
With a thunderous roar, it vanished beneath the floor in a spray of shattered wood and stone.
Morty blinked.
"…That was fast."
Banette barely had time to react.
The ground beneath its feet erupted, and Steelix burst from the earth like a missile, launching Banette straight into the air.
"Banette, evasive—!"
Too late.
Kai pointed. "Steelix—[Crunch]. Finish it."
In mid-air, Steelix opened its massive crystalline jaws.
CHOMP!
The audience gasped.
Steelix closed its mouth around Banette in one crushing bite.
Morty's eyes went wide. "Banette!"
From inside Steelix's mouth, there was a burst of struggling. Muffled cries. Shadows writhing.
Then… stillness.
Steelix's jaw tightened. Then slowly, it opened.
Banette dropped limply to the floor.
Fainted.
Morty stood still for a moment, then exhaled and recalled it.
"You weren't kidding," he muttered. "That thing's a monster."
Kai crossed his arms.
"You haven't met my Gyarados."
Morty chuckled under his breath.
Then I'd better not pull any punches for round three.
----
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