Annihilape's aura was like a palpable storm as he faced Vaporeon. Lee's fists twitched, his youthful rage a wildfire ready to erupt. Gladion smirked, eager to flex his ace's might. "Let's see some raw power, Lee!"
Gwen reacted fast. "Vaporeon, Quick Attack!"
Vaporeon surged forward, a blue streak slicing through the wet field. But Lee's speed—fueled by his fury—outclassed it. He dodged with a casual sidestep, as if swatting away a child's toy, his hulking frame belying his grace. Gladion's command rang out. "Cross Chop!"
Lee's arms crossed, glowing with Fighting-type energy as he swung down with earth-shaking force. The blow hammered Vaporeon mid-dash, slamming her into the ground with a deafening *boom*. Craters fractured the terrain behind her, water splashing as she skidded, a trickle of blood escaping her maw.
Gladion grimaced, unease flickering.
'Damn, Lee—too much.' Annihilape's strength was a beast of its own—unrestrained, uncontrollable, born from a mind drowned in youthful anger and ghostly spite. Control was a foreign concept to him; his rage was his soul, a relentless tide that crushed foes but left Gladion wincing at the collateral.
Vaporeon whimpered, struggling up. [You oversized bully!] she spat, shaking off mud. [That hurt way too much—ever hear of pulling punches?!]
Lee roared, pounding his chest. [Pull punches? I'd rather pull your tail off, water rat! Stay down!]
And with that Vapereon who was trying to stand up, fell unconscious.
The referee's flag rose. "Vaporeon is unable to battle! Trainer Gwen is left with one Pokémon."
Gwen recalled Vaporeon, her jaw clenched. 'Just Gengar left.'
Gladion had Lee, Nyx, and Colossus—she was cornered, outgunned. Her mind raced, resolve steeling her spine.
'He's got numbers, but I've got heart. Gengar's my ace, my first—we've beaten worse odds. That raging ape's a monster, but I've got one shot to turn this around. For Grandpa's room, for Beldum, for shutting Glady's smug mouth—I'm winning this!' She grinned, determination blazing.
'Time to pull out all the stops.'
"Gengar, you're up!" she shouted, releasing her partner. The ghost materialized, cackling as he hovered over the craters. Gwen leaned close, whispering, "You've got this, buddy—we're the ultimate team. Let's spook 'em silly!"
Gengar winked towards Gwen as he got ready for battle.
Gladion didn't hesitate to make the first move this time. "Lee, Rage Fist!"
Lee's fist glowed red-hot, rage surging as he swung at Gengar. The ghost darted aside, the punch slamming into the ground with a *crunch*, cratering the field and kicking up dust.
Gwen sweatdropped, her grin faltering.
'Holy Miltank—that strength's ridiculous!One hit from that Rage Fist could cripple Gengar—maybe knock him out cold. It's like facing Glady's Machamp on a rampage, but with ghost steroids! I can't let that connect—Gengar's tough, but not 'that' tough.'
Gladion smirked as he witnessed Lee's strength 'Its not just his strength from the evolution to Annhilape that has increased his strength, it's also his training that he did with Guy as a Mankey and a Primeape.'
Gwen steadied herself, inspiration striking.
'I need something big.' She'd grilled Sabrina after the semifinals—'How'd you power up Alakazam?' Sabrina's answer: a psychic bond, raw will poured into her ace.
Gwen could do that—her ghost aura was her edge. She closed her eyes, releasing her loop spectral energy, a dark mist swirling around her. It stretched toward Gengar, linking their spirits in a rush of shared power.
Their minds melded, memories and mischief flooding through. Gwen saw Gengar's pranks—stealing Ben's socks, floating Erza's hairbrush mid-brush, cackling as he hid Gladion's shoelaces. [Remember when we spooked Glady's breakfast?!] Gengar chortled, projecting an image of Gladion yelping as his toast levitated.
Gwen laughed, adding, 'Oh, and that time we rigged his bed with Stunky stink bombs—his face was priceless!' Gengar giggled, [He smelled like a Muk for days!] They shared a mental high-five, their bond a whirlwind of camaraderie, boosting Gengar's ghostly might to rival—maybe exceed—Annihilape's.
The crowd shivered, goosebumps prickling as Gengar's aura swelled, his grin widening. Gladion's eyes narrowed, recognizing the trick. 'Sabrina's move—damn it, Gwen!'
He swore inwardly, 'Once I get a Psychic Pokémon, I'm doing that too. And Beldum's mine if I win—Metagross, a pseudo-legendary Psychic-Steel beast. I'm giddy just thinking about it!' He smirked, imagining himself syncing with a gleaming Metagross, crushing foes with psychic steel.
Gwen seized the moment. "Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Gengar conjured a dark orb, its size amplified by the aura boost. Gladion shouted, "Lee, dodge!" But Annihilape's rage flared at Gengar's power-up—his fighting spirit ignited, defiance overriding orders. He roared, swinging Rage Fist into the Shadow Ball. The orb exploded near him, dark energy scorching his fur, fueling his anger further. [Take that, you floating fart!] he bellowed.
Gwen's eyes lit up. 'He's not listening to orders—perfect!' Annihilape's ghostly nature and rage made him a loose cannon—she'd exploit it. "Gengar, speed up—go!"
Gengar rocketed forward, aura-boosted speed a blur. "Confuse Ray, point-blank!" Gwen ordered. Gengar's eyes flashed, a disorienting beam hitting Lee dead-on—no dodge possible. Annihilape staggered, confusion clouding his mind, fists flailing aimlessly.
Gladion cursed, reaching out with his psychic aura. 'Lee, snap out of it!' But Gengar's raging ghost energy blocked him, a spectral wall jamming his telepathy. *Damn—Lee's aura's too wild, too thick! I can't get through—Lee's on his own, and he's a mess!' Panic edged his thoughts, but he kept his cool, searching for an opening.
"Shadow Punch!" Gwen called, relentless.
Gengar's fist glowed, slamming into Lee. The ape tried a Low Kick counter, but confusion spun him—he kicked backward, hitting air, and took the punch full-force. "Another one!" Gwen pressed. A second Shadow Punch connected, rocking Lee back.
Lee snarled, acting on instinct. [I'll stomp you flat!] His feet glowed as he unleashed Stomping Tantrum, a Ground-type move that shook the field. Gengar stumbled, footing lost, taking a bruising hit.
[Ow—watch the floor, you tantrum toddler!] he yelped.
But the barrage had worn Lee down—confusion faded, but he staggered, panting. Gladion saw Gengar grounded, close-range. "Close Combat—finish it!"
Lee roared, fists and feet flying in a devastating flurry. Each strike boomed, Gengar dodging desperately, breathing hard. Gwen's voice cut through. "Dark Pulse!"
Gengar unleashed a wave of dark energy—natural, potent, super-effective against Lee's Ghost typing. The pulse engulfed Annihilape, his roar cut short as he crumpled, knocked out cold.
"Annihilape is unable to battle!" the referee shouted.
Gladion recalled Lee, muttering, "Good fight, you wild beast." He grabbed his next ball, smirking. "Nyx, end this!"
Umbreon emerged, rings pulsing with dark glee. Gengar, battered from Stomping Tantrum and Close Combat, grinned weakly. [Oh, great—moon kitty's here to ruin my day.]
Nyx purred, [Ruin? I'll make it quick, gas-bag.]
Gladion ordered, "Dark Pulse!" Nyx's rings flared, a swift, precise wave slamming Gengar. Exhausted, he couldn't dodge—down he went.
"Gengar is unable to battle! Gladion Vortex wins the match!"
The stadium erupted with that.
------Author Notes------
Y'all can read 15 extra chapters on my pat*reon. 3 more than what was offered earlier!!
https://pat reon.com/mrmime24
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