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A seven-meter-high azure curtain rose on the battlefield, surging forward with a deafening roar. It crashed like a feral beast opening its massive jaws, swallowing every energy beam in its path. The Pokémon struck by this overwhelming force lost their combat capability almost instantly after being engulfed.
The devastation was undeniable.
No Pokémon had been able to endure such a fearsome wave.
The battlefield ground was now submerged, resembling a swimming pool more than an arena.
Although the brawl had just begun, it already seemed to be over.
The scene left everyone in shock.
"This Shiny Gyarados is terrifying!" someone exclaimed.
"Even for a Shiny, it's way too strong!" another remarked.
"What kind of attack power is this? Are we sure this Gyarados Trainer is just a student?"
"Is the Breeders' Association messing with us? How could a student have a Gyarados of this caliber?"
The astonishment wasn't limited to the opponents. Theodore and the young man standing beside him were equally stunned.
"This Gyarados's Surf has the strength of a Gym Leader's Pokémon!" the youth stammered, his jaw nearly dropping.
Theodore's expression was calmer, with only a slight widening of his pupils betraying his thoughts. Inside, however, his mind churned with disbelief.
Chris had just started his first semester at Dragon University, and yet he already possessed the combat ability of a Gym Leader?
This was Gyarados, after all—a Pokémon infamous for its ferocity and defiance. If it didn't recognize you as its Trainer, it wouldn't follow your commands, let alone perform something as precise as "Surf."
There were only two plausible ways Chris could have this Gyarados: either he raised it himself or defeated it in the wild and earned its trust.
Either possibility confirmed that Chris had the strength to rival a Trainer.
And this was just one Pokémon.
Chris was only in his first semester of college!
Such extraordinary progress—it was unprecedented. Even Theodore had to admit he was fortunate to count Chris as a friend.
Other Trainers, who had been searching for their ideal Pokémon and avoiding the fight, stared blankly at the flood-covered battlefield. Some absentmindedly felt their Poké Balls vibrate at their waists, bringing them back to reality.
"He's grown even stronger... so much stronger that I can barely keep up," Xavier muttered as he tried to calm his restless Lucario. Both had been determined to even the score after losing to Chris previously.
But now, that goal seemed impossibly distant.
Of the thirty-three rival Trainers, twenty-five had already recalled their fainted Pokémon.
This left only eight Pokémon still standing—those of Trainers who had avoided the initial clash, choosing instead to stay out of the main battlefield. Their caution allowed them to escape Gyarados's devastating Surf.
For example, a Togekiss soaring high in the air or an Excadrill that immediately burrowed underground had avoided the onslaught.
Only Pokémon using the safety of the skies or the depths of the earth could evade the terrifying power of this red Gyarados.
"Futile efforts," Chris muttered, glancing at the Flying-type Pokémon above. He raised his hand and gave a calm command: "Gyarados, Thunderbolt."
With a mighty roar, the red Gyarados surged out of the water. Thunder surged from its body, striking the sky with dazzling brilliance.
Despite being a Water/Flying-type and taking four times the damage from Electric moves, Gyarados had learned Thunderbolt through TM training.
It wasn't just its typing that made it formidable—it was the Trainer behind it.
Chris obtained the Thunderbolt TM from Mauville City's Wattson after passing through the underground power plant. He had taught it to his red Gyarados, aptly nicknamed the "Red Storm," as part of his strategic arsenal. His next plan was to pair Gyarados with the move "Flamethrower," further expanding its versatility.
Thunderbolt served a precise purpose: countering those irritating Flying-types that often hovered smugly out of reach.
Against opponents more than twenty levels below Gyarados, their supposed speed advantage was laughable in Chris's eyes.
The brilliant sparks of Thunderbolt swept across the battlefield, and in an instant, five Flying Pokémon crashed to the ground, fainted. Neither they nor their Trainers even had a chance to react.
That left three Trainers and their Pokémon, which remained hidden underground.
The three Trainers trembled nervously.
They had considered launching an attack, but Gyarados now hovered in the sky, far out of reach. If their Pokémon surfaced, they knew they'd be immediately struck down by its overwhelming power.
Who would dare to make the first move?
But they believed they could stall Chris—thinking that as long as their Pokémon stayed hidden, Gyarados couldn't touch them.
How naïve.
Chris raised his hand confidently and commanded, "Gyarados, plow the ground with Hyper Beam!"
The crimson Gyarados roared, coiling in the air like a mythical dragon. Rain clouds gathered around, and a heavy downpour began—the result of Gyarados's held Damp Rock, which triggered the Rain Dance effect as soon as it entered the battlefield.
At Chris's command, Gyarados opened its massive jaws, unleashing a brilliant, searing Hyper Beam straight down at the battlefield. The beam carved a massive trench in the ground, tearing apart the terrain with a deafening crash.
The battlefield, designed to limit underground movement, forced the burrowed Pokémon closer to the surface. Now, with Gyarados's attack ripping through the ground, their safety was no longer guaranteed.
"I forfeit!" one Trainer shouted, panicking as they realized their Pokémon could be severely injured. They quickly recalled their Pokémon and stepped back.
The remaining two Trainers hesitated, gritting their teeth as they weighed their options.
"Another Hyper Beam," Chris said calmly, his tone betraying no concern.
"I forfeit!"
"I forfeit!"
Both Trainers conceded simultaneously, unable to risk the safety of their Pokémon. The devastation of a second Hyper Beam was too much to bear, especially when their Pokémon were buried so shallowly.
The battlefield, now riddled with craters, bore silent witness to Gyarados's power. Not a single rival remained standing.
The Breeders' Association referee, overseeing the match, stepped forward and announced the conclusion: "Gyarados's Trainer wins!"
The audience erupted into stunned murmurs, still processing the sheer dominance of Chris's red Gyarados. It wasn't just a battle—it was a statement.