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As Drake hesitated, lost in thought, Gyarados lunged forward.
Its jaws snapped open, revealing razor-sharp fangs glistening with saliva, aiming straight for Ditto's neck!
Drake snapped back to reality, eyes widening.
"Ditto, dodge it!"
Already nervous, Ditto instinctively twisted its massive body, narrowly slipping away from Gyarados' devastating bite.
The attack missed by inches, but it didn't create distance instead, the two massive serpentine Pokémon remained entangled in the water, their movements sending powerful waves crashing against the rocky edges of the arena.
Just as Ditto regained its balance, Gyarados struck again this time, it slammed its head into Ditto's body with brutal force.
BAM!
A deep groan of pain escaped from Ditto as it staggered, its entire frame shaking.
Drake's brows furrowed.
Something felt off.
The earlier clash of Aqua Tails had forced the two Pokémon too close together.
Even if Ditto wanted to retreat, its massive Gyarados-sized body wasn't built for quick escapes.
If it couldn't create distance, it had no choice but to fight head-on.
Drake made his decision.
"Ditto, use Bite! Keep it locked down!"
Ditto's fangs snapped forward, sinking into Gyarados' thick neck.
However Gyarados didn't dodge.
Instead, it let out a monstrous roar, completely unfazed by the pain and then it retaliated in the exact same way.
With a savage gleam in its eyes, Gyarados twisted its body and clamped its own jaws around Ditto's neck!
CRASH!
Now, both Gyarados were locked in a death grip, their massive bodies coiling and thrashing like two enraged sea serpents locked in battle.
Neither Pokémon would let go.
The ferocity of the struggle was something never before seen in the Orange League a battle of sheer brutality.
But one of them was different.
Even though Ditto had copied everything appearance, moves, typing there was one thing it could never replicate:
Experience.
Ditto had always fought in regulated battles, following structured commands.
It had never experienced a fight where survival instincts took over.
And so, it faltered first.
The unrelenting pain became too much its body convulsed, and it released its grip in a moment of weakness.
Drake's heart sank.
"No!"
Seizing the opening, Gyarados tightened its jaws and whipped Ditto's body into the water, sending waves crashing in every direction!
Drake's mind raced.
"If that's how it is… then we'll match its madness!"
"Ditto, use Thrash!"
In a desperate attempt to level the playing field, Ditto's eyes turned red, its mind consumed by reckless fury!
But even in this berserk state, something was wrong.
Ditto was still getting overpowered.
Despite using the exact same moves, despite mirroring Gyarados perfectly Ditto was still being completely dominated!
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Ditto flailed uselessly, failing to even land a proper hit.
Instead, Gyarados continued tearing into its opponent, showing no mercy.
Suddenly—
RIP!
A deep gash split open on Ditto's scaled body, sending a rush of red into the water.
A collective gasp swept through the audience.
"T-Too violent…!"
For the first time, some of the Orange League spectators shuddered at what they were witnessing.
Even the announcer was speechless for a moment.
Then, almost screaming into his mic, he shouted:
"WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?"
"Why is it that even though both Pokémon are the same using the same moves, the same power DITTO'S GYARADOS STILL CAN'T WIN!?"
The question hung in the air, and the audience whispered among themselves.
None of them could understand what was happening.
But Kai did.
This Gyarados didn't fight with strategy or precision.
It fought with pure, primal rage a beast forged in the blood of countless battles.
It had no technique.
No graceful manoeuvres.
Only relentless, merciless destruction.
Ditto was just a perfect copy.
But a copy would always be a copy.
A fake could never outmatch the original.
A wild beast that had truly been through life-and-death struggles could never be imitated.
And so, Ditto lost.
Ditto's body went limp, its form melting back into its original pink blob shape.
It was unconscious.
But Gyarados wasn't done.
Even with Ditto defeated, it continued to attack the unconscious form, thrashing the water wildly.
Drake's face hardened.
"Enough! Stop!"
Kai shook his head.
"You should know… Gyarados is completely out of control now."
Drake's jaw clenched he knew Kai was right.
Without hesitation, he pulled out Ditto's Poké Ball and recalled it before any further harm could be done.
With Ditto's defeat, the referee raised the green flag.
"Ditto is unable to battle! The winner of the first round is Kai!"
The Orange League spectators sat frozen.
Even after the announcement, the applause was weak and scattered.
No one had expected such a brutal, one-sided battle.
But in Kanto, where the biker gang and Professor Cerise's Family were watching.
"YES! HE DID IT!"
"BOSS IS UNSTOPPABLE!"
"That was the most badass thing I've ever seen!"
Even Professor Cerise let out a small chuckle, watching the screen.
Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Kai recalled Gyarados, allowing it to rest and recover from Thrash's side effects.
On the opposite side, Drake exhaled, rubbing his temples.
"I have to admit…" He looked at Kai seriously.
"That's the strongest Gyarados I've ever seen."
Kai simply smiled.
"Thanks."
But the match wasn't over yet.
Drake reached for his next Poké Ball.
"Let's see how you handle this one…"
The second round was about to begin.
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