Watching the Elite Four member before him, Koga took several steps back.
"I know better than anyone—sheer numbers are meaningless against you!"
Poison needles rained down, shattering the League's surveillance drones. Koga locked eyes with Klein, and in that instant, a true battle to the death began!
Holding nothing back, Koga activated his Key Stone, which resonated with Beedrill's Mega Stone. In a flash of dazzling light, Beedrill evolved into Mega Beedrill, exuding an overwhelming aura of pure malice.
Mega Beedrill's Ability—Adaptability—doubled the power of its same-type moves, making its attacks terrifyingly explosive.
With Adaptability enhancing its offensive might, Mega Beedrill's presence was on an entirely different level.
The air grew heavy, electric cracks forming along invisible fractures in the atmosphere. With a blur of movement, Mega Beedrill concentrated its power into its drill-like stingers, gathering momentum before launching a devastating thrust!
The Poison-type move Poison Jab—striking with venom-coated limbs—had an extremely high chance of poisoning its target.
Mega Beedrill moved so fast that Swampert had barely any time to react.
A blinding, razor-sharp gleam slashed through the darkness. Yet Swampert stood still, waiting. It took slow, deliberate steps forward, its fist condensing an ancient, bone-chilling frost—deep, vast, and raw in power. There was no flourish, no excess movement.
Klein's Keystone resonated perfectly with Swampert, amplifying the cold even further until the temperature dropped dramatically.
Then, Swampert threw a single punch.
It tore through the air, split the earth, and sent shockwaves through the cavern.
Boom!
The ground trembled violently as Swampert and Mega Beedrill's attacks collided. The impact sent massive energy waves crashing into the rocky walls, causing sections of the cavern to crumble.
While their Pokémon clashed, Klein and Koga engaged in their own battle.
Koga's shadow flickered—an illusion of movement. In the next instant, he appeared at Klein's side, striking without warning.
Unlike Riley and Olympia, Koga was both a ninja and an assassin. Klein knew better than to underestimate him, keeping his Aura Vision activated to track his every move.
Locking onto Klein, Koga launched several poisoned needles from his fingertips. But before they could hit, Swampert swung around, conjuring a shield of frozen mist. The poison needles shattered harmlessly against the ice, and Swampert's other fist formed an enormous ice blade, deflecting Mega Beedrill's incoming attack.
Swampert's piercing gaze exuded sheer dominance—wild and relentless!
Mega Beedrill emitted a shrill sound, its right arm absorbing energy from the air, forming a rapidly expanding sphere. The ominous glow of the attack cast long shadows across the battlefield, as roaring winds and silent fractures of space swirled around it.
A Ground-type move—Drill Run!
Like a spiraling steel drill, it struck with precision and had an increased chance of landing a critical hit. But as it lunged forward, Swampert whipped its tail, sending a violent spray of water crashing against Mega Beedrill's trajectory. The sudden disruption threw off its angle of attack.
Klein exhaled sharply and took a few steps back. He knew he was no match for Koga in close combat. Instead of splitting Swampert's attention, he chose to retreat and focus on protecting himself.
"You think you can escape?"
Koga fired another poison needle at Klein, striking him dead center—only for his body to dissolve into a cloud of freezing mist.
A substitute.
Without missing a beat, Swampert spun around, unleashing a razor-sharp Hydro Blade. In a single, decisive strike—it severed three of Koga's fingers!
Blood dripped onto the cavern floor. Koga's eyes flickered with alarm as he hastily retrieved his severed fingers and leapt back.
"You can fight while simultaneously creating decoys and illusions for your trainer? Impressive battle intelligence."
Compared to Delphox's illusions in Ilex Forest, Swampert was even more troublesome to deal with.
Raging torrents of water carved through the battlefield as Klein dodged attacks. Mega Beedrill shot forward again, but Swampert charged directly at it, launching a spinning roundhouse kick that sent the insect crashing into the rocks. Without hesitation, Swampert followed up with a powerful Hydro Cannon.
The intensity of the battle was undeniable. Koga's three severed fingers continued to bleed profusely, while Klein panted heavily from exertion.
"Koga, is this how ninjas fight?"
"Yes. This is the art of killing—completely different from your little trainer games."
As he spoke, two wild Zubat swooped in, slashing Klein's cheeks with their fangs. The scent of blood in the air drove the surrounding Golbat into a frenzy.
With no time to evade, Klein prepared to summon his other Pokémon to defend himself.
But before he could act, Swampert leapt forward.
With a thunderous Stomp, it crushed Mega Beedrill underfoot, pinning it deep into the earth.
Ignoring its immobilized opponent, Swampert raised its ice blade high. This time, it showed no mercy. The blade slashed down in a brutal arc, freezing the Zubat's wings solid.
As they fell to the ground, their frozen wings shattered, and the Zubat let out agonized screeches before collapsing into unconsciousness.
At this point, Swampert had abandoned all restraint, unleashing its ruthless side. Its actions became more brutal, its strikes more merciless, embodying the pure might of a rampaging titan.
If you dare harm my trainer, prepare to pay the price.
Murderous intent surged as Swampert activated its Torrent Ability. High-pressure water erupted midair, crystallizing into ice spikes before raining down upon the Zubat and Golbat.
These Pokémon weren't native cave dwellers—they were Koga's personally trained bat legion from the outskirts of Fuchsia City.
Though they weren't officially captured in Poké Balls, they obeyed Koga's command without question. Even as Swampert's overwhelming power tore through them, they showed no fear, continuing their relentless assault on Klein.
With a thunderous slam, Swampert drove its enormous ice blade into the ground. Dozens of Zubat instantly froze over, crashing to the floor in heaps of shattered ice. Some remained motionless, critically wounded; others, luckier, merely lost consciousness.
At the same time, Mega Beedrill, having recovered, surged forward in a sonic boom-like motion, clashing against Swampert head-on!
Meanwhile, back at the League's control center:
"Master Pryce, can you explain Koga's actions?"
The committee was outraged that Koga had destroyed their surveillance feeds. They understood the tensions between Klein and the Johto League, but to attempt an assassination during a public challenge? Were they not afraid of the International League's wrath?
Pryce waved a hand dismissively.
"Koga's actions have nothing to do with me. He operates by his own code. His decisions do not reflect on me or the Johto League as a whole."
"Well said."
A new voice echoed through the room.
The Ghost-type Elite, Agatha, stepped into the chamber, gazing at Pryce with an unreadable expression.
After a moment of silence, she finally spoke.
"I just hope you truly believe that—and that this is all just a misunderstanding."
"Koga won't take things too far," Pryce replied, his tone measured. "This is just the way of the ninja. Their battles aren't meant for public display, so I ask for your understanding."
Hearing this, Agatha's expression softened slightly.
"Originally, Koga's daughter, Janine, was supposed to take his place in this challenge. But, unsurprisingly, he came in person instead."
Agatha studied Pryce closely.
"Are you certain this has nothing to do with you?"
Pryce exhaled sharply.
"I'm already preparing for my role as the ninth guardian. I have no need for such underhanded tactics."
Still, even Pryce hadn't expected Koga to go this far.
Perhaps the rumors were true.
Maybe, just maybe—Koga was actually a surviving remnant of the Shinobi Clan.
And this battle… was his personal revenge against Klein.