Weapons clashed midair, sending sharp echoes through the battlefield. Swampert and Mega Beedrill fought in a brutal struggle, while layers of defensive ice walls surrounded Klein, a testament to Swampert's unwavering resolve to protect its trainer.
As the battle raged, Swampert used Curse four times, each activation following a precise Ice Punch that suppressed Mega Beedrill. Violent air currents surged across the battlefield, signaling the escalating intensity of their duel.
Above them, Zubat and Golbat flapped their wings, releasing powerful sound waves, but they were blocked by the massive ice walls. The sheer force of the freezing energy kept them from advancing.
Klein and Swampert were proving far more troublesome than Koga had anticipated. Blood dripped steadily from his severed fingers—a sign of his growing desperation.
"The one who assisted the Kamiyama Clan in Ilex Forest… that was you, wasn't it?"
Klein's voice was cold, his gaze sharp.
Koga remained silent, flicking several smoke bombs toward Mega Beedrill, attempting to obscure Swampert's vision.
Boom! The smoke burst forth, and Mega Beedrill retreated slightly.
But Klein's Swampert had already set up a relentless sequence of attacks.
The bitter cold howled across the battlefield, transforming into a raging ice storm!
Swampert's offensive was brutal—its fists struck like hammers, its kicks exploded with power. The freezing air spread with every strike, while Waterfall-boosted knee attacks flowed seamlessly into its footwork. There was no room for evasion—Klein's battle style aimed to chain his opponent until they were completely overwhelmed.
The repeated booms of impact echoed through the cavern. Mega Beedrill barely kept up, its movements growing sluggish, its wings faltering under the relentless assault. Forced to retreat, it finally gained a brief moment to recover.
"Swampert, use Curse!"
Klein's command was firm.
Swampert's fifth Curse activation sent an overwhelming surge of power through its body, its muscles rippling with newly awakened strength.
Mega Beedrill lunged forward again, but each attempt was met with shockwaves from Swampert's sheer force. Even the residual energy from Waterfall repelled it effortlessly.
Koga knew—if this continued, Swampert would fully stack its Curse boosts, making victory nearly impossible. He had to turn the battle around.
From his position behind the ice walls, Klein's Aura synchronized with Swampert, and every attack trajectory was calculated through his VR system.
Boom!
A violent surge of water shot forth, freezing into a razor-sharp ice blade.
Mega Beedrill instinctively raised its left arm to block, relying on its agility to deflect the blow. But as its body staggered from the impact, its right arm vibrated at high speed, releasing a deadly crescent-shaped energy slash—which struck an Ekans on the battlefield.
It was a precise and ruthless attack.
The Ekans, though grievously wounded, was still alive—its lifeforce was unnaturally strong. Even with a gaping wound, it refused to die, staring at Koga in confusion and shock.
Koga's sudden ruthlessness made Klein's eyes darken.
"Are you seriously using your own Pokémon as sacrifices to power up your Mega Beedrill?"
"Swampert, use Curse for the sixth time!"
Swampert's power surged to its absolute peak. The freezing energy intensified, and Mega Beedrill was forced to take several steps back.
At the same time, Koga's Mega Beedrill prepared its ultimate move.
Its giant twin stingers began to glow with a deep, ominous black energy.
Fell Stinger.
A legendary Bug-type move—if it knocked out an opponent, it would increase the user's Attack by three stages, surpassing even Swords Dance.
Mega Beedrill's offensive strength reached terrifying new heights, and the surrounding air crackled under the sheer intensity of its power.
Meanwhile, another Ekans approached its fallen companion.
Mega Beedrill mercilessly struck again.
With zero hesitation, it pierced through the second Ekans' body, killing it instantly.
A piercing, agonized hiss echoed across the battlefield.
The dying Ekans began to glow—evolving mid-death.
A giant purple cobra now loomed over the battlefield.
It was Arbok—the ultimate form of Ekans.
Unlike normal Arboks, this one had silver irises and a terrifying facial pattern on its hood. Its markings were far more sinister than usual—its eyes glowed silver, and the face on its hood appeared almost demonic.
Rumors spoke of Arbok being the strongest among its species.
Koga had raised hundreds of Ekans over the years, searching for this exact mutation.
And now, right before his eyes—it had finally appeared.
But instead of celebrating, Arbok stared at Mega Beedrill… with pure, murderous intent.
Koga took a step forward—only for Arbok to lunge directly at him!
"Your opponent is me."
Boom!
Poison needles fired at lightning speed, but Arbok roared, its tail slamming into the ground.
A blinding burst of light knocked Koga backward, forcing him to retreat.
Freed from Koga's control, Arbok's hatred turned fully onto Mega Beedrill.
Without its master's full support, Mega Beedrill's overwhelming offense wavered slightly.
But the battle wasn't over.
Mega Beedrill still had the power of Fell Stinger.
It blurred forward, its twin stingers radiating lethal energy, and thrust toward Swampert!
Klein didn't hesitate.
"Swampert—use Counter!"
Boom!
At the exact moment of impact, Swampert absorbed the full force of Fell Stinger.
Then—using the power of Counter—it returned the damage at double strength!
The force of the blowback shattered the ground beneath them.
Mega Beedrill's wings twisted violently, its body flung backward.
Sensing its opponent's weakness, Swampert immediately followed up.
A Waterfall-powered stomp drove Mega Beedrill further into the earth.
Then—one final Ice Punch.
Boom!
A burst of frost spread across the battlefield.
Mega Beedrill was completely frozen solid.
The battle was over.
Koga's expression was grim.
Even as blood dripped from his severed fingers, he reached for his Poké Balls.
But before he could act—his remaining Pokémon surrounded him.
Golbat, Crobat, and Arbok formed a defensive line, shielding their injured trainer.
Even in defeat, they refused to abandon him.
Klein exhaled slowly.
"You can leave now."
Koga's body tensed.
But when he saw his Pokémon standing protectively around him, he knew—this fight was over.
Without another word, he turned and left.
As he disappeared into the shadows, his remaining forces retreated with him.
As the League's surveillance drones arrived, they found a battlefield of complete devastation.
The Poison-type Elite, Koga—defeated.
The feared Mega Beedrill—frozen.
And standing in the ruins—Klein and his Swampert, victorious.
Pryce, watching from the control room, narrowed his eyes.
"This kid…"
The room fell silent.
Even within the Elite Four, few could claim to have completely overwhelmed Koga.
Klein's power had surpassed their expectations.
And as he walked forward to the next challenge, one thing was certain.
Nothing—not Koga, not Team Rocket, not the League itself—would stop him.
(End of Chapter)