Go, Torkoal! Use Rapid Spin and charge!"
Captain Firebird sent out another Pokémon, targeting Aoki directly. He knew how formidable Boss Lairon was, but as long as he could restrain Aoki, the battle could still be won.
As soon as Torkoal appeared, it tucked its limbs into its shell and began spinning rapidly, launching itself toward Aoki.
Seeing the attack heading toward Aoki, Frogadier and Combusken reacted instantly. Even Courtney tensed up, ready to intervene if necessary.
She had complicated feelings toward Aoki, but if she could lend him a hand now, she might be able to prove her loyalty. If it came to it, she was even prepared to betray Team Magma.
"Boss Lairon, use Mega Punch!"
Aoki's command rang out as another Boss Lairon emerged from its Poké Ball. Though slightly smaller than his primary Lairon, its aura was still overwhelming.
As soon as it landed, Boss Lairon charged forward, its right forelimb glowing with energy as it prepared to deliver a devastating punch.
"No! Torkoal, dodge!"
Captain Firebird's face paled.
Having to deal with one Boss Lairon was already a nightmare. But two? That meant his opponent wasn't just a strong trainer—he was an elite trainer with incredible resources.
Torkoal was still spinning midair, making it difficult to change trajectory. Worse yet, Boss Lairon was too fast. In an instant, it closed the gap and delivered a brutal Mega Punch.
BOOM!
Torkoal was sent flying, slamming into a rocky wall and becoming embedded in it. With just one move, it was completely incapacitated.
Captain Firebird's expression darkened, his arms trembling. He had invested years in training his Pokémon, yet one was already down in a single blow. He had one last Pokémon left, but if Torkoal was this helpless, what chance did the next one have?
Meanwhile, Camerupt was still locked in a battle with Frogadier and Combusken. Its Flamethrower continued to overpower their combined efforts.
"Frogadier, Combusken, dodge!"
Aoki's voice was sharp.
Both Pokémon leaped aside, trying to evade the attack, but the explosion from the Flamethrower sent them tumbling backward.
Combusken took the brunt of the damage, despite its Fire-type resistance. On the other hand, Frogadier fared slightly better, thanks to its superior agility and high potential.
Aoki quickly recalled Combusken.
"Rest for now, Combusken. You did well."
Combusken was his original starter Pokémon, and he didn't want it to take unnecessary damage. Frogadier, however, was still standing strong.
"Frogadier, can you keep going?"
The Water-type Pokémon nodded firmly, determination burning in its eyes.
Aoki couldn't help but smirk.
"Good. Then use Hydro Pump! I know you can do it!"
As soon as he gave the order, a bright white light enveloped Frogadier's body.
Evolution…!
"This is it," Aoki whispered, excitement surging through him.
Frogadier's growth rate had always been exceptional, surpassing even Combusken's. Now, after all its training and battles, it had finally reached the threshold of evolution.
"No! Camerupt, stop it! Use Take Down—now!"
Captain Firebird was desperate. If Frogadier evolved, his chances of winning would plummet.
"Boss Lairon, block it!"
Without hesitation, Aoki's second Boss Lairon rushed forward, using its massive body to intercept Camerupt.
The two Pokémon clashed violently, the impact forcing Boss Lairon to take a step back. Camerupt was powerful—it had already reached the quasi-Elite level.
"Camerupt, use Earthquake!"
Captain Firebird knew that Earthquake would be devastating to Lairon, which had a quadruple weakness to Ground-type attacks.
But at that exact moment, Frogadier's evolution reached completion.
The radiant glow faded, revealing a brand-new Pokémon standing tall.
Greninja.
It now had a sleek, ninja-like appearance, standing on its hind legs with a tongue-like scarf wrapped around its neck.
Aoki took a quick scan.
Name: Greninja (Shiny)
Ability: Protean / Torrent
Strength: Gym Level
Potential: Champion Level
Moves: Dark Pulse, Extrasensory, Blizzard, Rain Dance…
Aoki's eyes gleamed.
Greninja's evolution had not only boosted its strength, but it had also gained new moves. With its Champion-level potential, it wouldn't take long to reach the peak of Gym Level and beyond.
"Greninja, let's finish this! Use Hydro Pump!"
Greninja shot forward, unleashing a far more powerful Hydro Pump than before. The torrent of water crashed directly into Camerupt, sending it reeling.
"No! Camerupt, counter with Flamethrower!"
"Don't let up, Greninja—keep attacking!"
Another blast of water struck Camerupt.
"Boss Lairon, use Rock Slide—aim for Camerupt!"
With a fierce roar, Boss Lairon launched a barrage of massive rocks, further overwhelming Captain Firebird's last Pokémon.
BOOM!
The combined attacks left Camerupt incapacitated, ending the battle decisively.
Aoki smirked.
"Looks like this is over."
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