With Turtonator's back turned, Combusken wasted no time. Flames flickered around him as he activated Swords Dance, stacking layers of crimson energy. Across the arena, Turtonator's shell shimmered silver—Iron Defense.
The two Pokémon mirrored each other, one sharpening its claws, the other hardening its armor. Turtonator completed two Iron Defenses, its body gleaming like forged steel. But Combusken pushed further—a third Swords Dance. His muscles screamed in protest, veins bulging under feathery skin. Few Combusken could withstand such strain, but his rigorous training paid off.
Turtonator's eyes narrowed. This runt's not playing around.
"Torchic!"
Combusken lunged, a blur of orange and yellow. Turtonator braced, its spiked shell glowing faintly red—Shell Trap primed.
BOOM!
The moment Combusken's Low Kick connected, the shell detonated. The explosion hurled Combusken backward, his right leg scorched and bleeding. Smoke billowed as the crowd gasped.
Turtonator smirked—until it noticed the spiderweb cracks radiating from the impact site on its shell. Impossible.
Combusken staggered up, panting. Pain seared through his leg, but his mind raced. There's a way… Master wouldn't let me fight if there wasn't.
His gaze locked onto wisps of black smoke curling from Turtonator's belly—the star-shaped vent. That's it.
Turtonator spun frantically, shell facing Combusken at all costs. But Combusken circled like a predator, speed increasing with each step.
"Grr! (Stay still!)"
Frustrated, Turtonator unleashed a Flamethrower. The fiery blast carved a molten path—but Combusken dodged, his afterimage dissolving in the heat.
Now.
Exploiting the opening, Combusken blitzed forward. Turtonator twisted too late.
"Torchic! (Got you!)"
Double Kick struck the vent dead-center.
CRACK!
Turtonator's own Shell Trap erupted beneath it, catapulting the turtle skyward. It crashed outside the arena, shell smoldering.
"Vulpix! (Turtonator is out of bounds! Combusken wins!)"
The crowd erupted. Braixen grinned, her hidden bet paying off.
Magmar chuckled. "Mag. (Smart bird. Only one other ever found that weakness.)"
Su Feng followed his gaze to a young Growlithe in the crowd, its eyes sparkling with admiration.