The devastating sphere of energy hurtled toward Craig like a meteorite seeking vengeance. The Gym Leader's eyes widened just enough to suggest he was rethinking several life choices, particularly the one that led him to this volcanic hellscape.
"Black Hole Eclipse!" Craig shouted, flashing his Z-enhanced bracelet with the flair of a magician revealing his final trick. He pressed an Dark-type Z-crystal against it, directing the power toward his massive Honchkrow.
In response to Craig's command, a swirling vortex of darkness materialized above the battlefield, its gravitational pull so strong it seemed to bend the light around it. The black hole descended from the sky like divine judgment, directly intercepting Hariyama's Spiral Aura Sphere. The sphere was swallowed whole, disappearing into the void with the casual efficiency of a Snorlax inhaling a sandwich.
BOOM!
The explosion that followed was less a sound and more a physical force that rippled across the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared and the heat settled, both the Black Hole Eclipse and Spiral Aura Sphere had vanished, leaving nothing but scorched air and shocked spectators.
Several Gym Leaders in the audience nodded approvingly. Craig had discovered the antidote to John's signature move, and it was brilliantly straightforward: use Parting Shot to weaken Hariyama's attack power, reducing the Aura Sphere's potency by half, then counter with a Z-move to neutralize it completely. It wasn't just a solution, it was a template that any trainer with a Z-crystal could replicate.
John's eyebrows rose slightly, the closest he ever came to expressing surprise in battle. Craig's strategy hadn't been a panicked reaction; it was a calculated sequence he'd planned from the start, knowing that Sucker Punch would likely fail.
"As expected of a Gym Trainer," John remarked with genuine respect. His prized technique, dissected and countered in just one day. "It seems I can't underestimate anyone at this level."
Craig's smirk was the perfect blend of smugness and professional courtesy. "Wang Chengke from Caiyun Gym lost because you caught him off guard. If he'd been prepared like me, things wouldn't have been so easy for you."
John nodded, acknowledging the point. This battle wouldn't be the cakewalk his previous match had been. Time to adjust.
"Blaziken, Mega Evolution!" John raised his hand, revealing his own Z-enhanced bracelet with a flourish that would make contest coordinators envious.
A kaleidoscope of vibrant light enveloped Blaziken, pulsing and shifting like a living aurora. When the light shattered outward, Mega Blaziken emerged transformed. Its colored feathers had condensed and rearranged, forming an X-shaped "armor" with its chest plumage. The twin red horns on its head had fused into a single, more menacing spike.
Most striking was the color shift, red feathers now midnight black, yellow now crimson like freshly spilled blood. Two flame streamers danced from its arms, giving it the appearance less of a martial artist and more of a fire deity accidentally attending a fighting tournament.
In the stands, Gym Leaders exchanged looks of disbelief and poorly concealed envy.
"Doesn't John already have Mega Stones for Gardevoir and Garchomp?" one whispered, voice tight with jealousy.
The others nodded solemnly, their expressions universal in their message: three Mega Stones for a single trainer was beyond lucky, it was practically criminal.
Only Harrisob seemed unsurprised. Having mentored John, he'd long ago accepted that his junior's luck defied common sense. Three Mega Stones? Huo wouldn't bat an eye if John had six. The universe clearly had favorites.
Mega Blaziken surged forward, each step leaving a miniature heat haze on the already scorched battlefield. The flame streamers on its arms trailed behind like burning contrails, marking its path across the volcanic terrain as it closed the distance to Craig.
"Close Combat!" Craig commanded, hurling another Pokeball with the precision of a professional pitcher.
A Gallade materialized in a flash of light, its blade-like arms already positioned defensively. Craig's counter to John's Fighting-type was evident, Gallade's dual Fighting/Psychic typing gave it a decisive advantage against pure Fighting Pokemon.
Gallade launched forward, its arms glowing with psychic energy as it unleashed a barrage of punches that moved faster than the human eye could track.
"BOOM!" Gallade's fist collided with Mega Blaziken's kick, creating a shockwave that rippled through the arena like a stone dropped in still water.
The crowd fell silent, witnessing what appeared to be an even match, Mega Blaziken's Double Kick perfectly countering Gallade's Close Combat. Despite Mega Evolution boosting Blaziken's power, the relatively low base strength of Double Kick balanced against Close Combat's raw offensive potential.
Craig's expression shifted from confidence to confusion. His Gallade should have had another advantage, its ability to radiate Confusion during physical attacks, an added psychic assault that most Fighting types couldn't handle.
Yet Mega Blaziken stood firm, as if the Confusion was no more bothersome than a light drizzle on a raincoat.
The stalemate lasted only moments.
Without warning, Mega Blaziken's leg began to glow with intensifying energy. Force Palm! The technique activated mid-clash, sending a shockwave through the point of contact.
Gallade, caught completely off-guard, was thrown backward by the sudden surge of power. Before it could recover, Mega Blaziken twisted and launched the second hit of its Double Kick, a follow-up that came with the unavoidable certainty of taxes.
Even airborne and disadvantaged, Gallade's battle experience shone through. Its arms crossed defensively, forming a protective barrier. "Protect!" Craig called, though his Pokemon was already executing the move.
BOOM!
Mega Blaziken's kick connected with the barrier, shattering it like glass under a hammer.
Without pause, Blaziken's Force Palm activated again, this time with nothing to block its path. The concentrated blast of fighting energy struck Gallade square in the chest, launching the Pokemon backward with the force of a cannonball.
Gallade rocketed across the battlefield and slammed into the arena wall behind Craig with enough impact to leave a Gallade-shaped hole in the reinforced material, a momento for future contestants to ponder.