Thanks for all the support on my Patreo-n so far! 3 advanced chapters at /xlucqs.

  I also posted my first chapter of a Game of Thrones story I have been working on. Updates won't be as frequent as NEW, however.

  discord:

  /VtKZqnMzmA

  Please join! Let's make it active and easier to speak with other members of the community! The community is growing and is quite active at the moment! If you wanna discuss about Pokemon, send artwork and memes, or just speak to other people, then go ahead and join!

  Also, fic rec for pokemon: Grounded on fanfiction dot net. Looks good so far, go give it a read.

  With a sharp thrust forward, the knife plunged into the mayor's chest—right where his heart was. Chaos erupted. Rui screamed. Wes gasped. William smiled. Es Cade trembled in pain as the blade dug further into his chest. His hands grasped the wet blade, but they slipped.

  "How did you know?" he gasped, choking on his own blood.

  "I do my research, Es Cade. Or should I say…Evice."

  William brought him closer, plunging the knife even deeper through bone and muscle until the hilt of the blade stopped at the mayor's skin. Their bodies touched, he felt the mayor's hot, warm breath, which tasted of iron, through his mask. It was an intimate killing—a personal killing—from one villain leader to another.

  Fate had thrown him a lifeline. The Mayor had innocently struck up a conversation with someone who wanted to kill him—and he did it defenceless. The opportunity presented to him was simply too good to pass on.

  Evice chuckled. His personality shifted, the shrinking remains of his life forming into a sick grin and a singular statement: "Long live Team Cipher!"

  William yanked the blade out of the Mayor's body. Blood stained his white outfit, like an artist had swiped his paintbrush colored crimson at him. Evice fell to the floor, gurgling, the fleeting remains of his life slowly leaving him.

  "Well, it won't be living long," William said, watching dispassionately as Evice writhed in an instinctual struggle, hand covering his wound. It didn't matter—the blade ran far too deep and pierced far too many vitals for him to be saved.

  His struggle soon stopped. Silence enveloped the area.

  "What have you done? You killed the mayor!" Rui screamed in shock, frantically scanning the area. The commotion had drawn some attention. Curtains were being drawn from houses nearby, while a group of curious bystanders cautiously made their way towards them.

  "Not just the mayor," William said, walking around the dead body. He put a hand on the mayor's chest, over the wound. No beat. "That man was also the leader of Team Cipher."

  "He was?" Wes asked, scoffing. "I find that hard to believe."

  "That's why he was never found out. Appearances can be deceiving," William said. "If you want more proof, let's go to his office. We can probably find something worthwhile there—"

  "You bastard!"

  The voice came from far away. In the distance, William could make out a slender figure dressed in dark clothes. He was a tall, gaunt-looking man. His cheekbones were hollow and sunken in, while his frame— although tall—lacked any form of bulk.

  His face contorted in a simmering rage, and his eyes narrowed into predator-like slits, focused only on William. His hair spread out into serpent-like snakes, floating and twisting in the air through some unknown force.

  William took a moment to think. It hit him quickly. It was Nascour, the co-leader of Team Cipher, as he would put it.

  Shit…

  The Dusclops was already out of the pokeball—no fumbling or hesitation in its appearance—conjuring a thick, powerful-looking Shadow Ball.

  "Kirby! Protect me! Lochness! Protect the shrine!" Years of battling had saved William, as in a sharp motion, he grabbed two pokeballs from his side and threw them out.

  It must have been a strange sight. With the imminent threat of danger, William sent out two Pokemon—yet only one actually guarded him, while the other protected an inconspicuous-looking shrine.

  Lochness moved with quick, careful precision, wrapping around the shrine and pulling it aside just as a shadow ball screamed past his face.

  Kirby, meanwhile, wrapped its pink limbs and soft belly around William like armour, conjuring a Protect that absorbed the attack in a flash of light.

  "We need more space," William said to Kirby. Behind them loomed a massive sand-bricked wall, while the narrow streets pressed in on either side, suffocating any space they had. "Jump over the wall."

  "Bliss!" Kirby cried, holding William tight as they jumped over the wall. Lochness followed. While in the air, William could see that the shrine had been left with Wes. Good—that way it would be safe. Right now, Nascour's only target was him.

  The Cipher admin, still fueled by rage, followed them over the wall, flanked side by side with his Dusclops and a newly sent-out Gardevoir, both primed for battle.

  "I'm going to take revenge on you for Boss," Nascour spat. "With his death, I am now the new leader of Team Cipher. After I kill you, nothing will stand in my way."

  "That's true," William noted, "But killing me is going to be the hardest part."

  The desert was vast and endless around them. Behind the wall, inside the town, the mayor's death had sparked a panic that spread across the place like blight. But here, it was just two trainers and their Pokemon. Two leaders, one newly crowned, another looking to take that crown from him and bury it beneath the sands.

  William was the first to make a move. "Earthquake!" out here in the desert, ground-type moves were enhanced. He then turned to Kirby and said, "Rain Dance!"

  The battlefield trembled with a mighty shake. The earth shook side to side, up and down, atoms smashing against each other as a surge of tremor zigzagged its way through the earth towards Nascour and his Pokemon.

  Nascour steadied himself. "Jump up, dodge it!"

  Rain began to fall. William was now beginning to associate the downpour with battling. The rain had always had a positive effect on him, but now, with the constant reinforcement and association it had with the prospect of battle, it made him alert—awake.

  The air seemed to vibrate, buzzing like a swarm of flies. "Rush in close, Lochness. Kirby, stay behind him." William said.

  Lochness arrived just as the two Pokemon landed, charging in with zero regard for his safety. It seemed reckless, but with Kirby present, and with her only goal being regard for Lochness' safety, he could afford it.

  Lochness would attack, while Kirby would support her partner in a way that ensured he continued to attack, regardless of the circumstances thrown their way.

  Lochness's heavy body crashed into the sand, kicking up grit as he barreled forward. His eyes locked onto the Dusclops, the bulkier of the two enemies, and his fists swung like wrecking balls.

  "Ice Punch!" William barked.

  Lochness slammed a fist forward, glowing white with pure ice energy. Dusclops tried to brace, arms out, but the blow hit with bone-crunching force. The ghost reeled, its body glitching in reality from the sheer impact, stumbling back.

  "Counter it! Psychic!" Nascour snapped. "Shadow Ball!"

  Gardevoir's eyes flared. A telekinetic force slammed into Lochness, hurling him backwards like a ragdoll. He crashed into the sand hard enough to crater it, and then was hit with a well-timed Shadow Ball to follow it up.

  Lochness shrugged the attack off like it was nothing. He got straight back up, punching the air forward, reloading his fists as if they were guns.

  The timing of that attack is no coincidence, William thought. He knows how to chain attacks together.

  Kirby cried out, arms stretched—a pink shimmer wrapped around Lochness like a second skin. Soft light bled into his wounds, healing the damage even before he could stagger back to his feet.

  "Good girl, Kirby," William muttered and then said, "Lochness—back in!"

  Swampert snarled and lunged forward again, pain only fuel for his fury. He swung wide, tail whipping across the ground.

  "Hydro Pump!"

  The attack, enhanced by the rain, surged forward with a grudge. Dusclops flickered, phasing to the side, while Gardevoir floated out of its path. It continued to rush forward, smashing into the wall of the town behind them. Through the pouring rain and the sounds of battle, he could hear Wes shouting.

  "Earthquake, now!"

  Lochness slammed both fists into the desert floor. The effect was immediate. The ground tore open beneath Dusclops and Gardevoir, waves of dirt rippling outwards in brutal succession. Gardevoir shrieked as it stumbled, legs buckling under the force before it floated upwards to safety. Dusclops, heavier, planted itself firmly—only to catch a follow-up punch right in its chest.

  Lochness didn't let up. He grabbed Dusclops by its body and heaved it overhead, slamming it down like a sack of stones.

  "Kirby—Light Screen!" William ordered.

  A translucent barrier shimmered to life just in time. Gardevoir unleashed a blast of psychic power, the screen absorbing the brunt of it before it could tear Lochness apart.

  Nascour's eyes narrowed, fury morphing into desperation. "Gardevoir, use Hypnosis! Put him to sleep!"

  "Gard!" The slim figure raised its arms, eyes glowing a sickly red as the pink energy around its body multiplied tenfold. For a heartbeat, Lochness faltered, his vision blurring, trying to fight the prospect of sleep. It slapped itself, trying to stay awake, but a quick bark from Nascour sent another wave of hypnosis at him.

  He closed his eyes, falling into a deep slumber. Nascour and his Pokemon immediately took advantage. From both sides, Lochness was overwhelmed with attack after attack, its bulky frame withstanding the blows as the sounds echoed through the desert.

  "Heal Bell!" William grinned. Kirby was a special type of Pokemon he had picked up, bred from a Chimecho. It took an awful amount of effort to get her. On her own in battle, the most she could do is stall, but in a double battle with another partner, she was invaluable.

  The sound of a bell chiming in the air echoed throughout the battlefield. Lochness' eyes shot wide open. He was awake. And then, another miracle.

  A shooting star passed through the atmosphere. Lochness was sprinkled with bits of star dust as the wounds which were inflicted on his body a moment before vanished as if they were never there. William had Kirby set up the Wish just a few minutes ago, amidst the conflict. The faint shimmer of stardust still glimmered across his body.

  "Back on your feet," William said sharply. "Job's not done."

  The Dusclops— who had been wildly attacking a moment before— faltered. It was a small flinch, a halt in its momentum, a sudden moment of shock at the behemoth waking up and its wounds regenerating, and that was all his starter needed.

  "Ice Punch!"

  It slammed into the ghost's chest, the impact sounding like ice cracking from an anvil thrown 100 feet overhead. Dusclops was thrown backwards, crashing into the sand and leaving a crater behind. Its single red eye flickered erratically.

  "Gardevoir! Moonblast!"

  Lochness brought up a Protect, harmlessly deflecting the attack.

  "Now Giga Impact!"

  Lochness charged forward, its body becoming a fireball of energy, going straight towards the Dusclops.

  It reached the Dusclops…and phased straight through him.

  "Idiot!" Nascour snarled.

  William grinned. Instead of stopping, Lochness continued to charge forward, its body glowing brighter and brighter as the energy wrapped around it like it was now a fire type. He was heading straight towards Gardevoir. Nascour realised it was too late.

  "Gardevoir, Protect! Dusclops, Shadow Sneak!" he barked.

  Dusclops phased into the ground, becoming a puddle of darkness, but before it could even move, a shrill shriek hit the area where the shadow was.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "Disarming Voice!" William called the attack as it hit. Dusclops emerged from the puddle, flinching from the sound.

  Across from him, Lochness's roar tore through the desert as the Giga Impact hit home. The momentum and power built up had smashed through the flimsy barrier put up. The world seemed to detonate on contact, a blinding flash of white and gold erupting from the point of impact as Gardevoir was blasted backwards, her body hitting the sand with the force of a meteor strike.

  When it cleared, Gardevoir lay motionless. Nascour's jaw clenched, the rage that had fueled him early on in the battle was slowly being replaced with a cool, calculating calm upon the realisation that this would not be an easy fight.

  Lochness staggered slightly, breathing heavily, the aftershock of the move still running through him. Giga Impact always took a toll. Nascour noticed it immediately.

  Nascour's arm shot forward. "Blaziken—kill them both!"

  A flash of red erupted across the desert as the pokeball burst open. Blaziken landed hard, claws digging into the sand, flames curling from its wrists, burning intensely despite the rain.

  Lochness should go for the Blaziken, William thought. Kirby and the Dusclops will cause a stalemate due to their typings. And even then, Kirby still has the advantage with Fairy moves.

  "Lochness, go for the Blaziken!"

  Lochness stomped forward, the ground shifting with every step, but before he could make any distance, Dusclops emerged from a shadow nearby, blocking off his path. Across the other side, Blaziken squared off against Kirby.

  "Tch!" William tutted. The Dusclops was just a distraction while Blaziken dealt with Williams' most important asset—for double battles—on the team. He had trained Kirby to be the ultimate support Pokemon, so she was perfect for double battles.

  But now she had been trapped.

  "Lochness, take care of the ghost!" he barked, turning his full attention to Kirby. Nascour did the same, directing his attention to his Blaziken.

  Blaziken moved first—its speed was frightening. One moment, it was standing across the sand, the next it was already in front of Kirby, leg raised and wreathed in fighting energy.

  "Double Kick!" Nascour commanded.

  The double impact cracked the sand beneath Kirby, but it managed to remain upright as a shimmering barrier of Protect flashed in the atmosphere. The dome held—but only for a moment. Using the barrier as a platform, it jumped over and behind Kirby, launching another double kick.

  Two sharp thuds cracked through the storm as its feet drove squarely into Kirby's back. The sheer force of the Double Kick left two deep imprints in her soft pink body, dents forming where the blows landed. She stumbled forward with a strangled cry.

  "Kirby!" William shouted. "Heal!"

  She tried to respond, her breathing uneven, eyes dazed but determined. Her small hands glowed faintly gold as she pressed them against her chest. "Bliss…"

  She grabbed the egg from her pouch, throwing it up in the air as it cracked. A glowing dazzle of energy left the egg, sprinkling down on Kirby like rain and healing it.

  "Close Combat!" Nascour barked from up ahead.

  The fire-type lunged forward, its movements feral, wild—each strike carrying the weight of raw power.

  Kirby raised her arms weakly. It was too fast; she was still too dazed. There was only one thing to do.

  "Protect!"

  A faint barrier appeared between them, but it was very weak—especially considering another Protect had been thrown up moments before—the first punch cracked the barrier. The second shattered it entirely.

  The rest landed clean.

  Blaziken tore into her with a flurry of strikes—punches, knees, and kicks—each one cracking against her soft body, the force enough to send shockwaves through the sand. Kirby let out a weak sound, one last desperate breath, before she was launched backwards, crashing into the ground and rolling until she lay still.

  William's jaw tightened. The battlefield seemed still for a moment—the only sound was the rain sizzling against Blaziken's burning hands and feet, steam rising off of them from this sheer energy exerted.

  Across the field, Lochness tossed the body of Dusclops to the side, having just taken care of him. He had done his job—but so had the Blaziken. His body trembled in anger as he turned towards the scene, glaring at Blaziken with a look that promised revenge.

  The rain stopped.

  Lochness's eyes locked on Blaziken.

  Both the trainers could sense it—their partners wanted to prove themselves the stronger of the Pokemon. So, they simply withdrew their fainted Pokemon, not bothering to replace them on the battlefield.

  It had temporarily turned into a 1v1.

  Blaziken's flames surged around its limbs as it lunged forward, fists and legs a blur. It launched into a masterful combination of punches and kicks—sometimes coated with fire—into the large visage of Lochness.

  Block, Protect, Block, Block, Protect—Lochness moved through the sequence with a calculating calm, almost as if the Blaziken were his dance partner and they were simply practising recitals.

  And then…

  "Bulldoze!"

  The attack slammed into him with the force of a freight train. Blaziken staggered back, one of his legs temporarily leaving the ground before steadying itself. It let out something that resembled a snort and pushed forward again.

  "High Jump Kick!"

  It came quickly, quicker than William could react. Lochness crossed its arms together to block the attack, but like before, Blaziken used it as a platform, twisting and pivoting its body to deliver another kick straight into Lochness's face.

  Swampert recoiled. Blaziken smirked. Lochness snorted.

  And then it was back to hand-to-hand combat. Sparks flew where fists collided, and elements surged around their body.

  During the sequence, with a powerful sweep of Swampert's arm, he absorbed a knee, then Protect appeared just in time, deflecting a spinning kick that would have hurt. The dome held just long enough for him to counter with an Ice Punch, catching Blaziken mid-strike.

  Blaziken shook it off, eyes burning with intensity. Flames curled higher around its wrists as it struck again, faster and more precise, each blow aimed to wear down Swampert's bulk, which William prided his Ace so much on.

  But Lochness didn't take it lying down.

  They circled each other, muscles shaking from overexertion, eyes locked with unspoken challenge. It was a type of pride that came with being strong. Blaziken lunged for a spinning kick imbued with fighting energy—but Lochness sidestepped, pivoting, and slammed his shoulder into Blaziken's side. The fire-type stumbled, wincing at the blow, barely keeping its footing.

  William's voice was calm. "Now, Lochness. Finish it."

  Lochness charged. Water began to swirl around his body as he lowered his shoulders, a rushing tide forming an almost solid wall around him like malleable armour. Still staggering, standing on unsteady feet, Blaziken could do nothing as a massive Waterfall slammed into it.

  Blaziken's eyes widened too late. Lochness hit with full force, the surge of water and raw mass and kinetic energy smashing into the fire-type like a rugby tackle. Flames hissed as they were extinguished. Blaziken was flung backwards to where Nascour stood, skidding across the sand, body battered and smoking.

  And unrising. Lochness had won.

  The battlefield fell silent again. Lochness stood panting, chest heaving, dripping with water and sweat from the desert heat, gaze fixed on the empty spot where Blaziken had been—he had just been withdrawn.

  William withdrew Lochness. He was still in fighting condition, but he needed some well-deserved rest.

  "Xatu! Walrein!" Nascour shouted.

  Two pokeballs opened, releasing a flash of light and energy. Xatu's wings spread wide, eyes glowing with psychic focus, while Walrein's massive body landed with a force that pressed the sand beneath it, frost forming where its flippers touched.

  Stronger than Juan's, thought William, analysing the features of the Walrein.

  William followed up. "Bond! Leviathan! Let's go."

  If Kirby and Lochness were attacker and support, then so were Bond and Leviathan—though Bond supported differently. His slippery speed and powerful snipe shots were perfect for causing chaos and offering support from the sidelines.

  There was a loud growl from Leviathan. Both of Nascours' Pokemon flinched.

  "Leviathan, use Rain Dance!" William ordered. "Bond, overwhelm them with bullets!"

  "Future Sight Xatu! Block the shots, Walrein!"

  Bond's fingers twitched, pulling a perfectly timed stream of Snipe Shots. The projectiles zipped across the battlefield, blending in with the rain, but Walrein bared its two shimmering fangs, and a series of ice shards blocked each of the shots.

  Leviathan stalked forward, its muscles coiling in anticipation. It locked onto its target—Walrein.

  "Ice Beam!"

  "Dodge it!"

  The attack was razor quick. The Ice Beam sliced through the air like a sharpened blade against grass; however, at the very last moment, before the damage could be done, Leviathan made use of its Serpentine body, twisting and turning as the attack went past him.

  As Leviathan continued to advance, Xatu launched into the air, wings conjuring up a tornado. Currents of wind formed around its wings, building up energy, until—

  Xatu recoiled backwards, letting out a shrill screech of pain. Bond stood crouched on one knee, one eye closed, the other focused, fingertip dripping with the remains of water from the Snipe Shot. It stood up from its perched position, already on the move again.

  It was at that time that Future Sight activated. From the cloudy skies, balls of Psychic, shimmering like stars in space, appeared in the atmosphere, warping into existence. They rained down like artillery on the areas of space Bond and Leviathan occupied.

  "Dodge it, Bond!" William said. "Leviathan, Hydro Pump, hit as many as you can!"

  "Ice Shard! Psybeam!" Nascour called, adding to the attacks.

  They were overwhelmed from all angles. The attacks came in constant, powerful waves—one mistake and you would be caught in its flow and dragged away.

  Bond used his small frame and quick feet to glide across the ground, moving in unnatural patterns, attacks missing him by a hair's breadth. And when you thought he had finally been caught, he moved out of the way at the last moment.

  Leviathan took a different approach. Being much wider and far less agile, dodging the attacks was out of the question. Instead, a geyser of water sprayed upwards into the air, destroying everything in its path.

  However, from its blind spot, the psychic energy of Psybeam rippled into its body. Leviathan faltered, stopping its attack.

  "Concentrate!" for he if he stopped any longer, he would be caught in the attack.

  Gritting its teeth, Leviathan fought back the pain. Stronger than before, another wave of water left its gaping jaws.

  One moment, the Battlefield had been chaos, and William could scarcely see as future sight reigned from above; however, the next moment, all of it ceased.

  William didn't waste any time: "Leviathan, rush inwards!"

  He lunged, tail whipping, slamming Walrein with unstoppable force. Frost and sand exploded outward, knocking the bulky ice Pokemon backwards. It tried to retaliate with Blizzard, but Bond had already found the opening from its newfound angle it had run to, firing off rapid shots that broke through the swirling snowflakes, breaking the concentration required to pull off the attack.

  Xatu rose again, eyes glowing with frustration. "Psychic!" Nascour called.

  Leviathan's body was restricted with a pink energy. Bond, as quick as always, raised his hand to shoot Xatu, but a well-placed Ice Beam from Walrein forced him to abandon the attack. The beam cut across the sand, freezing everything it touched. Bond dove sideways, ice creeping along the ground where he'd been standing

  "Leviathan, fight it!" William shouted, watching as his partner struggled against the force pulling on it and thrashing it across the desert. The pink aura around Gyarados pulsed tighter, compressing into thicker layers and deeper colours.

  "Hydro Pump!"

  Water exploded from Leviathan's jaws. It skimmed past Xatu, breaking its concentration— just for a moment. That was all he needed.

  "Walrein, cover him!" Nascour desperately shouted.

  Leviathan lept in the air, jaws set on swallowing Xatu. Walrein followed suit, leaping up to intercept him.

  But they forgot about Bond.

  2 fully charged shots, and the sound of teeth shattering echoed throughout the battlefield. Walrein's teeth shattered, replaced with two empty pockets of space where its curved fangs should have been. Bits of broken bone, impossible to put back together, dropped to the desert floor, mixing with the rain and sand and dust.

  Leviathan went through with his attack. Crunch! The small Pokemon almost seemed insignificant to the size of Leviathan and its gaping jaws, biting down on the crying Pokemon. And then, to save it suffering, Bond placed another well-timed Snipe Shot into its chest. Non-lethal.

  Nascour withdrew Xatu. And then, he surprisingly withdrew his Walrein. Without its teeth, the very thing which made it able to attack and defend, it was no more than a physical punching bag.

  William nodded in something paramount to respect. Nascour's hand drifted to his final pokeball. His eyes, which were rage-filled before, were now almost reserved, accepting, but still full of determination. William's Pokemon were stronger, with predefined roles that suited them in double battles.

  William still had five Pokemon left, while Nascour only had one. His chances of winning were slim to none.

  Still, despite the fact, he wouldn't go down without a fight: "Metagross, it's up to you!" he said with clear-cut conviction.

  The Pokemon was withdrawn in mid-air, its towering, bulky frame of metal dropping and slamming down onto the ground with a large THUD!

  Sand and dust scattered in its wake, making way for a true beast. It was large—very large. Maybe double the height of Lochness and almost six times as wide. Its body gleamed under the rain, its steel armour unblemished. It held a sinister, dark, vile type of aura visible from a first glance, not the type of aura which would radiate from a strong or violet Pokemon, but something much worse.

  William recognised it was a Shadow Pokemon.

  "Metagross…" William muttered beneath his mask. "A Shadow Pokemon…"

  Now he wondered what the best choice was. Bond, Leviathan, and Lochness. Which two would be best suited to fight this behemoth of machinery metal?

  He looked towards Bond. Shadow Pokemon had increased attack stats in exchange for defence. That could work in Bond's favour—but it also could backfire on him if he were taken by surprise.

  He took a moment to withdraw Bond and sent out Lochness again. He was still damaged, battered and bruised from before, but he had more than enough left in him. If all else failed, they would hurt him enough for Bond to finish the job.

  Lochness stood firm, eyes narrowing. He cracked his fists together, the ace ready.

  The air itself seemed to tremble between the three behemoths.

  Nascour's eyes glowed with a feverish light. "Metagross—annihilate them!"

  The metallic titan's eyes flashed crimson. Its limbs cracked the sand as it surged forward, moving far faster than something its size should've been capable of. It moved with a single purpose—to kill.

  "Earthquake!" William shouted.

  Lochness slammed both fists into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. The earth tore itself apart beneath Metagross—but the Pokemon didn't even flinch. With a metallic inhuman roar, it leapt, the attack exploding beneath it harmlessly. In midair, its body glowed a dark purple, smoky, sinister aura.

  "Shadow End!" Nascour said.

  "Protect!"

  Metagross slammed down like a meteor. Lochness barely crossed his arms in time as a protective barrier formed in front of him. However, just as soon as it was made, it shattered, and the Metagross continued its attack, sending him skidding backwards through the mud.

  "Leviathan, crunch!"

  Gyarados surged forward, coiling through the air. He clamped down on Metagross' left arm— though it more closely resembled a large hunk of metal— teeth screeching against metal. Sparks flew as Metagross roared, swinging its other arm like a hammer. It connected squarely with Leviathan's side, the hit throwing the giant serpent into the sand. The ground cratered beneath him.

  "Lochness, Hydro Pump!"

  A massive jet of water erupted from Lochness's mouth, slamming into Metagross before it could recover. The sheer pressure forced it backwards. The Pokemon crouched low, absorbing the attack. The midday weather made the metal hot, causing the attack to have steam hiss from its armour like slithering snakes.

  "Shadow Rave!" Nascour barked.

  William narrowed his eyes. He was unfamiliar with shadow moves. He needed to be careful. However, judging from the way Nascour's eyes glanced at the ground below, and the way that a purple smog slowly spread beneath the ground—

  "Jump upwards!" William screamed. "Dodge it!"

  Just as Lochness and Leviathan lept from the ground, hundreds of dark, cone-shaped, shadowy spikes pierced through the sand, their sharp tips promising pain.

  "Follow up! Shadow Storm!"

  The dark aura around the battlefield continued to build, seeping off Metagross' metal like it was sweat from a human body. In the flow of a spiral, the aura flew off him, the large amounts of energy being transferred and slowly forming a dark, shadowy tornado below Williams's Pokemon.

  Never thought this would come in handy. William thought.

  "Leviathan, Whirlpool!" William said. "Counteract the tornado! Spin the whirlpool the other way!"

  The two opposing rotations clashed with a deafening roar. Water met dark energy in a blur of blue and shadow. The tornado quivered, its form bending and faltering as the currents collided, each spiral counteracting the other in a perfect distribution of energy. Each time the tornado slowed, so did its counteracting current. Sand, debris, and dark mist were caught in the collision, whirling chaotically around the battlefield.

  Leviathan was still in the air, controlling the whirlpool. On the other hand, Lochness had taken advantage of the chaos. He was grounded, using the cover from the violent energy of the colliding attacks to sneak underground.

  "Metagross!" Nascour was the first one to notice it. Lochness was nowhere to be seen.

  "Dig!" William called.

  Metagross barely registered the movement from under him. The earth below him erupted, and Lochness emerged, slamming into the underbelly of metal. The impact was heavy—brutal. Metagross recoiled backwards, two of its limbs momentarily leaving the air as it tried to steady itself.

  "Now, Leviathan, follow up! Aqua Tail!"

  Gyarados dove, water forming the shape of a point of a sphere around the end of its tail. The air cracked as he used this tail like a whip, slamming into the Titan's side. His eyes faltered.

  Shadow Pokemon were stronger in offence in exchange for defence. That was the risk you were willing to take.

  But it didn't pay off.

  "Finish it off! Brick Break!"

  Lochness swung its arms down on the top of Metagross' head. The metal bent and groaned under the pressure, denting inwards. The eyes, which were flickering, finally stopped. They closed, and the Titan fell.

  When the dust and rain finally cleared, Metagross lay still, lying on its back, eyes firmly shut, the shadowy aura evaporating along with the last remnants of rain still pouring from the clouds.

  Nascour stared silently, expression unreadable, before lowering his head.

  William exhaled slowly. "It's over."

  The battlefield seemed desolate.