The battlefield rumbled beneath their feet as Onix reared up, towering over the arena like a moving mountain. The boulders from the previous attack still littered the floor, creating a jagged maze of stone.
Skylar stood tall, his voice calm even as tension gripped his chest.
—"Scyther. Same heart. New strategy. Let's go."
Across the field, Brock crossed his arms, nodding once.
—"I like you, kid. But Onix doesn't care about heart. He crushes what stands in front of him."
The judge dropped the flag.
—"Begin!"
Brock wasted no time.
—"Onix, Rock Tomb! Pin him down!"
With a thunderous crack, Onix slammed his tail into the ground. Massive stone slabs burst up, boxing Scyther into a tight corner.
—"Move!" Skylar barked. "Vertical escape—now!"
Scyther launched himself upward just as the rocks closed around where he had been, wings buzzing madly. But as he climbed, Brock followed up:
—"Rock Throw! Scatter!"
Chunks of stone ripped through the air toward Scyther. He swiped through two midflight, but one clipped his right wing.
He spiraled down hard—crashing onto one knee, panting.
Skylar clenched his jaw. "Get up. Reset. We're not out."
Scyther forced himself up, blades twitching.
Skylar saw the fire still in his eyes.
—"Agility! Shake him—go!"
Scyther blurred forward, weaving through the maze of rocks with incredible speed, flickering like a shadow from stone to stone.
He struck once—Fury Cutter—a shallow cut across Onix's side.
Then again—deeper.
A third—
—"Iron Tail!" Brock called.
The gleaming, massive tail came from above like a hammer. Scyther turned too late.
The blow landed directly.
The impact cracked the stone beneath them, and Scyther was launched backward, slamming into a pillar before collapsing at its base.
—"Scyther!" Skylar cried.
Dust settled.
Scyther didn't rise.
The judge raised the flag.
—"Scyther is unable to battle!"
Skylar stood in stunned silence for a breath.
Then he ran forward as the battlefield paused. He knelt beside Scyther, checking him gently.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
Still proud.
Scyther stirred, offering a tired clack of his blades before going still again.
Skylar placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did everything I asked. Rest now."
He recalled Scyther into the Poké Ball.
Across the field, Brock stood still, eyes steady. "One down."
Skylar took a deep breath and reached to his belt.
—"Then it's time for round two."
He unhooked his next Poké Ball.
—"Charmander—I'm counting on you!"
In a burst of fire and energy, the small, fiery lizard appeared on the field, eyes sharp, tail blazing with purpose.
Misty's voice called out from the sideline. "He's not going to overpower Onix. You'll have to out-think him!"
Skylar nodded once. "Exactly."
Charmander stepped forward and growled at the enormous titan before him.
It was a mismatch.
Size. Type. Power.
But not heart.
Skylar narrowed his eyes.
—"Let's finish this. Together."