Pokemon: Ace's Adventures!

Ace and Koga stood on opposite sides of the battlefield, a quiet tension hanging between them. The referee stood between them, holding a pair of red and green flags in his hands.

Ash, Brock, Misty, May, Dawn, Serena, Gary, and Janine sat in the spectator seats behind Ace, leaning forward with anticipation. The atmosphere was heavy with excitement and uncertainty.

"This will be a five-on-five battle between Gym Leader Koga and Challenger Ace Drago!" the referee announced in a loud voice. "The challenger may switch Pokémon at any time, but the gym leader cannot. The winner will be determined when one side's Pokémon are all unable to battle."

Koga smirked as he reached for a Pokéball. "I hope you're ready, Ace. Let's see if you can handle this."

A flash of red light shot from the ball, and a massive, armored figure appeared on the battlefield. The ground trembled beneath the weight of the creature's footsteps.

"Drapion!" the scorpion-like Pokémon roared, flexing its massive pincers as its gleaming violet body glinted under the lights. Its piercing eyes locked onto Ace, a predatory glint in them.

Ace's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Drapion… this is going to be tricky.'

"Wait…" Janine's eyes widened as she leaned forward. "Dad's using Drapion?!"

Ash and the others turned toward her. "What's wrong with that?" Brock asked.

Janine looked alarmed. "He's using his eight-badge team!"

Ash's eyes widened. "His eight-badge team?! Isn't that the one team that the gym leader uses against trainers who've almost, ie not already, collected eight badges?"

Janine nodded quickly. "It's only second to his Elite Four team! My dad's been training hard because he's being considered for the open Johto Elite Four position since one of the members is about to retire."

"Wait—so Ace is basically fighting a pseudo Elite-level team?" Misty said, a mix of surprise and worry in her voice.

"Yeah…" Janine said. "If Dad's using Drapion, then he's not holding back."

Ace wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead, but his eyes remained calm and focused. Koga chuckled at the subtle reaction.

"I'm curious to see how strong you really are," Koga said, his smile sharpening as Drapion clanged its pincers menacingly. "Don't disappoint me."

Ace's eyes flashed with determination. He pulled a Pokéball from his belt and tossed it into the air.

"Let's go, Nidoking!"

A flash of red light shot out, and Nidoking emerged with a powerful roar. Its muscular frame radiated strength as it stomped the ground, causing small cracks to appear beneath its feet. Drapion's eyes narrowed as it let out a low growl, accepting the challenge.

The referee raised his flags. "Let the battle… BEGIN!"

Ace's eyes sharpened. "Nidoking, use Avalanche!"

Nidoking roared as massive chunks of ice materialized above Drapion and began to plummet toward the battlefield.

Koga's eyes narrowed. "Drapion, Night Slash!"

Drapion's claws glowed with dark energy as it leaped upward, slashing through the ice chunks with frightening precision. Sharp black energy trailed from its claws as the shattered ice rained down harmlessly.

Ace's gaze darkened. "Close in with Horn Attack!"

Nidoking's horn glowed as it charged forward with surprising speed for its size.

Koga's eyes glinted. "Pin Missile!"

Drapion's tail crackled with energy before shooting out rapid-fire white projectiles that struck Nidoking repeatedly, slowing its charge.

"Now, X-Scissor!" Koga commanded.

Drapion's claws crossed as a bright X-shaped energy formed between them before slashing toward Nidoking.

"Block it!" Ace yelled.

Nidoking growled as it planted its feet and raised its arms, absorbing the brunt of the blow but still sliding back from the force.

"Use Horn Drill!" Ace's eyes narrowed.

Nidoking roared as its spinning horn glowed white and shot toward Drapion with dangerous precision.

"Protect!" Koga called.

A translucent green barrier appeared in front of Drapion, causing Horn Drill to collide with it violently. The barrier cracked under the pressure but held.

Ace's smirk widened. "Use Earthquake on the air!"

Koga's and Jenine's eyes widened. "What?!"

Ash's eyes lit up in recognition. "He's doing it again!"

Nidoking's hands glowed blue and white as it raised its arms and then slammed them down toward the air in front of it. A shockwave burst through the battlefield, striking Drapion hard. The massive scorpion Pokémon roared in pain as it was launched backward, crashing hard into the ground.

"Drapion, Venoshock!" Koga ordered.

"Use Venoshock, too!" Ace countered.

Purple lightning shot from both Drapion and Nidoking, colliding in the middle of the field. The ground beneath them cracked as the two attacks canceled each other out.

"Follow up with Smart Strike!" Ace shouted.

Nidoking's horn was enveloped in steel energy as it shot forward.

"Ice Fang!" Koga barked.

Drapion's mouth glowed with ice-type energy as it lunged forward. Its claws intercepted Nidoking, and its mouth clamped down on the steel-covered horn, stopping the attack.

Ace's eyes flashed with a rainbow hue.

"Earthquake Smash!" Ace commanded.

"Drapion, Giga Impact!" Koga countered instantly.

Drapion's body glowed white as it surged forward, slamming into Nidoking.

Nidoking roared as his arms were coated in blue seismic energy. He gripped Drapion's head and smashed it into the ground, blue shockwaves erupting outward as the Earthquake hit Drapion directly.

"Drapion, Iron Tail!" Koga yelled.

Drapion's tail glowed silver as it swung toward Nidoking's side repeatedly—but Nidoking didn't let go.

'Endure it…' Ace thought in pain as Nidoking took the hits and held firm.

With a final roar, Nidoking slammed Drapion into the ground one last time with earthquake. Drapion's tail twitched… then went limp.

"Drapion is unable to battle!" the referee declared. "Nidoking wins!"

Nidoking stood breathing heavily, his chest heaving from exertion. Slowly, he walked back toward Ace, wobbling slightly.

Ace grinned. "You did amazing, Nidoking. Come back and rest." He returned Nidoking to his Pokéball as Ash and the others cheered from the sidelines.

Serena, May, and Dawn waved pom-poms in the air. "Go, Ace!"

Gary crossed his arms with a smirk. "Not bad."

Koga returned Drapion to its Pokéball with a thoughtful and admirable look. "I didn't expect your Nidoking to be so capable. Using Earthquake on the air is no small feat."

Ace's eyes glinted. "My Nidoking's special."

The referee stepped forward. "Please send out your next Pokémon."

Koga's smirk returned as he reached for his next Pokéball. "You've earned my respect, Ace… but let's see how you handle this."

A flash of light revealed a humanoid figure with electric yellow skin and spiked purple protrusions. It crouched low, crackling with electric energy.

"Amped Form Toxtricity…" Ace muttered as his eyes narrowed.

Ace pulled out his next Pokéball. "Dragonair, you're up!"

Dragonair emerged in a swirl of blue light, her elegant form coiling in the air as she let out a melodic cry.

The referee raised his flags once again.

"Battle… BEGIN!"

"Toxtricity, use Sludge Bomb!" Koga commanded sharply.

Toxtricity opened its mouth and shot a sphere of toxic sludge straight toward Dragonair. The dark purple ball of poison flew through the air with a sinister gleam.

"Avoid it with Dragon Dance!" Ace ordered.

Dragonair's body glowed with a soft blue light as it began to spin in the air, weaving gracefully through the air. The sludge bomb barely missed her, crashing into the ground and exploding with a hiss, leaving a dark smear on the battlefield.

"Now, Dragon Rush!" Ace called out, his eyes narrowing.

Dragonair's body glowed with intense draconic energy as she coiled herself mid-air and launched toward Toxtricity like a speeding comet.

Koga's eyes sharpened. "Boomburst!"

Toxtricity opened its mouth wide and let out a deafening scream. Shockwaves of sound shot through the battlefield, distorting the air and creating ripples of force. Dragonair's momentum halted mid-flight as the powerful sound waves struck her, knocking her backward. Dragonair groaned in pain as the Dragon Rush dissipated.

Koga's eyes glinted. "Acid Spray!"

Toxtricity opened its mouth and spewed a stream of corrosive purple liquid toward Dragonair.

Ace's eyes widened. 'That Acid Spray looks more powerful than normal! His ability must be Technician!'

"Dragon Breath!" Ace countered.

Dragonair inhaled deeply and fired a stream of shimmering blue flames toward the incoming acid. The two attacks collided in midair, creating an explosion that sent smoke and dust into the air, many droplets of the acid was scattered around the battlefield.

Ace's eyes narrowed, sensing something wrong. Suddenly, Toxtricity's spiked figure emerged from the dust cloud, appearing dangerously close to Dragonair.

"Gunk Shot!" Koga ordered.

Toxtricity's mouth glowed dark purple as it fired a massive ball of poisonous sludge directly at Dragonair.

"Dragonair, dodge—!"

The Gunk Shot struck Dragonair square in the chest, sending her hurtling across the battlefield. She hit the ground hard, skidding until she stopped near the edge of the field.

"Dragonair, are you okay?!" Ace shouted.

Dragonair groaned but shakily floated back up, eyes burning with determination.

"Breaking Swipe!" Ace commanded.

Dragonair's tail glowed with green draconic energy as she shot toward Toxtricity. Her tail slashed across Toxtricity's chest, causing the electric Pokémon to stumble back, wincing as its attack power dropped.

Koga's expression remained calm. "Eerie Impulse."

A spark of yellow lightning crackled from Toxtricity's body and shot toward Dragonair. It struck her directly, causing her body to seize up for a moment as her special attack power dropped sharply.

Ace's jaw clenched. "Dragon Rush!"

"Wild Charge!" Koga countered immediately.

Dragonair charged forward, cloaked in swirling blue draconic energy, while Toxtricity's body crackled with electric light. The two Pokémon collided in the center of the battlefield. A shockwave of energy erupted from the point of impact, sending both Pokémon flying back. Toxtricity skidded across the field, flinching from the recoil, but Dragonair also struggled to stay upright.

Koga's eyes flashed. "Overdrive!"

Electric currents surrounded Toxtricity as it released a burst of crackling yellow energy in all directions.

"Iron Tail—into the ground!" Ace commanded quickly.

Dragonair's tail glowed silver as she slammed it into the ground. The electric current shot through her body and into the ground, grounding the attack and dispersing the electricity harmlessly.

Koga's eyes widened in surprise.

"How did that work?!" Janine blurted.

Serena smiled. "Because Dragonair used Iron Tail to direct the electricity into the ground—it's a basic conductor trick!"

Ace's eyes gleamed. "Draco Meteor!"

Dragonair's body glowed intensely as she summoned a cluster of glowing orange meteorites above her head. The meteors shot toward Toxtricity, raining down with devastating power.

"Boomburst!" Koga shouted.

Toxtricity let out another scream, and the sound waves formed a barrier that blocked the meteors. The sound waves pulsed outward, scattering the remaining meteorites.

Suddenly, Toxtricity blurred and appeared right behind Dragonair.

Ace's eyes widened. "Dragonair, behind you!"

"Hyper Beam!" Koga called out coldly.

Toxtricity's mouth glowed white before firing a concentrated beam of energy at close range.

BOOM!

Dragonair's body was hurled across the battlefield, slamming into the wall behind her. Smoke and debris clouded the area as Dragonair's limp form slid to the ground.

The referee's hand shot up. "Dragonair is unable to battle! Toxtricity wins!"

"Yes!" Janine cheered, pumping her fist.

Ash and the others sighed in disappointment.

Brock's expression was calm. "That outcome was pretty predictable."

Dawn glanced at him in confusion. "How so?"

Gary crossed his arms. "It was the Acid Spray and Eerie Impulse, right?"

Brock nodded. "Exactly. Eerie Impulse weakened Dragonair's special attack, which made Draco Meteor less effective. And the droplets of Acid Spray scattered around the field sharply reduced Dragonair's special defense—Hyper Beam finished it off because Dragonair couldn't withstand the extra damage."

Understanding clicked in everyone's expressions.

Serena's eyes softened in concern as she clasped her hands near her heart. 'Ace…'

Ace took a deep breath, then returned Dragonair to her Pokéball. "You did great," he said quietly. He looked at Toxtricity, who was still standing confidently despite the damage it had taken.

Ace pulled out another Pokéball, his gaze hardening. "It's not over yet."

"Go—Starmie!"

In a flash of light, Starmie materialized, spinning gracefully in the air. Its gem core glowed brightly as it floated before Ace.

"Whoa, a shiny Starmie!" Janine gasped.

Gary smirked. "Bold choice. Psychic attacks are strong against Toxtricity—but Starmie's weak to electric moves too."

May's eyes narrowed. "Ace must have a plan…"

Misty's eyes were practically sparkling. "Go, Starmie!"

The referee raised his hand. "Battle—resume!"

"Toxtricity, use Electric Terrain!" Koga commanded sharply.

Toxtricity slammed its hands on the ground as crackling yellow electricity surged across the battlefield. The entire field lit up with a golden glow as currents of electric energy danced through the air, charging the environment with power.

"Starmie, Psybeam!" Ace ordered without hesitation.

Starmie's central gem glowed brightly as a multicolored beam of psychic energy shot toward Toxtricity.

"Dodge it!" Koga called out.

Toxtricity leapt to the side with impressive agility, narrowly avoiding the beam as it crashed into the ground, leaving a faint burn mark.

"Minimize, then spin while using Psybeam!" Ace's eyes gleamed with determination.

Starmie's body shimmered as it shrank slightly, its form becoming harder to target. As it began spinning rapidly in place, the spinning motion caused the psychic energy to spiral outward, forming a beam that pulsed like a spinning top. The attack shot forward toward Toxtricity with incredible speed.

"Thunderbolt!" Koga countered instantly.

Toxtricity's body crackled with electricity as it launched a powerful Thunderbolt straight at the spinning Psybeam. The two attacks collided midair, creating a burst of light and energy. Thunderbolt, strengthened by the Electric Terrain, began to push back Psybeam.

But Ace's expression didn't waver. "Gyro Ball!"

Starmie's body shimmered silver as it spun even faster, its metallic sheen reflecting the battlefield's glow. The Thunderbolt struck Starmie—but instead of damaging it, the energy dispersed into the ground beneath it.

Koga's eyes narrowed. "Rain Dance!"

Toxtricity raised its hands toward the sky, and dark clouds formed above the field. A steady downpour began to fall, soaking the battlefield as the Electric Terrain pulsed beneath it. Droplets of rain shimmered under the electric glow.

"Expanding Force!" Ace called out.

Starmie's gem flashed, and a wave of psychic energy erupted outward in all directions. The expanding energy pulsed across the battlefield, washing over Toxtricity. The electric Pokémon groaned as the psychic attack struck it hard, forcing it to one knee.

"Discharge!" Koga barked.

Toxtricity let out a low growl as bolts of yellow lightning shot outward in a wave, clashing with the psychic energy. The battlefield crackled as the two forces collided, but Starmie remained unaffected. The electric attack fizzled out as Gyro Ball grounded the electricity harmlessly.

Ace's eyes flashed. "Meteor Beam—while spinning!"

Koga's eyes narrowed. He watched carefully as Starmie's gem began glowing with cosmic energy. A cluster of glowing white light formed above Starmie's spinning body, growing larger and brighter with each passing second.

Koga hesitated, his instincts telling him something was wrong. His eyes widened as he noticed Toxtricity struggling to stand, one knee touching the ground.

'Toxtricity's stamina… it's dropping fast.'

Ace's eyes gleamed. 'It's the Weakness Policy.'

Even though Starmie hadn't taken damage from the electric attacks, the Weakness Policy still triggered each time an electric move made contact. Starmie's attack power had been steadily increasing throughout the battle.

With a final flash of light, Starmie spun forward like a cosmic chainsaw. The Meteor Beam shot out in a spiraling arc, cutting through the air with devastating force.

Starmie reappeared behind Toxtricity in a flash of light. A tense silence followed.

Toxtricity's body stiffened. Slowly, it turned its head toward Starmie. A small smile formed on Toxtricity's face as it gave Starmie a respectful nod… before collapsing to the ground.

The referee raised his hand. "Toxtricity is unable to battle! Starmie wins!"

"Yes!" Ash and the others cheered from the sidelines.

"Nice work, Starmie," Ace said, his voice steady. He didn't recall Starmie, letting it hover confidently in the rain.

"Why isn't he returning Starmie?" Dawn asked.

Gary's eyes narrowed. "Because of Rain Dance."

May nodded in understanding. "Ace is planning to use the rain to his advantage."

Koga returned Toxtricity to its Pokéball with a grateful nod. "You fought well." His gaze sharpened as he lifted his third Pokéball. "You've trained that Starmie well, Ace. But let's see how it handles this!"

Koga threw the Pokéball into the air.

In a burst of light, a Dragalge appeared on the battlefield. The dragon-like seahorse hovered menacingly as the rain poured down its dark purple body. Its amber eyes glinted dangerously.

The referee raised his hand. "Battle—resume!"

"Dragon Pulse!" Koga commanded sharply.

Dragalge's eyes gleamed as it reared back, then shot forward a pulsating beam of draconic energy. The beam was so fast that Starmie barely had time to react before it was struck head-on.

"So fast!" Ash and the others gasped in unison. Even Ace's eyes narrowed.

'That speed… and that power…' Ace thought, his gaze sharpening. 'This Dragalge… it has Adaptability.'

"Starmie, are you okay?" Ace called out.

Starmie wobbled in the air before steadying itself. The rain falling from above splashed across its body as its central gem pulsed faintly, a sign it was still capable of fighting.

Ace's lips curled into a thin smile. "Good. Now—Ice Beam while spinning!"

Starmie began to spin rapidly, glowing with a silvery sheen as icy energy gathered at its tips. It shot toward Dragalge like a spinning buzzsaw, a trail of frost forming behind it.

Koga's eyes narrowed. "That trick won't work. Twister!"

Dragalge's eyes flashed as a swirling green cyclone formed beneath Starmie. The twisting storm shot upward, catching Starmie mid-spin and hurling it high into the air.

Ace's eyes widened. 'In the air—he's setting something up!'

"Thunder!" Koga commanded.

Dark clouds flashed above as a deafening crack of lightning struck down toward Starmie. The Rain Dance-enhanced Thunder lit up the battlefield, and with Starmie airborne, there was no chance of grounding the attack.

"Recover!" Ace shouted.

A golden glow surrounded Starmie as Thunder crashed into it with blinding force. Starmie's form spasmed under the shock, but the healing aura dulled the damage. Starmie weakly hit the ground, its body trembling—but its central gem flashed brightly as it slowly rose.

Ace's eyes narrowed as he felt it. 'Its Attack and Special Attack… they've maxed out due to weakness policy!'

"Stored Power!" Ace ordered, his voice steady.

"Hydro Pump!" Koga countered immediately.

Dragalge released a concentrated blast of water toward Starmie as Starmie's gem flared with intense psychic energy. The two attacks collided in midair, creating a swirling clash of water and psychic energy.

At first, Stored Power pushed forward with sheer force, but slowly, Hydro Pump began to overpower it.

Ace's eyes hardened. "You can do it, Starmie! Push more!"

Starmie's gem pulsed violently as its body trembled under the strain. Both beams remained locked in place before—

BOOM!

The two attacks exploded in a burst of energy, sending a shockwave through the stadium. Ace shielded his eyes from the dust and debris while Koga remained still, his eyes closed.

When the dust settled, Starmie lay on the ground, motionless. Dragalge, however, was still standing—its form barely affected. Its amber eyes glowed faintly beneath the rain.

"Starmie is unable to battle!" the referee announced.

Ace's jaw tightened. He exhaled softly, calming himself.

Ash and the others sat in stunned silence.

"That Dragalge's Special Defense and Special Attack, combined with Adaptability…" Gary muttered. "That's insane."

Misty sighed as Starmie was recalled. "That's a tough one."

Serena's gaze sharpened. "Now both Ace and Koga have three Pokémon left."

May shook her head. "But Nidoking's already at around thirty percent… Koga's Dragalge hasn't even taken a hit yet."

Dawn's eyes shone with quiet faith. "Ace will win. He hasn't lost yet—and he won't start now."

Ace returned Starmie to its Pokéball, his hand resting on it for a moment. "You did great, Starmie." He slipped the Pokéball back into his belt and lifted another. His gaze sharpened as he stared at Dragalge.

'Dragalge's Adaptability makes it dangerous… I need power and unpredictability.'

Ace smiled faintly. "Let's go, Annihilape!"

Ace threw the Pokéball into the air. A flash of red light revealed a hulking figure with white fur streaked with black, fiery red chains wrapped around its limbs. Annihilape's crimson eyes burned with an intense glow as it let out a low, guttural growl.

Ash's eyes widened. "Wait—that looks like a Primeape!"

Brock nodded. "That's because Primeape evolves into Annihilape."

Ash's mouth opened slightly. "Does that mean… my Primeape could evolve too?"

The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"

"Rage Fist!" Ace commanded sharply.

Annihilape's eyes gleamed with dark energy as its fists glowed in shadowy light. It let out a shrill growl before punching forward. A barrage of black, ghostly fists shot toward Dragalge with alarming speed and intensity.

"Dragon Breath!" Koga countered swiftly.

Dragalge opened its mouth and released a stream of vibrant green and yellow draconic energy. The Dragon Breath struck the incoming Rage Fist attacks, causing them to cancel out in a burst of smoke and sparks.

But Annihilape was already moving. Its form blurred as it closed the distance with terrifying speed.

"Brick Break!" Ace ordered.

"Hydro Pump!" Koga called out.

Dragalge inhaled deeply before blasting a powerful jet of water, enhanced by the falling rain, straight toward Annihilape. But Annihilape leapt into the air, twisting above the stream with agile precision.

Koga's eyes narrowed in worry. 'Dragalge's Special Defense is incredible, but its physical defense…'

Annihilape descended swiftly, its glowing fist crashing down on Dragalge's side. The impact sent Dragalge skidding back across the slick battlefield, a low groan escaping from its throat.

"Cross Chop!" Ace pressed the attack without hesitation.

"Dark Pulse!" Koga countered instantly.

Annihilape charged toward Dragalge, its arms crossed and glowing with fighting energy. But Dragalge's eyes flashed menacingly as it unleashed a rippling wave of dark energy.

The Dark Pulse struck Annihilape head-on, sending it skidding backward. Annihilape winced, its muscles tensing as the dark energy clung to its body.

"Toxic Spikes!" Koga's voice was sharp.

Small, glowing purple spikes scattered across the battlefield. Ace's eyes darkened.

'Damn. Toxic Spikes… He held back on using it until Starmie was taken out so I wouldn't be able to clear them with Rapid Spin.'

"Rapid-fire Rage Fist!" Ace ordered, his tone sharpening.

Annihilape roared, its fists glowing with intense ghostly energy. It began throwing a barrage of shadowy punches, one after another, toward Dragalge.

"Hydro Pump!" Koga ordered.

Dragalge fired a continuous stream of pressurized water. The battlefield became a chaotic storm of energy as the shadowy fists met the relentless Hydro Pump head-on. Dark ghostly energy and powerful torrents of water clashed violently in midair.

From the stands, Serena's eyes sparkled. "Annihilape is incredible… it's no wonder it's Ace's second Pokémon."

Ace's eyes narrowed. "Phantom Force!"

Annihilape's body glowed before it suddenly vanished into thin air.

Koga's gaze sharpened. He studied the battlefield with cold precision. Suddenly, his eyes flicked upward. "Above! Hydro Pump!"

Dragalge aimed toward the sky and fired another blast of water.

Annihilape appeared midair, just above Dragalge. Its fist was cloaked in dense ghostly energy that pulsed violently.

"Giant Rage Fist!" Ace's voice rang out.

Annihilape roared as its fist expanded, forming a massive black and purple shadowy fist. It hurled the attack downward with overwhelming force.

The Giant Rage Fist tore straight through the Hydro Pump, splitting it apart before crashing into Dragalge.

BOOM!

The battlefield exploded with a surge of energy and rain as smoke and debris filled the air.

Annihilape landed, crouched low, its fists still glowing faintly. Its crimson eyes narrowed as it scanned the dust cloud.

Slowly, the dust settled, revealing Dragalge lying motionless on the ground.

"Dragalge is unable to battle!" the referee announced.

Ace smiled slightly as Annihilape straightened, letting out a low growl.

From the stands, the group erupted into cheers.

"That was insane!" Ash exclaimed.

Brock's eyes gleamed. "To take down Dragalge despite facing Adaptability+ rain enhanced Hydro pump… that's serious power."

Koga recalled Dragalge, his expression calm. "Such strength… this Annihilape has been trained exceptionally well."

Ace smiled faintly. "Annihilape was my second Pokémon."

Koga nodded. Without hesitation, he pulled out his next Pokéball. "Let's see how it holds up against this."

He tossed the Pokéball into the air. A flash of light revealed a metallic figure with a massive engine-like body and glaring yellow eyes.

Revavroom.

The referee raised his hand. "Battle—begin!"

The rain had finally cleared when the match began.

"Stomping Tantrum!" Ace commanded sharply.

Annihilape's fists glowed with powerful ground-type energy as it charged toward Revavroom, the battlefield trembling beneath its feet.

But Koga's sharp eyes glinted. He wasn't about to let Annihilape land a super-effective hit that easily.

"Magnet Rise!" Koga ordered.

Revavroom's body hummed with electrical energy as it floated off the ground, narrowly avoiding Annihilape's powerful strike.

"Poison Gas!" Koga's voice cut through the air.

Revavroom expelled a thick, purple cloud of poisonous gas. Annihilape coughed violently as the toxic mist seeped into its skin. Its muscles trembled as the poison took hold.

Ace wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. 'Annihilape is poisoned… and thanks to Toxic Spikes, the next Pokémon I send out will be poisoned too.'

Suddenly, his eyes widened as an idea clicked in his mind. His lips curled into a confident smirk.

"Dig!"

Annihilape dug swiftly into the ground, disappearing from sight as the battlefield trembled.

Gary frowned. "Dig? But Revavroom's still floating—why use a ground-type move now?"

Ace's smirk widened. "Destroy every Toxic Spike with Fire Punch!"

Gasps erupted from the stands.

A loud rumble filled the arena as the ground erupted in bursts of flame. Annihilape's fiery punches struck beneath the battlefield's surface, setting off chain reactions that burned through the toxic spikes scattered across the field.

Serena's eyes widened. "That's… genius!"

Annihilape shot out from the ground, standing in the middle of the now-scorched battlefield. The Toxic Spikes were gone.

Koga's sharp gaze darkened. "You may have cleared the field… but who says I can't just lay down Toxic Spikes again?"

Ace's smirk didn't fade. "You won't get the chance. Curse!"

Koga's eyes widened. "Venoshock—now!"

Revavroom released a surge of purple lightning that crackled across the field and struck Annihilape directly. The attack intensified the poison coursing through Annihilape's body, making it groan in pain.

But Annihilape's eyes glowed with ghostly energy as it crossed its arms and released a dark aura. The ghostly curse wrapped around Revavroom, making the metallic Pokémon tremble as its energy was steadily drained.

Koga's jaw tightened. 'A countdown has started… I need to finish this fast.'

"Zen Headbutt!" Koga barked.

Revavroom's body glowed with psychic energy as it shot toward Annihilape.

Annihilape crossed its arms in front of its chest, blocking the attack, though its feet slid backward from the force.

"Rage Fist!" Ace shouted.

Annihilape roared as its fists glowed with black and red energy, but before it could strike—

"Shift Gear!" Koga countered.

Revavroom's gears spun violently as it zoomed through the air, dodging the attack with incredible speed.

"Zen Headbutt—again!" Koga followed up without hesitation.

Revavroom's glowing form rammed into Annihilape's chest. This time, Annihilape stumbled back, its legs giving out beneath it as it collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.

"Annihilape is unable to battle!" the referee declared.

Ace exhaled slowly as he recalled Annihilape. Despite the loss, he smiled faintly. "You did amazing, Annihilape."

Gary's eyes narrowed. "With the Toxic Spikes gone and Revavroom on a timer… this is looking pretty good for Ace."

Ace pulled out his next Pokéball. "Nidoking—you're up!"

Nidoking emerged onto the battlefield, letting out a deep growl as its muscular frame tensed. Though it was injured, it was still ready to go.

Ace's eyes sharpened. 'If Nidoking can take out Revavroom quickly, Smeargle will have a clean shot at Koga's ace with Nidoking as backup.'

But Koga's sharp gaze remained unwavering. "A ninja can do anything to complete his mission."

Ace's eyes narrowed. "What are you—?"

"Self-Destruct!" Koga commanded.

Ace's heart sank.

Revavroom's body glowed bright white before releasing an ear-splitting explosion. Nidoking's eyes widened as the shockwave engulfed it. The battlefield shook violently under the force of the blast.

When the smoke cleared, Nidoking lay motionless on the ground beside the uncounciois form of Revavroom.

"Nidoking and Revavroom are both unable to battle!" the referee declared.

Ace cursed under his breath as he returned Nidoking to its Pokéball. He clenched his jaw. 'I should have expected that… I got careless.'

He exhaled slowly. "Sorry, Nidoking… I let you down."

The battlefield was silent as both trainers chose their final Pokémon.

Ace turned toward the stands where Smeargle sat. "You're up, buddy."

Smeargle jumped from the stands, landing confidently on the battlefield. Its tail swayed behind it as it stared down the field.

Koga's gaze sharpened as he threw his last Pokéball. "Let's finish this."

A flash of light revealed a grinning Gengar.

Ace's gaze sharpened—until his eyes caught the gleam of a familiar stone embedded in Gengar's necklace.

Serena's breath hitched. "That's… a Mega Stone!"

May's eyes widened. "Gengar can Mega Evolve?!"

Ash, Gary, Brock, and Misty shared confused looks.

Serena's gaze darkened. "Mega Evolution is a temporary form that pushes a Pokémon's strength to a whole new level. If that Gengar Mega Evolves…"

Janine's voice was calm but sharp. "That Gengar is my father's second strongest Pokémon. This won't be easy for Ace."

Ace and Koga locked eyes across the field.

Gengar and Smeargle's gazes met.

The referee raised his hand. "Final match—begin!"