Pokemon: Spiritual Master

Guzma finally snapped out of his daze from Dragonite's overwhelming power.

He cast a deep look at the raging Dragonite before him, then did absolutely nothing.

"Guzma, please send out your Pokémon," the referee reminded him.

Yet, Guzma stood still, hands in his pockets, making no move to throw a Poké Ball.

The referee frowned, his tone more firm this time. "Guzma, send out your Pokémon now."

At this point, the audience caught on.

This guy...

He's stalling!

He's waiting for Outrage to wear off!

Once Outrage ends, Dragonite will become confused, giving Guzma the perfect opportunity to counterattack.

But—

Blatantly refusing to send out a Pokémon just to run down the clock?

That was a first.

"Johan finally has a real opponent!"

"This strategy is so scummy!"

"Guzma, you're a genius!"

"..."

Even Johan was a little speechless.

Guzma really was a product of his mentor Hala, showing traces of Gold's playstyle—a dirty but effective approach.

As the audience grew restless, Guzma remained unbothered by their complaints.

It wasn't until the referee prepared to issue a penalty that Guzma finally, lazily, tossed a Poké Ball.

"Guzma finally sends out his fifth Pokémon—Golisopod!"

Its massive, armored body landed with a heavy thud, dark claws gleaming coldly under the stadium lights.

Golisopod, the Hard Scale Pokémon. A Bug/Water-type that will use any means necessary to win.

**Wild Golisopod often challenge Grapploct to battles—**but the loser of these fights becomes the winner's meal.

This was Guzma's signature Pokémon.

Golisopod had one of the most intimidating designs among Bug-types, resembling a samurai clad in heavy armor.

However, it suffered from a crippling Ability—Emergency Exit.

[Emergency Exit: If the Pokémon's HP drops below half, it automatically switches out.]

Unlike Slaking and Regigigas, whose Abilities completely ruin them, Golisopod's "Emergency Exit" is at least somewhat usable.

With Guzma's ace finally on the field, the crowd settled down and focused back on the battle.

The match resumed!

Thanks to Guzma's delay tactics, Dragonite's Outrage was weakening.

"Draaa!!"

With a furious roar, Dragonite charged straight at Golisopod.

But Golisopod, instead of retreating, stood its ground and counterattacked.

"First Impression!" Guzma shouted.

[First Impression: A Bug-type move, 90 power, priority +2, but can only be used when entering battle.]

WHAM!

A lightning-fast strike connected before Dragonite could even react.

Dragonite stumbled back slightly.

Guzma smirked and pulled out a Poké Ball.

"Return, Golisopod."

Johan raised an eyebrow.

Oh?

Hit-and-run tactics again?

"Dragonite, grab it!"

Huh?!

The entire crowd froze in confusion.

Dragonite was still under Outrage—how could Johan command it?

And yet—

Dragonite's tail whipped through the air, knocking aside the recall beam aimed at Golisopod.

Before Golisopod could disappear, Dragonite grabbed its arm.

Golisopod: (O_O)?

Then—

With a savage grin, Dragonite swung Golisopod through the air in a massive arc—

AND SLAMMED IT INTO THE GROUND!

BOOM!!

Dust exploded everywhere.

Before the dust could settle, Dragonite lifted Golisopod up again—

AND SLAMMED IT INTO THE GROUND A SECOND TIME!

BOOM!!

Golisopod was completely disoriented.

And then—

Poof!

Dragonite suddenly felt its grip empty.

Golisopod was gone.

"Emergency Exit activated!" the announcer exclaimed. "Golisopod automatically retreated!"

The audience stared in disbelief.

Even Guzma looked dazed.

"Wait... your Outrage...

Does it even follow the normal rules?!"

"YES!" Flint cheered from the VIP box. "Dragonite, smash him just like you smash us!"

He had firsthand experience with this "controllable Outrage."

But with Golisopod forcibly switched out, Dragonite's Outrage finally faded completely.

This was Guzma's moment to strike!

Without wasting a second, Guzma threw out his next Pokémon—

Masquerain!

Intimidate activated!

"Masquerain, Icy Wind!"

Dragonite was 4x weak to Ice, and with Outrage just ending, its defenses were lower than before.

Even if Icy Wind couldn't knock it out, it would reduce Dragonite's Speed, making it easier to finish off.

But just as Masquerain exhaled a cold breath—

BAM!

Dragonite's flaming fist struck first.

BOOM!

Masquerain was blasted away, and before Guzma could react, Dragonite followed up with a massive Flamethrower—

Engulfing Masquerain in flames!

The entire sequence happened too fast.

Guzma was stunned.

Wait.

Outrage ended.

Shouldn't Dragonite be confused?!

Why is it moving like normal?!

This makes no sense!!

"Turns out, scummy tactics don't work against Johan!"

"Guzma stalled for time, only to get completely destroyed instead."

"He brought a knife to a gunfight!"

"Draaa~"

Dragonite exhaled slowly, shaking off some frost on its scales.

Guzma's face twitched.

He was losing control of the battle.

Even though he had spent the entire tournament proving he was just as strong as Johan—

He hadn't even managed to take down a single one of Johan's Pokémon!

Dragonite was just too much.

But as he watched Dragonite shake off the frost, Guzma noticed something.

This was his chance!

"Now! Golisopod, First Impression!"

With a flash of red light, Golisopod reappeared, biting down on a Sitrus Berry as it lunged forward, claws glowing faintly.

Yet—

Just as Golisopod closed in on Dragonite—

A gentle, greenish-white breeze began to swirl around Dragonite.

Its posture relaxed.

Its breathing stabilized.

Its ears perked up.

And within seconds, its condition had visibly improved.

"Dragonite used Roost!"

Guzma's mind went blank.

Wait.

All the damage I worked so hard to deal—

And you just healed it up?

"HAHAHAHAHA!!"

The audience burst into laughter.

"This is just bullying!"

"Dragonite heals more HP than Guzma can damage!"

"Speed? Power? Bulk? Healing? This is what a pseudo-legendary is? No hope!"

Golisopod swung its claw at Dragonite's stomach—but the impact barely scratched its thick scales.

Before Golisopod could escape, Dragonite grabbed it again.

Golisopod's body stiffened.

Its mind replayed the previous brutal slams.

Cold sweat trickled down its face.

But—

Dragonite's attention was elsewhere.

It stared at the Sitrus Berry in Golisopod's mouth.

"Draaa?"

You're eating?

During a battle?

Aren't you afraid of choking?

Here, let me help you.

Before Golisopod could react, Dragonite—

STOLE THE BERRY.

And ate it itself.

CRUNCH.

"Draaa~ (Juicy. A bit sour. Don't buy this again.)"

Golisopod: "..."

Guzma: "..."

Maximum disrespect.

Johan chuckled. "Finish it, Dragonite."

Golisopod panicked, but even its "Emergency Exit" couldn't save it this time.

Masquerain was down.

Golisopod was down.

Guzma's last hope, Yanmega, fell to a final Fire Punch.

Dragonite never fell.

Johan had won.

And the next day—

The headlines of Sinnoh Daily read:

"Johan: 'Guzma? That match just made me sleepy.'"

Guzma's only response was—

"F*."**

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