The Pokémon journey begins in Galar

Gigantamax battles were typically fought Gigantamax versus Gigantamax. Very few trainers were reckless enough to keep their Pokémon in regular form once the opponent had Gigantamaxed unless the power gap was so overwhelming that even Gigantamax couldn't close it.

After all, Gigantamax not only boosted a Pokémon's defenses and move power, but more importantly, all Gigantamax moves were wide-area attacks.

Even a standard Gigantamax move could easily cover the entire battlefield. In a tag team, it might be manageable, but in a one-on-one battle between evenly matched opponents, Gigantamaxing usually gave one side a crushing advantage.

The field was only so large, and Protect-type moves couldn't block those colossal techniques. A physically frail Pokémon could be knocked out in just two hits if it tried to tank them.

So even though neither Marie nor Ethan particularly enjoyed using Gigantamax in battle, they wouldn't hesitate when the situation demanded it.

"Ethan!" Marie called.

"Eeeh!" Ethan responded eagerly.

As soon as Marie saw Nessa's motion, she followed suit, pulling out Ethan's Moon Ball and activating her Dynamax Band.

Whoosh—!

With Ethan recalled and Gigantamax energy flooding from the band into the Poké Ball, the Moon Ball grew heavier in Marie's hands. Turning, she raised it high and hurled it toward the sky with all her strength.

Boom—boom—BOOM!

Hot on the heels of Drednaw's transformation, Ethan burst from the enlarged Poké Ball, his body swelling rapidly in size before crashing down onto the battlefield.

BOOM BOOM—!!

Two thunderous impacts shook the arena in succession. Marie staggered slightly, barely catching the ball as it bounced back, almost losing her balance.

Across from her stood the Gigantamaxed Drednaw no, this was a special form: the G-Max Drednaw.

Its front limbs were planted firmly, while its hind legs had become thicker and more powerful. As it stood upright, its head tucked further into its shell, and a new layer of carapace emerged from its chin to protect its neck. The horn on its head grew slimmer and sharper.

"ROOOAARR!!"

"EEEH!!"

The two Gigantamax Pokémon roared in unison, releasing surging waves of energy that whipped up gales across the battlefield.

"G-Max Terror!" Marie commanded.

"G-Max Stonesurge!" Nessa countered.

Once a battle reached the Gigantamax stage, it turned into something spectacular but often less technical.

The Pokémon's enormous size and unwieldy energy made agile movements nearly impossible. This was especially true for Drednaw, who had shifted from a quadruped to a biped, sacrificing mobility for brute strength.

Ethan, whose form remained relatively streamlined, might have had a chance if he'd been trained extensively in Gigantamax battles. But Marie never had the luxury of regular practice the opportunity and space simply weren't there.

Now, massive torrents of water and swirling streams of dark energy gathered before the two titans. Infused with Gigantamax power, the attacks pulsed with raw strength and visual spectacle.

The charging phase ended in an instant. Water jets burst forth with terrifying force, colliding midair with Ethan's spiraling black tendrils.

BOOM—!

An earth-shaking explosion erupted at the heart of the battlefield. Even though protective barriers surrounded the entire arena, the force was enough to make spectators feel as if the very ground and air were trembling around them.

The shockwaves crashed again and again against the energy shield separating the stands from the combat zone. Spectators seated closest to the front could see the flickering, unstable purple-red glow of the shield and watched in horror, half expecting it to shatter at any moment.

On the sidelines, Sirfetch'd was practically vibrating with excitement. He had never ventured into the Wild Area and was seeing a Gigantamax battle for the first time.

This wild, unrestrained clash of power sent adrenaline coursing through him. He was practically ready to leap onto the battlefield himself.

Unfortunately, the barrier in front of him wasn't just for show. Sirfetch'd prodded it with the tip of his leek sword, but it didn't budge in the slightest. Inside, visible waves of chaotic energy still surged.

Even if he struck with all his might, it would be useless.

Yuri, standing nearby, giggled at his antics. She reached out to ruffle his soft feathers.

"What are you doing? That shield's really sturdy. They say only Champion Leon has the power to break it."

Of course, she wasn't entirely sure of that. It was just something she'd read online. But regardless of the details, the shield was clearly strong enough to keep them safe.

"Gaah," Sirfetch'd muttered.

He didn't mind Yuri's constant feather-ruffling. He'd grown used to this human girl's habits.

Setting his sword and shield back down, he stretched his neck again, intently watching the battle unfold.

The energy storm gradually faded, transforming into a light rain that fell across the entire arena.

Marie hated this weather condition, but there was nothing she could do. G-Max Terror didn't change the weather, and she had no choice but to let the rain begin.

"G-Max Steelspike, Ethan!"

"Eeeh!"

Ethan let out a sharp howl and raised one forelimb high, slamming it into the ground. Metallic energy in shades of gleaming silver and gray surged beneath him, forming needle-like spikes that shot across the field.

Naturally, Nessa wasn't just going to stand by.

"G-Max Guard!"

Even in Gigantamax form, Drednaw's condition hadn't improved Gigantamax didn't heal injuries. Nessa had no intention of letting it take another direct hit.

If she did, Drednaw wouldn't last more than two turns.

The metallic spikes, halfway between liquid and solid, surged forward like a forest of steel thorns and clashed against a translucent wall of energy that had materialized in front of Drednaw.

CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!

Like blades striking armor, the battlefield rang with high-pitched echoes.

"Now! Shell Blade!" Nessa shouted.

"What? Dodge it! G-Max Terror!" Marie reacted instantly.

She hadn't expected Nessa to pull off a move like this. That enormous body had suddenly launched its head forward, with its gleaming horn slashing down like a guillotine.

Even the falling rain parted before its fury, as if the sheer force of the strike could drive the storm away.

Normally, using a standard move like Shell Blade while Gigantamaxed was incredibly difficult. Marie knew that only Balu, the seasoned veteran of a Gigantamax den, had ever pulled that off in her team.

He had spent years entrenched in Gigantamax energy and had gained a certain degree of control over it.

Marie never expected her other Pokémon to master that level of precision anytime soon. The conditions were just too harsh. After all, she couldn't exactly spend years camping at a power spot.

Ethan reacted quickly, but his body coordination still had limits. While he could still move and fight normally, evasive maneuvers were far more demanding.

And he still had to counterattack.

Ethan crouched low and rolled, barely avoiding the brunt of the strike. It was a clumsy dodge, but it kept him out of the attack's main trajectory.

Then, as the giant blade slashed downward with terrifying force, Ethan gathered his strength. Dark energy surged in his chest his G-Max Terror once again locked onto Drednaw's exposed neck.

With a snarl, he launched the counterattack.

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