章 73: Chapter 73: Battle for Win

Lightning slashed through the sky, the air thick with salt and the tension that hung between us all. I stood at the cliff's edge, the roar of the ocean beneath drowned out by the ancient bellow of Dragonite towering over the battlefield. The night air stung with cold, but that was nothing compared to the freezing dread pooling in my stomach.

Raichu's broken form clung to Pidgeot's back as they circled overhead, the bird's wings struggling to stay airborne. The battle had been brutal, every move calculated, every risk deliberate. We were battered, but there was no room for weakness now.

"Please! Stop fighting!" Erin's voice pierced through the wind, shaking with panic. She was standing behind Misty, who held her back, the younger girl's face tight with worry. "You can't win, Punit!"

"You don't know what you're saying, Erin," I muttered under my breath. There was no walking away from this—not anymore. My Pokémon knew it. I knew it. "We stop when we can't fight anymore."

I turned to look at Brock, his eyes wide, but something in them was pleading. "Punit, come on. This is madness. Pidgeot and Raichu can barely stand!"

"Madness?" I scoffed, tossing out my next command before they could convince me otherwise. "Pidgeot, use Tailwind! Keep Raichu in the air! Nasty Plot, Raichu—build that power!"

Pidgeot's wings trembled, but the bird shot through the sky, a burst of wind trailing in its wake, bolstering our side. Raichu clung on, sparks flickering weakly along his tail as he focused, building his strength.

"Venusaur!" I shouted, turning to the giant Pokémon standing behind me. "Grassy Terrain, now! We need the field on our side!"

Green light surged beneath Venusaur, the earth itself answering his call. The cliffside bloomed with life, energy pulsing through the ground, revitalizing my team. Behind me, Alakazam raised a glowing hand, a Reflect barrier shimmering into place around us. It wasn't enough, not yet, but it'd buy us time.

In the waters below, Gyarados twisted through the waves, waiting for his chance. "Whirlpool around Dragonite, Gyarados! Trap it!" I commanded.

The sea churned as a vortex of water spun around the massive Dragonite, but the beast barely seemed to notice. It let out a bone-rattling roar and ripped through the whirlpool with a single swipe, summoning a Twister in return that tore through the field like a blade. The wind hit Pidgeot first, knocking him sideways, but he held steady.

Dragonite didn't stop there. It rocketed forward, faster than I'd expected for something so huge, electricity crackling in its fist. Thunder Punch. It slammed into Gyarados, the impact sending shockwaves across the water as my sea serpent screamed in agony, sparks still dancing along his scales as he crashed into the waves.

"Pidgeot!" I yelled. "Hurricane, now! Raichu, Thunderbolt while it's airborne!"

The storm winds howled as Pidgeot flapped his wings with every ounce of strength he had left, the air itself turning against Dragonite. Raichu didn't miss a beat, unleashing a sharp bolt of electricity that crackled through the sky. It hit Dragonite square in the chest, but the creature barely flinched. It was like trying to punch a mountain.

"Venusaur, Toxic! Wear it down! Alakazam, Trick Room! We need to flip this!"

Venusaur lashed out with thick, vine-like tendrils, spraying Dragonite with venomous purple liquid. Meanwhile, Alakazam's eyes glowed brighter than ever as the battlefield distorted, time itself shifting as Trick Room took effect. Suddenly, the slower Pokémon would move first—my only chance to counter Dragonite's terrifying speed.

Gyarados surged out of the sea, still reeling from the Thunder Punch, but driven by sheer force of will. "Aqua Tail, Gyarados! Hit it hard!"

The water exploded as Gyarados slammed his tail into Dragonite, but the dragon spun in a blur, faster and stronger than ever. It had used Dragon Dance. Then it came—Outrage. The monstrous dragon lashed out in a fury, slamming into everything in its path. Pidgeot tried to dodge, but Dragonite's sheer power overwhelmed him, sending him crashing into the sea below, unconscious. Raichu followed, tumbling from Pidgeot's back, only to be caught by Venusaur's vines at the last second.

I cursed under my breath, recalling Pidgeot and Raichu into their Pokéballs. My heart was pounding, but this wasn't over.

"Venusaur, Leech Seed—drain it! Alakazam, Future Sight—finish this!"

Venusaur rooted itself to the ground, sending a barrage of seeds flying towards Dragonite. They latched on, digging into the dragon's scales, slowly sapping its energy. Meanwhile, Alakazam focused, his eyes glowing as the future attack was set in motion. It was only a matter of time now.

Dragonite, desperate, charged up a Hyper Beam that blazed with pure, unstoppable power. I had no time to react. It struck Gyarados, the sea serpent collapsing into the waves, knocked out cold.

The sky trembled as Alakazam's Future Sight finally arrived, a glowing orb of psychic energy descending from the heavens. It slammed into Dragonite, bypassing all its defenses. The beast roared one final time, its massive form crashing into the ground, shaking the earth beneath us.

Victory.

I stood there, breathing heavily, as the dust settled. My Pokémon were battered, barely standing, but we'd done it. I took out an empty Pokéball and threw it at Dragonite.

It didn't work.

Again, I threw another.

Nothing.

Bill stepped forward, his voice low. "It looks like only a Master Ball can catch it."

I fell to my knees, exhaustion washing over me. Erin rushed forward, catching me before I hit the ground, her face pale with worry. Ash, Misty, and Brock stood nearby, their faces a mix of awe and concern.

"We won…" I whispered, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Me and my Pokémon… we won."

Then, darkness.