Molayne recalled Skarmory without hesitation and threw out his second Poké Ball.
"Go, Dugtrio!"
Though he shouted "Dugtrio," the Pokémon that appeared looked a little different from the Dugtrio most people knew.
Sa three heads, sa brown bodies and bright red noses—but they now sported gleaming, tallic golden "hair" resembling mustaches on their heads. One head had flowing locks, another wavy curls, and the third, a bowl cut. These weren't just decorative—they were solid strands of tal, weighty and strong.
This was Alolan Dugtrio.
"Alolan Dugtrio, the Mole Pokémon, Ground and Steel type. It's said that when they appear, it signals an imminent volcanic eruption. The people of Alola revere them as avatars of the Earth God, Loto!"
Alola's mountains used to be ho to nurous Gible, who liked living underground and often took over Dugtrio's tunnels. To adapt, Dugtrio evolved hardened tal whiskers to defend themselves.
Thus, Alolan Dugtrio gained the Steel typing alongside its Ground type.
This was one of Molayne's signature Pokémon.
And Ground-type moves were a serious threat to Ceruledge.
"Ceruledge, Bitter Blade!"
Johan seized the mont, attacking while Molayne was switching Pokémon—a cost of voluntarily replacing your partner.
"Goka!"
Ceruledge blinked forward, moving at blazing speed, and struck with its flaming sword, leaving a glowing blue streak in the air.
Boom!!
At first, Alolan Dugtrio seed unaffected—until a dull thud sounded and ghostly blue flas erupted from its body.
"Guu!!"
The Dugtrio howled in pain as the fire was drawn back into Ceruledge, rejuvenating it.
Bitter Blade: deals damage and restores the user's HP.
Molayne, unfazed, gave his countercommand calmly.
"Earthquake!"
He had known Johan had a Fire-type Pokémon—Ceruledge—and knew it posed the greatest threat to his lineup. The original plan was to have Skarmory lay hazards and force a switch with Whirlwind. But since that failed, it was ti for Plan B: strike hard with a Ground-type.
Even if they had to trade knockouts, it would be worth it.
Rumble—
Energy surged from Dugtrio into the ground. Rocks and dust burst upward and rippled through the rocky terrain in waves.
Unless Ceruledge could fly, it wasn't going to dodge this.
Johan's gaze sharpened.
"Ceruledge, Bitter Blade—again!"
They were going to trade blows.
Ceruledge might be 4x weak to Ground, but Dugtrio was also 4x weak to Fire.
Plus, Bitter Blade had healing properties.
"Goka!"
Ceruledge roared as fire surged around it. It launched itself forward, charging straight through the tremors toward Dugtrio!
But—
Suddenly, golden tallic strands wrapped around Ceruledge, restricting its movent.
Tangling Hair.
Alolan Dugtrio's ability: its whiskers ensnare any contact attacker, reducing their speed.
Rumble!!
The earthquake struck, chunks of earth battering Ceruledge.
Still, Ceruledge didn't retreat. It crossed its swords in front of its chest and braced for impact.
Crack!
A web of fractures appeared on its armor.
Ugh... Johan winced. That armor would cost a fortune to repair...
Thankfully, Tinkaton could fix it.
But then—Ceruledge's speed suddenly surged.
Weak Armor had activated.
"The armor was the seal!" Raihan said dramatically. "Now its power is unleashed!"
Ceruledge burst through the quake, flas surging, and closed in on Dugtrio.
"Dig underground!" Molayne shouted.
Shing—
Ceruledge slashed as Dugtrio vanished into a hole. The attack grazed it—blue flas trailing into Ceruledge.
The battlefield cald montarily.
"Flathrower into the hole!"
"Sand Tomb!"
Ceruledge unleashed fire—but a tidal wave of quicksand surged up, dousing the flas and clogging the entrance.
Molayne wasn't an idiot.
Digging left no easy target. No, only fools left perfect holes behind.
Dugtrio was charging up sothing big down there.
Even the audience could tell.
"Johan might need to switch."
"Weak Armor boosted speed, but dropped defense..."
Johan looked up at the blazing sun.
He smiled.
"Nice weather today..."
Molayne flinched.
Then—Ceruledge's blades glowed golden. Not fire—sothing hotter.
It had charged this during the Flathrower!
Johan grinned wider.
"If it won't co out—force it out."
"Ceruledge!"
Clang!!
Ceruledge raised its sword high. Light dimd around it as its blade radiated like the sun.
SLASH—
Twin green lines crossed on the ground.
Then—
BOOOOM!!
The earth exploded.
Rock and stone vaporized, leaving a crater.
Solar Blade.
Dugtrio was blown out of hiding, wide-eyed.
How did he locate it?
Molayne was baffled.
How'd Johan pinpoint Dugtrio's location underground?
Johan had used Aura.
No ti to ponder—Molayne shouted:
"Earthquake!!"
Dugtrio tried one last move.
Ceruledge surged forward, flas and aura erupting.
Had the Dugtrio been preparing Fissure?
A finishing blow!
But the fiery blue flash darted past, and when the dust cleared—
Ceruledge stood behind Dugtrio, sword buried in the earth.
Dugtrio collapsed.
The crowd lost it.
"That was—SO COOL!"
"Was this a movie?!"
"I need a Ceruledge NOW."
Ceruledge slowly stood, glancing up at the sun.
Johan tugged down his hat to match its pose.
BOOM!!
Dugtrio erupted in flas.
Real n don't look at explosions.
Caran captured the mont.
Tomorrow's headlines, secured.
Even Molayne had to smile, recalling Dugtrio.
"Ti for the ace—go, tagross!"
GONKIN!!
tagross landed with a roar.
Though weak to Fire, Ceruledge was in bad shape.
Johan thought of switching—but Ceruledge's aura told him it wanted to stay.
"Goka!!" Ceruledge's flas reignited, stronger than ever.
"Is that... Blaze?" Raihan asked.
"Nope," Flint snorted. "This is the Fla of Life."
Ceruledge's condition was improving. With Bitter Blade...
Its HP bar didn't even belong to it anymore!
Molayne could feel the pressure.
"tagross, take flight!"
tagross hovered using its magnetism.
"Goka!" Ceruledge stared it down, fire bursting from every crack.
"Cot Punch!"
Molayne chose a physical strike—Ceruledge's defense was lowered.
Then—
FLASH!!
Molayne activated his Steelium Z.
He struck the Z-Pose—awkward but powerful.
"Corkscrew Crash!!"
GONKIN!!
tagross descended like a cot, blazing silver.
"Protect!" Johan called.
Goka!!
A green barrier appeared.
BOOM!!
The barrier shattered, but much of the damage was blocked.
Ceruledge flew back, armor cracked again.
Still, it stood.
Its will? Unshaken.
"Psychic!" Molayne tried to kite.
Zzzzap!!
A psychic blast flew—but Ceruledge grinned.
Johan and Ceruledge spoke in sync.
"You're done. Our turn. Ceruledge!"
Goka!!
Ceruledge stowed its swords... and grabbed its chest plate.
Ka-kaah~!!
Gengar popped out of Johan's shadow, cupping its mouth.
"HENSHIN!!"
Click—
Ceruledge's fla turned red. Golden light surged.
It... changed.
Into Armarouge.
"Wha—?!" Raihan gasped.
WHAAAA—
The crowd exploded.
No way.
Ceruledge had beco Armarouge?
It didn't swap. It transford.
Was this a hidden feature of Charcadet's evolution?
Regardless, the fight continued.
Psychic t Psychic. Shockwaves rippled.
"Zen Headbutt!"
tagross charged.
Armarouge rged its gauntlets. A golden cannon locked on.
Johan's eyes glowed with Aura.
"Aura—charge!"
Whirr—
The cannon blazed.
Wave Cannon! Not regular... but Aura Wave Cannon!
The crowd backed up.
BOOOOOM!!
The shot blew a hole in the arena's do.
The fire was so intense, it lted the battlefield.
tagross couldn't dodge—only shield itself.
It was vaporized in flas.
KRAAASH!
"tagross is... unable to battle!" the sweaty judge declared.
The crowd erupted again.
The arena's barrier had broken.
A main arena.
Johan was officially "Arena-Destroyer."
Too aweso!
"I want a Ceruledge SO BAD."
"That was beyond Z-Move level."
Raihan muttered, "That wasn't just a Cannon—it was a Wave Extermination Cannon."
But Armarouge was exhausted, nearly collapsed.
Johan finally returned it.
Armor repairs were gonna cost a fortune.
"Tinkaton, your turn?"
"Cha!"
Tinkaton eagerly bounced out.
Molayne only had his injured Skarmory left.
The result? Inevitable.
"Skarmory is unable to battle! All of Molayne's Pokémon are unable to battle!"
"The winner is—Johan!"
The charred referee muttered to himself, "I'm done judging his matches... too dangerous."
The crowd went wild.
In the stands, Sophocles stared blankly.
"That... was INSANE."
Even Kiawe's eyes blazed.
No longer wanting to battle Johan—he just wanted to learn from him.
"How do I make my Turtonator do that?!"
Mallow and Lana exchanged flustered glances.
Johan-sensei... was too cool!
When could Principal Oak get him to guest lecture at school?
"He's gotten stronger again..." Flint muttered.
Lucian snorted, "Think he'll use a surprise mon against you?"
"What do you an?"
"Rumor has it—Johan's got a Pokémon that once solo'd Kyurem."
Flint straightened. "It's just Ice—no big deal."
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, watching Johan.
Her smile grew.
She wanted to fight him now.
Just once.
To see who truly reigned supre.
And she wasn't the only one.
Lance. Steven. All of them wanted to test themselves.
"Achoo—!"
Johan sneezed during his handshake with Molayne.
"Ka-kaah?" Gengar tilted its head.
"Just the heat..."
"I'm glad we battled," Molayne said with a smile.
" too," Johan replied sincerely.
"Hope you'll visit Alola soti."
"I will."
Sun, beach, ocean... he'd be there soday.
Johan advanced to the Top 16.
His next opponents?
Even more terrifying.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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