"Leon's Charizard," Raihan said gravely.
As Leon's greatest rival in Galar, he knew Charizard's strength better than anyone—and understood the bond Leon shared with it.
Their opponent: Johan and his Gengar.
Though Leon only had Charizard and a battered Cinderace remaining...
Johan still had a fatigued Ceruledge and Dragonite, as well as a battle-ready Gengar, Ninetales, and two unused Pokémon.
And yet—
With Charizard's entrance, Leon's confidence surged, as if he now held the upper hand.
So Trainers are just like that.
Take Flint, for example. Even after losing to Cynthia 149 tis, the 150th ti, he'd still believe he could win with Infernape.
Leon was even more formidable.
While Flint was a pure emotion-driven Trainer—fiery, passionate—
Leon combined emotional spirit and cold, calculated tactics.
Even in the gas, his team setups, movesets, and item selections all reflected a ta strategist.
In that sense... he and Johan were very much alike.
Just look at his tactical Mr. Ri, dual-wielding Inteleon, Libero Cinderace, Dragon Tail Dragapult—
A fellow quality player.
Which is why Johan wasn't taking Charizard lightly.
No Dynamaxing allowed here—but Leon might pull out a ga Charizard X or Y, or even sothing sneakier like Solar Power.
In the original story, Leon's Charizard went toe-to-toe with Lance's Dynamaxed Gyarados—type advantages be damned.
As the audience erupted in cheers, the final showdown began!
"Charizard, Scorching Sands!"
"RAAARGH!"
Charizard spread its wings and howled. Scalding sand erupted around it, spiraling into a furnace-like storm rushing toward Gengar.
Johan wanted to scream—
Give my Gengar its Levitate back!
Without Levitate, Gengar could be hit by Ground-type moves.
Though now a Dark-type thanks to Libero, Gengar wasn't weak to Ground—
but Scorching Sands could burn, and that was annoying.
"Substitute, Thunder Wave!"
Ka-kaah!
Gengar split from his own shadow, leaving behind a decoy to soak up the sandstorm's fury.
Then, sliding through the shadows, Gengar popped up behind Charizard and zapped it with a golden wave of static.
Leon didn't even need to shout.
Charizard, instinctively synced with its Trainer, flared up—its tail blazing hotter to burn away the interference.
Now Gengar and Charizard faced off at close range.
Their stances scread "Clash Incoming."
Their Trainers shouted simultaneously:
"Ability Swap!"
"Brick Break!"
ZAP!
A flash of energy swapped their Abilities.
Gengar now had Solar Power.
Charizard had Libero.
BAM!
Charizard's Brick Break, now a Fighting-type attack, punched straight through the illusion.
Everyone: "???"
Raihan explained excitedly:
"Johan's signature move—Preemptive Reading!
He predicted Leon would use a Fighting move to counter Gengar's Dark form.
So Gengar switched back to Ghost/Poison—immune to Fighting!"
And with Charizard now a Fighting-type due to Libero...
He couldn't touch Gengar.
Crowd:
"Holy crap—this man really made Libero into a weapon!"
"Gengar: Thanks! Your ability is aweso!"
"Isn't this just like how he used Raihan's weather against him?"
Raihan: "Hey!"
Even Leon and Charizard were stunned.
That was a complete tactical checkmate.
Leon bit his lip, then smiled wide.
"No wonder you're Johan."
He raised his voice:
"But now begins the final round!"
"Charizard!"
"RAAARGH!!"
Flas roared higher, wind howled across the field.
Wait—
Johan blinked.
No way...
Was Leon about to—?
Leon pulled out a Keystone, glowing in rainbow hues.
Charizard's tail fire dimd... revealing a matching ga Stone.
ga Evolution.
Leon had hidden the ga Stone in Charizard's tail fla.
Johan:
"Oh you sneaky son of a—"
This was a full-gear world. No regional restriction nonsense.
Of course Leon had ga Evolution tucked away.
ga Charizard Y!
Rather than X (Fire/Dragon), Leon's stone evolved Charizard into Y—retaining Fire/Flying but buffing Special Attack and Special Defense.
Most important?
ga Evolution overwrote the Libero swap.
Charizard now had Drought—summoning harsh sunlight!
Audience:
"He ga Evolved!"
"Wait—why does Charizard get two ga forms?!"
"This is nuts!!"
On the battlefield:
Gengar popped his shades back on.
Too sunny otherwise.
"Charizard, Flathrower!"
Leon was all in.
WHOOSH!
Charizard launched into the air, sunlight amplifying the fire.
A molten stream of fla poured from above.
Johan squinted, considering ga evolving in response.
But even then, the blast couldn't be dodged.
Better to go stealth—
"Gengar, Phantom Force!"
Gengar dove into the shadows.
Audience: "ga vs ga when?!"
Leon: "Watch your back!"
ga Charizard Y spun around—
ZIP!
From behind, Gengar clawed out of the void.
"Ability Swap!"
One more ti, their Abilities switched—again.
Now Gengar had Drought.
ga Charizard Y... didn't.
Audience: "Wait. What was the point of that?"
Johan smiled faintly.
"Gengar, turn it off."
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar smirked and reached out.
Click.
Sunlight vanished.
Audience: "?!???"
Leon: "???"
Charizard: "???"
You can turn off the weather??
Yes—because in this real-world Pokémon battle, abilities like weather weren't always "always-on."
Gengar had practiced stealing and toggling Abilities constantly with his team.
Sunlight: gone.
Leon recovered.
"Charizard, Shadow Claw!"
Even a special attacker like Charizard could hit hard physically.
"Gengar, Thunder!"
Lightning crackled—not from the sky, but from Gengar's hands.
They clashed—mid-air.
Shadow Claw t crackling fists.
BOOM!
Both reeled back.
Charizard—paralyzed.
But even that, he burned away with sheer willpower.
Flathrower again!
"Shadow Ball!"
Fire and darkness exploded.
The crowd roared.
"Scorching Sands!"
"Sludge Wave!"
Mud and filth t scorching heat—sizzling, stinking clouds rose.
Leon shouted joyfully:
"Yes! This is it! This is what I love—battle, partnership, the thrill!"
Winning didn't matter.
This feeling did.
Johan understood.
But he also knew:
For Gengar, direct slugfests weren't ideal.
Gengar's true strength was deception.
Still—
They had to match fire with fire.
More collisions.
"Flathrower!"
"Shadow Ball!"
"Dazzling Fire vs Dark teor."
Finally—
Gengar compressed a massive Shadow Ball—enhanced with ntal focus.
Threw it.
Leon: "Block it—Scorching Sands!"
Charizard tried to knock it aside—
Too late.
BOOM!
Charizard slamd into the dirt.
Raihan: "Wait—that wasn't normal. That was physical impact?"
A hybrid—psychic technique layered onto a special move, like a spiritual armor-break.
Even Gengar's growing.
"Don't give up, Charizard!"
Charizard rose.
Gengar gave him a nod.
"Ka-kaah."
You've earned my respect.
Only three Pokémon had.
Garchomp. tagross. Now Charizard.
"One more! Flathrower!!"
"Shadow Ball—one last ti!"
Fla t void—
BOOM!!!
Shockwaves rippled. Dust clouded everything.
Everyone held their breath.
As the smoke cleared—
Charizard had de-ga evolved, lying motionless.
Gengar—panting, sitting on rubble, popped his shades on.
"Ka-kaah~ (_)"
ROAR!!!
The crowd erupted.
Cheers for both warriors.
"Ch-Charizard is unable to battle!!"
Though Leon still had Cinderace, the match was over.
Johan had won.
Leon bowed his head.
Then smiled.
"I lost, Mr. Johan."
Johan exhaled.
Next ti, he'd make sure Gengar didn't go off-script.
Leon looked at Gengar, still soaking in applause.
Then at Johan's grin.
He'd train harder. Next ti—he'd win.
From the stands, Red and Green sat stunned.
But in each other's eyes—
Resolve.
Soday, they'd battle on this level too.
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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