"Come out, Machamp!"
Though Rex had stronger Pokémon like his Alpha Staraptor, the matchup against Mega Ampharos just wasn't favorable. Not that Staraptor couldn't win, but there was no need to force the issue—especially since this friendly match had only happened because Machamp had beaten Mira's Serperior.
"Ampharos, Electric Terrain!"
"Machamp, Bulk Up!"
To start things off, neither side chose to go on the offensive. Instead, both trainers opted for supportive moves to boost their Pokémon's stats.
Electric Terrain coated the battlefield in crackling arcs of energy, enhancing the power of Electric-type moves and preventing sleep. Meanwhile, Machamp's muscles swelled as it powered up both its Attack and Defense with Bulk Up.
"Thunderbolt!"
Elesa made the first move. Electric energy surged from Ampharos, forming a roaring current that twisted into a dragon-like bolt as it screamed toward Machamp.
With the terrain boost, the attack was faster and more potent than normal.
"Machamp, Dig!"
Rex knew better than to try and trade blows right now. Dig would let Machamp avoid the attack and potentially strike from below.
It was unusual to see Machamp using a move like Dig, and Rex had to thank Sandslash—Machamp had only mastered the move thanks to the Ground-type's patient guidance.
Using its powerful arms, Machamp burrowed into the floor, disappearing underground just as the thunderbolt missed and dissipated harmlessly into the air.
The crackling energy didn't go to waste—it was absorbed back into the terrain, reinforcing the Electric Field. It was almost like a domain ability, enhancing Ampharos's power while it remained in the area.
"Ampharos, Cotton Guard!"
Just as Machamp erupted from the ground and struck from behind, Elesa responded swiftly.
Ampharos fluffed up instantly, its fur expanding like cotton candy. The dense insulation softened Machamp's Brick Break, absorbing most of the force.
Rex could now see why previous opponents had been so frustrated—Cotton Guard made Ampharos absurdly tanky.
"Machamp, Flame Punch—again, and again!"
But Rex wasn't done. He knew Cotton Guard's weakness: fire.
If Machamp could ignite Ampharos's fur, the damage would rack up fast.
"Ampharos, Magnet Rise!"
Elesa didn't wait. Before Machamp's fists could ignite the fluff, Ampharos lifted off the ground, propelled by magnetic force. It zipped through the air, putting space between them.
"Machamp, jump—Low Kick!"
Even airborne, Ampharos wasn't exactly nimble. Rex had trained Machamp's legs intensely for this very reason. With a powerful leap, Machamp launched itself toward its target.
"Protect!"
Elesa's voice rang out just in time.
A shimmering barrier snapped into place, halting Machamp's aerial strike. It landed, unharmed—but so did Ampharos.
It was only a matter of time before one side slipped.
"Ampharos, are you ready?"
Elesa raised her arm, revealing a Key Stone set into her bracelet. Across from her, Ampharos gave a resolute nod.
In an instant, the stone on Elesa's bracelet lit up. It resonated with the Mega Stone on Ampharos's neck, casting radiant beams between them.
Machamp braced.
Then—light.
A dazzling silhouette emerged from the glow.
When the light faded, Mega Ampharos hovered above the battlefield, draped in flowing white fur, red orbs glowing along its tail. Its eyes shimmered with a quiet intensity.
The once-sleepy-looking Ampharos was gone. In its place stood a true dragon.
Thanks to Mega Evolution, Ampharos had awakened its latent draconic genes. The Electric-type now bore a secondary Dragon typing—and with its new Ability, Mold Breaker, it could ignore opposing abilities entirely.
The air around it buzzed with force. It was stronger, faster, more agile.
"Mega Ampharos, Mind Reader!"
A ghostly eye formed in front of Machamp, hovering just long enough before vanishing into sparks.
Rex's heart sank.
The next attack would not miss.
Machamp, already wary, immediately launched itself into the air again, fists blazing.
But Elesa was already a step ahead.
"Mega Ampharos, Thunder!"
The clouds rolled in.
They weren't just normal storm clouds—they were massive, thick, and brimming with enough voltage to light up an entire city.
Cracks of lightning arced in every direction as the storm built around them.
Both Rex and Machamp knew what was coming.
"Machamp, go all out! Skyward Burst—Max Power Dynamic Punch!"
Machamp didn't need a second order. It leapt straight at the floating dragon, its punch charged with explosive kinetic force.
But Mega Ampharos narrowed its eyes.
From the heart of the storm, a bolt the size of a tree trunk struck down.
The golden flash engulfed Machamp midair.
The impact was deafening. Blinding.
A brilliant explosion lit up the entire stadium as Machamp vanished into a pillar of lightning.
When the light finally faded, all that remained in the air was crackling static.
Rex stared at the smoke cloud, fists clenched. He couldn't see Machamp. Not yet.
But in his heart, he wasn't concerned with winning anymore.
He was just hoping—
That Machamp was still standing.
(End of Chapter)