Aaron reacted fast. "Feraligatr, Metal Claw on the ice!"
Feraligatr's claws gleamed with metallic energy, slashing into the frozen surface. The ice shattered beneath him, a jagged hole opening up as he plunged into the water below, narrowly evading the spinning Blastoise. The tortoise careened past, momentum carrying it forward.
Aaron's lips parted in a sharp whistle. Gladion's eyes narrowed instantly, recognizing it as a command.
'A signal for Feraligatr,' he thought,"Hydros, be on lookout!" he shouted, but the warning came too late.
A guttural roar erupted from Hydros as he thrashed. Gladion's gaze dropped to the ice below, where Feraligatr's jaws clamped onto Hydros' leg, blood seeping into the water.
Shards of ice glistened in the crocodile's maw, evidence of the force it had used to break throughnot only Blastoise skin but also the ice between them.
Gladion realized with a grimace. 'He bit through the ice to get to Hydros.'
The wound was deep, jagged, and the blood flow suggested it would take weeks to heal properly. 'That's going to leave a mark if we're not careful,' he thought, concern for his partner warring with the need to stay focused.
"Water Pulse to the ice, Hydros!" Gladion ordered.
Hydros, grimacing through the pain, gathered his strength. He charged a Water Pulse, the energy swirling larger. The orb grew massive, pulsating with raw power.
Aaron's brow furrowed, 'Is he planning to fire it at his own leg? At such close range, Blastoise would take massive damage from the blast.'
The thought seemed reckless, even for a trainer of Gladion's caliber. 'He's bluffing—trying to scare me and Feraligatr into letting go.'
Aaron's lips pressed into a thin line, unconvinced but wary. He couldn't afford to misjudge again.
Gladion's smirk betrayed no doubt. "Fire it!" he commanded.
The Water Pulse erupted with force, slamming into Hydros' leg and Feraligatr's maw in a torrential vortex.
The impact sent shockwaves through the water, a massive wave exploding outward, shattering the ice in a spray of fragments.
Feraligatr roared in agony, the blast ripping it from Hydros' leg and sending it spiraling backward through the depths. Hydros wasn't spared either—the close-range blast rocked him, the ice beneath him splintering as he plunged into the water.
Aaron's voice cut through the chaos, incredulous. "Are you mad? Why would you injure your own Pokémon?" His tone carried a mix of disbelief and scorn, but he didn't hesitate. "No matter—Feraligatr, Crunch now!"
Feraligatr shook off the disorientation, its eyes blazing with predatory fury as it surged toward the struggling Blastoise, jaws wide for another bite.
Gladion ignored the taunt, his voice rising above the waves. "Iron Defense!" he shouted, ensuring Hydros could hear him through the water's muffling effect.
A metallic sheen enveloped Hydros' body, his shell and scales hardening into an impervious barrier. Feraligatr's Crunch landed with a harsh clank, teeth scraping uselessly against the reinforced skin, leaving only faint scratches. The crocodile recoiled, frustration evident in its snarl.
'Hydros' endurance and defense are nothing to sneeze at,' Gladion thought, 'That's why I let him take the Water Pulse head-on.' The risky gambit had paid off.
"Ice Punch!" Gladion ordered, pressing the advantage.
Hydros' fist glowed with icy energy, and he swung, landing a frigid blow square on Feraligatr's face. The crocodile roared as frost spread across its snout, creeping over its scales.
Gladion continued, "Give two...no... three more of those!"
Hydros unleashed a barrage of Ice Punches, each strike landing with a crack as ice encased Feraligatr's head and shoulders.
The underwater environment amplified the effect, the cold reacting with the water to freeze faster, encasing the crocodile in a crystalline prison. Feraligatr thrashed, the ice cracking under its struggles, but it was trapped, sinking toward the ocean floor.
Gladion's smirk widened. "Hyper Beam before it breaks through!" he commanded.
From Hydros maw, a blinding beam of energy lancing through the water. The Hyper Beam struck the frozen Feraligatr, enveloping it in a massive explosion.
The battlefield shook, waves erupting in violent surges.
When the water settled, Feraligatr surfaced, limp and unconscious, floating amidst the debris of shattered ice.
Hydros hauled himself onto a floating platform. His wounded leg buckled, forcing him to one knee, blood still dripping from the Crunch.
The referee's voice cut through the noise. "Both trainers, we're at a midpoint. Aaron has lost three Pokémon. Would you like to change the battlefield, or continue with this one?"
Gladion's gaze flicked to Hydros, assessing the damage. The leg wound was severe, limiting his mobility on solid ground.
'A new field could cripple him,' he thought. 'Here, he can at least swim.' He flashed a cocky grin, masking his strategy. "Aaron needs all the help to beat me. Let's give him the advantage for one round."
Aaron's glare was venomous, but he nodded, his jaw tight. 'He's playing mind games, but I'll take the chance.'
"Go, Ludicolo!" Aaron called, releasing his ace.
"Energy Ball!" Aaron commanded.
"Water Pulse!" Gladion countered.
Ludicolo's hands glowed green, launching a pulsating orb of grassy energy. Hydros fired a Water Pulse in response, the two attacks colliding mid-air in a brilliant explosion.
Aaron seized the moment. "Ludicolo, Mist!"
A thick fog billowed from Ludicolo, enveloping the battlefield in a dense, obscuring haze.
Visibility dropped to near zero, the screens struggling to penetrate the veil. Gladion grimaced, 'Hydros can't move well with that leg, and now he's blind in this mist. He needs to move inside the water.'
But Gladion was too late with his decision.
Sure enough, Ludicolo had moved swiftly, leaping nimbly across the platforms.
The Water/Grass-type landed beside the wounded Blastoise, who reacted a fraction too late, his injured leg slowing his turn.
Aaron's voice rang out, triumphant. "Thunder Punch!"
Ludicolo's fist crackled with electric energy, swinging with devastating force. The punch connected with Hydros' skin, the electricity coursing through his body.
Hydros roared, the shock overwhelming his defenses, and collapsed onto the platform, unconscious.
-------Author Notes------
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