"Keep the pressure on, Crawdaunt! Don't give him a chance to recover!"
Silas's voice cut sharply across the arena.
"Crawdaaaaunt!!"
Scalding jets of water burst from Crawdaunt's claws, streaking through the air in relentless succession.
Fsshhh!
Each blast hit its mark.
Staraptor, still struggling to steady itself midair, let out a strangled cry as boiling water struck its wings.
"STAREEEHH!!"
Feathers scattered downward - soaked, singed, and steaming.
The once-proud bird flapped weakly, barely keeping itself aloft.
Those same wings that had clashed head-on with Crawdaunt's armored pincers were now trembling, heavy from exhaustion and heat.
"Staraptor, use Roost! Recover your stamina!" Reggie yelled, panic creeping into his voice.
Silas's gaze flicked to his Pokédex timer. Taunt's duration must be ending soon…
He exhaled quietly. "Too late for that now."
If it had been his Murkrow with Prankster, maybe he could've re-applied Taunt in time but Crawdaunt didn't have that luxury.
"In that case…" His eyes narrowed. "Use Substitute."
"Crawdaunt!"
The Dark-type's shell shimmered, and in a flicker of red light, a shadowy duplicate appeared before it , a semi-transparent body double ready to take the next hit.
This was a survival technique Silas had acquired through connections with the Nurse Joy from Rustboro City , a defensive fail-safe he'd rarely needed until now.
Just because Crawdaunt hadn't used it before didn't mean it hadn't been trained to perfection.
'That should buy us time.'
....
Across the field, Staraptor's body glowed faintly as shallow cuts began to seal , the effect of Roost taking hold.
But in exchange, its Flying type faded temporarily.
Silas's eyes gleamed.
"Perfect. No longer Flying means… no resistance to Fighting-type moves."
He clenched his fist. "Crawdaunt Use Brick Break!"
The crustacean stomped, tail slapping the ground for lift as it lunged upward.
"Crawdaaaaunt!!"
Brown energy flared around its pincers as it struck downward.
"Quick Attack - dodge it!" Reggie shouted, his voice cracking.
But Staraptor's reaction was too slow , its nerves dulled from fatigue, its wings still scorched.
The impact landed clean.
THWAAK!
"SKREEEEEEHHH!!"
The crowd gasped as Staraptor was sent spiraling toward the floor.
Reggie's breath hitched.
He used Roost… meaning Staraptor's only Normal-type now.
That Brick Break hit for double damage!
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
He realized this entire match… from the first Taunt to now…
Silas had been controlling the pace all along.
'I've been dancing to his tune since the beginning.'
"Staraptor, Aerial Ace!" he barked desperately.
The battered bird rose shakily, swooping close to the ground. Its claws slashed across Crawdaunt's Substitute, shattering it with a burst of energy.
"Quickly, gain altitude!" Reggie shouted again, voice trembling.
But Silas could see it , the Dragon Dance boost was fading. Crawdaunt's breathing was heavier now.
Reggie's eyes hardened. He clenched his teeth, resolve flaring in his gaze.
"Staraptor-Brave Bird!"
The audience gasped.
Silas's eyes widened slightly. "You're seriously trying that at this range…?"
Above, Staraptor's body ignited with blue-purple light, folding its wings in tight.
Its dive was a blur , a living rocket tearing through the air.
"Crawdaunt, Protect!"
"Crawdaunt!!"
Its claws crossed in front of its chest, a shimmering green barrier forming just as the bird struck.
"STAR-APTEEEEEEEEH!!!"
BOOOOOOM!!!
The collision lit up the arena like a miniature explosion -a violent shockwave rattling the stands.
Smoke and steam billowed outward as the crowd fell utterly silent.
For several seconds, no one even breathed.
Then, as the smoke began to clear…
Crawdaunt stood tall behind its cracked but unbroken barrier, claws steady.
Staraptor, meanwhile, was struggling to stay upright ,its chest heaving, feathers torn.
Silas's eyes narrowed. "Recoil… so that's it."
"The Hidden Ability - Reckless."
Reckless – an ability that boosted moves that caused recoil damage, like Brave Bird, at the cost of greater self-harm.
Reggie's face was pale.
He knew as well as Silas did , that was Staraptor's final gambit.
Silas's tone lowered, calm but cold. "End it. Rock Slide."
Crawdaunt raised both claws, energy surging as the arena trembled.
"Crawdaaaaunt!!"
From above, massive stones materialized and crashed down like meteors.
Staraptor cried out one last time before being swallowed by the impact.
BOOOOM!
Dust and debris filled the air.
When it settled -Staraptor lay motionless beneath the rubble, its wings streaked with blood.
Reggie stood frozen, his fists trembling.
He looked at his partner , the same Pokémon that had fought alongside him since his earliest days.
"I…" His voice cracked. "I forfeit."
He recalled Staraptor, head lowered, and walked off the stage in silence , pausing only once to glance back at Silas before disappearing behind the gate.
For a heartbeat, the arena was quiet.
Then
"BLACK SKY! BLACK SKY! BLACK SKY!"
The chant roared like thunder, echoing through the entire Battle Club.
Fans waved banners, stomping their feet as the name filled the air again and again.
Even those who'd cheered for Reggie moments ago were now shouting with admiration.
On the field, Silas exhaled softly, his expression unreadable.
His Crawdaunt stood proud beside him, battered but victorious.
To the crowd, it looked like a hard-fought, evenly matched duel.
But Silas knew the truth.
From the moment it began…
The outcome had already been decided.
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(End of chapter)