The Climb Continues
The winds were heavier now.
Not just strong—
Oppressive.
Each step forward in the Flying Championship felt like entering a higher layer of the sky itself.
Standing on a narrow, unstable platform—
Elior looked at the arena ahead.
"…This pressure…"
It wasn't just the wind anymore.
It was the opponents.
Across from him—
A quiet figure stood still.
Eyes closed.
Listening to the wind.
Drabis
He slowly opened his eyes.
"…You're the one who beat Sylpha."
Elior nodded.
"…Yeah."
Drabis gave a small nod.
"Then don't disappoint me."
BEGIN!
"Go—Falcrix."
A flash of light—
A sharp, blade-winged Pokémon appeared.
Falcrix
It didn't roar.
Didn't move wildly.
It simply… hovered.
Perfectly still.
"Skyrend—let's go!"
Skyrend soared into the air.
The wind hit hard—
But this time—
It didn't lose balance.
Strange Stillness
"…Why isn't it moving?" Elior whispered.
Falcrix remained completely still.
Not attacking.
Not reacting.
Sudden Strike
Without warning—
It vanished.
"Above!" Elior shouted.
Too late.
A slash cut through the air—
Skyrend was hit.
Clean.
Fast.
Invisible.
Drabis spoke calmly:
"Speed is predictable."
A pause.
"Stillness is not."
Falcrix didn't chase.
Didn't rush.
It waited—
Then struck again.
Each attack perfectly timed.
Minimal movement.
Maximum effect.
Elior Struggles
"…I can't read it," Elior muttered.
Every instinct he built—
Flowing with the wind.
Breaking control.
None of it worked.
This wasn't control.
This was absence of movement.
Another hit.
Then another.
Skyrend was pushed lower.
Its wings faltered slightly.
Elior clenched his fist.
"…Think."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"…He's not controlling the sky…"
His eyes opened.
"…He's removing himself from it."
Strategy Shift
"Skyrend—stop moving."
Drabis's eyes narrowed slightly.
Skyrend hovered.
Still.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
No wind resistance.
No aggressive movement.
Just… silence.
Clash of Stillness
Falcrix moved—
But this time—
Skyrend reacted instantly.
Not chasing.
Not predicting.
Just responding.
A block.
A counter.
Elior smiled.
"…Found it."
"Now—don't overthink."
Skyrend moved naturally.
No forced speed.
No rigid control.
Just instinct.
The clash intensified.
Falcrix struck—
Skyrend responded.
Both moving with minimal effort.
But perfect timing.
Drabis raised his hand.
"…End it."
Falcrix's wings glowed.
A final attack formed.
Sharp.
Silent.
Deadly.
Elior's Stand
"…We finish this too."
Elior stepped forward.
His voice steady.
"Skyrend… trust yourself."
Both Pokémon moved at the same time.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Wind split—
Sound vanished—
Impact collided.
Silence
The sky went still.
Both Pokémon fell.
Landing on separate platforms.
Decision
Falcrix didn't move.
Skyrend trembled—
Struggled—
Then stood.
WINNER — ELIOR
Drabis recalled his Pokémon.
He looked at Elior—
calm as ever.
"…You didn't overpower me."
A pause.
"You understood."
He turned away.
"That's enough."
Growth Without Evolution
Elior exhaled deeply.
"…We did it."
Skyrend stood beside him.
Just—
Stronger.
Sharper.
More connected.
From above—
Aero watched again.
This time—
No smirk.L
Just focus.
"…You're getting closer."
The tournament board updated again.
Only a few names remained.
Elior's name.
Aero's name.
The gap…
Was closing.
And the journey continues....