“Elekid, prepare for battle.”

  Itle Pza, Paul approached his oppo, Theo, who had just secured a-win streak. Pulling out a Poké Ball, he tossed it forward.

  “Bzzt bzzt!”

  Elekid appeared otlefield, arms crossed, it smirk mog Theo’s Prinplup.

  “Phew, it’s just an Elekid, not aabuzz. Its strength should be pretty average,” Theo thought, feeling both unlucky and slightly relieved. As a baby Pokémon, Elekid was generally weaker, like Pichu or Cleffa.

  So... this match must be won!

  “The challenger will have the first move. Begin!” annouhe referee.

  “Work Up!”

  Paul chose to power up rather than attack immediately.

  “Bzzt bzzt!”

  I’m the best!

  Elekid puffed out its chest, muttering words of self-encement. Its fidence surged, and so did its power.

  Attad Special Attacreased!

  “Don’t let it Work Up! Prinplup, use Water Gun!” Theo anded.

  Prinplup opes beak, firing a jet of water toward Elekid.

  “Charge in with Thunder Punch!”

  Elekid locked onto the water gun’s trajectory, dodged with a quick sidestep, and rushed torinplup, electricity crag from its fists.

  “Prinplup, use Metal Cw!”

  Prinplup stood its ground, its flippers gleaming like steel, g with Elekid’s fists.

  Boom!

  The impact left Prinplup staggering, nearly knocked off its feet.

  “Such power?” Theo was stunned.

  Even after one or two work-ups, Elekid shouldn’t be strohan Prinplup in raw strength. Yet Prinplup was clearly on the back foot.

  Elekid gave Prinplup no time to recover, raining punch after punch. Prinplup could only barely fend them off with Metal Cw.

  “Prinplup, Water Gun!”

  Taking a risky move, Prinplup gathered energy areated while firing another water gun.

  But with a fsh of light, Elekid used Quick Attack to evade the stream, cirg to Prinplup’s side.

  “Thunder Punch!”

  “Bzzt bzzt!”

  Prinplup heard Elekid’s disdainful snicker just before a thunder punch smmed into its side, sending it flying.

  “Prin!”

  The super-effective hit left Prinplup struggling to stay upright, visibly in pain and on the verge of colpse.

  “Bzzt bzzt!”

  Elekid smirked even wider, its mog gaze fixed on Prinplup.

  “Prin!”

  Infuriated by Elekid’s taunts, Prinplup began to glow with the light of evolution.

  “Yes! Prinplup, you’re evolving!” Theo’s eyes glistened with emotion.

  “Oh, evolving?” Paul remained unfazed. “Elekid, Charge.”

  “Bzzt bzzt!”

  Elekid nodded, spinning its arms to gee electricity. It boosted its electric attack’s power and special defense while keeping a close eye on Prinplup’s transformation.

  Within the light, Prinplup grew rger and sturdier. Its wings gained sharp cws, and a golden -like crest appeared on its head. Its sleek, bck, white, and blue body resembled a regal tuxedo, exuding power and nobility.

  “Prinplup evolved?”

  “The tide’s turning!”

  “Empoleon is both elegant and powerful. How a little Elekid stand a ce?”

  “Empoleon will crush it, no question!”

  The audience buzzed with excitement at the dramatic evolution.

  “Empoleon!”

  With a triumphant roar, the newly evolved Pokémon flexed its newfound strength, its aura anding respect.

  “Great! Empoleon, show them our power! Use Wa—”

  “Thunder!”

  Before Theo could finish, a bolt of golden lightnied from Elekid, crashing down onto Empoleon.

  Super effective!

  In an instant, Empoleon aralyzed by the lightning’s overwhelming power, its eyes gzing over.

  Fueled by Work Up and Charge, Elekid’s thunder was three times strohan normal. Already worn down, Empoleon stood no ce.

  “Prin…”

  Empoleon colpsed onto the battlefield, uo fight.

  “You…!”

  Theo’s face turned red with frustration, but he couldn’t find the words.

  The crowd, the referee, even Theo himself were momentarily stunned by the ued turn of events.

  Paul shot Theo a cold gnce. “Referee, aren’t you going to annouhe result?”

  Though it was sidered unsportsmao attack during an oppo’s evolution, no official rules prohibited it. Paul had exploited this loophole to devastating effect.

  After a brief pause, the referee decred, “Empoleon is uo battle! Elekid wins!”

  “You… Empoleon, you did great. e back,” Theo muttered, recalling his Pokémon and leaving the field in silence.

  “Too much talk.”

  Paul’s faint remarks reached Theo as he walked away.

  “hat an intech! Paul has eheo’s eight-win streak. Let’s give him a round of appuse!” the entator excimed, trying to lighten the mood.

  But the audience’s response was lukewarm, their disapproval of Paul’s tactics evident.

  “ up, we have Ning from Jubilife City!” the referee announced.

  A young girl in a T-shirt and shorts stepped forward, her voice trembling with determination. “Don’t uimate me! I’m strohan I look!”

  Paul didn’t even g her.

  --------------------------------------------------

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