Chapter 541: Mienshao vs. Kabutops

"GOOOLEM!"

Golem roared furiously, rage burning in its eyes. The slap had barely hurt, but the humiliation had gotten completely under its skin.

Gage immediately saw the opening. "Mienshao—Jump Kick!"

Anger was dangerous in a battle. Once it started clouding a Pokémon's judgment, openings appeared everywhere.

"Mien!"

Fighting-type energy flashed around Mienshao's long legs as it sprang forward and drove a powerful kick straight toward Golem.

"Golem, calm down! Dodge!"

Mason shouted the warning, but it came too late. Still furious from the slap, Golem reacted a fraction too slowly, and Mienshao's kick landed cleanly.

BOOM!

"GO—!"

The impact lifted the nearly three-hundred-kilogram Golem clean off its feet and sent it crashing across the battlefield. Rock fragments and dust scattered in every direction as its heavy body slammed into the ground.

When the dust cleared, Golem lay motionless with swirls in its eyes.

It was unable to battle.

"Golem is unable to continue!" the referee announced, raising his flag. "Mason, send out your next Pokémon!"

Gage had evened the score once again. Both Trainers were now down to three Pokémon, leaving the match wide open.

...

"Nice! That's how you do it!"

Back in the preparation area, Edmund broke into enthusiastic applause after watching Gage take Golem down in only two moves.

"They're pretty evenly matched, but Gage still has the better overall type matchup," Aaron said with a faint smile. "If Mason really is running a mostly Rock-type team, Gage should have the edge from here."

"Maybe." Braveon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I wouldn't count Mason out yet. He could still be hiding something."

"Hahaha! I still like Gage's chances."

Edmund looked far too pleased with himself.

Aaron caught the expression immediately and grinned. "Oh? Don't tell me Gage has something up his sleeve too."

"Who knows?"

Edmund answered with a mysterious smile and refused to say another word.

Aaron rolled his eyes. The old man was getting more mischievous by the year.

...

Back on the battlefield, Mason had already drawn his next Poké Ball.

"Kabutops, you're up!"

White light flashed across the field, revealing a lean Pokémon covered in tan armor. Two long, curved scythes extended from its arms, their edges gleaming beneath the arena lights.

Kabutops—the Shellfish Pokémon, and one of the ancient species revived from Fossils.

"Kabuu!"

Kabutops landed lightly and spread its scythes, letting out a sharp cry full of fighting spirit.

"Kabutops, Rain Dance!"

Mason wasted no time. His strategy was obvious: Kabutops possessed Swift Swim, and once the rain was up, its Speed would double and completely change the pace of the battle.

"Kabu!"

Blue energy began gathering around Kabutops, but Gage reacted immediately.

"Mienshao, don't let it set up! Fake Out!"

"Mien!"

Mienshao shot forward in a blur. Kabutops barely had time to turn before the Fighting type appeared beside it and snapped one palm across its face.

SMACK!

"Kabu...?!"

Its head jerked sideways, and the blue energy gathering around its body flickered before disappearing completely.

Rain Dance had been interrupted.

For a moment, Kabutops simply stared at Mienshao.

Apparently Golem was not the only Pokémon offended by getting slapped in front of ten thousand people.

Fake Out did very little actual damage.

The damage to its pride was another matter.

Mason, however, had already learned from Golem's mistake.

"Kabutops, Aqua Jet!"

"KABU!"

Still visibly annoyed, Kabutops wrapped itself in rushing water and launched forward before Mienshao could interfere again.

WHAM!

Mienshao barely had time to brace before Kabutops rammed into it and drove it backward across the field.

"Mien—!"

The attack did not cause serious damage, but that had never been Mason's goal.

He wanted distance.

And now he had it.

"Rain Dance! Now!"

"Kabutops!"

Before Mienshao could close the gap again, blue energy surged from Kabutops and spread upward. Dark clouds rapidly gathered above the arena, and within moments rain came pouring down over the battlefield.

SHHHHHHH!

A faint blue aura immediately flickered around Kabutops as Swift Swim activated.

Aaron narrowed his eyes.

Now the battle had changed.

"Mienshao, close in! Force Palm!"

Gage clearly understood the danger as well.

"Mien!"

Mienshao kicked off the ground and rushed forward, energy gathering around one palm as it aimed straight for Kabutops.

"Dodge!"

"Kabu!"

Kabutops slipped aside with startling speed. Under the rain, Swift Swim had made it dramatically faster, and it appeared at Mienshao's right flank before Gage could issue another command.

Mason seized the opening.

"Aqua Tail!"

Water spiraled around Kabutops' tail as it twisted its body for the strike.

There was no time to dodge.

Gage chose to trade.

"Mienshao—High Jump Kick!"

"KABUTOPS!"

"MIENSHAO!"

Both Pokémon attacked at once.

Kabutops whipped its water-wreathed tail into Mienshao's side just as Mienshao drove a glowing knee straight into Kabutops' torso.

BOOM!

The collision sent both Pokémon flying apart. Mienshao bounced across the battlefield before rolling to a stop, while Kabutops crashed down several meters away and carved a trail through the rain-soaked ground.

For a few seconds, neither moved.

Rain continued pouring over them.

"Mien..."

Mienshao's arm twitched once before going limp.

Across the field, Kabutops tried to raise its head.

"Kabu... tops..."

Only a weak rasp came out before its head dropped back to the ground.

Both Pokémon's eyes had turned into swirls.

The referee looked from one side of the battlefield to the other before raising both flags.

"Mienshao and Kabutops are both unable to battle!"

Another double knockout.

The score remained tied, with only two Pokémon left on each side.