Pokemon: Skybound

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This time, the attack worked.

As the electric blast faded, the crowd could clearly see steam rising from Gyarados's body. Smoke curled from its scales, a result of electricity coursing through it and evaporating the moisture clinging to its hide.

Trinity's eyes lit up.

It worked.

Despite everything, despite how monstrous this red Gyarados was it was still a Water/Flying-type Pokémon. Electricity still had an edge.

'If I can just land a few more like that... maybe... just maybe...'

But before she could even speak, Gyarados threw its head back and unleashed a roar that shook the stadium to its core.

ROOOAAAR!!

The crowd covered their ears. The sound was deafening pure, unfiltered rage.

The beast's composure was gone.

Now, it was furious.

Its entire presence shifted. The calm predator was no more. Now, it was a wild storm of wrath, barreling toward Chinchou with eyes full of murder.

Chinchou panicked, darting back toward the debris for cover. It tried the same trick again dodging through cracks between broken stones.

But Kai wasn't going to fall for it twice.

"Gyarados," Kai said calmly, "don't chase. Use [Twister]."

The monster halted instantly.

The sudden obedience left the crowd stunned.

Even now furious, roaring, borderline unhinged this red Gyarados still responded immediately to its Trainer's voice.

Total control.

What other Trainer could command a Gyarados like that?

Lifting its head, Gyarados summoned a cyclone directly above the water.

A swirling [Twister] burst forth, drawing the surrounding water into a violent vortex. The arena's entire water field shook violently, and waves crashed against the sides as the current grew fiercer.

In moments, the battlefield became a massive whirlpool.

Everyone recognized the move instantly.

It was the same one Ash's Kingler had once used against Misty's Poliwhirl in a famous battle a memory etched in the minds of fans.

But this wasn't just four small vortexes like Kingler's.

This… was a single, monstrous whirlpool powered by Gyarados's sheer might.

Trinity's eyes widened. She remembered that match vividly.

This red Gyarados didn't abandon its moves at all… it was hiding them.

"Chinchou! Hide! Find cover!" she shouted desperately.

But there was nowhere to run.

The entire field on her side was already destroyed. No stone pillars remained. The floating rubble was useless, submerged,, and unstable.

Chinchou swam hard in the opposite direction, trying to avoid the spinning current.

It wasn't enough.

The whirlpool's pull was too strong, and in seconds, Chinchou was caught in it—dragged into the vortex with no escape.

Kai's Gyarados stayed in the eye of the storm, untouched, unshaken. Its eyes never left Chinchou, even as the current ripped through the water around them.

Its massive frame cut through the current with ease. No resistance. No effort.

Trinity knew it was over.

But still, she had one last card to play.

"Chinchou, use [Discharge]!"

Inside the vortex, Chinchou stopped resisting. It surrendered to the spin, letting the current carry it, and then, at the exact moment it passed Gyarados, it unleashed every drop of electricity it had left.

ZAP-ZAP-ZZZT!!!

Blinding sparks burst through the whirlpool. Electricity surged across the field in chaotic waves.

Gyarados howled but didn't flinch.

Instead, it opened its jaws and swallowed Chinchou whole.

"CHINCHOU!!"

Trinity screamed.

In the crowd, people gasped, terrified.

It was happening again.

Just like with Poliwrath.

Only this time, it was worse. Chinchou had gone all-in, and been devoured for it.

Everyone stared at Gyarados, waiting.

Sure enough inside its mouth, Chinchou could be seen thrashing, still sparking, still fighting.

But the struggle grew weaker… and weaker…

And finally stopped.

Silence.

Trinity collapsed to her knees, eyes wide and empty.

She didn't even care that she'd lost.

It was just… overwhelming.

It was too much.

Kai stood silent. Still. Watching.

Then he raised a hand.

At his signal, the red Gyarados opened its jaws and gently spit Chinchou out into the water.

The little Pokémon floated limply, bloodied and unconscious but alive.

The moment it emerged, the stadium erupted.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Confetti cannons exploded from every corner. Spotlights lit up. The announcer's voice rang out loud and triumphant:

"We have a champion!!!"

"Kai has done it! Just as many predicted, he has claimed victory at the Whirl Island Cup with overwhelming strength! Let's give a thunderous round of applause for this year's champion!"

The crowd roared.

Trinity sat frozen, still trying to catch her breath.

And deep inside, she finally understood Kai's words from before the match:

"Please don't take it personally… no matter what happens."

She hadn't understood then.

But now, seeing this monster, feeling this despair, she finally did.

He knew this would happen…

And I still couldn't stop it.

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