Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect

"What kind of speed was that?" Sidney muttered, trying to process what he'd witnessed. "Some kind of Speed Boost ability?"

The only way to achieve such terrifying velocity was through Quick Attack enhanced by the Speed Boost ability. Mandibuzz hadn't stood a chance, but that didn't mean Sidney was ready to throw in the towel.

He recalled his fallen Pokemon and selected his next combatant with renewed determination.

Sidney's third Pokemon was a Crawdaunt, but this wasn't just any ordinary crustacean. The massive lobster-like creature that materialized on the battlefield stood over fifteen feet tall, its red armor gleaming like polished steel. It looked more like a walking fortress than a Pokemon.

"A Totem Pokemon?" John's eyes widened as he analyzed the massive creature. Level 87, significantly higher than Sidney's previous team members.

His trump card is probably level 90, John mused. But it doesn't matter. Pokemon of the same level? Unless we're talking about legendaries, nothing can match the Pokemon I've trained.

"Crawdaunt, Surf!" Sidney commanded, deciding to change tactics entirely.

The Totem Crawdaunt raised its massive claws and slammed them into the ground with earth-shaking force. Instantly, a towering wave of water, easily thirty feet high, erupted across the battlefield, threatening to engulf everything in its path.

John clicked his tongue in appreciation. "Trying to use Surf to counter my spiral Aura Sphere?"

It was a clever strategy. The massive wave would make it nearly impossible for the Aura Sphere to maintain its trajectory, and even if it did penetrate, Crawdaunt could easily follow up with another attack. Meanwhile, Blaziken would be forced to endure the full brunt of the water assault.

However...

"Bounce!" John called out suddenly.

Blaziken crouched low, its powerful legs coiling like springs. In the next instant, it launched itself skyward, soaring over sixty feet into the air, easily clearing the massive wave below.

The Pokedex claimed that Blaziken could leap over thirty-story buildings with its powerful legs. While that might be an exaggeration for most specimens, John's Blaziken had been trained to make such feats look effortless.

Sidney's eyes lit up as he watched Blaziken's aerial maneuver. Perfect. Now you're trapped in mid-air with nowhere to dodge.

"Hydro Pump!" Sidney's command came the instant Blaziken reached the peak of its jump.

The Totem Crawdaunt had been waiting for exactly this moment. It raised both massive claws like twin cannons, locking onto Blaziken's airborne form. Blue energy began building at the tips of its claws, preparing to unleash a devastating pressurized water blast.

Facing this apparent "killing blow," John remained completely calm.

"Spiral Aura Sphere," he commanded.

Even in mid-air, the familiar blue vortex began forming between Blaziken's hands. The spiral energy pulsed with contained power as both Pokemon locked onto their targets simultaneously.

BANG!

Two attacks launched at the same instant. Crawdaunt's claws discharged twin streams of pressurized water, each as thick as a cannonball and moving with devastating force. Blaziken's spiral Aura Sphere streaked downward like a guided missile.

The attacks collided in mid-air with a thunderous BOOM!

Water and waveguide energy clashed violently, creating an explosion of superheated steam that obscured the entire battlefield. For a moment, the outcome was uncertain.

Then came two distinct sounds: CRASH! THUD!

When the steam cleared, the result was unmistakable. The five-meter-tall Totem Crawdaunt was embedded in the wall behind Sidney, a massive circular crater punched through its armored chest. The spiral Aura Sphere had not only pierced through both Hydro Pump streams but had driven the massive Pokemon clean through the arena wall.

"Crawdaunt is unable to battle! Blaziken wins!" the referee announced.

Sidney's face contorted with frustration and disbelief. "How is the gap this massive?"

Breaking through an opponent's attack and delivering a one-hit knockout only happened when there was an enormous difference in power between the two Pokemon. The implications were staggering.

Is the difference between me and this trainer really that overwhelming?

Sidney stared at John with a mixture of respect and bewilderment. This wasn't just about type advantages or clever tactics, this was raw, overwhelming superiority.

Taking a deep breath, Sidney recalled his fallen Crawdaunt and reached for a Pokeball positioned at the back of his belt, his true ace in the hole.

"Partner," he said quietly, "I'm counting on you."

The Pokeball opened to reveal a elegant, quadrupedal Pokemon with a snow-white body, dark blue facial markings, and a distinctive curved horn that resembled a scythe. Its piercing red eyes held an intelligence that seemed almost human.

"Absol!" John recognized the species immediately.

Absol, the Disaster Pokemon, one of the rarest and most misunderstood Pokemon in existence. For centuries, they had been branded as harbingers of doom, blamed for the catastrophes that seemed to follow in their wake. Only recently had researchers discovered the truth: Absol didn't cause disasters, they sensed them. These noble Pokemon would emerge from their mountain sanctuaries to warn humans and Pokemon alike of impending danger.

'I should catch some for the breeding center, John thought absently. Hoenn has several known Absol habitats.'

But his casual planning was interrupted when Sidney raised his hand, revealing a gleaming bracelet with an embedded stone.

"Absol," Sidney declared, "MEGA Evolution!"

Brilliant light enveloped the Disaster Pokemon, and when it faded, Mega Absol stood before them. Its horn had expanded into a magnificent wing-like structure, its white fur had grown longer and more lustrous, and actual ethereal wings now spread from its back.

John raised an eyebrow. "The Hoenn Elite Four have MEGA Evolution stones too?"

He had chosen to challenge Hoenn first partly because he'd expected to have a technological advantage with his MEGA Evolution, Z-moves, and Dynamax capabilities. Apparently, he had underestimated the competition.

If Sidney can MEGA Evolve, the others probably have Z-moves and Dynamax as well.

"Out of respect," John said, raising his own Mega Ring, "I'll get serious too."

"Blaziken, MEGA Evolution!"