The Pokémon:Isekai

A heavy silence settled over the battlefield. Both Sammy and I were locked in thought, analyzing each other's Pokémon, trying to form the perfect strategy.

I already knew Axew's moves—Metal Claw, Bite, Assurance, and Taunt—and none of them were good news for Aria. Metal Claw was super effective against her, while Bite and Assurance were neutral but still dangerous. And then there was Taunt—if Axew used it, my plan to use Double Team for evasion would be completely shut down.

I had to be careful.

Sammy smirked, clearly coming to his own conclusions.

"Axew, dash in and use Metal Claw! Get close to Ralts!" he commanded.

I reacted instantly.

"Aria, spam Disarming Voice! Keep your distance—if he gets close, it's over for us!"

Aria's eyes glowed for a brief moment before she released a wave of soft, melodic energy, the fairy-type attack rippling through the air toward Axew.

The battle had begun.

Axew lunged forward, claws glowing with a metallic sheen as it rushed toward Aria. But before it could close the distance, Aria's Disarming Voice rang out—a shimmering wave of pinkish energy rippling through the battlefield.

Axew winced as the attack struck, its steps faltering for a moment. But Sammy wasn't about to let me take control of the fight that easily.

"Push through it, Axew! Keep going and use Metal Claw!"

Axew shook off the attack and surged forward, its claws slashing downward.

"Dodge left, then Confusion! Keep him at bay!" I commanded.

Aria sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike, before her eyes glowed a bright blue. Psychic energy wrapped around Axew, halting its movement for a brief second.

"Break free and use Bite!" Sammy countered.

Axew roared, its jaws snapping shut, dispersing the psychic hold before lunging forward once more.

"Double Team!" I called out, hoping to throw it off.

Aria split into several afterimages, surrounding Axew in a blur of illusions. Axew's momentum faltered, its eyes darting between the multiple Ralts.

"Don't fall for it! Use Taunt !"

Sammy's strategy became clear the moment Axew smirked and let out a mocking growl. A dark aura surrounded Aria for a brief moment before her afterimages disappeared—she could no longer use non-damaging moves.

I clenched my fists. Damn, he shut down Double Team...

"No choice, Aria—keep spamming Disarming Voice! We have to wear him down!"

Aria let out another burst of Fairy-type energy, hitting Axew dead-on. Axew staggered back, visibly taking damage, but Sammy wasn't fazed.

"Now's our chance! Assurance, go!"

Axew, already hurt from the previous attack, rushed forward with dark energy surrounding its claws. The power of Assurance doubled since Axew had already taken damage, and I knew this hit would hurt—badly.

"Aria, brace yourself!"

But before she could react, Axew slammed into her, sending her skidding across the battlefield. She barely managed to stay upright, panting heavily.

I grit my teeth. One more good hit, and she's done for...

Sammy grinned. "Time to finish this! Axew, Metal Claw!"

Axew dashed forward, claws gleaming once again.

I had one chance.

"Aria, use Confusion! Throw him into the ground!"

With the last of her strength, Aria's eyes glowed blue once more. Psychic energy wrapped around Axew, stopping it mid-air.

"Slam him down, now!"

Aria gritted her teeth and sent Axew crashing into the battlefield. Dust flew up from the impact.

The battlefield fell silent.

When the dust cleared, Axew lay on the ground, dizzy but still conscious.

"No way," I muttered, watching as it struggled back to its feet.

Sammy grinned, fire in his eyes. "Heh, not bad... but we're not done yet."

As the battle raged on, my mind raced, looking for something—anything—that could give us the edge. Then, it hit me. Aria had been training with Rotom, who used its surroundings to defend itself. If Rotom could use the environment for defense, why couldn't Aria do the same? But instead of just protecting herself, she could use the surroundings to attack. My gaze darted around, searching for something to work with.

And then I saw them—small rocks, scattered at the base of a tree, the perfect ammunition. Aria could use them to her advantage.

"Aria, dash toward the tree! Use it as cover!" I commanded, my voice steady but urgent.

Without hesitation, Aria shot forward, her small body weaving through the grass with remarkable speed. She reached the tree in a matter of moments, the thick trunk standing between her and Axew. For the first time in the battle, we had a solid defense.

I could feel the tension building as Sammy's eyes narrowed, already anticipating the next move. His confidence was palpable, but I wasn't done yet. We weren't going down that easily.

"Axew! Use Metal Claw and finish this battle, NOW!" Sammy's voice was sharp, filled with frustration. He had lost his calm, and it was exactly what I needed. Axew's usual composure seemed to crack as the dragon dashed forward, its claws gleaming with a dangerous intent.

I watched the distance close between them, the tension thickening. It was now or never. As Axew's determined eyes locked on Aria, I gritted my teeth, waiting for the perfect moment.

"ARIA! Use the rocks and attack Axew with them!" I shouted, my voice steady but filled with resolve.

Aria sprang into action at once. With surprising strength for her small frame, she lifted the rocks scattered around the base of the tree. They hovered in the air for a moment, suspended by her psychic power. As Axew closed the gap, Aria hurled the rocks with precision, launching them directly toward the charging dragon.

The rocks collided with Axew's side, throwing it off course, and creating a cloud of sand and dust that engulfed the entire area. Both Aria and Axew disappeared from view, hidden behind the rising storm of dirt and debris. I couldn't see them now, but I knew the battle was far from over.

In the midst of the chaos, my heart pounded in my chest. The outcome of this next move was going to determine everything.

"NOW ARIA, LET'S FINISH THIS! USE DOUBLE TEAM AND ASTONISH TO END THIS BATTLE ONCE AND FOR ALL!" I shouted, my voice ringing with determination. The dust from the rocks was still thick in the air, but now was the moment to turn the tide.

Aria, quick on her feet, didn't hesitate. The Taunt had worn off, and with it, she was free to unleash her full power. In a flash, the air around her shimmered. The psychic energy that had previously surrounded her coiled and exploded outward. Suddenly, there were ten identical copies of Aria, each one as real as the next.

The copies spread out, closing in from all sides on Axew. Their eyes gleamed with intensity, and without missing a beat, they struck. Each Aria launched into an attack, her ghostly hands reaching out, delivering sharp, unsettling blows to the dragon.

The air was filled with the sound of multiple "Astonish!" attacks hitting Axew from every angle, the ghostly moves making contact in rapid succession. The force of the attack left Axew reeling, overwhelmed by the flurry of eerie strikes. It struggled to find a clear target, surrounded by the barrage of phantom versions of Aria.

Each Aria was relentless, their movements synchronized perfectly, creating a whirlwind of confusion and pressure. Axew staggered back, trying to block, but it was too late. With every strike, the little dragon's resolve faltered.

The dust cloud that had once concealed the battle now started to settle, revealing the scene. Sammy stood frozen, his eyes wide in disbelief, watching as Axew collapsed to its knees, clearly overwhelmed.

As the dust finally settled, the battlefield became clear. Aria stood tall, breathing heavily, a triumphant spark in her eyes. Her victory cry echoed through the air, signaling that she had won. But then, without warning, she collapsed, her tiny body falling to the ground with a soft thud. Panic shot through me.

I rushed to her side, my heart pounding in my chest as I gently cradled her in my arms. "Aria?!" I whispered, trying to rouse her. But she was out cold, her small form limp in my grasp.

Before I could process what had just happened, Sammy stepped closer, returning his fainted Axew to its Pokéball with a resigned sigh. He looked at me with a mix of respect and something else—maybe he got annoyed because he lost?.

"Ahhh, Axew has the Steel Armor ability," he said, as if explaining the situation to himself. "Every time he gets hit by a contact move, he hurts the thing that attacked him. But even with that ability... he fell first." Sammy's words hung in the air for a moment as he gave a small, reluctant smile. "I guess it's your win, Raltsy-Boy!"

He then extended his hand toward me, offering a handshake. His tone was light, but there was sincerity behind his words. "That was a good battle."

I took a deep breath, still holding Aria close, and finally extended my hand to meet his. "Thanks," I said, a small grin tugging at my lips despite my worry for Aria. "It was a tough fight."

Sammy's smile widened, and though his Axew had been defeated, there was no bitterness in his voice. As I looked down at Aria, her chest rising and falling steadily, I felt a sense of accomplishment.