Wallace recalled Milotic from the command platform. Looking down at the Poké Ball in his hand, he gently brushed its surface with his thumb.
"You worked hard, Milotic. You did very well." His voice was soft, filled with heartfelt tenderness. Then he raised his head, his gaze crossing the field to settle on the Blaziken opposite him, breathing hard yet still standing straight.
Blaziken stood at the boundary between the shallows and dry land, its chest heaving violently and its right leg trembling slightly.
Its feathers were stained with water and mud, and several Burn marks from energy impacts were clearly visible beneath the lights.
Yet its usually steady blue eyes remained bright. Its gaze stayed fixed on Wallace as it leaned slightly forward, ready at any moment to face its next opponent.
The gym disciples around the field exchanged whispers, their eyes filled with undisguised amazement and anticipation.
For most of them, this was the first time they had seen someone push Wallace this far—winning the first round cleanly, then defeating Milotic in the second.
Wallace glanced at Blaziken on the field, then removed a fresh Poké Ball from his waist. After enlarging it in his hand, he pressed the release button.
"Blastoise, I'm counting on you."
A flash of red light passed, and a powerfully built Blastoise appeared in the shallows at the center of the field.
"Blastoise!"
Its limbs were thick and sturdy, and its shell possessed the heavy texture of brown rock, gleaming beneath the lights like a moving fortress.
Two thick Hydro Pump cannons protruded from openings in its shell, their muzzles reflecting a cold metallic gleam.
Most of Blastoise's body was submerged in the water, but its steady eyes remained locked on Blaziken on the shore. An immovable Intimidate radiated from its entire body.