"Ninetales, calm down! Extrasensory!" Reggie watched Ninetales retreating, sensed trouble, and hurriedly shouted.
"Aqua Tail!" Liu Qing called at the same time.
"Roar!" Gyarados let out a mighty roar, utterly unfazed by the colorful rings rushing toward him. His massive tail, wrapped in rings of water, smashed down toward Ninetales, casting an enormous shadow over the ground.
"Dodge, quick!" Reggie bellowed.
Boom! Unfortunately, Reggie's voice was quickly drowned out by the tremendous crash. The spot where Ninetales had stood was shattered and caved in. Only when Gyarados lifted his tail did they see Ninetales lying unconscious in the enormous crater.
"Incredible!" Paul, already thrilled after watching three battles, could not help exclaiming in awe. A voice screamed inside him, That's what a truly powerful Pokémon looks like! One day, I'll have a Pokémon like that too. Yes, one day!!!
"Ninetales is unable to battle!" Nurse Joy finally recovered her senses and announced the result, looking at the enormous Gyarados with some apprehension.
"Return, Ninetales!" Reggie was also shaken by the power of that last blow. He took a quiet breath before recalling Ninetales and throwing his fifth Poké Ball. "It's up to you, Swalot!"
"Gyarados, Aqua Tail!" Seeing Reggie send out his fifth Pokémon, Liu Qing gave another command.
"Stockpile!" Reggie ordered.
Swalot suddenly opened his enormous mouth and inhaled, swelling to more than half again his original size. When Gyarados's Aqua Tail struck him, the point of impact caved in completely. He slid back a little, then regained his shape and bounced Gyarados's tail away.
What an impressive defense! Liu Qing silently praised Swalot, who seemed almost unhurt.
"Swalot, Encore, Stockpile!" Reggie ordered again just then.
This is bad. I can't let this keep happening! Alarmed to see Swalot use Stockpile again, Liu Qing hurriedly shouted, "Ice Fang!"
"Roar!" Gyarados roared and opened his enormous jaws, sinking his coldly gleaming teeth into Swalot. At the same time, Swalot completed his second Stockpile, but this time he could not repel Gyarados's attack, and his face twisted in pain.
"Gyarados, Giga Impact!" With his opponent caught, Liu Qing immediately shouted his command.
"Swalot, Spit Up!" As soon as a rapidly spinning, pale-purple aura enveloped Gyarados's entire body, Reggie hurriedly shouted.
Boom! "Roar!" Gyarados unleashed Giga Impact, driving Swalot into the ground with a tremendous explosion that sent dust billowing everywhere. At the same instant, an enormous red-white beam blasted Gyarados's massive body away, sending him crashing onto the battlefield with a thunderous rumble.
"Gyarados!" "Swalot!" Seeing both Pokémon take heavy damage, Liu Qing and Reggie cried out anxiously at the same time.
"Roar!" Hearing Liu Qing's voice, Gyarados rose, panting. He glared into the dust and let out another mighty roar.
Looking at the blackened scales covering much of Gyarados's upper body, Liu Qing realized just how powerful that Spit Up had been. Fortunately, he had not let his opponent use Stockpile three times. Otherwise, that single blow might have knocked Gyarados out outright.
"Swalot is unable to battle!" When the dust soon cleared, Swalot had returned to his normal size and lay unconscious. Nurse Joy announced the result.
"Return, Swalot!" Reggie silently recalled Swalot, then took out his final Poké Ball and threw it. "Staraptor, come on out!"
"Chirp!" White light flashed, and Staraptor appeared on the battlefield. He cried out at Gyarados, activating Intimidate.
"Roar!" Gyarados answered with a mighty roar, activating Intimidate as well.
"Gyarados, Aqua Tail!" At Liu Qing's command, Gyarados roared and swept his enormous, water-wreathed tail toward Staraptor in the air.
"Staraptor, dodge it! Wing Attack!" Reggie swung his right arm and hurriedly shouted.
"Chirp!" Staraptor beat his wings hard and shot upward, evading Aqua Tail. His wings shone white as he swiftly slammed into Gyarados, but Gyarados did not budge. Instead, Staraptor himself was knocked tumbling away.
"Ice Fang!" At Liu Qing's command, Gyarados's teeth extended, radiating icy air as he snapped at Staraptor.
What incredible defensive strength! Reggie had not expected Staraptor to be knocked away, and he inwardly gasped. He hurriedly shouted, "Staraptor, Close Combat!"
Hearing Reggie's command, Staraptor immediately steadied himself and unleashed Close Combat against the incoming Ice Fang.
Using his wings and talons in turn, Staraptor repelled Ice Fang with a relentless flurry of strikes, even forcing Gyarados to rear backward.
"Gyarados, Thunderbolt!" Liu Qing was startled by the unexpected power of Staraptor's Close Combat, but he still gave his command decisively.
"Roar!" The enraged Gyarados bellowed, yellow electricity bursting across his entire body. Staraptor, still attacking, was struck instantly and cried out in pain.
"Staraptor, Endure, Brave Bird!" Reggie shouted as Thunderbolt continued to batter Staraptor.
"Chirp!" Still caught in Thunderbolt, Staraptor struggled to cry out when he heard Reggie's command. He folded his wings, flames engulfing his body before he turned entirely blue and slammed into Gyarados's head. A tremendous explosion erupted, filling the air with black smoke. Then Gyarados let out a pained roar, his enormous body collapsing, while Staraptor fell out of the smoke onto the ground.
"Gyarados!" "Staraptor!" Liu Qing and Reggie called out together, while everyone's eyes fixed on the two Pokémon on the battlefield.
"Chirp!" Just then, Staraptor struggled to his feet and cried out.
"Gyarados is unable..." Before Nurse Joy could finish, blue arcs of light flickered across Staraptor's body. He let out a mournful cry and collapsed again, unable to battle.
"Roar!" Gyarados, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly raised his body and let out an exhausted roar, declaring to everyone that he was the final victor!
"Staraptor is unable to battle. Gyarados wins, so the winner is Liu Qing!" Nurse Joy delivered her final verdict.
At that moment, all the spectators erupted into thunderous applause.
"Return, Gyarados!" "Return, Staraptor!" After recalling their respective Pokémon, the two trainers walked to the center of the battlefield and shook right hands.
"That was a fantastic battle. I hope we can battle again at the Indigo League Conference," Reggie said with a smile.
"Of course. I'm looking forward to it too," Liu Qing replied, smiling.
"Give me your Pokémon. It's time I treated their injuries," Nurse Joy said as she walked over.
"Sorry for the trouble, Nurse Joy," the two said, placing the ten Pokémon that had just competed onto the tray Chansey held out.
"Hehe, it's my job. It's no trouble at all." Nurse Joy smiled, then headed back to the Pokémon Center with Chansey. Liu Qing also said goodbye to the brothers, Reggie and Paul, and returned to his room.
The next day, after collecting his Pokémon from Nurse Joy and agreeing to meet Reggie again at the Pokémon League, Liu Qing set off on his journey once more.
Before you continue