Final Annihilation

Gongping's bladework was not a mindless, all-out assault. Though he was extraordinarily furious, the angrier he grew, the more calmly he had to attack, leaving his opponent no room at all.

Humans in this world possessed exceptional physiques. Ever since the disaster in Hoenn, Gongping had persisted in training his own strength. However, the blade techniques he now wielded had been a gift from Fighting-type King Bruno. Though he had not studied them for long, he was at least better than an ordinary beginner.

The Yin-Yang-Faced Freak moved with great agility, constantly waving his folding fan, his fluttering bathrobe weaving around his figure. Yet Gongping's short blade kept dancing and slashing, cutting countless gashes in it.

"Ruining Sister Erika's bathrobe like this-King Gongping, you really are a vulgar man."

Ignoring the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak's shrieks, Gongping continued his fierce assault. While the two trainers fought at close quarters, Mega Salamence, who had regained his senses, tried to approach. But Muk, who controlled Snow Warning, suddenly stirred up ice and snow, blocking Salamence's path.

As ice and snow swept toward him, Mega Salamence spat out a stream of scorching flames, trying to melt them. Yet wisps of poisonous gas within the snow and ice flowed into Mega Salamence's body at that moment.

Scizor and Lucario, being Steel-types, had no fear of the poisonous ice. Enduring the onslaught of snow and ice, they fought Pangoro, who had become a Fire-type Pokémon through his Protean Ability.

Flames controlled through Fire Punch swept across the battlefield. A terrifying mass of fire gathered around Pangoro's entire body. Stimulated by those flames, the purple snow and ice filling the air released endless purple mist, making Pangoro's movements elusive and difficult to track.

Scizor and Lucario were forced to evade. At that moment, the two Pokémon began coordinating with each other: Lucario used Confusion to sense the enemy, while Scizor used Bullet Punch to snipe at him.

On the battlefield, the cores of the two armies clashed. Wrapped in the air currents of Dragon Dance, Tyranitar formed a gigantic hand of sand and struck, only for Mega Gardevoir to fire a beam of light.

As their powers collided, Lileep on Tyranitar's shoulder sent out countless roots with Ingrain. However, the unique Confusion beams already arranged around the black Mega Gardevoir erupted, rapidly shattering those roots.

At one side of the battlefield, Swampert, who had punched Greninja away, glanced at Greninja, who had not returned to the fight. Though he did not know what this Water-type Pokémon was thinking, Swampert began using Curse without restraint.

Sensing his trainer's anger, Swampert's gaze turned cold. He decided to seize this perfect opportunity, while no Pokémon on the field was targeting him, and a violent, powerful current of air rose around him.

The fifth Curse!

The final Curse!

As the waves of heat around his body swelled further and further, Swampert lightly thrust out a fist, unleashing a vast, violent current of air. Having completed his series of Curse boosts, Swampert advanced toward the center of the battlefield with heavy steps.

Every footfall landed heavily and deeply.

Swampert was not very good at expressing his feelings, but their time together had made Gongping trust him completely. They understood each other extremely well.

Back then, amid the wreckage of ruins in the Hoenn Region, a pale-faced Gongping had kept clearing away debris, trying to find survivors.

"It's a Marshtomp! He's still breathing!"

Delight appeared in Gongping's eyes. He quickly rescued Marshtomp and, ignoring his own injuries, searched for all kinds of medicine to treat him.

The moment he first opened his eyes, Marshtomp remembered Gongping's gaze, filled with relief.

Marshtomp had lost his parents in that disaster, but he had met Gongping, the trainer he would acknowledge for life.

"Marshtomp, let's grow stronger together."

Those first words after his capture remained forever in Marshtomp's mind.

Swampert asked for nothing. He only wished for Gongping to stop grieving, and to become a shadow, staying by his side in that other Pokémon's place.

With a thunderous crash, the earth split and exploded. Sensing the main peak of the Seafoam Islands teetering on the brink of collapse, Gongping and the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak each stepped back. At the same time, Tyranitar swept Gongping up with sand. Though countless sand shields were corroded and destroyed, Tyranitar struggled to keep the battlefield intact.

As Gongping, Tyranitar, Lucario, and Scizor landed, soft, fine sand appeared beneath their feet. This delicate style of control came from Swampert.

A Ground-type move after six Curses?

Part of the Seafoam Islands' main peak gradually collapsed. The two had little time left to fight.

The Yin-Yang-Faced Freak inwardly cried out in alarm, and he and Mega Gardevoir looked terrified. Countless threads of Confusion took hold of Pangoro and Muk at once, then exerted all their power to lift them into the air.

Swampert planted one foot, and part of the entire main peak sank. Gongping recalled four Pokémon and leaped onto Mega Salamence, who had rushed over, watching Swampert's incomparably powerful attack.

The overwhelming destructive force sent Mega Gardevoir, who was using Confusion to keep his companions afloat, flying with several agonized cries. Pangoro and Muk landed at the same time. Though they avoided the direct impact, even the aftershocks left both Pokémon trembling with fear.

The Yin-Yang-Faced Freak, also protected by Mega Gardevoir, slowly landed, his face deathly pale. "Earthquake after six Curses really is terrifying. Unfortunately, it missed."

"You fell for it! Who told you that was Earthquake?"

Gongping's words struck like thunder out of a clear sky. Swampert planted his other foot, gathering an even stronger current of energy. Before the terrified eyes of the opposing Pokémon who had just landed, the true finishing blow surged forth with tremendous force.

The Ground-type move Stomping Tantrum allowed Swampert to turn regret into power and attack. If the first move missed, the power of the second Stomping Tantrum would double.

The power of this stomp soared beyond all bounds, and the entire Seafoam Islands shook violently!

The devastating shock wave instantly shattered the entire main peak area. That savage strike knocked Pangoro and Muk out on the spot, while the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak, about to be buried beneath the rubble, was rescued by Greninja, who appeared once again.

"That Greninja..."

The flattened Twin Islands Peak area bore witness to the ferocity of this battle. Gongping had recalled Swampert into his Poké Ball at the last moment. As for that man's remaining Pokémon, they could only wait for the Pokémon League to arrive and rescue them.

On the sea off one side of the Seafoam Islands, the rescued Yin-Yang-Faced Freak looked utterly bedraggled in his tattered clothes, without a trace of his earlier elegance.

"That bastard! How dare he!"

He had suffered an almost total defeat in this battle. Swampert had unexpectedly boosted himself with six Curses, and that horrifying second stage of Stomping Tantrum was simply beyond what ordinary Pokémon could withstand. At the thought, the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak glared angrily at Greninja. "Why didn't you keep him occupied?"

Suddenly, the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak began giggling. Seemingly no longer taking his anger out on Greninja, he straightened his clothes.

"Forget it. There's no use blaming you. The Pokémon League will be here shortly. I'll find an opportunity to take them back later. With my public identity in the Pokémon League, recovering those Poké Balls won't be difficult anyway."

As for that Sandstorm King Gongping, next time, I'll make sure to deal with you properly.

Just as the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak turned to recall him into his Poké Ball, the Water Blade in Greninja's hand swept out, its formation unnoticed, and swiftly slit the evildoer's throat.

Stunned, the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak stared in disbelief.

A trace of indifference showed in Greninja's eyes, as though this man were not his very first partner.

Clutching Greninja tightly, the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak struggled to speak. "Why... did you betray me..."

This was his very first partner.

Without giving any answer, Greninja gently pushed the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak away. The man spun rapidly, blood dripping ceaselessly from his neck. Looking at Greninja's expression, the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak began giggling.

Using the last of his strength, he pressed the release switch on the Poké Ball, setting Greninja free.

"Sorry... Greninja... I... kept you from being free."

With everything settled, Greninja walked across the sea around the Seafoam Islands. The unusually unsettled weather gradually returned to normal. Beneath the lingering sunlight, the sea turned gold, seeming to merge with Greninja's backdrop.

For Greninja, all he wanted was a normal life.

PS: I have to say, this was the most exhausting full-team battle I've written so far. It involved all kinds of Pokémon Abilities, move usage, and switching, with so many things to consider that my head felt muddled. Fortunately, I finally finished it.