Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

Slowbro stared blankly at Lucario, as if it had completely forgotten where it was.

Lucario, growing impatient, launched a Shadow Ball—

Direct hit.

Yet, Slowbro didn't even react.

No sign of pain. No defensive maneuver. Just the same dumb, vacant expression.

"That Slowbro is so stupid! Why would he send it out in battle?"

A twin-tailed girl sneered while munching on chips.

But unlike her, many experienced trainers—including her older brother, the red-haired young man—looked serious.

She frowned. "What's wrong? Don't tell me there's something special about that Slowbro?"

"Something very wrong."

Her brother's voice was grim.

"If I'm not mistaken, that Slowbro just used Amnesia."

Up in the VIP stands, Lorelei adjusted her glasses.

"Lucario was using Calm Mind to boost its Special Attack and Special Defense," she noted.

"But Slowbro…?"

"It's using Amnesia—a move that increases Special Defense twice as fast as Calm Mind," Karen replied.

Klein also realized the situation.

Lucario needed a different approach.

Without hesitation, he commanded—

"Shadow Ball—continuous fire!"

Dozens of Shadow Balls erupted, surrounding Slowbro from every angle.

Battling Psychic-type trainers was always tricky.

Since Psychic attacks didn't require vocal commands, a trainer had to predict their opponent's next move to react effectively.

Lucario's Meditation strategy was meant to disrupt Will's telepathic connection with his Pokémon.

But now, Klein had to break Slowbro's defense first.

The only way?

Using Shadow Ball's side effect—a chance to lower Special Defense.

Slowbro tilted its head and suddenly vanished.

A split-second later—it appeared right in front of Lucario.

Close combat?!

This wasn't a typical Slowbro—

This one fought up close.

A massive punch came crashing down.

Lucario tried to counter, but—

Threads of Psychic energy wrapped around his limbs like an invisible spider's web.

Slowbro's Shellder tail pulsed with an ominous glow—

A sign of massive power amplification.

Lucario struggled to move.

Slowbro's bulk suddenly expanded, and its body slammed downward with terrifying force.

"Body Slam!"

The battlefield shook violently as Lucario was crushed beneath Slowbro's massive weight.

A crackling sensation surged through Lucario's body.

He winced—his body numbed from paralysis.

That wasn't just Body Slam—it was Body Slam combined with Thunder Wave!

Lucario desperately retaliated, forming another Shadow Ball—but Slowbro was relentless.

It pressed harder.

More Psychic threads coiled around Lucario, tightening their grip.

Unlike Grumpig's brutal force, Slowbro's Psychic power was subtle—like a creeping, suffocating mist.

Lucario tried to invade Slowbro's mind with his own Aura—

But inside Slowbro's mind… there was nothing.

Just a vast, empty void.

For the first time in this battle, Lucario felt trapped.

Just as he tried to withdraw from Slowbro's mind—

BOOM!

A colossal psychic presence emerged.

Lucario looked up—

And saw a gigantic Slowbro staring down at him inside the void.

Same blank expression, but now—

It was swinging a giant fist.

Lucario's consciousness snapped back to reality—but too late.

Slowbro's Psychic Reflection activated, sending Lucario flying.

Slowbro took a step forward—

And delivered the final Body Slam.

The ground trembled.

Lucario went still.

The referee raised a hand.

"Lucario is unable to battle!"

Silence.

A Pokémon specializing in calculations had just been defeated by a dumb-looking Slowbro.

Even Klein had to reassess Will's abilities.

Elite Four battles weren't easy.

"Scizor!"

Klein didn't hesitate.

The Poké Ball burst open, and Scizor landed on the battlefield.

As soon as it saw Slowbro, its red eyes narrowed coldly.

Lucario was its rival, and seeing him lose in such an embarrassing way…

That pissed it off.

Scizor didn't wait for orders.

Its razor-sharp pincers gleamed, unleashing a powerful Swords Dance.

Slowbro responded with a wave of blue Psychic energy.

But Scizor roared in defiance—

And slashed through the attack with a single strike.

The Red Demon of Mt. Moon had awakened.

Swords Dance whipped up a storm, amplifying the surrounding Sandstorm.

The audience felt chills.

Even Misty, watching from the stands, shuddered.

This was the same monster she had faced during her Gym challenge.

Scizor stood tall, eyes locked onto Slowbro.

And for the first time—

Slowbro looked afraid.

"That's more like it," Scizor thought.

"Enough of the dumb Slowbro act."

Lucario's loss was puzzling.

A single move—Body Slam—took him down?

No—

There had to be something more.

And then—

Klein realized.

"Curse."

Slowbro must have used Curse at the start of the battle, increasing its Attack and Defense while lowering Speed.

Which meant—

It was even tankier than expected.

But—

Swords Dance outpaced Curse.

And Klein had the perfect counter.

"Scizor, Fury Cutter!"

The Bug-type move tore through the battlefield.

Slowbro took the first hit—

Then the second—

By the third, the damage had doubled.

Slowbro couldn't withstand the assault.

"Slowbro is unable to battle!"

Will narrowed his eyes as he recalled Slowbro.

He gently touched a small stone embedded in his earring.

His voice lowered.

"Elite Klein, I underestimated you. Originally, I planned to end this battle in just four rounds…"

His Poké Ball hovered mid-air.

The glow from the Mega Stone intensified.

"But it seems I'll have to go all out."

The Poké Ball burst open—

A graceful figure emerged.

As it landed, a brilliant seven-colored light surrounded its body.

Will's voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Gardevoir, Mega Evolve!"

Scizor's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Its pincers slashed through the air, creating a powerful gust.

It lived for battles like this.

Defeating the strong—

That's how it would surpass its limits.

(End of Chapter)