This was no longer a battle following the rules set by the Pokémon League.

No more Trainers giving commands from a safe distance.

This… was true war—

A life-or-death struggle where holding back meant certain death.

Thunderbolts ripped across the starry sky like a wrathful god descending.

Dragon claws tore apart the cruise ship's deck.

Vines as thick as tree trunks whipped the air with sonic force, and razor-sharp leaves sliced through railings like they were paper.

Though the battles remained primarily between Pokémon, their fierce abilities released shockwaves that often pierced through defenses and struck the Trainers themselves.

Only by relying on swift movement, precise timing, and synergy with their Pokémon could a Trainer dodge the deadly lightning and claws, and strike back when the moment was right.

"That's Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion City… but this… this kind of battle?!"

Newbie Trainers stood dumbstruck.

This wasn't a typical Pokémon match.

This was two sides fighting like mortal enemies—

No mercy, no theatrics, just savage, high-stakes warfare.

More experienced Trainers, however, remained calm.

They knew this was real combat—

Not the polished pageantry of League tournaments.

Their eyes, unblinking, absorbed every motion, hoping to learn something.

But even they were puzzled…

Why would a Gym Leader like Lt. Surge be engaging in such a brutal midnight brawl with two Trainers?

From afar, Caitlin's grandfather looked on, worry etched across his face.

Lightning engulfed the deck, making it impossible to intervene.

He clutched her Poké Ball tight, praying she would survive—

But also, as her elder, hoping she would grow.

That she would realize:

Real Trainers weren't stars on a battlefield—they were warriors.

And those games she once played were nothing compared to this.

His gaze locked on Lt. Surge.

The Electric-type Gym Leader was holding nothing back.

He fought like a self-contained battalion.

His tactics were brutal, precise, and unrelenting.

There was no easy way to break into the battle.

All he could do was ensure Caitlin stayed alive.

"Hold on tight! Don't let go!"

Logan gripped Caitlin in his arms as they dodged across the vast upper deck with Gabite.

Though Caitlin was light, the effort of protecting her while fighting pushed Logan's stamina to the brink.

"Ugh—!"

Logan grunted as searing electricity streaked through the air like heat-seeking missiles, slipping past Gabite's defenses and striking him directly.

The voltage stung like fire, and his muscles threatened to lock up at any moment.

"Logan, let me down! I'll use my own Pokémon to escape—I'm only holding you back!"

Caitlin shouted anxiously.

In just a short time, she had seen Logan struck more than ten times by Lt. Surge's attacks—all while shielding her.

Even with the Pokémon energy field protecting him from fatal injuries, the pain must've been unbearable.

"Don't be ridiculous! This whole area is Surge's domain now.

If you leave my protection for even a second, he'll show you what 'divine justice' means.

Wait… his domain?

Damn it!

No wonder these lightning bolts are tracking us like homing missiles!"

"Dratini—Electromagnetic Wave!"

Realization struck Logan like a bolt.

He immediately released Dratini, who emitted an Electromagnetic Wave.

But rather than targeting the enemy, it was unleashed around them.

"Hahahaha! You finally figured it out!"

Surge's laugh echoed across the stormy deck.

"This entire area is under my control.

My electric field generates a magnetic lock on your positions.

Every bolt of lightning is attracted to the electromagnetic signal your bodies emit.

No matter how you dodge, it's hopeless!"

"Raichu, Agility!

Then—Volt Tackle!!"

Raichu vanished in a blur of motion, becoming a streak of light.

Thunder roared as bolts rained from all directions.

Unlike Thunderbolt, which focused all electricity into a single point, Volt Tackle spread its power over a wide area.

Less deadly per strike, but impossible to dodge.

Logan, caught in the middle of this electrical storm, knew evasion was futile.

With cold precision, he ordered,

"Gabite—Stone Edge!

Dratini—Light Screen!"

Jagged rocks burst from the deck, not to attack, but to form a 360° barrier.

It absorbed the brunt of the lightning, but Raichu's sheer power shattered the stones.

The remaining electricity surged through—

Only to vanish against the shimmering veil of Dratini's Light Screen.

"Damn it!

How the hell does his Dratini know so many skills?!"

Surge cursed.

Sure, Dratini could learn Light Screen, but it wasn't natural—

It required relentless training to master.

And somehow, Logan had taught it all this and more.

But—

"Your Dratini's still not strong enough, boy!

Electabuzz—Thunder Punch!"

CRACK—ROOOAAR!!

Electabuzz leapt into the air.

Electricity danced in its fists as it brought them crashing down.

Logan's instincts screamed—

Dratini's Light Screen wouldn't hold!

He couldn't dodge in time—Caitlin was still in his arms!

Then—

"Poliwhirl—catch it!!"

Red burst in, sending out his starter, Poliwhirl.

Its fists—coated in ice—intercepted Electabuzz mid-strike.

"Fool!

Using a Water-type against an Electric-type?

Now—Electabuzz, Thunder!"

Red winced.

He didn't want to send Poliwhirl, but he had no other Pokémon nearby.

Electabuzz grinned, wrapped its arms around Poliwhirl—

Then looked to the storm above.

A bolt, thick as a tree trunk, screamed from the sky and struck them both.

BOOM!

The deck erupted.

Wood and metal splinters flew.

The Saint Anne itself groaned under the force.

Spectators were knocked over by the shockwave.

And Red—caught in the blast—screamed as electricity scorched him.

"Poliwhirl!!"

Red ignored his burns.

He stared at his Pokémon, barely recognizable—its body shriveled and steaming.

…

If Surge attacked again, Poliwhirl was finished.

"Red!!"

Logan's eyes locked onto him.

Red had just drawn the enemy's kill-shot to save him.

He summoned a pebble—charged with psychic energy—and tossed it.

Red caught it by instinct, then hurled it onto Poliwhirl.

The Eternal Water Stone—

Evolution!

Poliwhirl became Poliwrath in a flash of blinding light!

"Now's our chance!

Poliwrath—Exploding Fist!'"

Electabuzz never saw it coming—

Poliwrath's punch landed flush, launching it like a cannonball.

It tore through the ship's outer wall and vanished into the dark ocean.

"Lt. Surge!! Look alive!

Gabite, Dratini—Hyper Beam!!"

Logan shouted the command.

Both Pokémon gathered blazing energy and fired twin beams straight at Surge.

With no Pokémon beside him, Surge had no defense.

"Damn you, brat!"

Surge hurled another Poké Ball in desperation.

A Magneton burst out, barely forming a shield—

BOOOOM—BOOOOM!!

The twin Hyper Beams shattered the defense.

Surge was blown into the steel walls of the ship, coughing blood as pain tore through his organs.

He was lucky he wasn't vaporized.

The front half of the Saint Anne lay in ruins.

Smoke and fire rose from its decks.

The entire ship trembled, on the verge of collapse.

Even the spectators, now terrified, wondered—

Was this still a Pokémon battle?

Or had it become something far more dangerous?

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T/N:

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