Chapter 10: Rising Shadows

. Chapter 10: Rising Shadows

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After his victory in the first round of the tournament, Akira took a moment to breathe, but the weight of what had happened was still present. Casilda accompanied him as they walked through the halls of the arena, where other trainers, both defeated and victorious, exchanged their experiences. Although he had won, Akira could not get out of his head the feeling he had had when using Murkrow from the shadows. That trick worked, but something inside him told him that not everything was under control.

"Akira!" Casilda shouted, interrupting his thoughts. "There's the list of the next fights!"

They quickly looked at the screen in the lobby. Akira's name appeared next to that of his next opponent: a girl named Yuki, famous for being one of the promises of the tournament. She had already won several battles in other minor tournaments, and her team was made up of Ice-type Pokémon.

"This is going to be difficult," Casilda said, biting her lip. "Ice-type Pokémon are tricky, especially if she has so much experience."

Akira nodded, looking at his own teammates. He knew he would need more than just speed and brute strength. The upcoming battle would require strategy. Meanwhile, Giratina's voice echoed in his mind, as it always did when the shadows intensified.

"She is powerful, but not invincible. Remember that the shadows are our allies. Use the environment to your advantage," the shadowy entity murmured.

Akira did not respond immediately. Although he trusted Giratina, he was still unsure of how far he could rely on that power. The line between his own ability and what Giratina offered him sometimes felt blurry. He decided that this battle had to be won by himself.

The next day came faster than Akira expected. The West Arena was even more packed than it had been during the first round, and the top rookies' battles were generating much anticipation. Akira, with Pichu on her shoulder and her team ready, prepared to face Yuki.

As she entered the arena, the cold air gave her a clear clue of what awaited her. Yuki was already there, her expression calm and collected, surrounded by her Ice-type Pokémon. Next to her, a Snorunt anxiously awaited the start signal.

"I saw you in your last battle," Yuki said with a smile. "You're talented, but tricks won't save you this time."

Akira gritted his teeth. He knew he would have to be more cunning than ever. The referee raised his hand, and the match began.

"Snorunt, use Powder Snow!" Yuki shouted.

The small Ice Pokémon began to create a flurry of snow that enveloped the battlefield, covering everything in a white blanket. Visibility immediately dropped, and Akira knew Yuki was preparing a trap. The temperature was rapidly dropping, weakening his Pichu.

"We can't face them head-on, Pichu. Dodge and prepare," Akira ordered.

Pichu ran across the field, avoiding the snow projectiles as he waited for the command to attack. Akira knew he needed to do something different. He thought of Murkrow, of how the shadows could be his ally, but he was still hesitant to use that power so openly. Instead, he looked at Giratina in its dwarf form, who watched from the shadows of the stadium, waiting for the signal from its summoner.

The cold was overwhelming, and Akira felt like he was losing ground. He needed a distraction, something that could turn the tide of the fight.

"Pichu, use Spark and run across the field!" he ordered.

Pichu, enveloping himself in electricity, began to run, electrifying the snow-covered ground. This caused Snorunt to lose its balance and back away.

"Don't be intimidated, Snorunt! Use Ice Beam!" Yuki shouted.

Snorunt fired a freezing blast at Pichu, who barely managed to dodge it. Akira knew that if he didn't change his strategy soon, the ice would catch up with them.

It was at that moment that he felt the connection. The shadow at his feet began to move on its own, and Akira knew he had to take the risk.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath. "It's your turn!"

With a subtle movement, he extended his hand towards the ground and Murkrow emerged from the shadows once more, this time with more strength and speed. He had summoned it without using the Poké Ball, but in the midst of the battle, no one seemed to notice.

"Murkrow, fly high and use Air Strike!" Akira shouted.

Murkrow soared above the snowstorm, breaking through the white curtain with its speed and precision. Yuki watched in amazement as her Snorunt was hit squarely by the attack.

"Snorunt, hold on!" Yuki shouted, clearly taken aback by Murkrow's appearance.

Murkrow gave them no respite, however. It attacked again, using its speed to keep Snorunt under pressure.

"It's time, Pichu! Spark Attack!" Akira ordered.

Pichu, who had been waiting for his chance, lunged at Snorunt, taking advantage of the fact that he was weakened by Murkrow's attacks. The blow was accurate, and Snorunt fell to the ground, unable to continue.

The referee raised his hand.

"The winner is Akira!" he announced.

The crowd erupted in cheers, but Akira barely heard them. He knew he had won the battle, but the way he had relied on the shadows worried him. How far could I take this power? And what price would he have to pay?

Yuki came over after the match, extending his hand with a smile despite the defeat.

"You've improved a lot since your last match," he said. "That Murkrow is amazing. "I don't know how you did it, but it was a brilliant move."

Akira shook his hand, thanking him for the compliment. But as he did so, he couldn't help but feel something darker awakening within him. Giratina, ever present, seemed stronger, more connected to each victory he achieved.

"This is just the beginning," Giratina murmured in his mind, almost with an invisible smile.

And Akira, though victorious, knew he would have to be more alert than ever.

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End of Chapter 10