Higher stakes!

"Well then, Oshawott, it's time to get serious." The boy turned to the shallow crater created by his Pokémon, his eyes turning serious as he bellowed the words.

"Arise!"

Oshawott slowly got up, its body moving unnaturally, struggling even to stand. Kenzo watched in confusion and anxiety, his mind racing, wondering if he could keep this thing down at all.

"Listen here, descendant of the Granite region," the boy muttered, waiting for his Pokémon to reach his side before crossing his arms under his robe, his gaze lingering on Kenzo.

"Hear my name, and hear it well!" The ground started to shake, lifting them, along with their companions, into the air, even surpassing the heads of the giants that watched them so intently.

Blue looked up from where he stood, his vision limited.

"They call me Caelum, emperor of one of the regions in the land of Granite! The one destined to reach the heavens and cleave the sky! You are but an obstacle!"

"Obstacle? What do you mean by 'obstacle'?" Kenzo demanded, watching the edge of the raised battlefield to ensure he didn't fall.

"I think you should be more worried about yourself at this present moment," Caelum muttered, pointing forward, his robe falling back to reveal a body plated in gold armor where it had previously been bare.

"And what happens if I don't win this fight?" Kenzo pondered, his body tense, hoping the answer wasn't what he thought.

Caelum laughed, his voice echoing throughout the ruins.

"What do you think?"

The monsters slowly loomed closer, their eyes gleaming with hunger as they stared at Kenzo and his Pokémon.

"Oshawott, Night Slash!" Kenzo cried. His Oshawott nodded and blitzed forward, tearing up the earth beneath it. By the time Kenzo noticed, however, it was too late. The blow landed on Oshawott in a furious collision. Particles of darkness seeped into its body before it was sent crashing into the wall of the ruin.

"Careful not to fall now. We wouldn't want that, would we?" Caelum mocked, watching with a grin as Kenzo's face registered horror at the battle's escalated difficulty.

"Oshawott!" Kenzo cried out to his Pokémon, seeing it claw its way out of the crater in the wall. Its hand hung limply from its body, its grip on its shell almost nonexistent.

"Oshawott, do that lesser being in with an Aqua Jet," Caelum commanded. The copy dashed off toward Kenzo's Oshawott as fast as it could.

"Oshawott, dodge it!" Kenzo screamed, desperate as he watched his friend barely manage to leap out of the crater in time, remaining airborne as the other Oshawott prepared its next attack.

"Oshawott! Aqua Jet, now!" Kenzo screamed, watching as water engulfed his friend like a raging tsunami.

"Oshawott, Aqua Jet," Caelum commanded, the copy mirroring the attack. Both collided, sending bursts of water everywhere as their heads bashed together.

"Now, use Night Slash!"

"Oshawott, use Sacred Sword!"

Oshawott drew its shell once more, the blade becoming one of immense darkness. The copy mimicked the action, its blade turning into a giant sword of light as the two clashed. They remained airborne, fighting for dominance, each hoping to overwhelm the other with sheer strength.

"Oshawott, use Aqua Jet!" Kenzo roared, punching the air in a futile attempt at motivation. Sparks of water began to pour from Oshawott but soon disappeared, as though it was struggling to activate the move.

"Go!" Kenzo kept pushing, almost as though he could feel the strain Oshawott was going through. His hands clenched into fists, his teeth gritted so hard his jaw hurt. The tension was overwhelming.

At his words, Oshawott gritted its teeth, producing an Aqua Jet like never before. The sheer volume of water around it put Surf to shame. Caelum watched with a look of shock but soon broke into a grin of excitement.

"Now, push!" Oshawott began to win the fight of pure power, the copy struggling under the weight of the torrents crashing down upon it.

"Oshawott, use Aqua Jet, channel it to your blade!" Caelum commanded, and so it happened. The rippling waves of battle grew more intense, the copy's blade now coated in a gush of unending torrents.

The weapon grew to astonishing heights, rivaling the attack of its organic counterpart.

Kenzo watched on, his hands clenched into fists as cold sweat ran down his face. Caelum smirked to himself, his arms folded as he continued to observe the unfolding events.

Both Oshawotts dispersed from each other, landing on the battlefield. With their jets still active, they rushed at one another, their blades clashing and weaving through the other's attacks. The torrents began to meld together as though they were one, the currents colliding, splashing across the battlefield as they fought for dominance, neither willing to back down.

They ran side by side, their weapons meeting each other. Oshawott shot upward to gain some elevation before attempting to crash down on its opponent with a Night Slash. The copy planted its feet into the earth below and dragged its blade until it collided with Oshawott's.

The sheer force of their collision sent sparks of light and shadow throughout the field. Oshawott took a step back, panting, desperate for breath, while the copy remained unfazed.

The torrent around Oshawott began to grow stronger and stronger, almost as though it was burning through the last remnants of its energy. The torrent shot up to the roof of the ruin, causing a soft rain to pour around them.

Kenzo watched in awe, his mouth slightly agape at what was happening. As the waters finally dispersed, Kenzo's eyes widened in shock and surprise. His partner stood tall, its back to him, with two dark blades drawn.

"Osha— I mean, Dewott... you evolved?!"

Dewott looked back at him with a smile, while Caelum rolled his eyes at the scene. He reached out to his Pokémon, its flesh starting to mold and contort, copying Dewott's form.

"No more games!" Caelum announced, arms folded.

Kenzo smirked, cracking his knuckles, a new spark of determination lit within him.

"Agreed!"