Chapter 120: Let's Switch

Under Metagross's Psychic, the entire battlefield seemed frozen in time. Walrein, along with the massive Surf wave it had summoned, stopped mid-motion, as if someone had pressed the pause button. 

A pale blue aura enveloped both Walrein and the Surf, and panic flickered in the Pokémon's eyes as it awaited its Trainer's next command.

Yanis, though, wasn't easily shaken. No one who made it into the special class was.

"Walrein, calm down and take control! Push that Surf forward!" Yanis shouted.

He didn't believe Metagross could keep this up for long. Even if Metagross held the Surf back now, the sheer weight of the water would eventually overwhelm it.

As long as Walrein could regain control, even if the Surf didn't defeat Metagross, it would surely cause trouble for Julian standing behind his Pokémon.

Walrein: I waited for so long, and this is all you could come up with?

Walrein, however, had other thoughts. It could still feel the tight grip of Psychic binding its body, unable to do much more than move its eyes. If it could speak, it might have had a few choice words for its Trainer.

One minute passed. Then five. Then ten.

Metagross's Psychic held strong the entire time, unyielding.

Yanis, initially surprised, grew more and more frustrated, his face twisting in disbelief.

His expression likely followed this sequence: 

(¯□¯;) → (O_O)? → (O⊙)b

By now, everyone was staring at Metagross in astonishment.

A Psychic that lasted for ten minutes, and not just to lift a cup or small object, but to control a massive wave of Surf spanning the battlefield.

Yanis's Walrein, his trump card, was utterly helpless, held like a puppet under Metagross's power.

Finally, Julian spoke. "End it, Metagross."

The blue aura around Walrein and the Surf intensified. Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, Metagross lifted both Walrein and the massive wave into the air.

Higher and higher they rose, reaching a height of about three or four hundred feet. Julian glanced at Yanis, who stood frozen in shock, too stunned to say a word.

At this point, if Yanis had being calm, he would have surrendered.

'Forget it, it's so fat, it won't die from falling anyway'

With Psychic still active, Metagross held them there for a moment longer, before releasing the move. The Surf disintegrated into countless raindrops, drenching the spectators, while Walrein plummeted to the ground with a heavy thud.

Only Julian remained dry, protected by Metagross's psychic barrier.

Walrein hit the ground with a crash, leaving a small crater behind. It staggered, trying to get back on its feet, clearly shaken but not completely down.

"Return, Walrein," Yanis said, finally admitting defeat.

He recognized the gap between him and Julian. There was no point in continuing the battle and causing his Walrein unnecessary harm.

"He's strong… That Metagross is ridiculously strong," Yanis muttered as he walked back to the sidelines.

Only a few moments ago, he had looked down on Tyler, whose Blaziken had been defeated instantly by Julian's Metagross. Now, he understood that it wasn't that Tyler was weak — it was that Julian's Metagross was just too powerful.

Still, at least his Walrein had lasted longer than Tyler's Blaziken. Walrein had been "fighting" for ten minutes, after all.

"The third challenger is up," someone in the crowd muttered.

Luis stepped forward next, looking confident. "Julian's Metagross has already fought twice. I won't take advantage of that. Let's switch Pokémon," he said with a self-righteous air.

Bah, shameless.

Everyone else saw right through him. Metagross may have "fought" twice, but it hadn't taken any damage, and it was clear it could keep going if needed.

They all knew that Metagross was Julian's Trump Card.

Still, Luis was hoping to defeat one of Julian's other Pokémon with his own trump card.

"Lucario, it's your turn"

Julian said, recalling Metagross and sending out Lucario.

"Luca"

Lucario growled, standing tall and staring intensely at Luis.

Compared to Metagross's calm, Lucario's eyes were fierce and determined. The pressure from its gaze was almost enough to make an ordinary person look away.

Luis hesitated, his confidence wavering slightly. The Lucario in front of him radiated an intense fighting spirit, and for a moment, he questioned his decision.

"Froslass, let's go!" he called out, releasing his Ice/Ghost-type Pokémon.

Pokémon: Froslass (Ice/Ghost)

Level: 53

Qualification: Cyan

Ability: Snow Cloak

Item: Never-Melt Ice

Gender: Female

Moves: Hex, Ice Fang, Double Team, Protect, Destiny Bond, Powder Snow, Leer, Icy Wind, Confuse Ray, Ice shard, Will-O-Wisp, Frost Breath

Discs Moves: Blizzard, Water Pulse, Hail, Light Screen, Safeguard, Hyper Beam

Genetic Moves: Disable, Block, Weather Ball, Icicle Crash

Another Cyan-qualified Pokémon, that makes it three in a row, special class really was special.

Froslass evolves from a female Snorunt using Dawn Stone and is one of Snorunt's final forms, the other being Glalie.

Luis was also an Ice-type Trainer, and Froslass was his ace. Rare in this part of the world, Froslass was mostly found in the Babath.

Pokémon: Lucario (Fighting/Steel)

Level: 50

Qualification: Blue

Ability: Inner Focus

Item: Muscle Band

Gender: Male

Moves: Work Up, Quick Attack, Endure, Detect, Feint, Metal Claw, Aura Sphere, Rock Smash, Bullet Punch, Metal Sound, Bone Rush, Meteor Mash, Heal Pulse

Discs Moves: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Swords Dance, Dig, Bulk Up, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse

Genetic Moves: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch

-

"Froslass, Blizzard!" Luis shouted.

The once sunny sky darkened, and a biting cold swept over the battlefield as temperatures plunged below freezing. Within moments, the arena was enveloped in snow, the air heavy with swirling ice crystals.

Luis, prepared for the drop in temperature, quickly donned a thick down jacket, then looked over at Julian, who was still in his short sleeves, standing unfazed in the middle of the storm.

"You'll freeze if you don't bundle up!" he called mockingly.

His plan was to make Julian freeze up and make a fool of himself.

But Julian remained calm, his face showing no reaction to the sudden cold. 

Luis frowned.

"Let's see how long you can hold out" he muttered under his breath.

*****

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