Chapter 106 Punit vs Kade Battle

The air was thick with anticipation, the Indigo League stadium packed to the rafters, as cheers reverberated through the night. The lights bore down on the battlefield, casting long shadows, but none darker than the one sitting on my shoulder: Shadow, my Pokémon for now, my edge.

I stood there, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth as the referee's voice thundered through the air.

"Trainers ready! This is the first round—one-on-one! Punit Setia sends out 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸! Kade Strickland sends out 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘵!"

Across the field, Kade stood as rigid as a stone, his grey eyes locked on me, cold and unblinking. His Luxray, Volt, prowled beside him, muscles coiled like springs, its electric mane crackling with suppressed power. Volt looked fierce, no doubt about it. But that wasn't what bothered me. Kade, the so-called "Edge," had killed others Reincarnators. He didn't look like much, but I knew better than to underestimate him. His reputation painted him as ruthless, methodical, unflinching.

"Shadow," I called softly. That was all it took.

Shadow leaped from my shoulder, landing with a smooth grace that made no sound, a streak of dark energy tracing along his small, lithe form. His red eyes gleamed, and for a moment, nothing moved. It was the kind of stillness that only comes before a storm.

Kade's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Volt, Wild Charge."

Volt surged forward, a blur of electric energy. The ground cracked under the force of its charge, sparks leaping from its mane, a living bolt of lightning headed straight for us.

"Shadow Copy." My command was calm, deliberate.

Shadow's form twisted, enveloped in a shroud of black lightning. His body shimmered, reshaping itself into an exact replica of Volt. Only, it wasn't just a copy. It was a better version—faster, stronger, and immune to the same weaknesses. Kade's eyes narrowed; he knew what was coming, but there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

"Wild Charge," I ordered, my voice cold.

Shadow shot forward, a perfect mirror of Volt's attack. The two electric beasts collided in the center of the battlefield with a bone-rattling crash. Energy exploded outward in a shockwave, throwing dust and debris into the air, the crowd gasping as the ground trembled beneath their feet.

Kade didn't flinch. "Crunch, Volt."

Volt's jaws snapped open, dark energy swirling around its fangs as it lunged for Shadow's throat. I saw the moment his teeth missed by mere inches—Shadow twisting mid-air with supernatural agility, avoiding the attack like a breeze slipping through the cracks.

"Ice Fang." My voice stayed steady, betraying none of the tension building inside me.

Shadow's jaws glowed a cold blue, teeth freezing the air around them as he clamped down on Volt's flank. Frost exploded from the point of impact, crystallizing the fur in an instant. Volt let out a low growl, shaking off the frost with brute force, but I could see the pain in its eyes.

"Agility, now," Kade barked.

Volt blurred, its speed doubling as it darted around Shadow, leaving afterimages in its wake. Kade thought he could outmaneuver us, but I wasn't about to let that happen.

"Thunder Wave, Shadow."

Electricity danced along Shadow's body before erupting in a jagged wave aimed to paralyze Volt. But Kade was ready.

"Dodge it! Quick Attack!"

Volt darted out of the way, barely a flicker in the air, before slamming into Shadow with a burst of raw speed. Shadow staggered back, but he held his ground. My smirk grew.

"Volt Switch."

In a flash, Shadow's body shimmered and flickered, vanishing and reappearing on the opposite side of the battlefield. The crowd gasped, but I didn't care. Shadow looked stronger than ever, his red eyes blazing with an intensity that matched my own.

Kade's jaw clenched. He wasn't used to being on the defensive. "Wild Charge again. Full power!"

Volt snarled and charged, electricity surging violently around its body. It was going for a knockout blow, but I could see the cracks forming in Kade's strategy. Desperation. He was pushing too hard.

I waited, biding my time, watching as Volt came closer and closer.

"End it, Shadow. Crunch."

The moment Volt reached striking distance, Shadow moved like a shadow itself—silent, lethal. His fangs gleamed with dark energy, sinking into Volt's side with a sickening crunch. Volt howled, electricity and dark power clashing violently as the two Pokémon struggled in the center of the battlefield. Volt tried to fight back, but Shadow held firm, his grip unyielding.

"Volt, fight it!" Kade's voice cracked with something close to panic, but it was too late.

With one final push, Shadow released Volt, who staggered back, its legs shaking before it collapsed onto the ground, a low growl escaping its throat.

The referee's voice rang out, but I barely heard it over the sound of my own pulse thundering in my ears.

"Luxray is unable to battle! Shadow wins the first round!"

The crowd roared, but it was white noise to me. I watched as Shadow reverted to his base form, landing softly on my shoulder, his red eyes still glowing faintly.

Kade stood on the other side of the field, fists clenched, eyes burning with a cold fire. This loss wasn't the end for him. No, it was just the beginning. His defeat was only fueling the darkness I'd heard so much about.

But I wasn't worried. The way he looked at me—like I was just another obstacle to overcome—only made me more certain.

The real battle had just begun.