Chương 20: 20-Battle!

With the proclamation, accompanied by a buzzing tone, trainers move at the exact same time and two 'mon are released in twin flashes of light.

Glancing around for a moment to get his bearings, a raichu glares at an abomasnow across the dirt.

Immediately upon release, Abomisnow roars a guttural challenge and begins to slowly lift a leg like a sumo wrestler's shiko, his very presence creating an inverted bonfire of cold while the stadium's opening to the already cloudy sky darkens with impossibly low clouds.

Wattson shouts something at his partner, though exactly what is lost to distance and the noise of the crowd.

Regardless, Raichu's cheeks begin to spark and fuzz as he lowers to all fours, before he shoots across the arena in a series of electric hops, so fast that Tanya has to concentrate for the blur to resolve into anything resembling movement.

Raichu is halfway across the distance before Abomasnow slamshis leg down to the ground creating a shockwave of disturbed earth that radiates from the impact.

The clouds thicken, forming a temporary roof across the arena's aperture, and tiny chips of hail begin to fall.

The electric 'mon leaps in a high arc to dodge the worst of the earthquake but seemingly mistimes his jump as the initial shockwave has him stumble, dipping just enough to be hit by the crest of the earthquake's wave.

But that doesn't stop him as the lightning bolt on his tail becomes real for a moment. Cracking and writhing as the 'mon recovers then snaps his tail at his opponent like a whip mid-air, releasing a shockwave of thunder and lightning with its destructive potential somehow restrained and directed toward his enemy.

The attack travels across the distance so quickly that it can be seen only by its afterimage and effect, as Abomasnow roars with pain while electricity begins to writhe up and down his twitching body.

Glacia watches on silently, and as her partner struggles to move his paralyzed body into close range the trainer clasps her hands behind her back while everyone in the audience suddenly feels a soul-deep chill. Its screaming fervor quiets slightly as frostforms at Abomisnow's feet while his eyes begin to shine from within, the pale aqua of an ancient glacier as hailstones grow larger.

Undeterred, Raichu continues into the fray as his opponent's fists glow with frozen light, condensation falling out of the nearby air that turns to snowflakes on its way down.

In range, the electric type's cheeks spark more violently as if to push against the oppressive silence of the cold, flying across the final space between them as Abomasnow roars yet another challenge!

Struggling against the electricity in a charging stumble, the creature of ice interlocks both frozen fists and swings his arms like a baseball bat at his midair opponent! But the instant before the fists would make contact, flickering electricity chooses the worst possible time to flare across his body, slowing the attack just enough to let Raichu explode into lightning!

Body seeming to discorporate into pure energy, the bolt zigzags back where he came from, yellow turning red as he retreats back into a waiting pokeball.

Without a target, Abomasnow staggers as he releases the built up energy, sending out a blizzard that shoots sideways, power seeming to multiply and diffract every time it strikes a hailstone while it flies toward the stands!

Before it crashes against some kind of invisible barrier between the tesla coils, leaves of frost skittering across seemingly empty air in the arc of the missed attack.

But the lack of an opponent is short lived, as the flickering afterimage of the electricity flares white, and suddenly Magnezoneis volt switched into Riachu's place!

The hailstones are larger again, now the size of gumballs that shatter against the electrified metal of the newcomer.

Immediately flaring his electricity, dual magnets spark against the ground as they pull themself into the air for greater mobility. The 'mon has to put that advantage to use as soon as they get it, twisting deflect Abomasnow as he strikes the new opponent with a fist, using the fading remnants of the precious attack rekindled to full strength in less than a moment.

Frost races across Magnezone's metallic frame, but is just as quickly shattered by arcs of lightning erupting from the 'mon's form.

From across the arena and over the deafening crowd, Wattson calls out instructions to the newly active 'mon, a smile sharp enough to split atoms.

And for the first time Glacia responds as well.

Unclasping her hands, she reaches out as if to indicate Abomasnow and calls out a single instruction, lost in the noise, and sweeps her hand down, and despite distance and the deafening crowd her partner can somehow hear the command. Proven by a single glance backward and the abrupt change in tactics.

Powering though weakening electrical sparks, Abomasnow steps into Magnezone's guard and links his fists together again. Raising them high in the air with a roar, he slams them down in a hammering blow as the 'mon attempts to rise out of reach, smashing into the ground with a metallic shriek.

But Magnezone wasn't idle in the assault. Weathering the blows, the 'mon gathers power into their central antenna, not allowing the clear pain of the strikes to break their concentration.

That determination is rewarded as a flash of blue shoots into the hail clouds above and seems to disperse inside with a rumble of thunder.

Glacia's eyes flick up to the clouds, then back down the battle as she calls out another instruction, hand moving to her bandoleer and ghosting over her options with a considering squint, expression half hidden by a cold mask.

Abomasnow responds immediately, interlocked hands half raised for another brick break turn into growing shards of ice that are thrown at the prone 'mon as a distraction while he jumps back.

The quick retreat allows the ice type to avoid the majority of harm as Magnezone's central eye flares a searingly bright beam of light, strong enough that it has Glacia blinking from the other side of the arena.

Even so, it's clear Abomasnow's vision has been impaired, blinking heavily as he comes to a stop.

With the rumble of more thunder the hailstones are quickly being replaced by rain, already dampening Abomasnow's thick pelt, and with the advantage of distance Magnezone is finally allowed to rise from the ground.

Flickers of static erupt from their magnets, linking to the tesla coils bracketing the arena as they wobble their dented body higher and out of melee range.

The rain from the impossibly low clouds continues to strengthen, flashes of lightning jumping within bracketing Magnezone's floating form, the only other light illuminating the 'mon is their own glowing eyes.

Abomasnow continues to retreat back towards his side of the arena, slowed by the terrain as the rain quickly turns dry earth to mud as his opponent's eyes blink high above, becoming targeting reticles.

Holding their position overhead, the three eyes twitch and stutter, carefully observing every move with the central eye while the two bracketing it flick in various directions attempting to predict what will happen next.

As soonas the ice type crosses over a line separating the space into thirds on his side of the arena he disappears in a flash of red light, his furious eyes the last piece to disappear as they glare back.

Glacia quickly switches pokeballs and pops another open in her palm, releasing Vanilluxe, who gives a small showy twirl in the air as she arrives in a flash of light Calling out inaudible orders, the trainer punctuates them with simple gestures before the newest 'mon shoots off with a trail of frost toward the threat, a thin film of frozen rain beginning to form as it splashes against her.

Across the poor vision of the weather, Wattson squints at the new 'mon with a considering expression. One that quickly shifts to alarmas all three of Magnezone's eyes lock onto the new threat and almost immediately the central eye begins to build up power again.

He calls out an order a fractionof a second too late as a thin beam of white light fires from on high with unprecedented accuracy.

Only to hit Vanilluxe just as ice completely encases her and flashes with a mirror's shine!

The attack is reflected back, stronger, but the beam shatters the ice and knocks both out of the air. Each 'mon landing with a splash of mud.

But only Vanilluxe begins struggling to pull herself into the air afterward.

Magnezone's unconscious body disappears in a flash of light, quickly replaced by Electrivire.

Immediately, the bearlike 'mon charges across the distance between them to take advantage of the quickly shrinking window of recovery. As he closes the distance, instead of throwing out a ranged attack his fists begin to crackle with stored energy, focusing power to increase damage.

But he's too slow, the moment's reprieve allows Vanilluxe's eyes to focus again and stabilize her flight.

Back in the battle, she gathers power in the fractions of a second she has before Electrivire makes it into melee range, and a pulse of iceflares out.

Radiating like a shockwave, everything freezes, the mud becoming solid as the rain instantly freezes into hail. But in almost the exact same moment, an electrified fist the size of her body smashes into the ice type, knocking her across the arena as Electrivire doesn't allow the frozen ground to slow him down.

Instead he uses the ice to his advantage in a half skating run as he keeps chasing after his tumbling opponent.

The ice type wavers in the air, struggling to rise more than a foot above the ground and barely holding onto consciousness. But her dazed eyes snap to something resembling focus as Glacia calls out an attack, cold mask forgotten as she shouts out, louder than even the roaring crowd.

"Blizzard!

Now!"

The 'mon complies, no need for accuracy as the cold diffracts and multiplies though the falling hailstones. But Electrivire doesn't slow down or dodge, instead he crouches down –still using the momentum of the ice– and throws out a light screen that shields the attack even as he keeps speed with an icy slide.

Before shattering his defences as he leaps thoughthe light screen as soon as the blizzard ends!

Leaping across the final distance to melee range, the 'mon winds up another electrified punch, only to be hit by a followup ice beam at the worst possible moment! The growing sheet of frozen water on his chest throws off his weight and, combined with the slippery floor, sends him to the ground.

But before he's even slid to a stop, Electrivire cracks the ice attached to him with a fist and throws the result at his opponent.

Instinctively she dodges the harmless attack only to be gripped with both hands as the electric type throws himself across the distance and bashes his foe into the frozen floor, creating a radiating crack that takes up a quarter of the arena.

The unconscious 'mon disappears in a flash of red and the announcer's voice crackles over the crowd."

Incredible!

Wattson removes one of Glacia's specialists! The 'mon the master of ice brought especially to win today! Losing one of her few flying 'mon cant feel good! But neither side is out of the woods yet!"

Contrasting the favorable commentary Wattson doesn't look pleased by the turn of events.

It's not hard for Tanya to see why, her research had covered some theorycrafting on the hypothetical team for this round and each trainer's style of combat.

From that research she can make a good guess that, despite one 'mon being knocked out each, the balance of power is not equal.

It's clear Magnezone was supposed to be able to knock out at least one mon directly before going down. Considering the effort expended to get him onto the field and the several setup moves to get him into an advantageous position in the air with the lock-on.

Instead nearly all that setup had been wasted with a good counterpick and a single mistake.

Tanya leans in closer, mind buzzing though potential team compositions using her limited knowledge of the tactic of this kind of combat and more limited understanding of each trainer's potential roster, looking for an edge needed to turn this around.

Unless something changes quickly, the electromaster is running toward an unsalvageable position..

Glacia slowly moves a hand up and down her bandoleer, eyes never looking away from the panting electric type as he gently steams with the heat and massive clouds of condensation leave his ever grinning mouth.

It's clear he's on his last legs. But not unconscious yet.

She makes a decision, snatches a ball from her belt, and releases her next 'mon in a flash.

And the temperature in the room drops as Mamoswinetakes to the field!

The entire stadium quiets, the cold almost seeming to swallow sound like a winter forest.

The 'mon seems to expect the silence, eyes cast around the arena for a moment, allowing his attention to drop to his foe last.

Then Wattson's voice pierces the silence, the only one strong enough to cut through the glacier!

"Go all out!

Thunder punch!"

Electrivire doesn't hesitate despite his condition, and as his opponent rears up to his hind legs with a deep rumble, he struggles to draw up his electricity as he charges into certain doom.

But he does it. Landing an electric blow the instant before Mamoswine slams his body down in another earthquake, shatteringthe sheet of ice the arena's become and sending the electric type flying back in the wave of frozen earth.

Mamoswine stumbles as the earthquake concludes. Static cracking across his pelt as Electrivire disappears before he even hits the ground.

Wattson doesn't need to consider what to do next as he tosses out another ball, Glacia straightening as it pops open, revealing Electrode.

Immediately she reaches for a pokeball with a surprised expression, trying to recall her heaviest –and slowest– hitter as the red and white pokemon zips across the arena like a lightning bolt.

But she's too slow as Electrode crosses the arena in less than a second, appearing in a flash beneath Mamoswine's chin already throwing off so much electricity that he's lost in his own glare.

Then.

Heexplodes.

Flashing brighter than the sun for an instant, the blinding light is accompanied by a deafening thud and a roll of smoke! The burst of energy chases away the cold, now saturating the air with the sub-audable whine of electricity and the cracking ozone of a thunderstorm.

There's a moment of anticipatory stillness as the smoke obscures the result. Then it clears, revealing two unconscious 'mon, and everything in a wide radius faintly crackling with electricity.

There's a beat of stunned silence.

Before the crowd erupts, leaping from their seats and screaming their approval! The mass of celebrating people press against each other in a fashion that straddles the line between fervor and mob.

Tanya comes back to herself as she loses sight of the battle, blocked by the chaotic press of bodies all around her.

She needs to be able to see the battle! Thoughts of why can come later! She needs to see it!

Looking around for a higher vantage point for a moment, she eventually gives up and casts her psychic energy in front of her, gripping clothes and wallets, before shoving them to either side giving her a view of the arena again.

In the missing time it seems the two trainers took a few seconds to reformulate their strategies. Recalling their unconscious 'mon, each stares out across the heavily damaged arena to the other, hands moving up and down their bandoleers as they try and predict their opponent.

Then, at some unspoken signal, each hand snaps to a seemingly random ball. Appearing on the field once again, Abomasnow looks out across the field, crumbling the cracked ice as he lands and Wattson's pokeball opens.

Allowing his Ace, Manectric, onto the field, and the announcer's voice fades in once again.

"Boom into doom! Wattson turns the ever destructive Electrode to knock out one of Glacia's strongestthreats! Then pushes the advantage and sends out his strongest card early in the hope for a sweep!" He shouts, pausing as the crowd erupts into cheers as Manectric gives a preformative leap and slam into the ground, sending a shockwave of lightning before turning back to his trainer.

"But we're still neck and neck! Can our hometown hero hold his advantage!?"

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Wattson smiles out at the crowd, then looks back at his partner.

Manectric gazes back, no words are exchanged for a long moment before a doggy smile turning sharp and electricity crackles down his back before he turns his head back to lock eyes with his foe.

There's a considering hesitation as the two size each other up, listening to their trainers as they quietly give instructions.

Then Abomasnow's fists flare cold and Manectric breaks into a sprint!

The oncoming blizzard is impossible to avoid in the hail, but the electric type jukes to the edge of the arena –and the attack's arc– at the very last moment to turn the devastating strike into a glancing blow.

Shaking off a thin film of frost, fire sparks in his mouth as he crosses the halfway point.

Icicles forming on his forearms, Abomasnow charges another blizzard but this time as he fires Manectric ducks, sliding beneath as arcs of electricity crackle from his back though the bulk of the snow as it passes above.

But before Abomasnow can fire off a third attack, his arm instinctively pulls back to guard the face just as a fire fang clampsdown!

Roaring in pain, the ice/grass type swings the arm to throw his opponent off and easily breaks the grip. But before he can recover Manectric is rushing around the side, threatening to get behind and forcing a hasty retreat.

Another fire fang snaps at his guard and a desperate blizzard goes wide, completely missing his opponent.

Glacia, etiquette forgotten, screams out a command over the crowd.

"Wood hammer! Take the hit!"

Abomasnow grimaces at the idea, but powers through an obvious and deep fear of the fire as a fist suddenly hardens with bark.

But even the all out attack is reduced to a glancing blow, fear combined Manectric's speed lets the 'mon duck inside his opponent's dropped guard, powering though as the bark scrapes his left flank, and leaps for the throat with flaming teeth!

Glacia's partner can do nothing other than cry out with pain and terror as flames lick at his face.

Falling to the ground, faint struggles quickly still, before Manectric gently releases his grip and jumps off his unconscious opponent, giving an apologetic lick to the soot stained fur.

The elite four member grimaces like an aristocrat, the smallest twitch of the eyebrow over a nonplussed expression as Abomasnow is quickly recalled.

Tanya blinks a headache away from accelerating her perceptoin for this long with an already overtaxed body as the new paradigm forces careful consideration.

Because Wattson's ace is well known, as are his skills.

Fire fang.

One of the electromaster's greatest threats in his entire stable for this matchup, so much so that it doesn't matterthat his opponent knew it was coming.

Tanya watches the most dangerous 'mon in the electromaster's arsenal give a panting smile at the crowd again, flaring crackles of electricity down his back and into the ground in a way that has the audience scream in excitement.

The clean dispatch of one 'mon already proves the incredible danger, and despite every other 'mon in Glacia's roster almost certainly being less vulnerable to the attack, Wattson's strongest partner cannot be understated.

But the former soldier's mind is already on the future.

Because there's no strategy to counter this.

Manectric's easygoing smile fades once again as Glacia grabs a new pokeball and releases Beartic.

Only the question of if Glacia had brought enough strength to wear him down.

Eyes lock and there's no hesitation as fiery teeth shoot across the gap as icicle claws form to meet them, and the battle is joined.

The trainers watch, silent and unmoving as fire and electricity meets ice and bulk.

Both 'mon know what the other wants to do, there's no room for tactics or complicated strategies. The battle will be decided by nothing more than each 'mon's strength, speed, and determination.

Each blow fractures the icy arena while fire and lightning create puddles of mud that just as quickly freeze in the presence of these two forces of nature.

Beartic smashes his opponent across the arena, yet another burn mark staining his white pelt alongside faint tinges of red. Charging across the distance as Manectric pulls himself up and they meet in the middle of the arena once again.

The battle devolves further, any semblance of form or strategy cast aside as each mon's world narrows to their opponent and the simple objective to win!

Manectric punishes and oversextended attack, leaping forward and burying flaming teeth into a shoulder.

Beartic staggers, electricity wavering across his body, then rips his opponent off yet again. Panting heavily as the latest exchange taxes him ever closer to his limit.

The electric type lands heavily and struggles to rise, wobbling between panted breaths as unbroken eyes stare at their matched opposite.

The trainers still remain silent. Watching on with tense expressions.

Struggling to stand and clutching his left forearm to his chest, Beartic abandons a bipedal posture. Falling to all fours he claws toward his foe, proclaiming his challenge with a guttural roar!

Manectric staggers forward in turn, a bad limp and obvious exhaustion fade once again on the approach, faint sparks flickering across his back and legs as he struggles to reach speed.

They meet in the middle, one final clash as Beartic lunges forward, jaws agape!

But Manectric flares a sudden lastburst of electricity, reahing speeds not seen since the first exchange as he ducks his head beneath the reaching jaws, ignites his own, and cleanly bites into his opponent's collarbone!

Then lifts!

The ice type's roar turns to a bellow of pain as he's flipped on his side, claws and teeth desperately scrabbling to find purchase on his foe but finds none as he falls to his side and slides to a stop.

And lies still.

Only after releasing his grip and ensuring his opponent is unconscious does Manectric collapse beside him, panting heavily and on the brink of consciousness, but undeniably the victor.

Glacia recalls her unconscious 'mon, but as Manectric struggles to stand Wattson starts to do the same. The movement makes his partner's gaze snap toward him, barking out an objection too quiet to hear, but easily understood with context.

Wattson says something back, and the words make his partner forcehimself back onto wobbling feet then just as quickly collapse back to the ground. But, as Glacia grabs a pokeball, Manectric huffs with a conflicted expression and jerking nod, then closes his eyes.

As he gathers what seem to be the last scraps of his power, wisps of blue energy gather to his muzzle. Before he throws his head back toward the clouds, releasing that blue energy into the sky with a howl that has the clouds grumble in response.

Only after the howl slowly quiets in a final rain dance does he collapse, unconscious.

"I cant belive it! With his final move Manectric sends the clouds back to rain! Wattson's pushing her back at every turn!"

Tanya almost rolls her eyes at the biased casting, but has to concede the man to be correct about one thing, Manectric proved his position of Ace by singlehandedlyshutting down a developing sweep, and by taking out two heavy hitters he pulls a lead back to a tie.

Topped off by a final change of weather that reduces Glacia's options further for her remaining two 'mon, the battle's tempo hasn't switched, but is certainly more even. The victor once more uncertain.

Recalling his partner, Watson's everpresent smile turns melancholy for a moment. But as Frostlasstakes the field he quickly switches balls and throws out Raichu once more.

Back on the field, the electric type instantly fires a burst of electricity into the clouds above that instantly zips across the arean and smashes down on Frostlass as she gets her bearings in the disappearing hail.

But even as the thunderbolt knocks her out of the sky, it doesn't stop yet another shockwave of cold freezing attempting to freeze the rain yet again.

But this time Raichu can contest, firing blue tinged lightning into the clouds. Frostlass falters in the air, squinting as she seems to struggle as the weather begins swirling in strange ways, pockets of hail seeming to struggle against lightning.

After a few seconds of an invisible contest for dominance an uneasy equilibrium forms as sleet and ice cold –but still liquid– showers split the arena in half as hail battles rain. Pockets of each encroaching on the others territory.

But Raichu proves to be at an advantage as a bolt of lightning shoots out from a pocket of rain. Knocked out of the sky, Frostlass recovers mid-fall and shoots into the hail like a rocket, disappearing in the frozen water just as another thunderbolt shocks where she was the moment before.

Then she appears again, rushing toward her foe as she speeds across a gap of rain into another hail zone.

She dances through the ever changing skyscape hail and rain, gaps of visibility growing larger and more dangerous as she closes in and lightning scores glancing blows, a dangerous game of hunter and hundred where a single mistake means the full might of a bolt striking true.

Wattson says something and Raichu immediately disperses the forming thunderbolt and begins gathering energy for another rain dance to remove his opponents cover once and for all.

The gap in attacks appears to be exactly what Frostlass was waiting for as she explodes out of a nearby pocket of hail. Gathering shadows in front of her as she goes on the attack!

But as she gets closer Raichu doesn't seem surprised and Wattson grins in victory as his partner explodes into electricity!

Before the shadow ball disperses harmlessly against Ampharos'sProtect!

Frostlass's eyes widen the instant before another thunderbolt shoots up into the clouds and comes right back down on top of her.

Instinctively she tries to fly back toward the quickly dispersing hail as she loses the weather war, getting swatted out of the sky by another thunderbolt as Ampharos carefully walks forward, barely constrained lightning erupting off every part of her as yet another thunderbolt crashes down from above yet again.

The ice type, now twitching as electricity crackles across her body, pulls herself out of the rapidly thawing mud and throws another shadowball.

But as Ampharos erects a light screen to block the strike she launchesherself across the space separating them with reckless abandon. Skidding though the mud underneath the screen, she leaves a trail of frost as she fires a desperate blizzard up at the surprised 'mon.

And connects.

Immediately Frostlass is knocked away with a tail whip but the damage is already done, ice quickly spreading across the electric type's body.

Staggering, Ampharos flares her electricity brighter, firing bolt after bolt into the clouds to crash down onto Frostlass as she desperately tries to shield herself against the wrath of the storm.

Even when the electric type collapses into the mud as ice covers her legs and begins to rise up her neck the lightning doesn't stop Even as it covers her tail and mouth the lightning doesn't stop.

Onlywhen the ice covers her glaring eyes and traps the energy inside does her rain of thunder cease, the power buzzing violently beneath the foot thick block of ice for a few moments longer before that too fades to frozen silence.

Leaving Frostlass, burnt, jittering, and barely holding onto consciousness, but nonetheless the victor of her desperate gamble.

She's not given much time to appreciate her accomplishment, as Wattson's final 'mon takes the field, Raichu exiting his pokeball mid-leap with his tail already shining bright with an iron tail.

It doesn't seem as if she even attempts to put up a guard before the attack sends her into the mud, swiftly recalled.

With the last two eliminations it's down to the last 'mon for each. Raichu, the first 'mon of the night, finally allowed to truly take the field, battling against an unknownopponent.

Ignoring the freezing filth of the mud, the electric type crouches down, not allowing a single extraneous movement or flare of electricity to escape as he draws flickers of lightning from the clouds above, gathering every possible volt into himself. Staring at the opposing trainer with lightning in his eyes.

Glacia looks back impassively, allowing herself time to extract her last 'mon with deliberate slowness.

She carefully unclips her last ball from her bandoleer and lifts it up as if offering it. Holding that position for a moment longer, she gives a quick courtesy before the ball pops open.

Releasing Walrein in a flash of light.

Raichu doesn't hesitate, despite his foe outmassing him several dozen times over, and disappears into a bolt of lightning as he shoots across the space between them. Thunderbolts shoot back up into the clouds and crash against the thick blubber.

Walrein ignoresthe strikes, rocking his body high, he crashes down into the muddy water with a rumbling cry and creates an impossibly high wave, its strength only growing as every raindrop adds another gallon to its volume.

Raichu leaps into the air as the wave approaches and, with a front flipping iron tail, cuts the wave in half, slowing down slightly as he lands but passing clean though the attack.

Another wave receives the same fate as more thunderbolts crash down with seemingly no counter.

But Walrein doesn't seem alarmed and Wattson certainly doesn't seem assured in his victory as –not frost– but ice begins to form around Glacia's partner while he heaves a deep breath. The gathering energy stronger than even the most powerful blizzard, too much to contain within even his massive body.

Seeing the gathering power as snowflakes form out of the condescation Raichu pushes himself harder, more lightning falling as he accelerates faster.

An iron tail flashes to life, even brighter than the thunderbolts as he approaches melee range throwing everything in a desperate attempt to disrupt his foe before– Walrein opens his mouth, shining bright with pale aqua energy.

Raichu makes a frantic leap to close the gap!

He roars!

Instantly the invisible barrier protecting the audience freezes solid. The rain of the storm suddenly opaque by the flash freeze.

Tanya winces, feeling the cold burrow into her soul, pushing against the warmth that had been everpresent for monthsnow. Check latest chapters at novel•fire. net Instinctively, she covers her ears to block out the omnipresent sound yet the noise continues, a loud rumbling thing that sounds something between a creature's roar, a booming drum, and an avalanche.

Soon enough the weight of frozen water crumbles off the safety barrier, unable to find purchase on its invisible surface and vibrated to pieces by the deafening noise, revealing a changed landscape.

Behind the shattering fragments of ice, the bizarre sight of what was once thunderclouds reduced to sparking snowflakes as they drift down toward brown permafrost.

On the other side of the arena, bisected waves are frozen where they stand, moments away from crashing into the arena's invisible far wall.

Only then, does the all encompassing sound slowly peter out.

Walrein slumps, breathing heavily as the exertion of his attack crashes into him, exhaling sparkles of ice into the frozen mist, humidity flash frozen into monatomic snow.

But as the first snowflakes of the frozen clouds begin to settle, the mist falls to the floor as well.

Revealing Raichu, frozen mid-air in a block of ice the size of a car, his tail halfway through an attack less than a secondfrom connecting.

There is a moment where no one in the audience speaks, barely moves, a crowd thousands strong making no more noise than if the stands had been empty.

In that silence Tanya catches sight of her partner out of the corner of her eye, Amelia sitting on the absolute edgeof her seat, staring at the carnage with a fire in her eyes burning even brighter despite the soul deep cold.

Then Wattson recalls his final combatant through the ice and cuts the silence with a satisfied laugh."

Excellent showing, Ma'am. You've gotten even stronger since last year!"