"Vacuum Wave!" John made the first move.
This time, he didn't go for the usual Fake Out to kick off the battle. With both sides fielding Pokemon with slower movement speeds, it was clear that the first melee attack would take a moment to land. That gave the opponent a chance to react and possibly set up some buffs.
The thing about being the first to strike is that you're often at a disadvantage. The first move puts you on the defensive, constantly waiting to counter your opponent's next move.
Each trainer has their own style, but sticking to the same tactic over and over is a surefire way to get countered. You have to adapt—failure to do so, and you'll be left scrambling to keep up.
Hariyama extended his right hand, summoning a powerful cyclone of air. Compared to his previous battle with Grace, this Vacuum Wave was faster, more controlled, and packed a punch that radiated raw power.
As the flow of the Vacuum Wave accelerated, the energy inside solidified, transforming into a more concentrated Aura Sphere!
Hariyama hurled the attack forward, the swirling cyclone trailing a brilliant white shockwave through the air.
"Avoid it!" Zane shouted, eyes narrowing as he gauged the power and range of John's Vacuum Wave.
Throh reacted with lightning speed, sidestepping the attack just in time.
But then, Zane's eyes widened in surprise. His bulky opponent, Hariyama, was charging toward him like a freight train. It wasn't that he was fast, but his heavy steps were slow and oppressive, as though a mountain was bearing down on him.
Zane knew exactly what was coming—he was about to face the full force of a "meat bomb."
"Rock Smash!" John barked, the Aura Sphere having forced Zane into an awkward position, and now Hariyama was closing the gap.
As the Aura Sphere faded, Hariyama stormed forward, his massive fist glowing with silver light as he unleashed a brutal punch.
The Rock Smash itself wasn't a particularly strong move, but it had a secondary effect that could change the game—it lowered the opponent's defense.
"Stand firm!Vital Throw!" Zane commanded, his voice steady as he prepared to retaliate.
Throh reacted instantly. With a swift swipe, he deflected the incoming Rock Smash, using a technique he had perfected through countless battles. This wasn't just any deflection—it activated Vital Throw, a move that guaranteed a hit and allowed Throh to redirect the force of the incoming attack, leaving him unharmed.
Boom!
Throh's palm collided with Hariyama's fist with a deafening crack, knocking the punch aside. In the blink of an eye, Throh lunged forward, looking to trap Hariyama in a powerful wrestling maneuver.
For Throh, a wrestling expert, once he got a hold on his opponent, it was only a matter of time before the fight was over. Despite Hariyama's enormous size—half a ton of pure muscle—Throh had thrown opponents much heavier without breaking a sweat.
But this time, something unexpected happened.
Before Throh could fully commit to the throw, his left palm—the one he had used to deflect Hariyama's punch—was struck with overwhelming force.
Boom!
The power of Hariyama's Force Palm slammed into Throh, yanking him off his feet and sending him hurtling backward into the wall with a sickening crash.
"Rock Smash plus Force Palm!" John exclaimed with satisfaction, clearly proud of his combination.
This technique, learned from Brawly, had transformed Hariyama into an absolute powerhouse. He had mastered it long before many other trainers, and it showed.
"Finish it! Arm Thrust!" John shouted.
Hariyama took a few heavy steps forward, then unleashed a barrage of rapid palm strikes—two massive blows delivered with incredible speed.
In the games, Arm Thrust could hit 2-5 times, but in reality, it was more like a rapid-fire slap. Five hits? If you couldn't dodge, you'd feel every single one.
"Wide Guard!" Zane barked, desperate to defend himself.
Throh immediately raised his arms, summoning a thick, khaki-colored barrier to protect himself from the incoming strikes.
But the shield barely lasted three seconds before it shattered like brittle stone under Hariyama's relentless blows.
With each palm strike, the energy from Force Palm surged through Throh's body, forcing him further into the wall. It was like being pummeled by a machine gun—each blow more relentless than the last.
Hariyama's Arm Thrust, combined with Force Palm, meant that each strike carried additional power, but it was the sheer volume of attacks that truly overwhelmed Throh.
Ten seconds later, Hariyama withdrew his palms, stepping back and giving the battered wall a final look of destruction.
Throh was now embedded in the wall, motionless, his body crumpled in a heap of broken limbs. It was as if he had been driven in like a nail by the full force of Hariyama's attacks.
"Throh loses his ability to fight! Hariyama wins!" the referee announced, his voice ringing out over the stunned crowd.
The audience reacted with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Some cheered, but many were visibly stunned.
"Wait, that's it? The battle department strongest menber went down like that? Beaten by a freshman?" a senior from the Breeding Department muttered in disbelief, shaking his head.
Many from the senior class struggled to accept that their once-invincible Zane, had been defeated by a newcomer they considered a rookie.
A few even whispered that Zane had thrown the match to make things more interesting, but those who truly understood battling knew it was about strategy.
John had used a classic tactic—he applied pressure and didn't give Throh a chance to retaliate. Zane was locked into a defensive posture the whole time, never able to break free and counter.
Some members of the Battle Club, who had been watching intently, exchanged uneasy glances as they realized Zane's defeat wasn't just a fluke.
Lucas, the president of the Battle Club, stared coldly at the battlefield.
"Look," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
The others immediately fell silent.
On the battlefield, Zane retrieved Throh's Pokeball and released his second Pokemon.
The ball opened mid-air, and a loud roar filled the arena as Charizard, the Flame Pokemon, emerged. Its wings sliced through the air with blazing intensity, radiating fiery power that could scorch the earth itself.