----
With Poliwrath defeated, Trinity was down to her last Pokémon Chinchou.
After witnessing her Gyarados and Poliwrath both fall in such a brutal, one-sided fashion, her confidence had all but collapsed.
Honestly… she no longer believed she could win.
Even if by some miracle she managed to take down this monstrous red Gyarados, what would be waiting next?
Kai's Blastoise was still in fighting condition. And who knew what other terrifying ace he might have hiding up his sleeve?
If a behemoth like this red Gyarados wasn't even his final trump card…
Then what was?
A flicker of disbelief crossed her mind.
Don't tell me… he has a Suicune?
She nearly laughed aloud at her own absurd thought.
Get it together, Trinity… There's no way.
Suicune wasn't just a legend—it was a near-mythical creature. Finding it was one thing. Catching it? Impossible.
And truthfully, even a Suicune might not fare well against that Gyarados.
Shaking her head, Trinity pulled herself back to the present. Her gaze refocused on the monster in the arena.
Even if there was no chance of victory, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
Thanks to Poliwrath's drawn-out battle, Chinchou had time to recover in its Poké Ball. Now, all hope rested on its tiny shoulders.
If it could just land a solid hit… maybe it could at least take Gyarados down with it.
Even if she lost, Trinity wasn't going to be swept out of the finals.
Grim-faced, she threw Chinchou's Poké Ball.
With a flicker of blue light, the electric type appeared on the surface of the water.
It looked steadier than before—more composed. But the moment its gaze met Gyarados's glowing red eyes, the old fear returned. Chinchou began trembling again, its small body wracked with visible shivers.
"Chinchou!" Trinity cupped her hands around her mouth. "Don't look it in the eyes! Focus on me—not it!"
The words landed. Chinchou turned its gaze away, and slowly, the blood flow in its body stabilized. Its limbs stopped shaking, and its breathing calmed. The monster's pressure still lingered, but it was no longer paralyzing.
Trinity exhaled in relief.
It wasn't at full strength, but it was willing to fight.
And that was enough.
The referee raised the flag.
The fourth match began.
Chinchou darted across the battlefield, weaving through the water.
Earlier, Gyarados had destroyed all the stone pillars on Trinity's side of the field. While this robbed large Pokémon of places to stand, it gave smaller ones like Chinchou room to maneuver.
Piles of debris now acted as cover, allowing Chinchou to circle and dodge freely.
Just before Gyarados could close the distance, Chinchou slipped between two toppled slabs and disappeared to the other side.
Gyarados's bulk worked against it—it couldn't follow through the same passage. It had to go around or destroy the barrier.
That delay was all Chinchou needed.
Its antennae sparked, and a blast of electricity fired across the battlefield.
Crack!
The jolt struck Gyarados squarely.
But… the effect?
Minimal.
Whether the bolt was too rushed or the sheer size of Gyarados dispersed the energy too easily, the electricity fizzled and died quickly across its massive frame.
Trinity held her breath, eyes locked on Gyarados's face.
Did it feel that? Did it hurt?
Maybe.
There was a small pause—almost like a flicker of hesitation in its movement.
It wasn't much, but it was something.
"Maybe it worked," she muttered. "Or maybe… it wasn't strong enough…"
She opened her mouth to order a stronger attack—but too late.
Gyarados had already charged through the rubble, parting the wreckage with sheer mass and fury.
Chinchou fled.
The chase began again.
It ducked into another stone heap. No grand move, no flashy tactics—just survival. But the audience stayed glued to the screen, hearts racing with every dodge, every turn.
Strangely, many spectators began to sympathize—not with Kai's towering beast—but with Trinity's Chinchou.
It was David vs. Goliath.
And Goliath wasn't just big—it was terrifying.
Misty gulped audibly in the stands.
She already had a lifelong fear of Gyarados but this red one? It was nightmare fuel. Even though she wanted Kai to win, a part of her couldn't help but worry about Chinchou.
"I'm not betraying Kai," she told herself quickly. "I just care about water types! That's all!"
On the battlefield, Chinchou had once again pulled away.
It turned on instinct and began charging power.
This time, it gave it everything.
A bright ball of lightning swelled between its antennae.
The moment Gyarados closed in, Chinchou launched the charged shot—no aim, no calculation, just a desperate hurl.
But with a target this big?
Aiming wasn't necessary.
BOOM!
The electric orb exploded on contact, engulfing the red Gyarados in a blinding flash of light.
The entire stadium lit up with the detonation.
Everyone leaned forward.
This was it.
Had the tide finally turned?
----
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