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Chapter 114: You don't get close to Zeus!
🕑 Added 2025-03-29 19:38:01 +0000 UTC The battlefield for the match was a sprawling expanse of grass bisected by a shimmering pond, its surface rippling faintly under the stadium lights.
The terrain was a calculated balance—water to bolster Ice-types like Pryce's arsenal, grass to level the playing field for others.
Pryce's Glaceon stood poised, its blue fur glinting like frost, while Gladion's Electivire—Zeus—crackled with electric might, his red-tipped tails lashing the air. The referee's flag dropped, and Pryce struck first, his voice sharp as a winter gale.
"Glaceon, Snowscape!"
Glaceon's eyes flashed, a chilling wind swirling as snowflakes spiraled from the sky, blanketing the field in a wintry haze. The move wasn't just for making it christmas—Snowscape sharply boosted Ice-types' Defense, shoring up Glaceon's frail stat, turning her weak defense to an above par defense.
Gladion smirked, unfazed. "Setting up your little ice ring, huh? Fine—Zeus, Electric Terrain!"
Zeus roared, slamming his fists into the ground, sparks erupting as a web of electricity crackled across the battlefield. The grass hummed with yellow energy, the pond's surface buzzing faintly.
Glaceon flinched, a small jolt zapping her, but she shook it off—no paralysis triggered. Still, Gladion's grin widened—Electric Terrain would linger, jolting every Pokémon Pryce swapped in, a subtle trap for later.
[Feel the buzz, ice kitty!] Zeus cackled, tails twitching. [This is my turf now—gonna zap ya 'til you're a snow cone!]
Pryce's eyes narrowed, his cane tapping impatiently. "Glaceon, Quick Attack—get behind that… Electabuzz, er, Electivire!" His fumble was ignored as it has been years since the war, and no one has seen an Electrivire in decades.
Glaceon blurred into motion, her speed a Champion's caliber, darting across the snowy field with dizzying grace. Zeus's bulk slowed his reaction, his head whipping around as she vanished behind him. Pryce seized the moment. "Ice Beam!"
A frigid beam lanced from Glaceon's maw, aimed at Zeus's back. Gladion reacted fast. "Zeus, Light Screen!"
Zeus's eyes glowed, a yellow barrier enveloping him in a box of radiant barriers, covering all angles. The Ice Beam struck the screen, fracturing into harmless shards, the glow fading as Zeus stood unscathed.
[Nice try, frosty—my shields are as tough as my bolts!] he taunted, flexing smugly.
Gladion pressed the advantage, Glaceon now in striking range. "Low Kick!"
Zeus pivoted, one massive leg sweeping low. The kick connected, sending Glaceon skidding back across the snow, her paws digging in. But the boosted Defense from Snowscape held—just a scratch marred her, Pryce's setup paying off. Gladion clicked his tongue, undeterred. "Alright, Zeus—Giga Impact!"
Zeus roared, charging with earth-shaking force, his body glowing as he barreled into Glaceon. The impact boomed, a crater forming as she tumbled, this time taking heavy damage, her sleek form battered. The crowd gasped, the announcer's voice booming, "Giga Impact lands—a thunderous hit! Glaceon's reeling even with her increased defense power!"
Pryce didn't flinch, his voice cold. "Double Kick—now!"
Glaceon sprang up, close-range thanks to Giga Impact's recoil, her hind legs lashing out in twin strikes. Gladion countered, "Iron Tail!"
Zeus's twin tails glowed metallic—one intercepted the kicks with a *clang*, the other whipped around, slamming Glaceon square in the chest. She flew back, crashing into the snow covered ground motionless. The referee's flag shot up. "Glaceon is unable to battle! Gladion takes the lead!"
The crowd erupted, cheers shaking the stands—"Zeus is a beast!" "Pryce's down one!" The announcer roared, "First blood to Gladion! Glaceon's out cold—Electivire's power is unreal!"
Pryce gritted his teeth, recalling Glaceon with a scowl. 'Pathetic.' His thoughts seethed with arrogance and scorn.
'You let that overgrown spark plug trample you—where's your pride, Glaceon? I trained you better than to crumple so fast.' He'd underestimated Gladion's brute force, but his mind churned—'This kid leans hard on attack moves. Fine. I'll choke that firepower.' Electric Terrain buzzed faintly, ruling out Ground-types, so he pivoted.
'Flying Pokemon it is—immune to that electric terrain nonsense.' Pryce thought
"Delibird, you're up!" Pryce barked, releasing his next Pokémon. The Ice-Flying type flapped onto the field, its red-and-white feathers ruffled, sack clutched tight. Snow still fell from Snowscape, the perfect stage for Pryce's next play.
'Now that's a rare Pokémon. And a cute one too. He is this world's Santa Claus. Lol' Gladion thought with a chuckle
"Aurora Veil!" Pryce commanded. Delibird chirped, a shimmering curtain of light rising around it, halving damage from Physical and Special attacks for a limited time.
The move thrived in snow or hail, its effects persisting even if the weather faded—a shield to blunt Gladion's onslaught. The crowd murmured, recognizing the tactic—Pryce was digging in.
"Brave Bird!" Pryce snapped. Delibird's wings flared, glowing as it dove, a reckless charge that'd hurt itself but promised super-effective pain. Gladion reacted, "Zeus, Light Screen—again!"
The psychic barrier snapped up, weaker this time from reuse, but it slowed Delibird's momentum. The bird crashed through, shattering the screen and slamming Zeus, who grunted as the hit landed, significant despite the cushion.
[Ow—feathery kamikaze!] Zeus growled, shaking it off. ["Gonna pluck you for that!"]
Gladion grinned, spotting Delibird's proximity. " Did you learn nothing from previous match? You don't get close to my Pokemon. Grab it—Thunder Punch!"
Zeus's tails lashed out, wrapping Delibird like wires, pinning its wings. His fist sparked, delivering a Thunder Punch that rocked the bird, Aurora Veil dulling the blow but not enough.
Before Delibird could squirm free, Zeus swung again—another Thunder Punch, unbidden, his enthusiasm sparking.
[Zap! Zap! Take that, sack-rat!]
Delibird slumped, struggling to rise, its sack slipping. Pryce's voice cut through, resigned but sharp. "Memento!"
Delibird's eyes glowed dark, a pulse of energy washing over Zeus as Delibird collapsed, fainting in a sacrificial burst. The move slashed Zeus's Attack and Special Attack, a parting curse. The referee signaled, "Delibird is unable to battle! Gladion leads, two to zero!"
'Huh, so he increases his own Pokémon defense and reducing my attack power. Jeez, He is the champion. Should not he be relying on pure strength rather than defbuffs and buffs tricks?' Gladion thought with a sigh. This match was boring than he expected.
The announcer's voice soared, "Delibird's down—Memento lands a blow, but Pryce is two Pokémon deep already! Gladion's Electivire is a juggernaut—Pryce's ice wall's cracking already!"
The crowd roared, "Glad-ion! Glad-ion!"—"Zeus is unstoppable!" "Pryce's bird got fried!" Surge whooped from the stands, "That's my kinda spark—gonna grill Gladion for that evolution trick later!"
Pryce recalled Delibird, his scowl deepening, thoughts icy and calculating.
'The brat is all about raw power, but I'll outlast him.
'Next one's gotta turn this tide.' Pryce gripped his third Poké Ball, resolve hardening.
Gladion smirked, Zeus flexing his new muscles that he got after evolving despite the stat drop. A thing that he had learned from Gladion's youthful fighting types.
