Join my p@treon for more chapters
[email protected]/Tempest_29
"Dragapult, Dragon Darts!"
Even as Houndstone stirred up a Sandstorm, Jacob wasted no ti. He called out the command, and Dragapult responded instantly.
The stealth bomber Pokémon's triangular head tilted forward, its two launch cavities glowing with Dragon-type energy. The two Dreepy nestled inside the openings tensed, coiled, and ready. A deep, cannon-like boom split the air as Dragon-type energy erupted from Dragapult's fra, and the two Dreepy shot forward like living missiles — the signature move, Dragon Darts.
The projectiles scread through the night, trailing streaks of deep indigo energy that looked like blue-tinged flas slashing across the sky.
"Houndstone, dodge it!"
Dawson Braddock's expression was cold and focused. He raised his hand and gave the order without hesitation, trusting in Houndstone's edge in speed.
In a Sandstorm, Houndstone's Sand Rush ability kicked in, doubling its speed. The Pokémon moved with a swiftness that seed almost at odds with its heavy, tombstone-bearing fra. It pushed off hard with all four limbs and vaulted backward, slipping cleanly out of the first Dart's path.
The Dragon Dart struck the earth where Houndstone had stood, and a burst of indigo Dragon energy exploded outward in a small shockwave.
But the second Dart was already closing in.
"Houndstone, Play Rough!"
There was no room to dodge again. Dawson made the call imdiately — et it head-on.
Pink Fairy-type energy surged across Houndstone's body, washing over the tombstone on its head in a warm glow. The usually eerie grave marker was montarily softened by the rosy light, giving it an almost harmless appearance.
The Dragon Dart collided with the surging Fairy energy — and was knocked clean off course. Houndstone barely slowed. It pressed forward, charging straight at Dragapult with montum unbroken.
Against a Dragon-type like Dragapult, Play Rough was a natural counter. The type advantage was clear.
Jacob didn't waver. "Dragapult, Protect!"
A shimring barrier of light wrapped around Dragapult's body, absorbing the full force of Play Rough. The shield held.
The battle had reached a turning point. Houndstone had managed to force Dragapult to burn its Protect — and now that window was closed. Dawson recognized it imdiately.
"Houndstone, keep pressing — Play Rough, again and again. Don't give it a second to recover."
His eyes stayed fixed on Dragapult. His plan was clear: the mont Protect was on cooldown, that was the opening. Push through it. Win here, or at least land the damage that would decide the match.
Houndstone let out a long, hollow howl. Fairy energy crackled and blood across its form again as it surged forward.
Jacob's eyes sharpened.
If Dragapult took a clean hit from Play Rough now — even with Reflect still up — it would be badly hurt. Possibly knocked out in a single blow.
There was only one answer.
"Dragapult," Jacob said, his voice steady and certain, "don't hold anything back. Full power — Phantom Force!"
The instant he spoke, Dragapult's Protect shattered.
The broken barrier scattered into glittering fragnts, dissolving into the air like stardust.
And then — Dragapult changed.
Dark purple flas ignited in its eyes, spreading outward like embers catching in wind. Ghost-type energy roared across its body in a wave, deep and heavy and suffocating. The air around the battlefield seed to grow cold.
"Roooaaar."
A low, grinding cry rose from Dragapult's throat. The sound carried weight — sothing ancient and unsettling. The fear of what lay beyond death settled over the arena in a single breath.
The crowd went quiet.
This was the first ti Dragapult had shown its true strength since evolving. Not its Dragon-type power — its Ghost-type power.
Dragapult's deepest strength had never been Dragon Darts or any Dragon-type move. It was this. After absorbing a trendous amount of Ghost-type energy from the shattered core of a Prison Bottle, Dragapult's command over Ghost-type energy had grown to a frightening degree. In many ways, it felt less like a Dragon-type Pokémon and more like a Ghost-type.
And Jacob had kept that hidden from the very beginning.
From the first mont of the battle, he had deliberately held Dragapult to Dragon-type moves only. The goal was simple: let Dawson settle into a comfortable read of Dragapult's capabilities. Let him believe he understood what he was facing.
It was like a left-handed player spending an entire match using their right hand, only to switch at the critical mont. The opponent had built their entire strategy around a version of the opponent that wasn't real.
Now, the space in front of Houndstone cracked open.
A rift split the air — and Dragapult's body slipped inside, vanishing into the between-space of Phantom Force.
Houndstone's charge didn't stop. It couldn't know what was coming.
A second rift tore open directly behind it.
Boom.
Dragapult burst out of the extradinsional space, its triangular head driving full-force into Houndstone's flank with all the Ghost-type energy it had gathered.
Houndstone had no ti to react. It had never faced a Phantom Force like this — one that needed no charge, no pause, no warning. The impact struck it square in the body and sent it skidding backward, Ghost-type energy pouring into it like a flood.
"Roooaaar!"
Houndstone scread in pain and drove its claws into the ground, fighting desperately to stop itself. Its claws gouged long furrows into the arena floor before it finally ground to a halt.
The comntary box erupted.
"There it is — Jacob's Dragapult, and the move everyone's been waiting for. Phantom Force with no charge!"
"Houndstone didn't have a chance to react. Jacob's been saving this all match."
"This is the move that took Jacob to the Champion's throne. Dragapult, and that unstoppable Phantom Force."
A Phantom Force with no charge ti. It bypassed reaction entirely. It even ignored Protect.
There was only one word for it — overwhelming.
User Comments
0 comments from readers