Halfway through the match, Koizumi, who had already lost two Pokémon in succession, began to experience a shift in his mindset.
"This Gym Leader is definitely not ordinary!"
"I can't be defeated so easily. This battle is being broadcast live across Draconia. People must be ridiculing me online right now."
"No, I have to turn this around."
"Stay calm, don't panic!" Koizumi took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself.
But the thought of returning home after such a defeat made him shudder. Based on his country's harsh public opinion, the pressure was overwhelming. Koizumi's teeth began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Go! Krookodile!" Koizumi gritted his teeth and threw his Pokeball.
The Pokeball opened mid-air, releasing a Krookodile standing over three meters tall. Its red and black skin gleamed menacingly, and a pair of dark sunglasses adorned its face, giving it the appearance of a formidable street tough.
"Krookodile, Z-Move, Tectonic Rage!" Koizumi displayed his Z-Ring and began the specialized pose sequence!
He crossed his hands in front of his chest, then pivoted in place, and finally bent down to slap the ground with both palms. Khaki-yellow energy immediately exploded from his body, flowing directly into Krookodile.
The Desert Croc Pokémon felt the power from its trainer, as if khaki flames engulfed its entire body! It immediately mimicked its master's posture, bending down to strike the ground with its massive claws.
Instantly, a fissure spread from where Krookodile's claws impacted, racing toward Steelix until it reached directly beneath the steel serpent's body.
With a thunderous crack, the ground beneath Steelix shattered, creating an enormous abyss. The steel behemoth immediately plummeted into the depths.
Krookodile burrowed into the newly formed chasm, pursuing its prey.
Tectonic Rage? The Ground-type Z-Move.
Though Steelix also was Ground type, it remained vulnerable to Ground-type attacks.
"Is this desperation to regain advantage?" John chuckled.
"Young man, you're too impatient."
John raised his hand skyward, revealing his Mega Ring. The Key Stone embedded in the bracelet immediately burst into colorful light.
Steelix, still falling into the chasm, became enveloped in this prismatic radiance.
In an instant, Steelix underwent Mega Evolution.
When the dazzling light subsided, Mega Steelix appeared!
Its already massive obsidian body swelled to even more impressive proportions!
During its time as an Onix, its length had been around thirty meters. After evolving into Steelix, it had reached fifty meters. Now, as a Mega-Evolved Steelix, its length stretched to an incredible 80 meters! Each obsidian segment measured 5 meters long, with its head alone reaching 8 meters!
Black crystals orbited around its body like a planetary ring system, and its once smooth chin now featured razor-sharp edges resembling excavator blades. Mega Evolution not only boosted its defense but also significantly enhanced its attack power and special defense!
"Dragon Tail," John commanded with a casual gesture.
The Mega Steelix, still falling inside the chasm, twisted its body mid-air, then slashed heavily from top to bottom with its massive tail-sword, wreathed in flowing fire and dark green draconic energy!
This strike carried not just strength but also immense weight, easily tens of tons!
From the bottom of the abyss, Krookodile, still wrapped in Ground-type energy, launched upward with a powerful Sucker Punch!
BOOM!
The two collided midway inside the chasm.
Mega Steelix's Dragon Tail smashed directly into Krookodile's body.
After just a second of stalemate, unable to withstand the strength and terrifying weight of Mega Steelix's tail, Krookodile collapsed on the spot. Its body blasted deeper into the abyss like a cannonball.
Within ten seconds, the cracks throughout the battlefield disappeared completely.
This was supposed to happen after Krookodile finished executing Tectonic Rage.
But now, neither Mega Steelix nor Krookodile was visible above ground.
The audience had only witnessed John initiating Mega Evolution but hadn't seen the appearance of Obsidian Steelix after its transformation. They had merely heard the sound of a tremendous collision as the ground sealed itself.
So... what had happened in the battle below?
Mega Steelix promptly provided the answer.
The ground in front of John exploded upward as the stalwart body of Mega Steelix emerged, pushing Krookodile out simultaneously.
The steel titan raised the Desert Croc high before slamming it heavily into the ground. Krookodile had clearly lost its ability to battle.
"Krookodile is unable to battle! Steelix wins!" the referee announced.
No one knew exactly what had transpired in the abyss created by Tectonic Rage, but the result was clear: Krookodile's Z-Move couldn't stop Mega Steelix!
The entire audience, along with those watching the broadcast, erupted in excitement.
First a Mega Shiny Gardevoir, and now a Mega Shiny Steelix!
Tonight's trending topics were already predetermined.
Many spectators looked at John with absolute devotion in their eyes.
Mega Gardevoir, Mega Garchomp, Mega Steelix. Any one of these Pokémon would serve as a trump card for most trainers, yet John wielded them as if they were commonplace!
Had all his Mega Stones simply fallen from the sky? How was this even possible?
Koizumi's jaw hung open, utterly at a loss.
He had originally believed that with his trump card Krookodile and the Groundium Z, he could at least secure this round.
He had already been contemplating his strategy for the next battle, having assumed he would defeat Steelix first!
But now the result was clear.
"How am I supposed to approach my fourth match?" Koizumi didn't want to dwell on how Krookodile had been defeated by Mega Steelix.
He now wondered if he could even continue fighting.
Koizumi glanced at the camera pointed at him from the side.
Through it, people across his entire nation could witness his current predicament and humiliation.
Thinking of this, Koizumi seemed to see countless pairs of eyes filled with condemnation from his countrymen.
Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes!
Koizumi began to cry.
It wasn't that he wanted to cry, but rather that the tears had a mind of their own, determined to stream down his face.
Reporters in the audience immediately captured this scene, taking notes rapidly.
"John's attack proves too brutal as Island Nation rival breaks down in tears"
John scratched his head nervously. Had he actually started crying?
Apparently his opponent's ability to handle pressure was worse than expected.