Pokémon: Above the Top

Zoroark used the momentum from Aerial Ace to leap into the air, temporarily avoiding the ground that had been frozen solid by Sheer Cold.

"Walrein, Ice Ball!"

"Wal!"

With the battlefield completely transformed into an ice rink, Walrein's expression turned to one of absolute confidence. With a flick of its head, a fist-sized Ice Ball was launched straight at Zoroark.

Sato didn't even have to give a command, Zoroark instinctively dodged using Aerial Ace.

That made three uses, Zoroark could finally use other moves again.

…But in the next instant, an Ice Ball twice as strong and now the size of a soccer ball was already flying toward it with no pause.

"Nasty Plot."

Zoroark didn't dodge. Sato took a bold gamble and had it boost its Special Attack while taking the Ice Ball hit.

Wallace frowned. He suddenly realized that making Walrein use Ice Ball might have been a mistake.

Even though Walrein had developed the move to the point of seamless chaining regardless of Ice Ball's power, its damage still had to build gradually.

Against someone like Sato, this became a huge opportunity.

Bang!

The second Ice Ball slammed Zoroark straight into the ice, but Zoroark still managed to complete Nasty Plot.

The third Ice Ball was just as fast, but now even more powerful, its size nearly that of a car tire.

"Zoroark… Nasty Plot!"

Joseph and Mark stood up at the same time. They hadn't expected Sato to take a risk like this.

The second Ice Ball had already taken Zoroark down easily, what about this third one?

And still, he was going for another boost, having Zoroark take the third Ice Ball head-on.

But Zoroark wasn't a Pokémon known for its defense…

The tire-sized Ice Ball roared across the field. Though it hadn't yet hit Zoroark, the bone-chilling cold had already reached it.

Zoroark simply closed its eyes, shutting out all external distraction, and used Nasty Plot again.

Since Sato had given that order, Zoroark would believe in him unconditionally.

And likewise, Sato would surely believe in it…

To endure!

BOOOOOM!

The Ice Ball might as well have been a real giant tire. After slamming into Zoroark, it didn't slow down one bit, just kept rolling forward, crushing everything in its path.

'Was it down?'

Everyone had that thought in their mind. But before they could dwell on it, Zoroark suddenly rolled to the side and pushed itself up with one hand.

It wasn't down!

And when the faint red glow flashed in Zoroark's pitch-black eyes, it made even the onlookers uneasy.

"Walrein!"

"Wal!"

Walrein's look of certainty vanished. After three Nasty Plot boosts, every basic move from Zoroark would now rival the third Ice Ball in power.

Fortunately, it still had more…

Bigger, stronger Ice Balls!

The fourth Ice Ball shot forth with a roar!

"Playing with balls? We can do that too!" Sato grinned.

"Zoroark, Night Daze… Sphere!"

"ZORO!"

Half-kneeling, Zoroark placed its hands on the ground, as if sensing something deep beneath.

And just as the fourth Ice Ball came flying in, Zoroark suddenly heaved -as if pulling a massive black energy sphere straight from the ground- and spun in place to launch it forward.

The fourth Ice Ball was already massive, but compared to Zoroark's Night Daze Sphere, it looked like a toy.

The Night Daze Sphere, almost covering a quarter of the battlefield, smashed straight into Walrein's Ice Ball.

And just like that, the Ice Ball -despite being at full speed through four strikes- completely buckled under the Night Daze Sphere.

It was clean and decisive.

The Ice Ball looked as if it had gotten stuck on the Sphere, then was pushed backward. Slammed straight back toward Walrein.

At that moment, preparing to unleash its strongest fifth Ice Ball and maintain continuous attack, Walrein couldn't move from its spot.

Wallace stared at the absurd Night Daze Sphere, a bad feeling rising in his chest. He made a snap decision and ordered Walrein to abandon the fifth Ice Ball.

But… it was too late!

Even on the frozen field, expecting Walrein to suddenly accelerate from zero and slide a long distance instantly was unrealistic.

So the Sphere closed in and completely cover Walrein.

Then, the sphere abruptly contracted, just enough to contain Walrein entirely.

…And exploded.

BOOOOOOOM!

"An earthquake! RUN!"

Outside the seven-star hotel, a cuddly couple suddenly panicked. The girl screamed and collapsed in place, desperately clutching her boyfriend's hand.

But then a strong force pulled on her arm…

Her boyfriend, who seconds ago had sworn eternal love, flung her aside.

He turned and bolted, screaming as he ran.

Two or three seconds later, the trembling stopped. The people who had hit the ground around them slowly got up, all looking at the girl with sympathy.

"Forget him, kid. Everyone meets a scumbag or two in life. Be glad you figured it out early."

A scruffy, down-and-out ojisan walked up to her and offered soft consolation.

The girl lifted her head and looked at the man seriously.

"…Oji-san, you look like someone with a story. I feel like drinking. Want to join me?"

The man froze, then suddenly smiled in what he thought was his most honest, simple way.

"Sure!"

The end of one story often marks the beginning of another. And as the one responsible for this incident, Sato silently stared at the now-destroyed battlefield, wondering just how much Wallace was going to have to pay for the damages.

As the dust slowly settled, Zoroark -having withdrawn from [Dark Energy: Energy Amplification] state- was now sitting cross-legged on the one part of the field that remained somewhat intact.

Clearly, Zoroark, Sato's longest-standing partner, had finally encountered its breakthrough opportunity.

Even though the amplification had been withdrawn, Zoroark's aura was decreasing at a noticeably slow pace.

High… Mid… Mid… Mid…

Mid…

?

'…Wait? Why wasn't it dropping anymore?'

A feeling rose in Sato's chest, one even he found hard to believe.

Zoroark… had directly broken through to Mid Pseudo-Elite Four!

And as Zoroark's aura continued to stabilize, a wave of pure joy surged within Sato.

A consecutive level-up. With such deep base built up, Zoroark had done it: back-to-back advances!

If Zoroark had once been overshadowed for not being the first of Sato's Pokémon to reach Pseudo-Elite Four…

Then this exceptional consecutive level-up would silence any challengers within the team.

The big brother… was still the big brother!