"Rune! Hammer Arm!"
"Kiba! Accelerock!"
Golurk's eyes flared with power. The ground cracked beneath its feet as it launched forward, one titanic fist igniting with orange-white energy. The ancient runes on its chest pulsed once, and with a single lurching step, Rune swung his massive arm toward the incoming Haxorus.
Kiba was already in motion.
A burst of golden light trailed behind the Lycanroc as he blinked forward, feet barely touching the stone. A shockwave snapped from his paws as Accelerock collided with the side of Haxorus' leg.
Clang.
Crunch.
Haxorus staggered back barely but Rune's Hammer Arm followed through, landing a glancing blow to its flank. The sheer weight of the hit sent stone splintering beneath them, shockwaves rippling through the arena floor.
"Haxorus, Dragon Claw!"
The dragon spun with a snarl, claws erupting with emerald energy. It lashed out with a sweeping arc Kiba ducked the first strike, but the second connected across his back. Sparks flew. He yelped and rolled, skidding across the ground.
"Rune, Shadow Punch!"
The air darkened around Golurk's massive right arm as it pulled back. A pulse of ghostly light swirled through its runes then it vanished.
Reappeared behind Haxorus.
Boom.
The punch landed with a deep, echoing thud to Haxorus' shoulder. It recoiled, twisting its body in midair, slamming a tail swipe into Rune's chest.
Rune braced slid backward from the impact but stayed upright.
Dust rose in thick clouds.
Kiba was already moving again.
"Rock Slide!"
He howled as he stomped the ground. Boulders erupted in a jagged line toward Haxorus.
"Break it. Dragon Tail!"
Haxorus spun with brutal grace, tail glowing with molten green power, smashing through the falling stones like glass.
Kiba rushed in.
They clashed again claws to tusk.
Each of Kiba's slashes met with Haxorus' armored hide. Sparks danced in the air. Kiba feinted left, then struck low his fangs dragging across Haxorus' chest scales.
Haxorus hissed, but retaliated.
"Dual Chop."
Both arms lit with purple dragon energy.
Crack. Crack.
First chop hit Kiba's side. Second across his legs. Kiba was thrown like a comet.
He hit the stone hard. Rolled. Lay still.
For a second.
Then moved.
"Rune! Heavy Slam!"
Rune launched forward again, body shimmering with weight-manipulating aura. He leapt. yes, leapt into the air.
The arena groaned as his shadow engulfed Haxorus.
Boom.
Haxorus took the full brunt of the slam. The floor cratered. A section of the wall cracked. Debris rained down.
Dust cloud.
Vision obscured.
Silence.
Then
A flash of Violet.
"Haxorus, Poison Jab!"
From within the dust, Haxorus lunged. Its tusks and claws were coated in glowing violet.
It stabbed Rune's shoulder.
The golem staggered. Purple veins shimmered briefly on its armor before fading.
Rune turned.
"Earth Power!"
With both fists slamming into the floor, Rune triggered a pulse of seismic energy that burst up beneath Haxorus, lifting it mid-stride. Shards of rock and fire exploded from the ground.
Haxorus snarled in pain—finally, pain—and landed hard.
It was hurt.
Still standing.
Still burning.
But hurt.
"Kiba! Counter!"
Kiba was already up. Bruised, limping slightly but still in the battle.
He ran.
Straight at Haxorus.
The dragon reacted instinctively Outrage tusks glowing, body surging with pulsing red and black aura.
It collided with Kiba.
Once. Twice.
But Kiba didn't fall.
He absorbed the blows shaking, battered, blood at the corner of his mouth but then his body ignited with raw, red energy.
Counter.
He struck with a burst of kinetic release, landing a critical blow beneath Haxorus' jaw.
The dragon was knocked back sliding across the cracked floor claws digging into stone to stop its momentum.
For a second, no one moved.
Then
"Rune! Focus Punch!"
Golurk's hand charged with radiant white light. It took a stance slow, deliberate charging power into its massive arm.
Haxorus glared.
"Outrage !"
Wade had spoken again.
Now he was pushing.
Haxorus dashed forward too fast.
It struck before Rune could finish charging. Blow after blow landed fists, claws, kicks. Golurk reeled, shaking with each hit.
But Rune's arm was glowing.
Still charged.
Still waiting.
Until
Release.
Rune slammed his fist down like a falling star.
It landed.
The Focus Punch exploded into Haxorus' side. The dragon roared and was thrown across the arena. Its shoulder armor cracked. Blood hit the stone.
Silence again.
Kiba was panting, crouched low.
Rune stood tall, arm shaking from the impact.
Haxorus was slowly rising.
Bruised. Marked.
But not out .
Not yet.
Neither was Shion's team.
Three stood in that moment.
And for once
Wade smiled.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The sharp echo of Wade's hands colliding bounced across the broken arena. Three simple claps slow, deliberate.
Shion blinked.
The tension that had saturated the air just moments ago… dissipated.
Haxorus stood still for a heartbeat longer, muscles coiled like a drawn bowstring, then vanished in a burst of red light. The battlefield dimmed. Dust settled once more.
Wade stepped forward, brushing cracked stone chips from his shoulder, still smirking faintly.
He walked with the same lazy gait but something had changed. No longer disinterested. His eyes carried focus. A glint of respect.
Shion just stood there, frozen, panting quietly. His legs nearly buckled. The adrenaline drain was real now, and his arms trembled with fatigue not from battle, but from holding it all together.
Was that it?
Was it over?
He glanced at Rune, whose massive form stood swaying slightly, shoulders cracked but firm, eyes flickering. And Kiba, still crouched protectively by his side, breathing hard through his nose, tongue barely visible between his teeth.
Both of them were shaking but not down.
Shion slumped to one knee, sighing heavily, brushing his damp hair away from his forehead.
They had survived.
If the battle had continued even a minute longer, they wouldn't have lasted. Haxorus was still a storm wrapped in scale and fang. But they had made it hurt.
That mattered.
He dropped to sit fully, chest rising and falling with each deep breath. A quiet smile tugged at his lips as he looked at his Pokémon.
"You two," he whispered, voice almost too soft to hear, "are amazing."
A shadow fell over him.
Shion blinked and looked up.
Wade.
Hands in pockets, coat fluttering lightly in the breeze stirred by their clash.
"You," Wade said.
Shion blinked again. "...Me?"
"What's your name?"
Shion hesitated for a moment, then stood, brushing grit from his knees. "Shion."
Wade tilted his head, considering him.
Then nodded once.
"That," he said, "was impressive."
Shion blinked, stunned. "...Thank you."
There was no mockery in Wade's voice.
Only truth.
"Did I… pass?" Shion asked quietly.
Wade cracked a slow grin. "With flying colors."
Relief crashed over Shion like a wave.
He smiled broad, proud, and exhausted.
"I figured," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "The test wasn't about beating you. That'd be suicide."
Wade gave a short laugh. "No kidding. If you'd tried to win, you'd have been out in thirty seconds."
Shion chuckled quietly, and even Rune made a soft mechanical hum, like an old engine winding down.
Then Wade's grin faded, replaced with something heavier.
"Let me tell you the real reason behind this test."
Shion stood straighter, listening.
"You ever seen a Pokémon with red eyes?" Wade asked, voice flat now.
Shion's breath caught.
He nodded slowly. "I have. Back in My hometown. A corrupted Ursaring."
Wade nodded once. "Then you already know."
He stepped past Shion and looked out over the cracked battlefield, hands still buried in his coat.
"They're not rare anymore. Reports are increasing every week. Forests, mountains… even town outskirts. And they're not just wild either. Lately we've had sightings of trained Pokémon ones already owned getting infected too."
Shion's eyes widened.
"I thought it was just wilds…"
"Was," Wade corrected. "Now? Even safe zones aren't safe."
Kiba growled low, ears twitching at the word corrupted.
"The guild's stretched thin," Wade continued. "Too many adventurers frozen when they see a red-eyed beast. Too many silver ranks that were promoted for coin count, not combat. That's changing."
He turned back to Shion.
"That's why you're here. Why I was sent. Guild's revising how we rank adventurers. Silver isn't just delivery quests and escort gigs anymore. It means you're ready to face corruption. To fight what's coming."
Shion's smile faded.
He nodded once. Slowly.
Wade watched him carefully.
"You and your team didn't win. But you didn't break. You didn't run. And you kept your head. That's rarer than power."
Shion glanced at Rune, who was now lowering to one knee, systems dimming gently. Then to Kiba, whose tail still swayed weakly with focus, teeth gritted through the pain.
"I've seen that red-eyed strength," Shion said softly. "It's… wrong. Like something's eating at them from the inside."
Wade nodded. "It is. And it's spreading. Fast. That's why we need people like you to rise fast. Not because it's easy. Because it's urgent."
Shion felt the weight of those words settle on his shoulders.
He was no longer just traveling.
This journey was pulling him toward something bigger.
Wade stepped forward, handed him back his brass badge now stamped with the silver crest of advancement.
Shion took it carefully.
"This isn't a reward," Wade said. "It's a promise."
Shion nodded.
"I'll live up to it."
Wade smirked faintly, then turned and walked back toward the exit, tossing his coat over his shoulder. "You'd better."
Shion watched him go.
Then slowly turned to his Pokémon.
"Kiba, Rune… let's get you both rested."
The two Pokémon gave him tired but trusting looks.
They had survived the fire.
And earned their place in the storm ahead.