After I said goodbye to my third opponent, I walked into my elevator and watched as the metal doors closed.

My second opponent put up quite a fight with his Delphox, but Charcoal handled it well. My third opponent had a Frosslass, which was a perfect opportunity to use Jet. He did amazing! I can't wait to see who my next opponent will be. I hope the others are doing well.

When my elevator stopped, the doors opened, and my eyes widened.

"Elsu?" I questioned.

"Eragona! What a surprise!" he said.

I smiled as I stepped onto the battlefield. The referee showed up and glanced at us.

"One-on-one. The winner will advance to the next level," the referee said, "Now, battle begin!"

"Scolipede, I choose you!" Elsu said, throwing out a Pokéball.

"Charcoal, let's light it up!" I said, mimicking my friend.

At once, our Pokémon appeared with mighty cries.

Luckily, I know this Scolipede's ability and moves. I'll have to work around that Speed Boost of his...

"Megahorn!" Elsu cried.

The Scolipede cried out, and its horns started glowing bright lime green. The Megapede Pokémon then charged toward Charcoal at amazing speed.

"Counter with Slash!" I said.

Charcoal's claws extended and started glowing white. The two Pokémon charged at one another, and their attacks clashed. Then, Scolipede's body glinted red.

Its speed just rose. Gotta be careful now.

"Flamethrower!" I cried.

Charcoal roared and fired a ribbon of fire upon the Scolipede, causing it to stumble.

"Don't let up, Charcoal!" I exclaimed, "Use Dragon Pulse!"

Charcoal cried out before releasing a multicolored shock wave at the dazed Scolipede.

"Quick, dodge it!" Elsu said.

Scolipede growled as it dodged the incoming attack. Then, the Megapede Pokémon's body glinted red again.

I have to be extra careful now; its speed rose again. It's probably faster than Charcoal now.

"Up in the air, Charcoal!" I said.

Charcoal spread his wings and propelled himself in the air.

"Oh, no, you don't," Elsu said, "Rockslide, Scolipede!"

The Scolipede let out a cry before summoning large boulders above Charcoal.

"Quick, dodge 'em!" I cried.

My Charizard obeyed and smoothly weaved through the falling boulders. As I watched the boulders fall, I noticed how none of the rocks fell near Scolipede.

If memory serves me right, Rock-type moves are super-effective against Bug-type Pokémon. I've got an idea; I hope it works.

"Charcoal, use Wing Attack to knock the boulders into Scolipede!" I exclaimed.

My Charizard groaned before his wings started to glow. Charcoal roared as he knocked the incoming rocks toward the Megapede Pokémon.

"Scolipede, get out of there!" Elsu cried.

Before Scolipede could move, the Bug-type Pokémon got pummeled by the large boulders.

"Ah! Scolipede!" Elsu exclaimed.

The Megapede Pokémon stood up and shook off the pain. Then, its body glinted red again.

Yeah, it's definitely faster than Charcoal now. We're gonna have to bait it into charge at us.

"Superpower!" Elsu exclaimed.

Perfect!

Then, the Scolipede started glowing. It then charged at Charcoal with incredible speed.

"Wing Attack, once more!" I said.

When Charcoal's wings started glowing, he darted toward the incoming Pokémon.

"Now, use Flamethrower, full strength!" I cried.

When the Megapede Pokémon drew near, Charcoal growled as it fired a large ribbon of fire at the charging Pokémon. When the smoke cleared, the Scolipede was left unconscious.

"Scolipede, no!" Elsu cried.

"Scolipede is unable to battle," the referee said, "The winner is Charizard!"

I smiled as I ran up to my Charizard.

"Great work, buddy!" I praised.

Libby cried out happily, to which Charcoal. I turned back to Elsu to see him retracting his Scolipede.

"Thanks for the battle, Elsu," I said, "I've been waiting to have my battle against you."

"Mirror Coat, Era!" Elsu joked.

I laughed as I shook my head fondly.

Okay, that was a good joke!

"Good luck on the rest of the tower, Eragona!" Elsu said, "I'll be rooting for you!"

"Thanks, El!" I said.

After returning Charcoal to his Pokéball, I walked back to my elevator and stepped inside. The doors closed, and the elevator started rising.

It was nice finally getting to battle Elsu. He put up quite the fight. I wonder who my next opponent will be.

When the elevator stopped, I smiled at my opponent.

"Now, this is gonna be fun!" I said.

"I couldn't agree more, Era!" Kat said with a grin.

When I stepped onto the battlefield, a referee showed up and explained the rules to us.

"Now, battle begin!" the referee cried.

"Goodra, I choose you!" Kat said, throwing out a Pokéball.

"Jet, take flight!" I said, mimicking my friend.

At once, our Dragon-type Pokémon appeared.

"Goodra, use Dragon Pulse!" Kat exclaimed.

"Use Dragon Pulse, too!" I said.

Our Pokémon obeyed and roared out multicolored shock waves. When they collided, an explosion occurred.

"Now, use Dragon Claw!" I cried.

Jet growled as his claws began to glow green.

"Counter with Dragon Tail!" Kat said.

When Goodra's tail glimmered green, it swung around and blocked Jet's incoming attack.

"Like that? Nice counter, huh?" Kat asked.

"Very nice," I said, "Now, use Flamethrower!"

Jet nodded and fired a ribbon of fire on Goodra, causing it to stumble back.

"Goodra, are you okay?" Kat asked.

When Goodra found its balance, it shook off the pain and let out a mighty roar.

"Use Flamethrower as well!" Kat said.

Goodra obeyed and roared out a ribbon of fire.

"Dig, Jet!" I exclaimed.

My partner obeyed as he dug into the battlefield.

"Dragon Pulse in the hole!" Kat said.

No!

Goodra stood over the hole and fired a multicolored shock wave into the hole. Then, Jet popped out of the hole and let out a strained cry.

"Dragon Pulse once more!" Kat cried.

"Dodge!" I cried.

When Goodra unleashed its attack, Jet managed to roll out of the way.

Jet got much stronger since his time as a Gible, but Kat's Goodra was always stronger than us since the start. Beating him isn't gonna be quick and easy.

"You know, Era, in all my times battling, you're the first trainer to push me this far for me to use this move," Kat said, "Goodra, Hyper Beam!"

Hyper Beam!?

Goodra gaped its mouth and released a golden beam in our direction.

"Block with Dragon Claw!" I cried.

When Jet crossed his claws, they started glowing green. When the attack arrived, Jet stood his ground as the attack forced him to slide backward.

I've heard that Hyper Beam is a very powerful move, but I never imagined it to be this powerful!

Jet growled as he struggled to keep his balance.

"Come on, Jet!" I cried, "You can do it!"

Libby bounced on my shoulder as she cheered on her friend. In the corner of my eye, I noticed that my bag started glowing.

What in the world...? I don't have an egg on me.

Turning my attention back to the battle, I saw Jet beginning to push back the Hyper Beam.

"What? B-But how?" Kat asked.

Jet roared as he sliced through the Hyper Beam.

"Where did all that power come from?" Kat asked.

"I-I have no idea." I answered.

Then, Jet's horns started glowing. The glow from his horns cloaked Jet with a purplish flame. With a mighty roar, Jet darted toward Goodra and rammed himself into the Dragon Pokémon. Goodra let out a strained cry before toppling over.

What in the world was that?!

"Eragona, Jet just learned Dragon Rush!" Kat exclaimed.

Dragon Rush?

"Goodra is unable to battle," the referee announced, "The winner is Garchomp!"

My Garchomp looked to the ceiling and let out a mighty roar, making the battlefield quake. I smiled as I walked up to my Garchomp.

"That was incredible, Jet!" I said, "I didn't know you had all that power in you!"

Jet looked at me and let out an affectionate cry. Libby smiled as she returned the cry. I looked over to Kat and watched her retract her Goodra. A sad smile appeared as I walked up to my friend.

"That was a heck of a battle, huh, Kat?" I asked.

The brunette looked at me and chuckled.

"It sure was," Kat said.

"I didn't know Goodra knew Hyper Beam."

"Well, it's like I said before. You're the first to ever push me that far to use it."

The brunette then threw her arms around me.

"Thanks for pushing me this far," Kat said, "I had fun."

I smiled and returned the gesture.

"So did I." I said.

The two of us parted and smiled. Jet walked up to us and let out an affectionate cry.

"You were amazing, Jet," Kat said, patting his head, "You've really grown."

Jet smiled and let out a mighty roar. I grinned as I returned my partner to his Pokéball.

"All that stands in your way is the Master of the Tower," Kat said, "Go show 'em what you're made of!"

Angel smiled and chirped out a cheer-filled cry. Nodding to my friend, I walked to my elevator and stepped inside. When the metal doors closed, the elevator ascended.

"This is it, Libby," I said, "I wonder who the Master of the Tower is."

My partner happily cried out as she nuzzled her cheek against mine.

"Yeah," I said, "We're gonna win this!"

When the elevator stopped, the afternoon sun sparkled through the large windows. In the center of the room was a silhouette of a man.

"It's been a while since someone has challenged me for my title," he spoke, "Many tried and failed."

When he turned around, he stepped out of the light and onto the battlefield. He had dark skin, silver eyes, and dark denim hair.

His hair reminds me of Calista, but he also resembles me a bit.

He wore a white skin-tight shirt and black pants.

"Let's see what you've got!" he proclaimed.