Defeat

A Fire- and Ghost-type Ceruledge could hold its own in a standard battle, but against a Mega Evolved Blastoise with significantly boosted strength, gaining the upper hand was nearly impossible...

Which meant—now was the time for Terastallization.

The rain continued to pour relentlessly over the battlefield, never once letting up. Under Kofu's astonished gaze, Kai took a deep breath, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a Tera Orb. Without hesitation, he hurled it toward Ceruledge.

"Ceruledge—Terastallize!"

The moment the Tera Orb made contact, it burst into a brilliant radiance above Ceruledge's head. Crystal-clear energy cascaded down, instantly forming a shimmering blue crystalline shell that enveloped its entire body.

Crack—!

A crisp sound echoed through the air as the crystal shattered into countless motes of light. As they scattered, Ceruledge stood tall in place, its body now gleaming with a crystalline luster, as though coated in a polished sheen.

Atop its head, Tera energy solidified into an ornate, floating gravestone—the foundation for its Tera Crown. A ghostly purple crown, its hue deep and spectral, signified Ceruledge's Terastallization type—Ghost.

Tera Ghost!

Kai had considered the possibility of Ceruledge having a Fire Tera Type, though ideally, a Grass Tera Type would have been the best option. Fire Tera could still be viable...

But since Ceruledge's Tera Type was Ghost, all those considerations were unnecessary.

Seems like his luck wasn't bad after all.

It was time to launch a counteroffensive!

"Charge in—Shadow Claw!"

Ceruledge immediately felt the power of Terastallization surging through it. The rain's suppressive effect on its fire had become almost negligible. With swift, agile steps, it dashed forward. Its blazing sword, now coated in a layer of ghostly crystal, took the form of a massive, spectral purple claw.

For just a brief moment, Mega Blastoise hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden Terastallization—

And in that instant, Ceruledge struck!

The attack landed squarely on Mega Blastoise's face. The colossal turtle reeled from the blow, stumbling backward as if it had just been slapped across the jaw.

"What was that?!"

Siebold 's expression shifted. Kai's sudden Terastallization had thrown him off. Gritting his teeth, he quickly ordered, "Prepare for the next wave—Flash Cannon!"

Ceruledge had no intention of letting up. The flames on its sword roared even brighter, flickering with vengeful energy.

If it could land a direct hit, Bitter Blade would not only deal significant damage but also restore its own stamina—a perfect move for prolonged battles.

But Mega Blastoise wasn't the ace of an Elite Four member for nothing.

Even as its head reeled from the Shadow Claw, it forced itself to remain steady. With sharp instinct, it aimed both arm cannons at the ground and fired two bursts of white-hot energy. The force propelled it upright, allowing it to regain balance.

Then, its massive back cannon locked onto Ceruledge—

And fired.

Ceruledge's gaze sharpened. With a fluid motion, it swung its blade and cleaved through the oncoming Flash Cannon. The movement was precise, calculated—elegant, even, like a noble from a bygone era.

Without missing a beat, it twisted its body, wielding its second blazing sword in a sweeping arc aimed directly at Mega Blastoise's abdomen.

"Blastoise—!"

Mega Blastoise let out a pained grunt, instinctively clutching its stomach as it staggered backward. The lingering flames from the attack clung stubbornly to its shell, burning like an unshakable curse.

Even as Mega Blastoise felt its strength waning, the flames transformed into faint embers of light—flowing back into Ceruledge's body, replenishing its vitality.

Kofu raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… Bitter Blade, huh? That move is seriously troublesome. Over time, this could turn into a war of attrition. The longer the battle drags on, the more Mega Blastoise's stamina will drain, while Ceruledge keeps recovering."

Siebold wasn't too familiar with the specifics of Ceruledge's moves, but with his years of battle experience, he quickly grasped the situation.

He couldn't let this fight turn into a drawn-out endurance match. If it did, Mega Blastoise's advantage from Mega Evolution would be completely wasted!

"Go all out—Dragon Pulse!"

A sharp glint flashed through Mega Blastoise's crimson eyes.

Both arm cannons and the massive back cannon charged up with swirling energy, glowing with a deep blue-violet hue.

A breath later—three powerful waves of draconic energy erupted forth, taking the form of a fearsome, snarling dragon, roaring toward Ceruledge!

Kai's gaze sharpened.

"A battle of energy clashes? We're not backing down. Tera Burst!"

Ghostly Tera energy rapidly coalesced in front of Ceruledge, forming a massive sphere that radiated an eerie, spectral glow.

A fraction of a second later, it burst forth in a blinding beam.

Energy met energy—colliding, clashing, devouring each other in a chaotic struggle for dominance.

With its Mega Launcher ability, Mega Blastoise's Dragon Pulse was undeniably terrifying in power.

But Ceruledge's Tera Burst, amplified by the synergy of its Terastallization, held the edge in this contest.

Tera Burst shattered Dragon Pulse apart, and the residual energy surged forward—crashing into Mega Blastoise and slamming it into the battlefield floor.

Siebold clenched his teeth. He needed time—just a little time for Mega Blastoise to recover!

"Protect!"

A faint, weary groan escaped Mega Blastoise's lips. "Blastoise…"

A translucent green barrier flickered into existence around it.

Siebold let out a small sigh of relief.

"It's useless," Kai shook his head, already giving the final command.

"Phantom Force!"

Once again, a spectral portal materialized beneath Ceruledge's feet.

Without hesitation, it dove into the void—reappearing an instant later, right in front of Mega Blastoise.

Siebold 's pupils contracted in alarm.

—He had made a fatal miscalculation.

Phantom Force was one of the few moves that could break through Protect!

With ruthless precision, Ceruledge swung its twin blazing swords.

Even under the ghostly glow of Terastallization, its flames still burned brilliantly.

The first strike—shattered the protective barrier.

The second strike—sealed Mega Blastoise's defeat.

The moment consciousness slipped away from Mega Blastoise, its Mega Evolution unraveled.

Like floodgates bursting open, the immense energy sustaining its transformation dispersed. All that remained was a dazed, fainted Blastoise, lying motionless on the ground.

Siebold 's lips parted, then closed again. He had words—but they caught in his throat, unspoken.

Eventually, he exhaled, a soft chuckle escaping as he recalled Blastoise into its Poké Ball.

"We were a step behind. My misjudgment cost us the battle."

He shook his head, smiling wryly.

"You did great, Blastoise. You fought hard."

For a moment, Kofu was silent. Then, he raised his voice.

"Blastoise is unable to battle—Ceruledge wins!"

"Poli! Poliwag!"

As soon as the verdict was announced, Poliwag bounded onto the battlefield, eagerly congratulating the now-de-Terastallized Ceruledge.

Ceruledge, usually cold and stoic, allowed a rare flicker of amusement to cross its gaze. It accepted the praise with a quiet nod.

"Nicely done."

Kai stepped forward, lightly patting the back of Ceruledge's now-retracted flame sword.

Though he could no longer fist-bump it like back when it was just a little Charcadet, this was his way of showing appreciation.

Ceruledge barely suppressed the urge to bounce in excitement like Poliwag. Instead, it coolly nodded, keeping up its composed image.

Kai only chuckled, making no effort to expose its little act.

---

Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!💎💎💎

Read more chapters ahead of everyone else on my Patreon

Patreon/ Nyxal