Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 580: Shatter the Darkness with Flames!

It was Johan's turn to send out a Pokémon. After a brief pause, he made his decision.

He drew a Poké Ball.

"Go, Ceruledge!"

A ghostly blue flame erupted as Ceruledge appeared in the arena, armored in "Runic Cuirass," eyes blazing as it sliced through the fire with its sword, locking eyes with Cynthia.

"Goka!"

Its look said clearly—

Give me a proper fight!

"Johan's third Pokémon—Ceruledge!"

The announcer quickly added, noting the uniqueness of this Pokémon:

"Of course! It could also be Armarouge!"

Boom!

On the big screen, next to Johan's name, Ceruledge and Armarouge's icons were displayed under a single slot—unprecedented in the tournament.

Seeing Ceruledge appear, Cynthia had a good idea of what Johan intended.

Both Ceruledge and Armarouge shared similar weaknesses. Cynthia's Roserade and Glaceon were at a distinct disadvantage.

He wanted her to bring out her ace—Garchomp.

Cynthia smirked, pulling out a Poké Ball.

Not happening.

"Tremble, spirit—Spiritomb!"

The Poké Ball burst open, and a cracked Odd Keystone slammed to the ground. From its fissures, eerie crimson mist swirled out as Spiritomb emerged in full form.

"Shiii-PAH!"

Its smoky body spun like a ghostly fan.

"Cynthia's third Pokémon—Spiritomb!!"

Ceruledge and Armarouge both shared Ghost and Psychic weaknesses, and Spiritomb—with its Ghost/Dark typing—could easily resist and counter both, especially against Psychic.

"Ceruledge!" Johan narrowed his eyes and called out.

Ceruledge quickly pressed the rune on its armor—scarlet flames burst from its body and armor joints.

Flames surged skyward, engulfing its form.

"It's coming—it's Ceruledge's Henshin!"

"Honestly, coolest Pokémon this tournament!"

"But... Armarouge is Fire/Psychic, completely countered by Dark..."

"Oh!!! I get it! Johan is a master of type reversal!"

Ceruledge's transformation roused the crowd, though some questioned the move.

Psychic-type against Dark? Useless.

But veterans like Lucian, Alder, and Steven nodded in approval.

Spiritomb, much like Gengar, excelled in defense and counterplay, but its speed was abysmal.

While Ceruledge needed to close in—putting it at risk of counters—Armarouge could attack from range, making it a better tactical choice.

"Flamethrower!"

Fwoooosh!

Scarlet flames collapsed into Armarouge's form as it raised its golden cannon, unleashing a stream of fire.

Johan's sudden thought led to a bold move.

He shouted—

"Spiritomb, Protect!"

"Shii-pah!"

Hummmmm—

A green shield flickered around Spiritomb, blocking the fire.

Audience: "???"

Announcer: "???"

Alder: "???"

Even Cynthia stood there dumbfounded.

Boom!

The flames faded. Spiritomb recoiled in confusion.

"Did... Johan just command Spiritomb?"

It slowly dawned on everyone.

Roooar!!!

The audience erupted.

"Wait WHAT?! My vocabulary can't keep up with this insanity."

"Johan is unreal—he just commanded Cynthia's Pokémon?!"

"He baited Protect out of Spiritomb?!"

"I've watched battles for years, and I've never seen this."

"Hold up! Isn't this illegal?!"

The livestream chat filled with question marks.

"Pffff—" Lucian choked on his water, spraying Flint.

"That was genius..."

Even he struggled for words.

Flint wiped his face. "So it... works like that, huh."

Beside Professor Oak, Blue and Red reacted in their own way.

Blue: utter confusion.

Red: took mental notes.

Red glanced at Blue, realizing: This can be learned.

Blue snapped out of it and growled, "Command my Pokémon? Try again in a hundred years!"

On the field—

Cynthia blinked, then shot Johan a glare.

She'd known Spiritomb obeyed Johan sometimes, but... she was still here!

"Shii-pah..."

Spiritomb glanced nervously at both trainers.

It hadn't meant to obey—it just acted instinctively.

Johan hadn't expected it to work either.

In hindsight, he wished he'd said "endure it" instead—it might've worked.

Still, it became a bizarre highlight of the match.

"Shii-pah!!"

Spiritomb shook itself, trying to reassert control.

"Armarouge, Fire Blast!"

Hummmm—

Inspired by its trainer's antics, Armarouge's flames intensified. A Rainbow Feather shimmered behind its helm.

Fully charged.

Fwoooosh!!

A blazing kanji for "Great" surged forth, golden flames swirling around it.

Cynthia recovered and responded swiftly.

"Spiritomb, Sucker Punch to dodge!"

"Shii-pah!!"

This time, Spiritomb made sure it heard her voice, darting away in a blur.

"Not that easy—Armarouge!"

"Goka!!"

Hummmm—

Armarouge's eyes glowed with psychic light—not to attack, but to guide the flames mid-air!

The Fire Blast bent toward Spiritomb—

Boom!!

Explosive heat shook the stadium.

"Spiritomb, Payback!"

Through the smoke, Spiritomb retaliated with shadowy energy—right at Armarouge.

Johan narrowed his eyes.

A preloaded Payback? She predicted it would land?

Spiritomb's gas enveloped Armarouge with shocking speed.

"Smokescreen!"

Boom—

Thick black smoke engulfed them both.

But—

BANG!!

Armarouge slid backward, bracing its arms, armor scorched.

A crack spread across its chest plate.

Super effective!

Payback doubles in power when retaliating—and Spiritomb's specialty was counterstriking.

But—

As Spiritomb retreated, a trace of flame clung to its gas.

It was burned!

Cynthia didn't hesitate.

"Dark Pulse!"

Evil aura spiraled overhead, pressuring Armarouge.

"Brilliant move," Alder nodded.

"Her Payback was fast," the announcer added.

"No," Alder corrected, "Her real brilliance was the judgment call—recognizing pure defense wouldn't cut it."

"She's challenging Johan's tempo."

Initially, Johan's strategy made sense—Armarouge's range and speed could suppress Spiritomb.

Keep distance, bombard from afar.

Even with solid defenses, Spiritomb couldn't win that trade.

Johan's Fire-type had Ho-Oh's blessing—backed by sacred flame, it could outlast Spiritomb despite its resistances.

So—

Cynthia flipped the tempo.

"Going on the offensive?" Johan grinned.

We like that too.

"Fire Blast!"

"Goka!!"

They both loved head-on battles.

Dark Pulse pounded Armarouge—but it fired back relentlessly.

They locked into a long-range showdown.

"Dark Pulse again!"

Spiritomb's dark energy pressed like storm clouds.

But Armarouge's battle spirit only surged higher.

Johan raised his hand.

"Finish it, Armarouge—Armor Cannon!"

Flames charged within its cannon.

Judging Spiritomb's health, Johan prepared a full-power blast.

Whooosh—

Heat surged. Cynthia exhaled slowly.

Spiritomb's moves were fewer, and though it had the typing advantage, flame constantly suppressed its offense.

But now—

"I'm counting on you, Spiritomb!"

BOOM!!

Fire exploded—Spiritomb's gas dissolved like mist, leaving only a pale Odd Keystone behind.

"Is it over?"

"What a match. That duel was amazing."

"Put aside Johan commanding her Pokémon—that was top-tier combat."

Over?

Hummmm—

Dark mist rose again from the cracked Keystone, wrapping toward Armarouge.

"Armarouge!"

Johan was ready.

"Goka!"

It tried to dodge—no good.

So it stood firm, legs wide, fire bursting from every joint.

"It's Destiny Bond!"

Alder identified the move immediately.

Lance's Gyarados had fallen to it before.

Dark mist surrounded Armarouge—it felt a chilling drain of energy.

"Goka!"

Not that easy!

Neither Johan nor Armarouge would accept defeat.

"Use Aura!"

But not on Armarouge—on the Rainbow Feather!

Fwoooosh!!

Golden fire blazed again.

The Rainbow Feather shone with divine light.

Let life's flame shine—

Shatter the darkness with fire!

Golden flames pierced the gloom.

"What is that?" Alder leaned in.

"HE'S ON FIRE!!!" Flint yelled.

"Goka!!!"

Armarouge roared—light tore through darkness.

BOOM!!!

"Destiny Bond... resisted?!"

"Cheating! This is cheating!!"

"No one's resisted Destiny Bond before!"

Johan exhaled.

Just like a Gastly can't take down Ho-Oh—every move has a limit.

Destiny Bond too.

It's all about what it costs to resist it.

Rainbow Feather: Hmph, peasant.

Lance muttered, "Why didn't I think of that..."

"But wait," said a viewer, "Even if Armarouge survived, Johan usually swaps out Pokémon after—why not now?"

Valid point.

Switching gives a fresh Pokémon an edge.

But not this time.

Armarouge was still ablaze.

No way it wanted to leave.

It had reached "Blaze" condition—going out now?

Unthinkable.

And—Johan knew Cynthia's remaining Pokémon couldn't check Armarouge unless it was Garchomp.

More than that—it was Armarouge's choice.

"Goka!!!"

Next!

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Powerstones?

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