Boom!
A loud explosion rocked the room as a Shadow Ball detonated near Mienshao, the force sending it flying.
Gyarados rushed forward to assist, but before it could reach its ally, a flash of spectral light signaled Dragapult's sudden appearance in front of it.
With a sharp flick of its tail, Dragapult unleashed a powerful Dragon Tail.
Wham!
The massive force struck Gyarados, sending its heavy body skidding across the floor for more than ten meters. Deep cracks appeared in its red scales from the impact.
Lysandre's expression darkened, realizing the Tech Hunter's strength was far beyond his expectations.
He quickly sent a message to Xerosic, who was stationed in the lab, then refocused on the lopsided battle before him. Taking a deep breath, he made his move.
"Gyarados!" Lysandre called, activating the ring on his left hand.
The Key Stone on his finger gleamed with a radiant light, resonating with the Mega Stone around Gyarados's neck.
A brilliant glow enveloped Gyarados, and seconds later, it emerged as Mega Gyarados, its elongated body taking up much of the room.
"Mega Evolution…"
Lysandre's decision was a calculated one.
As a Dark-type, Mega Gyarados would now be immune to Psychic-type attacks and resistant to Ghost-types. Its presence could potentially turn the tide.
But against Luo Yuan, armed with overwhelming power, it was a futile struggle.
"Deoxys, Thunder Wave!"
Deoxys's tentacles lashed out, forcing Pyroar to retreat as golden arcs of electricity radiated from its core, targeting Mega Gyarados.
Lysandre wasn't about to let his ace be paralyzed.
"Gyarados, Waterfall!"
A torrent of water surged around Mega Gyarados, deflecting the Thunder Wave as it barreled toward Deoxys with frightening speed.
The distance between them disappeared in an instant as Mega Gyarados lunged forward, jaws open wide.
If Misty had been watching, she might have fainted on the spot.
But Luo Yuan wasn't fazed. He had dealt with Gyarados before, even capturing one of his own.
"Deoxys, Protect!" Luo Yuan commanded calmly.
A shimmering barrier formed around Deoxys, perfectly deflecting Mega Gyarados's bite. Sparks flew from the impact, and Gyarados momentarily recoiled, its teeth rattled by the force.
Luo Yuan snapped his fingers.
Deoxys instantly switched to Speed Forme, vanishing from sight.
"Extreme Speed!"
Boom!
Deoxys's lithe frame slammed into Mega Gyarados, following up Dragapult's earlier attack with another crushing blow.
Despite its enhanced durability from Mega Evolution, Gyarados struggled to maintain its footing after the impact.
Pyroar, seeing its ally in trouble, fired a Flamethrower at Deoxys to force it back.
However, the flames were effortlessly blocked by Deoxys's psychic barrier.
Lysandre realized that without a bold move, defeat was inevitable.
"Gyarados, Dark Pulse!"
A chilling, malevolent energy erupted from Mega Gyarados, bypassing Deoxys's psychic defenses due to its Dark-type advantage.
The pulse surged toward Deoxys, threatening to land a decisive hit.
But Deoxys, in its Speed Forme, was far too agile to be caught. Its form flickered and vanished just as the attack passed harmlessly by.
While Gyarados was left momentarily confused, Dragapult capitalized on the opportunity.
"Dragon Pulse!"
The violet energy surged through the confined space, striking Mega Gyarados squarely.
The ensuing explosion engulfed Gyarados, the sheer force of the attack amplified by the room's tight confines.
When the dust settled, Gyarados's massive form lay on the ground, unmoving.
Its defeat triggered a cascade of failures across Lysandre's team.
Pyroar, left to face Dragapult and Deoxys alone, hesitated. Its momentary fear gave Deoxys the opening to dispatch it with a single strike.
Mienshao, already disadvantaged against Gengar, was now completely overwhelmed. It fled, only to be chased down and incapacitated.
The battle had spiraled out of control. Lysandre was forced to send out Honchkrow and Chandelure in a desperate attempt to turn the tide.
---
On the other side of the room, Chalmers continued his battle with Malva, all while keeping an eye on Lysandre's struggle.
Chalmers had hoped his leader would defeat the Tech Hunter and come to his aid, but it was becoming clear he was losing.
His focus wavered, and Malva seized the moment.
"Houndoom, Inferno!"
Houndoom unleashed a blazing X-shaped flame, engulfing Braviary, which was still awaiting Chalmers's command.
The fire ignited Braviary's feathers before a concussive shockwave from the explosion slammed it into a wall.
The tides had fully turned.
Both Luo Yuan and Malva were now firmly in control of their respective battles.
Lysandre's expression turned grim.
But a gnawing question lingered in his mind:
He had called for Xerosic several times now—where was he?
Could Xerosic have betrayed Team Flare as well?