Pokemon Journeys: Masters 8 Tournament

Chapter 24 - Battle Between Aces! Haxorus vs. Charizard!

A/N: The video on the cover/thumbnail is the legendary battle between Ash vs. Red. A match many people have been waiting for in the Pokemon community. But since we don't get to see it in Pokemon Masters EX yet, I would say a real-life action between these two characters would be a breath of fresh air. The battle is well-choreographed with decent CGI, and I really enjoyed it. Even the character traits (personalities, clothes, and appearance) are properly depicted in the video!

Anyways, let's get to the main story...

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Haxorus stomped on the ground and roared. His scream created a strong pulse of shockwave across the battlefield and blew wind on the audience. For most regular pokemon, and even for trainers, it was an intimidating scene to look at.

Iris punched the air and cheered for her ace, "You can do it, Haxorus! We have faith in you!"

However, the Champion's Charizard was nothing regular. It smirked and slashed its claws to sharpen them, ready for a showdown against the fellow dragon ace.

Leon nodded at his partner, "You are ready to go, buddy!"

Charizard breathed fire into its claws, coating them in fire as a result. It pointed at Haxorus and signaled him to come at it.

Knowing that Iris only had her Haxorus left, Leon told his cousin, "We are approaching the endgame here, Iris. Are you ready for the final showdown?"

Iris looked at her Dynamax Band, "We are more than ready, but it's the endgame for you. Haxorus and I will take down both Charizard and Urshifu."

Leon flung his cape and made a horse stance, "Good! Then show us your bond with your pokemon! Charizard, claim the sky and use Air Slash!"

Charizard roared and leaped into the sky. Aiming at the fierce dragon, Charizard flapped its wings repeatedly, and multiple white energy crescents rushed to Haxorus.

Iris nodded and pointed at Charizard, "Let's go, Haxorus! Dragon Pulse! Blast through all the Air Slashes!"

Haxorus's eyes turned red as he charged purple energy around his mouth. The dragon pokemon shot the strong Dragon Pulse at the Air Slash crescents, the force was so strong that Haxorus took a few steps back from the recoil of the shot. The two moves clashed, creating grey smoke that cloaked the battlefield. The two champions' clothes danced along the wind that was caused by the explosion.

The commentator yelled into his mic, "This is amazing! Just the first move between the two ace pokemon is already enough to strike fear and intensity into our hearts!"

Lance focused his attention on Iris and thought to himself, "Leon still has Urshifu left in his pocket, but he doesn't seem to be using it anymore. Iris, you have to use the Dragon Tail tactic again to bring it out so you may have a shot at winning; otherwise, you will have to use that right now to overpower him."

Ash looked at him, "Lance, what do you mean by 'use that right now'?"

Lance widened his eyes at Ash, "Did you just read my mind?"

Clair sweatdropped, "You were speaking your thoughts out so loudly that we could all hear you..."

Sonia raised her index finger, "Let me guess. Since there are multiple uses of a single type of gimmick, and she had G-maxed her Lapras, maybe Iris can...Dynamax her Haxorus?"

Cynthia smiled in approval, "If she can do it, that means she has improved a lot. Much different from her Axew I used to know."

Diantha shook her head, "But it's not looking good for Iris..."