The Pokémon journey begins in Galar

Of course, Yuri wasn't going to just stand by and watch.

Even though Dynamaxing gave a Pokémon an enormous body that came with obvious mobility drawbacks, Yuri was well aware of her limits. Against a Gym Leader, she knew full well that kind of disadvantage wasn't something a beginner like her could capitalize on.

"Appletun, you too!"

Following Milo's example, she recalled Appletun. As the crimson Dynamax energy surged through her band, the Poké Ball swelled in her hands. She turned and hurled it high behind her with both arms.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

With deafening roars, both Pokémon landed one after the other, their bodies expanding rapidly under the immense energy. Powerful gusts ripped across the stadium as unstable Dynamax energy overflowed in every direction.

Still, the atmosphere inside the Gym didn't quite match the overwhelming chaos Yuri had experienced inside a Max Raid Den. That difference allowed her to remain much calmer than many other first-time challengers.

Milo, who had completed his Dynamax transformation a few seconds earlier, made no move to seize the initiative. Instead, he politely waited until Appletun finished transforming before calling out his command.

"Max Flare! Set the whole field ablaze!"

Yuri didn't have time to wonder how a Pokémon like Eldegoss, a pure Grass type, could unleash a Fire-type Max Move. But the brilliant sunlight suddenly shining down told her all she needed to know. If that attack landed, there'd be no way to recover.

"Max Guard, Appletun!"

"Raaaghh!"

Now even Appletun's voice had taken on a commanding presence. Though it carried Dragon-type traits and didn't particularly fear fire, the dense, fiery energy its opponent was gathering still made it uneasy.

They hadn't practiced this move much, but as long as Appletun followed the steps Yuri had memorized, the chaotic Dynamax energy would naturally coalesce into a translucent barrier an improvised version of Protect to shield it.

The blazing column of fire slammed into the purplish red shield and stopped just inches away, the intense heat completely shut out from the other side.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of Max Flare made things even worse: the sunlight on the field grew even more intense.

Appletun didn't mind that kind of weather, of course, but it didn't offer much advantage in this particular match.

It was its first time having a body that massive, and its first time unleashing moves like preset commands. The unfamiliarity made what should have been nimble, evasive movements clumsy and delayed.

"Appletun, use Max Airstream!"

Hearing Yuri's command, Milo smiled and responded with an unexpected order of his own.

"Ride the wind and dodge it!"

"Raaaghh!"

"Nyaaa~!"

Eldegoss let out a delighted cry as Appletun began gathering a whirlwind of energy, stirring the air into a roaring vortex aimed straight at her.

But instead of bracing for impact, Eldegoss launched herself into the air. Even before the attack reached her, the turbulent winds were already sweeping over her body and she used them to rise even higher.

"What?!"

Yuri stared wide-eyed as the giant Eldegoss rode Appletun's storm like a glider, ascending with elegant, unhindered ease. She completely evaded the devastating vortex.

Appledun's Max Airstream kept going, hurtling past where Eldegoss had been, and slammed into the arena's protective barrier at the edge of the audience stands. The thin light screen held firm, dispersing the energy harmlessly into the air and sending even more swirling wind back across the battlefield.

"Don't zone out, Challenger."

Milo's voice snapped Yuri back to reality. This wasn't the time for awe. She had seen Pokémon dodge Dynamax attacks before while watching matches in the past. But back then, she didn't fully understand the role of the trainer. She only thought the flashy collision scenes were the cool part.

Now that she was the one standing on this stage, Yuri finally understood. Dynamax battles weren't about standing still and firing off moves like a cannon.

While most Dynamaxed Pokémon truly did struggle to move, Eldegoss was an exception. Her fluffy, lightweight form allowed her to ride the wind and make agile dodges others couldn't.

"Appletun, Max Wyrmwind!"

Her opponent was flying too high. Yuri wasn't confident that a Poison-type move would connect at that altitude, so she opted for a Dragon-type attack, hoping it would do some damage if it landed.

Milo deliberately hesitated, allowing Appletun's Max Wyrmwind to go off unchallenged. Purple dragon energy surged upward in twisting streams, lashing toward the airborne Eldegoss.

This time, Eldegoss didn't fully dodge. Though her evasive skills in Dynamax form were impressive, they weren't flawless.

The energy struck her directly. With a flare of force, the power exploded into a massive pair of dragon wings that wrapped around her and snapped shut.

"Nyaaa-!!"

It wasn't enough to knock her out, but the force of the blow disrupted her balance and yanked her downward.

"Now, Max Ooze!"

Yuri wasn't about to let the chance slip by. As soon as Eldegoss dropped to a more vulnerable height, she issued the next command.

But this time, Milo wasn't about to keep holding back.

"Max Flare again!"

Toxic liquid surged from Appletun, rippling outward in massive waves that coated a huge portion of the battlefield. At the same time, Eldegoss gathered fire energy again. Flames ignited and swirled around her.

Boom! Boom!

Fwoooosh! Bang! Bang!

Jets of corrosive poison shot upward like geysers, slamming into the descending Eldegoss. At the same time, her blazing firestorm engulfed Appletun, roaring across the field.

"Raaaaghh!"

"Nyaaa-!"

The two Pokémon cried out in unison, their bellows shaking the stadium. It was the kind of sound that made your eardrums tremble.

Marie, watching from the stands, winced and rubbed her ears.

They probably had some sort of soundproofing tech in place, judging by how calm everything had been these past few days. But even so… she glanced at the roaring crowd behind her. It was impressive they could sit through this and still be cheering.

While Marie was briefly distracted, the time limit for Dynamaxing ran out. The two giants began to shrink back to their normal forms, one after the other.

Both Pokémon collapsed onto the field, drained and exhausted. Though neither had fully lost consciousness, Milo felt that, as far as Gym battles went, this was a more than satisfying finish.

He gave a subtle signal to the announcer.

It was time to call the match.