It was true; Josh could simply send Illeana an email, but he had other business there, too. "I also wanted to talk about how Sygna Suits have been... changing of late. At least mine has." Previously, it was believed that they could only sync with one line of Pokémon. Josh's could now sync with two. "But not now - we've got a match to win!"

Great. Another one of those accursed bands. Josh got the feeling the researcher wouldn't be as merciful as Genevieve Cromwell was about respecting his feelings. He would just have to grin and bear it.

Wanting to end the match as quickly as possible, the Gym Leader ordered Raikiri to "joust" with the Eevee. The rare feline zipped back and forth across the court in a blistering fast QUICK ATTACK chain, each pass coming with a high-speed claw swipe.

Josh's and Raikiri's tactics of hitting fast seemed to work for now, keeping the electric-type from being more than grazed by the swarm of SHADOW BALLS. Once Illeana pulled the trigger on activating her Dynamax Band, victory by a thousand cuts would no longer be possible due to the substantially tougher skin the Eevee's colossal size would bestow upon it.

Aware of the rhythm of his Zeraora's attacks, Josh whistled loudly. With a squealing about-face, the thundercat's paws ignited from the friction burn, adding FIRE PUNCH-like swipes to each of his passes. If the cuts weren't enough to get the Eevee to cry uncle, then burning fur would be more of an encouragement to do so!

The glinting DYNAMAX BAND prompted Josh to brace himself for impact. The researcher's GIGANTAMAXING Eevee grew to such a colossal size that Raikiri had barely any room to maneuver. The field of radiating DYNERGY was intense unlike any form of Infinity Energy he had felt from his suit. The Swift attack was likewise enormous, each star rocking Raikiri like an EXPLOSION.

Was this the oppressive power of the Dynamax phenomenon? The more Josh witnessed it in action, the more he wanted nothing to do with it. Against such a huge opponent, weak but fast attacks would do little good. He needed all the power he could get. His paws still alight, Raikiri added electricity to the mix, pouncing at one of the Eevee's enormous legs with PLASMA PAWS laden with white, arcing lightning.

That flurry of SHADOW BALLS headed Raikiri's way at close range was so dense that there would be no dodging it when they reached his height. There was only one path to victory in this moment, and that was knocking the colossal normal-type off its legs before it could kick the feline out of the way. He had the speed to do it, too, ready to zip underneath the gigantamax Pokémon and let the ghost-type assault fall all around him.

With a flourish of Z-Energy powered by Josh's Z-GLOVE, the Zeraora circled his colossal foe in a HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE that would leave the Eevee's legs itching from wide scratches, numb from paralysis thanks to lightning bolts zapping it, and its ears ringing from the sonic boom the Z-Move left in its wake. It was the Mauville Gym special that sent many a challenger home in tears.

Raikiri's HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE was arguably the fastest any Pokémon could move. One of the fastest Pokémon species in the hands of a trainer specializing in speed, using a move that weaponized that speed. It was a deadly combination that had been used to fend off many challengers at Mauville Gym. As unerring as the SWIFT stars were, they simply did not have the power to bring Raikiri down alone. When he first started as a Gym Leader, his badge in battle was notorious for being easy to win. Now, it was punishingly challenging to acquire.

With the red flag waved in Illeana's direction, Josh had scored yet another win. Two more, and his pile of winnings would grow. He wondered what the clerk at POG Bank would think when he walked in cashing so many checks. "Great match - I'll get that email sent off in the upcoming weeks. Might DM you about it or see if I can get you on a video call or something. Good luck on your next flight if you take one." With that, he took a seat on the nearby bench as he awaited his second round opponent.