"I'll go first," Shiranui answered.
"Shiftry, you're up!" Spenser sent out a Shiftry and Shiranui scanned it with his Pokédex.
Shiftry, the Wicked Pokémon and the evolved form of Nuzleaf. Shiftry is a mysterious Pokémon that is said to live atop towering trees dating back over a thousand years. It creates terrific windstorms with the fans it holds."
"Niwatori, it's ninja time!" Shiranui sent his Blaziken out and the battle was on. Both battlers ran into the forest with their trainers following and Scott informed the audience floating above in a balloon that all of Metallica Island was the battlefield, deploying a floating Poké Ball-shaped camera to help arbitrate the battle. The footage the camera captured was streamed to a tablet that Scott pulled out.
"Shiftry, Double Team!"
"Niwatori, Blaze Kick! Mega Ring activate!" Niwatori glowed a fiery red colour as he Mega Evolved. The Mega Blaziken swiftly caught up to Shiftry and delivered a fiery kick that left the latter with a burn. Several Shiftry appeared, all of which were leaping from tree to tree and Niwatori's Speed went up thanks to his Speed Boost ability.
"Shiftry, Quick Attack!"
"Niwatori, Aerial Ace!" The Shiftry copies disappeared from sight and Niwatori was hit, though the Mega Blaziken did not receive much damage. Niwatori leaped up into the trees and was leaping with the throng of Shiftry before slashing the real Shiftry for a lot of damage, leaving it on its last legs. The Mega Blaziken then jumped away in a different direction and Shiranui, putting his ninja skills to work, leaped up into the branches before following Niwatori. Shiftry was trying to pursue Niwatori, but could not find its opponent and to make matters worse for it the burn was taking its toll. A moving branch was the clue Shiftry needed as it conjured a Shadow Ball and threw it in that direction. By the time the Shadow Ball hit its target, Niwatori was already zeroing in with a Brick Break at the ready and the Mega Blaziken's attack struck home, knocking Shiftry out.
Both trainers along with Niwatori met up where Shiftry rested and Spenser recalled the fallen battler. "I have not seen a Blaziken move like that before," commented Spenser, "But this battle is far from over. Venusaur, it's your turn!" Spenser sent his Venusaur out and Shiranui stuck with Niwatori.
Shiranui knew all about a Venusaur's strengths and weaknesses having chosen a Bulbasaur as his starter for his first journey through Kanto. "What a Venusaur lacks in speed it makes up for with power and defence," he thought.
"Venusaur, Double-Edge!"
"Niwatori, Flare Blitz!" Both battlers charged at each other head-on with Niwatori cloaked in flames. At impact, the battlers were cloaked in dust and dirt and when it subsided, Venusaur was knocked out in one hit.
"Just one more Pokémon to beat and it won't go down that easily," stated Spenser as he switched his Venusaur for a Claydol. Shiranui pulled out his Pokédex and scanned the Claydol.
"Claydol, the Clay Doll Pokémon. Claydol is an enigma that appeared from a clay statue made by an ancient civilization dating back 20,000 years. This Pokémon shoots beams from both its hands."
"Niwatori, return; Kettobasu, it's ninja time!" Shiranui switched Niwatori out and sent out his Hitmonlee (Zoro in Illusion). "Kettobasu, start with Low Kick!" Zoro ran towards and tried to knock Claydol over, but Claydol used Teleport to get away. Claydol soon made a reappearance, using Rapid Spin and struck Zoro from behind; or so it thought. When the dust cleared, there was no Hitmonlee in sight. Claydol Teleported away and at its new location, spotted the disguised Zoro and launched a Psybeam. Zoro stood his ground and faked being hit when the Psybeam struck before using Taunt to temporarily keep it from teleporting away. Claydol tried to use Psybeam again and Zoro took the attack, once again faking being hit only this time he was on his back. Claydol charged towards the downed Zoro with a Rapid Spin and Zoro started glowing with a crimson aura, eyes glowing a bright cyan while getting back on his feet. Spenser and Shiranui arrived as Zoro sumo stomped the ground and a forcefield of crimson energy struck Claydol, leaving Spenser dumbfounded at seeing a Hitmonlee successfully use a Night Daze attack. Claydol pressed on with its Rapid Spin and landed a hit, causing Zoro to lose his Illusion.
"That explains the last attack," stated Spenser.
"That's right," replied Shiranui, "Your Claydol is really battling my Zoroark."
"In that case; Claydol, use Hyper Beam!"
"Zoro, Imprison!" The Zoroark placed a mental seal on Claydol, causing Claydol's Hyper Beam to fail. The Taunt wore off.
"Claydol, Sandstorm!"
"Zoro, Fake Tears!" Zoro took the opportunity to turn on the water works and deliver a performance worthy of Poké Star Studios, causing Claydol to be flustered into having its Special Defense weakened. Claydol spun rapidly and a sandstorm blew in, buffeting Zoro soon after.
"Claydol, Earth Power!"
"Zoro, Night Daze!" Zoro started glowing with a crimson aura again and released a shock wave of dark energy. Claydol was hit and the damage was enough to knock it out.
Spenser and Shiranui returned to the Battle Palace. "Shiranui, for your skill in using the environment to defeat me in battle, I bestow on you the Spirits Symbol," stated Spenser.
"Thanks Spenser," replied Shiranui.