James Davy

Pokémon Galar

"Kinoko, Double Team!" Multiple copies of Kinoko spawned and one of them vanished when the Air Slash struck.

Pokémon Galar

"Kinoko, Counter!" The Breloom took the super effective hit and sent back twice as much damage. Her Toxic Orb activated, rendering Kinoko badly poisoned—normally detrimental to a battler, but due to her Poison Heal ability the Breloom would heal more and more each turn.

Pokémon Galar

"We most certainly will," replied Shiranui, "Kinoko, I choose you!" He sent out his second Pokémon for the competition, which was his Breloom.

Pokémon Galar

My thoughts exactly.

Pokémon Galar

"So, the fates have decided on you and I battling it out again," stated Avery in an attempt to trash talk his opponent, "Defeating you will grant me the secret armor…then I will at last have what I need to become a Psychic-type Gym Leader! No matter what it takes, I refuse to accept anything but a complete and utter victory… I'm coming at you with everything I have and I promise you it will be a fair fight after seeing what happened between your friend and Klara. Are you prepared?"
"Hai, da!" Shiranui answered, clarifying, "That's Johtonian for 'Yes I am.'"

"Slowbro, you're up!"
"Nekomata, I choose you!" Avery sent out his Galarian Slowbro and Shiranui scanned Avery's Pokémon after sending his Meowstic out.
"Slowbro: Galar Form, the Hermit Crab Pokémon. A Poison and Psychic type and an evolved form of Slowpoke: Galar Form. If this Pokémon squeezes the tongue of the Shellder biting it, the Shellder will launch a toxic liquid from the tip of its shell."
"With a one, two, three…this Poké Ball will grow gigantic!" Avery recalled his Slowbro and after using his Dynamax Ring, he threw in the soccer ball-sized Poké Ball and out popped a far bigger Slowbro.
"Nekomata, it's time to Dynamax!" Shiranui did similarly and after all was said and done, Slowbro and Nekomata were gigantic in size and staring each other down.
"Slowbro, Max Ooze!"
"Nekomata, Max Darkness!" The sky went dark as Nekomata fired twin beams of dark energy at Slowbro that exploded in a dome of darkness, leaving Slowbro knocked out in one hit.

"Oh, I could just Imprison myself for this!" Avery groaned, recalling his downed Slowbro.
"How about you try Instructing yourself instead," Shiranui heckled, "Both you and Klara are greenhorns by comparison to Liam, Chuck, Jen and I; but with enough training, you too will succeed in your goal of becoming the head of the gym you're from.

Pokémon Galar

"You and I are on the same page in that regard," Shiranui continued, "I once asked my Gardevoir what I would be like in the future, but she refused to answer for the reason that having such knowledge is dangerous."

Pokémon Galar

"I have no answer to that one," Shiranui replied.

Pokémon Galar

"I fail to see how that's a problem," Shiranui replied to the notion of having a dark side as something enviable.

Pokémon Galar

"It's that reason why I do nine particular hand movements from time to time," Shiranui added, describing the kuji-kiri, "It helps calm me down and stay focused on the task at hand if my emotions threaten to get the better of me."

Pokémon Galar

Shiranui returned to the dojo, healed Sogekishu and was surprised when Nekomata popped out of her Poké Ball and curled up with him when he went to bed, purring like the cat she was. "Not that I'm complaining, but what's with the affection?" Shiranui asked telepathically so as to not wake up the others.
"Most feline Pokémon are choosy of who they want to befriend and we Meowstic queens are very selective about making friends," Nekomata answered, "It started when I saw you send out that handsome purple-tailed feline that calls itself Mewtwo, but answers to Saisei."
"You have a crush on Saisei?" Shiranui asked, astounded at that bombshell.
"I'm into the edgy ones and no tom can compete with Saisei's edge," Nekomata answered, "Like any psychic, I took a peek into your memories and; wow, the charisma it would take to befriend some of the most powerful beings in the world. You're going to have a lot of queens who want what I have."
"I don't know if Saisei is capable of reciprocating your feelings," replied Shiranui, earning a 'please explain' look from Nekomata, "They're immune to the move Attract so you're dealing with a non-gendered Pokémon. I'm not saying getting them is impossible as it's been documented that some legendary Pokémon can have children and Saisei already has a family of sorts; I'm saying you need to find the right way."
"I love a challenge," came Nekomata's response. With a bid of good night to each other, Shiranui and Nekomata both fell asleep.

The morning came and Mustard had everyone gather. He had a whiteboard displayed on a tripod. That board showed the bracket with the matchups.

1. Liam
2. Klara
3. RP
4. Chuck
5. RP
6. Jen
7. Avery
8. Shiranui

He reminded the eight participants that they were each allowed to use three different Pokémon, but only in the final could they use all three and that it was one-on-one matches until then. He then said that it was time for the first match, Champion Coleman vs Klara. Mustard then called for them to begin. While walking out to the field behind everyone else, Klara told Liam that she had left a "special surprise" for him at the battlefield.

Klara and Liam tossed out the balls with the selected Pokémon in unison. Klara called out Galarian Slowbrow while Liam sent out Duraladon. Purple spikes shot up out of the ground around Duraladon, but seemingly did nothing. Liam instantly recognized those and became furious. Klara looked upset as she Dynamaxed her Pokémon. She ordered Max Mindstorm, which did moderate damage.
"I was going to take it easy on you, but you can forget that now," Liam said. "Laser Focus!" Liam called. Duraladon took aim at the opposing Pokémon
(Klara Dyna 1)
Liam now Gigantamaxed Durladon, with the hit guarantee from Laser Focus and called for G-Max Depletion, the guaranteed critical hit tore a huge chunk out of the Galarian Slowbro's health, and it retaliated with another Max Mindstorm as it is the only attack it had that wasn't half effective or worse.
(Klara 2, Liam 1)
Klara letting her anger get to her slipped and ordered for Max Ooze which did nothing.
Liam called for another G-Max Depletion which KO'd the Slowbro. As Duraladon reverted to its normal size, Liam was not celebrating. With an angry look, he marched straight up to Klara, who was now on the ground sobbing.

"How dare you!?" He yelled. "Trying to cheat your way into a victory? I expected better from an aspiring Gym Leader. You know, my friends and I have dealt with a literal mafia head, TWO teams of eco-terrorists at the same time, a homicidal maniac that was trying to cause the end of the world, a team a street thugs, many poachers, and a horribly misguided organization messing with extraterrestrial Pokémon. But None of them tried a dirty trick like that. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call up the Gallar Leauge and tell them of the dirty trick you pulled?"
Klara looked away from Liam. "You're right, there is no excuse for what I did. Banished from the dojo, be blacklisted from the Galar Leauge. I deserve both of them."
Mustard approached the pair. He turned to Liam first.
"Congratulations on the victory, Champion Coleman. Though, as Klara's Sensei, I feel I must apologize on her behalf. What she did was wrong, but she didn't want to get defeated by her rival."
"With all due respect Master Mustard," Liam replied. "From where I stand, that doesn't really matter. Cheating is cheating. It is one of the few things I find unforgivable."
"I understand how you feel Champion Coleman, but she is my student and I will deal with her punishment." He then turned to Klara. "Klara, you have brought shame on this dojo with your actions. As punishment you will be allowed to stay on one condition: You must take care of every Pokémon at this dojo, both owned by the people here and the wild ones that live within the grounds by yourself for six months." He then turned back to Liam.
"You have persevered even though the deck was stacked against you, I can see why you are a regional Champion. Now, if you will step to the side we will see who you are facing in the next round." Mustard walked back over to his position. As Liam started to walk away, Klara stopped him.
"How did you know?"She asked. "How did you know to have a Steel-type ready for me?"
Liam looked at her. "I didn't go in knowing you were doing this, I would have told Master Mustard if I did. I used Duraladon because I knew you specialized in Poison-types. Nothing more." Liam then begrudgingly held his hand out to the sobbing Klara to help her up.

1. Liam [Durladon/?/?]
2. Klara [G. Slowbro/-/-]
3. RP
4. Chuck
5. RP
6. Jen
7. Avery
8. Shiranui

@bowtiesrcool86

Shiranui saw the battle between Klara and Liam and was astounded at Liam's wrath that he believed would even make a Nurse Joy quiver. He didn't blame Liam at all as not even he would stoop so low as to set a trap on a battlefield before the battle officially started.