When you have the advantage in a battle, the choices become much simpler.
Su Qian realized this, so when Corviknight appeared, she had Mimikyu strike first without hesitation.
Taunt to start.
The opposing Corviknight also let out a harsh, grating cry.
It wasn't just Gardevoir that was willing to serve as fuel for victory. When Incineroar realized its time was up, it too passed the torch forward. In terms of resolve, the big tiger was never one to fall short.
Thus, Mimikyu found itself at a critical juncture between life and death.
Without being Taunted, it could still fight back, try to find a way to cure its burn. As long as it didn't give up, there was always a way.
Once Taunted, it could only wait for death. The persistent burn damage would drain all its stamina. It was already in less than ideal condition after taking Incineroar's final attack.
Not to mention facing a large tank like Corviknight.
Victory or defeat hinged on this moment.
Everyone held their breath.
However, a Pokémon in poor health, constantly enduring the pain of burns, could hardly compare to a nearly full-health Corviknight.
The smoke slowly dissipated. Under the overcast sunlight, the great black crow seemed to be rimmed with a brilliant golden edge.
Sacred and glorious.
The end had come!
It let out a hoarse, piercing cry. After launching Taunt, it descended like a meteor, transforming into a silver orb that plummeted downward!
When it came to Taunt, Corviknight had never lost. Not in the past, and not now!
And when Mimikyu realized its Taunt had been interrupted, its calm was replaced by fury. It knew the end had arrived.
But unwilling to give up, it chose to make one final attempt.
Tailwind was still active.
Perhaps it could use Phantom Force and the shifting shadows to toy with Corviknight.
Thinking this, it opened a portal to the distance and slipped through.
What it didn't expect was that Corviknight's landing wasn't as forceful as it appeared. It descended with majestic poise, landing softly on its feet.
Then, like an arrow loosed from a bow, with a shining silver ring atop its head, it charged straight at Mimikyu as it emerged from the exit!
Clack-clack-clack-clack!
Its sprinting speed on the ground was even faster than its flight speed!
Mimikyu had never seen a crow that ran faster than it flew. It retreated a step, vanishing into the shadows.
But Corviknight had already locked onto its position. Its wings gave a slight flutter, its speed increasing yet again, and it struck Mimikyu instantly!
Bang!
A cross-shaped silver light flashed!
Smoke greedily covered everything.
Mimikyu's small form, like a ragdoll, was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
The ferocious Iron Head, combined with the constant burning pain ravaging its body, drained the last of its stamina.
It had finally taken down this opponent that should have fallen much earlier.
Silence fell over the field. Only the sound of smoke dispersing and the gentle rustle of Tailwind remained.
The air froze for several seconds, like a completely still animation.
"Beeeeep!"
A piercing whistle echoed through the entire battle hall, putting a final end to this match that appeared thrilling but was truly a struggle.
The two trainers, dozens of meters apart, looked at each other, silent for a long time.
It was over.
In the spectator stands, many students wore expressions of melancholy or sorrow.
The school board members whispered among themselves, their gazes on Li Xiang filled with approval.
Bai Wanhua sat in her seat, watching Su Qian. Her eyes held complexity, lament, and regret.
A flood of indescribable emotions surged within her.
She had personally recruited Li Xiang, even sending Mo Ye to fetch him. But Su Qian was also someone she had personally invited.
If the two of them hadn't been close friends privately, how else could she have convinced Su Qian, the school's strongest, to welcome Li Xiang?
The waves of Misty Lake push forward, and the new generations surpass the old.
Bai Wanhua knew that one day, Li Xiang's strength and achievements would surpass Su Qian's.
Perhaps in her final year, or after graduation. But she never expected it to happen so soon.
Wasn't Su Qian a genius?
Of course she was. She lacked none of the three essential qualities of a trainer.
Exceptional talent combined with a good family background had brought her to the top of Mist City University. During her third and fourth years, she took on the mantle of her predecessors and ascended to the highest throne of Mist City University.
During the year she led the team, although Mist City University still couldn't break into the global level, they secured fourth place. She was instrumental in that achievement.
Time had given her the chance to start over—twice.
The top three opponents were formidable, advancing rapidly each year, with an abundant pool of talent and no gaps in their lineups.
But she hadn't stagnated either. Regaining her confidence, she pushed forward relentlessly, serving as Mist City University's beacon, guiding the rest of the team.
And then, Li Xiang appeared. Defying all logic and ignoring all rumors, he fought his way up from the very bottom of the school.
From a weak sophomore to the reserves, then from reserves to the alternate team.
Then, he shone in the spring tournament, making other school teams howl in despair.
He went silent for a while, growing in an unknown place.
When he returned, he was completely transformed, like a different person. He immediately challenged the senior members of the main team, taking them down one by one.
Finally, with an undefeated record and an unstoppable momentum, he stood before Su Qian, the "new queen," and challenged her with his head held high.
How did Su Qian perform?
Very well, even brilliantly.
Who couldn't see the bond between her and her Pokémon?
Time and again, they created miracles, blocked their opponent's advances, and continued the battle with unyielding tenacity.
But in the end, it was just a desperate struggle. A fight to avoid being dethroned.
Harsh, but that was the reality.
In that moment, Su Qian tasted the bitter feelings of those trainers she had once defeated, those she had left behind as mediocrities or far behind.
Especially since the student who dethroned her was only a first-year, with barely four years of raising Pokémon under his belt.
A genius who surpasses geniuses is no longer a genius. They're a monster—utterly incomprehensible to ordinary people, impossible to relate to.
Others might admire them, but they also drive them out from among their "own kind."
Because everyone knows that one day, they won't even be able to see their back. They're not the same kind of person.
The crucial question was whether Su Qian could accept this reality.
Losing was normal. No trainer has never lost. Defeat is inevitable.
But the key was who you lost to, and how you lost.
Bai Wanhua looked down at the radiant girl below. The complex, unreadable expression on her face filled her with worry.
Both sides were dear to her. She truly couldn't bring herself to choose.
The battle was loud but ultimately small in scope—at least that's how Li Xiang saw it.
After it ended, because both sides' Pokémon were severely injured, afternoon training had to be suspended.
Su Qian recalled Mimikyu, smiled as she usually did, lightly patted his shoulder, and said, "Good job" and "Keep it up."
For a moment, Li Xiang didn't know what to say to her. He could only nod in response.
The school board members and coaches filed out, including Bai Wanhua, though Li Xiang wasn't sure what they had come for.
The team members rushed down from the stands, surrounding Su Qian, clearly bursting with things to say.
But under her beaming expression, they all held their tongues.
Li Xiang was left "neglected" on the side, with only a few people speaking to him.
Song Jie and Gong Xu stood beside him like two attendants, one with a profound gaze, the other with a fanatical expression, their hands on his shoulders.
Eventually, Su Qian sent them all away.
As the captain, she said, "Train more, everyone! This year is promising! Look how strong we are! Keep training! Every bit of improvement counts!"
The others could only disperse with worried looks, going about their own tasks, watching the two of them head to the Pokémon Center together.
On the way, Su Qian hummed a tune, looking relaxed.
As if she didn't care at all about the earlier victory or loss.
Li Xiang watched her, feeling no joy from his win. He suddenly understood the strange feeling described in March Comes in Like a Lion, when the protagonist Rei crushed his older, more experienced shogi opponents.
They handed over their Poké Balls.
The battle had been fiercely fought.
Su Qian's Gardevoir and Togekiss both needed at least a full day of rest.
And Incineroar, having pushed itself beyond its limits, would naturally need a day of recovery.
Fainting didn't exist, but matches required knocking opponents out, though sometimes things went a bit overboard.
Midway, Su Qian went to the restroom. When she came out, she asked the nurse a few questions, took a phone call, and excused herself first.
It seemed Bai Wanhua had something to discuss with her, so she left her Pokémon in temporary care.
Li Xiang nodded, watching her leave.
"..."
In the past, when Incineroar and the others evolved and displayed their true power, the effects of the Candies gradually revealed themselves, allowing him to catch up to and even surpass his peers.
Now, the Soft Candy and Rare Candy were helping him close the gap with his seniors, matching their training levels and experience.
The result was this scene before him.
Seven months of isolation and relentless training had borne fruit, fully demonstrated against the team's seniors.
He had stepped onto the very top.
The way his senior sisters looked at him had changed. The strange aura around Su Qian was almost palpable.
Did he regret it?
How could he?
In this world of impending storms, he had to push forward as fast as possible, by any means necessary.
Only then would he have the strength to protect those he cherished.
Li Xiang fiddled with his Poké Balls, thinking that in a world where danger lurked in the shadows, weakness was the greatest sin.
Strength was the foundation for survival and for turning the tide.
Suddenly, a scream came from the distance.
"What the hell! How did the mirror break!?"
A cleaner's voice came from the restroom.
Li Xiang looked up in shock, remembering that after coming out of the restroom, Su Qian's left hand had stayed in her pocket the entire time. Even when she made a phone call, she did it one-handed.
So that was it.
The trace of unease in his heart vanished with this realization, and he couldn't help but laugh at himself.
Who did he think he was? To have beaten her so badly that she lost heart and never recovered.
The uncrowned queen of Mist City University...
She wouldn't let you catch up that easily.
Li Xiang turned his head, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window. He seemed to see a determined, graceful figure, unwilling to admit defeat. Under the scattered rays of light, she strode forward with her Pokémon, never stopping.
His hand unconsciously tightened around the Poké Balls.