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With a clear, resonant roar, dazzling brilliance instantly burst forth from Riolu's body!
Amid blinding white light, a magnificent pillar of radiance shot straight into the sky!
"Rrroo!!"
Within that radiant beam, Riolu's form began to change rapidly. Its small body stretched and grew in an instant—
—and in the next moment, the light dispersed.
Standing proudly on the grass was a blue-and-black, bipedal canine Pokémon, its body wrapped in semi-transparent aura energy!
"Awooo!! Rrroo!!"
Overwhelmed with joy after completing its evolution, Riolu—now Lucario—couldn't help but let out a loud howl!
"This is incredible! It evolved—right before our eyes! Contestant Delia's Pokémon has evolved on the battlefield! If I'm not mistaken, the Pokémon now on the field is Lucario! A Pokémon that originates from the Sinnoh region, even farther away than Hoenn! Ah—this is truly exhilarating! Just when we all thought Delia had no chance left, she's injected hope into us once again! Audience, please cheer for Contestant Delia! Let her create a miracle for us!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from all around the stadium, all of them rallying behind Delia!
While the entire arena roared with excitement, Liam sat quietly in his seat, his brows tightly furrowed as he watched Delia, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes.
Just moments ago, Liam had once again sensed that mysterious power erupting from Delia—something he had felt twice before. He hadn't paid it much attention back then, because he could tell that power hadn't harmed her.
But this time… the intensity was completely different.
Before, it had only been a vague sensation. Now, he could actually see it—a hazy white energy enveloping Delia's entire body, connecting directly with the newly evolved Lucario!
That alone wouldn't have worried him. But soon, Liam noticed something alarming—
As the connection between Delia and Lucario strengthened, that vast white energy surrounding Delia was visibly draining away, flowing into Lucario's body at a rate discernible to the naked eye!
"The battle continues! Contestant Fang, please send out your next Pokémon immediately!"
Pulled back to reality by the cheers, the referee snapped out of his shock and waved both flags, calling out to Fang.
"Hmph! Come back, Slaking! So it evolved during battle? So what! I still have three Pokémon left! Miss Delia, you're destined to lose! Go—Aggron!"
Grinding his teeth, Fang recalled Slaking and immediately sent out Aggron!
"Aggron versus Lucario! The battle begins!"
"Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
"Rrroo!!"
The instant the referee finished speaking, Delia issued her command.
Lucario twisted its body, raised its right paw high—and a soccer-ball-sized Aura Sphere shot forward at blinding speed!
Boom!!
"…Gro—"
"Aggron has lost the ability to battle! Lucario wins! Contestant Fang, please switch Pokémon!"
The stadium fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared in disbelief at Aggron, which had been blasted away by a single Aura Sphere and now lay motionless on the ground. Countless people swallowed hard.
"A stunning reversal! Evolved Lucario is far too strong! With just one strike, it defeated Aggron, a Pokémon renowned for its defense! Such power is astonishing—truly shocking!"
Even the commentator froze for a split second before erupting into excited commentary.
Aggron's physical defense was indeed incredible—but its special defense was far weaker. After taking several hits earlier, its stamina had already been nearly depleted. Taking a four-times-effective special attack like Aura Sphere head-on was simply too much to endure.
"T-this… damn it! Come back, Aggron! You're up—Armaldo!"
Fang was clearly flustered now. His earlier confidence was gone. He quickly recalled the fallen Aggron and sent out Armaldo instead.
"Arma!!"
"Both sides are ready! The match continues!"
"Armaldo! Use Water Pulse!"
The moment the referee finished, Fang immediately launched an attack. A sky-blue Water Pulse rapidly gathered in Armaldo's mouth, then blasted into the ground, surging upward as a massive wave that rushed toward Lucario!
"Rrroo!"
Facing the incoming wave, Lucario turned its head slightly and let out a low growl toward Delia, conveying a clear message.
"Huh? You learned a new move? Alright, Lucario! Use your newly learned move!"
Understanding Lucario's intent, Delia didn't hesitate and allowed it to act freely.
Then—
"Rrroo!! (Extreme Speed!)"
As the massive wave closed in, Lucario roared. A flash of red light enveloped its body—and in the very next instant, Lucario vanished from its spot!
Boom!!
The wave crashed down… but hit nothing.
"What?! Where did it go?!"
In the blink of an eye, Lucario had disappeared from the entire battlefield. Fang rushed to the edge of the arena, scanning frantically—but found nothing.
"Rrroo!!"
The next moment, Lucario's cry echoed from above.
Fang instinctively looked up—and in the blazing sunlight, he saw a black silhouette plummeting down at terrifying speed!
Boom!!
Lucario descended from the sky with immense force, delivering a flying kick!
Armaldo raised its hardened forelimbs just in time, blocking the strike.
"Arma!"
Although the kick was blocked, the sheer impact still sent Armaldo sliding backward across the grass.
"Armaldo! Use X-Scissor!"
Relieved that the attack had been blocked, Fang quickly ordered a counterattack.
Armaldo's sturdy forelimbs crossed, glowing green as it charged straight at Lucario!
Lucario, however, remained perfectly still, calmly waiting for the moment Armaldo closed in—
"Rrroo!! (Metal Claw!)"
With a sharp roar, Lucario vanished once more—reappearing beneath Armaldo's body!
Both claws gleamed with metallic light as they slammed upward into Armaldo's abdomen!
Crack!
"Arma!!"
The sound of armor shattering rang out—Armaldo's abdominal plating was smashed apart by those two devastating blows!
"Now, Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
"Rrroo!!"
Just as Lucario prepared to withdraw, Delia's command rang out. Lucario snapped its claws together, and a powerful Aura Sphere detonated at point-blank range!
Armaldo was blasted away in the next instant!
"Armaldo has lost the ability to battle! Lucario wins!"
Once again, Lucario stood victorious.
As the referee announced the result, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous applause for Delia.
But this time…
Liam's expression was darker than ever, his worry deepening as he stared at the battlefield.