Feather Rest not only has the effect of recovering stamina but also eliminates its own flying attribute power.
In other words, the Salamence with only the dragon attribute managed to heal itself back to life in a close encounter with a Big Explosion using a recovery technique.
Many spectators were shocked by this.
The effects of the Ice Skin Explosion were laid bare for all to see. Even Pokémon with quadruple resistance to the ice attribute might not be able to stand it to the end.
The Salamence actually did it!
Does this mean Genji has a chance to defeat the Champion—
Almost every time there's a Champion Alliance, spectators think this way. In the special seats, Baimu and others heard the heated discussions around them and glanced at Da Wu, who was calmly rising from the Champion's seat.
Whether he can win or not will be known tomorrow.
——
A day passed without any unexpected events.
The next afternoon.
The Hoenn Champion Alliance reached its climax.
It's said that thanks to Baimu, both domestic and overseas viewership of the Hoenn Champion Alliance increased significantly compared to last year.
It even reached the highest record in nearly a decade.
The staff at the broadcasting station and the Champion Alliance planning department were overjoyed, an unprecedented sense of accomplishment filled their hearts.
Unfortunately, most of them weren't in the same group as the league conference planning department, otherwise, they could have celebrated twice.
"Finally, it's the Champion's title defense battle."
Baimu watched as Da Wu slowly walked down the steps. The Champion Alliance finals are also known as the Champion's title defense battle, symbolizing the most important battle to see if the regional champion can maintain their position.
It's a major event in the Hoenn Region.
Therefore.
The organizers specifically had Da Wu enter early and sit on the Champion's seat. As soon as all the spectators entered, the Four Heavenly Kings Drake appeared as well, and then Da Wu descended slowly, like an emperor personally leading his army.
Just the majestic symphony resonating throughout the venue was enough to fully elevate the status of the Champion.
Come on!
The future third-ranking Champion among the Eight Masters, Da Wu!
Let me see with my own eyes your performance in the Champion Alliance!
Baimu adjusted his sitting position with great interest to avoid getting distracted while watching the match. The camera standing by his side silently turned on, and Porygon II adjusted the focus on the two people below.
Buzz!
The whistle blew.
Both sides sent out their Pokémon.
Unlike ordinary trainers, Da Wu started off with his trump card—the Altered-color Metagross.
Genji, on the other hand, chose the Haxorus with blood-red axe blades in its mouth.
The two Pokémon charged at each other as soon as they appeared, with one raising a gigantic metallic arm like a siege hammer that glowed with glaring icy light, and the other's claws and axe blades entangled with strange purple-black energy.
In the first round of the clash.
Metagross blocked one of Haxorus's claws head-on, swinging its metal arm emanating frozen qi at the opponent's head, only to be blocked by the sharp, black-purple glowing giant axe.
Clang!
The metal clash sounded exceptionally loud.
Haxorus agilely rolled backward, not to evade, but to adjust itself into a position convenient for unleashing another powerful attack on Metagross!
Swoosh!
With strong force, the blood-red axe blade slashed fiercely at Metagross!
But the expected sound of the axe blade hitting metal did not follow, because Metagross's face was adorned with a crossbar that changed from gold to light blue.
This indicated it was using Spiritual Power.
In the next instant.
Haxorus was sent flying over ten meters away. Fortunately, Metagross's Strong Mental Will didn't manage to lock onto it continuously, which allowed Haxorus to land gracefully with acrobatic maneuvers.
The big screen showed Da Wu with a slight smile. Although usually polite and unassuming, during battles the confidence he exuded would gradually make opponents doubt themselves.
And his confidence undoubtedly derived from Da Wu's extraordinary strength.
He withdrew Metagross.
The appearance of his ace seemed just to ignite the atmosphere and let the audience appreciate his power as a Champion.
Baimu understood this was likely Da Wu's habit.
In the documented video footage online, Metagross was always seen entering the battlefield first and rounding it out at the end.
The replacement Pokémon was Skarmory.
Haxorus launched another assault, and despite the opponent belonging to an airborne unit, with its developed leg muscles, it still had a chance to reach it by jumping.
Thus.
The audience gasped as Haxorus leapt high into the air, as if it had springs under its feet, in hot pursuit of Skarmory. Between the blades on its face, Electric Light flickered, forming a pale blue thunderball.
Skarmory looked down at the oncoming opponent, not dodging but instead meeting the attack head-on.
The two got incredibly close—
Electric current released!
Crackle——!!
The Skarmory hit by Electric Light convulsed continuously; for a moment, its entire silvery-gray outer shell turned bright blue until a loud bang occurred, after which it fell toward the ground along with Haxorus.
Just before hitting the ground, Skarmory suddenly flapped its wings and soared back up high.
"Caw!"
It let out a menacing screech.
The landing Haxorus intended to retaliate with a roar, but as soon as it opened its mouth, purple saliva spewed out, with a purple glow appearing on its face.
It's poisoned!
Skarmory took a hit from an Electric Shock Wave to afflict Haxorus with Severe Poison.
Back in the air, it discreetly released Invisible Rock onto the field, preemptively setting countless sharp, bright white stones in ambush.
When Genji switched in Flygon.
Invisible Rocks that had disappeared for just a couple of seconds immediately appeared around it, exploding like grenades with a bang.
Numerous fragments hit Flygon, leaving shallow marks on its body.
With a ground attribute, it resisted rock attributes, so Invisible Rock had no particularly significant effect on it.
This time.
Flygon didn't use the old Tornadus tactic because Skarmory, with its steel and flying attributes, was hardly affected by Tornadus.
It directly spewed out torrents of flames, opting for the simplest pure counter-type attack.
Yet Skarmory still didn't evade. The pale blue Spherical Light Shield perfectly isolated the flames in front of it; meanwhile, it expanded the distance with Flygon, quickly flapping its metal wings!
Whoosh!
A fierce wind assaulted, making the pursuing Flygon wobble and lose balance, and under a strange force, it was sent back to Genji's waist Poké Ball.
Another one opened up in its place.
The Volleyball Spirit Shelgon was forcibly sent out. Unlike Flygon, it didn't resist rock attributes, but its decent defensive ability meant the Invisible Rock explosion had no significant effect on it.
It craned its head up to look at the Skarmory in the sky, summoning giant rocks to fall in front of it, blocking the bizarre wind that blew again.
Barring a Blow Away failure.
Skarmory decisively charged at Shelgon hiding behind the giant rock, with its wings shining with brilliant metal luster, shattering the giant rock with ease.
Boom!
The moment the stone exploded, Shelgon spat out scorching flames, engulfing the Skarmory that smashed the giant stone!
Actively stepping into a trap!?
Baimu was stunned. Why rashly let Skarmory engage in close combat? Didn't it have any long-range attack techniques?
Soon.
The answer was revealed.
Where the flames subsided, there was no trace of Skarmory. It emerged on the other side—having sprinted with its legs to the back of Shelgon!
The audience was astounded.
Aerial Rotom rapidly displayed the thrilling scene on the big screen—
Faced with Shelgon's Jet Flame, Skarmory embraced the descent by adjusting its metal wings, allowing it to fall directly to the ground.
The flames, erupting at a thirty-degree angle, managed to graze right past it, completely unscathed.
How was this maneuver executed?
Baimu racked his brains but couldn't understand how the Skarmory on screen suddenly managed to angle down in such a sharp manner, allowing its elevated tail to rapidly touch the ground while the head remained stationary.
A miraculous scene akin to Pikachu's long-duration aerial stunts left a lasting impression on him.
Those hollow iron wings, silver on the outside and red inside?
That must be it.
Having made such a wide circle, Skarmory ignited its body with brilliant blue flames, charging fiercely at Shelgon from behind, driving it out outright!
Brave Bird Assault!