"Florges is unable to battle! Contestant Chen Shi, please send out your next Pokémon!"
The referee gave the announcement the moment Florges collapsed.
Chen Shi said nothing.
Only silence.
He gently recalled Florges, set her Poké Ball back at his waist… then drew another.
"Dragapult," he said quietly, "we're going to win… right?"
Just like Florges earlier, Dragapult didn't wait for a command—
he burst out of the Poké Ball on his own, hovering above the battlefield.
He didn't turn to look at Chen Shi.
He didn't speak.
He simply fixed a razor-sharp stare on Dragonite, who had just staggered back to its feet.
Chen Shi smiled faintly and raised his voice.
"Lance! Let's settle everything with this one match.
If Dragapult wins—I win.
If Dragapult loses—then I lose."
Lance froze.
Chen Shi still had two Pokémon left—
so why say such a thing?
But after a moment of thought, understanding dawned.
Chen Shi was younger than him.
He simply didn't have any more Pokémon at the quasi-Champion level.
Lance grinned, spreading his arms with confidence.
"Fine! Then let this be our final battle!"
The moment the two agreed, the arena erupted like a volcano.
The crowd jumped to their feet, flags waving wildly, shouting both their names.
The cheers and stomping formed a single massive wave of sound, shaking the entire Silver Arena.
The host, infected by the frenzy, shouted into his mic:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the two finalists have agreed—
the outcome of Dragapult vs. Dragonite will determine the WORLD CHAMPION!"
In the Rest Area
Daigo let out a long sigh.
"Old Chen… he really suffers because he's younger.
If he were Lance's age, this match wouldn't even be close."
Cynthia's eyes remained locked on the screen as she spoke quietly:
"Talking about what-ifs doesn't matter.
If we were Lance's age, we would be the ones fighting Chen Shi for the title."
Daigo blinked—then nodded.
She was right.
If they were the same age, Lance wouldn't even be in the running.
Phoebe scratched her head nervously.
"Do you guys think Chen Shi gege can win?
Dragapult is only mid quasi-Elite… and Dragonite is way higher."
Daigo folded his arms.
"It's hard to say.
Dragonite's level is much higher, yes—
but it's taken a point-blank Ice Punch from Mega Metagross,
and a fully powered Moonblast from Florges."
"Dragonite's remaining stamina… probably isn't much."
Phoebe clenched her fists.
"Please win… Chen Shi gege…"
Spectator Seats
Yuko whispered, barely audible:
"Please win… Chen-nii…"
And in the front row—
"Chen Shi big bro (Shishu), you can do it!!!"
Ash and Gary screamed from the top of their lungs.
On the Battlefield
The two Trainers locked eyes.
The final duel began.
"Dragapult, Phantom Force!"
"Dragonite, Dragon Dance!"
Dragapult vanished instantly.
Dragonite began to dance in place, power rising.
Chen Shi's brows tightened.
Lance knew Phantom Force was incredibly fast—there was no way Dragonite had time to set up!
Unless—
Unless this was a trap.
His heart lurched.
"Dragapult! Don't approach—reappear and use Dragon Pulse!"
Dragapult reappeared a few meters away from Dragonite, energy already gathering in his maw.
Lance's smile widened.
You didn't fall for it.
Good.
This was getting fun.
"Dragonite! Dragon Pulse!"
Dragonite abandoned Dragon Dance at once, launching its own attack.
The two pulses met—
—and Dragonite's crushed Dragapult's instantly.
"Dragapult, Phantom Force again!"
Chen Shi roared.
"Baruya!!"
Dragapult whipped his tail and vanished once more.
Lance chuckled.
"Running again, are you?
Dragonite — Dragon Dance!"
Chen Shi's expression hardened.
A blatant open trap.
If Dragapult stayed hidden, Dragonite would dance freely—
and once its stats rose, Dragapult's odds would hit zero.
If Dragapult attacked head-on—
Dragonite would overpower him as before.
And if Dragapult closed distance—
two Ice Punches would end the match.
Chen Shi gritted his teeth.
"Dragapult! Reappear — use Sucker Punch!"
"Baruya!!"
Dragapult burst out of the shadows, cloaked in dark energy, darting toward Dragonite with blistering speed.
It was the only way—
hit, then escape.
But—
He underestimated Dragonite's speed.
And reaction time.
Lance's eyes shone.
"Dragonite — grab him, Ice Punch!"
"Wu-fuu!"
Dragonite twisted mid-air, snatched Dragapult cleanly with one claw, and raised its other fist as icy energy crackled around it.
Chen Shi's mind raced—
and suddenly, he remembered his first battle against Daigo.
He shouted with all his strength:
"DRAGAPULT — U-TURN!!"
Dragapult's eyes lit up.
Before the Ice Punch connected, he lashed out with one claw—
a gentle tap on Dragonite's body.
And instantly—
he dissolved into red light and returned to his Poké Ball.
Another ball on Chen Shi's belt burst open—
Togekiss appeared, completely bewildered.
Chen Shi didn't waste a millisecond.
He recalled Togekiss immediately, then threw Dragapult back out.
Lance stared, stunned.
Chen Shi grinned.
"Now… the battle truly begins."
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