The earth-shaking crash echoed through the entire arena as Aerodactyl was slammed into the ground.
The once-smooth battlefield fractured like brittle glass beneath the impact.
［Keep going—use Liquidation!］
Swampert wasn't about to miss such an easy opening.
Another Liquidation crashed into Aerodactyl's body, carving fresh wounds across its stone-hard skin.
The attack hit hard enough to make even Lance's composure falter.
But Aerodactyl had no way out—not while one of its wings was still pinned under Swampert's grip.
［Again—Liquidation!］
"Swaaaamp!"
Swampert roared eagerly and slammed into Aerodactyl once more.
"SKREEEE—!!"
The prehistoric beast shrieked, its cries echoing painfully across the battlefield.
Chen Shi's final command came cold and quiet.
"Finish it... Liquidation."
Swampert bared its fangs in a savage grin, victory already in sight.
Lance let out a long breath—not in despair, but in grim resolve.
If Aerodactyl was going down, then it would not go alone.
He snapped his arm forward.
"Aerodactyl—use Endure! Then Hyper Beam!!"
"SKREEEEE!"
Even half-broken, the ancient sky tyrant refused to yield.
With Endure, it clung to a single thread of life—then gathered all remaining power into its maw.
The destructive energy swelled, burning white-hot.
"Swampert—dodge!"
"Swaamp!"
Swampert immediately released Aerodactyl and leapt back—
—but Aerodactyl's final strike was too fast, too furious.
A beam of absolute devastation fired point-blank.
BOOOOOOM!!
Swampert was blown backward like a broken kite, slamming into the arena wall with a sickening thud.
He collapsed instantly, Mega Evolution dispelling at once.
Aerodactyl, having exhausted its last sliver of strength, collapsed at almost the same moment.
The referee raised his flag.
"Swampert and Aerodactyl are both unable to battle! Both trainers, send out your next Pokémon!"
The arena went silent for a heartbeat—
Then erupted in deafening cheers.
Chen Shi and Lance exchanged no words.
They simply recalled their fallen Pokémon, lifted their next ball—
—and threw them simultaneously.
Two shapes burst forth.
Two tails ignited.
Two roars shook the stadium.
Charizard.
Except…
One was only at Gym Leader peak.
The other—was Elite late-stage.
Chen Shi's heart tightened.
That Charizard had leveled up—
just overnight.
He forced himself to exhale.
His Dragapult leveled up yesterday.
Why shouldn't Lance's Charizard?
Thinking about it was pointless.
Winning was what mattered.
He lifted the Key Stone at once.
"Charizard—MEGA EVOLVE!"
"OOOOOH!! It's here! It's really here—the black-and-blue Mega Charizard returns!!"
The host's scream nearly pierced the speakers.
The crowd surged to their feet, chanting wildly.
The light faded—and Mega Charizard X roared skyward, blue flames streaking from its jaws.
Lance looked at it with undisguised envy…
But only for a moment.
Then he snapped:
"Charizard—Flamethrower!"
Chen Shi answered immediately:
"Mega Charizard, Flamethrower!"
"ROOAAR!!" ×2
Gold-red flames met azure fire.
The two streams collided, swirling violently before canceling each other out.
Lance's expression darkened.
His Charizard, even at late-Elite level, couldn't overpower Mega Charizard's flames?
He shifted tactics instantly.
"Charizard—Dragon Claw!"
Chen Shi snorted softly.
"We'll meet you head-on—Dragon Claw!"
Two draconic auras flashed.
Two Charizards lunged.
Their claws collided mid-air—
Sparks burst—
Both were blasted backward.
Chen Shi's arm swept upward.
"Mega Charizard—Dragon Rush!"
"ROOOOAR!!"
Mega Charizard X cloaked itself in raging draconic energy, diving like a living comet.
Lance flung out his cape.
"Charizard—Flare Blitz!"
"ROOAR!!"
Infernal flames wrapped around Lance's Charizard as it charged.
The two blazing beasts slammed into each other—
BOOOOOM!!!
This time, only one was thrown from the sky.
Mega Charizard X was blasted back, hitting the ground hard.
Lance finally exhaled in relief.
"Charizard—Air Slash!"
"ROAR!!"
A razor-thin crescent of compressed air carved through the battlefield—striking Mega Charizard X and drawing a pained roar.
"Ghhh—!"
Chen Shi clenched his fist.
"Mega Charizard—Rock Slide! Break them with Dragon Claw!!"
Mega Charizard X forced itself up, eyes blazing.
Stones hurtled from above—
But with a furious sweep of shining claws, it cleaved each one in half.
"Come on!! One more time—Flare Blitz!"
Lance's blood surged with excitement.
Across the field, Chen Shi answered:
"Mega Charizard—Flare Blitz!!"
"ROAR!!!" ×2
Blue fire and gold fire blazed across the sky.
The two Charizards hurled themselves at one another—
—and the explosion rocked the entire stadium.
This time, Lance's Charizard only staggered back—
—but Mega Charizard X was sent spiraling across the air, hitting the ground and rolling several times.
"Mega Charizard!"
Chen Shi's voice cracked with worry.
Mega Charizard X braced an arm against the ground and forced itself upright.
Its vision blurred—its world doubled.
He was one breath from collapsing.
"...Mega Charizard."
Chen Shi's voice dropped to a whisper.
The black-and-blue dragon froze.
He had promised something—
long ago.
Chen Shi had brought him here—
to the very peak of the world.
To a stage he once couldn't even dream of.
He would not fail him.
Not here.
Not now.
Not when victory was within claw's reach.
"BOOOOM!!"
A column of blazing azure flames burst straight into the air, engulfing the entire battlefield.
The heat distorted the atmosphere—
turning the arena into a shimmering inferno.
Mega Charizard X had poured everything into this one final surge—its determination burning brighter than its flames.
Chen Shi stared, stunned—
then laughed, throwing his arm forward.
"Charizard—our final move! FLARE BLITZ!!"
Lance felt the heat hit him like a wave.
His own blood roared in answer.
"Charizard—let's finish this!!
FLARE BLITZ!!!"
Two blazing dragons charged—
Two titans of fire and fury—
About to collide in a clash that would decide the fate of the entire world tournament.
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