Gardevoir's Moonblast was shattered by a single strike from Dr. Dov.
Her expression hardened.
The man's strength was monstrous.
He still wasn't even fighting seriously.
"Bitch… that attack was far too weak."
Dr. Dov's voice was cold.
"Why don't you try taking one of mine instead?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he opened it.
A torrent of blazing fire burst forth, shooting straight toward Gardevoir.
Psychic energy flared around Gardevoir as she twisted through the air, narrowly evading the incoming flames.
But Dr. Dov's attack didn't stop.
Jets of fire burst from his mouth in rapid succession, one after another, filling the sky with scorching blasts.
Wave after wave of blazing flames rained down.
Even though Gardevoir was dodging with everything she had, one blast still caught her.
The flames struck her abdomen.
The fabric of her dress instantly blackened as the heat scorched her skin.
"Garde—!"
Gardevoir staggered in midair, clutching her abdomen as a cry of pain escaped her lips.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Too fragile!"
"Pathetic!"
"Only those who evolve beyond their limits deserve true power!"
Dr. Dov's laughter rang with arrogant contempt before his expression abruptly turned cold.
"I was planning to play with you a little longer…"
"But you're far too weak. I've already lost interest."
"So…"
"Die."
The moment those cold words left his mouth, Gardevoir's pupils shrank.
Dr. Dov vanished from sight.
In the next instant, a violent gust of wind tore through the air.
Before Gardevoir could react, the reddish wings on his back hardened, transforming into gleaming steel wings that flashed with blinding light.
He plunged from the sky like a falling meteor.
BOOM!
Gardevoir was driven straight into the ground.
A thunderous explosion rippled across the battlefield.
Gardevoir's body slammed into the earth, carving a massive crater into the ground. Dust and shattered stone blasted outward in all directions.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Half-kneeling at the center of the crater, she struggled to catch her breath, her face pale.
He was simply too strong.
She was no match for him.
Turning her head, Gardevoir saw Lilith watching her with anxious eyes.
Forcing a small smile, she murmured softly,
"Garde…"
As if trying to reassure her.
I'm fine.
But Lilith knew the truth.
Even with the psychic enhancement, Gardevoir still couldn't defeat Dr. Dov.
A flicker of despair crossed her eyes.
Could this really be the end?
A bitter thought rose in her mind.
I never even had the chance to fall asleep spooning with someone…
Lilith thought bitterly.
...
On the battlefield, Xander and the soldiers around him could only watch in horror as the two Champions were completely overwhelmed.
Brutus had already fallen.
Fainted and injured Pokémon lay scattered across the ground.
A heavy sense of despair spread among the defenders, and their resolve began to waver.
If even Champions couldn't stop the enemy—what chance did ordinary soldiers like them have?
The Symbiosis Society continued their assault, pushing the defenders back and causing more and more casualties.
"Commander… have reinforcements arrived yet?"
"We can't hold them much longer! Champion Brutus is badly injured, and Champion Lilith is about to lose!"
"Damn it… we can't let those monsters win!"
"Don't give up! Help is coming!"
"My Pokémon… they're all dead…!"
"I'm not running! I'll keep fighting!"
...
Xander stood among a group of wounded trainers.
Many of them were injured. Some of the younger ones trembled with fear, their faces pale.
They had just watched countless friends fall to the Symbiosis Society.
Even more Pokémon lay motionless across the battlefield.
The shock of it all was crushing.
Xander lifted his head and looked across the battlefield, his expression grim.
Bodies lay scattered everywhere.
Human… Pokémon…
Blood soaked and broken limbs and shattered bodies littered the ground.
This was war.
Cruel.
Bloody.
Merciless.
A merciless abyss that devoured lives without pause.
Xander drew in a slow breath, then roared across the battlefield.
"Hold the line! Reinforcements are on the way!"
"This is when we have to stand our ground!"
"We are Trainers Pokémon!"
"Behind us are a million students who still believe in us!"
"If we fall back—those young lives will be in danger!"
"The moment we put on this uniform, we knew we might have to risk everything!"
"For our people!"
"For the oath we swore to protect them!"
"Hold the line!"
"For the Hualis!"
"Victory!"
His voice carried across the battlefield.
The speech stirred the shaken soldiers.
One by one, they slowly rose back to their feet.
Resolve returned to their eyes.
Their gazes burned with the determination to keep fighting, no matter the cost.
Together they shouted:
"For Hualis!"
...
The deafening battle cries echoed across the battlefield.
Their renewed determination swept through the ranks like a rising wave.
...
Brutus, whose eyes had been dull and lifeless, heard the thunderous battle cries.
A faint spark returned to his gaze.
He looked at the countless soldiers still standing, ready to fight to the end.
His pupils contracted.
His heart began to pound again.
With great effort, he slowly forced himself to his feet.
"Victory…"
"For Hualis…"
He murmured the words as the will to fight slowly returned to his eyes.
…
High above the battlefield, Dr. Dov turned his head toward the fighting below, where the Four Defense Corps were still resisting.
The soldiers' battle cries echoed across the field.
His expression grew even colder.
"Still shouting about victory?"
"How pathetic."
"You really think you can win?"
"If you're so eager to die…"
"Then come."
"Die."
"Hahahahaha!"
As his laughter faded, a violent surge of energy burst from his body.
...
PS: The protagonist is about to appear.