Boom! Boom!
Two flames rose up in the air!
In the intense explosion, Zweilous and Roserade were blown away together.
Thick smoke billowed.
Baimu looked at the fallen Zweilous in front of him and saw the frost covering its wings and limbs, indicating that the previous Awakened Power was indeed Ice Attribute.
And the opponent didn't even know "Magic Brilliance"... He had always been on guard against this move that could easily take away Zweilous.
He was stunned when Roserade rushed over, never expecting that he guarded against everything only to find it was pointless, as the opponent didn't know it at all and went for an all-out attack instead.
Judging from the current situation, they succeeded in the gamble.
Flame Fang definitely dealt substantial damage to Roserade, considering the level difference and the "Effort Value" gap accumulated from long-term battles.
Zweilous had done perfectly up to this point.
"Ugh... Ugh..."
It struggled to stand, but the power of Awakened Power·Ice made its limbs stiff. After trying for a while, its mouth suddenly started to spit Violet bubbles.
It was poisoned.
This negative status was like the last straw that broke it, causing Zweilous to faint completely.
As expected, it's the "Poisonous Sting" Trait; using physical contact moves on such opponents has a certain probability of poisoning—simply put, Zweilous bit into Roserade's poisonous thorns.
Roses are poisonous...
Baimu quickly recalled it, "Well done, now let's leave it to the last one."
Not far away.
Roserade, who was half-kneeling, barely supported itself but staggered again when the shadow glowed red, and suddenly flames rose to cover its body!
The former was a curse, the latter was a burn.
Undoubtedly, when Zweilous was poisoned, Flame Fang also left Roserade in a burned state.
Moreover, the gap between them wasn't as big as that of Galarian Corsola and Roserade, making Zweilous with its Vitality Trait very powerful in attack.
Mann Chong felt a sense of unease, seeing that Baimu had already released his third Pokémon, quickly taking out a Pokeball while shouting, "Photosynthesis!"
"In your dreams! Heavyweight Charge!"
"Roar!"
The Mega Steelix appeared, its huge, shiny body enveloped in an aura of Steel Attribute Energy. In the shocked eyes of the onlookers and Mann Chong, it roared and suddenly charged at Roserade!
Rumble—
The air emitted a thunderous roar with its charge, and Roserade, unable to evade, was hit head-on!
Boom!!
The ground trembled violently, with dust and debris flying everywhere.
"Is that a Steelix!? There's a Steelix this big?"
"So fierce!"
"Did this guy have such strong Pokémon all along? I thought they'd always be on the losing end!"
The tenants buzzed with chatter, while cousin Aman trembled, covering her mouth in surprise.
Soon after.
The dust settled slowly.
Roserade lay unconscious in a small pit, clearly rendered unable to fight from the Steelix's direct hit.
Heavyweight Charge, a move that becomes more powerful the greater the weight difference, had a ton-and-a-half dimension that allowed it to maintain maximum power against most Pokémon.
What's more, Steelix wasn't low-level, reaching level 67 after hard work in Pyrite Town, not falling short compared to Mann Chong's Pokémon.
"So, so powerful, is there really such an exaggerated Pokémon size?"
Mann Chong hadn't expected Baimu's Pokémon, even those he knew, to bring such visual and emotional shock.
However.
The agitation in his chest and abdomen grew increasingly obvious.
Perhaps Mann Chong didn't know what it was before, but now he understood, it was a thirst for victory, an enjoyment of Pokémon battles.
Even if he didn't know where the future would lead, this emotion didn't seem fake.
Even if he couldn't find a goal or the meaning of being a Trainer, he still wanted to battle more Trainers and continue winning.
He absolutely didn't want to lose!
Mann Chong took a deep breath and pulled a Pokeball from his pocket.
"I entrust you! Gallade!"
Bang!
A flash of light.
The gladiator-like Gallade appeared, half-crouched with its head bowed and eyes closed.
"Quicksand Hell!"
Baimu immediately commanded, and Steelix mercilessly launched an attack towards Gallade, with four horizontal steel bones rotating and a visible sandstorm vortex rolling towards Gallade!
"Dodge it!"
With Mann Chong's shout, Gallade suddenly opened its eyes and leapt from the ground!
Bam!
The ground cracked into a small pit.
With terrifying bounce, it flew up like a roc spreading its wings, avoiding the sandstorm vortex's fierce assault.
Meanwhile.
Baimu's face filled with astonishment as Mann Chong pulled a Key Stone pendant from his pocket.
"Let's become stronger together! Gallade! Super Evolution!"
He shouted as the small Key Stone radiated an incomparable dazzling brilliance!
Mid-air, Gallade's body was enveloped in the light of Super Evolution, and its form underwent astonishing changes with breathtaking speed.
The blades on its arms extended, the back developed a cape-like sleek structure, and the unicorn on its head curved like a silver moon.
In an instant, it completed its incredible transformation!
When the evolutionary light dimmed.
A holy White Knight suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes, diving down at Steelix from above!
"Close Combat!"
"Heavyweight Charge!"
Mann Chong's and Baimu's voices echoed together.
Steelix eyed the transformed Mega Gallade, understanding even without a Trainer's prompt that this was no foe to be trifled with, and instinctively used all its strength.
"Roar——!!"
If you're a mountain, I'll smash through you!
Enveloped in a silvery aura, it roared as it charged skyward!
However.
Its fierce charge failed to hit the target.
Without wings, Mega Gallade adjusted its fall direction with its cape, weaving past Steelix's terrifying giant head like a great bird!
Moreover, it raised the blade on its right arm, and as it glowed a reddish-brown, it decisively slashed down Steelix's jaw, as if to effortlessly gut it!
Rumble——!!
The continuous explosions and clouds of smoke erupted around various parts of Steelix!
"Roar——"
Steelix let out a cry of agony, its gigantic body stiffening as it toppled backward, crashing down like a collapsing mountain, raising clouds of dust by Baimu's side.
Baimu, his gaze flickering, looked at Mega Gallade with complex emotions.
As a Trainer, he knew very well that the recent slash immediately reduced Steelix's stamina to where its Solid Trait was triggered, leaving a Steel Attribute Pokémon with near-max Physical Defense with just a breath left!
Just one hit!
Mann Chong's trump card, after Super Evolution, was fearsomely powerful.
"Really, damn strong!"
He gritted his teeth and praised the strength of Super Evolution and Gallade.
Thud.
Mega Gallade landed, alongside Mann Chong, both showing a breath of relief.
"Phew~"