"Roar!"
A deafening roar erupted as Copperajah forced its way out of the flames through sheer strength alone. Unfortunately, as a wild Pokémon, the moves it could learn were mostly restricted to close-quarters physical attacks. No matter how staggering its Superpower was, it could not pose a threat to Charizard flying high in the sky.
"Charizard, use Blast Burn to crush it completely!"
As a Steel-type Pokémon, it was naturally weak to Fire-type moves. Having just been wounded by Blast Burn, Copperajah's fear of the flames grew even deeper. The disadvantage of its massive size became apparent at this moment.
Facing vast sheets of fire, Copperajah had no way to dodge; it could only repeatedly swing its trunk to swat the flames away. However, this only addressed the symptoms and not the cause. More flames remained unquenched, falling around Copperajah and burning continuously. As the temperature rose, its stamina was steadily drained. In just a short while, Copperajah was already panting heavily.
"Charizard, Sunny Day, then Blast Burn!"
Even though Copperajah looked like it was about to collapse, Gu Yuan had no intention of letting Charizard engage in melee combat. While its massive size made it inflexible, its staggering power was also its most prominent advantage.
As the sunlight intensified, the flames grew even more vigorous. Charizard released Blast Burn; bolstered by Sunny Day, the move's power was terrifying. The moment it shot out, it turned into a sea of fire that enveloped Copperajah. Swinging its trunk, Copperajah gathered its strength for one last counterattack. The shockwave of the explosion forced it back, and then the flames clung to its body, burning relentlessly. The intense pain caused Copperajah to let out a cry of agony.
"Charizard, finish it with Blast Burn!"
As Gu Yuan's voice echoed in Charizard's mind, the searing heat condensed once more into a fireball. In the next instant, Copperajah, already wreathed in fire, was swallowed by the flames like a giant ball of fire. When the flames finally dissipated, the charred Copperajah had lost its ability to battle and lay fallen on the ground. The gap in their overall capability meant that even though they were both Leader Rank, Copperajah had no power to fight back against Charizard.
Tossing a Poké Ball to capture and lock Copperajah, Gu Yuan became more alert. The appearance of Copperajah signaled that he had entered the territory of Leader Rank Pokémon. He could encounter Moltres or that mysterious Pokémon at any time. As Gu Yuan moved, the System's detection range expanded.
"Is it over there? Let's go!"
Looking to the left, Gu Yuan had Alakazam use Teleport to take him away. After several consecutive blinks, he quickly approached the Moltres hiding in the forest. He didn't rush to attack; instead, he let his Pokémon recover to their peak state. Unlike previous times when he faced powerful enemies, Gu Yuan didn't have Charizard and the others use setup moves beforehand; he planned to use them during the fight.
After all, the situation was different now. Before, he fought to eliminate an opponent; now, he fought to capture a Pokémon! Only by defeating a Pokémon with one's true strength can one earn its respect. This was especially true since his targets were Moltres and that even more powerful mysterious Pokémon. Once prepared, he teleported directly in front of Moltres.
Looking at the sudden appearance of Gu Yuan's group, Moltres was confused, yet it immediately prepared for battle. It sensed danger from Charizard and the others, so it wouldn't be careless.
"Hello, my name is Gu Yuan. I am a Trainer. This Moltres's Feather is a testament to my friendship with another Moltres; it should prove that I have no ill intent."
Instead of attacking, Gu Yuan took out the Moltres's Feather and used Telepathy to communicate. After carefully sensing the aura of the feather in Gu Yuan's hand, Moltres confirmed he was telling the truth.
"Human, why have you appeared here?"
Staring at Gu Yuan, Moltres asked the question it was most interested in. Unlike the Pokémon native to this alternate dimension, this Moltres had entered by accident and found no way out. Furthermore, since entering this space, its strength had plateaued after reaching Leader Rank. For a Moltres with a strong desire to grow stronger, this was a massive blow. Seeing a strange human, it was desperate to know how to leave.
Without hiding anything, Gu Yuan detailed the process of how he entered.
"Human, since you have earned the recognition of my kin, I am willing to trust your character. I hope you can use that little ball to take me out of here and then release me."
Learning the way out, Moltres hesitated but decided to try.
"No! I will take you out, but I will not let you leave! I came here this time to defeat you and make you my Pokémon of your own free will. And I believe that with my help, your strength will only grow faster!"
Staring at Moltres, Gu Yuan proposed his idea.
"Human! The friendship between you and my kin is not an excuse for your arrogance!"
After hearing Gu Yuan's words, Moltres's roar echoed in his mind.
"Whether it is arrogance or not, let our strength do the talking. If I lose, I will take you out and ensure you leave safely—I guarantee it on my honor! If I win, you must become my Pokémon! The battle will be one-on-one! Well? Do you dare to join me in this gamble!?"
Facing Moltres's pressure, Gu Yuan asked fearlessly.
"Fine! Then let's begin!"
"Wait a moment. Let me heal your injuries first."
When Moltres agreed, Gu Yuan didn't start immediately; instead, he released Hatterene. Hatterene used Life Dew to completely heal Moltres's previous wounds. This act alone was enough to earn some respect from Moltres, making it feel that Gu Yuan truly deserved the recognition of its kin. In reality, Gu Yuan simply didn't want Moltres to use its injuries as an excuse for another battle after being defeated.
"Alright, human. Although I am grateful for you healing my wounds, I will not show any mercy in the coming battle."
Sensing its own condition, Moltres spoke with full confidence.
"Good. Then let's begin!"