The red light from the two growing Poké Balls was amazing. Many trainers in the audience looked on with sour expressions. A Dynamax Band was a priceless treasure, the kind of thing money couldn't buy. Only the strongest trainers, or those from incredibly wealthy families, possessed them.
"Did Zhang just foul?" someone in the live chat asked. "He already used a special move. How can he use Dynamax now?"
"No," another replied. "The rule is that you can use Dynamax, Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, and Terastallization each once. After you use one, you can't use it again, but you can still use the others. So, there are four opportunities to use special moves. It's a huge advantage for trainers who have access to all four, and a huge disadvantage for poorer trainers."
"Four? I don't even have one. I'm so jealous."
"Wait, didn't the Legiana already win a battle? Why can it still play?" a new viewer asked.
"You misunderstood," came the explanation. "The rules state that a Pokémon must be recalledafter a win. This is to clear any stat boosts. For example, if a Dragonite used Dragon Dance six times and then swept the entire enemy team, it would be boring. So, to keep things interesting for the audience, Pokémon are recalled, which clears their stat boosts."
"I see," the new viewer replied.
"Come forth! My trump card! My pride! My Gigantamax Duraludon!" Raihan roared, throwing his enormous Poké Ball.
"Legiana! Let's go!" Zhang threw his own. Compared to Raihan, who was struggling with the weight of the massive ball, Zhang tossed his as if it were a marshmallow.
He's not just a trainer, he's a martial artist, too? the audience thought, a new wave of shock and envy washing over them. Does he want anyone else to live?
BANG! BANG!
The two giant Poké Balls crashed onto the field, shattering the ice thorns as a terrifying red light shot into the sky. A 25-meter-tall Gigantamax Duraludon, wreathed in red clouds, appeared before Raihan. Before Zhang, a flying dragon 211 meters long and 66 meters high materialized. It was the Dynamaxed Legiana, as huge and terrifying as a mountain. The moment it landed, the ice shattered, creating a massive crater. If the Duraludon was the size of a nine-story building, the Legiana was over twenty stories tall. Its body was as long as half a 400-meter running track. It was a true monster.
"Roar!" it cried, and the clouds in the sky shattered from the force of its voice.
"What!"
"Oh my god!"
"Nani!"
The live chat was filled with expressions of shock. A normal Dynamaxed Pokémon was about 25 meters tall. But the Legiana wasn't a Pokémon from this world. Though it was now Pokémonized, its essence hadn't changed. The viewers were speechless. It was a small mountain, a monster straight out of an Ultraman movie.
"How can it be so big?" Raihan's eyes widened in disbelief. A sense of invincible fear rose in his heart.
"Have you ever heard the mountains roar?" Zhang called out. "Now it's time to listen! Legiana, Max Airstream!"
"Duraludon, Max Wyrmwind!" Raihan roared back.
"Roar!" The Legiana flew gently into the air, careful not to exceed the 500-meter height limit. It opened its massive mouth, and a terrifying, huge white tornado shot out towards the Duraludon. At the same time, the Duraludon fired two huge, purple-red rays of light, deliberately aiming them to bypass the tornado. It didn't want to go head-to-head.
RUMBLE! The huge tornado engulfed the Duraludon just as the rays of light struck the Legiana. The Max Wyrmwind exploded, forming a massive purple-red tornado that trapped the Legiana, cutting huge gashes into its body. But the Legiana didn't even flinch. For a creature of its size, they were just skin wounds.
The Max Wyrmwind's secondary effect lowered the Legiana's Attack by one stage. On the other side, the Max Airstream's tornado had wrapped around the Duraludon, and the force of the wind was pushing the massive Pokémon out of the battlefield. The Duraludon tried to resist, but the tornado, its power doubled by the Legiana's ability, was too strong.
"Duraludon has left the battlefield and is disqualified! Legiana wins!" Iris announced.
"You're shameless! Using such an obscene tactic!" Raihan yelled in anger.
"Who told you not to go head-to-head with me?" Zhang mocked. "Don't think you're the only smart one here. Did you really think I couldn't see your little plan? You wanted to use Max Wyrmwind to lower my Legiana's attack, then use Max Steelspike to boost your Duraludon's defense. With its Leftovers, it would have become a boss my Legiana couldn't beat. A beautiful idea, but you look down on people too much."
Zhang had seen through his strategy. In truth, he hadn't been completely sure, but he had given it a try. No matter what Raihan chose, he wouldn't have been at a disadvantage. The Legiana's hard power was simply stronger than the Duraludon's. Tactics could sometimes lead to victory, but hard power was more important.
"You!" Raihan was speechless. His thoughts had been completely seen through. How could he fight now?
"Another one-shot! I'm dying of laughter!" the Great Xia netizens in the live chat began to mock the foreign fans.
"It seems the victory and defeat have been decided," Iris thought, shaking her head. Raihan was strong, but his battle sense was too immature.
He's too weak. He doesn't have the same oppressive feeling as Bella, Zhang thought. But then, Bella is a true champion-level trainer. Raihan hasn't grown up yet.
"Contestants, recall your Pokémon within 30 seconds," Iris announced.
"Come back!" Zhang recalled his Legiana, which immediately returned to its normal size.
Damn it! What should I do? Raihan thought, recalling his Duraludon. He racked his brain, but he couldn't think of a way to win. Zhang's strength was too great. In the distance, Zhang's figure blurred, and for a moment, he saw Leon.
What am I thinking? I can't fall here! I have to make it to the finals and fight Leon!
Thinking of his rival, Raihan's eyes became firm again.
"3! 2! 1! Begin!"
"Legiana, come out!"
"Salamence! Win me the light of despair!"
A Pokémon with two wings and four legs, like a classic Western dragon, appeared before Raihan. It was the pseudo-legendary Salamence. The ever-familiar Legiana appeared before Zhang.
Salamence
Level: 51 (Quasi-Elite Four)Ability: IntimidateItem: Life Orb
"A Life Orb? It seems Raihan is going all-in," Zhang observed.
"Roar!" The moment the Salamence appeared, it activated its Intimidate ability, and the Legiana's Attack dropped by one stage.
"Salamence, let's bet everything! Terastallize!" Raihan raised his right hand, and the Tera Orb on his wrist blazed with light.
"Legiana, let's go too! We can't be underestimated," Zhang smiled, and his own Tera Orb lit up.
A symbol of the Flying-type appeared over the Legiana's head. The Salamence, on the other hand, was now a Dragon Tera Type.
"So envious! A Tera Orb!"
"+1!"
"A Dynamax Band and a Tera Orb. So rich."
The trainers in the audience were drooling. A Tera Orb could increase a Pokémon's strength by 50%. It was a proper cheat item.
"Salamence, Dragon Dance!" Raihan commanded. He judged that with the Legiana's attack lowered by Intimidate, it couldn't one-shot his Salamence. He also knew that after Terastallizing, a Pokémon couldn't use a Z-Move, Mega Evolve, or Dynamax. A Pokémon could only withstand one special ability at a time. So he wasn't worried about another Kinship Skill.
"Legiana, Dragon Dance," Zhang countered. He had seen this coming. Intimidate to lower the opponent's attack, then set up with Dragon Dance. It was a classic strategy.
Both Pokémon's Attack and Speed rose by one stage. The Legiana's attack returned to its original level.
"Salamence, Dragon Rush!"
"Legiana, Draco Meteor!"
The full story so far is available on Patreon!:
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