After their earlier clash, Charizard began avoiding any head-on engagements with Swellow, switching to hit-and-run tactics in an effort to wear it down.
Rex didn't rush things. He simply let Swellow handle the incoming attacks on its own.
Swellow might not have had as much battle experience as Charizard, but it had faced tougher opponents. When it came to combat, it wasn't the least bit inferior.
Kiawe's Charizard had been well-trained—unleashing a variety of moves like Air Slash, Heat Wave, Flamethrower, Dragon Breath, and even Fire Blast.
Swellow countered most ranged attacks with Hyper Beam, and only dodged when absolutely necessary using its incredible speed.
Charizard had a deep pool of energy, but constantly using these powerful moves quickly drained it. Meanwhile, Swellow didn't seem fazed at all, showing no signs of exhaustion.
This imbalance shook Charizard's confidence. It hadn't expected its opponent to have even greater stamina—it made a comeback feel hopeless.
Charizard wasn't the only one getting nervous. Kiawe, still commanding from below, was drenched in sweat as he wracked his brain for a new strategy.
Watching the intense aerial battle, the onlookers were fired up.
This was different from the earlier ground battle between Swellow and Hariyama. Now, both sides were Flying types, making the duel faster, fiercer, and more evenly matched—no type advantage, just pure strength.
Still, after such a long fight, the difference was clear. Charizard was panting heavily, while Swellow seemed perfectly relaxed, like this was no different from a casual flight.
"To hell with it—Charizard, use Inferno Overdrive!"
In the end, Kiawe gave up on planning. Strategy wasn't really his thing, anyway. So he went all in, unleashing his Z-Move.
Kiawe's and Charizard's Inferno Overdrive far outclassed Turtonator's version—it was their ultimate attack. If this didn't turn things around, they'd be completely powerless.
Swellow's Totem aura had already been broken, so it would have to rely solely on its own power to take this hit.
"Swellow—smash through it!"
Rex gave no ground. Facing down the massive fireball formed by the Z-Move, he chose not to dodge. Backing off would mean conceding defeat in spirit.
Swellow, already well-practiced in handling Z-Moves, dove straight into Brave Bird. It folded its wings and launched like an arrow straight toward the blazing mini-sun.
A second later, it burst out the other side of the fireball—scorching but undeterred—and kept charging toward Charizard.
The fireball, destabilized after being pierced, exploded violently. The thunderous roar shook everyone's ears, forcing many to cover them from the blast.
Through the fading smoke, Swellow slammed directly into Charizard, knocking it from the sky like a falling meteor.
When the dust settled, Charizard lay unconscious at the bottom of a crater.
"Charizard! Are you okay?!"
Kiawe sprinted over to check on his partner, clearly worried.
Charizard was covered in bruises—the last blow from Swellow had done serious damage.
"Jumpluff, your turn."
Rex sent out Jumpluff, who immediately deployed Grassy Terrain. Healing energy flowed into Charizard's body, easing its injuries. After a while, Charizard regained consciousness, though it still couldn't move.
"Your Swellow has really gotten strong since becoming a Totem Pokémon," Professor Kukui said, impressed.
Swellow's performance had exceeded even Kukui's expectations. It hadn't been long since its battle with Hala, yet it had already grown stronger.
This confirmed Kukui's theory: once a Pokémon becomes a Totem Pokémon, its growth is no longer limited by its natural potential. It could continue to improve until it hit the limits of a whole new level.
"You guys are amazing… Compared to you, we've still got a long way to go," Mallow said, full of admiration.
"We just got a bit of a head start, that's all. You'll catch up soon," Rex replied modestly, patting Swellow's side.
"I'm going to train even harder. Once I get stronger, I'll challenge you again. I'm not backing down now," Kiawe declared, shaking off the sting of defeat.
Losing didn't discourage him. For Kiawe, it wasn't failure that was shameful—it was giving up after failure.
"I'll be waiting for your challenge. But just so you know, I'll be heading back to Hoenn in a few days. You're all welcome to visit my farm—I'm sure you'll enjoy it," Rex added.
"You're leaving already? But you promised to eat at my family's restaurant!" Mallow protested.
"And you said you'd go fishing with me," Lana chimed in.
Everyone looked a little disappointed upon hearing Rex was leaving soon. They started speaking up, trying to convince him to stay.
"I delayed my departure just to keep those promises. So in the next few days, I'm counting on you to be my tour guides. I haven't had a chance to really enjoy Alola yet," Rex said with a grin.
"No problem! We'll show you everything there is to see!" Kiawe promised, pounding his chest.
"Ha! In that case, I'll push back our lessons for a few days," Professor Kukui said.
He intended to use that time to study how to replicate the Totem transformation—perfect timing for everyone.
"Really?! That's awesome! Isn't that right, Togedemaru?" Sophocles cheered, hugging his spiky little partner.