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Chris and Mustard stood high in the sky, overlooking the battle between the Rapid Strike Style Urshifu and Zeraora.
It resembled watching a high-speed slideshow.
Countless projectiles flew through the air while phantoms flickered endlessly.
It seemed as though it would never end.
"Your Zeraora has quite impressive mastery of the mind's eye technique," Mustard commented as he observed the constantly flickering Zeraora.
The corners of Chris's mouth lifted slightly, but he shook his head.
"Not quite there yet."
This wasn't false modesty—Zeraora's level of mind's eye mastery was indeed not particularly advanced.
In fact, among all of Chris's Pokémon, none could dodge the Bullet Punch barrage of a Level 98 Urshifu at such high frequency using mind's eye technique alone.
Zeraora was simply employing a clever trick.
Specifically, it combined the mind's eye with its Heart Network ability.
The mind's eye was the external manifestation of one's mental power, while Zeraora's Heart Network was Chris's adaptation of Enel's use of the Goro Goro no Mi from One Piece—converting electromagnetic waves into a form of perception.
Previously, before Zeraora had mastered the mind's eye, it had relied entirely on electromagnetic wave detection to achieve a mind's-eye-like effect.
Now that Zeraora had officially developed its mind's eye, and as its strength continued to increase, its perception and control of electromagnetic waves had also improved dramatically.
It was becoming increasingly proficient, even approaching perfection!
Now, when the mind's eye and Heart Network were combined once more, something remarkable appeared—exactly what Mustard was witnessing.
Zeraora displayed extraordinarily high attainment in mental perception!
"This still isn't the limit," Chris thought to himself. He hoped Zeraora's abilities would advance even further, reaching the ultimate Level 100.
At that point—
It would be able to counterattack while simultaneously dodging the Bullet Punch combinations of a Rapid Strike Style Urshifu.
On the battlefield, Urshifu's fierce assault hadn't paused for even a moment, and neither had Zeraora's evasion.
"Focus Energy!" Mustard chose to change his strategy.
The fiercely attacking Urshifu suddenly withdrew its fists, placing both hands at its waist. Its expression became completely calm, betraying no emotion. If not for the dust and debris swirling through the air, it would have been impossible to tell it had been launching attacks at all.
"Hah!" A powerful shout rang out.
The dust particles suspended in the air became motionless. In the blink of an eye, what appeared to be armor made of compressed air materialized around Urshifu's body. The sharp edge that had been hidden within its scabbard was now fully drawn.
Urshifu's combat effectiveness and overwhelming presence began to skyrocket.
"Focus Energy... it increases the probability of landing critical hits.
Isn't this a move that only Single Strike Style Urshifu specialize in?"
Chris was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't seen the Single Strike Style Urshifu—which pursued one-hit knockouts—use this technique earlier, yet now he was witnessing a Rapid Strike Style Urshifu employing it.
"Agility!" Chris didn't simply observe—he immediately issued a counter-command.
No matter how much you enhance your combat power, I'll respond with "speed that cannot be broken"!
"Close Combat!"
Urshifu struck again.
This time, it wasn't overwhelming its opponent with speed, but with sheer force.
Taking one step forward, Zeraora felt as though a massive mountain was bearing down upon it. Terrifying pressure rushed toward it like a tsunami, opening its enormous jaws to devour everything.
Chris instantly detected the changes in the surrounding mental energy.
He couldn't help but admire the sophistication of both Mustard and his Urshifu.
Beyond mere technique, there was another form of power that grew stronger with age for Urshifu—and that was spiritual power.
Mental energy honed through countless battles was being mobilized by Urshifu through Focus Energy and released through its physical movements.
You're fast, aren't you?
You can sense my fist movements with your mind's eye, can you?
Well then—I'll suppress and bombard your consciousness with even stronger spiritual force. I'll crush you with mountainous pressure that prevents you from even moving your body. How will you demonstrate your perception and speed now?
"Ora!!!" Zeraora roared sharply. It could feel what was happening—its body felt trapped in a quagmire, unable to move freely.
Urshifu had already closed the distance, extending its fist. The punch appeared slow, yet contained tremendous power.
Facing Urshifu's strike, Zeraora couldn't even determine how to withstand the next blow, let alone dodge it.
"Compared to this veteran who has won the championship eighteen consecutive times, my foundation is still too shallow," Chris sighed inwardly, though he felt no discouragement. He had only been training Pokémon for a few years—how many decades did Mustard have under his belt?
He didn't need to reach Mustard 's age. In just one more year, his Pokémon expertise would surpass even Mustard's.
So should he yield for now and switch to a different Pokémon?
No, no, no. "Old boxers fear young fighters"—that saying exists for a reason.
Chris silently raised his hand, and the power of Aura throughout his entire body immediately surged forth!
Light blue Aura energy, nearly tangible in its intensity, wrapped around Zeraora's body and resisted all of Urshifu's overwhelming pressure.
Zeraora's body suddenly regained its freedom. Since the spiritual power emanating from its mind's eye had been disrupted, it relied solely on the electromagnetic wave detection of its Heart Network.
Zeraora transformed into a phantom once more and dodged beneath Urshifu's fist.
When Mustard witnessed this scene, he chuckled knowingly. His hands immediately clasped together before his chest, and his white eyebrows rose without any wind stirring them!
As a Champion, how could he not have mastered the power of Aura himself!
Just like Urshifu's momentum and spirit, his Aura power had been refined over countless battles spanning decades, and was even more formidable than Chris's Aura!
However... Urshifu's situation didn't improve even after receiving Mustard's Aura power.
The combined suppression of Aura power and spiritual pressure was being resisted by Chris's Aura.
What was happening?
Mustard couldn't help but furrow his brow.
After carefully sensing the nature of Chris's Aura power, his eyes widened in disbelief.
If his own Aura power resembled dozens of sharp blades, then Chris's Aura power was like an impenetrable wall that couldn't be pierced at all.
"Why is this boy's Aura power so incredibly strong?"
Helpless, Mustard could only sigh.
A young upstart from the new generation was bullying him for being old and weak!
No, there wasn't even a group.
Chris alone was bullying him for his age and declining strength!
Couldn't he show some respect to his master and let him win?
Chris had no awareness of his master's internal thoughts, but the situation before him was exactly what he had anticipated.
The three orbs within his body functioned like three massive batteries, releasing endless energy and ensuring Chris could utilize Aura power without restraint. Chris himself wasn't even certain whether what he was releasing could still be classified as traditional Aura power.
Observing Master Mustard, who was "struggling to maintain his advantage," Chris's eyes flickered with amusement, and he couldn't help but grin.
"Master, the future belongs to the younger generation. You should just admit defeat honestly!"