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Silver light erupted, transforming into billowing gray smoke!
Corviknight burst through the haze, nimbly retreating backward. The frost on its wings melted away, restoring its freedom.
Technically, this couldn't even be considered a true Freeze status—it was more like temporarily freezing a part of its body.
Beep!
Even though the smoke hadn't fully cleared, Li Xiang had no intention of letting Vanilluxe off the hook.
With Aurora Veil reducing damage and Acid Armor drastically boosting its Defense, this thing was practically unkillable. Relying solely on its same-type Iron Head was far from enough to take it down.
A Vanilluxe with these two moves was really tough.
Moreover, its trainer had specifically invested some effort into its durability for the Acid Armor strategy.
Honestly, it could be worse. If percentage-based game rules applied, Vanilluxe's Defense would be even more ridiculous.
But at this moment, the terrifying Defense that came from years of feeding it vitamins finally proved its worth.
With a push of its legs against the soft snow, Corviknight flapped its wings, lifting itself slightly into the air.
Although its vision was obstructed, the opponent could clearly see Corviknight's massive frame and hear Li Xiang's whistle. It immediately shouted:
"Avalanche!"
Since Protect couldn't be used and there was no chance to switch, it was better to block the move directly. Surely, it could withstand Corviknight's attack!
Compared to stamina loss, the priority was survival!
Inside the arena, a reddish-brown airflow rose beneath the airborne Corviknight.
Like flames caused by a meteor's friction with the atmosphere during descent, it burned fiercely, causing the dark black steel body to plummet heavily into the snow-covered ground not far away!
Boom!
The ground trembled!
Chilling white snow surged skyward like a tidal wave, crashing down in all directions and dispersing the lingering smoke!
The cold air once again blocked the view of both participants.
But it lasted less than three seconds before being completely dissipated by the Tailwind surrounding Corviknight.
On the snowfield, a crater with a diameter of four to five meters had formed, centered around Corviknight's impact point!
Vanilluxe, having reverted to its original form, lay pinned beneath Corviknight, its painted-on eyes now swirling like hypnosis spirals.
Clearly, under Corviknight's Body Press, Vanilluxe had instantly exhausted all its stamina!
Beep—
The referee blew the whistle, declaring Corviknight's victory.
"What kind of Defense is this!?"
The opponent's eyes widened in disbelief.
Vanilluxe's Defense had been boosted to a level even he was reluctant to calculate.
And [Body Press] was a move whose power increased with higher Defense.
For Corviknight to take down Vanilluxe with Body Press was proof enough that this guy's Defense was outrageously strong!
No wonder, during its earlier battle with Salamence, the Fire Fang had even taken shape outside the body but still only damaged the surface of its wings, failing to inflict significant harm to its main body!
So it turned out it had such astounding Defense!
This level of training... did it start raising Corviknight from the womb!?
The Meicheng University contestant felt his jaw drop, needing a hand to hold it up.
In the stands, with the help of the commentators, many people became aware of this situation.
They couldn't help but be intensely curious about Corviknight's Defense.
Everyone said it was strong, but just how strong was it?
Clearly, the commentators couldn't provide an answer because they themselves wanted to know.
On the field, Corviknight flew out of the crater but didn't return to the sky. Instead, it landed on the ground, grooming its steel feathers while waiting for the opponent's next Pokémon.
The opponent didn't keep it waiting long.
Soon, the second Pokémon arrived on the field.
A humanoid Pokémon wearing a black bowler hat, walking like a gentleman, yet with a body resembling a clown, holding an ice-crafted cane landed on the field.
—Galarian Mr. Rime, Ice/Psychic-type from the eighth generation.
With the [Ice Body] ability, it continuously recovers stamina during hail, lasting longer and recovering more.
"Caww!" Corviknight immediately started cursing at Galarian Mr. Rime the moment it landed, insulting its ancestors up to three generations with bumper car metaphors and sending them racing down Mt. Akina.
Galarian Mr. Rime was stunned. What was the point of cursing so viciously when there was no grudge between them?
Then came uncontrollable rage, successfully locking its status moves.
Such quick Taunt!
The opponent couldn't understand what Corviknight was saying but could see the fleeting dark light on its body.
Combined with Galarian Mr. Rime's livid expression, no further guesswork was needed.
Who would have thought Corviknight didn't take the chance to use Roost to recover but was waiting here for him!
If only he had switched faster!
The opponent felt some regret.
Meanwhile, Li Xiang wore a "plan succeeded" expression.
Galarian Mr. Rime had too many useful status moves yet lacked Magic Bounce. It was practically asking to be Taunted.
Corviknight's cursing was cursing for nothing!
Beep!
The whistle sounded.
Corviknight spread its wings slightly but still didn't take to the sky. Instead, it flew close to the ground, heading straight for Galarian Mr. Rime!
"Fake Out!"
If you're coming at me voluntarily, then I'm wide awake!
Galarian Mr. Rime's eyes gleamed slightly. Watching the rapidly approaching Corviknight, its white-glove-like hands glowed faintly with white light before slapping out like a slap!
However, this guy underestimated Corviknight's land mobility and control over its body.
Corviknight simply tilted its head and retracted its wings, easily dodging Galarian Mr. Rime's Fake Out.
Simultaneously, its retracted wings suddenly gleamed with silver light before forcefully spreading out!
Steel Wing!
Boom!
Galarian Mr. Rime was sent flying, soaring three to four meters before crashing onto the snowfield!
Is dodging even possible like that!?
The opponent was shocked, clearly not expecting Fake Out to miss. But upon seeing the icy surface behind Galarian Mr. Rime, his mind became active.
As if sharing a mental link, Galarian Mr. Rime flipped upright after crashing and decisively retreated. Its tap-dancing shoes scraped against the ice, allowing it to move nimbly on the icy surface.
"Thunderbolt!"
Electricity leaped from Galarian Mr. Rime's body, conducting to the ice cane in its hand, prompting it to release lightning like a magic wand at the rapidly approaching Corviknight!
As expected of an Electric-type move! The wind-up was practically non-existent!
Faced with this situation, the now-close-quarters Corviknight decisively used Roost, tanking this not very effective Thunderbolt!
"Pa-Caww—"
It let out a hen-like cry, its beak glowing with a dark light!
[Payback]!
The sharp beak directly pecked Galarian Mr. Rime's skull!
Super effective!
"Oof!"
Galarian Mr. Rime let out a pained howl, wildly swinging its cane. A blue light ignited at the cane's tip, gushing out a massive amount of wind and snow!
Even though Corviknight promptly blocked with its wings, it was still blown back by this gust!
Seeing this, Li Xiang decisively recalled Corviknight with a Poké Ball!
If this dragged on, Galarian Mr. Rime's Psychic would have trapped Corviknight!
Don't be fooled by its seemingly passive beating appearance; this thing was actually quite cunning!
In return, the Shiny Metagross entered the field!
Bang!
Its heavy body landed on the snow, splashing up some white snow.
The shiny silver main body with the gilded X pattern on its face successfully drew exclamations from many spectators!
It was a different-colored late-bloomer Pokémon!
How much must this be worth!?
Although this world didn't have terms like "pseudo-legendary," Pokémon like Dragonite were still grouped into a category.
While they were concerned about its value, on the field, Li Xiang decisively took off his whistle and shouted: "Bullet Punch!"
The Shiny Metagross's eyes gleamed. Its hammer-like fists came together like lightning, its massive body like an arrow shot from a bow, instantly disappearing from its spot!
What terrifying speed!
Even though Galarian Mr. Rime raised its hand to use Shadow Ball upon seeing the Shiny Metagross, it still couldn't fire it fast enough!
Silver light slammed hard into it, like a speeding train, smashing it into a nearby ice boulder!
Boom!
The ice boulder instantly shattered and disintegrated, transforming into countless fragments that scattered noisily!
Galarian Mr. Rime was battered senseless!
Dizzy and disoriented!
If not for Ice Body and Aurora Veil, it wouldn't have survived this single punch!
Even so, its stamina had dropped to a critical point!
However, Taunt had sealed its status moves, preventing it from using them.
The opponent was also well aware of this, so the moment Metagross's Bullet Punch ended, he successfully switched out Galarian Mr. Rime.
Li Xiang's expression remained unchanged. A low-health Galarian Mr. Rime couldn't become a setup.
Once Metagross boosted itself, giving it ten lives wouldn't be enough!
"Hone Claws!"
"Meta!"
Metagross let out a low roar. Its tooth-like triangular sharp claws gleamed with white light before dimming.
Its Attack and accuracy had increased.
Meanwhile, the opponent's third Pokémon also landed on the ground.
It was an entirely snow-white Pokémon with a huge snowball on its head, resembling a doll.
—Galarian Darmanitan, Ice-type from the eighth generation.
Ability [Zen Mode], which increases move power when using moves but restricts it to using only one move for a certain period.
Equivalent to a trait-based Choice Band.
"Flare Blitz!"
Under the opponent's shout, Galarian Darmanitan stomped across the ice and snow, its body engulfed in reddish-orange flames, transforming into a blazing fireball, ferociously charging at Metagross!
Wherever it passed, ice and snow melted, cold air turned to frost, mist-like water vapor like boiling water continuously increased!
The power was extremely terrifying!
"Protect."
A green shield lit up in front of Metagross, while it manipulated electromagnetic force to lift itself into the air.
Since the opponent couldn't use Ground-type moves, there was no need for Magnet Rise specifically for immunity.
Clang!
Protect shattered. Galarian Darmanitan charged forward valiantly but found itself just missing Metagross.
Naturally, it didn't possess flight capability and certainly couldn't catch up to the now-airborne Metagross.
The opponent decisively wanted to switch out this emergency responder.
But how could Li Xiang, who had anticipated this Pokémon's appearance, let him have his way?
As early as last night, he had already watched all these people's matches. Under his insistence, Metagross had also carefully observed them countless times!
Its brain, dubbed a supercomputer, frantically calculated. Starlight-like radiance lit up on its fists!
Countless small stars trailed from its tail!
No need for driving, no flashy stuff.
At this moment, the simplest yet smartest member of Li Xiang's team, Metagross, had found Galarian Darmanitan's weak spot and forcefully swung its right fist, smashing down!
And this punch, was the fatal blow!
[Don't underestimate a supercomputer!]
Metagross's eyes widened. Its right fist trailed a long, icy-blue flame tail, along with the sound of tearing through the air!
Thud!
The air exploded with a shockwave!
Shockwaves in the form of rings rippled out in all directions, instantly dispersing the water vapor in the arena!
Scattered snowflakes shot into the sky before raining down sparsely!
A huge crater, clearly visible to everyone!
Galarian Darmanitan lay in the center of the crater, not uttering a single sound!
Entering—and instantly one-shot!
"Meta! Taaa!"
Metagross roared at the sky. A supercomputer isn't just for playing games!