It was the same Duraludon Shiro had seen back in Hammerlocke.
Bewear's level was a bit lower, but he wasn't worried. Duraludon's ability, Light Metal, helped against moves like Low Kick that calculated damage based on weight. But this battle was nothing like that. This was a contest of raw strength, a head-on clash where every punch met flesh. In that kind of fight, a heavier body had an undeniable advantage.
Just like the sumo-style Gym Trial in Hammerlocke, strength mattered, but weight still played the bigger role. With its body mass halved by Light Metal, Duraludon wasn't even in the same weight class as Bewear. And on top of that, Fighting-type also had an edge over Steel.
From the moment both trainers released their Pokémon, it was obvious that Raihan's Duraludon was at a big disadvantage.
There was no need for more words. The two shouted at the same time.
"Duraludon, use Dragon Tail!"
"Bewear, Strength!"
The two towering beasts on the battlefield charged straight at each other from both sides, without any fancy tricks or feints, just brute force.
Bewear was one thing, but the pride of a Dragon-type in Duraludon's heart wouldn't allow it to dodge pathetically in this kind of battle either.
Boom!
A thunderous boom echoed as Bewear's black, powerful arms caught the steel tail swinging in from the side, the collision shaking the barren battlefield and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Duraludon was about to continue swinging its tail when its body suddenly stiffened.
It couldn't move.
Bewear's raw power was overwhelming.
"Beeeweaaar!"
Expressionless as always, the muscles on the bear's thick arms bulged. It exerted force from its waist and, holding the metal dragon's body, spun half a circle and flung it out.
Crash!
Duraludon flew through the air and slammed into the psychic barrier at the edge of the field. While startling the nearby spectators, it also whipped up waves of excitement and cheering throughout the stadium.
"Nice! That's it!"
"Go, Bewear! Keep pounding it!"
"Get up, Duraludon! Come on, get up!"
Ryan shouted over the noise, "Raihan's Duraludon seems to be outmatched in both power and weight! It got thrown out easily. It seems a bit dazed, but it's shaking its head. It's going to charge again!"
Raihan's face stayed calm. He had already predicted this outcome.
He gave another order.
"Duraludon, use Iron Head!"
The metal dragon lowered its stance, its steel head gleaming like a locomotive. Its thick legs pushed off the ground as it barreled toward Bewear.
"Keep using Strength!" Shiro commanded.
Bewear did not budge. It opened its arms slightly and stood firm. As the metal beast rammed forward, it stepped back a bit to absorb the momentum and caught Duraludon in its arms, locking it tight.
The dragon couldn't move at all.
"Brick Break!" Shiro barked, seizing the opportunity.
Bewear grabbed its opponent's head with one arm, raised the other high, and brought it down like a giant axe right on Duraludon's forehead.
Thud!
The sound was dull and heavy. The alloy plating on Duraludon's head caved inward.
"Du… ra..."
The metal dragon groaned in pain and struggled to break free, but Bewear's grip was relentless. Its Light Metal ability left it too light to shake off the bear's Strength.
"It's no use..." Raihan muttered, lowering his head slightly. A strange yellow light flashed in his eyes.
He had been forced to reveal his true trump card.
As the heir of Galar's Dragon Clan, Raihan possessed their greatest inheritance: the Dragon Power.
It was one of the rare special abilities in the Pokémon world. Another known user was Kanto's Dragon Master, Lance. It allowed a trainer to connect their mind with their Dragon-type partner, not only achieving effects similar to telepathy but also boosting the Pokémon's physical capabilities.
But like Mega Evolution, it put a burden on the trainer.
Raihan raised his head. A faint yellow glow flowed around his entire body.
"Duraludon."
His low voice echoed.
The metal dragon shuddered and lifted its head. Before its eyes, Bewear's hand, raised to strike again, seemed to move in slow motion.
'Breaking Swipe!'
Raihan's voice resonated directly inside Duraludon's mind. The dragon ducked low, its tail twisting in a full arc.
A force far sharper and stronger than before struck Bewear's side like a whip, forcing it to stagger back a few steps.
On the other side, Shiro's eyes narrowed as he noticed the golden aura surrounding both Raihan and Duraludon.
"What is that?" he muttered, surprised.
Since arriving in the Pokémon world, he had seen plenty of psychic power. But hardly any other special abilities, especially something as rare as Dragon Power.
The knowledgeable Unown A recognized it immediately.
'It's Dragon Power. A legacy from certain Dragon Clans. Usually, only the clan head can wield it.'
'Dragon Power?' Shiro instantly thought of Lance from Kanto. That man possessed the same power, and it was one of the reasons he and his dragons were so strong.
He quickly asked, 'A, what exactly does it do?'
'Telepathy... and boosts everything related to dragons and dragon energy.'
The explanation was vague, but he understood.
A full enhancement.
Even so, Bewear still held the advantage in typing. Shiro doubted the match would completely turn around.
On the field, Duraludon had already regained its footing. Both trainers shouted again.
"Duraludon, Dragon Claw!"
"Bewear, Drain Punch!"
The two Pokémon charged at each once more, meeting at the center of the field. A blue dragon claw and an ordinary-looking bear punch swung at the same moment.
Duraludon's claw raked across Bewear's chest first, leaving three gashes that oozed blood. But Bewear's glowing fist struck Duraludon's head in return, sending it reeling back. The dragon recovered quickly, barely injured, while Bewear's wounds began to heal, the bleeding slowing as new skin formed.
Drain Punch absorbed half the damage dealt to restore the user's health.
Despite the typing disadvantage, Duraludon was clearly stronger now.
Shiro gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath, "Raihan is totally cheating... Fine then. Two can play that game."
He called out silently to Unown A, 'A, let's do it!'
He would enhance Bewear as well.
Psychic power already had effects of both Reflect and Light Screen combined. Adding just a slight boost to strength on top of that wasn't too excessive, right?
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