After lowering Tornadus's special defense, the Frosmoth flapped its wings and flew straight toward it.
"Tornadus, use Iron Tail!"
Although the woman had been moved by Frosmoth's sheer willpower, a battle was still a battle—there was no room for holding back!
Especially when facing Nathan, a world champion, she absolutely could not afford to pull her punches.
Even if the injuries on Frosmoth's body already looked quite severe.
With a fierce swing, Tornadus's tail lashed toward the charging Frosmoth.
Bang! Frosmoth was struck directly by Tornadus's tail.
Yet something unexpected happened—Frosmoth was not sent flying.
Instead, it clung tightly onto Tornadus's tail.
In the next moment, Frosmoth opened its mouth, revealing sharp fangs, and bit down hard into Tornadus's body.
Tornadus twisted and struggled, trying desperately to shake it off.
But Frosmoth's claws clung to it as if coated with glue; no matter how Tornadus flailed, it couldn't break free.
As Frosmoth unleashed its Giga Drain, blood and life force were siphoned out of Tornadus's body.
At the same time, the wounds on Frosmoth's body began to heal bit by bit, as though if it absorbed just a little more, it could completely recover.
Unfortunately, Giga Drain had its limits.
Once Frosmoth had drained a certain amount of energy, it finally released its grip and leapt away from Tornadus.
Its injuries had partially healed.
Although only half of its wounds had closed, that alone gave Frosmoth the capital to continue fighting for victory!
"Tornadus, use Agility and follow it up with Thrash!"
Seeing that Frosmoth's injuries had actually healed somewhat, the woman immediately grew anxious.
Just a moment ago, the battle had tilted toward victory, yet in the blink of an eye Frosmoth was trying to turn the tables?
This was something she absolutely could not allow!
After using Agility, Tornadus's already fast body became even more swift and flexible.
Its sharp claws slashed straight toward Frosmoth, as though intent on giving it no chance to breathe.
"Frosmoth, use Quiver Dance to dodge!"
Now that Frosmoth had partially healed, Nathan's commands flowed more confidently.
He no longer had to worry that using certain moves would cause Frosmoth's body to collapse under the strain.
After using Quiver Dance, Frosmoth's speed also rose, its elegant body fluttering gracefully through the air.
At that moment Tornadus lunged again, its sharp claws nearly raking across Frosmoth's body.
But Frosmoth was like a drifting snowflake, the winds from Tornadus's high-speed movements blowing it just out of reach.
Its body slipped narrowly past Tornadus's strikes, retreating again and again.
Yet Tornadus pursued relentlessly, refusing to let up.
One attacked, one evaded.
No one knew whether Nathan himself was anxious, but Grog was certainly panicking.
Each time Tornadus's claws came within a hair's breadth of striking, Frosmoth twisted its body away at the very last moment.
The constant heart-pounding evasions had Grog's nerves stretched to the limit.
"Don't tell me… even like this, Nathan can still win?"
The white-robed man, who had already been defeated by Nathan, muttered in disbelief as he watched the battle.
The others, fully focused on the fight, felt the same way—perhaps it really was possible. The chance wasn't high, but…
They couldn't forget, one of the combatants was Nathan!
A man who had created miracle after miracle—who was to say he couldn't create another right here?
When Tornadus's furious assault finally ceased, Frosmoth's condition hadn't worsened—it hadn't taken a single hit.
Tornadus, however, was enraged.
That a mere champion-level Pokémon could evade every one of its strikes—how could it not be furious?
After all, it was a Legendary Pokémon. How could it fail to land even one blow?
"Tornadus, use Air Slash again!"
Seeing the situation, the woman grew flustered.
She had to finish off this Frosmoth quickly; otherwise, if the fight dragged on, unforeseen problems could arise.
What she didn't realize was that the moment Frosmoth had used Giga Drain, the problem had already begun.
She simply didn't know it yet.
"Frosmoth, use Air Slash as well!"
Nathan's voice was cold and firm.
Everything so far—all the dodging, all the draining, even the Quiver Dance—had been to set up this one exchange of Air Slashes!
At last, the decisive moment arrived.
Tornadus's wings glowed with white light, the radiance wrapping around them before it swung down sharply, unleashing a slicing Air Slash.
Frosmoth, too, glowed with the same light, firing its own Air Slash in answer.
Seeing Nathan order Frosmoth to directly clash with Tornadus's Air Slash, the woman felt a moment of relief.
After all, her Pokémon was a Legendary, while Frosmoth was only champion level. Using the same move head-to-head—how could Tornadus possibly lose?
The twin arcs of energy, almost identical in length and size, hurtled toward one another in the air.
The spectators' eyes widened, fixed on the clash.
They were desperate to see—who would prevail?
Nathan, however, slowly closed his eyes.
He had already seen the outcome.
When the two Air Slashes collided—something astonishing happened.
Instead of colliding directly, Frosmoth's Air Slash veered, slipping past Tornadus's attack!
Everyone had assumed the two moves would smash into each other head-on.
But Frosmoth hadn't aimed for a direct clash at all.
It had aimed for mutual destruction.
The two Air Slashes missed each other, continuing onward to strike their opposing targets.
The sky split with twin gouges as the blades carved through the air, and both Pokémon were struck down simultaneously.
Frosmoth fell.
This time, it did not rise again.
Nathan opened his eyes and rushed forward, already knowing the truth—after taking that Air Slash, Frosmoth was far too injured to stand.
The woman, meanwhile, could hardly accept such an outcome.
What should have been a guaranteed victory had been wrested into a draw by Nathan's hands.
She walked reluctantly to her Tornadus, which had also collapsed after taking Frosmoth's attack.
Only now did she truly realize the gap between herself and Nathan.
Both Pokémon had taken an Air Slash, yet Frosmoth had managed to stand a little longer while Tornadus could not.
That was the difference.
And what made it sting even more—her Pokémon was a Legendary, while his was only champion-level.
To end in a draw under such disparity—wasn't that as good as a loss?
[Frosmoth has successfully defeated one Legendary Pokémon. Advancement progress toward Legendary qualification: 1/3.]
As Nathan tended carefully to Frosmoth's wounds, the system's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
His heart leapt with unexpected joy.
He had assumed that this battle would not increase Frosmoth's progress toward the Legendary tier.
"System, didn't you say only by defeating a Legendary Pokémon could progress be made?"
He asked in confusion.
[Defeating means bringing the opponent down. Your Frosmoth has indeed defeated a Legendary Pokémon.]
The system replied in his mind.
A sudden rush of excitement swept through Nathan—it felt like striking the jackpot.
He had always believed that victory required his Pokémon to remain standing while the opponent fell.
He hadn't expected the system's definition to differ from his own.
Even so, to Nathan, a draw was unacceptable.
Because a draw meant his Pokémon had suffered severe injuries—and that was the one outcome he most wished to avoid.
"Even though it's technically a draw, you're the one who truly won."
After recalling Tornadus, the woman walked up to him and admitted.
Watching Nathan's careful, almost tender way of treating Frosmoth's injuries, she felt a deep conviction in her heart.
She realized just how vast the gulf between them truly was.
She had also treated Tornadus, but compared to Nathan's skill, her own actions seemed almost harmful.
His care was genuine healing—hers had been little more than a crude bandage.
"No. A draw is a draw. In battle, there's no such thing as higher or lower tiers—our Pokémon both fainted, so it was a draw."
Nathan said calmly.
Once Frosmoth's condition stabilized, he returned it into a healing Poké Ball.
When he rejoined Grog and the others, Grog looked at him with starry-eyed admiration—he was completely won over.
Things they had thought impossible always became reality when it came to Nathan.
"Boss, one word—amazing!"
Grog winked and grinned.
"That's enough for today. My Pokémon will need at least two days to recover."
Nathan smiled and turned to address the group.
The three remaining challengers exchanged bewildered glances.
Was it really over just like that?
Hadn't Nathan still not used his Volcarona? Or… was Volcarona also injured?
(End of Chapter)