However.
No matter what happens in the studio or audience stands.
It cannot affect the two Pokémon and two Trainers in the battlefield.
Shanren slowed down the pace of his attacks, trying to guide them precisely to take down Lairon in a single strike. Meanwhile, Lairon stayed alert to the movements of Claydol, with contestant Baimu providing supplementary instructions, managing to dangerously dodge techniques through proactive attacks and evasion.
It fully showcased how troublesome it could be and how powerful it can explode in the face of adversity.
Even though only a few minutes passed.
Every time it dodged an attack.
Shanren couldn't help but reveal an expression of disbelief.
How is this being done? What kind of power is driving it?
The answer is actually quite obvious, and Shanren, who has traveled to other regions, also knows the reason.
Pokémon are beings that symbolize miracles, and nothing surprising happens to them as long as they have faith, as long as there is a voice constantly guiding them forward.
What he couldn't understand was that in Pyrite Town, there was actually such a Trainer.
Of course.
Lairon wasn't always so lucky to completely avoid Claydol's attacks, as collateral damage, shockwaves, and vibrations were inevitable.
But every time Lairon would regain its balance just in time and continue its wild charge.
Its stamina gradually decreased, its breathing became heavier, like a bellows strained to its limit. The speed of its run inevitably slowed, the Attribute Energy was gradually depleted, akin to an old car still operating with an empty tank, yet it still didn't stop.
Lairon knew, it hadn't reached its limit yet.
Even if it reached the limit, it should surpass what is called the limit.
This persistence, minute by minute, was not for anything else but that sliver of light.
And this light was something it couldn't see, nor could anyone else, only its Trainer, the Trainer it trusted completely, could glimpse that dawn of victory and guide it to touch that moment.
Finally.
An echoing roar came to its ears from the Trainer.
"Now! Right at this spot! Use Rock Lock on the ground! Jump up!"
It understood, the moment had arrived.
"Guhdo!"
Lairon roared loudly, guiding Attribute Energy to flood into the ground beneath it, disregarding the already cracked fissures emitting dazzling light, it leaped mightily!
Countless boulders burst from the earth, disregarding Lairon as the one releasing them, mercilessly colliding with its body, yet seemingly lifting it, transmitting it above the Power of the Earth which Claydol had anticipated to attack.
The next moment.
Ground Attribute Energy gushed out, clashing violently with the ochre boulders, the two forces of Attribute Energy igniting like black gunpowder, instantly releasing a blaze of shining light, a surging cloud of dust engulfed everything around.
But to the audience, this wasn't their focus.
Because when the light dimmed, a figure like a dazzling white light burst from the dust, flying at an extreme speed towards the airborne Claydol!
Due to the dust's large coverage and the chaotic Energy Field, even the Psychic Attribute and six-eyed Claydol couldn't discover this sudden light in time.
Even if it was discovered in time, it's doubtful anyone would believe that a Pokémon weighing over one hundred kilograms without wings really flew into the sky!
And with great speed!
The host was so astonished he forgot to continue his commentary, and the guests all stood up, craning their necks to see below, while the audience suddenly fell silent, watching all of this quietly.
"Brute Force!"
Baimu's shout echoed across the field.
Closely followed by Shanren's voice, not lower in volume, "Dodge—!!"
In fact.
From the first moment it saw Lairon, Claydol tried to evade, but like Baimu had anticipated, the mental fatigue from continuously pursuing Lairon for so long resulted in a delayed reaction for just a moment.
It was precisely this brief moment that caused it to not fully dodge away.
Bang!
The light-form Lairon still collided with the small protruding part of Claydol's head, causing it to spin as both fell to the ground together.
Bang! Bang!
The two heavy bodies kicked up a bit of dust and sand.
After rapid breathing, Claydol was the first to shake itself and hover into the air.
Seeing it sway back and forth, it was clear that it had been knocked senseless by Lairon, falling into a dizzy state similar to confusion, albeit with relatively healthy stamina.
This proved that Lairon hadn't brought it down using Brute Force.
In comparison, the nearby Lairon looked much worse off, with its once proud shiny silver armor now half-charred black, murmuring weakly, and its pupils almost unable to focus.
No way.
Baimu and Lairon's move was too risky, using the damage from the explosion of the Power of the Earth and Rock Lock to propel its over one hundred-kilogram body into the air, aiming to strike Claydol with Brute Force.
Did they succeed?
They succeeded, but also failed.
Claydol did not endure a complete Brute Force, whereas Lairon...
To be honest, at this point, the AI could determine at any moment that Lairon is unable to battle.
But the red light didn't come on.
Because Lairon was still struggling, still trying to stand, just as it had hoped, attempting to exceed its own limits.
"Guh..."
Twitched.
"Doh..."
Struggle.
Bit by bit it propped up its body, bit by bit relying on its four limbs, to stand on this field once again.
"Contestant Baimu's Lairon, Lairon hasn't conceded yet, it still intends to continue fighting. What kind of power is driving it to perform such... such acts."
The host's voice was somewhat strained, as he was overwhelmed by Lairon.
After all, throughout the Pyrite Arena battle tournament, there have been crushing victories and comebacks, but rarely has a Pokémon reached this point, still unwilling to give up.
The guests exchanged glances and then fell silent.
And in the audience, at some point, sparse cheers started to ring out, quickly gaining momentum——
"Stand up!"
"Get up quickly!"
"Just a little bit more, stand up! Stand up!"
They shouted loudly, drowning out the curses, drowning out all unpleasant sounds, just watching that struggling figure slowly move.
On the battlefield.
Shanren stared at Lairon, silent.
And Baimu watched Lairon's movements, his heart feeling like it was being tightly gripped, overwhelmed with sadness. He very much wanted to concede defeat, to tell Lairon it had already done wonderfully, that it didn't need to continue.
But he couldn't.
Everyone could lose faith in Lairon.
He, as a Trainer, must always support its decisions.
Baimu also knew that at this moment, what his Pokémon wanted to hear most wasn't comfort, wasn't persuasion, but one sentence——
"Stand up! It's the moment to win! Lairon, we're going to win! What are you waiting for?"
He clenched his fists and shouted with all his might, just to convey his feelings in this instant.
"My ace! Stand up——!!"
The roar made the struggling Lairon's body tremble.
——
Give up.
It should give up.
Lairon told itself, it had completely run out of energy, its attribute energy was drained, even if it stood up, it couldn't do anything.
Why not make it easier.
As long as it just lay down, waiting for the AI referee to declare its defeat.
So simple, without needing to do anything, the tormenting process that made every organ scream was about to end.
Return to its new home, to that little cabin it shares with its companions, enjoy the sweet spring water, spend the hot summer days in the air-conditioning's cold breeze, look through the window at its two trees.
How wonderful.
Baimu wouldn't blame it, Mawile and Chansey would comfort it.
Because it had given its all, leaving nothing in reserve, dedicating everything...
Indeed.
Giving up is so simple.
But how can it give up?
It has worked so hard to get here; it's really unwilling to give in.
Even knowing that standing up might not lead to victory, even knowing that even if this round is won, the final victory might still be out of reach, even though what awaits at the moment of defeat could only be sadness and loss.
It still needs to persevere.
Reason?
Aside from not wanting to betray its companions' efforts, aside from not wanting to betray its self-respect, what other reason could there be?
Baimu.
I actually heard it.
Heard the true reason for its abandonment, even though you didn't want me to feel sad, didn't want me to remember painful times, and promised Mawile and them not to say it aloud.
But I still heard it.
It's okay, it doesn't matter anymore.
After all.
From the moment you carried me out of the mine, it signified a new life.
And I've never been so fulfilled.
"Guh..."
Lairon finally stood up dazedly, like a walking corpse, and when the Trainer's loud shout reached its ears, hearing his voice, feeling the ripple from his heart.
Its eyes emitted an unparalleled brilliance.
What are you waiting for?
Yes, now is the best moment!
I.
Must become a being that makes itself and its companions proud!
'You're just one step away from breaking that barrier!'
The Trainer's voice floated from its heart like a divine inspiration.
The next moment.
"Guhdo——!!"
It let out a long howl, and a power emerged from its already exhausted body from who knows where, and quickly filled its entire body.
The next second.
Brilliant blue light completely enveloped Lairon, countless fireflies swirling around it.
A miracle——
had arrived!