However, regardless of the chaos in the broadcast studio or the stands, nothing could affect the two Pokémon and two Trainers in the heat of battle.
Yamamino slowed his pace of attack, striving for precision guidance to take down Lairon in a single, decisive blow. Meanwhile, Lairon remained hyper-vigilant of Claydol's movements, with Kashiwagi providing supplementary directions as they narrowly evaded move after move by alternating between desperate counterattacks and hair-breadth dodges.
It fully demonstrated just how tenacious it could be, and how formidable its strength became when pushed into a corner.
Though only a few minutes had passed, with every dodge, Yamamino couldn't help but show a look of disbelief.
How is it doing this? What kind of power is driving it?
The answer was actually quite obvious, and Yamamino, having traveled to other regions, knew the reason well.
Pokémon are life forms that symbolize miracles. Nothing is impossible for them as long as they hold onto their convictions—and as long as there is a voice guiding them forward every step of the way.
What he couldn't understand was that such a Trainer actually existed here in Pyrite Town.
Of course, Lairon wasn't always lucky enough to completely evade Claydol's onslaught. Grazes, shockwaves, and vibrations were unavoidable. But every time, Lairon managed to steady itself and continue its frantic dash.
Its stamina dropped bit by bit, its breathing grew heavy and ragged like a bellows stretched to its limit. Its running speed inevitably slowed, and its elemental energy was nearing depletion—like a vintage car running on an empty tank—yet it still refused to stop.
Lairon knew it hadn't reached its limit yet. And even if it had, it was meant to surpass that so-called limit.
This second-by-second persistence wasn't for anything else but that single ray of light.
It couldn't see that light, nor could anyone else. Only its Trainer—the Trainer it trusted 100%—could catch a glimpse of that dawn of victory and lead it toward that moment.
Finally, a ringing sound reached its ears—it was the shout of its Trainer.
"Now! That's the spot! Use Rock Tomb at your feet! Jump on it!"
It understood. The time had come.
"Lairon!"
With a roar, Lairon channeled its remaining energy into the ground beneath it. Ignoring the fact that the earth there was already cracking and emitting a piercing light, it leaped forward!
Countless massive boulders erupted from the soil. Utterly indifferent to the fact that Lairon was their creator, they slammed into its body, acting like a catapult to lift it above the Earth Power attack that Claydol had thrown.
The next moment, Ground-type energy surged upward, colliding violently with the brownish boulders. The two opposing energies were like black powder meeting a spark; they instantly released a flash of fire, and a billowing cloud of dust swallowed everything in the vicinity.
But for the audience, none of that was the focus.
As the flames flickered out, a streak of white light, brilliant as the midday sun, suddenly burst through the dust, hurtling toward Claydol in mid-air at incredible speed!
Because the dust cloud was so vast and the energy field so chaotic, even a Psychic-type like Claydol—with its six eyes—failed to notice the incoming projectile in time.
And even if it had, it likely wouldn't have believed that a Pokémon weighing over a hundred kilograms with no wings could actually "fly" into the sky!
And with such speed!
The announcer was so stunned he forgot to commentate. The guest panels stood up one after another, leaning over to look down. The audience suddenly fell silent, watching the scene in breathless anticipation.
"Endeavor!"
Kashiwagi's roar echoed through the stadium.
Immediately followed by Yamamino's voice, just as loud: "Dodge it—!!"
In truth, the moment it saw Lairon, Claydol attempted to evade. However, just as Kashiwagi had hoped, the mental fatigue from the prolonged pursuit had slowed its reactions by a fraction of a second.
That tiny instant was enough to ensure it couldn't fully get away.
THWACK!
Lairon, encased in a shroud of light, slammed into the protruding edge of Claydol's head. The impact sent the latter spinning wildly, crashing toward the ground along with Lairon.
Thump! Thump!
The two heavy bodies sent up clouds of sand upon impact.
After several ragged breaths, Claydol was the first to float back up, though its head wobbled unsteadily. Its swaying movements made it clear it had been knocked senseless by the collision, falling into a state near confusion, though its health appeared relatively stable.
This proved that Lairon hadn't managed to finish it off with Endeavor.
In contrast, the Lairon nearby looked far worse. Its once-proud, silver-bright armor was blackened on one side. It let out faint, delirious whimpers, and its pupils could barely focus.
There was no helping it. Kashiwagi and Lairon's plan had been too risky—using the explosion of Earth Power and Rock Tomb to propel a hundred-kilogram body into the air just to land an Endeavor.
Did they succeed?
They did, but they also failed. Claydol hadn't taken the full force of the move, and Lairon...
To be honest, at this point, the AI could have declared Lairon "unable to battle" at any moment.
But the red light didn't turn on.
Because Lairon was still struggling. It was still trying to stand, trying to surpass its own limits, just as it had hoped.
"Lair..." It twitched.
"On..." It struggled.
Bit by bit, it propped up its body. Bit by bit, relying on its own four legs, it stood once more on the battlefield.
"Kashiwagi's Lairon... Lairon hasn't given up! It still intends to keep fighting! What kind of power is driving it to do... to do something like this?"
The announcer's voice was thick with emotion; he was shaken by Lairon's display. After all, throughout the history of the Pyrite Colosseum tournaments, there had been plenty of stomps and plenty of turnarounds, but very few Pokémon had ever refused to back down like this when pushed so far.
The guests looked at each other, falling into a profound silence.
And from somewhere in the stands, a scattered cheer began to rise, quickly growing into a thunderous roar—
"Stand up!"
"Get up, quickly!"
"You're almost there! Get up! Get up!"
They shouted at the top of their lungs, drowning out the insults, drowning out every ugly sound, watching that battered figure move slowly.
On the field, Yamamino stared at Lairon, silent.
As Kashiwagi watched Lairon's movements, his heart felt like it was being squeezed, a wave of painful sympathy washing over him. He wanted so badly to forfeit, to tell Lairon it had done a wonderful job and didn't need to go on.
But he couldn't.
Anyone else could lose faith in Lairon, but as its Trainer, he had to support its decision until the very end.
Kashiwagi knew very well that at this moment, his Pokémon didn't want comfort or persuasion. It wanted to hear one thing:
"Stand up! This is the moment for victory! Lairon, we're going to win! What are you waiting for?"
He clenched his fists and screamed with everything he had, just to send his heart's intent across the field.
"My ace! STAND UP—!!"
The roar made the struggling Lairon flinch.
Give up.
I should give up.
Lairon told itself this. It was completely out of strength, its energy drained. Even if it stood up, what could it do?
It would be so much easier.
If it just stayed down, the AI referee would announce its defeat. It would be a simple end to this torture where every organ was screaming in pain.
It could return to its new home, to that little house it shared with its friends. It could enjoy sweet spring water, endure the hot summer with the cool air of the AC, and look at its two trees through the window.
How wonderful that would be.
Kashiwagi wouldn't blame it. Mawile and Chansey would comfort it. Because it had already given its all... it had sacrificed everything without reservation.
Yes. Giving up was so easy.
But how could it give up?
After working so hard to get here, it just couldn't accept it.
Even knowing that standing up didn't guarantee a win. Even knowing that winning this round didn't mean winning the whole thing. Even knowing that the moment of defeat only brought sadness and loss.
It still had to keep going.
The reason?
Besides not wanting to let down its friends' hard work and its own pride, what other reason could there be?
Kashiwagi.
I actually heard you, you know.
I heard the real reason I was abandoned. Even though you didn't want me to be sad—even though you didn't want me to remember those painful memories and made a pact with Mawile and the others never to speak of it.
I still heard it.
But it doesn't matter anymore.
Because from the moment you held me and walked me out of that mine, I was reborn.
And I have never been more fulfilled.
"Lair..."
Lairon finally managed to stand straight, looking almost like a puppet, but when its Trainer's roar reached its ears—when it heard his voice and felt the vibration of their shared bond—its eyes ignited with an unparalleled light.
What am I waiting for?
That's right. Now is the perfect time!
I...
I want to be someone who makes myself and my friends proud!
"You're just one step away from that boundary!"
The Trainer's voice surfaced in its heart like a divine revelation.
In the next instant—
"LAIRON—!!"
It threw its head back and let out a long, piercing howl. A surge of power from an unknown source erupted within its exhausted body, rapidly filling every fiber of its being.
The next second, a brilliant blue light completely enveloped Lairon, with countless glowing particles swirling around it.
A miracle...
Had descended!