When Gardevoir was struck by the Flame Punch, everyone believed that Su Qian had reached her limit.
To be honest, facing Incineroar in that state, no one could claim they could beat it.
The general thought was to stall for time, as this form clearly consumed stamina heavily.
It might even self-destruct.
Some even felt that Su Qian was the challenger, while Li Xiang sat atop the frosty heavens like a king waiting for his opponent to overcome him.
Whether it was form, scale, or firepower, it was all too overwhelming.
Thus, when the flames dissipated, revealing the charred Gardevoir, everyone felt sorry for Su Qian.
After all, if she had held on just a little longer, Incineroar might have self-destructed, leaving her with a chance to win. Gardevoir's energy reserves hadn't been depleted much.
But these were all "mistakes"—though not really mistakes. Who could have predicted Incineroar's Overheat would be so powerful? After breaking the shield, it still had enough power to knock Gardevoir out of the sky.
Who could have guessed that after three Attack drops, Incineroar's Lash Out would still pierce through Dazzling Gleam and damage Gardevoir?
Did they think Gardevoir's barrier was something anyone could break so easily?
Each of these instances proved Incineroar's overwhelming strength while also highlighting Gardevoir's helplessness. If it had access to Miracle Eye, it wouldn't have been so passive, its Psychic advantage reduced to a shield move.
Su Qian had fought well, very well. Only she in Mist City University could have lasted this long. She had proven her strength.
It was just that her opponent was unreasonably strong.
Many resonated with this thought, having fought Li Xiang themselves and knowing his power firsthand.
Thus, they could empathize with Su Qian even more.
"Beeeep—"
The whistle blew. Everyone looked at Su Qian in silence, the sense of melancholy growing stronger.
But Miao Shuang didn't announce the end of the match?
Su Qian ran to a spot far from Incineroar and pulled out another Poké Ball.
Everyone watched in surprise as Mimikyu, which had already gone down with Aegislash, reappeared on the field in a flash of white light.
In that instant, twinkling starlight descended from the sky and merged into its body.
This was—
"Healing Wish!? A successful Healing Wish?"
Exclamations of disbelief escaped.
Healing Wish is a Psychic-type status move that causes the user to lose all its stamina, placing the field in a Healing Wish state. The Pokémon sent in to replace it has its stamina and status conditions fully restored.
It's important to note that in the games, Healing Wish fails if there's only one Pokémon left in the party. It also doesn't work on a teammate that has already fainted.
Did Su Qian meet these conditions?
If following game rules, with a system specifically detecting, she would have. Three Pokémon were sent out, and the other two had no HP left, so it couldn't be used.
Even if it were used, with all three fainted, Healing Wish definitely wouldn't trigger. The match would be over.
But in reality, Su Qian's "party" consisted of six Pokémon—it was a six-choose-three format.
And had Mimikyu remained fainted after returning to its Poké Ball?
No.
Thanks to the time bought by Togekiss and Gardevoir, it had regained consciousness and recovered some stamina, not remaining in the game's "fainted" state.
Healing Wish triggered successfully, and Mimikyu entered the field.
Now, if two Pokémon with Healing Wish were on the same team, would they create an infinite loop?
No.
Healing Wish has a low trigger chance, a slightly long wind-up, and is quite conspicuous, similar to special moves like Endeavor or Destiny Bond.
Moreover, in consuming its stamina, Gardevoir had also depleted all its elemental energy. Without recovery items, elemental energy wasn't so easily restored.
This was why everyone was so surprised—and deeply admired Gardevoir.
In a dire situation, exhausting everything it had, it willingly passed the flickering flame of victory to its partner, believing wholeheartedly in its own success and its partner's ability to carry on.
This wasn't a resolve ordinary Pokémon could muster. Others might have chosen to teleport away.
But Gardevoir didn't. It chose to pass the flame on, even as the ace, becoming a stepping stone to victory.
And that tiny flicker called "victory" was successfully received by the final hope—Mimikyu.
Its stamina recovered to a healthy state, though not full—nor could it be. The cost was that Disguise was still gone and couldn't be re-triggered. Additionally, its previous moves and Destiny Bond had consumed a massive amount of elemental energy. What remained was perhaps half or less.
But the silver lining was that Incineroar was at its limit. Su Qian's Pokémon had stalled for every precious second.
Perhaps deactivating Magma Form could let it hold on a little longer?
No. Incineroar's instinct told it that deactivating Magma Form would leave it completely immobile and helpless. Its lowered Attack and Special Attack would also render it unable to fight, forcing it to withdraw.
At this moment, its endurance and spirit were pushed to the breaking point, held together by sheer will and Li Xiang's occasional shouts keeping it focused.
But this also meant that when the opponent entered the field, Incineroar couldn't react in time or charge in to take them out.
The high temperature burned its opponent—and itself.
This was an experience it rarely had. When fighting Mewtwo or Mo Ye's Pokémon, it usually got taken out before Magma Form could drain all its stamina.
During regular practice, everyone guarded against "smoking"—once it smoked, it could roll over them.
No one was like Gardevoir, who didn't know how to counter the smoke and yet could still hold on for so long.
Both sides were in poor condition: one without Disguise, the other on the verge of collapse. Now, it was a race to see who could take out the other first.
Li Xiang held a Poké Ball in his hand, several times wanting to recall Incineroar. But seeing it persist, each time he turned it into an encouraging shout instead.
Why wouldn't it come down?
Because Incineroar was unwilling. It had activated its sage mode, so why couldn't it claim final victory?
It had even seized the chance to make its opponent "misplay," unleashing everything it had to end this final battle.
But what happened?
Mimikyu re-entered the field, still standing strong and able to continue fighting.
It was Incineroar's fault. It had to see this through, to put a complete end to this battle itself.
So, the moment Mimikyu landed and Healing Wish triggered—
From afar,
"ROOOAR!"
Incineroar roared at the sky, the dark crimson light flowing over its body like molten lava once more.
The closer it got to its limit, the more it had to hold on. That way, when the next limit came, it could adapt, surpass it, and move on to the next.
Thud, thud, thud.
It took heavy steps, feeling the Tailwind around it subside and some internal restriction lift.
Were Tailwind and Taunt about to end?
Incineroar knew. Time was running out.
Where did Mimikyu excel?
Phantom Force, precise backlight techniques, and some unpredictable status moves.
Should it use Taunt again?
No chance.
Its remaining elemental energy was limited. Dragging it out further would be pointless.
So….
One move.
With all its power, a move it wouldn't regret.
Sensing its body's constant warnings to collapse, Incineroar abandoned all strategy.
Its eyes locked on Mimikyu as it approached, building momentum.
"Ssss—"
The smoke around it, like white threads, was drawn into Incineroar's mouth.
Its muscles bulged. Blue-white flames shot from its waist, wrapping around its body like chains.
Then, the flame chains swelled, spinning at high speed, churning the air and distorting the space around it, driving away the pervasive black smoke.
Finally, it coalesced into a massive, scorching fireball that stole the breath of all who saw it.
The ground crackled like firecrackers. With each step, it left a small crater and scorch marks.
The range of its effect was immense!
The terrifying aura nearly froze Mimikyu in place.
"Grudge!"
Su Qian's voice snapped it back to its senses, telling Mimikyu the way to victory.
Drain its energy!
If all its energy was drained, the threat would collapse on its own!
Mimikyu's bead-like eyes glowed with a chilling, ghostly purple.
An invisible wave struck the incoming fireball, reducing its elemental energy and weakening its power.
Incineroar had no choice but to press on. It drained its elemental energy to the limit, roaring as it charged forward!
Flames swept across the field!
Behind it, black smoke erupted, forming a turbulent storm in an instant!
This one strike would decide it all!
Mimikyu knew this was the moment. Even with the heat searing its face, it held its ground, waiting for Incineroar to come.
If Incineroar were the last Pokémon, it would have used Destiny Bond without hesitation and taken it down together.
But it wasn't. Corviknight was still waiting, so the Destiny Bond option was blocked.
So the key to this battle was whether it could dodge Incineroar's all-out Flare Blitz.
If it could, victory was certain!
Mimikyu calmed its mind, even slowing its awareness, all focus locked onto Incineroar—
Here it comes!
When Incineroar was just five meters away and the heat was already dealing damage, Mimikyu decisively activated Phantom Force!
Swish!
From afar, a dark crescent-shaped exit appeared, right behind Incineroar!
Mimikyu twisted and entered!
Just before Incineroar could fully collide with it!
But as if it had eyes on the back of its head, Incineroar, now a fireball, spun around just as Mimikyu slipped into the other dimension!
Its target was now the exit behind it!
The blue-white fireball roared like a high-speed train, hurtling toward the exit!
Halfway there, it exploded!
Boom!
The area around its center was instantly engulfed in flames!
"Mu!"
Mimikyu, emerging from the entrance thinking it had tricked Incineroar, was caught in the blast of blue-white flames!
BOOM—!!
A mushroom cloud bloomed once more on the field. The trainers couldn't even get up, lying flat on the ground throughout, as if in a hail of bullets.
Even so, the searing flames grazed their bodies, burning their hair and backs with intense pain.
Without a doubt, Incineroar had intentionally detonated the fireball between the two openings. No matter which opening Mimikyu used, it would be hit!
Everyone present understood that the decisive move had finally been made. They were eager to see the outcome.
But smoke obscured everything. Flames and black smoke took center stage.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long.
The smoke gradually cleared, revealing a blurry scene inside.
"Down! It's down!"
When they saw that god-like, terrifying figure finally fall and stop moving, some emotional female students wept with joy.
It was as if the great demon king had finally been defeated by the hero, and hard-won peace was about to descend upon the land.
And not far away, Mimikyu's still-standing figure drew cheers from the crowd.
They'd won!
They'd finally beaten that terrifying Incineroar!
It was only the second Pokémon defeated, with Li Xiang's Corviknight still standing.
But everyone celebrated as if they'd won the Youth Tournament. Even Su Qian, lying on the ground, couldn't help but smile. How could Incineroar not have pressured her?
That pressure had been suffocating.
Finally, the clouds had parted.
Her taut nerves, like a drawn string, unconsciously relaxed. In the distance, Mimikyu also relaxed slightly, its stature shrinking.
But neither let their guard down entirely.
She started to say, "Step back, don't get too close—"
Suddenly!
Before the words finished, as Mimikyu stepped back, Incineroar, face down on the ground, suddenly lifted its head and spat a ball of blue-purple flame at Mimikyu!
The fireball flew fast, exploding midair to increase its area of effect. Even though Mimikyu reacted in time, a tiny spark grazed it.
Instantly, the flame expanded, igniting Disguise, spreading across its body, then vanishing.
Mimikyu froze.
"ROAR!"
Didn't see that coming? I can pass the torch too!
Incineroar grinned savagely. It wanted to roar at the sky, but as soon as it opened its mouth, it collapsed, completely unconscious.
"Beeeep—"
The whistle blew.
Will-O-Wisp...
Many cheering students froze.
Su Qian took a deep breath.