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"Dragonair has lost the ability to battle! Slaking wins!!"
"Slaking!!"
With just a single punch, Dragonair completely lost its fighting capability. After defeating Dragonair, Slaking once again lazily sprawled out on the ground. Its upper body was badly scorched—clearly, it had taken considerable damage during the earlier clash of moves.
"Come back, Dragonair."
Delia expressionlessly recalled Dragonair into its PokeBall. Then she took out the last Pokémon she had registered. After hesitating for just a moment, she raised her hand and threw the PokeBall onto the field.
"Rio!"
As the PokeBall opened, Riolu's small figure appeared on the grass. Its petite body looked completely unremarkable at first glance.
"Hm? This one? A Pokémon I don't recognize. I think I may have seen it once before… but I assumed Miss Delia's last Pokémon would be Lapras. I didn't expect this one instead. Heh. But Miss Delia, this is your last Pokémon, isn't it? Just a little guy like this. I think you should surrender now—save yourself from getting hurt."
Fang didn't recognize Riolu. Seeing its small stature, he assumed it couldn't possibly be very strong and spoke dismissively.
"Riolu! (Master! Let me teach them a proper lesson!)"
Hearing Fang's contemptuous words, anger flashed in Riolu's eyes. It immediately turned its head toward Delia and shouted.
"Hoo—"
Delia took a deep breath, steadying her emotions. Then her eyes sharpened, and she shouted loudly at Riolu:
"Riolu!! Teach them a proper lesson for me!!"
"Lu!! (Understood, Master!)"
"Both sides are ready!! The battle begins!!"
"Go, Riolu!! Show them what you can do!!"
"Lu!!"
Attack—only attack!
With Riolu as her final Pokémon, Delia no longer had any other options. But she also had no more reservations. All that remained was to fight with everything she had!
"Slaking! Use Focus Blast!"
"Slaking!!"
After the brief delay earlier, Slaking had already finished resting. At Fang's shout, a powerful Focus Blast rapidly formed in Slaking's hands and was hurled straight at the charging Riolu!
"Dodge it, Riolu! Use Quick Attack!"
"Lu!!"
Fearless!
Even knowing the terrifying power of Focus Blast, Delia showed no hesitation. The moment her command rang out, Riolu's body transformed into a streak of light! Relying on its speed, it sidestepped the attack—and then launched itself into the air, delivering a flying kick straight into Slaking's body just as it finished attacking and entered its resting state!
Boom!!
A deafening explosion echoed as Slaking's Focus Blast struck the glacier behind them.
"Lu!!"
Riolu let out a short cry. But the kick it landed on Slaking's belly didn't deal much damage. Slaking's massive, muscular body provided tremendous defense—Riolu's strike felt like kicking a rock. Slaking, still lying on the ground, merely scratched its belly without much reaction.
"Hahaha! See? I told you this little guy doesn't have enough power! My Slaking could just lie there and let it hit for dozens of rounds!"
Seeing this, Fang laughed smugly, convinced his judgment had been correct.
"Hmph! Ignore him, Riolu! Use Force Palm!"
"Lu!"
Delia completely ignored Fang's taunts and immediately issued another command.
Riolu quickly stabilized its stance, crouched, and drew back its fists. A visible wave of energy began gathering around its small paws.
"Lu!!"
With a full-powered punch, Riolu slammed its paw mercilessly into Slaking's belly!
Boom!!
"Slaking!!"
This time—Slaking's expression changed drastically. A muffled groan escaped its mouth as its massive body was actually pushed backward by the blow!
"It worked! Riolu! Keep using Force Palm!"
Delia, watching closely, immediately noticed the change. Realization flashed through her mind, and she issued her command without hesitation.
"Lu!! Lu-lu-lu-lu!!"
Riolu felt it even more clearly at close range. Realizing its attacks were effective, its spirit surged! Both paws glowed with rippling energy as it unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes against Slaking's abdomen!
"Slaking!!"
Slaking cried out in pain as its huge body was slowly forced backward across the ground.
"Slaking! Damn it! Is this little thing a Fighting-type? Small body, but not small power! Slaking has already taken serious damage—we can't let this continue! Come back, Slaking!!"
Fang hadn't expected Riolu to truly shake Slaking. Alarm rose in his heart. He quickly took out a PokeBall, firing a red beam toward Slaking to recall it.
"Riolu!"
"Lu!"
At the instant the red beam shot out, Delia shouted sharply. Riolu immediately understood—leaping up and blocking the beam, preventing Slaking from being recalled!
"You—!"
Now it was Fang's turn to be furious. He glared at Delia, brows tightly knit, yet found himself at a loss for words.
"Hmph! I'm just returning the favor! Riolu! Use Aura Sphere!"
Delia snorted coldly and shouted the command.
"Lu!!"
Riolu immediately brought its palms together. A brilliant sphere of condensed aura rapidly formed between its hands!
"Don't let it succeed, Slaking! Use Hammer Arm!"
The instant Riolu began forming Aura Sphere, Fang's command rang out!
"Slaking!!"
With a furious roar, Slaking flipped its massive body upright, its right arm glowing with intense red light as it slammed down!
Boom!!
Thick smoke instantly filled the battlefield!
"Riolu!!"
The sudden change made Delia's heart leap into her throat. She grabbed the railing and leaned forward, eyes fixed anxiously on the dense smoke!
"Lu!!"
In the next instant, Riolu's familiar cry rang out from within the smoke. Delia felt a powerful tremor in her heart—an instant of perfect synchronization formed between her and Riolu. A vast aura force surged outward, spreading across the entire arena!
"Whoosh!!"
A sharp sound tore through the air!
From within the smoke, a small figure burst forth—it was Riolu!
In its hands, it held an Aura Sphere larger than its own body. Visible waves of aura rippled across Riolu like rolling tides. The next moment, with a low roar, Riolu hurled the sphere forward!
Boom!!
A direct hit!
With its aura fully unleashed, Riolu could sense Slaking's position even through the smoke. There was no hesitation in its throw!
"Slaking!!"
Unable to resist at all, Slaking—having just used a move and fallen back into its resting state—had no chance to dodge. The Aura Sphere struck it head-on!
When the Aura Sphere exploded, an overwhelming burst of aura erupted! Violent winds swept away all the smoke in an instant! Even Slaking's enormous body was blasted into the air, smashing heavily into the glacier beyond the arena and shattering countless blocks of ice!
"Slaking has lost the ability to battle!!"
"What?! Slaking?! How is that possible!!"
The referee's declaration dealt a crushing blow to Fang. His face was filled with disbelief.
On the opposite side, Delia leaned against the railing with her head lowered, murmuring softly. The aura force around her—normally invisible to others—was rapidly changing. The aura that had spread across the entire field now began converging entirely toward Riolu.
"Well done."
"Lu!"
"Well done, Riolu."
"Lu!!"
"We… can become even stronger!!!"
"Lu!!"