"Stone Edge!"
Facing the Icicle Crash released by Swinub, Grey chose to respond with a similar move.
Stone Edge was also released by having sharp stones burst out of the ground before roaring toward the opponent.
"Kyu!"
Kyurem roared, and countless sharp stones broke out of the ground, violently colliding with the ice pillars summoned by Swinub.
Crack, crack, crack!
Amid the deafening explosions, Stone Edge crushed the ice pillars with overwhelming force and continued blasting forward.
Swinub stood firmly in place, and a transparent protective barrier instantly spread around it.
Stone Edge slammed violently into the barrier, stirring up ripples of energy, but failed to shake it in the slightest.
The battle changed in an instant.
The moment the Protect barrier faded, the entire battlefield suddenly trembled violently.
It turned out that Swinub had used Earthquake. Powerful seismic waves spread fiercely from Swinub as the center.
Seeing this, Kyurem's extreme cold aura instantly expanded.
A biting layer of ice rapidly covered the ground, completely freezing the surging seismic waves outside the icy barrier.
Ice-type Glaciate!
[Guys, what is going on? Why can't I hear them giving commands?]
[Forget you, even those of us here at the venue can't hear any commands!]
[These two Gym Leaders aren't talking, but the Pokémon under them can still battle this fiercely on their own. That has to be cheating, right?]
Comments flew across the livestream chat.
Everyone was wondering why no one was giving commands, yet their Pokémon could still fight so intensely.
Grey looked calm in the face of danger, but inwardly, he was already somewhat anxious.
"Hey, brat. Why is that pig across from me so strong?"
Kyurem was slightly startled. This was the first time an Ice-type Pokémon had been able to match, and even faintly suppress, its normal form in a clash of moves.
If it did not change forms, Kyurem felt that it might very likely end in a draw with it.
"How should I put it? I feel like Swinub's Ice-type origin isn't that strong, but the power released through its moves really is stronger than that of many Pokémon."
Grey used his Aura to communicate with Kyurem.
As for what exactly was going on, he did not know either.
"I don't get it. That little old man has something to him. Even the aura of that rainbow feathered freak and that silver sea goose is stuck to him. Could it be that he captured Ho-Oh and Lugia?"
Kyurem thought for a long time before reaching that conclusion.
Otherwise, to carry such a dense aura, unless he had once captured those two, he truly would not have had the chance to stay in contact with them for so long.
Mm…
If that was the case, then there was nothing strange about the little old man's Swinub being able to faintly suppress it.
However, that only meant it could faintly suppress Kyurem in its regular form. The moment Kyurem changed forms, Swinub would definitely not be its opponent.
Kyurem knew that its normal form only had a special advantage against Reshiram and Zekrom. In terms of true battle power, it was probably among the lower ranks of first-class legendary Pokémon.
However, once it reached its peak state, forget one battle-legend-tier Swinub, even if all the other Pokémon of that little old man attacked together, they should not be its match.
"Hey, hey, stop imagining so much. If you really have that kind of strength after changing forms, then hurry up and change forms already."
Grey rolled his eyes at Kyurem.
"You are not my Hero. Although I am following you, why should I have to listen to you completely?"
Kyurem refuted him.
Grey had no response.
It really was just as Kyurem said. His relationship with Kyurem was more or less that of a landlord and tenant.
On regular days, Kyurem occasionally taught his Pokémon some moves, or stepped in to solve things when something happened.
After going back and forth like that, it really did seem like there was no issue of who owed whom.
"How about this? Agree to become my Hero now, and I will go all out to help you deal with it. What do you say?"
Kyurem never forgot to make Grey become its Hero.
It truly had not forgotten its original goal.
"You playing like that is a little unethical, Kyurem. When it comes to raising the price on the spot, you really are the best."
Grey gave Kyurem a mental thumbs-up and threw in a few sarcastic remarks.
But Kyurem had lived for so long that it had long since become immune to words like that.
If Grey would not become its Hero, then it would slack off for the time being.
"Come on, seriously? You're doing this in the finals? Listen, the more you do this, the lower our boost will definitely be later, even if I do become your Hero."
There was also such a thing as compatibility between a Hero and a legendary dragon.
For example, the compatibility between Grey and Reshiram was completely maxed out.
"Hmph. Then what do you want to do?"
Kyurem casually spat out an Ice Beam, blocking the Icicle Crash that Swinub had released again.
It had stopped putting Swinub in its eyes.
"Let's use this battle to work on our coordination a bit more. If we cooperate well, I'll consider becoming your Hero. You know me. I always keep my word."
Grey chose to dangle another promise in front of Kyurem, using the same wording as last time to tell it that he would consider the matter.
"You…"
Kyurem hesitated slightly, always feeling that Grey had said something like this to it before.
But then again, Grey really had not deceived it much.
Mm…
Should it agree or not?
Kyurem thought about many things, but in the end, it still nodded heavily.
It refused to believe that after it helped Grey so many times, Grey still would not become its Hero.
The thoughts of Pokémon were very simple.
Although Kyurem was a little wicked sometimes, when it came to choosing its Hero, it was somewhat focused on picking someone it found pleasing.
"Fine. I will agree to you one more time. I hope you do not deceive me."
Kyurem knew what this battle meant to Grey. It also did not want this matter to cause their compatibility to drop after Grey became its Hero later.
If it really dropped, that would be a loss not worth taking.
"Good. Then change forms!"
Grey shouted loudly.
Kyurem changed forms instantly.
Scarlet flames suddenly surged upward. The originally incomplete parts of Kyurem's body were enveloped by white light, and dense Fire-type energy poured into them, transforming Kyurem into White Kyurem.
[Pokémon: White Kyurem]
[Type: Dragon, Ice]
[Level: ???]
[Ability: Turboblaze]
[Move: Cold Flare]
The classic three question marks appeared.
Grey discovered that first-class legendary Pokémon in this complete form were all existences at the ??? level.
He did not know their specific levels. It was a complete mystery.
"Its aura has grown stronger… This Kyurem's strength is probably no longer something Swinub can compare to…"
Pryce had originally thought that the gap between himself and a first-class legendary Pokémon was not that large.
But when Grey's Kyurem transformed into White Kyurem, it had already become even stronger than before.
In other words, it was no longer an existence that ordinary Pokémon could contend with.
His Swinub was very strong, that was true.
But against an opponent of this level, it seemed there was no way for it to win.
Mm. He would still see how things unfolded.
Thinking that, Pryce's state of mind shifted slightly.
"Swinub, Blizzard!"
Among the moves Swinub had learned, very few were effective against White Kyurem.
In that case, it was better to use the Ice-type move it was proud of.
Perhaps there would still be a sliver of hope.
As for how much hope that sliver truly held, no one knew.
"White Kyurem, Fusion Flare!"
"Swi!"
Swinub raised its head and roared.
A blizzard swept across the entire field. Countless ice crystals, carrying bone-chilling cold, howled in, trying to drown White Kyurem there.
White Kyurem, now with its wings restored, flapped them and rose into the air. Between its dragon wings, blazing Fusion Flare suddenly ignited. Red and blue waves of fire coiled out like twin dragons, violently colliding with the blizzard.
Ice and fire intertwined, shaking the entire field. Surging water vapor instantly covered the whole battlefield.
As the thick mist enveloped the field, the spectators could no longer see the exact battle situation, but they suddenly felt a scorching heat wave rush toward their faces.
Immediately afterward, Kyurem's cold outline appeared within the white mist. Its body released a bone-chilling aura, yet at the core of that cold was a terrifying scorching energy that made one's heart tremble.
White Kyurem's signature move, the Ice-type Cold Flare!
There was almost no time to react. The chill instantly enveloped Swinub completely.
Layers of ice spread rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, Swinub was completely sealed within thick ice crystals.
"I surrender."
Pryce did not hesitate at all and directly recalled Swinub into its Poké Ball.
The gap between both sides was far too large. There was no meaning in continuing to fight like this.
Pryce was indeed a little harsh toward his own Pokémon.
But that did not mean he would continue letting his Pokémon fight when there was no chance of victory.
Pryce was no longer the man he had been in his youth. The current him would think from the perspective of the bigger picture.
In a situation like this, he would definitely recall his Pokémon on his own initiative.
"Huh? Gym Leader Pryce actually recalled his Pokémon and surrendered on his own. This is the first time we have seen a situation like this. Gym Leader Pryce, are you certain you wish to surrender?"
After all, Pryce was a senior, and a final like this was not a child's game. As the host, they naturally had to confirm it repeatedly before the result could truly be decided.
"That is correct. I am certain. I, Pryce, surrender this battle."
Pryce turned around and pushed his wheelchair away.
Only his back remained, drawing everyone's attention.
[Whoa, even a senior like Gym Leader Pryce surrendered on his own. Just how ridiculous is Gym Leader Grey's Pokémon?]
[Yeah, yeah. Gym Leader Pryce's Swinub could one-shot Gym Leader Blaine's Fire-type Pokémon, and yet I never expected it to surrender directly against Gym Leader Grey!]
Everyone was shocked.
But after thinking about the fact that Grey's Pokémon was a first-class legendary Pokémon, they suddenly felt that it made sense.
It would have been stranger if it had not one-shot the opponent.
White Kyurem stared blankly.
"This… I haven't even had my fun yet. Why did the other side surrender already?"
White Kyurem was stunned.
Originally, things had been going just fine. This was supposed to be a coordination battle between itself and Grey.
But after only defeating one Pokémon, the other side directly surrendered.
What was it supposed to do? It was helpless too.
"No way around it. Getting this far was already pretty good. Although Gym Leader Pryce's Swinub can threaten first-class legendary Pokémon, in the end, it can only fight first-class legendary Pokémon like Ho-Oh and Lugia."
"You need to understand, after you turn into White Kyurem, your strength becomes very powerful. Under these circumstances, unless another region's third legendary is present, there are very few ways to deal with you."
What Grey said was the truth. Previously, Reshiram had fought regular Kyurem with ease, but after Kyurem transformed into Black Kyurem, it was no longer so easy.
Reshiram had almost been pinned down and beaten.
Regarding this point, Reshiram had experienced it personally and had absolutely no desire to experience it a second time.
"Fine, then this battle does not count. Later, battle with me again… No, forget that. Battle against a first-class legendary Pokémon with me. If our coordination is good, then no matter what, you must become my Hero."
Making Grey become its Hero had almost become Kyurem's obsession.
It had even taken the initiative to say they should fight a first-class legendary Pokémon just to make Grey become its Hero.
From that, it could be seen that Kyurem was indeed sincere.
At this point, Grey could not very well politely refuse.
"Okay, then. When we run into a first-class legendary Pokémon later, take me along and let me have a proper battle."
Grey nodded and agreed.
Only then did Kyurem return to the Timer Ball to rest for a while.
"Kid, your Kanto region has been rather unstable lately. It seems there really is a first-class legendary Pokémon about to descend on your side."
Kyurem transmitted those words into Grey's mind with a half-smile. It seemed to have truly sensed this, which was why it took the initiative to make the matter clear to Grey.
"All right, brat. Do not rush to reject me, and do not think I tricked you either. You should know that in this world, aside from me or certain first-class legendary Pokémon, no other Pokémon is a match for it."
Kyurem was confident enough to be proud of this point.
It looked as if it had Grey completely figured out.
"Fine. When the time comes, I'd like to see exactly which first-class legendary Pokémon has that kind of strength."
"Do not worry. That first-class legendary Pokémon will arrive soon. If nothing unexpected happens, it will be able to confirm your location in another month."
Kyurem deliberately kept him in suspense.
As for what kind of first-class legendary Pokémon was coming, it did not explain.
It was completely leaving Grey to guess on his own.
"Tsk. I'll see when the time comes."
Grey really had no clue regarding the descent of some first-class legendary Pokémon.
Now, he could only take things one step at a time.
...
...
The closing ceremony ended very quickly.
Grey received the championship trophy, and everything seemed ordinary.
At the Viridian Gym, inside Team Rocket's base, Giovanni had returned to Viridian City ahead of schedule after the match, using the excuse of handling Gym affairs.
He stood before a huge screen, listening to his subordinate's report.
"Boss, I have discovered another new piece of information. In less than a month, the festival in the Orange Islands will begin. At that time, it will also be the period when the ocean currents are at their most chaotic. I believe the first-class legendary Pokémon Lugia will appear then."
"Boss, what do you think?"
Dr. Namba's image appeared.
He reported the matter to Giovanni.
Then he waited for Giovanni to give his orders.
Unlike last time, the timing this time was getting closer and closer.
It was as if a storm was about to break.
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