"Contestants, take your positions!" the referee announced, and Fang Yuan and Danti each took a step forward.
"The battle will be a one-on-one match, and victory is achieved when the opponent's Pokémon is unable to fight."
The referee reiterated the rules.
However, Fang Yuan and Danti were chatting with each other at this time.
"Before joining the World Championship, I never imagined that you, Danti, would be my final opponent."
"But from our battles, time and time again, I could see that you too are a very powerful Trainer."
Fang Yuan said to Danti. Before he had any contact with the Pokémon World, he honestly didn't know about the Galar region or the person named Danti. Even when joining the tournament, he thought that his final opponent would be one of the people like Du, Da Wu, or Hirona. But now, without a doubt, Danti also had the strength to stand on this ultimate stage, and Fang Yuan acknowledged his rival in the finals.
"I too never anticipated that my final opponent would not be a Champion. However, after our last battle, I had already predicted that you would be standing here."
"Fang Yuan, can you feel it? The passionate, cheering atmosphere behind us? These spectators are eager for one of us to claim victory, and they also anticipate one of us falling. They are passionate yet cruel. To respond to them, I have prepared countless victory declarations for my champion moment. Thus, in this battle, I will bring out everything I have as a Trainer and seize victory," Danti declared seriously with a smile, flipping back his cloak.
"Let me witness your formidable strength." Danti added in his mind, respecting Fang Yuan greatly for saving several regions. For this reason, he hoped to give his all in a battle with Fang Yuan, regardless of the outcome, and afterward, he wished to become a Trainer like Fang Yuan, who could protect everything.
"I too will battle with all my might," Fang Yuan said as he took out a Poké Ball and extended his arm towards Danti.
"Trainers, send out your Pokémon—" At this moment, the referee was announcing the final sentence, and Danti also coolly took out his Poké Ball.
However, in the next instant.
A moment of surprise flickered in Danti's heart.
He was holding a Poké Ball, but his gaze involuntarily shifted towards Fang Yuan's shoulder.
Wait a minute, isn't your Eevee outside its ball? Why are you still using a Poké Ball?
Not just Danti, but the other spectators were also momentarily stunned before they understood.
And by this time, Fang Yuan and Danti had already sent out their Pokémon!
Danti tossed his Poké Ball into the sky, and beneath the flashing red light, a shadow fell onto the battlefield, its majestic wings spread wide as it roared amidst the dust kicked up.
"Charizard!!!"
Heat waves surged as this Charizard swung its tail.
As for Fang Yuan, the blossoming red light revealed a creature with flames entwined around its limbs and a flame that burned endlessly atop its head, likewise pushing an astonishing heat wave towards its opponent's Pokémon!
Its bright blue eyes contained unparalleled haki, set in yellow sclerae.
"Bwoo!"
Monferno swung its arms, tossing heat waves aside. Having grown to this stature, it no longer roused its fighting spirit right away against ordinary opponents. It now resembled a monarch who had undergone transformative trials, every gesture brimming with a strong presence!
"Danti has sent out his absolute ace, Charizard!"
"While Fang Yuan has sent out the Fire-type Pokémon, Monferno!!"
The commentator's voice rose, and although he himself was also astonished—why not Eevee, why did Fang Yuan switch to another Pokémon—now was not the time to delve into these matters.
"The battle... starts NOW!!!" he shouted loudly!!
The countless spectators also immersed themselves in his shout, shocked as they watched the fierce and heavily focused Charizard and the Monferno with unrivaled haki, as if its pupils contained the might of flames and lightning.
"HOLY [expletive], it's that Monferno!!!" At this moment, seeing that Fang Yuan didn't send out Eevee but Monferno instead, the group in the guest seating area including the Sinnoh Champion Da Ye immediately shouted excitedly.
The Unova Kings—Caitlin, Wan Long, Lian Wu, Yue Ju—everyone's pupils shrank, and Nastina's expression subtly changed before she showed a sympathetic look to Danti…
Meanwhile, on the battlefield.
"Bwoo! (Eighth Gate, open!)" Fang Yuan's Little Eevee was encouraging Monferno with its second wind, signaling it to showcase the strength honed through rigorous training.
"Charizard!!!" Both Charizard and Danti behind him tensed up in an instant.
It wasn't Eevee, but Monferno!
Danti was not any less vigilant just because the opponent wasn't Eevee.
After all, he had battled this Monferno before.
Monferno, with just one punch... no, within an instant, hundreds of strike shadows directly overwhelmed his top-tier Champion Level Zweilous and even cracked the Ultra Giant Wall meant for protection. Without a doubt, this Monferno had nearly Legendary strength, possessing power comparable to a Legendary Elf!!
It was definitely on the same level as Hirona's Mega Garchomp and his own Super Titan Dragon. Most importantly, that Monferno had displayed such strength without the use of any Gigantamax or Z-Move powers. In that instant, Danti still felt an immense pressure.