"..."
For a brief moment, the arena was eerily silent—only the sound of Samurott's heavy footsteps echoed across the battlefield.
The referee, stunned by the scene, stood agape before finally managing to swallow and announce: "Registeel is unable to battle. Samurott wins!"
"Wha—what?! That's insane!"
Leanne was utterly shocked, pointing at Samurott with stammering disbelief.
She never imagined that the same Samurott who had 1-vs-6'd her team days ago would now break through Champion-level and decisively overpower a Legendary Pokémon like Registeel.
Yes—overpower!
Even with the best modern medical technology, Registeel wouldn't be able to return to high-level combat any time soon.
"Such terrifying growth speed, Paul." Scott remarked in awe. When he first met Paul, his strength might not even have matched an average Elite Four-level Trainer.
But now? Even a Champion-tier Legendary Titan had fallen before him.
On the battlefield, Samurott stood still, a calm expression overtaking his face. His previously sharp eyes now looked somewhat vacant.
Even when he noticed cracks forming on his foot-blade from the last clash, there wasn't the slightest emotional response.
"Good performance. Although there were few mistakes, but you showed exactly what you needed to." Paul commended.
Samurott possessed three types of perceptual abilities.
Activating this mode allowed Samurott to practically read every motion of his opponent in real time, enabling preemptive counters and tactical responses. However, it demanded intense focus and drained mental stamina severely.
It didn't enhance raw stats or guarantee dodging accuracy, so after two high-stress battles, Samurott's body and mind were worn out. Fighting the Ice-type Regice next would be incredibly tough.
"Chaaah~"
Fully aware of his condition, Samurott growled softly toward Paul, lifting his cracked foot-blade—indicating his need to rest, repair, and strengthen it.
While breakthroughs strengthened the body, the blade and shell-like armor were only half-physical extensions and needed nurturing to keep up. Otherwise, the next battle could shatter the blade instead of his opponent.
Paul didn't push him. He returned Samurott to its Poké Ball and whispered, "Rest well," before slipping the ball into his pocket.
Across the field, Brandon had already returned Registeel to its ball and handed it off to his apprentice for emergency healing.
Now, both Trainers reached for their next Poké Balls.
"Excellent. Your Pokémon are powerful, wielding incredible and unusual abilities. But I'm a Frontier Brain. Beating me won't be so easy!"
As he spoke, Brandon hurled his final Poké Ball.
"I will take your courage."
Paul followed suit.
"Regiiiice...!"
"Urrrsah!"
Two flashes of light burst forth: Regice, formed of solid glacial ice, stood silently like the other Legendary Titans. But Ursaluna was different—the moment it appeared, its eyes blazed with fire, and heat waves radiated from its body.
Awakening Mode: Charging!
"Belly Drum!"
"Blizzard!"
The commands rang out simultaneously—battle was on!
"Ursahh!!"
Ursaluna winced with pain, but in the next instant, its aura surged explosively.
Attack +6!
Standing its ground, Ursaluna's pressure eclipsed even Regice's Champion-tier presence.
"Iiice..."
Regice remained stoic, raising its hands as an arctic blizzard swept through the battlefield.
Even before striking Ursaluna, the snowstorm froze the arena. But the bear stood motionless, eyes glowing crimson, the flames around its body intensifying.
At this moment, even molten magma paled in comparison to the fire in Ursaluna's heart.
Regice's blizzard couldn't lower Ursaluna's temperature in the slightest.
The bear was a blazing inferno within a frozen wasteland—untouched, unyielding.
"Aura Sphere!"
Seeing that Blizzard had no ideal effect despite its type advantage, Brandon shouted again.
Though the blizzard still raged, Regice gathered energy between its palms and hurled an Aura Sphere toward Ursaluna, now clearly locked on.
Fused with the storm, the Aura Sphere grew even more powerful.
But this time, Paul had no intention of letting Ursaluna just tank it.
"Go—full force!"
Through training, guidance from teammates, and inspiration from Infernape, Ursaluna had deepened its understanding of strength.
Having stored its rage and power, the dam burst.
"Urrrsaaaaahhh!!"
Its roar shook the entire arena. Flames erupted wildly from its core.
Unlike Infernape's fire-centric evolution, Ursaluna's flames were secondary. It pursued raw power—its Awakening Mode boosted sheer physical strength.
Engulfed in fire, Ursaluna charged on all fours with overwhelming force.
Belly Drum, Guts, Awakening Mode, Endure, Fire Punch!
This was the strongest strike Ursaluna had ever unleashed.
Snow melted in its path.
Even the storm-imbued Aura Sphere shattered like a snowball under its charge.
At this moment, Ursaluna was unstoppable.
Even Regice might not withstand its fury.
Brandon shouted: "Ice Shard—evade!"
"Iiice!"
Regice wasn't fast, but it acted quickly—an ice pillar shot from beneath its feet, launching it dozens of meters into the air.
BOOM!
The fire storm engulfed the battlefield—ice shattered.
"Stone Edge!"
As the ice collapsed, Ursaluna slammed its paw into the ground, shifting direction. A massive stone spike formed above—it grabbed the boulder and hurled it skyward.
"Urrsah!"
With a roar, the stone spike hurtled toward Regice.
WHOOSH!
"Protect!"
Still airborne and falling, Regice had no choice—it crossed its arms, activating Protect.
Just before impact, a green shield shimmered around it.
CRASH!
Stone Edge shattered against the barrier, which barely held together.
But the moment Protect faded, Regice sensed a wave of heat. Through the flames, Ursaluna's massive body came crashing in!
Startled, Regice's body lit up with flashing points. Faced with a do-or-die moment, it once again crossed its arms to use Protect.
Using Protect consecutively had a steep success penalty, but Regice had no choice.
As the move activated, another faint green barrier formed—and by the grace of the gods, it succeeded.
BOOM!
The blazing Ursaluna slammed into the barrier, its fire raging fiercely. The clashing energies warped the shield, nearly tearing it apart.
But in the end, the blow was blocked—but just barely.
Under the force of Ursaluna's Hammer Arm, the glowing green barrier was smashed down from mid-air and slammed violently into the ground.
As both Pokémon landed, Regice remained on the defensive, maintaining Protect against Ursaluna's relentless pressure, while constantly analyzing how to counterattack.
Ursaluna stood just outside the barrier, relentlessly hammering at it with brute force.
"Urrrsah~!"
Frustrated by its failure to break through, Ursaluna's rage built layer by layer, triggering an explosive surge of latent power from deep within.
"URSAAH!!!"
Finally, a critical threshold was breached. Power and fury reached their peak and fused perfectly with its Fire Punch.
Crack—
BOOM!
With a thunderous smash of its massive paw, the shell-like Protect barrier shattered. The claw followed through and struck Regice directly.
BOOM!
Regice staggered backward, its icy body shaken, but Ursaluna didn't relent. It charged in, raising both arms for a crushing Hammer Arm that came down upon Regice's head.
WHAM!
The ground split. Regice's massive body was driven deep into the battlefield.
Bang! Bang! Bang!…
"That's enough."
Ursaluna kept pummeling, blow after blow, unable to fully suppress its fury—until Paul's voice echoed in its mind, just barely restraining the impulse to pulverize Regice completely.
Snorting heavy, angry breaths, Ursaluna crawled back to Paul's side.
"Regice is unable to battle. Ursaluna wins!"
"As all three Pokémon of Pyramid King Brandon have lost their ability to fight, the challenger Paul has won this battle!"
The referee surveyed the battered Regice and officially announced the outcome.
"Return, Regice."
Without hesitation, Brandon recalled Regice and handed the Poké Ball to one of his apprentices for immediate treatment.
Only then did he glance at Ursaluna, now calmly lying beside Paul, who gently stroked its head. Brandon shook his head slowly, full of complicated emotions.
"Each generation really does surpass the last… So many prodigies rising so young."
"Even though I've kept improving, the gap between us and these kids just keeps growing wider."
Last year he had been defeated by Red, and now by Paul. At this rate, the kids he once defeated could very well surpass him in just a few more months.
But compared to Paul… the difference was just too vast.
Brandon never even saw Paul's strongest two Pokémon, he was defeated before they appeared.
Paul patted Ursaluna's head in praise.
"Not bad at all. If you react and move faster next time, it'll be perfect."
"Urrsah~"
Still worn out from its explosive rampage, Ursaluna lay down obediently, triggering Slack Off to begin restoring its energy.
"Pochi!"
"Ah! Yah! Yah!"
"Pochi!"
Chimchar, who had been watching the battle in awe, now bounced excitedly in front of Ursaluna, as if it had won the battle itself.
"Urrsah~"
At first, Ursaluna looked annoyed by Chimchar's racket—but hearing the admiration in its squeaks and seeing the literal stars in its eyes, it simply couldn't stay mad.
Instead, it smiled and rubbed Chimchar's head, offering an encouraging look.
"Yah!"
Deeply inspired, Chimchar clenched its fists and nodded firmly.
"This is a brave symbol. Your strength has earned it. I hope you carry this courage with you, reach the summit, and achieve your dream."
Moments later, Brandon stepped up to Paul, emotions now in check, and handed him a symbol—the final one.
"Thank you. I will."
Paul accepted it with calm sincerity, not a hint of arrogance.
"I look forward to that day. By the way, the new season of the World Coronation Series has already started. If you plan to participate, register soon. Even if your strength qualifies, you might not make the cutoff time."
Brandon offered a friendly reminder.
"I will. I'll head to Viridian City soon and start climbing the ranks."
Paul didn't sound rushed at all. To him, strength ensured timing would never be an issue.
And if worst came to worst, he could always power through high-intensity ranked battles at special match locations.
Even just Torterra alone could battle nonstop against trainers below Ultra Ball level for ten days straight.
...
From the spectator stands, Leanne ran down and called out in awe:
"Wow! Wow! Paul, you're going to join the World Coronation Series too? Go for it! I believe you can totally become one of the Masters Eight!"
Leanne didn't dare say Paul could beat Leon or Red, but with the way he and his Pokémon performed, she truly believed he could reach the final rounds.
She'd never seen any other Elite Four or Champion's Pokémon display such overwhelming strength and versatility.
If he was already this strong and improving this fast, wouldn't making the Masters Eight be inevitable?
"Thanks. I will."
Paul replied calmly.
"Paul, congratulations on obtaining the final Symbol. You're the first trainer since Red in recent years to conquer the entire Battle Frontier."
Scott, standing nearby, added his congratulations.
"Yes. But my journey is far from over."
At the mention of Red's name, Paul's posture grew even more focused.
"I know it may be sudden… but would you consider becoming the new Head of the Battle Frontier?"
Scott asked.
Anyone who conquered the Frontier was eligible, this was the rule.
"Sorry. That's not my goal. My journey isn't stopping here."
Paul declined without hesitation.
Between becoming a Champion or entering the World Coronation Series, both options offered greater challenges than leading the Frontier.
Even if he ever took up the title, it would be by returning to Sinnoh and claiming Palmer's position, not by leading some other region's facility.
"It figures… Still, I wish you all the best."
Scott nodded knowingly and offered his blessing.
Paul: "Thanks."
"Paul! Keep working hard on your journey! I'll be doing my best with my Pokémon to catch up to you! And someday, we have to battle again… I'll definitely be in the stands at Wyndon Stadium when the time comes!"
Just before Paul left, Leanne rushed up to him, spoke with determination, and sprinted toward the exit.
Paul nodded to both Scott and Brandon and turned to continue his journey.
But after just a few steps, the ground rumbled beneath his feet.
Lights in the facility began to flicker. Emergency sirens flashed to life.
"Warning! Warning! The Battle Pyramid is under unidentified attack!"
"Warning! Warning! The Battle Pyramid is under unidentified attack!"
"Warning…"
Alarms blared across the structure.
(End of Chapter)
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