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All four Pokemon were seriously injured. The power of steam contained tremendous kinetic energy and scorching heat—it had no type affinity, only the strong could survive such devastation.
Electivire had survived by relying on its Lightning Armor's defense and its own exceptional vitality. Blastoise endured because Metagross and Ninetales had absorbed most of the damage before falling.
Camerupt's Solid Rock ability provided amazing defensive capabilities. As for why Ivy's Arcanine survived, the five different flames still swirling around its body provided the answer.
Although Roy had reacted quickly and ordered Blastoise to concentrate the entire team's aura power to interrupt Arcanine's flame fusion, it had still managed to absorb approximately fifty percent of the flame energy.
Through its Flash Fire ability absorbing four different fire types, Arcanine's flame power had reached top master-class level.
"Interrupted, but not completely interrupted," Roy muttered, subconsciously reaching to adjust his hat before touching bare metal instead. He'd almost forgotten this wasn't his real body.
Roy withdrew his hand from the bald metal head with lingering embarrassment.
"Congratulations, junior," Ivy's voice came through her Substitute. "The team battle strength you've demonstrated far exceeds professional-level standards. You've passed the second test."
Ivy couldn't understand Roy's team battle system—why Blastoise's aura power had suddenly become so potent, or how Metagross could keep pace with Blaziken's speed. However, the principles behind team battle systems were trainer secrets with no obligation for public disclosure.
The examiner only needed to evaluate the system's overall effectiveness.
"But you wouldn't mind if we settled this properly, would you?" Ivy invited.
Roy gave an affirmative answer without hesitation. "Certainly."
"By the way, Senior," Roy suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "don't surrender halfway through this time if things look bad."
Ivy felt a surge of irritation and immediately launched her attack: "Flare Blitz!"
Arcanine wrapped its entire body in flames, entered Extreme Speed mode, and charged directly at Roy.
Electivire wouldn't let that happen. Massive blue light erupted from its right hand as it threw a punch, accompanied by thunderous roars—Thunder Punch!
Thunder and fire collided. In that instant, the lightning was suppressed by the flames. Electivire was overwhelmed by Arcanine's Flare Blitz, its feet carving furrows in the ground as it was pushed back toward Roy.
Electivire had only begun to master mega-level voltage and hadn't reached Zekrom's level. In terms of raw power, it was equivalent to roughly four times normal electrical energy output.
Naturally, it couldn't compare to Arcanine's flames, which had fused four different fire types and sublimated to top master-class level.
Just as Arcanine grinned savagely, ready to tear apart its opponent, something shocking happened. It suddenly felt its fusion flames becoming unstable, with a tendency toward losing control emerging.
Its Flash Fire ability was being disrupted by some unknown force! Not only that, but as their energies clashed and intermingled, Electivire's lightning power suddenly surged. Within just a few moments, it had equaled Arcanine's flame intensity!
Mega-level voltage, even when only preliminarily mastered, still possessed that fundamental quality and demonstrated something extraordinary.
"Ibo!" Feeling the surging thunder coursing through it, Electivire grabbed Arcanine's shoulders with both hands, attempting to bring it down.
Not to be outdone, Arcanine bit into Electivire's shoulder with Fire Fang. As terrifying thunder and flames crisscrossed, both Pokemon began wrestling on the spot, engaging in a pure test of strength.
Meanwhile, their teammates provided support. Blastoise's Hydro Pump blasted toward Arcanine but was intercepted by lava fire erupting from the ground—Camerupt's Eruption attack.
The Eruption move perfectly matched the lava fire Camerupt had mastered, reaching transcendent levels impressively. Even with Blastoise in Mega form and possessing type advantage, it could only achieve a stalemate without breaking through.
"Camerupt, Giga Impact!"
As Ivy shouted this command, she suddenly began running. Flames erupted from Camerupt's back like a volcano. Using the flames' propulsive force, it launched a devastating charge.
BOOM!
Like a mobile volcano, Camerupt's massive body crashed into Blastoise. The turtle showed no fear, withdrawing into its shell while using Hydro Pump's propulsion to crash into Camerupt.
The collision of two gigantic attacks created a terrifying windstorm.
In this gust of wind, Roy raised his wristband, about to use a Z-Move to support his Pokemon. At that moment, Ivy suddenly changed direction and rushed toward Roy.
The instant Ivy reached him, she launched a sharp roundhouse kick aimed at Roy's neck.
Roy was startled but his reflexes were sharp. He stepped back sideways, dodging the sweep.
Ivy threw another punch without hesitation, aiming directly for Roy's head. Roy evaded again, hearing the piercing whistle of air displacement near his ear.
The punching force of Ivy's Substitute exceeded 300 kilograms, comparable to a world-class boxer.
After missing twice, Ivy continued her assault while saying in surprise, "Your reaction speed is impressive, Roy. Have you practiced martial arts?"
"I learned a little at Promise Gym," Roy replied while continuing to evade and block.
"Excellent, then I'm not bullying you," Ivy said with a smile. "This represents what's most likely to happen when both sides reach desperate situations in actual combat—trainers attacking each other directly."
As she finished speaking, Ivy's offensive became increasingly fierce, with every move potentially lethal. Her punches followed clear methodology, obviously the result of excellent fighting training.
Roy had learned martial arts at Promise Gym initially just for physical conditioning. He hadn't acquired many actual combat skills, so he could only keep dodging.
Ivy grew more excited, and after kicking Roy back several meters, couldn't help but mock: "What's wrong, Roy? Is this all you've got?"
"No," Roy shook his head. "I was just wondering—using methods other than fighting techniques shouldn't be considered cheating, right?"
Hearing this, Ivy immediately responded: "Of course not. In real combat, use everything available. Use guns if you have them, grenades if available, kidnap the opponent's family for leverage, or employ psychological warfare and insults—as long as you can win, everything is permissible."
Roy nodded and suddenly raised one hand, pointing it at Ivy.
"You want to—!" Ivy was only halfway through speaking when she was horrified to discover her body locked by tremendous force. Her entire metal form was suspended in mid-air, unable to move.
Roy's eyes glowed with psychic light as he said emotionlessly: "Senior, times have changed."
Ivy was completely stunned. She knew Roy was an aura user, but aura power wasn't particularly suited for direct combat. Aura Sphere involved Fighting-type move applications, which humans as aura messengers couldn't master. At most, they could create barriers for protection.
Moreover, after that coordinated attack with Blastoise, Roy should have exhausted most of his aura energy. Based on this reasoning, combined with her plan to prevent Z-Move usage and confidence in her own skills, Ivy had launched her direct assault.
But she never expected that besides being an aura messenger, Roy was also... a psychic user?