Silence. Dead silence.
It wasn't until the referee's desperate shout that a boulder seemed to crash into the calm lake, stirring up a massive commotion.
"Ariel... actually fought to a draw with Lance?"
"My god, that's Lance! The dragon tamer of Kanto, the top genius Trainer!"
"This isn't even a question of strength anymore; this is a monster-level duel!"
The murmurs went from sparse to deafening, almost blowing the roof off the arena.
The previous claims that Ariel was merely a dark horse who would eventually stop here were now smashed to pieces by reality.
Everyone understood now.
Ariel, this young man from Hoenn, had the strength to go head-to-head with Lance, the man standing at the pinnacle of the League!
Just then, at the other end of the field, Lance spoke, his voice clearly echoing throughout the entire arena.
"Ariel, you are strong."
He didn't offer any pleasantries, simply stating a fact.
"If you are willing, the Investigator department of the Kanto League would welcome you to join at any time."
Boom!
This sentence made the audience even more ecstatic than the previous explosion!
The host practically jumped up, his voice changing pitch:
"My god! Contestant Lance! He is actually offering an olive branch to Contestant Ariel during the match! This is a scene never before seen in the history of the League!"
In the spectator stands, Drake, one of the Elite Four of Hoenn, saw his weathered face instantly darken, and he let out a cold snort.
"Hmph, the brat from Kanto reaches out quite far. Since when is it his turn to poach the talent of my Hoenn?"
The voice wasn't loud, but the several high-ranking League officials nearby heard it clearly, all keeping their eyes on their noses and their hearts in check, pretending they hadn't heard anything.
Old man Drake was famous for being protective of his own; who would dare to provoke him at a time like this?
On the field, Ariel simply looked at Lance calmly, neither nodding nor shaking his head.
But his eyes already said everything.
He didn't come here to job hunt; he came for victory.
Lance understood, offering a carefree smile, and said no more.
Trainers of this level all have their own pride and persistence; there was no point in saying more.
He recalled his Charizard into its Poké Ball and threw another one out with a backhand motion.
A red light flashed, and a behemoth clad in heavy armor with a ferocious face landed with a thud!
Haxorus!
Its body seemed to be cast from steel, covered in metallic armor. Two massive, axe-blade-like tusks refracted a cold, chilling light in the sun. Just by standing there, a terrifying sense of oppression rushed towards them!
"It's Haxorus! One of Contestant Lance's trump cards! A terrifying Pokémon known for its pure physical attack power!" the host roared excitedly.
Ariel's expression also grew a bit more serious.
He likewise threw out his Poké Ball.
A dark red figure landed on the ground like a phantom; though small in stature, it exuded an extreme sense of coldness and Agility.
Weavile!
The dragon slayer of the team!
One was a heavy-armored beast with mountain-pulling strength, the other a top-tier assassin darting through shadows. The huge difference in size made this duel full of visual impact.
"Weavile versus Haxorus! In terms of typing, the Ice-type Weavile is twice as effective against the Dragon-type Haxorus! Contestant Ariel's choice is very bold and fatal! But with Haxorus's terrifying physical attack, if it lands just one hit, Weavile might not be able to stand up again!"
The referee's flag swung down, and the battle began!
Neither moved first.
Haxorus's scarlet eyes stared fixedly at Weavile, as if examining prey.
Weavile lowered its body, its scarlet claws lightly scraping the ground, making a soft "rustling" sound as it searched for a route to dash in.
The air seemed to have frozen.
Suddenly, Haxorus moved!
It didn't use any skills, simply taking heavy strides, approaching Weavile step by step.
With every step that landed, the ground trembled as if a heavy tank was advancing.
Ariel's pupils constricted slightly.
This was an open strategy.
Lance knew that Weavile was fast, yet he did the opposite, using the clumsiest method to compress Weavile's range of movement.
Weavile's figure began to flicker, moving around Haxorus at high speed, attempting to find a flaw.
However, Haxorus's defense was airtight; its massive head turned with Weavile's movement, its two axe-like tusks always pointing in its direction, forming an absolute defensive circle.
"Mr. Lance's command is too seasoned!" someone in the spectator stands exclaimed. "He is forcing Weavile to attack first; once Weavile gets close, that will be the moment for Haxorus to counterattack!"
Ariel naturally saw through this point too.
He couldn't wait.
"Weavile, Ice Shard!"
The command was given. While moving at high speed, a flash of cold air appeared at Weavile's claws, and several sharp Ice Shards broke through the air, shooting straight at Haxorus's face!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The Ice Shards struck Haxorus's steel armor, only splashing a few ice crystals, not even leaving a white mark.
But this was only a probe!
Just as Haxorus's attention was drawn by the Ice Shards, a flash of brilliance appeared in Lance's eyes!
Now!
"Swords Dance!"
Haxorus stopped abruptly and let out a heaven-shaking roar!
Invisible sword energy swirled, spiraled, and rose around its body! A visible red aura erupted from within its body—that was the sign of a massive increase in attack power!
"Not good!" Ariel's heart skipped a beat.
The thing he feared most had happened; the opponent had seized a fleeting opportunity to complete a buff!
After the buff, Haxorus's attack power had reached a terrifying level!
"Roar—!"
The Swords Dance completed, and Haxorus's eyes turned completely blood-red. Reason was fading, replaced by endless desire for destruction!
Outrage!
It had gone berserk!
Boom!
Haxorus's massive body turned into a red afterimage, charging towards Weavile at a speed completely inconsistent with its size!
Those two massive axe-tusks were now the most fatal weapons!
"Weavile, dodge! Use Icy Wind!" Ariel's voice was terrifyingly calm.
Weavile's figure became even more elusive. It didn't choose to clash head-on, but instead maneuvered and shifted across the field; every dodge was extremely perilous, the strong wind brought by the axe-tusks scraping its skin painfully.
In the gaps between dodging, Weavile opened its mouth, and a cold wind mixed with ice crystals sprayed out, enveloping the berserk Haxorus.
The cold wind couldn't cause much damage, but the accompanying slowing effect began to take effect.
Haxorus's movements visibly slowed for an instant.
When experts clash, an instant is enough!
"Now, Hone Claws!"
Weavile seized this precious opportunity. In a sudden stop, its claws crossed, emitting a harsh friction sound, and a colder light shone on its sharp claw blades!
Attack and accuracy were both boosted simultaneously!
***************************
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to drop a review, leave a comment, and smash that like button! Every Power Stone helps push the story further—thanks for reading and supporting! 🚀