The battle on the field continued with intensity. The clash between Wo-Chien and Rillaboom was fierce.
"Not bad at all for Champion Leon. He's holding his ground even against my brother's Wo-Chien."
Lillie watched Rillaboom exchanging heavy blows with Wo-Chien and couldn't help commenting.
"That's how it should be. Leon is one of the strongest Champions."
Blue muttered. Besides, Dylan hadn't put much focused training into the four Treasures of Ruin.
"And also…"
Blue tilted her head slightly, giving a sympathetic glance at Leon on the field.
She hoped he would stay strong.
On the field
"Return, Wo-Chien."
Dylan recalled the heavily injured Treasure of Ruin. Wo-Chien truly wasn't suited to fighting Rillaboom.
"That Rillaboom is impressive. But if the opponent is this one—"
He threw out his second Pokémon.
"Chi-Yu! Prepare for battle!"
"Chi-yu～"
A soft, ethereal sound echoed. A small Pokémon floated into view, its tiny body drifting gently in midair.
"Chi-Yu?" Leon's eyes narrowed slightly.
Its form resembled an ordinary goldfish—its body pale yellow, its tail patterned like dancing flames, and around each eye hung a pair of magatama.
**'Beep– Chi-Yu. Dark/Fire type. Ruin Pokémon.Ability: Beads of RuinMoves: Overheat, Infernal Abyss, Ruination, Smokescreen, Dark Pulse…
Description: The envy residing within cursed magatama sparked flames, and together they became this Pokémon.'**
"A Fire-type Treasure of Ruin?"
Leon recalled its info. He had never seen one in person, but its data existed in the Pokédex archives.
"That's right. Compared to Wo-Chien, Chi-Yu specializes in offense."
Dylan smiled.
"I see."
Leon immediately recalled his Rillaboom.
"If it's Fire-type, then you're up!"
He threw his second Pokémon.
"Inteleon!"
Inteleon landed stylishly—Galar's Water starter.
"Chi-Yu."
The magatama around Chi-Yu's eyes glowed blue, sending a faint light sweeping across the field.
Beads of Ruin—lowering the Special Defense of all other Pokémon.
Another extremely powerful ability.
Chi-Yu was the strongest special attacker among the Treasures of Ruin, and weakening an opponent's Sp. Def was a perfect match for it.
It was essentially a free damage boost every time.
"Inteleon! Snipe Shot!"
Leon wasted no time.
Inteleon bent its body and fired forward with incredible speed, fingers glowing with condensed water.
"Flamethrower!"
Chi-Yu darted upward, its magatama flashing red.
A blazing, massive flame in the shape of the kanji "大" surged downward.
Water and fire collided violently—Snipe Shot against Flamethrower.
But to the shock of everyone, the furious flames overpowered the water!
With a roar, the flames crashed onto Inteleon and blasted it backward.
Leon frowned.
"Whoa!! It's that strong?!"
Mei was stunned.
"That's Leon's Inteleon! And it got overpowered by a type disadvantage!"
"That Chi-Yu's special attack is terrifying," N said.
"Indeed. Inteleon's Sp. Atk is very high itself. Even with Snipe Shot being weaker than Flamethrower, overpowering it outright shows insane Sp. Atk."
Alder nodded.
"Compared to Wo-Chien, this Chi-Yu is much more aggressive."
"But Flamethrower shouldn't have done that much. Inteleon resists Fire, and it blocked the attack with Snipe Shot first."
Hilda analyzed.
As the steam cleared, a battered Inteleon emerged.
"Good."
Dylan nodded with satisfaction.
Even with Water resisting Fire, the Sp. Def drop from Beads of Ruin left Inteleon fragile.
Inteleon was a high-speed, high-Sp.Atk "assassin" type—naturally frail.
"Smokescreen."
Chi-Yu released a burst of flames and black smoke, filling the field.
"Surf!" Leon shouted.
Water surged upward, lifting Inteleon as it rode atop the sweeping wave.
Steam filled the arena as fire and water smashed together.
"Chi-Yu!"
Dylan called.
Chi-Yu drifted out of the smoke and into the air, scanning below.
"Snipe Shot!"
From the heated waters below, Inteleon burst upward—water glowing on its fingers.
This was a perfect chance. If Snipe Shot hit, Chi-Yu would take massive damage.
Leon was confident. Inteleon was one of his key partners.
"Ruination!!"
But Dylan had anticipated this.
He wanted Inteleon to strike.
From a dark sigil beneath Chi-Yu, black-red energy surged upward.
A devastating Ruination, the Treasures of Ruin's signature technique—pure destructive force.
Boom!
Snipe Shot hit true, sending Chi-Yu reeling.
But at the same moment, Ruination rained down on Inteleon like cursed droplets crashing from above.
The dark bombardment struck mercilessly, slamming Inteleon out of the air.
"Inteleon!"
Leon's expression tensed.
Inteleon crashed into the ground, curling painfully.
Dark didn't counter Water, but Inteleon's lowered Sp. Def was simply too low—and Chi-Yu's special attack far too high.
"Dark Pulse."
Chi-Yu followed up mercilessly.
"Protect!"
Leon barked.
Inteleon forced its trembling body to rise—green light beginning to form—
But could it finish in time?
Everyone held their breath.
BOOM!
Dark Pulse slammed down, exploding violently.
Leon's eyes narrowed. He hadn't seen a complete Protect barrier form…
As the dust faded, the crater revealed Inteleon unconscious in its depths.
Chi-Yu floated calmly overhead, its emberlike tail swaying.
"Inteleon is unable to battle. Chi-Yu wins!"
The referee announced.
Clearly, Protect had not activated in time.
"Chi-Yu is brutal," Steven murmured.
"Compared to Wo-Chien, its power is on a whole other level," Wallace agreed.
But that was natural—Chi-Yu specialized in high-speed, high-power offense.
Leon recalled his fainted Inteleon, eyes burning with determination.
Inteleon had done its job—it left the groundwork to defeat Chi-Yu.
"Dragapult!"
Leon sent out his third Pokémon—Galar's pseudo-legend.
Dark eyes narrowed, Dragapult glared at Chi-Yu.
"A Dragapult? Leon, you know Dark is strong against Ghost. Dragapult is at a type disadvantage."
Dylan raised a brow.
Was Leon banking on speed? A reasonable choice.
"But Dragapult can beat your Chi-Yu!"
Leon grinned.
"Dragon Darts!"
Dragapult lowered its head. The two Dreepy charged with dragon energy and shot forward.
"Very confident, I see. In that case—"
Dylan smirked.
"Flamethrower!"
The blazing flame struck the incoming Dragon Darts—
BOOM!!
—but the two Dreepy burst through the flames anyway, continuing onward—yet not attacking.
They flew back toward Dragapult.
Of course Dragapult itself wasn't beside Chi-Yu.
"Chi-Yu!"
Dylan instantly understood.
A dark tear opened behind Chi-Yu as Dragapult burst out—
Phantom Force!
Chi-Yu whipped its tail to retreat, but Dragapult was too fast.
BAM!!
The blow sent Chi-Yu tumbling, though Phantom Force dealt reduced damage.
The Dreepy returned to Dragapult.
"Dragon Darts!!"
Leon pressed the attack.
Dragapult shot forward with incredible speed.
"Fire Abyss!"
Chi-Yu's cry sharpened as flames roared upward, coloring the entire sky red.
Inferno.
Dragon Darts pierced into the sea of fire—exploding it apart—
"Dragon Rush!"
Dragapult barreled through the flames, a raging dragon aura taking shape as it smashed into Chi-Yu.
Chi-Yu shrieked as Dragapult drove it downward, crashing it into the field.
The ground shook violently.
"Amazing, Dragapult!!"
Hop jumped up.
Leon's heart pounded. This was the thrill he had long missed—
Could he do it?
Defeat one of Dylan's LEGENDARIES?
A feat only a rare few had ever accomplished.
(End of Chapter)