"Charizard! You're up!"
Lance didn't continue bantering with Lucas. Instead, he threw his fifth Poké Ball. This annoying cousin of his really did have a knack for sarcastic mockery.
The Poké Ball opened in midair. A flash of white light burst forth, and a majestic, domineering orange-red Charizard raised its head and roared toward the sky.
A torrent of scorching flames spewed out, its momentum overwhelming and imposing.
"Ohhh~ Champion Lance's Charizard," Steven's eyes lit up as he glanced at Leon beside him. As everyone knew, Leon's ace Pokémon was also Charizard.
"This Charizard is very strong," Leon observed carefully, studying it for a moment before nodding in approval.
As the strongest Charizard Trainer, Leon naturally had the qualifications to make such an assessment.
Of course, whether that title would remain his in the future was another matter entirely. After all, Red had already stepped into the ranks of top-tier Champions as well—and Red's ace just happened to be Charizard too.
"I have to say, Lance's foundation really is incredibly deep," Steven couldn't help but sigh.
Back when he was the strongest Trainer in the Hoenn region, Steven had been refined and gentle in both conduct and temperament, yet there was inevitably a trace of pride in his heart.
After all, he himself had once been a prodigious youth, a Champion who crushed all Trainers across Hoenn and stood at the very top!
Spending too long at the peak had made things lonely—so lonely, in fact, that he'd even become obsessed with rock collecting as a hobby…
But ever since the World Championships emerged, along with the chaos caused by Team Rocket in Kanto, Steven had truly come to realize just how vast this world really was.
Not to mention Lucas and Giovanni—even Lance alone was already shocking enough.
Leaving aside the army of Dragonites, Lance's other core Pokémon were just as astonishing. As someone once crowned the Strongest Champion, Lance's accumulated strength truly ran deep.
"That's true," Leon said with a smile. "And precisely because of that, it's challenging, isn't it?"
It was strength itself that ignited their desire to challenge.
The scenery at the summit was indeed beautiful, but staying there for too long became unbearably dull.
Leon was genuinely grateful for this tournament. Although his title as the undefeated Champion had been broken because of it, he truly didn't care about that reputation.
What he yearned for were opponents—worthy rivals! A Trainer world that was now blossoming in full bloom!
"Charizard, huh?"
Lucas swept his gaze over the Charizard and raised an eyebrow.
"Looks like Lance is planning to Gigantamax?"
He glanced at the Dynamax Band on Lance's wrist and spoke with a chuckle.
Lance had previously gone out of his way to travel to the Galar region to learn about Dynamaxing—something many people already knew.
After all, ever since Lucas installed Dynamax energy nodes in League stadiums across various regions, Dynamaxing had finally managed to step out of Galar, becoming one of the internationally recognized enhancement methods.
"I have indeed mastered Gigantamaxing," Lance replied without denying it. There was nothing to hide.
And precisely because Charizard could Gigantamax, he had chosen it as the Pokémon to take the field.
"Dynamaxing, huh…" Lucas licked his lips, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes.
"Well~ to be honest, I originally didn't plan to use Legendaries in a challenge match."
Lucas recalled his already severely weakened Dragonair and turned his gaze toward Lance.
Lance frowned slightly upon hearing that.
"There's no such thing as appropriate or inappropriate, Lucas," Lance said calmly. "If you can capture a Legendary, that's your ability. If you think using a Legendary is unfair, then the meaning of this challenge match has already been lost."
He had never believed that extraordinary, rule-breaking Legendaries were a form of cheating.
After all, though only briefly, Lance himself had once been the Trainer of Shadow Lugia. He had even pursued the Black Dragon Zekrom at one point.
Yet Zekrom hadn't chosen him—despite being defeated by him, the Black Dragon still refused to acknowledge him!
And Shadow Lugia had later gone out of control.
Because of those experiences, Lance understood even more clearly that Lucas's ability to subdue Legendaries was entirely his own merit.
The power of Legendaries was indeed beyond the norm—but so what?
If Lucas refused to use a Legendary against him simply to preserve a sense of "fairness," Lance would feel nothing but humiliation.
"Don't misunderstand, Cousin," Lucas said with a light laugh. "It's not that I think it's inappropriate. I just want to give my other partners more chances to take the stage."
That had always been one of his intentions.
Using top-tier Legendaries in one-on-one battles against Champions was honestly like an adult beating up children.
More than anything, Lucas wanted his other core Pokémon to have opportunities to shine on the world stage—to be seen for who they were.
"Say, Lance, do you know why I first appeared in the League's field of vision?"
A nostalgic look surfaced in Lucas's eyes as he asked softly.
Lance's sword-like brows furrowed slightly. Of course he knew.
Ever since their brief encounter aboard the S.S. Anne, he had investigated Lucas extensively.
Lucas's first appearance in the League's records was during the Hammerlocke Energy Plant incident in Galar!
But since this was a live broadcast, Lance naturally couldn't say it outright—otherwise, some members of the public might start making connections.
"Yes, Dragonair was my starter Pokémon, my very first dragon!"
"But everyone calls me the White Dragon Trainer, right? However, my first Legendary Dragon… wasn't Reshiram."
The compressed Heavy Ball in Lucas's hand expanded.
"Then let me witness that Legendary Dragon," Lance said, his pupils gleaming as the corners of his mouth curled upward.
As a member of the Blackthorn Clan who possessed Dragon Force, Lance naturally harbored deep admiration and passion for Legendary Dragons.
Even if… they stood before him as an opponent!
"Of course~ this is my respect for you, Cousin," Lucas said, gripping the Heavy Ball tightly before hurling it high into the air.
"Prepare for battle—Eternatus!"
"RooooOOOOAAAR!"
A low, hoarse dragon's roar echoed through the heavens. Accompanied by an ominous, sinister red glow, an incomparably massive skeletal dragon appeared beneath the sky.
Its grotesque, malevolent bone-like body and the dark-red energy core glowing within its chest unmistakably identified it as the most powerful and most evil Legendary of Galar—Eternatus!
Its white, speckled dragon eyes gazed down at Charizard below. Eternatus's colossal form swayed slightly as overwhelming divine might and dragon pressure flooded the arena, a crushing force spreading across the entire Silver Arena.
It was an indescribable pressure—oppressive and suffocating, making chests feel heavy, as if even breathing had slowed and become obstructed.
Shock.
Almost every spectator was utterly stunned.
"Eternatus!"
Lance raised his head, feeling that immense pressure, yet his face was filled with even greater excitement.
This was it—this dragon might! Even stronger than the Black Dragon!
A Legendary Dragon!
Lance had only felt such terrifying dragon pressure twice before—once during the Saffron City battle between Mega Rayquaza and the fused Necrozma with Lunala.
And the second time… was now!
"What… what kind of Pokémon is that?"
"It's huge! Way too huge! And it feels terrifying!"
"That size is just ridiculous. If it Gigantamaxes, how massive would it even be?!"
"Can someone explain? What Pokémon is this? I've never seen it before!"
Eternatus's appearance instantly ignited heated discussion. Just from its presence alone, it was impossible to ignore.
Sinister. Powerful.
Those were the most immediate impressions.
Its twenty-meter-tall body was already absurdly eye-catching, and the crushing pressure it emitted made it obvious to anyone with sense that this Pokémon was unimaginably strong.
"Lucas, that kid really is something…"
On the high platform, Chairman Loki shook his head helplessly. Using Eternatus against Lance…
Should he say Lucas was taking Lance too seriously?
"For Lucas, this challenge match is special," Rose said with an elegant smile. "Because after today, he will be the strongest person in the world."
"No matter how you look at it."
Yes—once he defeated Lance, Lucas would become No.1 in the World Championships.
He would be the strongest in the world, in every sense—both in substance and in name.
"So, he still used Eternatus in the end…"
Leon looked at the sky-shrouding Eternatus, his expression complicated with emotion.
Lucas had ultimately chosen a top-tier Legendary—another sign of his respect for Lance.
"Let's see how Champion Lance responds," Iris said, resting her chin on her hand as she stared at Eternatus.
"Respond?" Raihan glanced at Lance with a strange expression. "You all have no idea how terrifying the Poison Dragon really is."
He had personally witnessed Eternatus's Eternamax form—that was a realm no human Trainer could ever reach.
Even though Eternatus now appeared in its normal form, after condensing such vast amounts of energy, its power in this state had already increased dramatically.
"Oh, everyone knows that," Iris waved her hand dismissively. "I asked Green already—Lucas's strongest Legendaries are Eternatus and Necrozma. By the way, Marnie has tons of videos of Lucas's Legendary battles. Have you seen them?"
"There's stuff like that?" Steven was taken aback.
"Yeah! Marnie loves recording videos—she has loads of them, and they're super exciting!"
"Then they're definitely worth watching carefully."
Meanwhile, on the battlefield—
"Charizard!"
The Dynamax Band on Lance's wrist glowed with an intense red light as he recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball.
Red light surged and poured into the Poké Ball. Empowered by Dynamax energy, the Poké Ball rapidly expanded.
Lucas watched calmly, while Eternatus floated silently in the sky.
As the source of Dynamax energy itself, Eternatus could, if it wished, completely block this power and cause Charizard's Dynamax to fail.
But there was no need—this was a Pokémon battle, not a clash between hostile factions.
"Come forth!"
With Gigantamax complete, Lance threw the enlarged Poké Ball.
Light flashed, and a colossal Charizard slammed heavily onto the ground. Above the battlefield, a red-and-black vortex appeared in the sky—the distortion caused by Dynamax energy.
Gigantamax Charizard!
Compared to its normal form, its size was vastly greater—at least over thirty meters tall. Its wings had transformed entirely into blazing flames, and fire burned within its mouth as well.
Scorching, surging heat radiated outward, its presence overwhelmingly imposing!
"Just judging by appearances, it really is impressive," Lucas said with a light chuckle after giving it a once-over. "But whether the strength matches is another matter."
"It won't disappoint you," Lance replied calmly. Yet despite his measured tone, his expression betrayed his inability to remain composed.
Facing a Legendary Dragon, he couldn't stay calm—not from fear, but from excitement!
"Charizard—G-Max Wildfire!"
Without wasting any words, Lance shouted the command.
Gigantamax Charizard roared as dense, terrifying flames gathered, its flaming wings burning even more fiercely.
In an instant, the wings transformed into a massive firebird that surged toward Eternatus.
This was Gigantamax Charizard's exclusive G-Max Move—G-Max Wildfire!
"That won't work on Eternatus," Lucas said softly, lowering his gaze.
"Even with Gigantamax, the difference in power is still qualitative."
"Watch closely, Cousin Lance!"
"Eternatus—Dynamax Cannon!"
A low dragon's roar thundered out. The red core in Eternatus's chest flared brilliantly, and the next moment, an enormous crimson beam blasted forth.
Dynamax Cannon!
Dynamax Cannon and G-Max Wildfire collided violently in midair, shockwaves rippling outward.
But after only a brief moment, under the stunned gazes of all spectators, G-Max Wildfire was utterly shattered and obliterated by Dynamax Cannon!
The remaining force of the beam slammed straight into Gigantamax Charizard, erupting in a devastating explosion.
Crushing. Overwhelming.
(End of Chapter)