"Well… Volkner really shot himself in the foot there."
Steven let out a slow breath, shaking his head.
"Who would've guessed Lucario could pivot into Bone Rush mid–Extreme Speed? Honestly, anyone would've fallen for that."
On the sofa, Chen Shi lounged back lazily, one leg crossed over the other.
"Believe it or not, Cynthia isn't trying to end it quickly.
She's going to force a second Swords Dance."
"Oh?"
Steven raised a brow and turned his full attention to the match.
On the Field
"Lucario — Aura Sphere!"
"Lucar!"
Lucario thrust both palms forward, launching a pulsating sphere of condensed aura straight at Luxray.
If it connected, Luxray would lose nearly all remaining stamina — the match would essentially be over.
Volkner knew it.
"Luxray, wake up! Protect, now!!"
Luxray staggered to its feet, still dizzy from that brutal Bone Rush impact, but it managed to throw up a green barrier just in time.
BOOM!
Aura Sphere detonated.
The rushed Protect held — barely.
Luxray was blasted backward, claws skidding across the arena.
Volkner's face paled.
If Cynthia followed up now… Luxray was done.
But instead—
"Lucario — Swords Dance."
Rest Lounge
Steven clicked his tongue.
"You were right. She really skipped the finishing blow just to set up again.
Volkner's getting two-for-one'd for sure."
A Lucario that had used two Swords Dances exceeded even many mid-Elite Pokémon in raw attack power.
The only way Volkner survived was if his second Pokémon was:
Elite-tier
2. Faster
3. And a good type matchup
…None of which seemed likely.
Back to the Field
"LUXRAY!!"
Volkner's roar echoed across the stadium.
Luxray trembled, forcing itself upright.
Lucario's second Swords Dance flared — its aura rising like a pressure wave, strong enough to rattle the battlefield.
Volkner clenched both fists.
"Luxray — don't give up!
Use that move!"
His voice cracked with determination:
"Volt Slash!!"
"Raaagh!"
Luxray's fur spiked.
Lightning exploded off its body.
The ground cracked.
The air hissed.
In a blink—
Luxray vanished.
A streak of lightning tore across the battlefield straight toward Lucario.
The host nearly dropped his mic.
"A signature combo technique!
A fusion of Quick Attack and Wild Charge — Volkner's hidden trump card!"
The crowd erupted.
"Volkner! Volkner! Volkner!"
Even Cynthia's eyes sharpened—this move was good.
Fast.
Powerful.
Unpredictable.
But…
Not unstoppable.
"Lucario — Dig."
"Lu—car."
Lucario slammed a fist into the ground and disappeared underground in a flash.
Luxray's lightning strike—
hit nothing.
The entire arena fell silent.
That earth-shaking combo…
was dodged by Dig.
A normal, basic Dig.
Rest Lounge Reaction
Phoebe burst out laughing.
"That dramatic super move—countered by Dig?! I'm crying!"
Chen Shi couldn't hold back a chuckle.
It wasn't mockery — it was simply the most efficient counter.
Steven shrugged.
"Every technique has limitations.
Even special combos have blind spots.
If you rely on unstoppable charges… what happens when your target simply isn't standing there?"
Chen Shi nodded.
"Exactly."
Battle Conclusion
Lucario resurfaced and struck cleanly.
Luxray collapsed.
Volkner sent out his second Pokémon — a strong Elite-tier Raichu.
But against a Lucario with two layers of Swords Dance?
There was nothing to see.
A few exchanges later—
"Raichu is unable to battle!
The winner is — Cynthia!"
Volkner exhaled sharply, shoulders trembling.
"I've lost to you… again."
Cynthia gave a cool nod, recalled Lucario, and walked toward the exit tunnel without looking back.
Audience Chatter
"Hahaha! I KNEW Cynthia would win!"
"Shut up! You were cheering for Volkner a minute ago!"
"Lies!! I've ALWAYS been Team Cynthia!"
"Alright, alright, both are Sinnoh's pride!"
"But Cynthia hasn't even used Garchomp yet…
If you ask me, she's a top contender for champion."
"What about Lance?!"
"And Hoenn has both Steven and Chen Shi — literal monsters!"
"And Kalos!"
"And Galar!"
The stadium turned into a heated regional shouting match.
Back in the Lounge
"Congratulations."
Chen Shi greeted Cynthia with a light grin.
She offered a small, elegant smile.
Steven clapped. "All matches are wrapped. Let's head back — dinner's on me."
"YESSS! Big feast!!" Phoebe cheered, sprinting for the door.
"Your Dusclops is still with Nurse Joy," Chen Shi reminded her.
"Oh—right!"
Phoebe slapped her forehead and dashed off.
Cynthia didn't say anything, but a tiny smile tugged at her lips as she walked beside Chen Shi.
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