"What kind of ability is this?!"
Staring at the strange "Pokémon" that had inexplicably appeared before him, Lance felt a wave of confusion surge through his mind.
Yet as a Trainer bound by battle rules, he hesitated for no more than a heartbeat before releasing his final Pokémon.
A Level 65 Dragonite!
Boom!!!The moment it entered the field, Dragonite flapped its comparatively small wings, instantly whipping up a ferocious hurricane in midair, utterly unfazed by the oppressive aura radiating from Zoro.
From within its Poké Ball, Dragonite had witnessed every one of its companions fall.
It understood better than anyone just how terrifying the opponent before it truly was.
Even so—Those prior battles had paved the way for it.
"Roaaaar!!!"
With resolute eyes, Dragonite let out a battle cry filled with indomitable will.
Opposite it, Zoro—now transformed into a colossal dragon—flashed a savage crimson gleam in his eyes, like a beast awakening.
Before either Trainer could issue a command, both Dragonite and Zoro vanished in a blur and charged forward simultaneously.
Boom!!!A devastating shockwave erupted outward like a raging storm.
Dragonite's Dragon Claw collided head-on with the massive greatsword formed around Zoro's clawed wrist, unleashing an awe-inspiring burst of force.
"Dragonite! Again!""Use Dragon Claw!"
Lance roared passionately as a strange, mysterious energy surfaced across his body.
The Dragon Master Power—present since the start of the battle yet deliberately restrained—surged forth once more, pouring unreservedly into Dragonite.
In an instant…
A deep violet glow flashed through Dragonite's eyes, rapidly spreading across its entire body.
Its other claw lifted high.
Though it was still that adorably chubby paw, it now carried the might of a raging sea, slamming down toward Zoro with overwhelming force—
As if to declare:
You're not the only one who can cheat!
Whoooosh!
The air screamed as the dragon-type energy–coated claw came crashing down—
But at that very moment, a dazzling streak of light sliced through the air.
"Dragon-Blade Style · Revolving Heaven · Great Dragon Cyclone!"
BOOM!!!A sudden, monstrous tempest erupted at the center of the battlefield, roaring straight into the sky.
The next instant—
Clang—!
A clear, piercing metallic clash echoed across the arena.
Zoro's massive draconic body spun at extreme speed, forming a radiant barrier of rotating slashes that forcibly blocked Dragonite's attack outside the storm.
Boom!
Another violent burst of air exploded outward.
Dragonite's expression shifted in shock. In the clash of opposing gales, its body was forced backward.
Zoro gradually halted his rotation, lifting his ferocious, beast-like gaze as a confident grin crept across his face.
"That's all… you've got?"
"Tch!" ×2
Both Lance and Dragonite scowled—irritated, yet undeniably grave.
They had expected Zoro's power to increase after his transformation…
But this much?!
Lance's Dragonite was capable of standing toe-to-toe with Legendary Pokémon without losing ground!
And on top of that, Lance had activated Dragon Master Power!
"Impossible!"
"There's no way your strength jumped this far!"
Lance waved his arm decisively and barked another order:
"Don't be afraid!"
"He can't keep this up for long!"
His conviction was absolute.
Dragonite nodded firmly—and its wings, utterly mismatched with its bulky body, suddenly trembled violently.
The Dragonite line possessed racial advantages no other Pokémon could rival.
Any fully grown Dragonite could circle the globe within sixteen hours.
And this one—personally trained as Lance's trump card—was exceptional even among its kind.
Though battlefield conditions limited its full mobility, the instantaneous speed it could unleash was still terrifying.
Boom!
Another hurricane roared.
An orange streak shot straight into the sky, zigzagging above Zoro's head like erratic lightning.
Lance shouted over the storm:
"Dragonite—use Extreme Speed!"
"Roaaar!"
A strange energy surged across Dragonite's body.
In the next moment, its speed climbed even higher.
The violent winds vanished—replaced by continuous, shrill sonic booms.
Dragonite's movement now seemed to transcend space itself, blinking erratically above Zoro like teleportation as it searched for the perfect opening.
Suddenly—
The howling wind stopped.
Dragonite's eyes flashed.
Seizing what it believed to be Zoro's weakness, it launched its ultimate dragon-type technique without waiting for commands—
Dragon Rush!
With a power rating of 100, Dragonite crashed down from the heavens.
A colossal phantom dragon formed in midair, blanketing the entire arena and leaving Zoro nowhere to dodge.
An overwhelming pressure descended.
At that moment, Red spoke calmly:
"As expected of the legendary pseudo-legendary Dragonite."
"With speed like that, most Pokémon wouldn't even catch its shadow."
"The strongest Elite Four indeed lives up to the name."
"But unfortunately…"
Under Lance's puzzled gaze, Red's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
"That kind of speed… still isn't enough for Zoro."
"What?!" Lance frowned.
He knew Dragonite's speed was monstrous—yet an inexplicable sense of dread rose within him.
"Flying around like that…"
"Do you really think you're fast?"
Zoro spoke.
His gaze snapped upward, locking firmly onto Dragonite.
Along the blade-edges flanking his face—like curved fangs—energy flared with intensity rivaling Dragonite's own.
Even at such extreme speeds—
Dragonite had never escaped Zoro's perception.
Zoro had been ready all along.
"Dragon-Blade Style · Heavy Moon · Crying Flash!!!"
BOOM!!!
Zoro swung his massive dragon arm.
Two gigantic crescent-shaped slashes shot skyward, tearing toward Dragonite.
"Chirp?!"
Dragonite recoiled in shock.
But it was too late to stop—its Dragon Rush was already halfway unleashed!
Then—
SLASH!!!
The twin slashes ripped across Dragonite's body, carving a massive X-shaped wound.
Dragon-type attacks against dragon-types—The elemental suppression amplified the damage far beyond the strike itself!
Without the arena's protective rules, that blow alone would've been catastrophic.
Dragonite's momentum faltered.
Yet as Lance's ace, its willpower was unmatched.
Ignoring the pain, maintaining its dragon energy, it charged on—
If this hit landed, Zoro would suffer even more.
But then—
As the slashing light faded, an even more brilliant radiance appeared before Dragonite's eyes.
A wave of annihilation surged forward.
"No—get out of there!!!" Lance screamed.
Too late.
BOOM!!!
From the blade at Zoro's throat erupted a long-primed Hyper Beam, splitting into two even larger crescent slashes.
Heavy Moon—far heavier than a single moon!
"ROOOAAARGH!!!"
Dragonite was swallowed whole.
A 150-power ultimate move slammed into it head-on.
Its agonized cry echoed as it plummeted from the sky.
Crash!
Dragonite slammed into the ground like a meteor, dust billowing everywhere.
"Dragonite!" Lance shouted.
From within the dust came a hoarse reply:
"Roaaar…"
The wind swept the haze away.
Dragonite stood hunched, bloodied, clutching its body with one claw—one eye shut in pain, the other locked stubbornly on Zoro.
As the strongest species beneath Legendary Pokémon—
Dragonite wouldn't fall from a single blow.
Even if that blow was Zoro's strongest Pokémon technique.
Meanwhile, Zoro stiffened—Hyper Beam's recoil freezing his body.
The two dragons stared each other down, battle intent blazing.
Lance seized the moment.
"Dragonite—use Roost!"
"Roa…"
Dragonite folded its wings.
A soft blue glow spread over its body, easing its pain.
Roost—a Flying-type move that consumes flight energy to restore health and stamina.
A classic trade of future endurance for present strength.
Much like Zoro's own Facade-like state—
One recovered condition.
The other shattered limits.
"Trying to outlast us?" Red's eyes narrowed.
"Zoro—interrupt it!"
"We can't let it recover!"
"Got it!"
As the recoil eased, Zoro swung his arm, firing a raw aerial slash.
BOOM!!!
The attack blasted past Dragonite and detonated against the arena wall—
But Roost was interrupted.
Trainer and Pokémon locked gazes.
So did dragon and dragon.
Battle intent crackled like lightning.
"Dragonite—use Agility!" Lance roared.
Red answered just as fiercely:
"Don't underestimate our bond!"
"Let's go, Zoro!"
"No more Hyper Beam—don't let it use Roost again!"
"Right!"
Then—
A telepathic message slipped into Zoro's mind.
Ignore my words.Let Dragonite show off its speed.
Pretend to track it—lose it occasionally.
Make them believe speed still matters.
If they attack, evade. Drain its stamina.
Then finish it with another Hyper Beam.
If Lance could use Dragon Master Power—
Red wouldn't hold back either.
Cheating?
Who doesn't?
Psychic Power couldn't directly buff non-Psychic Pokémon—
But deception?
That would hit far harder.
Zoro's expression twitched.
Recalling Red's determined face moments ago, he could only think:
"You're ruthless, Red."
"Piracy really wasted your talent."
"Ever considered… acting?"
(End of Chapter)