The cheers from the crowd echoed throughout the Luminara League Stadium. The giant scoreboard illuminated the battlefield.
Grand Final Score
Elior
5 pokemon remaining
Serena
Only two Pokémon remained on Serena's side.
But one of them...Was her strongest partner.
The audience knew that Lucario had already defeated Serperior, Gallade, and Luxray while pushing itself to its absolute limit.
Golden Aura still shimmered around its body...But it flickered with every breath.
Talonflame let out a sharp cry and soared high above the stadium. Its wings left trails of fire across the sky.
Serena pointed upward.
"Talonflame!"
"Flame Charge!"
Wrapped in blazing flames, Talonflame dove toward Lucario.
Elior calmly spoke.
"Lucario..."
"Detect."
Lucario closed its eyes.
Golden Aura spread across the battlefield. At the last possible moment...
It sidestepped. Talonflame streaked past.
The crowd erupted.
"Aura Sphere!"
Lucario launched a golden sphere of Aura. Talonflame rolled through the air. The attack grazed one wing. It wasn't a direct hit. But Serena immediately realized something. Lucario's Aura had become even more accurate after entering Golden Resonance.
"Brave Bird!"
Talonflame became wrapped in blue energy and dived again.
"Bullet Punch!"
Lucario leaped high into the air.
Its steel fist met Talonflame's charge.
BOOOOM!!
A powerful shockwave spread across the stadium. Both Pokémon were thrown backward.
She smiled.
"Keep your distance!"
Talonflame climbed higher into the sky.
It refused to engage Lucario at close range.
Instead...
It circled the battlefield again and again.
Flamethrower.
Air Slash.
Steel Wing.
One attack after another rained down.
Lucario dodged many...But not all.
Golden Resonance was powerful.
It did not make Lucario invincible.
Its stamina continued to fade.
Lucario fell to one knee. Its breathing became ragged. The Golden Aura flickered violently.
Elior clenched his fists.
"Lucario..."
Lucario slowly stood. Its eyes never left Talonflame. The bond between Trainer and Pokémon needed no words.
Serena raised her hand.
"End this!"
"Brave Bird!"
Talonflame folded its wings and became a blazing comet. The audience stood.
Elior smiled proudly.
"One last attack..."
" Aura Sphere!"
Lucario gathered every remaining ounce of Golden Resonance into one brilliant sphere. The golden energy illuminated the entire stadium.
It fired.
The attacks collided in midair.
For a heartbeat...
Everything became silent.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A blinding explosion swallowed the battlefield.
Smoke drifted across the arena.
Slowly...
Talonflame emerged from the smoke.
Its wings were trembling.
It landed unsteadily.
Lucario was still standing.
The crowd waited.
Neither Pokémon moved.
Then...
Talonflame's eyes closed.
It collapsed.
The referee immediately raised the green flag.
"Talonflame is unable to battle!"
The audience erupted into deafening cheers.
Lucario had defeated Serena's fourth Pokémon.
But at that exact moment...The Golden Aura disappeared. Lucario smiled toward Elior. It had given everything. Its legs gave way.
It collapsed onto the battlefield.
The referee raised the opposite flag.
"Lucario is unable to battle!"
The stadium stood and applauded.
Even Serena clapped for Lucario.
"What an incredible Pokémon..."
Elior recalled Lucario with a proud smile.
"Thank you."
Final Score
Elior
4 pokemon remaining
Serena
Only one Pokémon remained for Serena.
Her undefeated ace.
A hush fell over the stadium as Serena held her final Poké Ball.
She smiled.
"It's time."
A brilliant flash of light burst across the battlefield.
Garchomp appeared with a mighty roar that echoed throughout the entire stadium. Its powerful presence alone sent a chill through the crowd. Elior looked down at his remaining Poké Balls.
He took a deep breath.
The championship...Would be decided by the battles still to come.
To be continued...