Chapter 385: Chapter 385

February 9th, Tuesday, Light Snow.

The first snow of February fluttered down like goose feathers. It snowed lightly in the early morning, then quickly stopped.

As warm sunlight bathed the landscape, the entire Indigo Plateau was gilded in golden light.

In the silver brazier at the center of the main arena, sacred flames lit by Moltres's feather danced in hues of orange.

Lance, cloaked in his cape, stood staring at the sacred fire for a long while, deep in thought.

Originally, the champion prize for this tournament was simply a cash reward and a commemorative Poké Ball, courtesy of Silph Co.

Frankly… pretty lackluster.

If it were just another low-quality Indigo League season, that might’ve been fine.

But this year, with Teacher Lu competing, and people like Red and Professor Oak in attendance—

“So, the prize is finalized then?” Chairman Damalanji twirled his beard, smiling.

“Yes. There’s still one undying tail feather of Moltres left,” Lance nodded. “Both finalists have Fire-type Pokémon… so it’s a perfect fit.”

Resources from Legendary Pokémon were obviously far beyond something like charcoal.

What’s more, not every feather from Moltres could even ignite the sacred flame.

You could say… this tail feather was like a low-tier version of the Rainbow Wing.

Chairman Damalanji had no objections. After a moment of thought, he added,

“We can arrange that,” Lance said calmly.

While the two of them discussed the prize, the cheers from the arena grew louder and louder—

The Indigo League Grand Finals… had officially begun.

“Welcome everyone to the Indigo League Grand Finals!”

The aerial Rotom-drones hovered across the venue. Even budget Magnemite-cams helped capture footage.

The circular arena buzzed with excitement as the group chat members sat surrounding Professor Oak.

“First, let’s welcome our Johto representative—Zhuo Xiong!”

He was a tall, burly man in his thirties with a dark complexion.

Not one for the internet, but when news of Sylveon’s 6-0 sweep reached him—

Even he was shaken to the core.

But maybe… that Sylveon wouldn’t be appearing today?

When Lu Ye entered, the crowd erupted once again.

This young man from Donghuang had already delivered so many unforgettable moments in the tournament.

And here in the Grand Finals, only strength could earn you fame and fanfare.

“What are you thinking?” Green leaned on the railing, gazing down at the boiling-hot arena, smirking. “Reminds you of our own rise to the top?”

“…” Red tugged down his cap slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting.

“I was thinking about the time you lost to me.”

As the two stood at their command posts, Lu Ye noticed something on Zhuo Xiong’s right wrist—

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

He kept that hidden until the finals?

…Though I guess I’m not one to talk.

“Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!” the referee waved his flag.

The first Pokémon was pre-selected, but switches would be allowed during the match.

“Go!” Zhuo Xiong sent out Bisharp!

Clad in crimson armor, its entire body shimmered with bladed edges. They said a Bisharp’s strength could be judged by the sharpness of its blades.

Zhuo Xiong’s Bisharp crossed its twin blades with lethal precision before swinging them wide—glistening under the sun.

“Looks like it has Defiant,” Kristal said softly. “That fierce combat spirit isn’t something Inner Focus could match.”

“Bisharp—relentless cutting and slashing… chop up dinner!” Professor Oak improvised a haiku.

“It’s barely even noon… are you already hungry?” Gold deadpanned.

“Focus on the match!” Kristal smacked him.

Lu Ye tossed out his Poké Ball.

Under the sunlight, the snow-white Sirfetch’d landed, gripping its leek, sharp-eyed and confident.

But the moment he locked eyes with Bisharp—

Those steel blades… they could probably slice my leek clean in half!?

“No Intimidate Arcanine?” Zhuo Xiong frowned.

Had Lu Ye sent it, Defiant would’ve kicked in and powered up Bisharp.

Even with a type disadvantage, it might’ve been worth the trade.

“Screech!” he commanded.

SHING—! Bisharp scraped its twin blades together, releasing a piercing screech that made the front-row audience wince.

At the same time, it lunged forward, blades glinting in the light.

“Chop it back!” Lu Ye shouted.

A white glow flickered—Brick Break, four times effective.

Sirfetch’d’s leek rose high to meet the onrushing Bisharp, swinging down in a devastating arc.

“Dodge and use Knock Off!” Zhuo Xiong planned to first disarm the critical-hit-boosting leek.

Bisharp sidestepped, attempting to cleave through the stalk—

CLANG! Sparks flew as blade met leek.

“That leek… is that hard?!” the crowd gasped.

“Quack! (´థ౪థ)σ” Sirfetch’d was almost in tears laughing.

This was the poison-coated leek—his actual body! How could it be knocked away?

Bisharp sensed something was off and swung at Sirfetch’d’s chest.

A powerful gale followed the strike.

Sirfetch’d raised his leek shield just in time and was blasted several meters back.

A deep, vicious gash was left on the surface.

“Quack! (ಥ﹏ಥ)” Now he was really crying.

How much leek juice did that cost him!?

“QUACK!” Furious, Sirfetch’d lunged forward with lightning speed, leek spear stabbing like a jouster’s lance.

“That’s Close Combat!” the commentator yelled. “And Bisharp is holding it off?!”

Bisharp, through relentless slashes, wove a tight mesh of blade trails, parrying every thrust.

Cold sweat streamed down its steel face.

One second of sloppiness, and it’d be dead!

“Using Fury Cutter defensively—impressive.” Lance nodded in the viewing stands.

Zhuo Xiong narrowed his eyes.

Bisharp deflected the thrusting leek and slashed downward—only to miss entirely.

To its shock, Sirfetch’d had retreated several meters away.

Now, the massive leek in his hand began gathering sunlight, forming a glowing, meter-long Solar Greatblade!

Can’t hit me? Then I’ll just fight you with a 40-meter sword!

“Sirfetch’d—Solar Blade!”

Like a knight wielding Excalibur, Sirfetch’d raised his glowing weapon high.

A searing white blade several meters long took form, blinding in its brilliance.

Zhuo Xiong and Bisharp both froze.

How the hell do you even counter that?!

You bring a sword to a duel… He brings a beam saber the length of a building.

Sirfetch’d’s face was calm, but he was thrilled on the inside.

The radiant Solar Blade came crashing down, engulfing Bisharp in blinding light.

The arena fell silent.

“That Sirfetch’d… was this strong?!”

“We might’ve all underestimated him…”

“Quack…” Sirfetch’d gasped, the light fading as his sword reverted to its leek form.

I’m starving… Did I win?

A gentle breeze passed.

Bisharp lay motionless in a cracked crater, its back scorched by searing sunlight.

“Even with double resistance to Grass… one-shot…”

“You seriously landed a crit on that too?!”

“Quack!” Sirfetch’d puffed up his chest proudly.

The humble white knight received thunderous cheers from the crowd.

“Lu Ye’s in great form today,” Professor Oak nodded in approval.

“First blood!” Ash cheered. “Let’s go, Teacher Lu!!”

On the screen, one of Zhuo Xiong’s six Poké Balls dimmed.

“Still have a chance…” he muttered.

Bisharp had dealt considerable damage.

That monstrous Solar Blade probably wouldn’t be coming out again.

“Return.” Lu Ye recalled Sirfetch’d with a commemorative Poké Ball.

Zhuo Xiong narrowed his eyes.

“So it really can’t keep fighting—one-for-one, not a bad trade.”

He tossed his next Poké Ball.

The orange, camel-like Pokémon landed with a thud, its twin volcano humps billowing heat.

They said the molten lava inside would erupt when it got angry—a walking volcano.

The pressure from those twin peaks made the crowd hold their breath.

“It feels hotter all of a sudden…”

“Can this thing not burn the whole stage down?”

“Is Teacher Lu sending out another Fire-type?”

“Awooo~! ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ” Arcanine grinned, eyes gleaming with wisdom.

He’d basically been raised like an Alaskan malamute at this point.

Lu Ye covered his face.

“The dog doesn’t mean harm… just eats a lot.”

Zhuo Xiong commanded first.

Camerupt’s humps rumbled ominously. Fire shot skyward—scorching heat burst out as magma surged toward Arcanine.

The molten blast, with extreme heat and rapid cooling, could instantly KO a target.

Waves of heat and smoke rolled across the field, distorting the air.

“Dig?” Zhuo Xiong saw the hole. “Earthquake!”

Camerupt stomped hard.

The ground fractured, rumbling as it spread toward the burrow.

“Extreme Speed!” Lu Ye called. “Body Slam!”

Not an official move—but Arcanine, burned but standing, leapt from underground.

His scorched black fur shimmered in the air like a looming thundercloud.

Zhuo Xiong’s eye twitched.

“Graah…” Camerupt let out a low groan, knocked back hard. It barely held its stance using Stomping Tantrum.

But the earth cracked beneath it—

Its hind legs gave out, and it collapsed.

“Earth’s Secret Art…” Green’s eyes narrowed. “He’s mastered it that well?”

This was “Secrets of the Earth”, a technique only Green, Giovanni, and—okay, fine—Silver had used.

“It’s over,” Red said calmly.

“Camerupt—use Eruption!”

From its twin humps, an inferno burst out—exploding across the stage.

“Awoo! (｀0´)” Arcanine roared, bathed in golden-orange flame.

His scorched fur glistened anew.

The whole stadium trembled.

Camerupt—this living volcano—was knocked into the air, then crashed down.

“Camerupt is unable to battle!”

“Awoo~! ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ” Arcanine turned to Lu Ye with a wise smile.

The audience was stunned.

“What kind of impact was that…”

“Scorching pressure?”

“Is this… the legendary Pokémon from Donghuang?!”

On the screen, the second of Zhuo Xiong’s Poké Balls dimmed.

Whispers rose. Zhuo Xiong’s heart sank.

He glanced at his Z-Ring.

Stay calm—still got a chance!

“Return.” Lu Ye recalled Arcanine.

But didn’t it still have health left?

Or was it all just for show?

The floating UFO-like Pokémon hovered above the ground, red warning light flashing.

Its twin horseshoe magnets crackled with electricity.

“That Magnezone…” Brock recalled, “It swept three Pokémon in the semis.”

“Looks like it uses both magnetism and current,” Professor Oak stroked his chin. “By the way, that red light in the center isn’t the eye. The two ‘dumb-looking’ circles on the sides are its actual eyes!”

“Lu Ye sends out—Sylveon!” the commentator shouted.

The elegant, graceful Sylveon reappeared.

The crowd sighed in awe, regardless of age or gender.

“That’s the same Sylveon that swept the semis…”

Zhuo Xiong’s heart clenched.

No way it’s fully recovered… right?!

“…” Zhuo Xiong began to doubt himself.

“Magnezone, Lock-On!”

Magnetic pulses surged outward.

The U-shaped magnets locked onto Sylveon.

But her explosive burst of speed startled Zhuo Xiong.

“Hold it with Magnet Pull!”

Quick Attack, empowered by Pixilate, enhanced both her grace and danger.

Before anyone could admire her movement, Sylveon was already behind Magnezone.

“Now’s our chance!” Zhuo Xiong barked. “Flash Cannon!!”

The iron debris around Magnezone fused into a dense white beam.

“Sylvee! (#｀皿´)” Sylveon raised a sparkling Light Screen.

PAK! Her ribbon smacked away the weakened blast like it was nothing.

Then she leapt on top of the floating Magnezone—

And Headbutted it into the ground.

“Was that… Take Down?”

“Sylveon’s style is savage!”

Lu Ye felt a bit nervous.

But honestly—this kind of violent, tsundere Sylveon… was kinda great.

“Keep going!” “Use Mystical Fire!”

Dust clouded the field. Magnezone struggled to float, sparks crackling madly from all directions.

“Is that stronger than Pikachu’s Thunderbolt?!”

Brock glanced at Ash and muttered to himself:

Back at Oreburgh Gym, Pikachu’s Thunderbolt hit harder than that…

Electric arcs slammed into Sylveon, but her ribbon unfurled a wild orange flame.

Like an impenetrable wall.

Zhuo Xiong’s heart grew heavy.

He couldn’t even scratch her.

Unlike Togepi’s gentle flames, Sylveon’s fire was violent and all-consuming.

The blaze swallowed Magnezone whole.

As the explosion rocked the field, Sylveon turned her back, gracefully twirling her ribbons.

Shards flew as the field remained enveloped in the magnetic fallout.

The entire arena… was in stunned silence.