Chapter 559: Chapter 559

"Flygon, the Mysterious Pokémon. A Ground- and Dragon-type. It's said that when it whips up a sandstorm, the flapping of its wings produces sounds like a woman's beautiful singing, thus it's called the 'Spirit of the Desert,' Lotto!"

Flygon's body was largely green, with dragonfly-like features, two green diamond-shaped wings bordered in red, clawed arms and legs, and a strong, thick tail.

Inspired by how Johan's Dragonite had leveraged Goodra's rain, Raihan realized—if Dragonite could use the rain, then Flygon could surely benefit from Larvitar's sandstorm!

No need to waste a turn summoning it—the sandstorm could be turned into Flygon's advantage.

That's also why Raihan "sacrificed" Torkoal.

Even though Torkoal had fainted, it had also dealt significant damage to Larvitar. Larvitar probably couldn't keep fighting either.

A one-for-one trade—acceptable.

Johan recalled Larvitar.

Larvitar had performed way beyond expectations.

Johan had let the little guy compete at the Masters because it had recently improved rapidly, devoured all sorts of rare materials (even gnawing a chunk off the Earth Plate), and because, facing the "Weather Child" Raihan, Larvitar might tip the scales in a weather battle.

Especially against Torkoal, which it naturally countered.

And Larvitar had indeed defeated Torkoal—despite the level gap.

Its experience points must've skyrocketed after this!

Now seeing Raihan summon Flygon, Johan's expression turned strange.

"Another ground dragon..."

It was definitely a day for Landshark fans.

The real Land Dragons learn Dragon Dance.

The fake Land Dragons just shout a lot.

Real Land Dragons are immune to Ground moves.

Fake ones still get wrecked by Earthquake.

Raihan wanted to use Larvitar's sandstorm to help Flygon.

And Johan had planned to bait Flygon out with Larvitar all along.

"Freeze it all, Ninetales!"

Johan tossed out a Pokéball—and from the red light emerged a slender, snowy-white Ninetales, graceful, elegant, with nine flowing tails.

Ninetales' pale blue eyes sparkled. It lifted its head slightly—and its ethereal voice echoed through the arena.

The raging sandstorm came to a halt.

Glittering snowflakes began to fall.

Seeing this, Raihan's face twisted.

This was why he'd hesitated to summon Flygon earlier!

In 6v4 battles, predicting the opponent's picks and strategies mattered hugely.

He knew Johan had a monstrous Ice-type Ninetales on his team—one that could completely shut down his squad.

But Johan had thrown out Larvitar first.

Totally messed up his plans.

Raihan had hoped to lure out Johan's trump card with Goodra and Rain Dance—but Johan had turned it around and exploited him instead.

If Larvitar could wrest the weather from Torkoal's Drought, maybe Flygon, the Spirit of the Desert, could wrest the weather back from Ninetales' Snow Warning!

The sandstorm hadn't fully dissipated yet—there were lingering traces.

Flygon could tap into that!

Flygon's wings buzzed violently, gathering Ground energy.

Tiny grains of sand swirled, accompanied by its melodic wing beats.

The lingering sandstorm... almost reignited.

Ninetales understood immediately.

Steal the weather from me?

Back in Kanto, it had wrestled weather control from a Zapdos, without losing!

And now, after absorbing part of Kyurem's power, its Ice mastery was even stronger.

Against another Pokémon?

A burst of pure cold erupted from Ninetales.

The barely reemerging sandstorm instantly vanished without a trace.

Flygon stared blankly at the falling snow, shivering under its own wings.

"Looks like Flygon couldn't steal the weather back from Ninetales," Cynthia commented softly.

This was no longer a battle—it was a full-blown weather war.

But against this Ninetales, there was no contest.

The Ice reigned supreme.

"I-I feel cold just watching," someone muttered.

"Torkoal couldn't reclaim the weather from Larvitar. Now Flygon can't steal it from Ninetales. Raihan's weather game... completely crushed."

"Turns out Johan isn't just the Weather Man... he's the Weather God."

The audience quickly accepted the reality.

Even the arena's protective dome had frost forming on it—proof of how cold it had gotten inside.

Such terrifying Ice power!

Raihan was inwardly shocked.

He'd known Johan's Ninetales was strong.

Raihan gritted his teeth. "Flygon, crank up the heat—Fire Blast!"

Facing an Ice-type, Fire moves were a solid choice.

Flygon flapped its wings furiously, summoning inner heat.

As it conjured fire, mist rose where cold and hot clashed—then flickering red flames appeared.

A massive, blazing "大" character-shaped inferno surged toward Ninetales.

The flames were halted by shimmering shields.

Simultaneously, thick ice walls sprang up.

With Kyurem's power backing it, Ninetales had mastered these advanced techniques.

Still, Ninetales' serious expression showed it wasn't taking this lightly.

That Fire Blast was strong!

Johan caught the vibe—and smirked at Ninetales' grumpy look.

Hmm. Better be cautious.

But to Raihan and Flygon, Ninetales looked worried.

They thought they had a chance!

"Flygon, keep heating it up! More Fire!"

Heatwaves collided with blizzards—the arena became a chaotic maelstrom.

It even seemed like the snow was thinning...

"Ninetales," Johan finally spoke gently, "Blizzard."

Its light blue eyes turned pure white.

The snow exploded into a raging whiteout—obliterating Flygon instantly.

Raihan's face twisted.

"Flygon, Flame Cloak, protect yourself!"

Ninetales wasn't done.

It poured out every ounce of icy might.

Spectators gasped as frost froze the barrier dome itself!

When the blizzard finally lessened—

The scene inside left everyone stunned.

An incredibly lifelike Flygon ice statue.

It froze the fire too?!

Cynthia softly explained: "This is similar to Kyurem's Glaciate. Overwhelming Ice energy... even flames are extinguished and frozen."

Flygon, a Ground-Dragon, had a quadruple weakness to Ice.

Flygon had burned all its energy trying to fight the weather—and ended up completely frozen.

Raihan finally understood.

He'd focused too much on winning the weather.

And lost sight of the battle.

He sighed, recalled the frozen Flygon, and threw out his final Pokéball.

"Come forth—Duraludon!"

A hulking silver form emerged, arms and legs like bridge pylons, deep blue body like a massive anchor.

"Duraludon, the Alloy Pokémon. Steel and Dragon-type. Though metallic, its aluminum-steel body remains flexible, Lotto!"

Steel-Dragon typing—an incredible defensive combo.

No Ice weakness, no Fairy weakness, minimal Dragon vulnerability.

Steel and Dragon together—resisting nine types, immune to one, only weak to Fighting and Ground.

Advantage: instantly flipped.

Duraludon pounded the ground, roaring a challenge.

Ninetales tensed up—feeling the intense threat.

"Break it! Brick Break!"

Duraludon's thick arms glowed red.

With a swing—he shattered all the stacked Aurora Veils Johan had secretly piled up!

There were THAT many layers?!

No wonder Flygon didn't stand a chance.

Ninetales huffed angrily, a blizzard swirling around again.

But Duraludon didn't care.

A brilliant metallic light gathered between its arms.

Metallic beams cut through the snowstorm.

Ice walls formed—but shattered instantly.

In the resulting explosion—

Ninetales' figure evaporated like a mirage.

Snow-clones multiplied across the field.

A classic old-school Johan tactic—Snowfield Trickery.

Raihan narrowed his eyes.

Horrible screeching metal noises filled the arena.

Wherever Ninetales was hiding, it would suffer lowered Special Defense.

Raihan's face changed.

Ninetales burst from underground, toppling Duraludon!

A red beam immediately recalled it.

"Come back, Ninetales."

Quadruple weak to Steel—no need to risk it.

Tinkaton appeared, hammer gleaming, grinning at Duraludon.

Like it was looking at...

Was that... real hunger?

Before it could react—

The hammer smashed Duraludon, staggering it backward, forcing a flinch!

Pink mist and metallic clanging filled the field.

The audience was stunned.

"Is... is it forging it?!"

"Duraludon met its natural predator..."

Johan's Tinkaton had been waiting for Duraludon.

Duraludon finally broke free, roaring in pain.

Its body glowed with lethal energy.

The ultimate Steel move—140 power, half HP recoil.

But Tinkaton just grinned.

It spun its hammer up to meet the blast head-on.

The hammer groaned under the pressure—but held.

When the smoke cleared—

Tinkaton stood tall, panting, hammer slightly smaller.

Thanks for helping temper its hammer!

Johan's Tinkaton wasn't injured.

"Shrimp kindness, pig-hearted!"

"Shrimp kindness and pig-heart—too terrifying!!"

"Body hit -10... mental crit -1000!!"

Even Johan hadn't seen that coming.

His hammer girl was... brutally honest.

"End it, Tinkaton—Giga Hammer!"

Tinkaton's eyes blazed.

It would test Duraludon's body—see if it was up to par.

Despite Duraludon's struggle—

Just like Torkoal earlier—

They weren't fighting opponents.

The final blow landed.

Duraludon, having gambled and lost on Steel Beam, fainted.

(And... maybe picked up a few hairline cracks.)

Thus, Johan defeated Raihan, advancing to the quarterfinals!

Only future Champions await.

For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates