The backlash from the earlier collision rebounded straight back toward the center of the battlefield—right where the two Dragonite were locked in place.

Luo Yuan's massive Dragonite, with its sheer bulk and thick hide, didn't seem fazed by the residual shockwave.

Lance's Dragonite, on the other hand, wasn't so fortunate.

Its [Dragon Rush] had clashed directly with the massive Dragonite's [Dragon Pulse].

Though, purely in terms of raw move strength, [Dragon Rush] generally outclassed [Dragon Pulse] by a significant margin...

...a move's power wasn't just about the technique itself—it also depended on the Pokémon using it.

Lance's Dragonite was by no means weak, but when it came to sheer reserves of Dragon-type energy, it couldn't compare to Luo Yuan's giant.

So while Lance's Dragonite, bolstered by the momentum of its dive and wrapped in its own surging energy, had seemed unstoppable at first—tearing through the air and rapidly closing the gap—

The moment Luo Yuan's Dragonite ramped up its energy output even further, Lance's Dragonite began to falter. Its speed dipped, the rush slowed, and eventually, it stalled midair.

The two Pokémon hung in place, locked in a deadlock.

The first exchange had ended in a draw—neither side able to overpower the other outright. And now, both Dragonite were being dragged into a war of attrition. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fire.net

That was exactly what Luo Yuan's Dragonite wanted.

With a frame far beyond the average for its species, it had never lost a stamina battle.

And thanks to years of carrying the [Draco Plate], its body had stored up so much draconic energy that even it couldn't accurately gauge how much remained.

The giant Dragonite crossed its arms at its chest and beat its wings. The stream of energy pouring from its mouth surged again.

The pillar of [Dragon Pulse] grew visibly thicker.

Lance's Dragonite, which had barely been holding its own, immediately felt the strain.

It had already used up a significant amount of energy earlier in the battle. Now, with its opponent unleashing an even stronger barrage, it was being completely overwhelmed.

The protective aura of energy surrounding Lance's Dragonite flickered, its glow dimming rapidly.

At this point, the tide of the battle couldn't have been clearer.

"Lance's Dragonite is falling behind! Elite Four member Luo Yuan is demonstrating power that surpasses even Champion level!" the commentator exclaimed, thrilled.

Even for a seasoned broadcaster, getting to narrate a battle like this was a rare treat—something many in his profession might never encounter in a lifetime.

Naturally, he intended to make the most of this chance.

"Lance seems to realize that Dragonite's slipping behind—but instead of retreating, he's choosing to hold his ground!"

On the battlefield, Lance's expression was grim.

His decision to use [Dragon Rush] earlier had been a calculated gamble—banking on that single, devastating blow to turn the tide.

But Luo Yuan's Dragonite had once again exceeded expectations.

With just [Dragon Pulse], it had held back the full brunt of [Dragon Rush], dragging the fight into a grinding battle of endurance...

Luo Yuan had clearly seen through the difference in their Pokémon's strengths and seized on it.

Lance, for his part, was an experienced battler.

Right now, the clash had reached its most intense phase. If he backed down now, the outcome would be sealed. It looked like he still had options—but if he didn't want to lose this first round, there was only one choice left.

He had to gamble again.

"Dragonite!"

Lance called out to his longtime partner.

They'd fought side by side for years—Dragonite immediately understood the intent behind Lance's voice.

"Roooaaar!"

It let out a loud, resonant cry, its eyes sharpening with resolve. A moment later, a ghostly copy split off from its body.

"Lance's Dragonite used [Substitute]!" the commentator gasped. "At this stage of the battle!?"

It was a high-risk move.

[Substitute] consumed half the user's remaining strength—already a dangerous cost, and potentially fatal for a Pokémon already on the back foot.

Was there really any point in using [Substitute] now?

The commentator wasn't alone in his confusion. Many in the audience didn't understand why Lance would give an order that looked so close to self-sabotage.

"[Substitute], huh...?"

Luo Yuan raised a brow, momentarily surprised—then, with a quick glance, he understood.

A final gamble, is it...?

His eyes locked onto Lance's Dragonite.

The move had succeeded. Now, two forms hovered in the air—one real, one a copy.

In the next instant, the [Substitute] Dragonite cast [Protect].

Though the original had already used Protect earlier, the Substitute counted as a separate entity. Its cooldown was reset.

A fresh shield shimmered into place around the fake Dragonite. It surged forward, wings flapping hard as it accelerated straight into the path of the raging [Dragon Pulse], intercepting the attack completely.

Freed from the line of fire, the real Dragonite wasted no time.

With a sharp flap of its wings, its plump form twisted through the air with startling agility. It slipped past the torrent of energy, tracing a graceful arc in the sky—closing in on the massive Dragonite from the side!

For the giant Dragonite, utterly focused on maintaining its [Dragon Pulse]—

This was dangerous.