A violet blade of energy slashed across the battlefield.
But the massive Dragonite showed no signs of panic.
Though Lance's Dragonite's [Dragon Pulse] looked impressive, in terms of raw power, it was still a far cry from Rayquaza's.
"Dodge!" Luo Yuan gave the command.
At his direction, the towering Dragonite moved with a speed and agility that defied its massive frame, narrowly evading the blast of draconic energy.
Seeing this, Lance's Dragonite quickly adjusted its aim, the purple beam of [Dragon Pulse] swiveling to pursue its target.
From the sidelines, the audience watched as the massive Dragonite twisted and darted across the battlefield, its colossal form weaving through the air with breathtaking finesse.
Violet light beams tore across the stage, but none could find their mark.
"It seems Lance's tactics have faltered. The [Dragon Pulse] may look devastating, but against Luo Yuan's Dragonite and its phenomenal evasion, it seems almost useless," the commentator remarked.
Truthfully, the audience didn't need the play-by-play to see what was happening.
The flashier the move, the more energy it consumed — and if it failed to land, falling behind became inevitable.
While Luo Yuan's Dragonite was also expending energy to dodge, it had the physical foundation to sustain it. What's more, flying — no matter how strenuous — didn't burn through stamina nearly as quickly as repeatedly unleashing a high-powered [Dragon Pulse].
And Luo Yuan's Dragonite wasn't simply dodging for the sake of dodging. With each movement, it subtly closed the gap between the two Dragonite.
This dynamic held for several minutes before Lance's Dragonite finally caught on.
Noticing the growing proximity of its opponent, it began to grow visibly anxious. Luo Yuan's Dragonite had already proven its close-combat prowess earlier in the battle. If it got within striking distance, the outcome was all but decided.
Without hesitation, Lance's Dragonite aborted its [Dragon Pulse], beating its wings hard to shoot upward, trying to reestablish distance.
But that was exactly what Luo Yuan had been waiting for.
"[Agility] — stay on it!"
The moment the command was given, Luo Yuan's Dragonite burst into motion mid-air, its massive form accelerating like a launched missile, streaking toward Lance's Dragonite.
"Luo Yuan's Dragonite isn't letting up! It's determined not to give Lance's any room to breathe!" the commentator rattled off rapidly, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
Every pair of eyes in the arena was locked on the two Dragonite.
Luo Yuan's was clearly faster — the gap closed inch by inch as the chase intensified. And the moment they were within striking range, Luo Yuan gave the order without hesitation:
"Dragonite, [Ice Punch]!"
Rooaaar! The massive Dragonite let out a guttural roar, surging forward to Lance's Dragonite's front flank. Its right fist clenched, wrapped in biting cold, and struck with unrelenting force.
The punch had been charged for a long time — the angle, cunningly chosen, perfectly intercepted Lance's Dragonite's flight path. There was nowhere to run.
Feeling the chill of the impending blow, Lance's Dragonite had no choice but to throw up a [Protect].
Roar!
With a reluctant cry, a spherical barrier snapped into place, shielding the Dragonite in a glowing orb.
The next moment, [Ice Punch] struck — a loud crack echoed as the punch collided with the barrier.
Fractures spiderwebbed out from the impact point, crawling across the protective shell. A thick layer of frost quickly formed over the surface of the shield.
Even through the barrier's cracks, the shockwave of the blow could be felt. Lance's Dragonite visibly shivered, a flicker of relief and lingering fear crossing its face.
"What a shame! Lance's Dragonite managed to block what could've been a game-changing [Ice Punch] with [Protect]! If that had landed, it might've turned the entire match!" the commentator exclaimed, tone thick with regret.
Luo Yuan, hearing the clearly biased commentary through the broadcast, raised a brow.
Is this commentator one of Team Rocket's guys? he wondered.
Maybe they picked him up while I was away from Johto…?
He silently noted the commentator's name, planning to ask Koga about it later. Then he refocused his attention on the match.
Lance, meanwhile, had already made his next move.
Now that his Dragonite had been forced to burn its crucial defensive move, it was at a disadvantage — but as a champion, Lance remained composed.
"[Dragon Breath]!"
A purple stream of breath, crackling with paralyzing energy, shot from Dragonite's mouth.
Paralysis was a nasty status condition, and Luo Yuan's Dragonite was forced to retreat.
Seizing that instant of space, Lance's voice rang out again: "Ascend!"
Dragonite launched skyward, soaring above the clouds.
Realizing the gap in strength between their Dragonite — and recalling Luo Yuan's fierce battle against Steven — Lance made a quick decision. Continuing with conventional tactics would only drag him into a losing war of attrition.
He had to go all-in.
Maybe that way, he could still catch Luo Yuan off guard.
Eyes fixed on his Dragonite rising through the sky, Lance's expression turned resolute. Without hesitation, he slashed his hand downward and shouted:
"[Dragon Rush]!"