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"Mamoswine! Blizzard!"
"Whooo!!"
With the masked man's sharp command, a freezing, bone-chilling blizzard erupted from within the forest. The howling snowstorm spread rapidly—part of it rushing toward Garchomp, while the rest engulfed the trees around them!
"Garchomp! Ascend at full speed—evade it!"
"Grahhh!"
Caught off guard by the sudden Blizzard attack, Garchomp reacted instantly upon hearing Liam's order. It beat its wings hard and shot upward, darting out of the snowstorm's reach in an instant.
"A sneak attack? Hmph! You really think a Blizzard like that can stop us?"
Having evaded safely, Liam looked down at the forest now blanketed in snow and scoffed. His eyes gleamed with disdain as he turned toward the masked man.
"Heh… of course I know that won't stop you," the masked man replied, his grin widening. "But my goal… is already achieved."
"Raaah!!"
"Fwoooosh!!"
Just as Liam frowned, wondering what he meant, two familiar roars erupted from the storm below. In the next instant, a wave of scorching wind burst upward—intertwined with a gleaming silver whirlwind laced with powdery glitter—tearing through the blizzard and clearing an open patch in the forest!
"Heat Wave!Silver Wind!—Delia! Garchomp! Get down there!"
"Grahhh!"
The moment Liam recognized those familiar attacks, his heart sank. The masked man's real target wasn't him—it was Delia, still within the forest!
Without a second thought, Liam gave Garchomp the order. Garchomp folded its wings and dived straight down at breakneck speed, cutting through the air toward the origin of the twin attacks.
But right then—
"Heh, took the bait! Now—Ice Beam!"
"Wooo!!"
"Eeehh!!"
"Bagaah!!"
"Whooo!!"
Four beams of freezing light shot out from different directions, converging on Garchomp's descent point!
"Grahhh!"
Garchomp reacted with lightning speed. Its wings snapped open, halting its fall in midair. The four Ice Beams, aimed perfectly at its predicted position, shot harmlessly beneath its belly—missing by mere inches.
"Tch! You dodged that too? Then try this one! Ho-Oh—Sacred Fire!"
"Gyaaah!!"
Before Garchomp could fully recover, Ho-Oh's massive form loomed overhead. At the masked man's command, a torrent of golden fire burst from its beak. The heat was so intense that the very air shimmered as the Sacred Fire engulfed Garchomp completely!
BOOM!
A deafening crash followed as the blazing figure plummeted to the ground like a meteor. The impact sent shockwaves through the forest, gouging a massive crater into the earth.
"Liam! Garchomp!"
"Roar!"
"Scizor!"
Delia, Arcanine, and Scizor—all nearby—gasped as they saw Garchomp crash. Faces pale with worry, they sprinted toward the smoking crater.
"Grahhh!!"
Before anyone could reach it, Garchomp's furious roar burst out from the pit. A violent sandstorm erupted, snuffing out the remaining golden flames and revealing the battered pair inside.
Liam and Garchomp were in bad shape. Garchomp's body was riddled with burn marks; half of its sand-like wings had melted into a viscous, dripping substance. Liam's own face was pale, drenched in sweat. His clenched jaw had drawn blood, and his clothes were scorched, though his body bore no direct wounds.
Garchomp had turned in the very last moment—shielding Liam completely with its massive wings. But the Sacred Fire's power was overwhelming; even Garchomp's "absolute defense" couldn't withstand it.
Though most of the damage had been taken by Garchomp, their bond during the fusion evolution meant Liam shared every bit of the burning pain coursing through its body.
"Grahhh…"
Feeling Liam's suffering through their psychic link, Garchomp's eyes flashed with determination. It roared, light flaring around its body as it forcibly broke off their synchronized evolution.
The instant it reverted to its normal form, Garchomp's legs gave way—it fell to one knee, both fins digging into the ground as it gasped heavily for air.
"Ugh—Garchomp! Are you okay?!"
With the bond severed, the shared pain faded from Liam's body. He gritted his teeth, regained focus, and rushed to support his trembling partner.
"Grahh… Roar…"
"You big fool… asking about me when you're the one hurt this badly… You protected me perfectly, partner."
Liam pressed his forehead against Garchomp's rough scales, forcing a smile as he patted its massive head.
"Grahh…"
Hearing Liam's voice, Garchomp managed a wide grin—then its eyes rolled back as it collapsed unconscious onto its side.
"Garchomp! Liam! Quick, use a potion—heal it now!"
Delia slid down into the crater, seeing Garchomp fainted. Her heart pounded with worry. Spotting Liam frozen in shock, she shouted to snap him out of it.
"Huh? Right! I have medicine! Garchomp, come on—drink this, quick!"
Panicked, Liam fumbled through his bag and dumped out a heap of recovery sprays and potions onto the ground.
"Well, well… so this Garchomp can revert, huh? Fascinating."
"Heh, ignoring me now, are you?" The masked man's taunting voice cut through the air. "Fine then—let me remind you I'm still here!"
Above them, Ho-Oh flapped its massive wings, casting a shadow over the crater. The masked man stood proudly on its back, smirking down at the two below.
As he spoke, four Pokémon emerged from the surrounding forest—Mamoswine, Delibird, Lapras, and Dewgong—the ones who had fired the Ice Beams earlier. They surrounded Liam and Delia from all sides, expressions fierce and predatory.
"Roar!!"
"Scizor!!"
Arcanine and Scizor immediately stepped forward, baring fangs and blades, growling as they formed a defensive perimeter.
"Delia," Liam said, voice low but steady, "take these potions and treat Garchomp. Leave the rest to me."
Without waiting for her reply, he handed her the medicines and leapt out of the crater.
"Haha, the Champion finally steps up? Please—what's a 'Champion' without his strongest Pokémon? You're nothing but a target now!"
The masked man sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Hmph. Every one of my Pokémon is strong. You want to see for yourself?" Liam snapped the chain around his neck, pulling free the pendant that held his Keystone. "Then watch closely—I'll show you what happens when you challenge the wrong person!"
He raised the Keystone high.
"Keystone—respond to our hearts!"
Light flared around him.
"Scizor!"
"Shaaa!!"
"Mega Evolve!!"