Rhydon clenched its fists, its eyes blazing with determination.
Watching his two companions fight with all their might, his fighting spirit was fully aroused. Blazing flames coalesced in his fists, burning the air with crackling sounds. As it stomped forward, its foot erupted in flames, setting the ground ablaze.
BOOM!
The ground beneath Rhydon's feet suddenly shook. When it took another step, it left a deep, burning footprint in its wake!
As the flames engulfed its entire body, it seemed to transform into a fiery demon, its aura surging upward—its power crossing the threshold into pseudo-king level!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Gradually, Rhydon began to run.
The battlefield quaked as its massive frame thundered forward like a living tank, fire distorting the very air around it as it charged straight toward Garchomp. At that moment, the entire earth shook as Rhydon's massive form move, like a rampaging tank
"Garchomp—use Dragon Rush again!" Marquis Hormay's expression suddenly changed as he watched Rhydon's charge.
Garchomp, its body wrapped in black mist, struggled to raise its head. Dragon energy flickered weakly as it tried to summon the dragon phantom once more.
But before the move could even fully form, Rhydon was upon it.
With a thunderous roar, its flaming fist crashed forward, all of its strength concentrated into that single blow.
The entire space resounded with an explosive detonation, the air itself bending under the force of the strike.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Under the pounding fists of Rhydon, the dragon energy gathered around Garchomp's body shattered instantly.
The immense pressure bore down on Garchomp in that very moment, while searing heat scorched everything around it.
As the iron-hard fists collided directly with flesh, a violent shockwave erupted outward. Under the sheer terrifying force, Garchomp's body was hurled backward as though struck by a cannon!
BOOM!
The very next instant, another deafening rumble followed.
Garchomp's figure shot past Marquis Hormay, its body smashing heavily into the stone wall behind him, embedding deeply into it with a thunderous crash!
"W–what just happened?"
Marquis Hormay's hair fluttered in the aftermath, his stiff neck turning slowly as his eyes fell on the collapsed Garchomp, his expression filled with disbelief.
This Garchomp—something he had painstakingly captured with great difficulty, subjected to countless rounds of brutal conditioning, and only barely managed to subdue by relying on dark aura—had actually lost?
This was a King-level magical beast! And yet it had fallen at the hands of just a few quasi-King-level magical beast? Stop joking around!!!
"Idiot."
In the distance, Aven's cold voice rang out as he gazed upon the scene before him.
To him, this Marquis Hormay truly was ridiculously foolish.
In that situation just now, it was obvious Garchomp no longer had the strength to sustain the use of Dragon Rush.
If he had instead chosen to rely on its speed to maneuver and wear down the opponent, then Rhydon might not necessarily have been able to defeat it so easily.
Even if it didn't dodge, and instead used Dragon Claw defensively to resist, there still would have been a chance to withstand the blow. But to recklessly throw out a desperate powerful move in quick direct confrontation… this only showed how weak Hormay's command truly was!
Of course, even if the battle had continued, the outcome would not have changed. Once Garchomp fell into a poisoned state, the rhythm of the battle was already firmly in Aven's hands!
"Garchomp has fallen…"
At the same time, everyone spectating outside the field was utterly dumbfounded by what they saw.
In their minds, a King-rank magical beast had always symbolized absolute invincibility—something that could only be challenged by an entire army!
But right now, a King-rank magical beast had collapsed right before their eyes, sent flying with a single punch, utterly unable to resist!
"So, this… this is what a true trainer's battle looks like?"
"Even a King-level Pokémon, so long as the tactics are sound—it too can be defeated!"
The knights of Pokémon Domain looked on with burning eyes, recalling Lord Aven's teachings.
A trainer and their Pokémon were one body. When they fought together, they could unleash power far beyond the sum of their parts—greater than one plus one!
"Even if Garchomp has fallen, the victory is still mine!" Hormay's gaze darkened as he pulled back his attention.
His eyes fell upon the peculiar balls in Aven's hands. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand—how could such tiny balls possibly contain magical beasts like Nidoking and Drapion within them?
At last, his gaze shifted to Aven's Rhydon, whose flames had only just begun to subside. Unlike ordinary Rhydon, the fists of this one were peculiarly blackened, exuding a strange aura.
"RHYYY!"
Beside him, Hormay's own Rhydon—its body a deep crimson hue—let out a guttural roar as it stepped forward.
Seeing its kin before it, its fighting spirit ignited, intent on clashing head-to-head with Aven's Rhydon.
"RHY!"
Aven's Rhydon shook its fists, which were still tingling from the earlier clash.
Noticing its crimson counterpart approaching, it bellowed excitedly, flames igniting around its fists once more.
Above them, the blazing sun hung high in the sky, flooding the battlefield with surging Fire-type energy that continuously merged into Rhydon's fists.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground suddenly trembled violently.
Both Rhydon charged straight at one another, each driving forward a mighty punch!
What followed was a rapid, continuous flurry of heavy impacts as the two colossal Pokémon clashed in brutal close combat, their overwhelming power thundering through the air.
Marquis Hormay's Rhydon had fought alongside him for many years of war. Its combat instincts were honed razor-sharp, each strike targeting Aven's Rhydon's vital spots.
But Aven's Rhydon fought in a bizarre yet devastating manner. Every punch it threw drew upon the full strength of its massive frame, ensuring that every blow carried immense destructive force!
Sparks scattered violently. In one hand, Rhydon gathered flames; in the other, the crushing force of Rock Slide. It was like a blacksmith hammering iron, pounding relentlessly at its crimson opponent's body!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The battle raged on.
Yet as the fight dragged forward, Hormay suddenly realized something was wrong.
With each exchange, Aven's Rhydon grew stronger and stronger, gradually suppressing his crimson Rhydon!
As the duel continued, the difference between them widened further. With another thunderous punch, Aven's Rhydon forced Marquis Hormay's magical beast into a steady retreat.
"RHYYY-!"
Marquis Hormay's Rhydon bellowed in defiance, its roar ancient and guttural.
From its body, Ancient Power surged forth, strengthening its entire physique.
But under the repeated hammering of fire punch—each infused with scorching heat and oppressive weight—that power was relentlessly forced deeper into its blackened fists, condensing into terrifying strength!
With another searing blow, the combined forces of rock and flame slammed mercilessly into the crimson Rhydon.
Crack!
A sharp shattering sound rang out as its dark-red stone armor split open with a jagged crack!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
One strike after another fell, each landing with brutal finality, until the sound of its body fracturing filled the battlefield!
"This… this is impossible!" Marquis Hormay's eyes bulged wide, his face contorted with disbelief.
Every punch that landed upon his crimson Rhydon's battered body made his heart lurch violently in his chest.
This Rhydon had been at his side since the very beginning. Unlike the Garchomp subdued by force, this one held a far deeper bond with him. And now, seeing it in such a state, a wave of complicated emotions surged within him.
It wasn't long before his Rhydon collapsed in defeat, its body covered in wounds. This beast that had once bathed in the blood of countless enemies was now dyed red with its own.
"Rhyyyy…!"
Its low, despair-filled cries echoed across the battlefield.
"Dusknoir… we're leaving."
With conflicted eyes, Hormay turned his head away and called out to the Dusknoir still locked in combat with Empoleon in the distance.
The situation now made it clear that completing this mission was nearly impossible. Without hesitation, he chose to retreat.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
In the distance, the battle between Empoleon and Dusknoir continued to rage fiercely.
Shrouded in rolling black mist, Dusknoir's combat prowess was clearly superior to Empoleon's.
On top of that, Empoleon's ordinary slashes had little effect on a Ghost-type like Dusknoir, so the fight had tilted heavily in its favor.
Hearing its master's command, Dusknoir abruptly disengaged, retreating swiftly. Raising its hand, it released a surge of ghostly energy.
Its antenna-like horn atop its head pulsed rapidly, channeling a terrifying force. The once-bright sky darkened instantly as an ominous purple glow spread. Then, a massive gate radiating ghostly energy materialized in the air!
"That's… a portal to the Ghost World! They're trying to escape through it!" Kale's expression changed drastically at the sight.
"EMPO!"
Empoleon's eyes hardened, energy surging as it slashed out another Aqua Cutter!
But this time, perhaps empowered by the Ghost World's energies, Dusknoir's strength surged once again.
With a simple wave of its hand, it drew upon the realm's ghostly essence. A flash of dark-purple light erupted, scattering Empoleon's Aqua Cutter effortlessly.
At the same time, the massive energy ripple burst outward, sweeping across the field and forcing back both Empoleon and Rhydon, preventing them from approaching.
"Hmph. This time, you've won. But we will meet again."
Casting one last glance at his fallen Rhydon, Hormay turned away, calling down his Crobat as he headed toward the Ghost World portal.
Under Dusknoir's aid, his body slowly rose into the air, drifting toward the gate.
As long as he entered it, Dusknoir would guide him through another path, ensuring he would not become lost within the Ghost World.
"You won't have to wait until 'meet again.' You'll stay here today."
(End of Chapter)
TN: This chapter too, can't tell in the story so far if the author meant the Ghost World or Ghost World. I'm leaning on the Ghost World since that's what on the Sendoff Spring supposed to be.