That night.
Soro City Beach.
The audience didn't know that there was another friendly match here, the battle between Li Wei and Yan Kai.
This battle was proposed by Li Wei.
Yan Kai had seen the battle between Li Wei and Siebold, and Li Wei was definitely an opponent worth fighting.
Even if not, guiding young Trainers was something Yan Kai often did, so he agreed.
Scizor had just battled in the afternoon,
Yan Kai naturally couldn't use Scizor again,
Therefore, he sent out,
"Go, Aegislash!"
Like a golden shield with a sword hilt above it, looking like a sword and shield stacked front and back, Aegislash (Shield Form) appeared before Li Wei.
Steven sat on a distant reef, observing the match. "Aegislash, huh? This feels like a very interesting match-up."
(Go for it!)
This was something Diancie learned from the audience today.
"Gaa! Gaa!"
(Go, duck!)
Rookidee stood on Lucario's shoulder, curiously looking at Aegislash.
Because Aegislash looked very strange.
Aegislash...
If Li Wei's Galarian Farfetch'd evolved into Sirfetch'd, then there would be two sword-and-shield Pokemon...
Anyway, Zamazenta and Zacian couldn't hear him.
Information about Aegislash appeared before Li Wei.
[Name]: Aegislash (Shield Form)
[Attribute]: Steel, Ghost
[Ability]: Stance Change (Changes to Blade Form when using an attacking move, changes to Shield Form when using King's Shield)
[Moves]: Swords Dance, Iron Head, King's Shield, Sacred Sword, Shadow Claw, Shadow Sneak, Close Combat, Substitute...
[Strength Rating]: Elite Mid-tier
"My side is Arcanine!"
Arcanine let out a long howl, majestically running to Li Wei's front, its neck mane fluttering with the sea breeze.
Yan Kai, with his arms crossed, nodded as he looked at Arcanine's eyes. "Its gaze is very sharp, I like it very much."
"Owooo!!!"
The moment Arcanine stepped onto the battlefield, it let out another long howl.
Yan Kai nodded knowingly, "I see, Intimidate ability, huh? Please go first."
"Flame Charge!"
Arcanine let out a long howl, and with a bang, its entire body was covered in orange-red flames.
Arcanine, with its four limbs moving, charged towards Aegislash like a fiery chariot.
"Shadow Claw!"
Yan Kai could have chosen to have Aegislash dodge, but he didn't, choosing a head-on confrontation instead.
With a flash of white light, Aegislash's body structure reorganized, transforming into a sword holding a shield...
Rookidee was stunned.
(Even stranger!)
Steven chuckled, "This is Aegislash's unique Blade and Shield Form. Pokemon are truly amazing."
He knew that Yan Kai's choice this time was indeed wrong.
If it was the previous Arcanine, it might have been difficult to win against this Aegislash, but now it was different.
Arcanine's flames had been boosted by Moltres's flames, and it was two feathers at that.
Steven also gave Arcanine the Moltres's Flame Feather he had obtained.
The remaining Zapdos's Lightning Feather and Articuno's Ice Feather, Steven planned to save for other novice Trainers or fated individuals.
Arcanine, burning with flames, ignored Aegislash's Shadow Claw and slammed hard into Aegislash's body.
Yan Kai blinked, his eyes full of astonishment, because he seemed to have seen the figure of Moltres in the flames just now!
But now there was no time for Yan Kai to think.
"Encore, Flame Charge!"
This time, Yan Kai dared not underestimate Arcanine again.
"Sacred Sword!"
A sharp golden Sacred Sword materialized on Aegislash's blade, cutting everything in two, like a wish-granting sword!
This time was a clash between Flare Blitz and Sacred Sword.
This time, Yan Kai clearly saw that the flames on Arcanine's body vaguely formed the figure of Moltres.
But how was this achieved?
Judging by the charred state of Aegislash, Arcanine's flame temperature far exceeded Yan Kai's imagination.
Perhaps only after battling Li Wei could Yan Kai get the answer from him.
"Extreme Speed!"
After two accelerations from Flame Charge, Arcanine's speed had significantly increased compared to before.
This also boosted Extreme Speed!
Fast, too fast!
Arcanine's body turned into a white light, suddenly disappearing from its spot, leaving only an afterimage!
Arcanine's massive body made Yan Kai think that Li Wei was training it to be a stationary-type Arcanine.
In fact, it was not; this was a six-sided warrior!
Yan Kai's pupils suddenly constricted, "King's Shield!"
King's Shield was Aegislash's special Protect.
Before Extreme Speed, Aegislash barely managed to use King's Shield, switching to Shield Form.
Steven's lips curved slightly, and he murmured, "Perhaps only Li Wei can do it."
To raise the upper limit of a Pokemon's weakest link is undoubtedly very difficult for both the Trainer and the Pokemon.
This was Steven's previous understanding.
But Li Wei used his cooking to tell Steven that it wasn't that difficult, and it wasn't impossible.
Of course, Li Wei's diligent practice of his culinary skills was also not to be overlooked; Steven had personally witnessed Li Wei's hard work.
But Arcanine had already closed the distance with Aegislash using Extreme Speed, especially since it had already used King's Shield!
"Close-range Fire Blast!"
Even Aegislash would find it difficult to withstand such flames, seemingly boosted by Moltres.
Yan Kai made a decisive move, "Substitute!"
Bang—accompanied by a puff of white smoke, Aegislash disappeared from its spot, and Arcanine's Fire Blast hit nothing but air.
But Substitute also consumes stamina.
Given Aegislash's current stamina, it could at most use it one more time. Li Wei pressed on, "Flamethrower!"
The gushing orange-red flames lit up the night sky by the sea, and also allowed Yan Kai to clearly see and hear.
Arcanine's flames definitely had a connection with Moltres!
King's Shield, Sacred Sword, King's Shield...
Aegislash's form changed constantly, and the battle lasted for more than a dozen rounds, with both sides exhausted.
But with the boost from Moltres's flames, Arcanine's spirit was still more vigorous.
"Flare Blitz!"
After Aegislash used King's Shield once again, switching to Shield Form, Li Wei seized a momentary opportunity.
Arcanine, its whole body burning fiercely with flames, slammed hard into Aegislash's shield!
A concentrated high-temperature energy, even more intense than Flamethrower, erupted, and Aegislash was blasted backward by the impact.
Even though it was partially buried by sand, clear charred marks and a tiny crack were left on the golden blade!
Aegislash's blade glow visibly dimmed.
Aegislash tried to struggle and fly up, but the rapidly running Arcanine delivered another Flame Charge!
Aegislash's eyes swirled, unable to get up again!
Owooo!!!
Arcanine howled excitedly at the sky.