"Agility—evade!"
Jason's command landed almost at the same time as Larry's.
Power surged through Iron Valiant's legs; his body blurred and slid hard to the side at the limit of his speed.
Boom!
The white beam shaved past his edge and smashed into where he'd been standing, gouging a charred crater.
From the start, the fight fell into passivity. Iron Valiant was reduced to "Protect" and "Agility," scrambling around the field. Overhead, Tropius became a tireless turret, pouring on fire.
The stream's tension peaked.
"No—totally suppressed!"
"He can't match the speed—no counterplay!"
"So this is Elite level? Just a weather change flips everything this hard?"
"Jason, think of something! Keep this up and Iron Valiant will get bled dry!"
Jason stood still, silent—mind racing. Calmly parsing the state, searching for a flicker of a gap.
Right when Tropius finished a Solar Beam and was about to draw again—stun lag.
Now!
"Close in—Ice Punch!"
His voice was sharp and sure—an insanely risky order: abandon dodging for a frontal charge. It meant Iron Valiant would drive into blistering sun and dehydrating heat to hit a giant target midair.
He didn't hesitate. The instant the order hit, he flipped to offense—legs detonating, silver frame knifing straight at Tropius through the heat.
"Going melee? Naïve! Air Slash!" Larry snapped.
Tropius snapped its wings again; a net of wind blades fell over the charging Iron Valiant. This time, he didn't dodge. He let them cut.
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
A dozen slashes laced his armor—deep and shallow—but his speed never dipped. He tanked it all to close the lethal distance. Frost had caked his right fist; icy vapor steamed from frozen knuckles against a searing frame.
Ice Punch.
"There!" Jason's pupils pinched. Iron Valiant hit the base of Tropius's arc—legs coiling, body surging up—driving all power and cold into a single fist and slamming it into Tropius's gut.
Super effective!
"Roooar!"
Agony ripped the air. The freezing force speared into its Grass body—no defense. Ice swept outward visibly from the impact, frosting it head to tail. In a second, the colossal shape was a gleaming statue. Wings locked, the bulk toppled from the sky—
Boom!
The ground quivered.
Round one: Iron Valiant, by inches. But the price was steep—latticed with cuts, breath ragged, half his strength gone.
Larry recalled Tropius without a flicker. "Well fought. In that hole, finding the only gap and having the guts to take it—commendable command."
He drew a second ball. "Warmups are over."
"Staraptor—go."
Another piercing cry—Staraptor again, but bigger, colder—eyes pure steel.
"Giga Impact!"
Larry's style widened with it—no probing, no tricks, just force. Staraptor became a white arrow, recklessly spearing for the nearly spent Iron Valiant.
Jason's eyes sharpened. "Close Combat!"
With nowhere to run, Iron Valiant chose the most brutal answer—dragging his battered body straight into the white comet.
Thud! Boom! Thud!
Fists and talons hammered; silver and white tangled into a cyclone at center field—countless strikes a second, feathers and metal chips flying. Then a final, heavy blast—both figures broke away. A deep fist-mark dented Staraptor's breast; it cried and fell. Iron Valiant dropped to one knee—more torn than ever. He'd edged it—barely.
He forced himself up, locking on the far dais—no retreat in him.
The crowd was mute—shock and respect on every face for the bloodied figure still standing.
"He won… again."
"With that drain… he beat an Elite's Staraptor head-on."
"This Iron Valiant's will is iron to match its frame."
"But he's at the edge—can barely stand."
"Yeah—and the Elite has more. This might…"
Chat turned grave.
"Hurts to watch—he's pushing too far."
"Why not swap? Gast's right there!"
"You don't get it—that's a Pokémon's pride. Iron Valiant would never step down now."
"Exactly. Look at his eyes—he wants more."
At the sideline, Gast had stopped all jokes—floating still, violet fists clenched, worry plain. She knew better than anyone how much pain he was under. They bickered plenty—but seeing him like this twisted her heart.
Jason said nothing—he could feel Iron Valiant's burning will. Without a word between them, he didn't switch—he respected it.
Across the way, even Larry's eyes held a glint of regard. "Remarkable spirit," he murmured, then raised his last ball. "But the battle isn't over. Out of respect for you and your partner, I'll end this with my strongest."
He threw. "Altaria!"
A clear cry rang—an elegant, sky-blue dragon-bird with cottony wings floated into view. Dragon/Flying. Beautiful and gentle to the eye, it poured a mountain-heavy pressure over the field—stronger than the raw aggression of Staraptor. Dragon's dread settled like a weight.
"Altaria! His ace!"
"Here it is!"
"Altaria's bulk on both sides is huge—and it has Dragon Dance and Cotton Guard. It can hit, tank, and boost."
Iron Valiant lifted his head—danger prickled.
Larry's eyes went cold. No rush—just, "Dragon Dance."
Altaria sang, wings unfurling in a graceful, mysterious rhythm—dragon energy building and rising. Attack and Speed climbed together.
"Don't let it set up!"
Veteran viewers nearly screamed it. If Altaria danced once, it was a disaster for a spent Iron Valiant.
Jason knew. "Go—stop it!"
Iron Valiant burned his last fuel and hurled himself skyward—Larry already a step ahead.
"Cotton Guard."
Altaria kept dancing—but its cloudlike plumage ballooned into a thick, white bulwark. Cotton Guard—massive physical defense. Iron Valiant's last punch smashed into the fluff—
Thud!
Like a mountain of foam, it bled off the force. The dance hitched for a beat—no real damage done. Worse—in the gap between Iron Valiant's spent strike and new strength, Altaria finished its first dance.
One Dragon Dance—success.
No ripple crossed Larry's face. "Altaria—keep dancing."
No hesitation—Altaria flowed right back into it. "Damn!" someone swore in the stands—shameless. Tank with Cotton Guard to force through the boost—no air left for the opponent.
Jason's brow knotted—he sent Iron Valiant in again, but too late. Altaria used distance and angle, weaving between steps. Dragon Dance #2—success.
After two boosts, its aura peaked—eyes needle-sharp. Speed and power now wholly above the heaving Iron Valiant.
The board tilted.
"It's over," Larry said calmly. "Dragon Claw."
Altaria's form blinked and reappeared at Iron Valiant's chest—elegant wings blazing sickly green, becoming claws that tore for his heart.
Too fast. He couldn't even raise a guard.
Rrrrip!
Silver armor shredded like paper—three deep gashes laid open, flesh beneath showing.
"Moonblast," Larry followed without a seam. Altaria slipped back, mouth opening—fairy energy condensed into a gleaming pink orb and blasted the staggering Iron Valiant.
Boom!
It detonated on impact—hurling the already-ruined frame across the field.
The fight became a beating—Dragon Claw up close, Moonblast from range, alternating with relentless rhythm. Iron Valiant fell back and back, new wounds piling on, body breaking down.
Hearts sank. Many couldn't bear to watch. Everyone thought: Iron Valiant… can't hold on.
Yet even flayed and near collapse, his eyes stayed steady. He fell—and stood—and fell—and stood. Energy drained; battle will burned hotter. He remembered what Jason had said before the fight:
"Go—show them your full strength."
~~~
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