Even after fighting nineteen battles in a row, Dratini still appeared full of spirit, showing not the slightest hint of fatigue.
This alone proved just how powerful it truly was.
Although Yozora hadn't witnessed those nineteen battles firsthand, he could easily imagine that in each one, Dratini must have won with ease.
Otherwise—
With Dratini's stamina, even a single hard-fought match would have drained it considerably. There was no way it would remain so energetic now.
"Go, Pidgeotto!" At this moment, Yozora finally sent his own Pokémon onto the field.
Yozora's Pidgeotto was no ordinary specimen—it was far sturdier and stronger than others of its kind. Yet it still remained within the realm of normal Pidgeotto, so its appearance did not cause much of a stir.
After all, this was the summit of Mt. Moon. Any trainer who could reach this height was no rookie. Many had been traveling for years, seasoned Senior Level Trainers. With their experience, it would take far more to shock them.
The battle had already been tacitly declared.
Neither Yozora nor Ryūnan rushed to strike first. Instead, both remained calm, carefully observing the field, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Piiiii!"
On the battlefield, Pidgeotto soared high above, its sharp eyes fixed unblinking on Dratini's every move.
Snake-like Pokémon were Pidgeotto's favorite prey.Under that piercing predator's gaze, an ordinary serpent Pokémon would have already lost its nerve, fleeing in terror.
But Ryūnan's Dratini was no ordinary serpent. Instead of fear, its eyes shone with determination as it stared right back.
Ryūnan's expression remained tranquil. He had no intention of striking first.
The key to Dratini's nineteen straight victories was his stable, patient tactics.
Dratini's stamina, after all, had its limits. Ryūnan would never waste energy on reckless attacks. He always waited for the right moment—one decisive blow to finish the fight.
That was how Dratini had advanced undefeated so far. Without such patience, there was no way it could still be so vigorous after nineteen battles.
"Pidgeotto, Wing Attack!" Seeing Ryūnan's refusal to move, Yozora decisively chose to open the battle.
"Fwish—!"
Pidgeotto dove with explosive speed, whipping up violent winds. Its wings gleamed with blinding white light, like twin blades of energy, slicing down toward Dratini.
"Good speed… but all it means is you'll lose faster."
Ryūnan sneered and gave his command: "Dratini, use Thunderbolt!"
Electricity surged across Dratini's entire body, lancing upward and striking Pidgeotto directly.
The sky crackled with lightning.
Watching Dratini's Thunderbolt strike home, Ryūnan's lips curled into a smug grin.
Electric against Flying—super effective.
In his eyes, even if Thunderbolt didn't outright knock Pidgeotto out, it would surely leave it badly injured…
Weakened, Pidgeotto would soon lose mobility. At that point, any move from Dratini could easily finish the job.
But the next scene froze Ryūnan's grin in place.
Because—
Even as lightning wrapped around its entire body, Pidgeotto showed not the slightest trace of pain. Instead, carrying that very electricity, it smashed straight into Dratini!
"Boom!!" Dust and smoke exploded upward. Ryūnan's face darkened instantly.
Not only had Pidgeotto absorbed the Thunderbolt unharmed, but combined with Wing Attack, its strike had dealt double the punishment to Dratini.
True, as a Dragon-type, Dratini resisted electricity.
But that didn't mean it was immune—the current still stung. And on top of that, Pidgeotto's Wing Attack landed with crushing force!
"What a Pidgeotto! To endure Thunderbolt without flinching—such incredible spirit!"
"No… it's not just spirit. Its defense must be extraordinary too! Judging by its strength and presence, that Pidgeotto's around Senior-level beginner stage. But its defenses are beyond that rank entirely!"
Dratini had fought twenty matches in a row. This was the first time it had been struck so cleanly. Around the field, the spectators gasped in awe, deeply impressed by Pidgeotto's toughness.
But they didn't know the truth. It wasn't about defense or grit—it was Volt Absorb.
With that Ability, Pidgeotto not only nullified Electric-type moves of its level but even restored stamina from the shock!
To Pidgeotto, Dratini's Thunderbolt hadn't harmed it in the slightest. On the contrary—it had healed it!
…
As the smoke cleared, the scene stunned everyone even further.
Pidgeotto stood on the ground, one talon pinning Dratini beneath it, its hard beak pecking relentlessly at its foe.
It was the same as when it hunted prey in the wild—utterly merciless.
Where was the noble elegance of Ryūnan's Dratini now? Twisting frantically to avoid the stabbing beak, its body writhed pitifully.
Wounds covered its body, its stamina rapidly draining away.
Ryūnan, no longer calm, roared in fury: "Dratini, use Twister!"
With a weary cry, Dratini summoned a tornado, spiraling upward from the ground. Pidgeotto simply spread its wings, riding the gust high into the air.
Dratini's Twister failed to harm it at all.
"Now—Air Slash!" Yozora commanded.
Pidgeotto's wings beat furiously, unleashing razor-sharp blades of wind that rained down on Dratini.
The slicing gusts tore through the air with an ear-splitting screech, their power obvious even to the naked eye.
"Dratini, dodge it!" Ryūnan's eyes went wide. He could feel the danger as well, shouting desperately.
He was panicking now.
Dratini twisted its body, trying to slither aside—
But the motion tore open the wounds left by Pidgeotto's beak. Blood welled out, and Dratini let out a pained cry, unable to move further.
"Boom, boom, boom!" The blades of wind smashed into the ground one after another. Though none struck Dratini directly, the shockwaves battered its small body, hurling it across the battlefield.
It rolled helplessly along the dirt before collapsing in a heap, unable to continue.
The match was over—Yozora had won easily.
From start to finish, Pidgeotto had hardly broken a sweat. Without even taking damage, it had utterly crushed Ryūnan's Dratini.
"Waaaah—!" The crowd erupted as the battle ended.
Countless spectators sighed in astonishment.
Truly, there's always someone stronger. Ryūnan's nineteen-win streak had carried him right to the brink of twenty victories…
But on that final step, he had been effortlessly demolished.
So ruthless!
…
…
(End of Chapter)