Deep within the crater, black mist rose from Buzzwole's body.
Its eyes had turned blood-red, and its entire presence felt twisted and ominous.
An overwhelming pressure surged from it.
After hearing Cedric's words, Buzzwole immediately let out a furious roar.
"Buzzzwole!"
Its muscles swelled, making it look even stronger than before. A staggering wave of energy erupted from its body and swept out in every direction.
The rocks and rubble inside the crater were crushed by that force, reduced to countless specks of dust before being blown away by the gale.
Buzzwole's pressure had more than doubled compared to before, and black energy kept pouring from its body.
Aaron watched the change in Buzzwole, his chest tightening.
Is this some kind of supernatural power?
Or the effect of an item from another world?
Aaron was deeply shocked.
"Tremble, you insignificant insect."
Cedric laughed loudly and sneered at Aaron.
"Know pain."
"Feel pain."
"This will become your lifelong nightmare."
"Buzzwole, use Double Dynamic Punch!"
A cold light flashed through Cedric's eyes as he gave the command.
"Buzzzwole!"
Black energy erupted from Buzzwole's body.
It poured out in violent waves, coiling around its fists in thick, shadowy tendrils.
Its fists were wrapped in dense black energy. The pressure was so intense that the air around them seemed to warp.
Black lightning crackled around its fists, turning them into engines of destruction.
"Buzzzwole!"
Buzzwole let out another monstrous roar, and its four powerful legs erupted with force.
Boom!
The deep crater burst apart, sending countless stones and clouds of dust flying.
Like a rampaging beast, Buzzwole shot toward Infernape with chilling bloodlust.
The ground split open beneath it, leaving a deep crack in its wake. It burst forward in a blur.
Aaron's expression turned grave, and he immediately said to Infernape in a low voice,
"Infernape… don't hold back."
"Maximum-power Kaio-ken!"
Aaron did not dare underestimate this attack. He ordered Infernape to unleash its full strength.
He could feel the terrifying power coming from Buzzwole right now.
"Infer…"
Infernape's expression turned grim as well. It also sensed the sudden surge in the mosquito's strength.
With a furious roar, thick crimson energy erupted from its entire body and gathered continuously around its right fist.
Vrrrrm!
As the red energy gathered, waves of power radiated from Infernape's fist.
In an instant, a glowing red fist of energy was fully charged and ready to strike. The ground cracked beneath it, and the air distorted around it.
Infernape drove its fist forward, the full force of Kaio-ken surging around the blow as it slammed toward the charging Buzzwole.
"Infernape!"
"Buzzzwole!"
At the same time, in the same place,
Infernape's Kaio-ken and Buzzwole's Double Dynamic Punch collided head-on.
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed throughout the entire Fighting Arena.
The blast wave swept out in every direction like a wall of force.
The floor was ripped apart, and the stones beneath the battlefield shattered one after another.
Rumble!
A violent gale tore through the Fighting Arena.
Dust filled the air.
The spectators in the stands were battered by the aftershock. They could not even open their eyes and had to cling desperately to the railings.
Otherwise, they might really have been blown out of their seats.
That alone was enough to show how terrifying the impact had been.
…
"Cough, cough, cough! Hurry, turn on the dust extractor!"
"I'm dying here! Hurry up and clear out this dust!"
At the commentary desk, Kenny's face was covered in dust. He clamped one hand tightly over his mouth and nose as he shouted into the microphone through his palm.
Bzzzz…
As the powerful dust extractor switched on, the dust in the air was quickly sucked away.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Kenny gasped heavily for breath. He leaned over the railing, stared intently at the battlefield below, and shouted excitedly,
"This is insane! Is this really the strength of Gym-level Pokémon!?"
"Even a Champion-class Pokémon probably couldn't hit much harder than this, right?"
"These two are absolute monsters! At this point, it doesn't even matter who wins or loses anymore!"
"Because in our hearts, both of them are champions!"
"Their strength has already earned everyone's respect. This Grand Final truly is the ultimate clash between powerful Trainers!"
"I've been hosting matches for years, but this is the best and most exciting Fighting Tournament I've ever seen!"
Kenny was overwhelmed with emotion. Speaking from the heart, he voiced what everyone was thinking.
The audience erupted into excited cheers.
Their voices rose like waves, filled with pure fascination.
For a long time, the sound did not settle down.
…
As the smoke and dust were sucked away,
the battlefield…
No, it could hardly be called a battlefield anymore.
The Fighting Arena's field had completely turned into a huge crater, like the pit left by a meteor strike.
The two Pokémon stared at each other.
Infernape's body was charred black, and the flame above its head had grown dim.
It knelt on one knee, pain showing clearly on its face.
Across from it, Buzzwole also had wounds on its body, but they were clearly much lighter than Infernape's.
Its pressure remained terrifying.
"Buzzzwole!"
Having washed away its earlier humiliation, Buzzwole immediately let out an excited roar. Its voice boomed across the entire Fighting Arena.
"My god… what exactly happened to the Muscle Mosquito!?"
"Infernape was beaten into that state!"
"Is the tide turning again!?"
"They keep trading blow for blow, but the arena is taking the worst beating!"
"Could Infernape really be about to lose!?"
At the commentary desk, Kenny was fired up as he shouted into the microphone.
At this moment, the battle had reversed once again.
…