Seeing the nearly exhausted state of the Houndoom and how unsteadily it was swaying, the commentator finally realized what was happening.
"This is a Houndoom that has entered its old age."
That single sentence was enough.
Since the preliminary rounds of the tournament began, the battle arena had never been damaged to this extent. Burn marks and cracked fissures spread across the field, crisscrossing it as if it had endured a natural disaster.
Diantha stood up and began to applaud gently.
Then Cynthia followed.
The scattered applause gradually merged into a thunderous roar. Countless spectators spontaneously stood up, showing their respect. Luther stroked Houndoom's sweat-soaked back, turning its face toward the nearest section of the audience.
"All of this is for you, only for you. Go ahead and accept it."
Darkrai emerged from the shadows and clapped lightly to show its respect.
Houndoom wanted nothing more than to stand up like it did when it first entered the field, calmly and proudly taking in the moment. But it truly couldn't stand anymore. It stuck out its tongue, trying to cool down.
There were no longer any Stealth Rocks on the field. Houndoom's Inferno had destroyed the entire arena. Hayata found it strange that he no longer felt the resentment and helplessness he had felt before.
When he saw Houndoom slam into Bastiodon's shield-like armor, something inside him shattered.
And it felt good.
It was like finally finding an answer. He felt incredibly relieved.
Hayata joined in the applause. Houndoom deserved every bit of it. From its unyielding spirit, he experienced the most primal emotions.
Anyone would be moved by it.
The battle paused as staff hurriedly replaced the cameras above the arena.
The extreme heat had destroyed all of them.
The arena floor was replaced as well.
During the brief break, Hayata walked over to Luther. The two men, who had been embroiled in rumors and disputes for a long time, looked at each other for a while.
Luther did not mock Hayata aggressively nor flaunt his impending victory. Hayata waited patiently, and when he realized that Luther had said nothing, he smiled.
"Actually, I came here specifically to mock you."
Luther smiled knowingly. "I could tell."
"But you didn't. I've met many people who, once they win, boast endlessly about themselves while belittling their opponent. They're eager to stomp on them a few more times."
Hayata's tone was calm. He crouched down, wanting to pat Houndoom, but it turned its head away. Luther lightly nudged Houndoom with his foot, and only then did it extend its head toward him.
"I've met people far worse than you," Luther said, remembering a guy named Hiroshi. "After seeing enough of them, you realize there's really no point in doing that."
Hayata fell silent for a moment before speaking seriously.
"I apologize for what I said before. Data can reveal many things. It can calculate probabilities and predict outcomes. But it doesn't create the outcome. Your Pokémon possess something that data can't collect. I know what it is. It's something I lack, so my defeat isn't unjust."
"As for the family matter, I don't actually have the authority to decide. Unlike Mai's family, I'm not an only child. Since I was young, my goal has simply been to become an outstanding Pokémon Trainer. Other matters are beyond my control."
There was not a trace of arrogance in his voice. Like an ordinary young man, when he said those words, resignation remained alongside helplessness.
The moment Houndoom smashed its head against Bastiodon, ensuring the best effect for Overheat, Hayata had a sudden realization.
"Aren't we going to fight the final match?" Luther asked.
Hayata took out his Poké Ball.
"We'll fight. Even if defeat is inevitable, I can't run away from the battle. Opportunities like this may never come again. I have to do my best and learn from it."
"By the way, I'll personally apologize to Haruto Kisaragi and Airi."
Luther laughed. "I wonder if that quarrelsome pair of lovebirds has left yet."
The fact that Hayata could say this proved that he had already reflected on his actions. The moment he set aside his pride and came over to admit his mistake, Luther accepted his apology.
Not everyone can humble themselves so calmly in a situation like this.
When Luther and Hayata shook hands again, the silent commentator's booth led the applause.
The outside world had portrayed this match as a life-or-death grudge match. Luther had even gotten fired up and chosen to confront Hayata head-on by requesting a change in the match format.
Everyone assumed the tension would last until the end of the battle, with the winner gloating over the loser.
However, Houndoom's defiant, age-defying strike shattered not only Bastiodon but also the expectations of the audience.
It also woke up Hayata, who had once been sheltered by his family and believed himself to be superior to others.
Earlier, the applause had been for Houndoom.
Now, the entire stadium applauded the two Pokémon trainers who shared a brief embrace.
Luther had always thought that "letting go of grudges with a smile" was just a line from a play. It was only after experiencing it personally that he realized reality could be even more wonderful than drama.
Once the battle arena and the camera positions were repaired, the two trainers, now completely free of resentment and hostility, returned to their positions.
This time, there were no complicated entanglements.
They were simply fighting for victory.
It was the purest kind of Pokémon battle.
The battle between Kirlia and Alolan Ninetales lacked the sharp hostility and explosive exchanges of before.
Luther's Pokémon gathered around him to cheer for Kirlia, and Hayata's Pokémon supported their final teammate, the Alolan Ninetales.
Compared to the earlier matches, this one seemed less nerve-wracking and lacked suspense, as the outcome was almost certain. Yet, both Luther and Hayata believed that this was the most exciting match of the day.
In the end, Kirlia had the last laugh. Using Psychic, Kirlia lifted the Alolan Ninetales into the air and slammed it onto the ground.
After failing to stand up several times, the Alolan Ninetales finally lost the ability to battle.
Hayata paused for a moment, showing a hint of regret but also a relieved smile.
He entered the field, patted the Alolan Ninetales, and praised her performance. Then, he walked with Luther toward the Competitor's Passage.
They declined the flood of reporters rushing forward with interview questions. Instead, they simply asked the Pokémon League staff to take a photo of them together.
"Oh, right. Let me clarify something. When I said I would try to like Mai, I hope you understand that sometimes, if I want to continue having good resources, I can only accept certain things."
"But that ends here. After I return, I'll leave my family's protection and start traveling alone. Thank you for making me realize that relying on family means you can never truly grow and may fail to understand yourself."
"From now on, I'll rely on no one else. Only on my own ability."
Hayata hugged Houndoom.
"Thank you, too. Don't lose the next matches."
This time, Houndoom didn't resist. Instead, it stuck out its tongue and licked Hayata.
Hayata gave Luther his phone number so that, once Luther found Haruto Kisaragi and Airi, Luther could contact Hayata and allow him to apologize to them in person.
Not long after Hayata left, Ash and his group appeared in the Competitor's Passage.
"That was incredible! Absolutely incredible! Do you know what I mean? I was practically on fire just watching from the stands! It was amazing!"
Ash waved his arms excitedly, as if he wanted to jump into the arena and start battling right away.
But the next match belonged to Etorre.
"Luther just fought a brilliant match. Don't disappoint us," Mao said.
Ettore sighed helplessly. Luther had stolen the spotlight today. No matter how he fought next, Mao would probably find it dull in comparison.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395