"Go, Charizard! Mega Evolve!"
As Gu Yuan's voice rang out, a brilliant light erupted, and Mega Charizard X charged forward. With a roar, it lunged straight at the Pidgeot ahead. Flying-type energy condensed into a Brave Bird as Pidgeot struck first.
"Let's meet it head-on! Flame Charge, Dragon Rush!"
Fearlessly facing the Elite Rank Pidgeot's assault, Gu Yuan chose the most aggressive counterattack. Flickers of fire appeared as Mega Charizard X began to accelerate. Dragon energy surged, shaping it into a massive dragon, with sparks of flame trailing along its path.
The acceleration from Flame Charge made its strike even more ferocious. Combined with the Tough Claws Ability, the power of Dragon Rush became devastating. At the moment of impact, the dragon suppressed the giant bird. As the dragon launched a relentless barrage, it tore through the bird's defenses and sent Pidgeot crashing down.
After recent training, Charizard had grown significantly stronger. With the boost from Mega Evolution, Mega Charizard X's strength was now firmly established at Lower-tier Elite Rank. If it boosted itself with moves like Dragon Dance and utilized the overwhelming Special Attack of Mega Charizard Y, it could reach Middle-tier Elite Rank. Even as Mega Charizard X, it could skim the boundary between Lower and Middle-tier, making it more than a match for a Pidgeot that was only at Middle-tier Elite Rank.
"Dragon Dance!"
Instead of pursuing, Gu Yuan had Mega Charizard X bolster its strength. Returning to the sky, Pidgeot attacked again. Under the influence of Dragon Dance, Charizard's speed and power increased further, allowing it to easily dodge Pidgeot's Air Slash.
"Go, Mega Charizard X! Dragon Rush!"
At the command, Charizard charged again. The dragon manifested once more, and Pidgeot stubbornly countered with another Brave Bird. The dragon and the bird collided. This time, the giant bird crumbled even faster, forced back by Mega Charizard X.
"Blast Burn, Dragon Claw!"
Seizing the opportunity, Gu Yuan ordered a follow-up. A fireball resembling a miniature sun surged forth. The tumbling Pidgeot sensed the danger immediately. It gathered a Hurricane, but it couldn't withstand the impact of Blast Burn. The moment the flames exploded, the winds dissipated, and the fire slammed directly into Pidgeot.
Mega Charizard X beat its wings, diving through the lingering flames to reach Pidgeot. Its talons swung out; Pidgeot barely managed to protect its vitals, but its wing was slashed by the Dragon Claw. Crimson blood splattered. Pidgeot decided to retreat, but Mega Charizard X wouldn't give it the chance.
Using its superior speed, Charizard stayed locked onto Pidgeot's position. Supported by the Tough Claws Ability, its Dragon Claw carved through Pidgeot's retaliatory Air Slash. In moments, Pidgeot was covered in wounds. Sensing its weakness, the bird decided on one last desperate gamble. With a ruthless glint in its eyes, it gathered its remaining Flying-type energy for a final Brave Bird.
"Go, Mega Charizard X! Dragon Rush!"
With no intention of dodging, Gu Yuan had Charizard counter head-on once more. When the dragon and the bird slammed together, the blinding light and tangible shockwave made them the most eye-catching existence in the forest. In this clash of power, the much healthier Mega Charizard X clearly held the upper hand. Suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed as it tore through the bird. The unconscious Pidgeot plummeted to the ground.
Looking at the heavily injured Pidgeot, Gu Yuan felt a bit helpless. He couldn't capture it, yet he had to treat it to maintain the forest's balance. After healing Pidgeot and ensuring it would wake up soon, Gu Yuan had Alakazam use Teleport to vanish from the scene.
Shortly after they left, several Leader Rank Pokémon nearby grew restless. If Pidgeot had been captured or killed, the first one to arrive could claim its treasures. If they could use those resources to grow stronger, they might become the new overlord of the forest. With these thoughts, many Leader Rank Pokémon approached the battle site.
However, before they could reach Pidgeot, the bird suddenly snapped awake. Seeing its ill-intentioned subordinates, Pidgeot understood the situation instantly. Perfect—it needed to re-establish its authority after being defeated, and these subordinates would serve nicely. Looking at the seemingly unharmed Pidgeot, the approaching Leader Rank Pokémon suddenly felt like crying. Gu Yuan had pulled this trick in many forests, setting up many wild Pokémon.
"Wait, Alakazam. It looks like we need to change direction."
On the way to the next forest, Gu Yuan suddenly stopped Alakazam. Agatha had just sent word that the alternate dimension had been found. The League was stationed there, and Gu Yuan could enter at any time. After Alakazam memorized the map, Gu Yuan changed course.
Unfortunately, the distance was quite far. Since Alakazam wasn't a perpetual motion machine, it couldn't use Teleport indefinitely. It took over two days for Gu Yuan to arrive.
"Take this key to the dimension. I'll briefly explain what you need to know," Chika said, walking up to Gu Yuan as he arrived.
"First, regarding strength: no Pokémon above Leader Rank are allowed to enter. Second, if you use Mega Evolution inside and the Pokémon gains power exceeding Leader Rank, it will be rejected by the dimension. Not only will it be unable to use its full power, but it will feel like it's struggling to even move. Finally, you only have three days. You must exit before time is up, or the best-case scenario is a heavy injury. If you're looking for that Moltres and the mysterious Pokémon, you must hurry, or you might not return safely. Understand?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Good. Follow me."
Chika nodded and led Gu Yuan toward the camp.