Precisely because that difference existed, the outcome turned out to be completely different.
Blaziken used the move Aerial Ace to position himself behind Flygon. With his fists tightly clenched, the flames were ready to erupt, but in the end they did not.
Because, within Cain's plan, Blaziken's primary objective was to contain the opponent and buy enough time for his companions on the other side to stabilize the outcome of the battle.
So, at the moment when a green-colored energy appeared over Flygon's body, Blaziken decisively retreated, widening the distance between them.
That result was something Alexandra had definitely not anticipated. Frowning, she immediately ordered Noivern and Flygon to launch a counterattack, sending all kinds of long-range moves toward Blaziken, who was rolling and spinning through the air.
However, Blaziken's figure and footsteps looked like an elegant waltz dance in the sky. The Speed Boost ability, combined with the speed increase from the Swords Dance move, had already pushed his speed to the limit. Even in the face of scattered attacks, with footholds in the air, dodging them was not particularly difficult.
In the past, Vigoroth had already been able to do something similar, and that was when it had no foothold in the air at all. Now, Cain's Blaziken, after deliberate training, was far stronger and more agile than that Vigoroth had been back then, and moreover had Tyranitar's sand as aerial support, so this did not pose a great challenge for him.
Even if the enemy managed to find an opening in his movements, Tyranitar's sand would always appear at the critical moment to block the attack. That was the reason Blaziken dared to face the opponent alone.
Because the opponent was a brute. And what does a brute fear the most?
He fears being reckless enough, yet failing to crush the enemy, and instead ending up dizzy and constantly manipulated.
Blaziken carried out this task in an exemplary and perfect manner.
When Alexandra saw that Dragonite had lost its ability to fight, she flew into a rage. She directly activated her psychic power and launched a surprise pull against Blaziken.
Although it did not cause serious damage, it did break Blaziken's perfect rhythm of evasion. He was struck head-on by Hydreigon's attack and fell from the air toward the ground. Fortunately, Tyranitar's reaction was quick enough: he used sand to cushion Blaziken's fall and appeared at his side at high speed.
Slowking and Gengar also immediately abandoned their opponents, teleported next to Blaziken, and fixed their gazes—full of fighting intent—on Hydreigon and the others, who had originally intended to take advantage of the situation to continue attacking.
Hydreigon had fought Cain before and knew very well how Cain's Pokémon exploded in power once they got serious. Seeing that situation, he decisively gave up.
Alexandra did not blame him either; under those circumstances, advancing would only have meant seeking death.
Thus, the Pokémon of both sides returned to their respective trainers, maintaining a certain distance and watching each other warily, almost just like at the beginning.
The difference was that Alexandra's Dragonite lay unconscious on the ground, while Cain's Blaziken was only injured. Although it was not a light injury, it was not severe either, and with Florges's help, he was recovering quickly.
Anger burned in Alexandra's eyes, while Cain appeared calm. Their expressions had completely reversed compared to the start.
"What's wrong? Not going to fight anymore?" Cain asked indifferently.
Hearing this, Alexandra's expression quickly composed itself, and even a faint smile appeared, as if the loss of Dragonite were not something especially important to her.
"It seems that Elite Four Cain has great confidence in his own strength, and moreover, it is confidence filled with certainty," Alexandra said with a smile.
Cain also smiled when he heard her.
"Oh? It seems Miss Alexandra is also quite confident in her strength. Although, in my eyes, it looks like you're lacking a bit of foundation. Why don't you use the special method of your Sacred Church? I think your strength could still increase quite a bit."
"I see you know quite a lot about the Sacred Church. Although that's normal: the Black Messenger fell into your hands. To be honest, I'm very curious to see the faces of those old men... They always looked down on Elite Four Cain, and now it seems it's already too late," Alexandra said, shaking her head with an air of regret.
However, upon hearing this, Cain's heart skipped a beat.
"Old men"... in the plural?
It seemed that the Sacred Church hid far more than it appeared. The question was how many "old men" there were, although from the other party's attitude, it was clear she had no intention of going into detail.
"If you don't want to continue fighting, then I'll withdraw," Cain said frankly.
"I lost this battle, and I accept it wholeheartedly. But the great gift I spoke of before, I will still give it to you. It won't delay your return to the League," Alexandra replied.
"Speak."
"First, I'll recover my Pokémon." With that, she took out her Poké Balls and recalled her Pokémon one by one, leaving only Latios and Latias to protect her personal safety.
But when she was about to recall the Dragonite lying on the ground as well, she was stopped. Slowking stepped in front of Dragonite, blocking the red beam of the Poké Ball.
Alexandra's expression changed slightly.
Cain said calmly, "Sorry, this guy is my spoil of war. It's not something you can take back just because you want to."
That Dragonite's strength was not weak; on the contrary, it was extremely powerful. It was a Champion-level pseudo-legendary, whose value could be equivalent to all the assets of a medium-sized family. If Cain wanted to exchange it for resources, many forces would be willing to do so.
Even without a Poké Ball, that didn't stop him from taking that Dragonite away.
"You...!" Alexandra spat out a single word, but immediately restrained her emotions. "Give me an exchange condition. Otherwise, even if we all have to stay here, don't think you'll be able to participate in the distribution ceremony of the Kanto region. You probably still don't know what that ritual means for you."
Cain frowned. What special meaning could a simple distribution ceremony have?
"Exchange it for that Hydreigon. Both are pseudo-legendaries. That Hydreigon isn't really your Pokémon; its training value is lower. On the other hand, you must have invested a lot of resources and effort into this Dragonite," Cain said.
"The level of that Hydreigon is clearly higher than Dragonite's! Besides, you don't even have a Poké Ball for Dragonite. Even if you keep it, it won't be of much use to you," Alexandra retorted.
Cain shrugged.
"That doesn't matter to me. After all, it's spoils obtained in a somewhat illegitimate way. I can hand it over to the League in exchange for a good amount of resources. On the other hand, someone will lose a Pokémon with a clearly superior growth limit just for one that isn't even theirs. You can do that calculation better than I can."
He had barely finished speaking when a Poké Ball flew out of the air at high speed. Inside, Hydreigon could be clearly seen, completely bewildered.
(End of chapter)