The chaotic storm subsided.
Mew and Articuno stood on opposite sides of the battle arena.
Shuzo's gaze turned serious.
"As expected of a second-tier Legendary!"
After giving a covetous compliment, he decisively ordered Articuno to use another move.
"Icicle Spear!"
"Lii!"
The Ice-type energy in the air surged and gathered wildly at that moment.
One sharp, transparent icicle after another appeared out of thin air.
Their tips flashed with a razor-edged gleam.
With one sweep of Articuno's great wings, the overwhelming mass of icicles fell toward Mew at extreme speed like a torrential rainstorm.
There was not the slightest emotional fluctuation in Mew's expression.
It did not even change its position or posture.
An emerald-green barrier of Protect bloomed around it, wrapping it inside.
Clang, clang, clang!
Crisp collision sounds rang out one after another.
When the rain of icicles ended, the ground was covered in countless shattered ice fragments.
This rock battlefield looked as though it had turned into a glacier battlefield.
Only the patch of ground beneath Mew's feet remained intact.
After dropping Protect, Mew looked at Articuno in the air. A trace of disdain and disgust surfaced in its expression.
"Too weak."
"As expected, it's a fake."
After murmuring that softly, Mew no longer continued testing or observing.
Without waiting for Himeko's command, it began to act.
Invisible mental power and surging Psychic-type energy rapidly condensed at that moment.
Within this space, they brewed like a storm, surging, roaring, and howling.
A psychic storm swept forth.
In the blink of an eye, it surged over Articuno and engulfed it.
Like a massive vortex, it trapped Articuno inside and tore into it.
"Lii!"
At the center of the vortex, Articuno's body could be seen vaguely, struggling violently without stop.
Its miserable cries rang out, making everyone who heard them tremble with fear.
After the raging storm passed, the space above the entire battle arena once again became clear and clean.
Boom!
In midair, the ice-blue bird's body plummeted straight down.
It crashed heavily onto the ground, letting out a dull thud.
Articuno's eyes had already turned into spirals.
It was obvious.
Looking at Articuno's state, the contempt on Mew's face grew even stronger.
As expected, this was a fake.
Otherwise, as a third-tier Legendary—
The battle had ended swiftly in a single exchange.
The spectators at the venue were left dumbstruck, frozen in shock for a long time.
Who could have imagined it?
The one they had regarded as the greatest favorite to win the championship—
The third-tier Legendary Articuno, who had never suffered a single defeat throughout the entire tournament and had swept every match by taking down all three opposing Pokémon alone—
Had actually been instantly defeated by its opponent today!
"My goodness…"
"Th-this…"
"That Mew is really strong!"
"So this is the gap between a third-tier Legendary and a second-tier Legendary?"
"That's ridiculous. It was actually an instant knockout!"
"Could Himeko be about to win the championship?"
"…"
In the stands, enormous shock and waves of emotion surged through the spectators' hearts.
They stared blankly at the pink figure on the battle arena.
Everything they had understood before had been smashed to pieces.
In their eyes, Mew had created an entirely new understanding of what true strength meant.
"Truly impressive."
Shuzo took out a Poké Ball and recalled the unconscious Articuno.
At the instant the Poké Ball's red beam landed on Articuno's body, a subtle, hidden change appeared on Articuno—one that was difficult to catch.
The feathers at the tips of its wings seemed to fade.
They dimmed from ice-blue into a dark brown.
This change lasted for only an instant.
In the next second, it returned to normal.
But that detail was caught perfectly by Himeko and Mew.
It was also seen clearly by Shiko, who had been inside his Poké Ball the entire time, watching the situation outside.
"As expected!"
"My judgment wasn't wrong. There's a huge problem with that Articuno!"
Shiko narrowed his eyes.
For some reason, a smile appeared on his face.
"I originally thought I wouldn't need to use it."
"I didn't expect you would actually force me to send it out."
Shuzo smiled as he murmured softly.
Under everyone's gaze, he slowly reached down to his waist and turned toward the two Poké Balls hanging there.
(End of Chapter)
[200 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
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