Yet even now, Sceptile still couldn't take a single attack from Charizard.
"Sceptile…"
Qing Fei wasn't the only one stunned. Sceptile itself stood dazed, white fire still burning into its arm.
The pain burrowed deep like a maggot,
though it was still less than half the agony of absorbing the slab's power.
But it had lost far more than strength. Its trainer had drilled only one goal into it: defeat Charizard.
And now, after all its suffering and effort…
the outcome was exactly the same.
"Have you lost your will to fight already?" Lin Yu frowned.
The [Pickup] effect still hadn't triggered.
"No way! Sceptile!"
Madness flashed in Qing Fei's eyes. Held items were strictly banned in official matches.
But defeating this Charizard had become an obsession.
He would win, no matter what —
even if it cost him his tournament spot.
A faint light flickered over Sceptile. Under Lin Yu's gaze, its level skyrocketed:
44…
45…
46…
It stopped at Level 49 — just one step short of Master rank.
Sceptile trembled violently, gasping for air, its face twisted in agony as if enduring unbearable torment.
"What's happening?!" The commentator was lost, but seeing the Elite Four do nothing to stop it, he kept going.
"Qing Fei's Sceptile has suddenly received a massive power boost! What's going on?!
Can it take down Charizard now?!"
[Broken Plate of Arceus (Normal-type) · SSS‑Class Treasure]
A fragment holding a portion of Arceus' primordial energy. Gradually raises a Pokémon's potential over time.
Warning: Forcibly absorbing its power inflicts irreversible damage on the Pokémon.
Lin Yu's gaze turned sharp.
Through Wave Aura, he spotted a tiny crescent-shaped plate hidden around Sceptile's neck.
That was the source of its explosive growth.
So it really was a Plate of Arceus?
Just a broken shard could grant this much power?
"Hey! Held items are illegal! What's the referee doing?!"
"This just got crazy! The match was totally one-sided before!"
The crowd erupted in noise.
At once, Ye Rong rode Dragonite into the air and looked down at Lin Yu.
"Qing Fei has violated the rules by using a held item. Do you wish to continue the match?"
The Elite Four hadn't stopped it — they too wanted to see how this chaotic battle ended.
The high school tournament hadn't seen this much drama in years.
"Scared now, Lin Yu?!" Qing Fei snarled, trying to goad him.
"So I'm allowed to use held items too?" Lin Yu called upward.
Ye Rong raised an eyebrow. Did this kid still have more tricks hidden?
"By rule, since he used one, you may as well."
"Fine."
Lin Yu touched his wrist lightly, then chuckled.
"Let's see just how real this forced power really is."
"Sceptile! Leaf Storm + Bullet Seed!"
"Scept… ile!"
Energy raged across the field.
Another Leaf Storm burst forth —
but this time, it swallowed the entire battlefield.
This was far beyond Lord-tier.
Sceptile was practically halfway into Master rank.
"Now that's more like it!"
Lin Yu stayed calm. He'd faced far greater spectacles: Articuno, Tyranitar, Arbok, Kyogre.
Even this massive Leaf Storm laced with Leech Seeds was nothing new.
"Charizard, Flame Wheel! Block it!"
White light blazed at the storm's center.
A defensive wall of flame easily shut down the attack.
"Sceptile, Synthesis!"
Anger hadn't erased Qing Fei's sense. On the Grass Field, Sceptile's burned arm healed quickly.
"Worry Seed!"
With the Plate's boost, Sceptile's energy seemed endless.
Dozens of enormous vines burst from the ground, lunging at Charizard like giant serpents.
"Fly upward!"
Lin Yu didn't clash head-on right away.
The vines chased Charizard relentlessly.
"Dragon Claw!"
Sharp light coated Charizard's claws. It spun at the edge of the energy field and sliced through the vines,
but new ones instantly grew back.
"Yes! Just like that!"
Qing Fei laughed wildly as Charizard was forced to flee.
Lin Yu frowned slightly.
He had to admit, at Level 49, Sceptile was genuinely dangerous.
But did Qing Fei really think this was Charizard's full power?
Before the match, Lin Yu had kept Charizard wearing a 1.1x Gravity Orb the entire time.
With a silent thought, he dispelled the orb.
"ROAR!"
Freed from the heavy weight, Charizard's energy surged like a raging river.
"Flare Blitz!"
White fire exploded over its body, fiercer and more overwhelming than ever.
Any vine that neared Charizard turned to ash.
"ROAR!"
All the frustration of being chased erupted in that roar.
"Sceptile, dodge!"
"Sceptile?"
Qing Fei froze.
Sceptile ignored his order. Light blazed on its arm as it drew Leaf Blade.
It would clash head-on.
In its heart, it had lost every direct battle — it refused to back down again.
But…
even with this stolen power…
could it truly stand against Charizard?
BOOM!
A thunderous crash shook the stadium. Charizard's diving impact carved a huge crater into the ground.
Smoke billowed outward.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the haze to clear.
Only Lin Yu smiled.
In his hand rested the broken Plate.
As the smoke faded, Sceptile lay motionless on the ground, the white fire on its body dying down.
Charizard bore a single slicing wound, but was clearly still able to fight.
"Sceptile is unable to battle! Qing Fei, send out your next Pokémon!"