"Hidden Spirit Assault!"
Just as Glutton thought the outcome was decided, Fang Yuan shouted out sharply, sending a chill down Glutton's spine. Glutton quickly burrowed into the shadow on the ground, and in the next instant, a brownish-black crescent arc swept through the spot where Gengar had just disappeared. Realizing the existence of Shadow Contract, Marshtomp had evaded Shadow Immobilization in advance and used its substitute as a decoy while executing its Secretly Attacking the Key Point move.
Unfortunately, Fang Yuan, who had been observing the entire field, caught onto the tactic.
"Shadow Claw!"
Missing the strike, Marshtomp showed a look of regret. Then, before it could even hit the ground, with a swift command from Fang Yuan, a claw streaked out from the shadow into which Gengar had vanished. Utilizing the shadow, Gengar extended its Shadow Claw and clutched Marshtomp.
Bang!
The moment Marshtomp was seized, it used Sword Dance to twist its body and erupt with great power, breaking free from the Shadow Claw. Its gaze locked onto the location where the Shadow Claw had appeared, and with a focused stare, it tried to use Taunt to disrupt Gengar's Mental Fluctuation and force it into visibility and chaos.
However, before Marshtomp could initiate its Taunt, a jet-black Ghost Fire ignited directly on its arm. Even though the Shadow Claw was thrown off, a lingering shadow remained, igniting the shadow and a cluster of Black Flame immediately burst into flames on Marshtomp's arm, disrupting its Taunt and spreading wildly.
In that instant, a Black Other Shore Flower formed by the shadow gathered, attempting to envelop Marshtomp and increase the intensity of the Black Flame...
Filled with dread, Marshtomp quickly blew out a powerful Blizzard, freezing the shadow while using the recoil of the Blizzard to blow itself out of the shadow's range and shaking its arm, landing on the ground.
However, during this time, the Black Flame on its arm didn't extinguish, and a burning sensation assaulted Marshtomp, causing its pupils to contract as it desperately waved its arm, trying to shake off the Black Flame. No matter how much it shook, it was no use; the tear-like intense heat caused Marshtomp to howl in pain.
Sizzle!
Amidst the pain, Marshtomp turned to freeze its arm with frost. This time, Marshtomp finally succeeded, but the Black Flame, although encased in ice, continued to burn relentlessly.
Through the ice, the continuous burning sensation persisted, and Marshtomp, who had battled extensively, had never encountered such a bizarre flame.
"It's over..."
Fang Yuan thought to himself. With Shadow Claw marking its target and igniting Black Flame, Glutton's finishing move, although the flame was minute, the life energy contained within it was immensely vast.
This signified that the perfect Black Flame, which was in sync with Gengar's will, would keep burning as long as Gengar didn't lose its fighting spirit or die, or unless it was dispersed actively. Aside from a few special methods to extinguish it, external forces would have no effect!
For Ice Type Marshtomp, this was a lethal hit.
Unable to dispel the flame that caused its soul to shudder, Marshtomp let out terrifying screams as it writhed in the burning pain, eventually collapsing to its knees.
From within the shadows, Gengar slowly emerged, its Black Flame sending chills through everyone's heart.
In a fight that lasted less than a minute, Glutton's overwhelming strength shocked many spectators.
The burning Black Flame didn't make Marshtomp surrender, but under Gengar's attack, it had lost consciousness. With its strength reduced to less than half due to the Burning State, Marshtomp was no longer a match for Gengar.
"Tsk..." In the end, seeing Marshtomp collapse, Gengar felt somewhat unsatisfied.
Although the opponent was strong, and it had almost fallen for the trick if not for Fang Yuan's timely reminder, Glutton still felt that their foe was too weak compared to its previous battle with Monferno.
At Fang Yuan's great tournament, even when Monferno accidentally took on the more terrifying White Flame, it still endured it all, allowing itself to be burnt without resistance, reverting from its Super Evolution Form back to Gengar. Compared to that, Marshtomp, which lost half its will to fight due to the Burning State, was no challenge at all.
Fortunately, Fang Yuan had no idea about Glutton's thoughts, otherwise, he couldn't help but retort that Monferno is a Fire Type, and Marshtomp an Ice Type; Monferno's resistance to fire is definitely stronger than that of Marshtomp...
...
On the field, the Black Flame gradually disappeared, and although the spreading flames vanished from the ground, they left behind scars of everything they had scorched.
With the challenge of the tenth level concluded, countless people's pupils dilated and contracted as they looked at the fallen Marshtomp and Gengar rubbing its belly, feeling utterly incredulous.
"I didn't expect..."
Master Ma Chenzong truly didn't expect that this Gengar could control Shadow Energy and flames to such an extent.
Compared to Marshtomp, Glutton's foundation was far stronger, which resulted in such an overwhelming combat process.
Cloud Armor King also fell silent. If he were to pit his main forces, who weren't at the Top Tier Domain, against Fang Yuan's Gengar, could he win?
Before the battle, although Cloud Armor King didn't think he'd lose, no one could be certain of the final outcome.
"That Marshtomp is Yanhua King's main force... and it lost."
The referee team was shocked and momentarily speechless. The referee in charge of overseeing the challenge then quickly recovered, his voice filled with amazement as he announced, "Fang Yuan, challenge successful..."
"The tenth level, passed!"
The announcement of passing the tenth level made all the contenders pause for a moment, then they began to applaud for Fang Yuan. Strength deserved respect, and Fang Yuan, following the Reigning King, became the second Trainer to pass the Master Level selection and the second to conquer the Master Ten Levels.
If before, some thought Fang Yuan was simply displaying his potential, now everyone was clearly aware of Fang Yuan's precise goal, which was certainly a spot in the second team for the World Championship!
Those who knew Fang Yuan and those who didn't were unified in their disbelief, looking towards the young Trainer on the field who recalled Gengar. No one expected that a student under twenty years old, among all the contenders, was the most deeply hidden powerhouse.