In the sky, a graceful and magnificent Articuno faced off against a fierce and intimidating Mega Salamence.
"Articuno is so beautiful~"
Lillie's eyes sparkled like little stars, and she clasped her hands to her chest, gazing longingly at the Articuno that was slowly flapping its wings in the air, her girlish heart bursting with admiration.
Oh wow~ She really loves this elegant, noble, and magnificent Ice bird! It's just too beautiful!
"Right? And when Articuno flaps its wings, frost falls down. When it's hot outside, just a couple of wing flaps will make it super cool!"
Ilene, feeling like she had the right to speak, smiled and said.
"That's amazing!!" Lillie felt even more in love.
But in reality, apart from these two, everyone else had extremely strange expressions at this moment, especially the Draconid people, whose gazes toward Dylan were starting to change.
"Dylan, something's off with your team, isn't it? Weren't you supposed to be using a Dark-type lineup?" After a moment of silence, Zinnia finally couldn't hold back and questioned Dylan.
People shouldn't deceive each other like this! What happened to the trust between people?
You clearly said you were using a Dark-type team, and we even dealt with your Toxapex earlier, but now you're bringing in an Articuno?!!
Isn't this targeting? This is obviously targeting, right?! This is totally targeting, you jerk!!!
Even Zinnia was starting to panic at this moment. Even with a Mega Evolution, Mega Salamence has a quadruple weakness to Ice.
And it's not just any Ice-type Pokémon; it's Articuno, the legendary Ice-type Pokémon!
It would have been one thing if you were just targeting me with an Ice-type, but you're targeting me with a legendary Ice-type Pokémon? Is this how you treat a childhood friend?
We haven't seen each other in years! We even played in the mud together when we were kids!
"That's right, so my team has four Dark-type Pokémon," Dylan shrugged with an innocent look.
I said it was a Dark-type team, but I never said it was purely Dark-type. There's nothing wrong with that.
"Zinnia, it's mainly because you're so strong, you know? I had no choice but to use my trump card, Articuno."
"Too bad I haven't captured the Ancient Blade Leopard yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't need to use Articuno."
Yes, the Ancient Blade Leopard, one of Paldea's legendary 'Treasures of Ruin,' is a Dark/Ice-type legendary Pokémon.
One of the few major C-rank Pokémon among Ice-types. Purely in terms of combat strength, the Ancient Blade Leopard is much stronger than Articuno and could still fit into a Dark-type team.
"???"
Zinnia was utterly baffled, feeling like her face was full of question marks. Is this even human speech?
"Fine, fine, fine!!"
Zinnia gritted her teeth and finally squeezed out those three words through clenched teeth.
Dylan, well done!
As expected, the kind Dylan I remembered has been swept away by the wind. The one before me now is the wicked, shameless Gym Leader Dylan!
"Zinnia, you're the heir of the Draconid people. Can't you overcome this little setback? Or do you always act like this when you encounter Ice-types?"
Dylan sighed and spoke to Zinnia in a disappointed tone.
Zinnia was startled by his words.
She suddenly realized that Dylan was right. Why was she so emotionally shaken at the sight of Articuno? She was the heir of the Draconid people, a noble Dragon-type Trainer!
Even against Ice-type Pokémon, she must not back down! An Articuno is nothing to be afraid of!
"Hmph! Dylan, you're underestimating me!"
Zinnia flashed her characteristic bright and fearless smile, tossing her cape back with renewed vigor.
"I am Zinnia! The heir Zinnia!"
At this moment, Zinnia's clear voice was full of spirit—so cool!
"You didn't disappoint me," Dylan smiled, offering praise.
"Of course! I'm coming for you, Dylan!"
"I'm ready. Bring it on, Zinnia!"
"Salamence, Stone Edge!"
Zinnia swung her arm with force. Even if it's Articuno, it couldn't possibly defeat her Mega Salamence!
The bond between her and Salamence wouldn't be shattered by a mere Ice-type! Moreover, Articuno is quadruple weak to Rock, and her Salamence knows a Rock-type move, so who's really got the upper hand here?
Yes, we can win!
Mega Salamence roared, a sound that echoed through the heavens. Sharp stones materialized in front of it and then shot towards Articuno at high speed.
This is the Rock-type move, Stone Edge!
"Agility," Dylan responded with a calm smile.
Articuno let out a high-pitched cry, and its body began to move at high speed. As it moved, white light kept flashing across its body, and its speed continued to increase, easily dodging the incoming stones.
The Psychic-type move, Agility, can increase the user's speed.
"Blizzard!"
The next moment, Articuno flapped its wings heavily, unleashing a fierce, bone-chilling snowstorm that covered the sky and earth. The range was massive.
"Salamence! Hurricane!"
Zinnia's face was serious. The range of this Blizzard showed just how powerful this Articuno was.
Mega Salamence's crescent-shaped wings flapped with equal force, unleashing a violent wind mixed with wind blades, charging toward the Blizzard.
The Flying-type move, Hurricane!
Boom!
Blizzard and Hurricane, two powerful moves, clashed mid-air and finally exploded with a loud bang. The terrifying gusts spread in all directions, even changing the color of the sky.
"So strong!"
The overflowing wind made it hard for the spectators like Lillie to even open their eyes. They weren't too close or too far, but these shockwaves were blowing down from the sky!
"Even its special attacks are this powerful," Dylan narrowed his eyes slightly.
As expected of Zinnia's ace, Mega Salamence. When Blizzard and Hurricane collide, Hurricane should be at a disadvantage.
Because Ice counters Flying, this type advantage would show in the clash of moves as well. In other words, under normal circumstances, Blizzard should definitely overpower Hurricane!
Yet, Mega Salamence's Hurricane was evenly matched with Articuno's Blizzard and even pushed back a bit. This shows just how strong this Mega Salamence is.
Even though Mega Salamence can be a mixed attacker, its physical attack is much stronger than its special attack.
This Salamence is at least level 70 or higher! And Mega Evolution greatly boosts Salamence's strength.
"As expected!" Zinnia's face lit up with excitement. As expected, it can be done!
Even Articuno is just like that!
But just as Zinnia was feeling elated, snow suddenly began to fall from the sky.
"What's this?"
Zinnia reached out to catch a snowflake, watching it melt in her palm with a look of confusion. How could it be snowing in Meteor Village?
"Hail, Articuno used Hail."
Dylan answered her. Yes, right after Blizzard and Hurricane exploded, Articuno used Hail to change the weather to a snowy day.
In snowy weather, the defense of Ice-type Pokémon is boosted.
Despicable!
Looking at the dense snowfall, Zinnia gritted her teeth. Dragons hate Ice, and at this moment, Mega Salamence was uncomfortably shaking the snow off its body.
And because the heavy snow was obscuring her vision, Zinnia was finding it hard to keep track of Articuno's movements.
"Should I have Salamence use Sunny Day? But…"
Using Sunny Day takes time, and what if Articuno takes the opportunity to attack Mega Salamence?
Should I switch out Salamence? But the remaining Pokémon are an Altaria and a Noivern, both low on health and both quadruple weak to Ice…
Even if they both went out together, Articuno's Blizzard might just knock them both out in one go. Even at full health, Noivern would struggle to withstand Articuno's Blizzard!
Damn you, Dylan! Using weather effects in secret! Shameless!!
"Articuno, Blizzard!" Dylan commanded with a smile. The confident and composed young man in black was utterly captivating at this moment.
Articuno's melodious cry echoed through the heavy snowfall, and the wind grew piercing. Mega Salamence cautiously surveyed its surroundings.
But all around was a blinding white blizzard; even Articuno's figure was no longer visible. From where would the blizzard strike?
Whoosh~ Whoosh~
A fierce, biting blizzard surged in from the side. Mega Salamence's keen senses detected it immediately.
"Hurricane!" Zinnia commanded instantly.
Mega Salamence flapped its blood-red wings, sending a violent tornado roaring toward the incoming blizzard.
The fierce gusts dispersed the snowflakes all around.
But Zinnia saw clearly that there was no sign of Articuno behind the blizzard! How could this be?!
"Wait! Salamence, watch out on your left!"
Zinnia quickly scanned the area, her pupils suddenly narrowing. She saw that, somehow, Articuno's elegant and graceful form had already flown to Mega Salamence's left side.
How could it be so fast?! That's right, it had used Agility to boost its speed earlier.
Realizing this, Zinnia's face changed dramatically.
"Ice Beam."
A cold blue energy gathered at Articuno's beak, and a twisting Ice Beam shot rapidly toward Mega Salamence.
"Salamence! Use Protect, quickly!"
Mega Salamence tried to turn around and use Protect, and the green barrier started to form, but before it could fully materialize, the Ice Beam hit it square in the chest.
Crack! Crack!
The sound of ice forming was continuous, and in a second, a thick layer of ice had formed on Mega Salamence's chest.
Mega Salamence roared in pain. The Ice Beam's damage was severe due to its Ice weakness! The intense pain and cold were unbearable for Mega Salamence, making it wobble and almost lose its balance.
Zinnia's face turned extremely grim. This was bad!
"Blizzard!"
Dylan smiled lightly and shook his head. It was time to end this.
Snowflakes began to fall again. Articuno flapped its wings powerfully, unleashing a fierce and powerful snowstorm.
Mega Salamence, just hit by Ice Beam, had only just steadied itself. The Ice Beam had dealt a heavy blow, and it needed a moment to recover.
But its opponent wouldn't give it that chance.
"Salamence! Dodge quickly!" Zinnia shouted, unwilling to give up.
In this state, Protect probably wouldn't work, let alone Hurricane. But could it dodge?
Mega Salamence struggled to flap its wings, trying to fly up and avoid the powerful Blizzard, but the storm's range was too vast.
The brutal snowstorm mercilessly engulfed Mega Salamence, which hadn't managed to escape the attack's range.
When the blizzard finally subsided, Mega Salamence collapsed to the ground, covered in frost.
With a flash of light, Mega Salamence reverted from its Mega Evolution form and fainted.
Dylan's Articuno's Ice Beam and Blizzard were just too much for it to handle.
Zinnia was left numb, staring blankly at her defeated ace.
"Salamence is unable to battle. Articuno wins," announced the referee, his breath visible in the cold air.
Snow was still falling from the sky, and the temperature had dropped. Amid the snowstorm, Articuno continued to flap its wings gracefully. Its ice-blue feathers seemed to shimmer with a faint blue light, divine and beautiful.
Finally snapping out of it, Zinnia tightly pressed her lips together and recalled her fainted Salamence. She stared at the elegant and noble Articuno, feeling lost.
With her ace Salamence down, how could she continue the battle?
It seemed impossible. How could Altaria and Noivern fight Articuno?
There was no way to win this, right?
Should she just surrender? But as an heir, that didn't seem right, especially with so many elders watching.
If only Salamence wasn't four times weak to Ice, Zinnia thought wistfully.
If it wasn't four times weak to Ice, it wouldn't have been taken down by Articuno in just two moves.
She suddenly felt like maybe a pure Dragon-type team wasn't that strong after all... Even though her grandmother had said she was already at Champion level, she'd been crushed by Dylan, a mere Gym Leader.
Dylan was truly impressive. Are all Gym Leaders this strong nowadays? It's terrifying.
Or maybe she was actually weak? Had her grandmother been lying to her? Was she not really at Champion level? The heir to a legacy wondered, feeling a bit dejected.
Maybe she should start training some Pokémon of different types in the future? That Incineroar seemed pretty good, and there were no clan rules saying she couldn't use other types of Pokémon.
(End of Chapter)
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