Zoro, slashing through the layers of intense flames, suddenly transformed into a massive blue dragon, roaring and baring its fangs as it charged toward Ace.
"Such powerful swordsmanship!" Ace exclaimed, smiling. As someone who had witnessed many great swordsmen in the New World, he couldn't help but admire Zoro's formidable attack.
"But..." Ace continued, "That alone won't be enough!"
With those words, an overwhelming surge of flames erupted from Ace, spreading across the sky like a fiery curtain. The flames began to swirl, gradually coalescing into a towering flame giant, over ten meters tall, looming in the air.
"Shiranui—Flame Emperor!"
Although this flame giant was thinner without Charizard's firepower, it was more than enough to deal with Zoro, not Garp.
The flame giant swung its fist, and the scorching heat swept outward, crashing into the green dragon formed by Zoro's sword intent. For a moment, the air froze, and all sound ceased. But in the next second, a brilliant explosion of flames and sword energy filled the sky, with the resulting shockwave roaring in all directions.
"Damn it! Is it still not enough!?" Zoro muttered through gritted teeth, his expression one of frustration. Ace had withstood the combined power of him and his doublade effortlessly. Although Zoro had anticipated Ace's strength, seeing the gap between them in reality was difficult to accept.
However, reality doesn't change based on one's will.
Zoro's talent had indeed grown during the Pokémon League Tournament, improving dramatically. He had evolved his bond and even stood his ground against Ace, a seasoned pirate. Yet Ace's talent and efforts were just as remarkable, not to mention his age advantage and the sheer volume of dimensional trades he had made.
Even without Charizard's help, the tide of the battle began to shift. Slowly but surely, the scales of victory tipped in Ace's favor.
Half an hour later, under the overwhelming force of Ace's Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor, Zoro, severely burned and overwhelmed, succumbed to the flames, lost consciousness, and collapsed in the arena. The twin swords he wielded fell alongside him, unable to withstand the heat.
At that moment, the entire Celestial Island erupted in thunderous applause! Despite the predictable outcome, Zoro's unwavering spirit and formidable performance earned him admiration and respect. And Ace's display of strength spoke for itself—single-handedly, without Charizard, he had defeated both Zoro and his Doublade!
As the victor of the Pokémon League Tournament, Ace's name would surely be etched into the annals of history!
Fireworks exploded across the sky, showering vibrant colors over the island. Team Rocket descended from above and landed beside Ace, microphone in hand and wearing bright smiles.
"Let's congratulate Portgas D. Ace for winning the first-ever Pokémon League Tournament!" they announced. "And let's not forget Mr. Roronoa Zoro, who, despite his defeat, put on an equally spectacular performance!"
A soft green light enveloped Zoro and his Doublade. Under the restorative power of the Life Essence, their injuries were instantly healed.
Upon recovering, Zoro looked at Doublade with a tinge of regret and sighed deeply, "Come back, Doublade." He had no excuses; his defeat was clear. He called his swords back into their scabbards and walked toward Ace, guided by Meowth.
"Now then…" Jessie said with a cheerful smile as both contestants stood in their designated spots.
The celebratory music from another time and space began to play, and Jessie loudly announced: "Let's give the warmest welcome to our special guest, Lord Leo, the Dimensional Merchant, who will present the awards to our two contestants!"
As soon as she finished speaking, ripples appeared in the space before them. Leo, seated in the special guest area, stood up gracefully with a smile and, with a single step, disappeared. In the next instant, he materialized in front of Ace and Zoro.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zoro, Mr. Ace," Leo greeted them warmly.
"Sir Leo," the two replied in unison, though their expressions differed. Ace wore a proud smile, while Zoro appeared a little embarrassed. He wasn't fond of losing, and more so, he felt like he had let Leo down.
If only he had trained harder, made more trades, and gained better resources—perhaps the outcome might not have changed, but at least it wouldn't have been so one-sided. At the very least, Ace would have needed Charizard.
Zoro cursed himself silently, vowing to earn more for future trades, so he could acquire better training resources. Seeing Zoro's determination, Leo inwardly gave him a thumbs up. It's this kind of reflective and proactive spirit that makes a good trader!
With a smile, Leo turned to Zoro and spoke: "Congratulations on finishing second in the Pokémon League Tournament. Here's your reward..."
Leo waved his hand, and a massive green orb of light appeared in front of Zoro. Simultaneously, a golden light descended from the void and bathed Zoro in its glow. For those familiar with this process, it was no surprise.
After the recording was completed, Leo continued with a smile: "This is the 200-Year-Old Essence of Life. I believe you already understand its benefits, so I won't go into details. However…"
"The next reward, Mr. Zoro, requires a choice."
"Choice?" Zoro was intrigued. Previously, both Nami and Garp had been directly awarded, so hearing that he had a choice piqued his interest.
With a snap of Leo's fingers, a medium-sized screen appeared before Zoro, displaying three items: a MEGA Keystone, Z-Crystal, and Gigantamax Bracelet, each with descriptions of how to use them. The content was also projected onto the viewing screens across the island and around the world, promoting these high-end items.
Leo smiled and explained, "These are three ways to quickly enhance a Pokémon's strength. As the runner-up of the tournament, Mr. Zoro, you may choose one as your reward."
"Of course…" Leo continued, "There is also a special option available to you, Mr. Zoro."
A private message flashed on Zoro's screen, kept confidential due to privacy concerns. The mysterious option was titled [MEGA Evolution: Scyther Special Edition].