At this moment, the Gigantamax Iron Hands was enduring pressure beyond anyone's imagination.
Without needing Dande's command, its entire body was being eroded from the inside out by all-pervasive Dark-type energy. As it howled in pain, it gathered the last of its Gigantamax Energy, trying to create the Max Guard before it—a defense said to be Absolute Defense even in Gigantamax battles.
Even if it could not completely block Incineroar's overwhelmingly powerful strike, one that had far surpassed what an ordinary early Champion Level Pokémon could unleash, it at least needed to buy itself time to catch its breath.
But it was all in vain.
Less than a second after Max Guard formed, the power of Cruel Leap Crush erupted again. With a bang, spiderweb-like cracks immediately spread across the entire barrier. The next instant, a crisp shattering sound rang out like the scythe of death swinging down, and terror consumed Gigantamax Iron Hands's heart.
All its resistance was utterly useless before the demon-god-like Incineroar.
In the stands, Opal's eyes widened in astonishment.
Though she had prepared herself mentally, the power Incineroar displayed still far exceeded her expectations!
Bede looked even more incredulous.
"How is this possible...?"
How could the undefeated Dande—the faith of Galar's people and the goal of countless Trainers—lose a Pokémon Battle?
No matter how turbulent Bede's emotions were, the outcome had already been decided.
When the power of Cruel Leap Crush erupted completely, amid thunderous explosions that filled the sky, Gigantamax Iron Hands's stamina finally reached its end.
The barely gathered Gigantamax Energy shattered. The distorted space around it collapsed, and the immense body that had made Gigantamax Iron Hands appear incomparably huge exploded and shrank, until it returned to its original size and lay unconscious on the utterly ruined Battle Arena.
Mixed with scattered sparks,