Starry Sky Pie

After recalling Chesnaught into its Poké Ball and sending it to the professional doctors assigned to the Giant Beast Arena for treatment, James felt as though he were in a dream the entire time. Even his steps felt light, as if he were walking on clouds.

It was not until the fervent atmosphere and cheers from the arena roused James from his daze.

He saw Steelix's Iron Tail send the desperately fleeing Carbink flying. Fire-type Tauros used its scorching horns to burn Aegislash so badly it could not move. And Diancie, which had defeated Chesnaught in a single blow, hovered silently behind them like a queen waiting for her subjects to reclaim the crown.

James had no choice but to face the fact that they, who had been sent off by the people of their Pokémon League amid great expectations, had fallen in the first round of the quarterfinals.

And it had all started because their plan had been to launch a decapitation strike against Diancie.

That Diancie was abnormally powerful. It had easily shattered the defense of Chesnaught, which Steelix and Fire-type Tauros had been unable to breach despite attacking for so long. Even the follow-up damage after breaking its shield had completely drained Chesnaught's strength.

He would have believed it if someone said that Diancie was an Elite Four Level Pokémon.

The referee announced that the Divine Land Alliance had won the match, which also meant that the Divine Land Alliance had become the first team to advance to the semifinals.

The stands rippled with a blazing sea of red from the Divine Land Alliance spectators.

On the raised platform.

"I told you, nothing is too strange until the very last moment of a match." Liao Xingchen stood with a smile. After greeting the people around him, he