Motostoke's outskirts.
In the garden of the villa Steven had purchased.
Whoosh—
A Charizard exhaled pale white breath through its nostrils. Its thick tail lashed forcefully, cracking the air with a sharp roar as the flame at its tip swelled fiercely.
Opposite it, an Infernape stood in a one-legged stance, its expression equally grave. The dark crimson flame atop its head pulsed and surged, spreading like a rolling tide.
The next second.
Bang! Bang!!
Charizard spread its wings and lunged forward, sharp azure Dragon Claw energy enveloping its claws. At the same time, Infernape stomped down hard, creating a sonic boom as the flames around its fist condensed without dispersing.
Boom—!!
Claw and fist collided with a dull crash, and both figures quickly retreated after the impact.
Immediately after.
Charizard roared in fury, crimson flames surging forth like a fire dragon.
Infernape refused to yield. With a sharp shout, its eyes gleaming with fire, it unleashed an equally ferocious pillar of flame.
The two masses of fire clashed violently once more.
This was not the first time such a contest had played out in this garden.
And it was not always Charizard and Infernape taking the field; different Pokémon rotated in and out.
For example, before Charizard and Infernape, it had been a showdown between Dragonite and Dragapult.
Before that, it had been a psychic collision between Alakazam and Shiny Metagross.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the garden.
Lance, dressed in a fitted blue outfit and draped in a burgundy cape, held his phone with a grave expression.
"I know. Xia Yan still hasn't woken up. I'll return once he does. But no matter what, I refuse to believe he could possibly be a traitor to the Pokémon League. There's something wrong with the higher-ups of the Pokémon League. I