Victory

On the battlefield, Torchic darted around to Bagon's rear flank like an orange-red bolt of lightning, while blazing flames ignited around its legs.

Trainer Asakawa looked tense and shouted, "Watch out, it's behind your left side!" His voice was full of urgency.

"Press the advantage, Blaze Kick!" Xinhai's eyes were sharp as he decisively seized this fleeting opportunity.

Having reached Bagon's left rear, Torchic waited for it to turn around, the flames around its leg growing even fiercer.

The instant Bagon turned toward its left rear, Torchic struck swiftly, landing a heavy kick on Bagon's soft, unscaled belly.

Bagon let out a pained roar. The tremendous impact sent it flying backward like a kite with a snapped string before it crashed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Bagon quickly scrambled to its feet, panic in its eyes as it urgently searched for Torchic, only to discover that orange-red figure standing to its left.

Watching this, Trainer Asakawa gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. "Don't panic! Use Dragon Rage!"

Hearing that, Bagon gradually came to its senses. It glared angrily at Torchic, then transformed all its earlier fear and panic into the power of Rage.

In an instant, its eyes turned bloodshot. It opened its mouth and began gathering a purple Energy Ball, purple light rising around its body as a ring-shaped shockwave spread outward from it. A terrifying pressure filled the air.

Seeing the purple Energy Ball in Bagon's mouth radiating horrifying fluctuations, Xinhai's expression turned grave. He immediately ordered, "Use Flame Charge and run toward their side of the field. Be careful not to get too close to the edge of the arena."

Flames spiraled up around Torchic's body as it charged rapidly toward the opposing half of the field.

Trainer Asakawa looked at Xinhai Bai Mu and laughed wildly. "Run, run! Let's see where you can run to! Bagon, keep increasing the output!"

Xinhai ignored the other man's Taunt and focused completely on the situation in the arena.

At that moment, Dragon Rage's diameter was nearly the same as Bagon's height, and under Asakawa's urging, it was still slowly expanding.

Time was tight. In just two or three seconds, there was no time to use another buffing move.

Left with no choice, Xinhai shouted toward Torchic, which had already reached the opposing half, "Use Double Team! Spread out as far as possible!"

In an instant, six Torchic appeared on the field. Each one stood two meters apart, forming a square formation.

Trainer Asakawa froze for a moment at the sight, then instantly understood his opponent's intentions. He gritted his teeth as he looked at the vigilant Xinhai Bai Mu, then at Bagon, whose energy had accumulated to its limit. Finally, he reluctantly ordered, "Bagon, attack the first one in the center!"

Bagon violently fired the purple Energy Ball it had condensed to the utmost limit. Dragon Rage tore through the air with a piercing shriek, carrying terrifying pressure as it shot straight toward the Torchic at the front of the square formation.

Trainer Asakawa also watched the situation in the arena with a serious expression, his eyes fixed tightly on every movement of the six Torchic.

Seeing the opponent attack the Torchic at the front of the square formation, Xinhai was not surprised. He swiftly ordered, "Quick Attack to dodge! Flame Charge to withstand the impact!"

The Torchic reacted extremely quickly. The moment their opponent attacked, they had already used their moves, and the six Torchic ran in different directions.

Among them, the Torchic at the rear right directly transformed into a streak of white light and raced toward the corner of the field.

Dragon Rage's purple Energy Ball exploded at the center of the slowly fading clones. Terrifying energy surged outward like a raging tide, and blinding light instantly filled the entire arena.

Xinhai shielded his eyes with both arms against the intense glare. Trainer Asakawa, too nervous to take any precautions, was now clutching his tear-filled eyes and crying out in pain.

The referee beside them had wisely put on sunglasses when Dragon Rage began gathering, calmly observing the situation on the field.

The audience below was also in an uproar, though their voices were drowned out by the fierce explosion. The intense light gradually faded.

Xinhai quickly looked in Torchic's direction. Only when he saw that Torchic was not seriously hurt did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Torchic was standing in the corner, panting heavily as the flames around its body slowly faded.

Although Torchic looked battered and covered in injuries, the fighting spirit in its eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

Xinhai looked somewhat distressed at the injured Torchic, silently grateful that his commands had been correct.

Trainer Asakawa was rubbing his eyes, anxiously trying to see the situation in the arena clearly.

Meanwhile, having released Dragon Rage with all its strength, Bagon stood where it was and panted heavily, clearly having expended enormous energy.

Seizing this opportunity, Xinhai shouted, "Torchic, finish it with Quick Attack!"

Blinding white light burst from Torchic's body once again. Like a silver bolt of lightning, it sliced through the air at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.

Bagon had just recovered from Dragon Rage's backlash when it saw that streak of white light, and its pupils suddenly contracted.

It instinctively swung its Dragon Claw, but only caught an afterimage. Torchic had already circled behind it like a ghost.

"Torchic, one final Blaze Kick!" Xinhai's voice rang out again.

Flames reignited around Torchic's leg. Bagon struggled to swing its Dragon Claw in retaliation, but it was already too late.

Torchic delivered a precise kick to its waist. Bagon let out a miserable scream as the entire Pokémon flew toward the edge of the field like a kite with a snapped string, completely losing its ability to battle.

Hearing Bagon's scream, Trainer Asakawa forced open his constantly tearing eyes despite the pain and desperately searched for Bagon. By the time he found it, the referee had already begun the count.

"Ten, nine..." The referee began counting down.

Trainer Asakawa stared at the fallen Bagon in disbelief and shouted, "Bagon, get up! Get up..."

But Bagon could no longer hear him. Amid the referee's countdown, the battle came to an end. "...Two, one. Bagon has lost its ability to battle. Torchic wins. I declare Trainer Bai Mu advances."

Hearing the referee's words, Trainer Asakawa stood frozen for a moment. Then he clenched his fists, ran toward Bagon without saying a word, recalled it, and walked off the field dejectedly.

Xinhai encouraged Torchic and recalled it into its Poké Ball. Watching his opponent's departing back, he gently shook his head, then stepped down from the arena amid thunderous cheers and headed toward Yingnan.

When Yingnan saw Xinhai, he rushed over and threw an arm around Xinhai's neck. "Xinhai, you're amazing! You even beat Bagon! That was incredible!"

Xinhai smiled and said, "It was all Torchic's doing. All right, enough about that. I need to take Torchic for treatment. Stay here and keep watching the matches. Take a look at the opponents on Arena One, so you'll know what to expect if you face them later."

Yingnan nodded. "Yeah, go on!"

"All right, I'm off. I'll come find you later." After saying that, Xinhai headed toward the stadium exit.

Once outside the department store, he looked at the blazing sun in the sky. Without lingering, he took out his bicycle and quickly rode toward the Pokémon Center.

Before long, Xinhai arrived at the Pokémon Center. He handed Torchic's Poké Ball and his Pokédex to Nurse Joy and said sincerely, "Sorry for the trouble, Nurse Joy!"

"Of course, please wait a moment." Nurse Joy smiled as she accepted them and skillfully began operating the computer.

Xinhai watched Chansey helping Nurse Joy nearby and felt that the Chansey in this world were pretty good. At least they would not turn into pink demons just to disgust him.

Before long, Nurse Joy handed the Pokédex back and said gently, "Trainer Bai Mu, once your Pokémon's treatment is complete, there will be an announcement over the broadcast. You will also receive a notification on your Pokédex, so please keep an eye out."

Xinhai accepted the Pokédex and thanked Nurse Joy. "Thank you, Nurse Joy!" He then found a seat in the lobby and sat down.

Watching Xinhai's retreating back, Nurse Joy softly said, "That trainer is very gentle."

Chansey also revealed an adorable smile and agreed, "Lucky~"

Sitting in his seat, Xinhai took out his notebook and carefully recorded every detail of the battle just now.

After finishing his notes, he carefully looked over the information on today's winning contestants, preparing for the next round.

Not long after, the broadcast announced that Torchic's treatment was complete. Xinhai put away his notebook and went to the front desk.

After confirming that the information was correct, he took the Poké Ball and walked out of the Pokémon Center. The moment he got outside, he released Torchic.

Torchic was full of energy and chirped happily, "Chamo, chamo!"

Xinhai gently patted its head and praised it, "You worked hard today. You did great!"

"Chamo~"

Torchic lifted its head high. The fluff that had been singed during the battle and trimmed by Nurse Joy did nothing to diminish its proud, chest-out posture of victory.

Seeing it like that, Xinhai could not help laughing. "I'll allow you to be proud for now, but you still have to train tonight!" With that, he picked up Torchic and headed toward the department store.