The Halo Shattered

Deino might not have been able to see the fireworks.

But he could tell from the sound that the move had missed, especially with his trainer warning him.

After a quick assessment, Baimu decided not to fight Piplup at range. That little penguin was downright unfair from a distance.

In the anime, Piplup had turned the tables more than once with ranged attacks and a helping hand from the writers.

"Dragon Rush!"

"Deino!"

Deino let out a fierce growl. Brilliant blue light engulfed his head, and a surge of energy spread across his body. As he charged, it took the shape of a snarling dragon's head.

The wind howled like a dragon's roar. Even a seasoned fighter like Piplup couldn't help being startled.

But Piplup countered quickly.

"Whirlpool!"

"Pip—lup!"

Piplup raised its little flippers and formed an enormous, luminous blue vortex, then hurled it at Deino!

In an instant—

Boom!

Wrapped in the dragon's head, Deino plunged into the Whirlpool. Its powerful spin and relentless surges of water steadily stripped away his strength.

At any moment, it could sweep him off.

"Break through! You can do it!"

Baimu shouted at the top of his lungs. Deino answered with a hoarse cry, and the Dragon Flame coating his body burned harder with his rising fighting spirit. The dragon's head, whose jaws had been shut, suddenly opened wide!

"Roar!"

Water mingled with Dragon-type energy as a roar like real thunder rang out!

At last,

Deino broke through the prison of water under his own power. With the snarling dragon's head around him, he closed in on Piplup.

But Piplup had been waiting for him.

"Ice Beam!"

"Piplup!"

At Dawn's command, Piplup fired an icy-blue beam at Deino. He charged straight into it without fear, and Dragon-type energy collided with Ice-type energy!

Bang!