Mega Evolution, Mega Charizard X!

Charizard threw back its head and let out a long roar as rainbow light enveloped its entire body.

Within the light, its form began to change violently!

Its skin rapidly hardened into a charcoal-gray hide.

Its flames shifted from orange-red to a deep blue. The horns on its head grew sharper, and blue spikes sprouted from the front and back of its shoulders.

The light faded.

Mega Charizard X spread its wings, blue flames blazing in its mouth and on its tail.

Its eyes turned sharp and cold, and an almost savage Pressure radiated from its body.

[Charizard successfully Mega Evolved!]

[Mega Charizard X]

[Age]: 10,000 years

[Affection]: 92/100 (Close)

[Form]: Mega Charizard X

[Type]: Fire + Dragon

[Ability]: Tough Claws. The power of all physical moves that make contact with an opponent increases by 30%.

[Hidden Ability]: Solar Fire

[Moves]: Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Breath, Fire Fang, Slash, Flamethrower, Air Cutter, Wing Attack, Blazing Inferno, Flare Blitz, Dragon Claw, Dragon Dance, Earthquake, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Roost, Dragon Rush, Outrage...

[Item]: Charizardite X (Activated)

"Roar!!!"

The evolved Mega Charizard X was terrifyingly savage. Even the spectators trembled under the aura of the fearsome beast.

"My god, is that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? How can something that scary compete in a human tournament? I want my mom!"

"Shrek really is full of monsters... That dragon's aura is even purer now! It's terrifying."

Meng Hongchen tugged at Xiao Hongchen's sleeve:

"Brother... Can we really beat that dragon now that it's turned blue? I feel like it could tear us apart with one swipe."

She was afraid.

Xiao Hongchen kept his composure:

"It's just a Soul Beast. Seven against three—we still have the advantage."

While they were still reeling, Chi Hong swept his hand out:

"Charizard, use Dragon Dance! Lucario, use Swords Dance! Build up your attack power and try to wipe them out in one move."

Mega Charizard X's gaze grew even sharper. It spread its wings and began circling low over the ground.

Then Dragon-type energy surged from its body, forming a swirling current of air around it as it danced.

Its movements grew faster and faster. Both its attack and speed rose with the dance, while a faint gray-blue glow appeared on its scales.

Lucario began building up its attack with Swords Dance as well.

Greninja held its position.

"This is bad! They're doing those strange dances again. Once they finish, they'll be much stronger. We can't let them!"

Ma Rulong snapped out of his shock and shouted.

"Move aside! I'm going to attack!"

Xiao Hongchen had already used the Three-Legged Golden Toad's metal-control ability to position 128 fifth-level Soul Cannons around them.

Ma Rulong sprang into action, rallying the others to bring out their own Soul Cannons. He roared:

"Fire!!!"

"Boom, boom, boom!!!"

Blinding light erupted. Soul Cannon blasts filled the sky, all streaking straight toward Mega Charizard X at the center of the battlefield.

But Mega Charizard X did not stop. It stayed focused on building up Dragon Dance.

As the barrage came flying toward them from every direction,

Greninja stepped to the front, formed a hand sign, and raised its hands. A thin emerald-green barrier spread out, enclosing the three Pokémon and Chi Hong.

Bang, bang, bang—

Explosions erupted one after another. Cannon fire nearly swallowed the center of the battlefield, and smoke blocked every line of sight.

At the spectacular sight, Xiao Hongchen smiled:

"Heh. Dragon or not, you'll fall before my Soul Cannons."

But as the smoke cleared, the figures on the other side gradually emerged.

"How is that possible? Our Soul Cannons did nothing?"

Ma Rulong was so shocked he wanted to slap himself.

Greninja had merely raised a green barrier as thin as brittle paper, yet all three targets were completely unharmed. The dragon even managed a couple more steps of its dance.

That was the power of the godlike move Protect!

It blocked one attack, guaranteed.

How powerful was that attack? Didn't matter. Protect blocked it!

Chi Hong tipped up the brim of his hat and looked at the seven members of the Sun Moon Empire team.

"You're done firing? Then it's my turn. Mega Charizard X, use Flare Blitz!"

Mega Charizard X had been itching to strike. At Chi Hong's command, it threw back its head and roared, its voice ringing across the sky.

The heat soared. Blue flames burst from its mouth and tail, engulfing its entire body in an instant.

It fixed its piercing gaze on the seven in the distance, beat its wings, then tucked them in and hurtled toward them with crushing force, like a burning blue-black meteor.

Ma Rulong stared at the meteor bearing down on him. His legs rooted to the spot, and his childhood nearly flashed before his eyes.

With the speed Mega Charizard X had gained from Dragon Dance, there was no way they could dodge.

"Everyone, hold on!"

Ma Rulong roared and instantly summoned an Invincible Shield in front of the team.

The others needed no reminder. They had already unleashed their strongest defenses.

"Ice and Snow Protection!"

"Golden Devotion!"

"Shield Formation!"

Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen used their soul skills, while the other four raised their soul shields and formed a passable defensive array.

Unfortunately for them, Flare Blitz was backed by both Tough Claws and Solar Fire.

Mega Charizard X became a meteor and slammed straight into the center of the Sun Moon team's formation.

"Boom!!!"

A deafening crash shook the arena as a wave of blue fire exploded outward.

Heavenly Fiend Douluo used a soul skill to stop the flames from reaching the edge of the arena, his heart in his throat.

Is this still a youth division match? That fire dragon's attack is absurdly strong. Those Sun Moon Empire kids aren't all dead, are they?

Under his anxious gaze, the blue flames of Ultimate Fire slowly parted, revealing the battlefield.

After that single strike from Mega Charizard X, four members of the Sun Moon team had lost all ability to fight. They lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

Only Ma Rulong, who had held out behind his Invincible Shield; Xiao Hongchen, who had turned into molten gold to avoid most of the damage; and Meng Hongchen, who had retreated behind Ma Rulong, remained.

Now it was Chi Hong's turn to smile:

"Well, it's three against three now. Still think you have the advantage?"

Xiao Hongchen pulled his body back together and looked at the terrifying blue fire dragon circling overhead.

Two more ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts waited below, eager to join the fight.

He still refused to admit defeat.

"Bullshit! This is exactly what I wanted. We were saving our trump card to crush your main team, but today, even if we lose, I'm going to beat you!"

Xiao Hongchen gritted his teeth.

Chi Hong clicked his tongue:

"Got some spirit. I haven't finished testing my moves yet, so I hope you last a little longer."

"Mega Charizard X, use Dragon Claw!"