Dian suddenly flung the Poké Ball in his hand. It spiraled to the highest point of its arc, and with a flash of red light, a blue figure leaped out, appearing silently at one end of the field...
The Pokémon stood quietly among the grass like a spirit of ice and snow. Frost raced outward in every direction, freezing everything around it.
It was Glaceon!
Across the field, as a smile spread across Tobias's face, an elegant figure straight out of myth appeared, radiating an intense chill of its own. "Kreee!"
Blue wings formed of ice, a long tail shimmering like a banner with strange light—the graceful legend of ice, Articuno!
Countless falling leaves were shattered by the two clashing waves of cold.
"One of the Legendary Birds, Articuno." Dian glanced at the two currents of cold colliding on the field. Their unseen battle had already begun.
Trees that had been bursting with life froze in an instant, only to be torn into icy fragments by the wind that followed.
In mere seconds, nothing remained of the Forest Field. It had become a silent graveyard of ice.
"Oh! Besides Darkrai and Latios, Tobias also has one of the legendary three birds—Articuno!" Host Takeshi trembled with excitement. "The first match of the Semifinals opens with a battle of ice! Who will claim victory? Let's find out!"
The referee saw ice sweeping toward him from both sides and promptly retreated beyond the protective barrier, his expression grave. "Begin!"
"Finish it in one hit!" Tobias swept a hand forward. "Ancient Power!"
"Kreee!" Articuno let out a cry that rang through the sky. Dense clusters of rocks appeared before it...
"Go." Tobias's eyes, hidden beneath his hair, were utterly indifferent.
With a legendary Pokémon as powerful as Articuno using a Rock-type move that was