After being bathed in a vast amount of fairy-type energy, the petals finally opened.
The Eternal Flower bloomed, and a dazzling Light of Ruin engulfed the entire battlefield.
Slaking was naturally caught in the Light of Ruin as well. Its terrifying power erupted, rapidly draining his HP by a quarter.
Following close behind Diancie's attack was the Toxic poison inside Slaking. The toxins flared up again, even more violently this time.
Diancie had knocked Slaking's remaining half of his HP down to a quarter. The Toxic poison had already been capable of dealing damage equal to a quarter of his HP, and this time, it would only be stronger.
The terrifying toxins erupted, staining Slaking's entire body a dark purple.
The outcome was exactly as Zhang Cheng had expected. The deadly poison wiped out all of Slaking's remaining HP.
Slaking, who had been resting, passed out on the spot and collapsed to the ground, unable to battle.
"Come back, Slaking." Du Ling recalled Slaking with a hint of regret.
"Diancie, thanks for your hard work too. Come back." Zhang Cheng took out a Poké Ball and recalled Diancie.
"You're really strong. I have no complaints about losing to you," Du Ling said, looking at Zhang Cheng.
"Your Slaking is strong too. Without Toxic and Diancie's high defense, winning wouldn't have been so easy," Zhang Cheng said honestly.
"Haha." Du Ling laughed. "A loss is a loss. It's no big deal. What matters in a match is the result, not how you get there."
Zhang Cheng nodded at Du Ling's words. That really was how matches worked. No one cared about the process; winning was what mattered.
After finishing his sparring match with Du Ling, Zhang Cheng went to the training facility's Treatment Room to have his Pokémon's injuries treated.
Zhang