"Next up is the final match of the second round: Mr. Luo Chenye from Unova versus Mr. Liu Qing from Kanto! Both contestants, please take the field!" Before anyone knew it, the battlefield had been restored, and Zhuguang's voice rang out through the venue.
"Everyone, wait for me to come back!" Liu Qing said confidently to Han Ye and the others. With that, he strode toward the battlefield. At the same time, Luo Chenye emerged from the opposite side.
"He's still as cocky as ever!" Han Ye grumbled, watching Liu Qing's retreating back.
"There's nothing we can do about that. I hate to admit it, but Liu Qing is far stronger than I am. He won't lose to Luo Chenye, who's on the same level as me!" Daichi Misawa said bitterly.
"He certainly won't lose!" Zuo Jie declared. Just as the others turned to him, waiting to hear his reasoning, he added, "Because he can only lose to me!"
"What a show-off!" Han Ye burst out laughing. Shui Nai covered her mouth, giggling so hard that her shoulders shook and drew glances from quite a few spectators.
"Hmph!" Zuo Jie snorted and turned his gaze to the battlefield.
"Soar through the sky, Sigilyph!" After Mayor Yuantai repeated the match rules, Luo Chenye threw his Poké Ball first. With a birdlike cry, Sigilyph appeared in midair, flapping its wings.
"Chandelure, I'm counting on you!" Liu Qing threw his Poké Ball right after him. As it opened, Chandelure appeared in midair, its deep blue flames blazing fiercely. Yet rather than radiating heat, it seemed to cast a sinister chill over the entire battlefield. Liu Qing put away the Poké Ball and folded his arms across his chest, his expression utterly calm.
"Chandelure, huh? Yes, that's the Pokémon he caught in Unova during