Everything Lance had said drove like a nail into Liu Qing's heart, forcing him to look back on everything he had experienced since setting out on his journey. He had to admit that Lance was right. His path really did seem to have been smooth sailing all the way.
After reaching the Champion Realm, Liu Qing had only battled Xun Chaoze and Cynthia, two Pokémon Trainers who had just become Champions. Leaving aside the older generation of Champion-class Trainers, even among his peers there were Steven Stone, now twenty-six, who had been the first to reach the Champion Realm and become Hoenn's Elite Four Champion; Lance, now twenty-five, who had broken through soon afterward and become Kanto's Dragon-type Elite Four member and Johto's Elite Four Champion; Wallace of Chimori, now twenty-four, who had become a Champion and succeeded Steven as Hoenn's Elite Four Champion; and Riley Stone, also twenty-four, the husband of Liu Qing's cousin Lorelei. All of them were seasoned Champions, yet he had never battled any of them!
At that thought, Liu Qing involuntarily clenched his fists. Will I lose?! No, I refuse! Even if I've never battled the other Champions, I still have to win! I will win this battle!
Suddenly, Liu Qing raised his head and looked at Aerodactyl in the air. A phantom image had already emerged from its body, gathering and merging before its mouth into an enormous ball of light. Aerodactyl swallowed it whole, then drew its head back, thrust it forward, and opened its huge jaws. A dazzling beam erupted forth, sending powerful waves of air surging across the sky as it shot toward the Aerodactyl falling below.
"Ancient Power at this level looks incredibly powerful!" Jun shouted in shock from the stands. "If that hits, Archen is finished!"
"Archen, I believe