Po Town, the battlefield.
Li Wei, Professor Kukui, and the others watched from the sidelines, while Tapu Bulu circled overhead.
Did that mean this was destined to be no ordinary match?
"One more time, Brick Break!"
"Persian, Fake Out!"
"Lycanroc, Accelerock!"
"Persian, Night Slash!"
After several rounds of exchanges,
both sides had taken considerable damage.
As the charging Persian was knocked into the sky by Stone Edge...
Ash turned his cap backward.
"Now, Accelerock!"
Lycanroc pushed its speed to the limit, becoming a streak of light that slammed into the airborne Persian!
"Jump up and use Brick Break!"
Lycanroc leaped up and brought a hand chop packed with Fighting-type energy crashing down from above!
Under Ash's direction, Lycanroc pulled off a perfect combo, a slick three-hit aerial assault.
"Ooh-"
"That looked like it hurt!"
Bang-
Dazed by the three consecutive blows, Persian fell like a kite with its string cut,
slamming into the battlefield hard enough to leave a crater. Its eyes turned into spirals, and it could no longer battle.
Acerola loudly announced the result.
"Persian is unable to battle! The winner of the Island Challenge is-the challenger, Ash!"
"We did it, Lycanroc!"
"Pika!"
Ash and Pikachu rushed onto the field and hugged the exhausted Lycanroc tightly. Torracat and Rowlet, who had been watching, then rushed onto the field too.
"Tapu-lulu~"
Tapu Bulu scattered life energy from above, helping both sides recover their strength.
Nanu recalled Persian and walked over to Ash.
"Congratulations on passing the Island Kahuna's trial."
"As proof that you've passed..."
Nanu casually pulled a Z-Crystal from his trouser pocket. "Oh, not this one."
He did not present the Darkinium Z-Crystal as expected.
Nanu tossed the Darkinium Z-Crystal he had pulled out back into his pocket.
Then he took out a unique Z-Crystal that glowed ocher,