Before the two of them, the tall, slender Greninja faced off against Infernape, whose head blazed with the flames of fighting spirit.
Both Pokémon's eyes brimmed with countless feelings. Behind them stood the Trainers who had accompanied them this far. For a moment, each saw a shadow of the other's earliest self.
"Then let's settle this here." Cheng Tian swept his arm out.
"Yes." Bai Yun nodded. The flames on Infernape's head shot several lengths higher again.
Types that countered each other, wills that refused to yield, and determination that both held fast to.
The two boys had shed their childishness and stepped onto a stage watched by countless eyes. At this moment, they would fight for their youth.
The victor would be crowned here.
Without precise commands, both sides had already begun to move. Dozens of Greninja began attacking Infernape from every direction.
Infernape had a fiery temper, yet now he was remarkably steady. He restrained his restless heart and kept watching the Greninja attacking him.
He knew Greninja well and had his own way of distinguishing him from his Double Team copies.
All the shadow copies formed Water Shuriken at the same time, but only one flipped his Water Shuriken out!
"Yaka!"
In the blink of Greninja's eye, Infernape had charged before him with astonishing momentum, opening his left fist into a palm and striking his chest. The Water Shuriken in Greninja's hand vanished in an instant.
Fake Out!
Infernape grinned smugly, driving his right fist into Greninja's waist at a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to follow. It was Mach Punch.
"Koga!" Before Infernape could withdraw his left palm, Greninja seized it. Though the pain in his abdomen made him bare his teeth, Greninja erupted into Steam Mode even in that state and lashed out