This Wasn't a Shadow Duel

She wanted to say that even for the sake of goals, dreams, and the path ahead, there was no need to go this far.

After all, you only lived once, while your goals and dreams could change many times throughout your life.

The two were equal to some extent, but not entirely.

She desperately wanted Snover to give up on this battle, and she was already trying to make that happen.

She took out Snover's Poké Ball, ready to forcibly recall Snover.

But as if anticipating her move, Snover shook its head at her, then turned back to Agumon, looking fully prepared to fight.

Besides, that mysterious Pokémon was standing right in front of her. Judging by how Agumon had stopped her from checking on Snover earlier, even if she ignored Snover's wishes and threw the ball, she might not be able to recall Snover.

At that moment, Candice was overwhelmed with regret and frustration.

If only I'd spent a little more of the time I wasted on trendy things training or gaining experience through traveling, maybe Snover would be stronger now. Maybe Snover wouldn't be so badly hurt. Maybe Snover would have at least some chance of fighting back?

Or maybe this mysterious Pokémon would still crush Snover anyway?

Candice didn't know, and had no way of knowing. All she could do now was try her hardest.

Not to find a way for Snover to win, but to look for a chance to create an opening, recall Snover, and forcibly end the battle.

Whether Snover would blame her was something to deal with afterward. She would let Snover see how she had changed and understand where she stood.

But that left another problem: how could she create an opening to recall Snover?

There was only one way. Like before, she had to use two wide-area moves to completely obscure everyone's vision.

Obscure Qingliu's vision, obscure the mysterious Pokémon's vision, and... obscure Snover's vision too.

Even if the effect only lasted a moment, that would be enough.

But judging by what had happened earlier, the coverage of two moves probably wasn't enough. This time, she had to try adding a third.

"Snover, hang in there."

Candice wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, tightened her grip on the Poké Ball, and took a deep breath. "Snover, use Leafage around yourself, then Leech Seed."

Green grass-type energy swirled around Snover, enveloping the area for several meters and partially blocking the view.

In a few inconspicuous spots, gaps suddenly opened among the spinning leaves. Green seeds the size of a thumbnail flew out and landed on Agumon.

The seeds then grew rapidly, turning into vines that bound Agumon in place.

"What is this stuff?"

As Candice backed away, she watched the mysterious Pokémon look at the seeds and voice that puzzled question.

Sure enough, this Pokémon could talk.

But that no longer mattered. Whether Agumon hadn't bothered to dodge or had failed to evade them, as long as Leech Seed drained Agumon's stamina and supplied it to Snover, Snover would have enough stamina to use three moves.

Soon, the green vines grown from Leech Seed tightened, binding Agumon firmly as pulses of black-and-red energy flickered along them.

At the same time, faint green energy replenished Snover. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing, and the recovery would continue. It would probably be enough to keep Snover going until all the moves were finished.

"Snover, keep Leafage going, then use Powder Snow to widen the area. Finally, use Icy Wind to whip everything around."

Snover raised its stump-shaped hands, and scattered snowflakes began falling all around. At the same time, Snover took a deep breath and blew a howling gust of freezing wind from its mouth.

Powder Snow fell onto the swirling Leafage, while Icy Wind scattered both moves farther, enveloping the entire surrounding area.

Just as Candice was about to have Snover expand the coverage as far as possible, more and more snowflakes suddenly appeared in the sky.

Unlike the flakes of Powder Snow, which Snover had formed from Ice-type energy, these suddenly appearing snowflakes had clearly defined edges and were falling from the sky.

In other words, this was... the Ability Snow Warning.

"According to the game's mechanics, the weather should change and snow should start falling as soon as Snover enters battle. But it doesn't work that way in reality. Does Snover have to actively trigger it? That makes a lot of sense in the real world."

Qingliu held out a hand and caught a snowflake. It felt pleasantly cool.

"But aside from lowering the temperature and reducing expenditure a little, snowy weather doesn't offer any basic bonuses. So this ends here."

Qingliu looked at Agumon beside him and said, "Don't hold back, Agumon. Use Pepper Breath at full power."

With permission granted, Agumon reached out with both claws and easily tore through the Leech Seed vines, then leaped into the air. Fierce flames blazed in Agumon's mouth, tongues of fire swaying in the wind.

A moment later, a blast of Pepper Breath twice as large as the previous one shot from Agumon's mouth.

There were no surprises. Pepper Breath burned through every leaf, snowflake, and freezing gust in its path. Nothing could stop it.

Even the snowflakes falling under the Ability's influence evaporated in the heat, rapidly disappearing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Candice had just felt that Snover triggering Snow Warning had improved her plan's chances of success. At this sight, the joy on her face froze instantly.

"That earlier attack wasn't even at full power?"

Only now, seeing that blast of fire twice the size of the last, did Candice fall into despair.

An attack with half its power held back had already left Snover near death. If this full-power strike hit Snover now...

Candice didn't dare think any further. She wanted to run over, but her arms and legs had gone weak, leaving her with no strength. Even the Poké Ball couldn't recall Snover from this far away.

"Snover!"

Candice let out a desperate scream.

Hearing her voice, Snover wearily turned to look at Candice. There was no fear of impending death on its face. Instead, Snover slowly broke into a smile.

Then Snover turned back and calmly faced the surging flames.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out. The flames burst violently in midair, scattering into sparks that filled the sky and lit up the surrounding night.

Candice stared blankly at the sight.

Snover, meanwhile, looked utterly confused.

It was just about to hit. Why did it explode?

Before either the human or the Pokémon could process this sudden turn of events, Qingliu's laughter reached them.

"Why do you look like you're saying your final goodbyes? It's just an ordinary battle, not some Shadow Duel."