Dynamax transformation

"Are you so sure you've already beaten me?"

Seeing that Chu Xin's fighting spirit remained unbroken, Bai Le had nothing more to say. Battle was the only way forward.

The familiar Scyther emerged from its Poké Ball onto the battlefield. That calm, powerful presence had appeared in Chu Xin's dreams countless times. Now it was time for him to face it head-on.

Chu Xin set Xiao Wu down on the battlefield and calmly watched the Scyther opposite him.

"You're already very strong, but I have to win this match."

Bai Le looked at Chu Xin regretfully, but Chu Xin said nothing. Instead, he calmly watched Scyther. It would appear behind Xiao Wu next-he had learned that from watching countless recordings.

The match began. Scyther vanished from its spot with astonishing speed. When it reappeared, its razor-sharp scythe was already swinging toward Xiao Wu's neck.

It's over. Bai Le closed his eyes. No one could withstand Scyther's attack.

"Xiao Wu, Dynamax!"

Boom! A tremendous crash shook the arena, and a powerful gale swept past Bai Le's face like a typhoon. It nearly knocked him to the ground.

The spectators stopped cheering and began screaming in terror instead, as though they had seen something horrifying.

What had they seen?

Bai Le opened his eyes curiously. All he saw before him was an enormous blue wall.

No, that wasn't a wall. It was Dratini's belly!

Bai Le stiffly raised his head to look at the gigantic Dratini, his mind completely blank.

What was going on? This wasn't in my plan!

Zhuo Yuan could no longer stay seated. He appeared on the battlefield and looked sternly at Chu Xin.

"What's going on here?"

"Dynamax, Director Zhuo. This is my final trump card, and the result of our training. Xiao Wu can use a portion of Dynamax Energy. That's what gave me the confidence to take this fight."

Zhuo Yuan looked at the enlarged Xiao Wu, then turned his stern gaze on Chu Xin.

"Are you sure this Dratini will obey you?"

"Of course. Xiao Wu, say hello to Director Zhuo."

"Wu!" (Hello, little old man.)

At Chu Xin's words, Xiao Wu smiled, lowered its head, and called out beside Zhuo Yuan's ear.

Zhuo Yuan took a deep breath. This still astonished him, but items were indeed allowed in the match. Ultimately, Dynamax Energy was a tool as well.

Zhuo Yuan gave Chu Xin a long, searching look. So this is what gives you the confidence to win the championship?

"The match will continue."

Bai Le, who stood stunned nearby, stared at Zhuo Yuan with wide eyes. Are you sure this still counts as a match?

Look at the size of that monster! Is this a fair match?

Someone's breaking the rules, referee!

Seeing no response from any of the referees, Bai Le could only take a deep breath to steady himself.

"Since the referees aren't objecting, we'll have to keep going. Scyther, use Feint."

Scyther had also been stunned for a while, but it finally attacked at Bai Le's command.

"Xiao Wu, dodge, quick!"

Chu Xin hurriedly directed Xiao Wu. Dynamax Energy might look intimidating, but it only strengthened a Pokémon. It could narrow the enormous gap in strength, not erase it so easily. Besides, Xiao Wu had borrowed only a portion of Dynamax Energy; its Dynamax transformation wasn't even complete.

Xiao Wu moved across the enormous, stadium-sized battlefield. There was still enough room for its Dynamax form to maneuver.

The Dynamax Xiao Wu dodged Scyther's attacks, allowing Bai Le to calm down. It seemed he might not lose this match after all.

Bai Le froze for a moment. Since when had I started thinking I might lose?

As Bai Le regained his composure, Chu Xin began directing Xiao Wu to counterattack.

"Xiao Wu, cover the entire battlefield with Thunder Wave!"

All of Xiao Wu's attacks had been strengthened by Dynamax. An enormous Thunder Wave instantly blanketed the battlefield. Even with its incredible speed, Scyther had to stop and withstand the descending wave.

Bai Le stared at Xiao Wu's Thunder Wave in disbelief. Couldn't this already count as Electric Terrain?

"Now, Xiao Wu! Use Dragon Tail!"

The Dynamax Xiao Wu swung its enormous Dragon Tail at its opponent. Paralyzed by Thunder Wave, Scyther had no way to dodge the blow and could only take it head-on.

"Use Protect! Hang in there, Scyther!"

Protect truly deserved its reputation as an incredible move. Scyther blocked even Xiao Wu's Dynamax-strengthened Dragon Tail.

"Scyther, use Agility."

I can't let that thing land another hit. Even Scyther can't take an attack like that unscathed.

At Bai Le's command, Scyther's speed increased again. Already incredibly fast, it vanished completely from Chu Xin's sight.

"Xiao Wu, surround yourself with Twister."

The Dynamax Xiao Wu enveloped its entire body in a raging Twister. If Scyther wanted to attack, it would have to break through the whirlwind first.

Dynamax had strengthened even Xiao Wu's moves. Not even Scyther could withstand the Twister surrounding its entire body head-on.

And if Scyther approached recklessly, it would not only suffer Twister's attacks but also alert Xiao Wu at its center.

Left with no choice, Scyther stopped moving. Maintaining Agility took a considerable toll on it, so it could only use Wing Attack to wear down Xiao Wu inside the Twister.

Xiao Wu certainly wasn't going to take the attacks without fighting back. It immediately blasted its opponent with Dragon Rage. Amplified by Dynamax, Dragon Rage covered such a wide area that even Scyther couldn't escape entirely with its speed. Still, its Wing Attack made Xiao Wu suffer as well. After all, Xiao Wu's Dynamax was incomplete.

The intense exertion was taking its toll on Scyther too. It was an assassin-type monster built to kill in a single strike, yet its opponent was clearly a tank. Its attacks barely scratched Xiao Wu. Bug-type monsters naturally had relatively low stamina, and this string of exchanges had already left it somewhat exhausted.

Watching from the sidelines, Bai Le was growing anxious too. This can't go on!

"Scyther, Focus Energy!"

Scyther stopped moving and crossed its two scythes in front of its chest. An indescribable aura began to build.

"Now, Xiao Wu! Interrupt it with Extreme Speed!"

After using Extreme Speed, Xiao Wu accelerated instantly and charged straight at Scyther. Bai Le smiled as he watched Xiao Wu rush toward it. This was exactly the moment he had been waiting for.

"Scyther, finish your opponent with Slash!"

Chu Xin realized he had fallen into his opponent's trap, but the outcome was far from decided!

"Xiao Wu, let's settle this! Use Dragon Rush!"

Blue flames wrapped around Xiao Wu as it charged into Scyther's swinging scythes. In the end, both Pokémon collapsed to the ground. Xiao Wu couldn't even maintain its Dynamax form.

"Who won?!"

Standing nearby, Zhuo Yuan swallowed, his eyes fixed on the battlefield.