Chapter 77 — Hidden Lotus!!!

Cynthia wasn't quite right about that.

Rose did set her up, wanting to use her as a stepping stone to raise Galar's prestige.

But he didn't actually lie to her.

Because Sun had indeed been a Pokémon trainer for less than a year.

At nearly thirty meters in the air.

After taking consecutive kicks to its abdomen, Garchomp was in so much pain it was nearly unconscious.

And it began falling downward.

However, Urshifu stayed pressed against Garchomp's back, its eyes gleaming with dangerous ferocity.

Then, Urshifu gathered water in both hands like ropes, binding Garchomp tightly.

"That move is... the one that defeated Raihan!?"

Sonia cried out from the spectator stands.

With water ropes binding Garchomp tight, Urshifu's limbs clung firmly to the ground dragon's body.

As they fell through the air, it spun wildly with Garchomp's body.

"Here it comes! This is the move!"

Raihan said with a grin showing his white teeth, his voice trembling.

"Beat her! Master!"

Hop shouted with a fist pump from the women's waiting room.

Hidden Lotus!!!

When Urshifu slammed Garchomp hard into the ground.

The entire arena shook with a tremendous boom.

Smoke billowed skyward as countless spectators strained to see through it, trying to make out the result.

"What an amazing move."

At the Pokémon Center's public TV, Ash stared in shock with his eyes wide, his face nearly pressed against the screen:

"Who won? Who actually won?"

"Ash! Stand back! No one else can see!"

Misty grabbed Ash's ear and pulled him back beside her.

Did you forget this is a public place?

"Hey hey hey, is Cynthia actually going to lose?"

At the Hoenn League headquarters building in Slateport City.

The current Champion Wallace and his close friend Steven sat together, saying in disbelief.

About five seconds later, Urshifu stumbled out of the smoke.

"Master won!"

Hop pumped her fist excitedly.

Marnie, Gloria, and Sonia all showed expressions of joy.

But in the next moment, Urshifu's expression changed.

It spun around rapidly.

A dragon claw came slashing through, instantly sending Urshifu flying.

Who else could it be but Garchomp!?

"Impossible!!"

Even the normally expressionless Marnie couldn't help but cry out when she saw Garchomp stand up.

That was the ultimate move that defeated Raihan's Dynamaxed Flygon!

Even if it wasn't enough to defeat Cynthia's Garchomp, how could it recover so quickly?

"That last moment, well done by Garchomp."

Leon said with furrowed brows from the announcer's booth.

All the spectators were confused, not understanding what had happened.

At this point, Leon helped replay the footage.

On the big screen, the slow-motion replay showed the final second as Urshifu slammed Garchomp toward the ground.

Just before impact, with about five or six meters left to go.

Garchomp suddenly opened its fangs and released Flamethrower at the ground.

This reduced the impact force and minimized the damage it took!

"As expected of a Champion, such experienced tactics."

Countless young spectators watching on TV sighed in admiration.

Even geniuses like Red and Green had to admit.

Cynthia was too experienced.

"Tch, why does this scene feel so familiar..."

Sun muttered to himself.

Because he remembered something similar from the Johto League Silver Conference, where Ash's opponent's Blaziken had used this move against his Charizard in the finals.

As for the opponent's name, Sun had forgotten - there was no need to remember the names of minor characters.

Unlike in the games where Pokémon only have four moves, and thus generally learn either only special attacks or only physical attacks.

Even though Cynthia's Garchomp specialized in close combat, that didn't mean it couldn't learn special attacks.

Because in reality, Pokémon battles were constantly changing.

No one knew which moves would be needed at what time.

This case was the perfect example.

"Garchomp, Rock Slide!"

Cynthia launched another attack with a wave of her hand.

Basketball-sized boulders gathered above Garchomp's head.

With a great roar, they fell like a storm toward Urshifu.

Seeing this, Urshifu raised both hands to guard its chest, gritting its teeth to endure.

"What's wrong with Urshifu?"

Gloria asked in confusion: "It should be able to easily dodge attacks of that level!"

Hop frowned and guessed: "Is it the side effects?"

...

...

At the battlefield command platform, Cynthia had also noticed this point, narrowing her beautiful eyes:

"It seems the sudden increase in Urshifu's power came at a price. You deserve praise for pushing me this far, but I'm afraid this match is mine."

With that, Cynthia swung her arm forcefully, "Let's end this! Garchomp! Dragon Claw!"

Dark green energy gathered around Garchomp's arms, condensing into two great cleavers as it charged at Urshifu.

"This isn't good! It can't hold on!"

The male Gym Leaders in the waiting room frowned.

Though they weren't close with Sun, he was still representing Galar - they really didn't want to see him lose!

"Getting this far against Cynthia is already impressive."

Meanwhile, Melony and the others in the women's waiting room offered words of comfort.

"Master won't lose!"

Hop shouted defiantly.

Just as Garchomp's cleaver was about to slash Urshifu's nose.

Whoosh!

Urshifu's figure suddenly vanished, causing Garchomp to slash at empty air.

The next instant, Urshifu appeared five meters away from Garchomp.

"W-what?"

Cynthia's mouth opened slightly.

Garchomp's face darkened as it swung its Dragon Claw in pursuit.

However, Urshifu's body moved like flowing water as it dodged sideways.

Each time staying one step ahead of Garchomp's attacks.

"What's going on?!"

Even Diantha watching from the stands had a drop of cold sweat run down her fair cheek.

"H-how does it seem even faster than before?"

"Hey, Cynthia."

Sun suddenly spoke up, drawing her attention.

"When it comes to Pokémon battles, I don't care about winning or losing, and I'm not afraid to lose. There might be trainers who can defeat me in Pokémon battles, but you haven't reached that level."

"But since you were one of my favorite female characters in my past life, I'll let you witness something special - Urshifu's ultimate technique."

Sun said with a smile:

"Second Gate: Gate of Healing, Open!"

Urshifu, originally in an evasive state, hardened its gaze as its right fist burst with brilliant energy.

Million Ton Punch!

Seeing this, Garchomp immediately countered with Dragon Claw!

BOOM!!!

The violent shockwave spread out like a hurricane in all directions.

"Their power is equal!"

Leon called out.

"Third Gate: Gate of Life, Open!"

But when Sun called this out, Leon's expression changed drastically, "No, it's not!"

Urshifu's expression grew increasingly fierce as dark green energy erupted from its body, its fist increasingly overpowering its opponent.

At this point, pain showed on Garchomp's face as well.

BOOM!!

Two seconds later, Urshifu's power completely overwhelmed Garchomp, sending it flying past Cynthia and crashing hard into the arena wall.

"My goodness!"

Iris was completely stunned.

It was her first time seeing Cynthia's Garchomp get knocked flying.

"Here it comes again! Miss Cynthia, be careful!"

Diantha cried out.

Looking at the battlefield, Urshifu, its body burning with dark green energy, charged at Garchomp like an armored battle tank.

"Garchomp! Draco Meteor!"

Cynthia showed fear for the first time in this battle, calling out urgently.

Garchomp, not yet recovered from the ground, quickly gathered energy in its mouth.

The next second, it spat out a small energy sphere that burst with brilliant light, disappearing into the clouds above the arena.

BOOM!

With an explosive sound, the energy ball burst in the sky, transforming into countless small flaming meteors falling toward Urshifu.

"Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain, Open!!"

Sun indicated he was getting fired up too.

"WRAAARGH!!!"

Urshifu let out a great roar.

Even through its fur coat, one could faintly see the veins bulging on its head.

Cynthia across the field, and Sonia, Diantha and others in the stands faintly heard what sounded like bones breaking in Urshifu's body.

But there was no time to think, as waves of water surged all over Urshifu's body.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Consecutive Water Strikes!

Its limbs wildly struck out with bursting water, shattering the falling flaming meteors like tofu, while still rushing at high speed toward Garchomp.

Closer and closer!

Seeing Urshifu approach like a demon god.

Garchomp itself didn't know how many years it had been since it last experienced the feeling known as "fear."

BOOM!!!

With a heavy thud, Urshifu's uppercut connected with Garchomp's chin, sending it flying twenty meters into the air.

"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, Open!!!"

Sun shouted.

The green energy around Urshifu's body exploded like flames, its black and white fur turning red with blood rush.

It bent its knees slightly, then leaped.

The reactive force from the jump blasted a crater three meters wide and one meter deep in the arena floor!

Before Garchomp could react, it found Urshifu appearing above its head with a fierce expression.

A punch smashed into Garchomp's nose bridge, sending it toward the ground again.

But before Garchomp could land (oh my).

Urshifu seemed to step on invisible platforms in the sky, reaching the ground before Garchomp.

Then with another high kick, it struck Garchomp's back, sending it skyward again.

This cycle repeated over and over.

Bang!

Bang!!

Bang!!!

Bang!!!!

Neither the live audience nor those watching the broadcast could see Urshifu's form.

They only saw Garchomp "lying" in midair face up.

Then dozens of afterimages in the air like invisible shells constantly exploding against Garchomp's body.

But if the footage were slowed down tens, no, hundreds of times.

One would see there was actually only one afterimage.

It just seemed like many because of the incredible speed.

"What kind of move is this?"

Even Bea, the fighting-type expert, felt her scalp tingle.

It was terrifying - that Urshifu could move through the air using just leg strength, utilizing the reactive force of the air!

Just as no one knew whether Garchomp had been hit hundreds or thousands of times.

Urshifu appeared again above Garchomp in the air, its water forming rope-like bonds that tightly gripped Garchomp's neck, left hand pulling it in while right hand clenched into a fist.

"Go."

Sun said with a fierce smile:

"Hidden Lotus!!!"

"WRAAARGH!!!!!"

Urshifu's battle cry echoed through the heavens as its straight punch connected squarely with Garchomp's face.

— — —

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