Chapter 1426

Rumble!

Mega Lucario Z's expression was stern; its arms shifted from being held level to raised high, and from one became two.

Around it, azure Aura power frantically converged, the light sphere formed growing step by step until it far exceeded its own body size.

In an instant, dazzling flocculent energy churned wildly inside the sphere, exuding a world-destroying might, and even stirred up a large amount of dust that wound around its surface.

Viewed from afar, it was like a blue giant sphere suspended in midair; the intense pressure was simply suffocating.

"Awoo..."

Mega Lucario let out a low growl, straining to control this Aura Sphere brewed to its limit.

Zhulan fell silent; she needed to defeat Cong Youbing thoroughly, so the power of this Aura Sphere was very important — she would accumulate it as long as possible, as large as possible, even if it became as big as the pit in the middle!

Exclamations rose continuously from the stands; the announcer also shouted loudly: "Lucario unleashing Aura with full power! Scale comparable to a G-Max Move!"

At the same time, Cong Youbing lowered its head, gazing intently at its treasured scallion leaf shield.

Countless days and nights, it had slept embracing sword and shield; even when its own body was covered in dust, it would maintain them first.

However, the scallion leaf shield shattered.

Shattered along with it was its fighting spirit.

"Gah..."

Cong Youbing's heart kept palpitating, as if seized by an invisible giant hand; even the sandstorm assaulting its body could not make it react in the slightest.

Brilliant light enveloped it from above; it couldn't help but raise its head to look at the giant Aura Sphere that nearly swallowed its entire field of vision, its eyes bewildered.

Having lost its crucial shield, could it still defeat such a powerful opponent?

Just as Cong Youbing felt quite bewildered and was about to fall into self-denial, Satoshi's voice suddenly reached its ears.

Urgent yet exceptionally forceful.

"Cong Youbing!"

"Calm down! Don't forget you once had only a single sword! Don't rely on the shield! You can do it!"

When Cong Youbing was still a Farfetch'd, it held nothing but a single large scallion in its hand.

"—Gah!"

One sentence awakened the dreaming duck.

Cong Youbing suddenly remembered the past — that self who held a single large scallion, defeated all comers under heaven, and even when facing enemies difficult to contend with, still kept its fighting spirit high!

Without a shield, it was still the unyielding Cong Youbing!

"Meteor Assault!!"

"Gah——!!"

Cong Youbing let out a furious roar that resounded through the whole venue; its body was suddenly shrouded in golden-red light.

Then the radiance poured entirely into the scallion sword in its hand, plating it with a layer of dazzling golden light film; within the film were mixed faint brownish-red light halos, like the seven-colored rainbow light reflected by sunlight!

The next moment.

Cong Youbing raised its long sword and charged forward; its figure was instantly submerged in golden-red flowing light, transforming into a brilliant meteor!

Hum!!

The meteor, with the momentum of tearing across the sky, rushed toward the super-giant Aura Sphere!

Its fearless posture was like light cavalry charging an artillery position; even if it would be easily crushed by this one strike, there was not the slightest hesitation, only the determination to pierce through it!

And Mega Lucario Z likewise no longer accumulated the scale of the super-giant Aura Sphere; a fierce glint flashed in its eyes, and its arms exerted force violently!

"Awoo!"

Amidst a deep roar, this super-giant Aura Sphere, like a blue black hole, was pushed fiercely toward Cong Youbing!

Boom!

Like a towering great mountain collapsing in an instant, a terrifying rumble reverberated through the arena; before it, Cong Youbing's Meteor Assault was simply like a small twig, to be effortlessly crushed.

However, Cong Youbing's gaze remained firm; both its wings gripped the scallion sword simultaneously, and the power running through its entire body stabbed fiercely toward the giant Aura Sphere!

Boom——!!

The giant Aura Sphere slammed into the scallion sword; the Aura power contained within completely erupted, violent force sweeping in like a tsunami, fiercely battering Cong Youbing transformed into a meteor!

In merely an instant, the golden-red radiance was weakened by several dimensions, as if worn away, rapidly dimming.

Cong Youbing was knocked back several meters by the shockwave, its feet carving deep gullies.

"Hmph..."

It let out a low muffled groan.

The blinding light produced by the collision swallowed the vision of all spectators; Satoshi in the arena was no exception — he raised a hand to shield his eyes, yet could understand the perilous situation Cong Youbing was in at this moment.

He seemed to see Cong Youbing desperately bracing the scallion sword, body trembling violently, muscles taut. Facing such an exaggerated Aura Sphere, even with its Meteor Assault amplified a second time, it would be very difficult to break through—

Yes.

It is very difficult.

But not impossible!

Regardless of whether Cong Youbing could hear his voice, Satoshi shouted at the top of his lungs: "Go! Cong Youbing! Pierce through it!"

"Gah!!"

Cong Youbing responded in a loud voice, clutching the scallion sword tightly without letting go; even though it was like a speck in the vast ocean, it still exhausted all its strength resisting the giant Aura Sphere's impact.

Break through it!

Break through!

Cong Youbing's eyes were resolute; even knowing the giant Aura Sphere's power was enough to devour it, its legs still exerted force without pause.

The golden-light-shining scallion sword pointed straight at the Aura Sphere's core; every inch contained a determination to fight with one's back to the wall, every step carried an unyielding will.

At this moment, it was as if Cangxiang descended upon its body; the invincible Sword King bestowed it power — the scallion sword, carrying keen sharpness, let out a piercing friction sound, and began to advance forward!

The super-giant Aura Sphere trembled violently, its spiraling energy patterns beginning to fall into chaos and distort.

"Right now!"

Satoshi keenly sensed it, letting out a shout that was nearly a voice crack.

Negigame followed with a battle cry, the Negi-White Sword in its hand piercing straight through and stabbing viciously into the core, causing it to explode with a boom like a bomb, pale blue Aura flying and scattering in all directions like a sky full of blue sparks, the scene shocking to the extreme!

And at the moment it shattered the Aura Sphere, Negigame's figure did not pause in the slightest; borrowing the inertia of Meteor Assault, it charged fiercely straight at Mega Lucario Z!

The Negi-White Sword in its hand still shimmered with golden-red light, carrying the remnants of Meteor Shine, and in the other's unbelieving gaze, it sliced across Mega Lucario Z's body like a flashing sword beam.

"Awoo—"

Mega Lucario Z attempted to dodge, but failed, forced to watch as Negigame's blade carved across its body.

Bang!

Golden-red radiance and pale blue Aura mixed with smoke, rumbling as they released into the sky, forming a towering mushroom cloud; a massive shockwave followed, shaking the audience stands, blocked by the protective barrier.

The dust and smoke lingered for a long time; the audience inside and outside the arena gazed concernedly below, waiting for the result.

*Whoosh~*

A gentle breeze blew in.

The smoke gradually dispersed, revealing before everyone two Pokémon standing back to back.

Negigame stood on the left side of the sunken field; Takehito happened to be able to see it, seeing those bright, spirited large eyes.

Meanwhile, Mega Lucario Z's body swayed slightly, suddenly pitching forward.

"Truly…"

She couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "A Pokémon of extraordinary perseverance!"

As her words fell, Mega Lucario Z stepped forward with its right foot, steadying its tottering body.

"Awoo!"

Its voice was full of pain and endurance.

Yet Negigame did not move at all, even as Satoshi called out to it in panic.

Deng Pei entered the field in turn.

After confirmation, Deng Pei raised a hand and declared: "Negigame is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"

*Clamor! *

The entire audience erupted in an uproar!

It clearly broke through the super-giant Aura Sphere, yet ultimately couldn't defeat the opponent — simply a tragic song!

The host sighed: "Negigame lost consciousness while standing! Absolutely refusing to let anyone see its fallen figure… what an admirable spirit of chivalry!"

On the big screen, Negigame's unyielding, unfallen expression was clearly imprinted.

Countless sighs of regret and applause rang out; in the backyard of Professor Okido's laboratory, the Pokémon had faces full of heartache, crying out in distress.

Hanako clasped her fists, murmuring softly, "Satoshi…"

Professor Okido comforted her: "Don't worry! He definitely has no problem! There's still Pikachu!"

These words lifted the spirits of the many Pokémon.

That's right!

There's still Pikachu!

In the waiting room, Queen Leiguanwang spoke in a low tone: 'I should have favored Takehito, but this time I hope even more that Negigame wins!'

Negigame's unyielding, fearless momentum truly infected this little deer.

Baimu expressed neither agreement nor disagreement.

He naturally also felt it was a pity; if only Mega Lucario Z weren't so durable.

Logically speaking, a Pokémon with both speed and fierce output shouldn't have especially outstanding defense—

As expected, is it still because of Aura?

He had largely guessed the reason Mega Lucario Z managed to hold on.

After all, Takehito had once shown him the sight of Mega Lucario Z letting Aura flow freely inside and outside its body at will.

Perhaps Mega Lucario Z relies on this move for defense.

Baimu's gaze lowered, locking onto the battlefield.

At this moment, Takehito was exhaling lightly; Mega Lucario Z barely straightened its body.

"A fluke."

"Awoo."

Just as Baimu guessed, at the critical moment, the unavoidable Mega Lucario Z clad the point of Negigame's attack with Aura.

Greatly reducing the impact force of Meteor Assault.

However, even so, Mega Lucario Z's current condition could be described as precarious.

Being able to penetrate the super-giant Aura Sphere and strike this far, Negigame's strength made her sigh with emotion; she couldn't imagine if it were Garchomp here, whether it would have been directly defeated.

She spoke: "Calm down! Lucario!"

"Awoo!"

Mega Lucario Z strove to steady its breathing, but the pain from its chest to its ribs made it frown from time to time.

If one says attacks in the Pokémon world were a bit more "real," right now its ribs would most likely have a massive wound; fortunately it was a type-energy attack, which to a greater extent caused only stamina depletion.

Not far away.

"... Return! Negigame!"

Satoshi recalled it into its Ball, took a deep breath, and said: "Thank you, Negigame, you were already amazing."

Without its crucial shield, facing Mega Lucario Z's super-giant Aura Sphere and still achieving this much, Negigame had already proven itself, and thoroughly burned itself out.

Although it's a bit regrettable, the match isn't over yet!

He lifted his head and looked toward the distant Zhu Lan and Super Lucario Z, the host's voice echoing across the battlefield.

"Ash has only one Pokémon left, while Zhu Lan still has two—how will the match ultimately turn out? Let's wait and see!"

"Pikachu! I'm counting on you!"

Ash shouted loudly.

With only Pikachu remaining, he had no choice, but he still tightly gripped a crucial card in his hand—

Z-Move!

"Pika!"

Pikachu leapt into the pit.

At this moment, the sandstorm on the battlefield had nearly dissipated, no longer affecting it.

On the contrary, the crater-ridden battlefield itself posed a certain hindrance to Pikachu, which could only run close to the ground.

The final battle officially began.

Zhu Lan's gaze fell upon Pikachu in the pit, and she commanded: "Aura Sphere!"

"Roar!"

Super Lucario Z gathered aura once again—this time, for a swift attack, it didn't overcharge, merely forming two head-sized sapphire-blue energy orbs, which it suddenly hurled at Pikachu!

The Aura Spheres whistled through the air, precisely flanking Pikachu from both sides.

"Flash!"

Ash's command came slightly late, but Pikachu's movement was no slower—at the moment its hind legs pushed off the ground, its entire body was enveloped in dazzling white light, flashing like lightning to evade the two Aura Spheres' pincer attack.

Boom!

Smoke and dust rose!

Zhu Lan shouted loudly: "Extreme Speed!"

"Roar!"

Super Lucario Z followed suit, transforming into a similarly gleaming white light, charging toward the incoming Pikachu—the two collided at a frequency too high for the naked eye to follow, continuously erupting milky-white shockwaves!

Clearly both were using Flash and Extreme Speed, yet at this moment their speeds were nearly equal?

The host shouted: "The two Pokémon are engaged in fierce combat! This is a battle too fast for the eyes to track!"

In an instant.

After the final collision between the two Pokémon, each had reached one side of the deep pit.

"Vacuum Wave!"

"Iron Tail!"

Zhu Lan and Ash issued their commands simultaneously.

Super Lucario Z swung its fists in midair, brownish-red light waves coiling around them, forming successive brownish-red air waves that smashed toward Pikachu one after another—so fast as lightning, dazzling to the eye.

But to Pikachu, this move was still no big deal.

Only see it raise its tail, wrapped in silvery-white steel light, facing the incoming brownish-red air waves—it leapt up instantly, twisted its body to emit a sharp tearing sound, and shattered them.

Bang bang bang bang!

Pikachu, like a master swordsman slicing through flying objects, perfectly absorbed all attacks unleashed by Super Lucario Z, and even closed in rapidly.

Zhu Lan: "Close combat!"

"Roar!"

Super Lucario Z swiftly shifted from special attack to physical attack, its fists wrapped in gang wind as it lunged toward Pikachu—the fists heavily struck Pikachu's leaping Iron Tail slash, the point of contact seeming to have crackling electricity surging outward!

"Pika—Chu!"

Pikachu suddenly let out a explosive shout—Super Lucario Z could no longer defend, forced to block with both arms, losing balance and half-kneeling to the ground.

Even after multiple uses of Close Combat, no matter how skilled Zhu Lan is, Super Lucario Z's defensive power will decline—now it's merely relying on aura to stubbornly hold on.

But stubborn resistance has its own way!

"Roar!"

Super Lucario Z unwilling to yield let out an angry roar, fists suddenly flung wide, sideways like a bull charging, it unleashed the move, sending Pikachu flying.

Seeing this, Ash showed no hesitation, tossing his baseball cap flying over!

"Pikachu!"

It's time!

Use the Z-Move!