Chapter 722

It used the combination of Water Pulse and Ice Beam to deal another heavy blow to Charizard.

Almost everyone present believed that Dara and his Articuno were about to win the match.

Even the audience thought so.

They also felt that Charizard at this moment still lacked the strength to challenge a god.

Right now, it should just stay home quietly and cultivate more!

Dara naturally felt the same way.

Victory seemed assured.

He immediately ordered his Articuno to ascend into the air, preparing for the final assault on Charizard!

Yet there is an old saying.

Villains die from talking too much.

Though Dara was not a villain in the traditional sense, on the current battlefield, he *was* the villain!

Faced with such an order.

Ash instantly formulated a counterattack plan in his heart.

"Charizard, fly above Articuno and use Self-Destruct!"

Ash's voice was not loud.

But it carried clearly to Charizard's ears.

Hearing that familiar voice.

Charizard harbored not a shred of doubt.

Even though its wings remained sealed by ice from Ice Beam.

Charizard still flapped its wings and soared!

Flames enveloped Charizard's entire body, melting the ice with searing heat!

And simultaneously pushed Charizard's speed to its absolute limit!

At this final moment, Charizard successfully soared past Articuno!

It turned.

And unleashed Self-Destruct—charged with all its remaining power—straight at Articuno.

In this situation.

Dara remained calm and unruffled.

In his view.

Charizard was merely a guttering candle in the wind.

So what if it used Self-Destruct?

The gap in raw strength could not be bridged by mere moves!

"Articuno, Water Pulse!"

The clashing water and fire erupted into thick white mist.

At this moment.

Everyone's eyes were locked tightly on that cloud of mist.

Afraid of missing even the smallest detail.

And just then.

Articuno burst forth from within the mist.

"Steel Wing!"

At Dara's command.

Articuno—its wings shimmering with silvery metallic light—charged toward Charizard at blinding speed.

As expected.

Charizard was struck again!

Repeated attacks had already left Charizard's body covered in wounds large and small!

"Ash is truly fascinating—I haven't met a trainer as confident as you in a long time, daring to challenge my Articuno head-on.

Still, the ultimate victor of this battle will be me. Articuno, deliver the final Steel Wing!"

With that, he fell silent.

Dara stood with arms crossed!

In his mind, this battle was as good as won!

So long as nothing unexpected happened, nothing *would* happen!

Yet surprises always strike when least expected!

Just as everyone believed Dara and Articuno were certain to win!

Only Ash and Charizard were searching for victory amid this desperate situation.

Watching Articuno draw ever closer.

Ash suddenly had a flash of inspiration!

"Charizard, take Articuno's attack!"

This cryptic command left everyone baffled.

But only Charizard grasped Ash's intention.

It obeyed Ash's order without reservation.

Even as its stamina neared exhaustion, Charizard summoned its very last ounce of strength to seize Articuno's wings!

Right there, under the watchful eyes of everyone present.

Articuno's body was forcibly halted by Charizard!

"It's always like this! Charizard unleashes its final finishing move—the Earthquake Drop!"

As the words left his mouth,

Charizard firmly seized the Articuno before it.

Then, with a sharp spin, both hurtled downward toward the ground!

The already considerable height, combined with Charizard's continuous rotational use of its own weight,

made this Earthquake Drop immensely powerful!

"Keen—!"

Articuno's mournful cry echoed throughout the Battle Factory.

With the final thunderous impact, the battle had reached its conclusion.

This time, there were no surprises!

Ash's Charizard had successfully defeated Dara's Articuno!

And this victory also heralded Charizard's growth!

Even when trapped in a desperate situation,

even when victory seemed utterly out of reach!

Ash and Charizard still managed to find hope within that despair, relying solely on their own perseverance!

Perhaps it was due to the bond between the two.

Perhaps it was due to the trust they placed in each other!

Ash and Charizard succeeded in defeating that seemingly unreachable opponent!

And after this victory,

Ash embraced Charizard tightly.

Together, they celebrated this hard-won moment!

Ash also smoothly obtained the Knowledge Badge!

【Dan Di: Absolutely brilliant! I never imagined Charizard's growth journey would be so convoluted—it's truly unimaginable. But the final outcome is positive; those twists and turns only deepen the bond between Ash and Charizard.】

【Cynthia: Ash, never betray your partner—they're the ones who'll walk beside you until the very end.】

【Caroline: Do you mean what you just said? Are you giving up on Ash? Then I won't hold back!】

【Cynthia: Act like a decent person—day in and day out, all you do is spout nonsense like that.】

【Gardio: Though I really wanted to chime in this time, I must say—Charizard is truly outstanding. If I'm not mistaken, counting from Charmander onward, Charizard's entire growth arc—from hatching to defeating Articuno—took less than half a year.

Half a year! What can one even accomplish in half a year? Yet in just six months, Ash has raised a Pokémon capable of slaying gods!】