Pokémon Detective Case Files.

The command of the Great Leaf King was wise, but unfortunately his opponent was named Bamboo Orchid, and the move he used was called "Aura Missile"!

The long-eared rabbit retreated backward, its legs unleashing unprecedented potential as it sensed the terrifying power of the "wave missile." With a few swift movements of its long legs, it dodged erratically to various parts of the arena.

However, the two waveguide orbs in front of them, which were equipped with tracking and claimed to have a guaranteed hit effect, turned at the same time before landing, creating a near 90-degree right angle zigzag line, and continued to chase the fleeing rabbit.

No matter where the long-eared rabbit hides or how fast it hides, the two "wave missiles" always follow closely behind, like an inescapable shadow.

Boom! Boom!

The Fighting-type "Aura Sphere" is extremely effective against Normal-type Bunny.

The chase was thrilling, but the long-eared rabbit didn't last even half a minute. Two loud explosions followed, and the long-eared rabbit, already unconscious and with its fur torn and tattered, collapsed in front of the Fire-type Elite Four member.

Meanwhile, Tokis, who was still "Winged" in the distance, had already fully recovered his stamina.

"You noticed Togekiss's little tricks in the sky a long time ago?"

Azure looked at Hugo in disbelief, never expecting that this unlucky detective with a special physique would also have such amazing talent in combat tactics.

“No, no, no, how could I possibly know so much about such things as combat?” Hugo saw through Azure’s thoughts and shook his head to explain, “I just thought that Zhu Lan’s poker face at the time was a bit strange, as if she was hiding some kind of conspiracy.”

Azure then remembered the close-up shots of the two trainers' faces that were shown alternately during the TV broadcast breaks.

“Once Zhu Lan gets angry, she won’t calm down easily. Defeating the exhausted Duckbill Flame Beast won’t quell her rage.” Hugo rolled his eyes and continued nonchalantly, “Just watch, that woman will only get stronger as the fight goes on, and the battle will be over soon.”

On the screen, Cynthia recalls her fully healed Togekiss and replaces it with Garchomp, which is also at its peak health.

Da Ye, with a grim face, recalled his Lopunny and sent out Arcanine to fight—his second-to-last Pokémon, and defeat was almost certain.

Arcanine roared to the sky as it entered the scene, activating its "Intimidate" ability. Garchomp, which had been emotionally unstable due to being switched out twice, was visibly stunned.

The other earth dragon behind Hugo flicked its tail in dissatisfaction, and the detective quickly spoke up to soothe it, touching the golden cross pattern on its snout—

"Alright, alright, don't take it personally with a junior. After all, it's still relatively inexperienced and can't completely ignore a Heavenly King-level 'Intimidation' skill..."

As Bilan watched the Earth Dragon, champion of Bamboo Orchid, gradually calm down under the detective's persuasion, she couldn't help but stick out her tongue and smile bitterly, feeling that a certain guess in her heart was so obvious that there was no need to ask.

In the challenge arena—

"Sword Dance."

"Use 'Will-o'-the-Wisp' at close range!"

Cyndaquil and Bigleaf gave the order simultaneously once again, and the young Garchomp brandished its sharp bone spikes, its slightly waning fighting spirit rising again. Meanwhile, Arcanine rapidly approached its opponent on flames, a tricky crimson flame climbing onto Garchomp's body.

"Dragon Claw."

Cyndaquil Champion seemed oblivious to the negative status effect Arcanine had applied to Garchomp, her tone of command remaining completely unmoved.

In order to ensure that the move would hit its mark, Arcanine had already rushed close to Garchomp. Faced with its prey delivered to its doorstep, Garchomp raised its azure scythe-shaped dragon arm without hesitation.

A silver-blue light shone from the twisted dragon claw in the opposite direction, and a hand slash with skill effects was swung out at a speed that could not be detected by the naked eye. It struck the back of the orange-red dog's head, which was hidden under its mane, and immediately made a crisp bang.

Hit the vital point!

Does it sound good? If it sounds good, then it's a good start.

Garchomp retracted the power of its "Dragon Claw" attack, casually flicked it in the air, and easily took a few more steps forward, creating distance between itself and Arcanine. It was as if a martial arts swordsman, after a decisive blow to his enemy, was calmly shaking off the blood from his deadly sword.

Behind it, the Growlithe staggered a few steps in the opposite direction, and finally collapsed to the ground, unable to hold on any longer.

Da Ye sighed softly. Knowing Garchomp's strength, he had prepared himself mentally, but he didn't expect that the battle would end in just one round.

Is it really as expected of the championship main force that dominated the league? With just one enhancement, their attack power has been increased to this extent.

A drop of tree sap slid from Garchomp's mouth; it was a Woodberry, capable of removing status ailments and confusion. At this moment, there wasn't a trace of burn on Garchomp's body.

Just as Da Ye was falling into despair, the figure of Arcanine lying on the ground moved almost imperceptibly, causing Garchomp, which had its back to Arcanine, to turn around warily again.

Whether it's Garchomp's power or Arcanine's resilience, Pokémon always exceed human expectations.

"We haven't burned out yet!"

Seeing hope rekindled, the Fire-type Elite Four member raised his fists, encouraging Arcanine as it struggled to its feet.

"The fiery hound of ancient mythology! A loyal companion to humankind since time immemorial! My proud partner! Arise! Prove your pride to the world!"

"Awooo!"

Responding to its trainer's wishes, Arcanine leaped up with difficulty. Although its body was still unsteady, heat rose from its body, and its fiery mane stretched out in the air.

When faced with a formidable foe, its eyes blazed with fury, ready to unleash a desperate, life-or-death strike at any moment.

"Brought back to life!"

The Fire-type Elite Four's command resounded through the sky, and Arcanine's body simultaneously emitted white light and flames!

Zhu Lan nodded slightly, and at the same time extended her right hand, palm down, and gave the order—

"Great fighting spirit, but that's enough for now. Garchomp, 'Scale Shot'."

Garchomp obeyed the command, raising its scythe-like arms horizontally, then suddenly swung them, sending several azure scales flying forward.

With ghostly movements, the Arcanine deftly treads the ground with its four legs, sometimes leaping into the air and sometimes crouching, managing to dodge all the high-speed scales that popped out and reattach itself to the front of the Garchomp.

The "Resurrection" ability, which increases in power as the stamina decreases, is about to activate! In Arcanine's current state, it can severely damage even a Garchomp like Garchomp!

"Could the scales have a spinning function?" Having just eaten Togekiss's "Aura Sphere," Da Ye was still shaken, but when he looked behind him, he didn't see anything.

Suddenly, the champion woman's cold voice entered my ears—

"Looking around during a match is not a good habit. You should pay more attention to what's in front of you than what's behind you."

What does this mean? Da Ye was on high alert, but it was too late.

As Arcanine stomped down with its last stomp, it abruptly stopped, about to unleash a powerful attack, its eyes blazing with fury as it stared incredulously at the Garchomp right in front of it.

Garchomp nodded proudly, indicating its acceptance of the other party's will, but that was the end of it.

A hush fell over the arena. The initial fervor receded like a receding tide, leaving only the cold and unyielding powerhouse standing firm.

The large-leafed Arcanine fell, a gleaming scale embedded in the palm of its forepaw where it had stepped onto the ground.

It turns out that when Garchomp used its move, it deliberately hit one of its scales on the ground in front of it and slightly adjusted its body, forcing Arcanine to place its front paws on it.

Normally, a "Scale Shot" attack that has already landed cannot cause damage a second time. But don't forget this second-generation earth dragon's new characteristic—

"Rough skin!"

When attacked, rough skin will injure the opponent who comes into contact with it.

[Bonus Chapter] The Road to Victory for King Ye (The End)

Currently, Bigleaf only has one Pokémon left, while Cynthia has four Pokémon with plenty of stamina, two of which have never even appeared before. The outcome of the competition seems to be already decided.

However, the journey of a hundred miles is only half complete at ninety. The blonde champion did not relax at all, quietly watching the Garchomp in the center of the platform rub its claws, conserving its energy for the final fierce battle to come—she did not want to become the villain in a thrilling story of a desperate counterattack.

Now that the battle has progressed this far, anyone familiar with the Sinnoh League knows what Elite Four member's last Pokémon will be.

Just like Cyndaquil's Garchomp, Kikuno's Hippowdon, Aru's Heracross, and Wusong's Bronze, Infernape is the representative Pokémon of this Fire-type Elite Four member. Facing Cyndaquil's challenge for the Champion title, that well-trained monkey with flames as fiery as a star cannot be absent.

As the referee began the countdown, Da Ye scratched his red afro, sighed softly, and tossed the last Poké Ball to his side.

"Infernape, I'm at my wit's end now." Facing his partner, Da Ye made no attempt to hide his predicament.

The Fire-type Elite Four member's candid words were amplified worldwide via a microphone placed beside him, and the arena fell silent. Cynthia, with great composure, refrained from making the first move, allowing Elf to deliver her pre-battle speech to the last participating Pokémon.

"My good luck was exhausted in the battle against the Rockruff, my strategy was seen through in the self-destruction of the Wind Ball, my anger was vented with the defeat of Magmortar, my trump cards were shattered by the absolute power of Cyndaquil and Togekiss, and even my last fighting spirit was burned out with Arcanine's counterattack..."

"Now, all I can rely on is you, my partner."

The response to Da Ye was a loud gibbon cry—

"Wow!"

The flames on Infernape's head suddenly erupted, changing from dark red to orange-yellow, and gradually turning into bright white—a sign that the temperature was gradually rising.

The thunderous drumming began without warning, as if the ape's claws, seemingly adorned with golden gloves, pounded against its own chest. The Infernape had expressed its stance through its actions.

"In some regional legends, the claws of monkeys seem to possess a strange power to grant any wish. Da Ye, can you wield this power?"

Zhu Lan raised her palm toward the Fire King, as if asking—Fire King, are you ready for the final battle?

"It couldn't be better."

Feeling the heat wave in front of him, Da Ye wiped his nose, and a confident smile reappeared on his face: "Perhaps this is just an illusion, but I feel like I can do anything right now."

As if they were of one mind, as soon as Da Ye finished speaking, Infernape shot out like a cannonball.

"Ignite the competition, Infernape! High Five!"

“Hold on.” Zhu Lan calmly employed the same tactics she used against the long-eared rabbit.

"Using the same move repeatedly will only leave openings! Seize the opportunity to get close and switch to 'Will-o'-the-Wisp'!"

Undeterred, Da Ye remained determined to use "Will-o'-the-Wisp" to cripple Garchomp's attack power. By this time, Garchomp had already eaten a Wood Berry, and if it were burned again, it would be in serious trouble.

"Who exactly is making the same mistake repeatedly?" Cyndaquil champion flicked her golden hair, watching Infernape change its moves with a playful smile. "Watch what's in front of you."

Garchomp and Infernape were practically touching, but Infernape's Will-o'-the-Wisp seemed to have lost its aim and missed. The deep red Will-o'-the-Wisp, which was so close, didn't touch Garchomp's body and simply disappeared into the air.

How is this going?

Da Ye immediately noticed something strange and was shocked – the Infernape's paws, which were originally on the ground, suddenly sank into the mud.

"She actually used that move." He reluctantly revealed, word by word, the technique Zhu Lan had secretly used—"Quicksand Hell."

“Your pre-battle preparations took too long. I had already devised the tactics by then,” Zhu Lan replied with a slight shrug.

"Use the 'Wheel of Flame' to escape!"

Despite the minor damage, stepping into the enemy's trap was no good, so Da Ye decisively ordered Infernape to retreat.

"The initiative is now in my hands!" Cynthia's gray eyes shone brightly, but she didn't order a pursuit. Instead, she flicked her sleeve and said without hesitation, "Garuda, use Earthquake at full power!"

Boom! Boom boom boom boom!

Instead of stomping its foot like it did when it dealt with Magmar, Garchomp shifted its weight to its upper body and slammed its scythe-like arms into the ground—

Instantly, dust from the entire arena was propelled high into the air, and then the battle stage, which had withstood countless attacks, collapsed.

It's not broken, not cracked, not disintegrated—it's shattered!

The sturdy ground, constructed of special materials, crumbled like water with a stone thrown in, collapsing completely before exploding.

If this is the true power of the "Earthquake" move, then the moves used by trainers in the past can only be considered "ground tremors" or "ground shaking".

Infernape, which transformed into a wheel of fire to dodge backward, was naturally also within the range of the attack. When it stopped, it was covered in dust, clearly having suffered considerable Ground-type damage.

"Cough, cough cough." Da Ye choked on the dust. The arena in front of him was in ruins, with only jagged rocks and broken steel frames all around. Cyndaquil's Garchomp sat on the highest rock, looking down on all living beings like a king.

This scene is too grand! Is Zhu Lan hiding something else?

Having been tricked countless times in this all-out battle, Da Ye finally learned his lesson this time. Looking at the earth dragon on the rock that seemed to be resting with its eyes closed, he had a sudden flash of inspiration and roared before his opponent could make a move—

"Infernape, use 'Dig' to burrow underground!"

The audience erupted in uproar. Had Da Ye lost his mind? Pokémon that burrow underground while using "Dig" are more vulnerable to "Earthquake." If Garchomp uses "Earthquake" again, the match could be decided.

However, Garchomp's subsequent performance silenced the audience again—Da Ye was right, the massive "Earthquake" was actually just a setup for another big move, just like with Togekiss, the Cynthia champion had arranged some kind of strategy with Garchomp before the match.

On the rock, Garchomp suddenly opened its mouth wide, and a ball of golden light shot into the sky.

The Dragon-type special attack move, "Dragon Meteor Shower"! A legendary move that, like a meteor shower, destroys the Earth and has the power to wipe out dragons!

At this moment, Da Ye's command was incredibly wise. When Garchomp was about to unleash "Dragon Meteor," it couldn't find Infernape on the field and became somewhat agitated, wanting to directly bombard the entrance where Infernape burrowed underground.

But Cynthia shook her head slightly and said to Garchomp, "Change to area attack, aim at the area within five meters around it."

Garchomp nodded in response.

As the earth dragon nodded, the ball of light split into countless points of light in the air, and then fell back to the ground like golden raindrops. The moment each drop of "rain" touched the ground, it would explode into a deep crater like a meteor impact!

The rocks, which had just survived the "earthquake," suffered another devastating blow. The "Dragon Star Cluster" completely plowed up the area around the earth dragon, but still couldn't find Infernape.

How could this be? To unleash Infernape's full power, Da Ye would definitely choose close combat, but why is there no Infernape around?

Zhu Lan frowned but then immediately relaxed her brow; she already knew where Infernape was.

"Watch your step, Cyndaquil Champion!" Bigleaf chuckled, throwing a punch towards the sky. "Infernape, use Close Combat!"

Tick-tock, the frozen battle seemed to begin turning again.

Suddenly, the rock beneath Garchomp's feet exploded, and a monkey jumped out. It turned out that Infernape had used "Digging" to climb into the rock pillar under Garchomp's body!

Unfazed by the "Rough Skin" effect, Infernape unleashed a flurry of punches on Garchomp's azure dragon-like body.