“What a chance! Xiao Mei, Thunderbolt again!” Chen Kai pressed his advantage.
However, just as Xiao Mei was gathering electricity again, Espeon, from who knows where, pulled out an inconspicuous fruit pit (Leftovers), which emitted a soft green Radiance.
It took the opportunity to lick the Leftovers, recovering a bit of its stamina!
Chen Kai used to complain about this when playing games, but now seeing a Pokemon actually eat Leftovers during a battle and it truly having a restorative effect on stamina, he didn't know how to react.
However, he felt that this small recovery wouldn't affect the overall situation; the scales of victory had already tipped.
As long as Xiao Mei landed a few more Thunderbolts, victory would be locked in.
So, he didn't change his move.
When the violent current surged again, transforming into a roaring golden python that lunged straight at Espeon—this attack would surely completely shatter the opponent's pathetic last gasp of Radiance!
Lu Yang's gaze was tightly locked on the lightning emitted by Xiao Mei; sweat dripped from his forehead, seeping into the corners of his excitedly upturned mouth.
Lu Yang also knew that if things continued this way, he and Espeon would lose.
But the more critical the situation, the calmer and more composed he became.
Just as the golden thunder was about to engulf Espeon, an innate instinct, like an Icicle Spear, suddenly pierced through his mind.
Without any reason or basis, he shouted loudly:
“Espeon—!
Abandon defense! Dazzling Gleam!!”
Espeon was a pure Psychic type and didn't have the Fairy type. Lu Yang didn't know that Mega Ampharos had the Dragon type. In his rational understanding, this Dazzling Gleam's power might not be as good as Psychic.
But with the mindset of rather making a mistake than losing without doing anything, Lu Yang chose to go all out and trust his intuition.
And Espeon responded to his fighting spirit. Before being electrocuted, it raised its head, and the ruby on its forehead burst forth with a pure pink Radiance! Countless violent pink light arrows, carrying a natural advantage against Dragon types, bypassed the Thunderbolt and surged towards Xiao Mei!
“Zzzzz—!”
Thunderbolt's golden torrent viciously bit into Espeon's body, blasting it off the ground and heavily slamming it onto the edge of the battle arena.
It twitched violently, the Radiance of the ruby on its forehead dimming like a candle in the wind.
Fortunately, the special defense boosted by Calm Mind earlier and the sliver of stamina recovered by Leftovers, like fragile spider silk, though precarious under the destructive lightning, ultimately did not break!
It struggled, digging its front paws into the scorched earth, and tremblingly stood up again!
In its purple eyes, a firm will was revealed!
On the other side, the pink Fairy beam solidly struck Mega Ampharos's chest!
Lu Yang had gambled correctly; the energy that countered the Dragon attribute was like boiling acid, wildly eroding its body!
Xiao Mei let out a painful wail, its snowy white mane and tail hair instantly scorched and curled.
This attack directly cut nearly half of its stamina!
Both Pokemon were covered in wounds. Although Xiao Mei's stamina was still decent, it probably couldn't take a second Dazzling Gleam.
Both sides' Pokemon were on the verge of collapse.
Victory would be decided in the next move!
Chen Kai couldn't help but exclaim, “Holy cow, is it that fierce?”
Usually, others would complain about his Pokemon like this, but now it was his turn to express such emotion.
Even with a type advantage, even with Calm Mind boosting its special attack once, for two Dazzling Gleams to defeat a Pokemon of the same level was truly outrageous!
“One last effort! Espeon!” Lu Yang's voice carried the fervor of a do-or-die situation, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.
At school, it had been a long time since he had such an exhilarating sparring battle.
He was already boiling with excitement!
“Dazzling Gleam!
Give it your all!!!”
Espeon squeezed out the last bit of energy from its soul, and the ruby on its forehead burst forth with a dazzling pink light, like a final Radiance!
A pink beam, though thinner than before but more condensed and sharp, like its blade of will, shot towards Mega Ampharos again!
Chen Kai, on the other hand, changed his strategy. Since Thunderbolt couldn't prevent Dazzling Gleam, then it would be a battle of raw strength!
Clash!
“Xiao Mei! We'll use Dazzling Gleam too!”
Xiao Mei endured the severe pain and raised its head!
The red orb on its tail flashed wildly, and a pink current of light gathered and formed in front of it!
This Dazzling Gleam, boosted by Xiao Mei's extremely high special attack, appeared violent and chaotic, even slightly more powerful than Espeon's move.
A condensed and sharp pink light beam and a violent and chaotic pink turbulent flow violently collided in the scorched Botanical Garden!
“Zzzzzz—Boom!!!”
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a grating sound of intense energy friction!
Two pink energies of the same attribute wildly bit, tangled, and annihilated each other!
Dazzling light constantly burst at the interface, and the splashing energy fragments shattered the surrounding broad leaves!
The turbulent flow, like an out-of-control tornado, spun and sawed wildly in the center of the battlefield!
The ground was ploughed with deep ravines by the escaping energy!
Stalemate!
Time seemed to stretch indefinitely.
Espeon's body trembled violently, and its light beam flickered.
Arcing electricity darted around Xiao Mei, and the chaotic light flow could collapse at any moment!
Both sides were squeezing out the last bit of energy from their bodies, pouring their will into this destructive light flow!
“Hold on, Xiao Mei!”
“Overwhelm it! Espeon!”
The trainers' shouts seemed so small amidst the shriek of the energy storm.
“Pfft!”
Espeon's condensed pink light spear, after exhausting most of its energy, finally forced its way through Xiao Mei's Dazzling Gleam!
The remaining, thread-like pink light beam, like a poisoned dagger, fiercely pierced Xiao Mei's forehead, landing a critical hit!
At the same time, the chaotic pink-gold turbulent flow, which had been pierced and torn, its final bursting violent residual energy, like uncontrolled buckshot, fiercely blasted Espeon's scarred body!
Both were hit simultaneously!
“Meow—!!”
“Ugh…!”
Two abrupt cries of agony.
Xiao Mei's body collapsed, its evolution light dissipated, and the returned-to-normal Xiao Mei's eyes were tightly closed, a scorched mark on its forehead particularly striking.
On the other side, Espeon seemed to have been drained of all its strength, collapsing softly, its purple fur covered in pink-gold energy burn marks, and the ruby on its forehead completely extinguished.
Dead silence.
Only the embers of annihilated energy floated in the air, emitting a faint hiss.
The grandfather, serving as the referee, slowly lowered the arm he had subconsciously raised to shield his eyes.
The old man's face was filled with deep shock; watching the battle from the referee's position was much more thrilling than watching it on TV or from the stands.
Fortunately, he was familiar with the procedure. Taking a deep breath, he quickly announced:
“Espeon, Ampharos—both are unable to battle!
This match is a draw.”