Lucario immediately swung its right leg into a powerful side kick.
Seeing this, Blaziken raised its left leg to block.
Their legs collided violently.
Blaziken was kicked backward and slid across the ice.
Lucario was also pushed back a short distance by the recoil.
However, neither Pokémon lost its balance.
Both stabilized themselves on the frozen battlefield.
"Keep going, Blaziken!"
"Don't let them underestimate you, Lucario!"
Neither Trainer issued any detailed commands.
Both of them understood that this was a contest between two Fighting-type Pokémon.
If either Pokémon could not defeat its opponent through fighting techniques, it would be extremely difficult to secure victory.
Pokémon battles were not martial arts contests.
However, both Trainers had become fully absorbed in the confrontation and wanted their Pokémon to defeat the opponent head-on.
A direct clash like this was therefore perfectly appropriate.
The two Pokémon continued exchanging blows across the ice.
Their fists and legs collided repeatedly.
Surprisingly, neither of them lost control despite fighting on such a slippery surface.
Lucario relied on the pads on its paws to provide additional traction.
Blaziken depended on the powerful muscles in its legs, forcefully driving its feet against the ice as it fought.
The spectators watched the confrontation with quiet exclamations of amazement.
This was yet another unusual battle.
The intense, uncommanded exchange of physical blows caused the audience's adrenaline to surge.
It was a pure contest of strength and technique.
Lucario and Blaziken exchanged attacks at extraordinary speed.
In the blink of an eye, they had already fought through more than a dozen exchanges.
What a troublesome opponent!
Daisuke watched the battle and could not help thinking this to himself.
It was extremely rare for him to encounter a Pokémon capable of matching Blaziken in a direct contest of fighting techniques.
Even in this international tournament, which had gathered outstanding Trainers from across the world, Daisuke believed his Blaziken ranked among the strongest in pure close-quarters combat.
Yet against Denjiro's Lucario, Blaziken could not gain even the slightest advantage.
Blaziken was taller and possessed longer legs, granting it a considerable physical advantage.
It was not inferior in strength either.
Then why had the battle fallen into such a prolonged deadlock?
After considering the matter carefully, Daisuke concluded that the difference lay in combat experience.
The exchanges of fists and kicks continued without pause.
"Flamethrower!"
Daisuke decisively issued a command.
If they continued fighting like this, there was no telling how long it would take to determine the victor.
Since Daisuke was currently at a disadvantage, he naturally wanted to secure this round as quickly as possible.
"Aura Sphere!"
Like Daisuke, Denjiro had also been waiting for an opportunity.
As soon as the command was given, Lucario gathered an Aura Sphere, a move that only a limited number of Pokémon could learn.
It launched the sphere toward the incoming pillar of fire.
The flames collided with the blue sphere of energy.
Boom!
Flamethrower detonated the Aura Sphere.
However, both Pokémon had already retreated to safety.
The aftermath of the explosion did not reach either of them.
At least, that was what they initially believed.
"Above you!"
Denjiro's anxious voice rang out.
Lucario, still breathing heavily, suddenly raised its head.
The first thing that entered its vision was a mass of fire.
Only then did it realize that Blaziken was descending from above with Blaze Kick!
Damn it!
Blaziken possessed extraordinary leg strength.
A descending Blaze Kick carrying that much momentum was an attack only it could perform.
Lucario sensed an intense threat.
In the next instant, it gathered an Aura Sphere in its palm.
It intended to use the move to meet Blaze Kick head-on.
Lucario could have attempted to withstand the attack through defense alone.
However, Blaze Kick was still a Fire-type move.
Furthermore, after exchanging more than a dozen rounds of close combat, Lucario understood that Blaziken was no ordinary opponent.
Once Blaziken landed a clean hit, it would undoubtedly follow with a relentless series of attacks.
Lucario could not afford to endure that much damage.
After weighing its options, Lucario chose a course that would injure both sides.
This was undoubtedly a demonstration of its combat experience.
Lucario had not consciously analyzed every possibility.
Its accumulated experience from countless battles had already become instinct.
It immediately selected the most reasonable response.
Blaziken had no intention of retreating either.
It was prepared to settle the exchange through a direct collision.
Blaze Kick struck the Aura Sphere.
The two attacks exploded violently upon impact.
A thick cloud of smoke once again spread across the battlefield.
The sound of limbs colliding could soon be heard from within the smoke.
A moment later, Blaziken's figure slid out of the cloud.
It had not been knocked away.
Instead, it emerged while maintaining a defensive stance.
Daisuke had expected Lucario to use the opportunity to catch its breath.
Unexpectedly, Lucario used Extreme Speed once again.
It immediately caught up with Blaziken and pressed the attack.
Blaziken had not yet managed to adjust its stance.
Faced with the rapidly approaching Lucario, it could only unwillingly endure a direct punch.
"Close Combat!"
Denjiro commanded.
Lucario rushed forward again.
Its fists and feet descended upon Blaziken like a violent storm.
"Blaziken, Protect!"
Blaziken stepped backward and assumed a defensive stance.
A green barrier appeared in front of it just in time.
Every one of Lucario's spear-like punches was blocked.
Instead, the force of the barrier knocked Lucario backward.
"Now's our chance!"
Daisuke naturally would not allow such an opportunity to pass.
Protect only lasted for a very short time.
Although Lucario had already regained its footing, it had not completely recovered from the recoil.
Its stance was still somewhat unstable.
Blazing flames wrapped around Blaziken's leg.
It spun around and launched a powerful roundhouse kick.
Its long leg swept toward Lucario's chest.
Lucario had no time to evade.
It could only cross both arms in front of its upper body and prepare to defend.
However, Blaziken's kick was merely a feint!
The flaming leg swept past Lucario's guard without striking it.
After drawing Lucario's defense out of position, Blaziken drove its other foot directly into Lucario's exposed waist.
This was another Blaze Kick!
The tremendous force caused Lucario's abdomen to cave inward.
It cried out and coughed up a mouthful of saliva before being sent flying backward.
Blaziken immediately pursued.
Its long legs slammed against the ground.
With one extraordinary leap, it arrived beside Lucario.
"Stomp!"
Sensing the approaching danger, Lucario narrowly rolled aside and avoided the descending foot.
However, it soon felt a scorching presence rapidly closing in.
Damn it!
Fire Blast!
Lucario immediately realized that the enormous, flame-shaped attack had trapped it beneath its pressure.
However, it was not yet time to surrender.
Lucario began exerting its strength.
It slowly forced itself upright while enduring the flames.
Fortunately for Lucario, Blaziken's special offense was not particularly powerful.
Otherwise, that attack alone might have caused Lucario to lose the ability to battle.
"Strength!"
Lucario struck the flames with overwhelming force.
The enormous Fire Blast shattered instantly.
The moment the flames dispersed, Blaziken's figure appeared before Lucario once again.
Blaziken naturally would not allow such a rare opportunity to escape.
Blaziken understood this.
Lucario understood it as well.
Therefore, at the final moment, the two Pokémon unleashed one last attack against each other.
Blaziken's palm struck Lucario squarely in the face.
Lucario, having drawn out every remaining trace of its strength, slammed its own palm heavily into Blaziken's abdomen.
(End of Chapter)
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