The stadium roared with excitement as three of Darkrai's Poké Balls dimmed on the massive screen.

"Contestant Lu Ye continues his winning streak, bringing the score to 3-0!"

Usually, it was Darkrai who swept through opponents effortlessly.

But now, the legendary beast trainer found himself on the back foot!

The official livestream exploded with comments and reactions.

Standing tall on the grassy battlefield, Sirfetch'd with its snow-white feathers and sharp gaze ignited the crowd's passion!

"The scabbard moved! The scabbard moved!"

"Who said Ducklett was just dead weight? Have you ever seen dead weight pull off a double knockout!?"

"Ducklett's rising up! Ducklett's rising up!"

Comments flooded the screen, but at this moment, Sirfetch'd felt sweat on its palms gripping sword and shield.

It was the big sister who created this opening for me...

The younger siblings are watching my performance too.

I can't let everyone down, quack~!

"Quack!" Sirfetch'd's eyes gleamed sharply as it raised its blade, standing ready.

Darkrai remained expressionless, flipping open his cloak to reveal a matte-finished Poké Ball in hand.

"Should I send it out first..." Darkrai murmured.

From the shadows, Darkrai coldly replied, "Rather than holding back our trump card, securing the next point takes priority."

Darkrai gave a slight nod, closing his eyes as memories surfaced - the day he met this Pokémon.

The legendary infinite Pokémon, Latios.

Darkrai had once rescued a ship during a storm at sea, earning Latios's friendship.

For legendary beasts, decades pass in the blink of an eye - thus Latios agreed to journey with Darkrai.

Now, Darkrai could feel Latios's fighting spirit radiating from the Poké Ball.

Lu Ye and Sirfetch'd - this trainer and Pokémon pair so strikingly similar - had ignited Latios's battle lust!

"Go—"

Darkrai's lips thinned as his gaze turned icy, hurling the Poké Ball.

"Latios!"

"Contestant Darkrai sends out his fourth Pokémon—"

The commentator paused, then exclaimed in disbelief:

"W-wait, what's happening?!"

Frantically checking his notes, the commentator grabbed the microphone:

"Contestant Darkrai has sent out the legendary eternal Pokémon, Latios!?"

"Ooo!"

The streamlined blue form of Latios resembled a jet fighter, gliding through the skies on crystalline wings.

The legendary beast, infinite Pokémon, the blue Eon Pokémon Latios!!

The crowd looked up at the legendary creature with mixed expressions of awe and shock.

"I've never seen a Pokémon like this before."

"Did they say it's another legendary?"

"Darkrai had another legendary all along!?"

The stadium trembled - Darkrai's fortune and strength seemed beyond any ordinary tournament participant.

Nicknames aren't given without reason.

People jokingly called Darkrai the "Legendary Beast Trainer."

And now in the semifinals, he'd brought out a Latios!

"Is Darkrai just like Teacher Lu, here to crush the competition?"

"If you're smurfing, I'm smurfing - Silver tier turns Master tier!"

"I'm numb... two legendaries... I'd have forfeited already."

Legendaries carried an impact far beyond regular Pokémon.

No matter how strong normal Pokémon got, people saw them in daily life.

But a legendary beast, alive and present before their eyes!

The comment barrage paused briefly before flooding with question marks.

"???"

"Is this even fair?"

"Did he catch that blue Eon with a regular Poké Ball too?"

"What do you know? Darkrai painted a Premier Ball red and white - simplicity is truth!"

Ash looked up at Latios, pulling out his Pokédex like he'd never seen it before.

Despite having met one in Alto Mare, Ash never remembered legendary names.

"Latios huh..." Bruno crossed his muscular arms, his black karate belt swaying in the wind as he muttered, "Not to be underestimated."

A-Jin stood up in shock, "After three straight battles, now a legendary... shouldn't Sirfetch'd switch out?"

Bruno nodded, "A Psychic-type Latios hard counters Fighting-types."

Meanwhile, Lucian adjusted his glasses, studying Darkrai and Latios.

"After the match," Lucian thought, "I should recruit Darkrai to assist me!"

On the grassy field, wind currents from Latios bent the grass as it gazed gently at Lu Ye.

The infinite Pokémon, the blue Eon disliked conflict and was gentle by nature - it only befriended kind-hearted individuals.

That Darkrai earned its trust spoke volumes about his character.

Now, Latios sensed a warm energy, accepting the invitation from the "Power of Transcendence."

Lu Ye blinked in surprise.

The Power of Transcendence actually worked?

He glanced cautiously at Darkrai, confirming his expression remained unchanged, then felt complicated emotions.

Why did this feel like NTR happening right before his eyes?

『I look forward to our battle.』 Latios telepathically communicated, its rare fighting spirit burning.

"Has your sister been caught?" Lu Ye couldn't resist asking, "How about introducing me to the red Eon?"

『?』

Latios severed the connection!

"Ooo!" The jet-like Latios soared through the skies on its streamlined blue form.

Winds whipped through the grass as the legendary's pressure manifested in visible shockwaves!

Sirfetch'd blinked in confusion, glancing back at Lu Ye.

"Quack? ┌(。Д。)┐"

Why did it suddenly seem so angry?

"Don't look at me." Lu Ye turned his gaze to the confused A-Jin in the stands.

Noticing the stare, A-Jin pointed at himself questioningly.

Lu Ye nodded righteously.

"What did Teacher Lu say?" Ash asked curiously.

"He seemed to be saying..." A-Jin puzzled while crossing his arms, "...that I shouldn't run away later..."

Such was the danger sense of the "Incubator"!

Lu Ye turned back, about to recall Sirfetch'd when the duck resolutely planted its feet.

"Quack!"

Humility, valor, justice... never turning its back on an opponent!

Through the Power of Transcendence, Lu Ye felt Sirfetch'd's resolve and was moved.

Even slackers have their moments of determination.

Someone has to step up in every battle - so why can't it be me, Sirfetch'd the Coach!

Watch closely, Darkrai—

Like a noble warrior, a resolute swordsman, a knight charging at windmills.

Sirfetch'd focused - before it, Latios hovered imposingly;

behind, tsunami-like cheers erupted!

"Ducklett go slaughter!!"

The crowd roared as one - compared to the intimidating Latios, the duck seemed to be the true star.

"Latios—"

Even Darkrai felt the electric atmosphere, his lips quirking up involuntarily as he commanded:

"Psyshock!"

"Ooo!!"

Latios rode air currents, climbing higher like a jet pulling up in dogfight maneuvers.

Clouds obscured Latios's position.

The snow-feathered Sirfetch'd squinted skyward.

Latios reappeared behind Sirfetch'd, maneuvering like a cobra before stalling and diving with psychic energy glowing sharply - a blue blade slashing down from above!

"Detect!"

No need to see - Sirfetch'd closed its eyes, turning by instinct.

Raising its sturdy shield, Sirfetch'd's eyes snapped open, locking onto Latios's attack vector!

Thud!!

Latios struck like a falling sword, blue feathers bristling as it crashed psychic energy against the duck's shield!

Psyshock, though a special move, inflicted physical damage.

The breathtaking jet-like dive left spectators holding their breath.

"Can it withstand this..."

"It has to!"

The powerful Psyshock forced Sirfetch'd to dig in, skidding back meters through the dirt.

Crack—

The shield developed visible fractures, but Sirfetch'd held firm against the dive, its sword arm pulling back for a counter!

Instantly, crystalline grass energy surged into the blade, which gleamed emerald!

Leaf Blade slash!

Simultaneously, Latios pulled up, glittering particles scattering as it fired a brilliant pink beam from its maw!

Latios's signature move - Luster Purge!

The beam expanded mid-flight into a dazzling energy cannon.

Sirfetch'd stood firm before the blast, its silhouette resolute as winds whipped up surrounding grass!

BOOM!!!

The explosion rocked the stadium.

Split beams crashed into barriers behind, raising clouds of dust.

As smoke cleared, Sirfetch'd remained in its slashing stance.

Before it stretched a scorched trench from the energy blast.

Sirfetch'd's once-pristine feathers were now singed and battered, yet its gaze shone with valor: "Quack!"

"Ooo..."

To Darkrai's astonishment,

Latios floated unsteadily, a clear wound visible across its blue-and-white underside!

That Leaf Blade had cleaved through Luster Purge, striking Latios directly!

"With Grassy Terrain boost... even a critical hit?"

Darkrai stared blankly.

Never could he have imagined that in a direct clash between legendary and Sirfetch'd, Latios would come out worse!

The stadium erupted as comments flooded with '6666'.

The crowd went wild over Sirfetch'd's single slash.

"That slash straight up bisected Latios's energy cannon!"

"Cutting missiles? Isn't that basic skills?"

"Heaven bore no Sirfetch'd before, culinary arts languished in eternal night - the Duck has arrived!!"

In every sense, Sirfetch'd was as much of a meme as Teacher Lu.

But Sirfetch'd too had its heroic moments against legendaries!

"The courage to advance is a fighter's most vital trait," Bruno remarked.

"But... Latios is already recovering!" Ash pointed out.

"Latios," Darkrai commanded gravely, "Recover!"

Viewers collectively froze.

"Ooo!"

Bathed in white light, Latios's wounds visibly healed!

"Since when was Recover such a dirty move!?"

"Now Teacher Lu knows how it feels to be trolled!"

"Finally getting a taste of his own medicine!"

Lu Ye's eyes narrowed.

As long as our damage outpaced their healing... they're just damage-sponge training dummies!

"Sirfetch'd, Leaf Blade!"

"Quack!" Sirfetch'd's glowing blade slashed out violently. From the smoke, Latios shot skyward.

Darkrai judged ranged combat optimal.

As a Dragon/Psychic infinite Pokémon, Latios too possessed a finishing move!

A contrail streaked across the sky.

The crowd looked up as Latios climbed like a blue fighter jet.

Light refracted through its crystalline feathers as draconic energy gathered in its maw!

"Draco Meteor!!"

Killing intent manifested as the crowd gasped.

The unstoppable Draco Meteor seemed to shatter all hope of victory!

Red energy rocketed upward before splitting into meteorites that rained down like missiles with ear-piercing shrieks!

Sirfetch'd gazed up at the falling stars like watching fireworks.

"Quack..." it murmured blankly.

Afraid? Not really.

After facing that giant and overcoming it with its trainer, this felt almost routine.

"Quack!" Sirfetch'd took a deep breath, tightening grip on sword and shield.

Nothing left to fear now, quack!

Lu Ye glanced between the meteors and Sirfetch'd.

The Aura connection soothed its fatigue.

Even the laziest duck trained intensely daily in their competitive team.

Dripping water wears through stone - like a seed breaking soil at the critical moment.

Lu Ye felt their bond synchronize, their gazes becoming one.

"Sirfetch'd—"

Even non-legendary Sirfetch'd possessed its signature move - 150 power, surpassing even Palkia's "Spacial Rend".

Such techniques required grueling training to master.

For a duck living in constant hardship, every day was tempering.

When conditions are ripe, problems solve themselves.

This was Sirfetch'd's ultimate technique, fueled by indomitable will!

"Meteor Assault!!"

Bruno started - he knew this was Sirfetch'd's signature move, among the strongest Fighting-type techniques!

"Quack!! ᕙ༼°益°༽ᕗ"

Meteors fell like missile barrages, explosions shaking the stadium.

BOOM!

"Quack!!" Sirfetch'd fixed its gaze on Latios, hurling its leek like a jousting lance!

Like a shooting star, the 100%-accuracy Meteor Assault locked onto Latios through the clouds.

"Ooo!" Latios's eyes widened in alarm, evading frantically as the projectile tore through clouds with howling winds!

Critical hit, instant KO!

BOOM!!

The impact shattered barriers as meteors cratered the field in smoke.

Silence. The crowd held its breath, dry-mouthed as they stared.

Smoke cleared to reveal Sirfetch'd head bowed, expression hidden.

From the haze, something heavy crashed down!

THUD!!

The audience saw Latios lying unconscious, a leek-lance embedded in its belly!

Even now, the stadium remained deathly quiet.

None could believe their eyes.

As smoke dissipated,

the battered Sirfetch'd stood covered in wounds and soot.

"Quack..." it slowly raised its shattered shield.

Before the fallen Latios.

"Quack!" Sirfetch'd's eyes gleamed with a 'ding'!

Instantly, the stadium exploded.

"Sirfetch'd's divine slaying battle!!"

"Three straight KOs! Ducklett pulled a triple!"

"Goddamn that's cool - since when was Sirfetch'd this badass!?"

Sirfetch'd exhaled deeply, retrieving its leek blade... then its expression faltered.

"Quack! (´థ౪థ)σ"

Thank goodness the move connected quack~~

Would've been so awkward if it whiffed...