CHAPTER 620: SHROUDED IN MIST

Sootopolis City First Hospital, Terrance sat silently holding his laptop, watching the video playback.

On the screen was the battle between Albus and Wallace.

Terrance had no interest in the details of the battle itself, but Albus, much like Fujiki, or perhaps even more impressively, demonstrated superior combat talent. In his clash with Wallace, the Contest Master, Albus’s presence was dazzling.

His Aura power became the most crucial weapon in holding his ground against Wallace.

In the first match, Darkrai vs. Swampert, Albus claimed victory immediately!

However, in the second match, after Wallace sent out his ace Pokémon, Milotic, the situation instantly reversed.

Despite Darkrai’s overwhelming strength, it couldn’t perform at all against Milotic. Its moves, techniques, and tactics were all nullified by the astonishing coordination between Milotic and Wallace. In the end, Darkrai was overwhelmingly defeated.

Darkrai’s displayed strength was at the level of a Top Trainer, this was something many spectators could see.

And yet, even with such power, it stood no chance against Wallace. Rarely engaging in traditional battles, Wallace’s seamless coordination with Milotic stunned the entire audience.

Wallace’s true strength was known only to a select few close to him.

Most people were aware of his skills as a Coordinator, but his battle capabilities had never been showcased in a public match against a top-tier Trainer, until now.

His match with Albus made everyone fully aware of the Contest Master’s strength.

"First Terrance, then Wallace, these two Coordinators are the future of Pokémon Contests," the media commented at the time.

"The most important battle is coming next," Sharan said from behind Terrance, reminding him.

After Darkrai was defeated, Albus sent out Lucario. To Terrance’s surprise, Lucario demonstrated even greater strength against Milotic.

In just half a year, it wasn’t only Terrance who had improved, Albus’s strength had advanced rapidly as well, and Lucario was the clearest proof of this.

It was even stronger than during its battle against Gallade.

However, the clash between Lucario and Milotic continued the earlier trend. Though Lucario was strong, Wallace’s command proved so formidable that even Albus, whose combat talent far surpassed Terrance’s, found himself at a disadvantage.

Still, faced with the powerful Wallace, Albus held firm. Then, at a certain moment, it was as if he and Lucario made a decision, and they unleashed an incredibly strong power.

"What’s he saying? Turn up the volume."

Terrance spoke.

Sharan quickly translated: "I was at the scene. At that time, Albus said..."

[At first, I just thought I’d give it my best, but once the battle started, I realized I just couldn’t accept losing.]

Can’t accept losing, huh...

Terrance kept watching. Albus was someone with a strong desire to win. Even in their battles, though Terrance mostly ended up losing, whenever he won once or twice, Albus would shamelessly insist on battling again until Terrance got annoyed.

"This still isn’t your full power, is it?"

On screen, Lucario and Albus, who were being suppressed, entered a mysterious state. Terrance didn’t know what it was, but he suspected it had to do with Albus’s Aura power.

In that moment, Albus’s Aura completely merged with Lucario, and Lucario burst forth with tremendous power, reversing the earlier situation.

It was as if Albus had become Lucario’s brain, communicating even faster than the usual mental link through Aura power. In an instant, Milotic was suppressed.

Milotic, the ace Pokémon of Wallace, the Contest Master, who, even in a battle with Hoenn’s Champion Steven, had only slightly been at a disadvantage, was suppressed.

Through the screen, Terrance could almost feel the shock of the audience present at the scene.

"This state..." Terrance frowned deeply as he watched Albus and Lucario’s Auras merge seamlessly. He could sense the exaggerated mobility and reaction Lucario displayed in battle, and the power of the moves condensed from Aura had also received a terrifying boost.

"After Totem Altaria’s Mega Evolution, the energy drain on me made it impossible to sustain even a few minutes of battle. But during Albus’s battle with Wallace... the state Lucario entered clearly provides a greater and more complete power boost than either totem aura or Mega Evolution..."

Was this kind of power the reason why Albus collapsed?!

An overload from overexertion?

Just for one battle, he didn’t even care about his own body?

Terrance looked at the arena on the screen with a complicated expression. At the moment when Albus suddenly collapsed, it was as if he saw the originally spirited look in Albus’s eyes suddenly shift into one of disappointment. This scene made Terrance’s heart skip a beat.

He had a strong feeling... that this wasn’t the expression of someone merely disappointed at not finishing a battle.

"Mr. Terrance, Miss Fujiki’s emotions have stabilized. She wants to see you."

Just as Terrance was watching the last frame of the footage, a nurse suddenly approached him.

"All right." Terrance nodded, handed the laptop to Sharan, and quickly made his way over.

Before Terrance and Glacia arrived at the scene of the incident, Albus’s Lucario and Fujiki had formed multiple layers of protection around Albus, refusing to let anyone approach.

The battle was still being live streamed at the time. When Albus suddenly collapsed, the situation was so complex that even Steven, Wallace, and the security personnel on site were at a loss on how to respond.

Fortunately, Terrance arrived. He successfully communicated with Fujiki and Lucario.

Terrance didn’t understand Aura power, but from the situation then, it seemed Lucario wanted to use its own strength to help Albus. As for the outcome, Terrance didn’t know, Fujiki didn’t know, only Lucario knew. It gave everything it had and was only barely able to stabilize Albus’s fading life temporarily.

The festival was called off. Albus was rushed to the hospital. Fujiki fell into an emotionally unstable state, and no one could get a single word out of her. Helpless, Terrance had no choice but to first understand what had happened during the battle.

"Fujiki."

When Terrance saw Fujiki, her expression was haggard. Her normally quiet demeanor now looked rather pale.

At her side, two Nurse Joys seemed to be trying to comfort her, but Fujiki clearly had no intention of speaking.

"Nurse Joy, could you give us some space to talk?" Terrance asked.

The two Nurse Joys nodded. The only thing they had managed to get out of Fujiki was her request to see Terrance. At this rate, continuing the conversation would lead nowhere.

"Then we’ll leave her to you, Mr. Terrance. We’ll go report the situation to Miss Glacia."

"Understood. Thank you very much." Terrance bowed.

Once the Nurse Joys left, Terrance’s expression turned serious as he said slowly, "Fujiki, what exactly happened? If it were just a normal problem, you wouldn’t be like this."

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