Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Ludicolo being an Elite Four-level Pokémon was within Luo Yuan's expectations.

"Finally, a worthy opponent."

Neither Aggron nor the slightly stronger Pelipper had been a match for Dragonite.

But this Ludicolo seemed just right.

Having failed in its initial attack, Ludicolo continued its swaying, rhythmic dance, humming a cheerful tune as it moved.

The Pokédex described Ludicolo as having a physiology that activated its cells when exposed to upbeat rhythms, allowing it to unleash tremendous power in battle.

Through this odd dance, Ludicolo was steadily enhancing its strength.

At the same time, its Teeter Dance move had the potential to confuse opponents.

Watching Ludicolo perform its hypnotic moves right in front of Dragonite, Luo Yuan decided he'd had enough.

"Dragonite, attack!"

Luo Yuan wasn't about to let Ludicolo strengthen itself any further.

At his command, the ever-ready Dragonite launched forward, its enormous wings glowing with a dazzling white light as it sliced through the air toward Ludicolo.

The sheer mass of Dragonite's body caused a sonic boom, the pressure creating an almost suffocating atmosphere.

This wasn't just a show of power—being hit by Dragonite could be fatal.

"Li-da-li-da~!"

Ludicolo, sensing the overwhelming threat, wasted no time.

Its body twisted midair, hands planting firmly on the icy ground as it flipped sideways, narrowly dodging Dragonite's wing strike.

Dragonite's wings grazed Ludicolo, carving a deep trench into the ice.

"What speed! Keita's Ludicolo effortlessly dodges Dragonite's wing attack," the announcer called out.

Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow as Ludicolo deftly evaded the attack.

"That Swift Swim ability really is troublesome."

Without the rain doubling its speed, Dragonite's wing attack would have been nearly impossible to avoid.

Still, Luo Yuan wasn't fazed by the missed strike. He already had a plan in place.

"Dragonite, use Hurricane!"

If a physical attack could be dodged with speed, let's see how it handles a storm.

Through their psychic connection, Dragonite received the command and immediately executed it.

From Keita's perspective, it seemed like Dragonite had initiated a follow-up attack on its own.

Dragonite lowered its altitude, embedding one claw into the ice for stability. Using its momentum, it swung its massive body in a sharp 180-degree turn, now facing Ludicolo's back.

With a powerful flap of its wings, it unleashed a howling Hurricane that engulfed Ludicolo.

"Dragonite follows up with a stunning counterattack, launching a Hurricane that's super effective against Ludicolo! Keita is in trouble!"

The announcer's analysis was spot-on.

The storm covered nearly the entire battlefield, leaving Ludicolo with no room to escape.

Keita acted swiftly. "Ludicolo, use Protect!"

A shimmering blue barrier materialized around Ludicolo just as the storm descended.

Shards of ice and wind battered against the shield, creating a cacophony of cracks and groans as the force pressed Ludicolo backward by several meters.

Thanks to the icy terrain, Dragonite's Hurricane even carried a hint of Blizzard.

When the assault finally ceased, Ludicolo emerged unscathed, having perfectly blocked the attack.

"Now, Ice Beam!" Keita seized the opportunity for a counterattack.

It was no coincidence that Keita had two Pokémon capable of using Ice Beam. Clearly, his strategy was tailored to counter Dragon-types.

Under normal circumstances, no Dragon-type could remain calm in the face of such a threat, especially a Dragon-Flying Pokémon like Dragonite, which suffered quadruple damage from Ice-type moves.

But before Keita's command could bear fruit, Dragonite preemptively used Agility.

The icy beam shot forward, only to shatter the afterimage left by Dragonite's rapid movement.

Dragonite darted across the battlefield.

Ludicolo, not one to back down, gave chase. This was its domain—rain-soaked terrain that amplified its every movement.

Yellow-green and teal streaks blurred across the arena as the two Pokémon clashed repeatedly.

In just a few minutes, they had exchanged over a dozen offensive and defensive moves.

Both sides had their advantages. Ludicolo's speed allowed it to evade many of Dragonite's attacks, while Dragonite's durability shrugged off most of Ludicolo's strikes.

Under Luo Yuan's guidance, Dragonite didn't mind taking minor hits if it meant baiting Ludicolo into overextending.

At first, Ludicolo remained cautious, but as it gained the upper hand in certain exchanges, its wariness waned.

The moment Luo Yuan had been waiting for finally arrived.

After dodging a Dragon Breath, Ludicolo saw Dragonite seemingly leave itself open. Without hesitation, it charged forward, landing a Focus Punch squarely on Dragonite's abdomen.

"Oh? Ludicolo lands a hit on Dragonite! Could this be the turning point Keita needs?" the announcer exclaimed, igniting the crowd's anticipation.

"Is Dragonite finally going down?"

The thought crossed everyone's mind.

Luo Yuan, however, would have laughed if he could hear their musings.

Focus Punch might look impressive, but the reality was far less dramatic.

Eighty percent of the blow's force was absorbed by Dragonite's thick layer of muscle and fat, leaving it virtually unaffected.

Meanwhile, the close-range attack left Ludicolo dangerously exposed.

Keita's intuition screamed that something was wrong, but before he could react, Luo Yuan issued his next command.

"Dragon Claw, now!"

Dragonite's massive claw slashed downward, glowing with a sharp, icy-blue energy.

The attack carried the full weight of Dragonite's titanic strength.

The air whistled and shrieked as the claws tore through it.

"Evade it!" Keita shouted in desperation.

Under normal circumstances, Ludicolo's agility would have allowed it to dodge. But at such close range, even the swiftest Pokémon would struggle.

Swish!

Dragonite's claw ripped through Ludicolo, sending it hurtling backward.

The Water-Grass Pokémon skidded across the icy field, leaving a long trail behind it before coming to a stop.

"Dragonite's sudden counterattack sends Ludicolo flying with a single Dragon Claw! What a turnaround!"

The audience was stunned, unable to process the sudden shift in momentum.

Ludicolo struggled to rise, revealing three deep gashes across its body. Its iconic sombrero-like hat bore a massive tear.

Despite its injuries, Ludicolo refused to give up. It raised its hands and unleashed Giga Drain, green tendrils of energy latching onto Dragonite to siphon its vitality.

"Dragonite, finish it with Wing Attack!"

Dragonite's massive wings glowed as it charged forward, ignoring the draining effect of Giga Drain.

Ludicolo attempted to dodge, but the injuries from Dragon Claw had sapped its mobility.

Boom!

Dragonite's wings slammed into Ludicolo, sending it spiraling across the field before crashing into the barrier at the edge of the arena.

Even then, Ludicolo struggled to stand, its willpower unyielding.

Dragonite, ever obliging, ended the battle with a final Dragon Rage.

The referee stepped forward to confirm the outcome, raising his flag.

"Keita's Ludicolo is unable to battle. Luo Yuan wins!"

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T/N: (Insert Tai Lung meme)