Samence hovered midair, its sharp gaze fixed on the Drago had just knocked down. For its oppoo have made it this far, despite not even being at the Elite tier, was a testament to its exceptional strength.

  A golden Thunderbolt erupted from the single horn atonite's head, lightning-fast and dazzlingly bright. Yet Samence's speed surpassed even that of the electric attack.

  With a powerful beat of its wings, it outrahunderbolt entirely. As its wings tio slice through the air, two Air Sshes cleaved the Thunderbolt apart, dispersing the goldericity into nothingness.

  By this time, Dragonite had already used Extreme Speed to close the distaween them, unleashing a Ice Beam that crystallized the surrounding moisture into snowfkes.

  Dragoiming was impeccable, ung its attack at the precise moment Samence was using its wings for the Air Ssh. With its wings occupied, Samence had no time to evade.

  But it didn't o dodge.

  A powerful Hydro Pump, spiraling with pressed air, erupted from Samehe force of the attack causing the surrounding air to rumble and crack.

  For a moment, the Hydro Pump and Ice Beam cshed, locked in a stalemate. After two seds, the Ice Beam shattered, dissolving into tless glittering shards.

  Dragoook the full brunt of the Hydro Pump. Even though the attack had been partially weakened by Ice Beam, its sheer force was still immense.

  Dragonite braced itself, its arms crossed to block the attack as its body ushed baearly a kilometer through the air.

  Wheack finally dissipated, Dragonite's arms bore a vivid red mark, with small beads of blood seeping out.

  Though the injury didn't his movement, it was aark reminder of the gap betweewo.

  Dragonite hadn't yet reached peak pseudo-Elite level, while Sameood at the very summit of the Elite tier—a full tier of difference.

  So—

  'System, activate Peak Elite Experience Card'

  Without hesitation, Juliahe only Peak Elite Experience Card in his iranting Dragoemporary boost for ten minutes.

  Dragonite had already been at a disadvantage from the start, so there was no point in dragging out the battle.

  ebacks and miraculous reversals? Those only happened in novels and TV shows.

  When your oppo is signifitly strohan you, no amount of effort ge the oute.

  The idea of overing the odds was rare iy, and Julian wasn't about to gamble on it happening now.

  So he decisively used the Peak Elite Experience Card onite. Rather than waiting for it to be battered and bruised, it was far better to use it now while Dragonite was still in good shape.

  A barely perceptible stream of light surged intonite's body.

  Dragonite: 'I suddenly feel stronger'

  Samence: 'What the heck is going on here?'

  Sameared in fusion and disbelief as Dragonite's aura surged rapidly.

  In mere moments, Dragonite's power had risen to match its own, going from pseudo-Elite to Peak Elite in an instant.

  Though Samence couldn't fathom what Dragonite had doo boost its strength, the iy of its rival's newfound aura ignited a fire within.

  Previously, Dragonite had merely been a mildly troublesome oppo, barely worth Samence's i. But now, it radiated an aura of equality—an oppo worthy of a fight.

  "ROAR!!"

  "RAWR!!"

  The two out thunderous cries that echoed across the sky. Their auras erupted like volos, colliding in midair.

  The csh of their unseen power sent ripples through the atmosphere, iwining and spiraling around each other.

  The pressure distorted the space between them, and their overwhelming Dragon Aura caused the Dragon Pokémon near Dragon Mountain to cower in fear.

  Julian, standing below, radiated a faint Aura to shield himself, without it, evehing would have been a challenge.

  In trast, Gible in his arms stared at the battle with wide, gleaming eyes, filled with admiration and longing.

  It seemed to be dreaming of the day when it, too, could bee this powerful.

  The two batants seemed evenly matched, almost as if they had agreed oe beforehand.

  In the instant, both Samend Dragonite simultaneously withdrew their auras and charged at each other.

  A streak of yellow and a streak of red collided repeatedly in the air, their cshes sending shockwaves rippling through the mountains.

  The snow-covered peaks around them began to crumble, triggering avanches from their relentless impacts.

  Fortunately, Julian stood safely outside the avanche zone.

  Dragonite's Mega Punbsp;collided with Samence's Iron Tail in a csh that seemed to freeze time. her Pokémon yielded an inch as they locked attacks.

  "BOOM!"

  The moment, both Pokémon were flung backward, retreating thousands of meters.

  They paused briefly, log eyes.

  Dragonite: Dragon Pulse!

  Samence: Hydro Pump!

  Their attacks met in midair, geing a massive shockwave that dispersed the clouds above, yet her side gained an advantage.

  Five minutes had passed sihe battle began, aher Pokémon had mao domihe other.

  It had bee a game of bad-forth strikes—one moment Samended a hit, the Dragonite did, or their attacks simply ralized each other.

  Watg from below, Julian hadn't expected Sameo be this tough. Even after Dragonite had reached Peak Elite and unleashed pseudo-Champion-level strength, it still couldn't overpower Samence.

  In fact, it seemed like viight remain out of reach.

  The Pokémon in special advanced secret realms are irohan those in standard advanced secret realms—this applies even to ordinary Pokémon.

  As for the Dragon-type Pokémon residing in Dragon Mountain, they are sidered the elite of the entire Dragon's De realm.

  Otherwise, they wouldn't have the qualifications to cim territory on Mountain.

  The Peak Elite Experience Card only sts for ten minutes. Five minutes had already passed, and it seemed unlikely Dragonite would defeat Samehin the remaining five.

  "Dragonite, use Thunder!"

  Julian's calm voice resonated within Dragonite's heart.

  Dragonite, who had beeing over how to take down Samence, felt its ay instantly dissipate upon hearing Julian's and.

  Julian had refrained from direg Dragonite much during the earlier battles, allowing it to act freely to better develop its own bat skills.

  However, against a formidable oppo like Samend with time running out, Julian took the reins.

  Storm clouds began to form in the sky as golden lightning flickered and dahrough the bed clouds. Moments ter, a thunderbolt as thick as a barrel struck downward.

  Same the attack head-on with its Dragon Cw. Vivid green Dragon energy radiated fiercely from its cws as it swung them upward.

  Watg Samence's response, Julian narrowed his eyes slightly. Just as he thought.

  "Thunder Wave!"

  As Samence shattered the Thutack with its Dragon Cw, a fairic curreended from the remnants of the Thunder and tched onto its body.

  The moment, tiny arcs of electricity began to crawl across Samence's body.

  Julian didn't just watch the battle between Dragonite and Samen vain.

  By Samence's bat style, he had already gained a solid uanding of how it fought.

  With its immeamina and abundant Dragon energy, Samence excelled at trading blows head-on. Against Pokémon with even slightly weaker strength, this approach would e pletely domihe fight.