Chapter 87 - Lance In A Dilemma

As Julian made his way back to his hotel room, he caught sight of a striking figure near a bustling shop. A tall, elderly woman with a crown of snow-white hair, elegantly fastened with matching white straps, drew his attention. She donned a crisp white headband and a flowing white kimono that seemed to billow with every movement. Her presence demanded attention.

Amidst her lively exchange with the shopkeeper, a cacophony of spirited haggling filled the air, but it was not the negotiation that captured Julian's gaze. What truly held his attention was the magnificent Pokémon by her side – an imposing Typhlosion, its presence exuding an undeniable aura of power and intimidation.

Julian couldn't contain his surprise, whispering to himself, "Ho, I never thought I would see a Typhlosion here. She must be its trainer."

His gaze remained fixated on the elderly woman, still engrossed in her animated barter with the shopkeeper, while her Typhlosion kept a watchful eye on the proceedings, a testament to the unspoken connection between them.

Shrugging off his curiosity, Julian mused, "Is she from Johto? Hmm, who cares. Let's go." With that, he continued on his way, leaving the intriguing duo behind. The day slipped away swiftly, and as the sun heralded a new dawn, Julian resolved to head to the hills for some training. He exited his room, mounted his bike, and pedaled off, the crisp morning air invigorating him as he embarked on his journey.

As Julian neared the hill, a peculiar sight caught his attention – a plume of smoke rising from one of the hills. Intrigued, he veered toward it, determined to investigate. Upon his arrival, his eyes widened in recognition. There, in the midst of a fierce battle, was the very same old woman with her formidable Typhlosion, locked in combat with another trainer.

Julian's heart skipped a beat as he registered the identity of the man before him, a figure of legendary renown within the Pokémon world – Lance.

Whispering to himself in disbelief, he mused, "Lance, why is he here? And who is this old woman battling him?" The unexpected encounter left Julian with a barrage of questions, his curiosity piqued as he observed the extraordinary showdown unfolding before him.

Julian watched in awe as the battle unfolded before his eyes. It became apparent that this was not a typical showdown, but rather a training battle. Despite the odds stacked against her, the elderly woman's Typhlosion proved to be a formidable opponent, going toe-to-toe with Lance's majestic Dragonite. The elegant dance of fire and dragon-type moves illuminated the hillside with their fierce exchanges, leaving Julian deeply impressed.

His voice hushed with admiration, Julian reflected, "Hmm, this old woman is really something. Even in a disadvantaged position, she's still able to hold her ground and launch attacks against that Dragonite." The resilience and skill displayed in the battle left Julian with a newfound respect for the enigmatic trainer and her Typhlosion.

Julian remained a silent observer, captivated by the unfolding battle between Lance and Ultima. The atmosphere crackled with tension as the two trainers exchanged words.

Lance declared, "Ultima, you won't be able to defeat me this time around."

In response, Ultima retorted with a hint of respect, "Lance, boy, you have grown strong in these four years. Show me how strong you've become."

Julian's curiosity deepened. "So her name is Ultima," he pondered silently. "Hmm, why do I feel like I've heard that name somewhere?" His mind raced as he tried to recall any pertinent details, but alas, his memory proved elusive, leaving him in a state of deep contemplation, yearning to unearth the connection between Ultima and his own past experiences.

Lance's determination was palpable as he issued a command to his Dragonite. "Let's see if you can escape from this, Dragonite! Hyper Beam!"

Dragonite soared high into the air and, with a resounding roar, released a devastating Hyper Beam that streaked toward Typhlosion, its power unmistakable.

Ultima, undeterred, unleashed a surprise of her own. She flashed a metallic bracelet on her right hand, and it began to radiate with an otherworldly glow.

"Ultimate Skill, BLAST BURN!" Ultima declared with unwavering confidence. Typhlosion, positioned on the ground, rose onto its powerful hind legs and gazed skyward. With a deep breath, it exhaled a potent orange fire beam that tore through the atmosphere. The fiery onslaught collided head-on with Dragonite's Hyper Beam, creating a spectacular clash of elemental forces that left Julian, once more, in awe of the intensity and skill displayed in the battle.

The explosive clash of these two mighty moves sent shockwaves rippling through the immediate area, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The ground beneath them seared, trees were uprooted and sent sailing through the air, and the shockwave raced through the atmosphere at breakneck speeds, causing the air itself to distort and tremble.

But the drama didn't end there. The victorious Blast Burn surged forward, tearing through the waning Hyper Beam and setting its sights on Dragonite, now left in a perilous position.

Lance, displaying his seasoned expertise, shouted urgently, "Dragonite, quickly move out of the way!" With remarkable agility, Dragonite evaded the impending attack, ensuring that even though the Blast Burn's potency had been diminished, it still possessed a residual power equivalent to a Flamethrower. Lance, a masterful trainer, was not willing to take any chances in the face of such formidable opposition.

Julian, who had been observing the battle from a distance, couldn't help but be astounded by the sheer power of the Blast Burn. He mused to himself, "That Blast Burn was not an ordinary one. It could even match the power of a Z-move."

As his gaze remained fixated on Ultima and the enigmatic bracelet on her hand, a spark of recognition finally ignited within Julian. A revelation struck him, and he began to piece together the puzzle of Ultima's true identity and capabilities.

Julian's memory clicked into place, and he couldn't contain his realization any longer. "Now I remember her," he thought, a sense of revelation washing over him. "She is the Guardian of the Ultimate Skills from Sevii Island. Professor Oak had mentioned her when I told him about my visit to the Sevii Islands. If I remember correctly, she teaches these skills to trainers destined to learn them. They're Blast Burn, Frenzy Plant, and Hydro Cannon, but they're on a whole different level compared to the regular ones." With newfound clarity, Julian understood the extraordinary nature of the battle he had been witnessing and the significance of Ultima's role as the Guardian of these extraordinary techniques.

Julian's gaze remained transfixed on the bracelet adorning Ultima's hand, his mind whirring with intrigue.

"I think that bracelet is the reason for that huge power boost of these moves," he contemplated silently.

While Julian pondered the source of Ultima's incredible power, Lance's expression remained serious, clearly recognizing the magnitude of the battle at hand. The enigmatic trainer and her formidable abilities demanded their utmost respect and attention.

Lance's words held a weight of experience and humility as he acknowledged the incredible power of Ultima's move.

"As always, that move never fails to render me speechless," he admitted, his respect for Ultima evident in his tone. "But I recently witnessed something even more powerful than that, so I called you to see if I can counter your move. I was expecting that I would at least neutralize it, but I overestimated my limit."

Ultima was visibly taken aback by Lance's revelation, her eyes widening as she absorbed his words.

"You are saying that there is someone out there who can use a more powerful move than my ultimate skills?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. The prospect of such a formidable opponent intrigued and challenged her.

Lance's memories stirred as he recounted the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing a move even more potent than Ultima's Blast Burn.

"I still remember, even though I was not present on the scene, I watched it through the screen," Lance mused, his voice resonating with the impact of that memory. "I felt that power behind that move. It was indeed more powerful than your Blast Burn."

A pause followed as Ultima contemplated the implications of their battle.

"So you asked me to have a battle with you to test your limit," she surmised, her tone reflecting an understanding of the situation. "And it looks like you are not happy with the result." Ultima's words carried an unspoken challenge, hinting at a desire to explore the depths of their abilities even further.

Lance's concerns were evident as he responded, "You're right. If my opponent uses that Pokémon in the battle, I'll have no choice but to leverage my Pokémon's speed as an advantage. Meeting head-on with that monster... I'm not sure even my Dragonite could withstand its power."

Ultima's curiosity grew as she contemplated the situation, prompting her to ask, "This opponent of yours, is he the one you'll be facing next week?" The impending challenge seemed to weigh heavily on their conversation, and Ultima's interest in the impending battle became increasingly apparent.

Lance's anxiety was palpable as he divulged, "Indeed, his name is Julian, and this upcoming battle will be my hardest one. It's not only that Pokémon which is a problem, but his whole Pokémon team is filled with monsters. Some are all-rounders, some are heavy hitters, and some are extremely fast. But the most important thing that I need to take into consideration is that he hasn't revealed all his Pokémon."

This revelation underscored Lance's biggest concern – his opponent's unpredictability. While information about his own Pokémon and battle patterns was readily available on the internet, Julian's strategy remained a well-guarded secret, leaving Lance in a position of uncertainty as he prepared to face this formidable adversary.

Ultima considered the situation and nodded in understanding. "Hmm, it looks like you are indeed in a pinch. Your opponent knows everything about you, but you don't have much information about him."

Lance agreed, a note of frustration in his voice. "True. From what I have observed in his recent three battles, most of his Pokémon never gave their one hundred percent in their battles."

Ultima offered her support in her own way, saying, "I see. Well, this old woman has nothing to give you for triumphing over your opponent. I can only wish the best of luck to you." Her well-wishes were sincere, and Lance's upcoming battle seemed poised to be one of the greatest challenges he had ever faced.

As Lance took to the skies on his trusty Dragonite, and Julian made his way to his training ground, the anticipation of their upcoming battle hung in the air.

Julian couldn't help but smirk, his thoughts racing. "Hehe, it looks like Lance is concerned about me using Snorlax. Well, he doesn't have to worry about that at all. I have another surprise for him."

With a determined smile, Julian launched into his training, confident in his preparations for the clash that lay ahead. The battle between these two skilled trainers promised to be an unforgettable showdown.