"Urgh! (I surrender!)"
"...?"
Su Feng stared blankly at the Dragonite not far away, who was forcibly suppressing its Outrage. A mouthful of blood surged up its throat, but Dragonite forcefully swallowed it back down.
The backlash from suppressing Outrage was more damaging than the Ice Beam attack from Greninja. But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
Ignoring Su Feng's puzzled gaze, Dragonite rallied itself and shouted to the surrounding audience:
"Urgh! (As far as I know, Su Feng still has three weaker Pokémon! They could easily stall me to death while I'm under this Curse!)"
"Urgh! (And despite such a massive power gap, he pushed me this far! Could any of you guarantee you'd fare better at his level!?)"
"Urgh! (If anyone here still doubts Su Feng's victory over me, step forward now! After I recover, we'll settle it one-on-one!)"
Dragonite swept its gaze across the audience. Aside from a few elder dragons, not a single Pokémon dared meet its eyes, showcasing the Dragon Clan leader's authority. This speech was aimed at the skeptical elders. Seeing none of them challenge him, Dragonite couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction.
"Urgh! (Then, I hereby announce—)"
"Urgh… (I…)"
The Curse effect triggered again, draining the last of Dragonite's stamina.
Thud—
Dragonite face-planted onto the ground, completely unconscious.
Su Feng: "…"
That looked painful.
On the stands, Gible's eyes widened in disbelief, as if its worldview had shattered.
"Roar!? (Su Feng actually nearly defeated Leader Dragonite!?)"
It had only hoped Su Feng might land a scratch on Dragonite, but not only had Su Feng wounded the clan leader—he'd pushed Dragonite to such a pitiful state. If the timing weren't so awkward, Gible would've rushed to the arena immediately to beg Su Feng to take it as a partner.
As the dragons exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what Dragonite had meant to declare, a graceful blue-and-white figure glided down from the stands to the center of the arena. Su Feng recognized her—one of the elder dragons, Altaria.
Altaria landed and gave Su Feng an approving nod.
"Coo~ (To be honest, we orchestrated this battle to make you back down, to show our opposition to coexisting with the Forest Dwellers.)"
"Coo~ (Yet you forced Dragonite to this extremity. You've proven your resolve and the bonds with your Pokémon.)"
"Coo. (We must reconsider for our descendants' future.)"
Glancing at the unconscious Dragonite, Altaria raised her head and proclaimed:
"Coo~ (I, Altaria, hereby declare on behalf of Dragonite, leader of the Dragon Clan: From this day forth, dragons and Forest Dwellers shall set aside grudges and coexist peacefully! All territories are open to free passage!)"
Instantly, cheers from the younger dragons erupted throughout the colosseum—though scattered objections and doubts lingered.
"Roar? (Elder Altaria, how do the Forest Dwellers view this? Won't we be attacked as invaders?)" shouted a Fraxure, recalling past attempts to enter the forest that ended in violent repulsion.
"Sona~ (Worry not.)"
The voice arrived before its owner. As Su Feng wondered where Gardevoir's voice came from, a green flash blinked into existence beside him.
Gardevoir smiled at Su Feng before addressing the crowd:
"Sona~ (The Forest Dwellers welcome the Dragon Clan's return. We'll even assist in rebuilding your nests within the forest, helping your clan thrive anew.)"
Though Gardevoir's sudden appearance caused brief alarm, her words silenced the crowd. Her presence alone—a powerhouse rivaling Dragonite, standing unguarded in dragon territory—proved the Forest Dwellers' commitment to peace.
Altaria and Gardevoir, longtime adversaries, exchanged nods more reminiscent of old friends than foes. Over decades of clashes, mutual respect had quietly grown beneath their opposing stances.
Su Feng approached Gardevoir and whispered, "Why are you here?"
"Sona~ (To lend you support,)" Gardevoir replied, covering a chuckle. After announcing the peace accord to the Forest Dwellers—who accepted it without protest, thanks to her clan's longstanding leadership—she'd sensed Su Feng might face resistance and teleported over. To her surprise, he'd already resolved everything. Her arrival was merely the finishing touch.
...
Two Days Later
Relocation was underway. Pokémon like Tatsugiri and Applin returned to forests and lakes, while Geodude, Onix, and Excadrill reclaimed their mountainous habitats.
Though some Forest Dwellers still harbored resentment, the returning dragons paid no mind—none dared act on it. A strict pact between both factions' leaders mandated severe punishment for unprovoked aggression (though mutual battles remained permissible).
Resources were shared freely. Low-ranking Pokémon finally obtained coveted items through trade—even the Drilbur Su Feng had met earlier now clutched its dream Dragon Scale fruit.
As Su Feng had envisioned, the entire secret realm was steadily healing.