Extra Chapters because of the new reviews, cheers!
.
.
.
After placing first in both categories, Sato's performance in the Practical Combat evaluation drew even more attention.
Among those watching, there were shocked expressions, relief, suspicion, and even disdain; but none of it mattered to Sato.
Besides, Sato wasn't the only one who had won all ten matches on the first day... Norman had also achieved ten victories!
As for anyone else, they hadn't bothered to check.
Out of ten matches, aside from the first round, where Cacturne took heavy damage, Sato had played defensively, ensuring victory through endurance and control, minimizing any chance to harm his Pokémon.
Because of this, by the end of Day 1, all six of his Pokémon, including Weavile, had been used in battle; with no option to swap Pokémon, trying to hide a team mber for later was a pointless risk.
*Ten matches per day.
*Random opponents.
*Random battle formats.
There was simply no ti for contestants to study their rivals or develop counter-strategies.
Instead of wasting energy investigating, it was better to give Pokémon proper massages and ease their fatigue.
---
The Pokémon Center at the League Headquarters was fully prepared. The Joy family had assigned thirty Nurse Joys and nearly a hundred dical staff to ensure that the qualification tournant ran smoothly.
However, the treatnt standards were strictly limited to those of a regular Pokémon Center.
This ant that if a Pokémon suffered severe injuries, it might not fully recover overnight!
Fighting the next day with one less Pokémon would be an incredible handicap.
However, Sato received special treatnt from the Joy family.
The mont he finished his ten matches, dical staff discreetly swapped his Poké Balls, taking his exhausted Pokémon for faster recovery.
Normally, contestants had to go to the Pokémon Center themselves and wait in line for treatnt.
Sato still lined up, but only as a distraction for others.
This extra ti allowed Nurse Joy to perform more effective recovery procedures!
At first, this advantage was barely noticeable... but by Day 5 and Day 6, when fatigue started catching up to the others, Sato's lead would beco undeniable!
Sato had no guilt about receiving special treatnt; he accepted it without hesitation.
---
The second day of battles began.
Following the straightforward format of the Young Elite Tournant, the Gym Leader Qualification Tournant also avoided unnecessary delays.
By 9:00 AM, all contestants had to be present, and the eleventh round of random matches began!
This ti, Sato's battle was a 3v3 rotation match, and his opponent was a muscular man in his twenties: Chuck!
Sato's expression turned strange... was this who he thought it was?
"This will be a 3v3 Rotation Battle. The match ends when all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle, or when a Trainer forfeits!"
The referee glanced at both competitors, then continued, "Send out your Pokémon!"
Two flashes of blue light revealed a hulking Machamp and a Shiny Cacturne!
"So it really is..."
Sato sighed. His first match of the day was against yet another Gym Leader successor.
The future Cianwood City Gym Leader, the Fighting-type master: Chuck!
"Battle begin!"
"Haha! Machamp, Karate Chop!"
"Cacturne, Seed Bomb!"
Machamp's four muscular arms swung forward, each palm glowing with white energy, launching a quadruple Karate Chop attack!
Both Pokémon were not particularly fast, but Cacturne was an even worse close-range fighter against a Fighting-type opponent!
The Seed Bomb attack was fired, but Machamp easily blocked it with one of its four arms!
Boom!
The Seed Bomb exploded, pushing Machamp backward slightly.
However, hidden within the explosion was a tiny, thumb-sized seed.
The mont it latched onto Machamp, it rapidly grew into dozens of golden vines, wrapping around the fighting Pokémon's body!
Leech Seed!
"Champ!"
Machamp groaned, as its energy was drained rapidly, flowing straight into Cacturne!
"Machamp, Fire Punch! Burn those vines off!" Chuck roared.
He and Machamp hadn't expected the Seed Bomb to have a secondary effect!
"Cacturne, Energy Ball, keep firing!"
One golden Energy Ball after another shot forward, striking Machamp as it attempted to burn away the Leech Seed vines!
"Machamp! I believe in you! Use Dynamic Punch and turn this around!"
Chuck was fired up, but to Sato, he just looked... ridiculously over-the-top!
"Cacturne, Spiky Shield!"
Dynamic Punch was a powerful Fighting-type attack, but its accuracy was terrible!
Not wanting to gamble on whether Machamp's ability would boost its accuracy, Sato chose to play it safe and defend.
Countless sharp spikes sprouted from Cacturne's body, completely enclosing it in a protective barrier!
Machamp's Dynamic Punch crashed into the spikes, unable to push through any further. At the sa ti, the sharp thorns tore through its arms, leaving bloody wounds!
"Cacturne, Drain Punch!"
At Sato's command, Cacturne retracted its spikes, and in the sa motion, struck forward with a counterattack, slamming into the arm Machamp had used for Dynamic Punch!
"Machamp is unable to battle! Trainer, send out your next Pokémon!"
Sato shook his head slightly; Chuck had a strong background and resources that many would envy.
His senior disciple was none other than Bruno of the Elite Four!
His father was Iron Will, the current Cianwood Gym Leader!
Yet, compared to Flint, Chuck's talent was even worse. He trained hard, but he just wasn't strong enough.
"I'll rember your effort. Now, let's see what your next Pokémon can do! Go, Heracross!"
Chuck wasn't dumb, he imdiately sent out a Bug-type Pokémon that had a quadruple advantage against Cacturne!
However, Sato wasn't foolish either.
The mont Heracross appeared, Sato recalled Cacturne without hesitation.
"Woo~!"
Houndoom scoffed as it glanced at its opponent.
Ever since it had gained the ability to ga Evolve, feeling the imnse power boost, it had subconsciously started looking down on Pokémon of the sa level!
"Houndoom, Flathrower!"
A wave of scorching flas rushed forward, but before Chuck could even command it, Heracross took action on its own!
Flapping its insect wings, it soared into the sky, evading the attack.
"Heracross, Aerial Ace!"
Heracross narrowly dodged Flathrower, then swiftly accelerated in an arc, closing the gap between them in an instant!
Boom!
Houndoom failed to dodge and was hit directly, Heracross's imnse Attack stat inflicted serious damage!
"Follow up with Close Combat!"
Chuck finally showed so of his potential as a Gym Leader successor, Aerial Ace into Close Combat was a solid combo!
"Houndoom, Substitute!"
But it wasn't enough!
A flicker of light flashed through Sato's eyes as he issued his next command.
"Fire Blast!"
Houndoom imdiately retreated, hiding behind its Substitute, while it began charging up its attack.
At the exact mont Heracross tore through the Substitute, the massive Fire Blast exploded!
Boom!
"Heracross is unable to battle! Trainer, send out your next Pokémon!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)