January 26, Sunset.
Verdanturf Town, Verdanturf Ruins.
"Hmm?"
Officer Jenny, who was patrolling outside the Verdanturf Ruins on her tricycle, suddenly froze. The [Little Growlithe] in the sidecar had unexpectedly leaped off the vehicle.
As a professionally trained [Little Growlithe], it would never jump off a moving vehicle without reason—unless it had sensed sothing unusual.
"Woof! Woof!!"
The [Little Growlithe] crouched outside the ruins, barking furiously at the entrance, as if it had detected sothing dangerous.
This made Officer Jenny furrow her brows.
The Verdanturf Ruins had originally been an open site, but after a warning from Johan and Cynthia, the Sinnoh League had temporarily sealed it off and assigned regular patrols.
The [Little Growlithe]'s reaction made Officer Jenny take the situation seriously. She imdiately called the Verdanturf Town police departnt to investigate.
However, after a team of League officers went in and searched the ruins, they found nothing unusual.
The [Little Growlithe] also stopped barking afterward, making Officer Jenny wonder—was it just overfed lately?
January 27, Eterna City.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky above Eterna City as hot air balloons floated by, and the entire town buzzed with excitent.
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
From the towering Ti-Space Tower, a lively classical lody echoed throughout the city, imrsing everyone in the festive atmosphere.
At a grand stadium behind the tower, a massive crowd had gathered—locals and tourists alike had co specifically to watch this exhibition match.
Among them were many of Johan's fans.
Of course, there were also supporters of Cynthia, Bruno, and other invited Trainers.
"Ladies and gentlen, I am Baron Albert! Now, please enjoy today's exhibition match!!"
Baron Albert, the event's primary sponsor, made his presence known, flaunting his status.
The exhibition match soon began amidst the crowd's excited cheers.
The first to enter was Cynthia.
Her opponent? A rising star from Unova's Pokémon Hollywood—who was also a huge Cynthia fan and had eagerly requested this battle.
As for the result...
"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
With one confident wave of Cynthia's hand, Garchomp brutally "educated" its opponent.
A complete and utter KO!
Roar!!
As cheers filled the stadium, Garchomp's nacing grin appeared on the big screen, claws raised in triumph.
For casual spectators, this mont was exhilarating.
For Johan, who could sowhat understand Garchomp's expression... he swallowed nervously but kept a composed facade.
Cynthia's dominating performance set the tone, imdiately igniting the audience's enthusiasm.
Interestingly, Baron Albert had paid Flint one million Pokédollars to participate in the event.
That was after relentless persuasion—and with Johan and Cynthia putting in a good word for him.
Flint was so touched he nearly wiped his snot on Johan's suit.
His exact words?
"I knew sticking with Johan and Big Sis Cynthia would get a solid al ticket!"
Once the matches began, Baron Albert quickly realized he had made a brilliant investnt.
To be fair, while Flint might not be as famous as the other competitors, he was undoubtedly strong.
Outside of facing Cynthia or an overwhelming force, even Johan wasn't certain he could decisively defeat a fully-powered Flint.
"Ladies and gentlen, please welco the Elite Four from Kanto—Bruno!!"
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium.
By this point, the audience was already ecstatic. Learning that a mber of the Elite Four was entering the stage only amplified the excitent.
Bruno strode onto the battlefield with a broad smile, his well-defined muscles and battle scars fully on display.
A pair of nunchaku hung around his neck, with two Poké Balls attached at the ends.
In Kanto, many skilled Trainers carried weapons.
Bruno had his nunchaku, Gold had his golf club, Agatha her cane, Erika her bow and arrows, and Red his insulated gloves.
If you didn't have a signature tool, you wouldn't last long in Kanto.
Bruno crossed his arms, eyes burning with battle spirit as he locked onto his opponent.
"Now, let's welco the champion of the Lily of the Valley Conference—Johan!!"
"Johan!!"
The crowd erupted in cheers once more, their enthusiasm shaking the stadium.
Fresh off his Lily of the Valley victory, Johan was basking in the montum, drawing even louder cheers than Bruno.
The entire stadium echoed with one na—Johan!
Wearing a sleek black fitted suit and a monocle, Johan stepped onto the battlefield with a bright smile, savoring the audience's energy.
"Damn, Johan looks even better in person than on TV!"
"Why aren't they making Johan and Bruno fight hand-to-hand?!"
Despite his outward grin, Johan was cursing internally.
Why did he have to fight Bruno at the end?!
But he had no say in the event schedule.
And honestly, the organizers knew what they were doing.
Johan had won the Lily of the Valley Conference, aning he was qualified to challenge Sinnoh's Elite Four and Champion.
He hadn't done so yet, which had left many people disappointed.
But now...
While he wasn't facing Sinnoh's Elite Four, he was about to battle Kanto's Bruno—which was just as hype-worthy!
Johan vs. an Elite Four mber!
There was no way this wouldn't attract attention.
And while Baron Albert sponsored the event, the match-up itself clearly wasn't his idea—he wasn't that smart.
Bruno's battle spirit burned even hotter.
"Finally, we et again, Johan!"
Johan's smile twitched.
Can't I just earn so prize money in peace?!
Fortunately, Bruno hadn't brought his Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan—his strongest Pokémon.
The Pokémon with him had only been in his team for about a year.
Unfortunately, those Pokémon were still Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Hitmontop—Bruno's specialty.
And for a top-tier Trainer like him, one year was more than enough to refine a Pokémon's strength.
But it was an exhibition match—winning didn't matter, montum did!
Johan unbuttoned his suit, letting the fabric flutter, and smirked.
"Bring it on!"
The "battle energy" instantly soared.
Bruno grinned, removed his nunchaku, and grabbed a Poké Ball.
"Then, it's decided!"
He tossed the ball.
BOOM!
Amidst swirling dust, an enormous figure erged. The sheer weight of its presence shook the ground.
When the dust cleared, its imposing steel body ca into view.
"Garruu!!"
Bruno had sent out—Steelix!
Johan blinked.
A Fighting-type Elite Four mber... using a Steel/Ground-type Pokémon?
At the sa ti, Johan threw his own Poké Ball.
Erging from the red light was another powerhouse—Urshifu!
Its fur rippled in the wind, its eyes sharp and determined. It spread its arms and let out a mighty roar, standing toe-to-toe with Steelix.
"Garruu!!"
Urshifu grinned.
Not only was it not afraid, but it was itching for a fight.
"Urshifu, Bulk Up!" Johan commanded.
Against an Elite Four mber, there was no ti for back-and-forth reactions—Bruno could unleash a devastating burst attack at any mont.
"Garruu!!"
Urshifu let out a roar, crossing its arms as its muscles tensed. A dark red aura swirled around its body, its strength rapidly increasing.
Bruno didn't hesitate. His fists clenched tightly as he took a firm stance, shouting:
"Steelix, Bind!"
Rumble—
The tallic grinding of Steelix's body echoed through the stadium as it lunged forward. Its massive form coiled around Urshifu, locking it in an iron grip.
Creak—
The overwhelming force of Steelix's constriction caused a piercing screech, its steel body tightening like an unbreakable vice.
Trapped within the coils, Urshifu found itself pressed from all sides, struggling to breathe.
For a martial artist, this was a grappling technique—a submission hold ant to crush its target.
Even Johan, a non-fighter, could tell that this was a form of strangulation lock.
For most opponents, once they were bound, the match was as good as over.
But Urshifu was no ordinary opponent.
It had a Water-type move—not many, but enough.
"Urshifu, Aqua Jet! Break free!"
"Garruu!"
Urshifu exhaled sharply.
As a master of Soft Style, it didn't try to overpower Steelix but instead focused on using the enemy's force against it.
It took a deep breath, then suddenly compressed its own body, shrinking just enough to create a gap in Steelix's bind.
At that precise mont, a burst of water energy surged around it.
With an elegant, flowing motion, Urshifu slipped out of Steelix's grip, escaping the bind completely.
Bruno's eyes widened.
"Soft Style?"
For the casual spectators, the scene was just an intense struggle.
But to a martial artist like Bruno, it was a display of true mastery.
Yet, despite his admiration, Bruno didn't slow down.
"Steelix, Thunder Fang!"
Crackle—
Steelix's massive form twisted like a coiled spring, using the tension in its own body to lunge forward at blinding speed.
It was like watching a viper strike—only this "viper" was made of solid steel.
Johan instantly responded.
"Urshifu, Surging Strikes!"
No hesitation.
This was an exhibition match—it had to be spectacular.
Nothing was more thrilling than a full-force, blow-for-blow showdown.
"Garruu!"
Urshifu spun on its heel, channeling the montum of its movent into a devastating punch.
Splash!
A wave of water crashed forward, eting Steelix's electrified fangs in midair.
BOOM!!
Water and lightning clashed, creating a massive shockwave that shook the entire battlefield.
The force sent Urshifu skidding backward, its feet carving trenches into the dirt.
The audience gasped.
That kind of raw power—and Urshifu blocked it?!
But for Urshifu, this was just the beginning.
"Garruu—"
It grinned, then imdiately followed up with a spinning kick.
WHAM!!
The impact was like a whip crack—pure, concentrated power.
But Urshifu didn't stop there.
With a fluid movent, it shifted its stance and delivered another powerful strike.
CRASH!!
The second impact hit even harder, sending a shockwave rippling across the field.
And then—
The final blow.
Urshifu leaned forward, using the full weight of its body, and threw a monstrous right hook.
BOOM!!
Steelix—a Pokémon known for its near-unbreakable defense—was sent reeling.
Even as it dug its tail into the ground, trying to hold its position, the sheer force of the attack left deep grooves in the battlefield.
Pain surged through its body.
Steelix clenched its jaw, eyes bloodshot from the effort of staying upright.
And Bruno...
Bruno smiled.
A deep, satisfied smile.
He crossed his arms, eyes gleaming with a warrior's spirit.
Johan's heart tensed.
A gut feeling told him—sothing dangerous was coming.
"Urshifu, Detect!" Johan commanded instinctively.
But Bruno's voice bood over his own.
"Steelix—FURY-POWERED DOUBLE-EDGE!!"
FURY.
An ability that increases a Pokémon's Attack power when hit by consecutive blows.
For every strike in a multi-hit combo, Steelix's Attack had risen.
Urshifu had just landed three hits.
Steelix's Attack had jumped three levels.
And now—
"GARRUUUUUUU!!"
Steelix roared.
Its massive form lifted straight up, its entire body radiating a blinding white aura.
It didn't move like a Steel-type Pokémon anymore.
It moved like a brawler.
Like a warhamr descending from the heavens, Steelix's entire form ca crashing down—
Directly toward Urshifu.
The arena trembled.
The crowd held their breath.
Everyone had the sa thought—
Even with Detect... Can Urshifu block that?!
The answer ca in the next mont.
"Garruu!!"
Urshifu's aura flared violently.
Not just Water energy—but also pure, unyielding fighting spirit.
BOOOOM!!!!
The battlefield EXPLODED.
The entire stadium shook from the impact.
Spectators were rocked in their seats, even with protective barriers in place.
It was as if the earth itself had shattered.
A cloud of thick dust consud the battlefield, blocking everything from view.
Silence.
Then, as the dust slowly settled...
Everyone saw it.
The battlefield—completely destroyed.
Not a single intact patch of ground remained.
But in the center of the devastation—
Urshifu stood.
It was panting heavily, body covered in wounds—but still standing.
And Steelix?
Steelix was no longer moving.
The stadium went dead silent.
And then—
A thunderous ROAR of cheers erupted.
"HOLY SHIT—"
"URSHIFU BLOCKED IT?!"
"IT WON! IT WON!!!"
Urshifu exhaled sharply.
It had won.
But even as the audience celebrated, Johan's expression was thoughtful.
For just a mont...
When Urshifu threw that last punch...
Had it unintentionally tapped into a different combat style?
Sothing beyond its usual techniques?
A single-strike, precision-based martial art...?
The style of "One-Hit Assassins"...?
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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