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"Hello, my name is Raiden Suzuki. I accept your challenge. A Pokémon battle after dinner sounds nice as well."
When Sato realized that the challenger was actually Alice, he was momentarily taken aback. However, he quickly recovered, gave it some thought, and chose to accept.
In truth, he was also curious about how much the Sasaki family's young lady had improved. Judging from what she and the reporters had said earlier, she was very likely to become a major obstacle on his path—under his Tyler persona—toward winning the regional League championship.
"That's wonderful. This way, please, Mr. Suzuki."
Seeing Sato agree, Alice's smile grew even brighter. She extended her hand to the left, signaling for him to follow.
The moment she turned around, the smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn, contemplative expression. The feeling Sato gave her was extremely familiar—almost identical to the person named Sato she remembered.
Yet there was something different. The man calling himself Raiden Suzuki clearly felt like someone who had experienced countless life-and-death battles.
Even though he was clearly restraining himself, Alice—raised in a powerful family and well-traveled—immediately sensed the terrifying aura on him, similar to the bodyguards who never left her father's side.
"Heh, sharp observation. As expected of someone from a prestigious family—your insight really is different."
Using psychic perception, Sato saw Alice's subtle expression changes clearly and silently praised her observational skills.
In reality, he had concealed his presence extremely well. What Alice sensed was something he had deliberately leaked, purely to mislead her instincts.
A woman's sixth sense could be mysterious, but it was often frighteningly accurate. Women tended to trust their intuition deeply.
Out of all the people on the beach, she had chosen him specifically. That alone made Sato cautious. No matter what, he had no desire to become entangled with this Sasaki family young lady again.
Soon, guided by Alice, Sato arrived at an open-air battle arena specially designated on the beach. The two stood at opposite ends of the field.
Alice had just earned the Advanced Contest Ribbon from Slateport City, and combined with her stunning looks, her popularity was overwhelming. Along the way, many fans stopped her for autographs and photos.
So when those fans learned that Alice was about to have a Pokémon battle with Sato, the area around the battlefield was instantly packed with spectators.
After a passerby Trainer volunteered to act as referee, the one-on-one battle finally began.
"Nidoking, prepare for battle."
"Let's have a gorgeous battle—Gallade."
Sato and Alice each threw their PokéBalls, releasing their Pokémon.
"So it's not Charizard… She wants my Nidoking to serve as experience points for her Gallade? Heh—who's whose experience pack is still up in the air."
Seeing Gallade enter the field, Sato's expression shifted slightly as he sneered inwardly.
The next instant, a faint blue glimmer flashed in his eyes, and Gallade's data appeared before him.
.....
Gallade – Data
Pokémon: Gallade
Level: 54
Type: Psychic/Fighting
Ability: Steadfast
Gender: Male
Known Moves: Growl, Confusion, Double Team, Teleport, Disarming Voice, Lucky Chant, Magical Leaf, Heal Pulse, Draining Kiss, Calm Mind, Psychic, Imprison, Future Sight, Charm, Slash, Stored Power, Close Combat, Night Slash, Leer, Quick Guard, Fury Cutter, Aerial Ace, Wide Guard, Swords Dance, Psycho Cut, Helping Hand, Feint, False Swipe
Egg Move:Synchronoise
TM Moves: Protect, Hidden Power (Electric), Ally Switch, Endure, Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Focus Punch, Magic Coat, Low Kick, Pain Split, Telekinesis, Zen Headbutt, Psyshock, Bulk Up, Hyper Beam, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, X-Scissor, Poison Jab, Substitute
Held Item: Healing Orb
IVs:
HP: 28 (31)
Attack: 30 (31)
Defense: 27 (31)
Sp. Atk: 29 (31)
Sp. Def: 28 (31)
Speed: 27 (31)
Overall IV Rating: Purple (Total IV: 169)
....
"Good grief… as expected of a rich Trainer. She really doesn't hold back. Gallade has far more TM moves than my Nidoking."
After reviewing the data, Sato couldn't help but inwardly sigh at Alice's extravagance.
Gallade, with access to Teleport, was already extremely troublesome. Combined with its massive move pool, most Pokémon would be completely outclassed in front of it.
Sato was confident in Nidoking, but the thought of commanding Nidoking to defeat a heavily funded Gallade while at a type disadvantage still gave him a headache.
"Gallade, use Teleport and follow with Psycho Cut."
Alice wasted no time. The moment the battle began, she ordered a preemptive strike.
As her voice fell, psychic energy flared around Gallade, and he vanished in an instant.
When he reappeared, he was two meters to Nidoking's left. A massive blue energy blade erupted from his right arm and shot straight toward Nidoking.
"Left side—Iron Tail, break it!"
Sato reacted instantly.
Sensing Gallade's position through vibrations in the ground, Nidoking's thick tail gleamed with metallic luster.
Clang!
Nidoking's tail collided with the incoming Psycho Cut.
Psycho Cut was weaker than Iron Tail. Even with STAB, Gallade's attack was no match for Nidoking's Iron Tail empowered by Sheer Force and a Life Orb.
(Psycho Cut power: 70 | Iron Tail power: 100)
The blue blade shattered, and Nidoking's tail swept onward with a whistling roar toward Gallade.
"Ally Switch, then Bulk Up!"
Just as the tail was about to strike, Alice issued her command.
Psychic light flared again—Gallade vanished, reappearing in Nidoking's original position while Nidoking was swapped to Gallade's.
Nidoking's Iron Tail cut through empty air, his body staggering from the overextension.
"Alice—!"
"Alice—!"
"Alice—!"
The crowd erupted. Fans screamed her name as Gallade flawlessly avoided the attack.
Seizing the opening, Gallade immediately used Bulk Up. His muscles swelled as light symbolizing increased Attack and Defense radiated outward.
"Hmph. Thunderbolt."
Sato's expression hardened as he ordered the counterattack.
As a Psychic himself, he knew how taxing high-level psychic techniques like Ally Switch were. Gallade wouldn't be using it again anytime soon.
"ROAR!"
A thick bolt of lightning fired from Nidoking's horn, blasting toward Gallade.
"Charge in—Ice Drain Punch!"
Seeing no way to dodge, Alice shouted sharply.
Gallade surged forward through the lightning, his right fist coated in icy green light. In a blink, he reached Nidoking and slammed the punch into his abdomen.
Nidoking screamed in pain and was sent skidding backward several meters.
At the same time, healing light flared around Gallade, rapidly restoring damage from Thunderbolt.
But before Gallade could recover—
A pitch-black energy sphere shot from Nidoking's mouth.
Having just executed a combo move, Gallade was caught in the brief gap between motions.
"Shadow Ball."
Alice's eyes widened in shock.
Despite taking a boosted super-effective combo, Nidoking was still standing—and counterattacking instantly.
She realized it immediately: Sheer Force and a cracked Life Orb. With those combined, even Gallade's strong special defense wouldn't save him.
"Protect!"
A green barrier flared, blocking the Shadow Ball.
But the shield faded quickly.
"Earth Power."
Sato's next command came via telepathy.
Nidoking stomped the ground. A massive pillar of earthen energy erupted beneath Gallade.
Gallade reacted instantly, vanishing with Teleport—but—
"Watch your footing!"
Alice cried out.
Too late.
The moment Gallade landed, another pillar of earth exploded beneath him. Nidoking's mastery over Ground-type energy allowed him to instantly lock onto any grounded target within dozens of meters.
This second Earth Power, boosted by STAB, Sheer Force, and Life Orb, reached a terrifying effective power.
Gallade was blasted skyward.
Amazingly, he stood back up—barely.
Sato didn't know that Gallade had used Endure at the last moment. Both Pokémon were now at their limits.
One hit would decide everything.
"Thunderbolt."
"Teleport, then Psycho Cut."
Lightning fired—
Gallade vanished, reappearing behind Nidoking and unleashing a massive blue blade.
"Child's play. Protect, then Earth Power."
Sato smiled calmly.
Alice sighed.
"I've lost."
The barrier blocked Psycho Cut. Nidoking stomped.
A final pillar of earth erupted.
Gallade was launched into the air—and this time, when he fell, he did not rise again.