In the stadium lobby, the broadcast echoed through the hall.
"Contestants Shiro and Bea, please enter the waiting room."
Shiro stood from the sofa and walked into the hallway. Bea followed close behind.
This wasn't their first meeting. Back in Stow-on-Side, he had captured Bea's father, an odd attacker who had tried to ambush him.
"I want to defeat you more than anyone else in this Champion Cup." Bea spoke calmly.
She knew the company's so-called hero trainers too well. She even studied each detail of their battles and every one of their Pokémon.
Shiro paused and looked back, meeting her eyes that burned with fighting spirit.
"So you want to beat me," he murmured. "Then come."
Take back your pride. Or fall again.
They walked side by side to the waiting room.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, inside the arena.
"The second half of the semifinal match!"
An excited shout erupted from the speakers. Ryan continued, "Who will face Leon in the finals? The hero trainer from Spikemuth, Shiro, or the fighting prodigy from Stow-on-Side, Bea? Their match begins now!"
The crowd roared.
"Go! Shiro!"
"Shiro!"
"Shiro!"
Trainers and Gym staff from Hammerlocke cheered the loudest.
"Win it! Champion!"
"Win the Champion Cup! Shiro! Win it!"
Their chant was the most organized. Hammerlocke's law enforcement captain, Woods, even had his men hold banners over their heads, drawing complaints from the spectators behind them.
"Looks like the audience favors Shiro," Ryan said, though he didn't know why. He shouted again, "Trainers, please enter the field!"
They walked out from opposite tunnels and stepped onto the fresh battlefield.
Bea stood straight and proper. She clasped her hands and bowed before taking out a Poké Ball.
Shiro didn't move. He simply watched her.
"Trainers, release your first Pokémon!" Ryan called.
As soon as the words fell, Shiro sent out Drakloak without hesitation. It had the highest level and ghost typing, making it perfect for fighting Bea.
Sending it out first meant he wanted to pressure her team and end the battle fast.
She hesitated for a moment but still threw her Poké Ball.
"Go, Pangoro!"
Following a flash of red light, an upright fighting panda that looked tough and mean appeared, with a bamboo shoot between its teeth.
Shiro's eyes narrowed as he checked the Pokémon's details.
[Name: Pangoro
Type: Fighting/Dark
Level: 49 (Gym)
Ability: Scrappy
Held Item: None
Moves: Night Slash, Arm Thrust, Leer, Bullet Punch, Tackle, Taunt, Circle Throw, Low Sweep, Work Up, Slash, Vital Throw, Crunch, Body Slam, Mega Punch, Fire Punch...]
A Dark-type Pangoro with the Scrappy ability.
Scrappy let Normal and Fighting moves hit Ghost-types. Damage would treat them as neutral.
Dark typing, on the other hand, hit Ghost for super effective damage.
So Pangoro had no disadvantage against Ghost-types and even held an edge.
"No wonder Bea could fight Allister evenly," Shiro whispered softly. But he wasn't worried.
Regardless of the Pokémon's typing or ability, it would be very difficult to overcome a gap of full tier. On top of that, Drakloak was also a Dragon-type and could fly.
Pangoro already had a level disadvantage and far lower speed. It couldn't rely on typing alone to win.
From the referee's position, Ryan lifted his hand. "Pokémon ready. Battle begin!"
Both trainers shouted at the same time.
"Drakloak, Quick Attack into Dragon Tail!"
"Pangoro, Taunt!"
The words left their mouths, and Bea froze.
Shiro predicted her. He didn't use Dragon Dance or any boosting move.
Normally, her strategy would've been fine. Since if an ordinary trainer wanted their first Pokémon to sweep all six, they would always start by boosting its stats.
But just like Leon's Charizard, if the level gap was big enough, the best choice was to attack first. Take control of the pace and pressure the opponent.
In most cases, attacking right away was at least never the wrong choice.
That was what Shiro thought as well.
On the field, Drakloak flashed into a streak of gray light. It slipped behind Pangoro the moment the panda raised its fingers for Taunt.
"Draaak!"
A dragon tail glowed blue and swept across Pangoro's back, sending it flying.
Pangoro felt a heavy force crash into it. Even the bamboo shoot in its mouth nearly dropped.
Shro didn't stop.
"Follow with Breaking Swipe!"
Drakloak spun and lashed out again, lifting Pangoro's falling body even higher.
"Shadow Ball!" Shiro shouted.
Large black spheres, each the size of Pangoro's head, formed in front of Drakloak. They fired one after another, striking its target and exploding.
The attacks were too fast and too dense. Bea didn't even get a chance to speak. The first round ended just like that.
Two Dragon-type hits and one Shadow Ball later, Pangoro collapsed onto the grass and couldn't move.
Nothing like what she imagined.
Pangoro was supposed to Taunt first, stop any setup, then wait for the chance to strike with Dark-type blows.
"Pangoro is unable to battle. Bea, please send out your next Pokémon." Ryan's voice interrupted her thoughts without mercy.
The audience burst into cheers.
"A clean hit! Sweep all six!"
"Drakloak! Drakloak!"
"Keep going! Send the next one!"
Whenever a sweep was possible, the crowd always lit up.
Only the people from Stow-on-Side Gym sat with dark faces, unable to speak.
Bea stood on the field, dazed for a second. She steadied her breath, recalled Pangoro, and released the next Pokémon.
"Go, Hawlucha!"
Hawlucha was a bird Pokémon with a strong build. It could stand upright. It was Fighting and Flying. Its strength was at the peak of the Gym-level.
"Hawwwlucha!"
It stood with both hands on its waist, full of confidence.
The instant it appeared, Shiro gave the order.
"Drakloak, Phantom Force!"
Drakloak disappeared into the shadows. Hawlucha tensed up at once.
So did Bea.
She had no idea what to do, so she shouted, "Protect!"
A green barrier rose around Hawlucha. But Drakloak didn't appear.
Phantom Force let it hide and charge up its move while avoiding any attack.
Hawlucha didn't attack either, only using Protect. Drakloak had nothing to fear. It just needed to wait until the right moment.
"Draaak!"
Suddenly, it shot out from behind Hawlucha and struck. The blow slammed the Pokémon deep into the turf.
"Hawlucha!" Bea called and recalled it as fast as she could.
"Drakloak, Dragon Dance!"
Shiro used the opening and raised its power even higher.
Watching Drakloak dance with narrowed eyes, Bea felt helpless.
Her hands didn't stop though. She threw another Poké Ball.
"Come out, Grapploct!"
The octopus Pokémon had a blue body with yellow spots and suction cups. Its mask-like pattern looked like a butterfly. It was strong and fought with its tentacles.
Shiro glanced at it once and ordered.
"Dragon Rush!"
**
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