The first round of the Indigo League elimination stage was in full swing and quickly approaching its end.
"Silas Alaric vs. Keith Morris (3-on-3)
Time: March 23rd, 10:00 a.m.
Venue: Arena No. 1 — Grass Field
Rules: (Please arrive before 9:30 a.m. to assist the referee and staff with pre-match preparations.)"
On the night of March 20th, the information for Silas's second elimination match appeared right on schedule on his wrist device.
Keith Morris—Silas pondered the name.
If he remembered correctly, that was one of the weaker contestants.
Of course, weak was a relative term.
Anyone who made it into the main tournament—let alone passed the first elimination round—couldn't really be called weak.
Still, a team consisting of four Pokémon around level 40 and two that had only recently broken into the Advance class tier looked rather unimpressive among so many powerful trainers.
Fortunately for him, Keith's good luck in the draw had helped him survive the first round.
For someone ranked around the 1000th place in terms of estimated strength, Keith Morris's current record could already be considered a personal breakthrough.
"Well, I'll just go ahead and declare you eliminated in advance, my friend~"
Silas tapped his fingers against the table, clearly in a cheerful mood.
It seemed his luck in the draw had been pretty good this time.
Perfect he'd let Serperior, Togekiss, and Ampharos take the stage for this one.
Silas decided on his lineup with ease.
As for losing?
Impossible.
Their levels alone weren't any lower than Keith's main Pokémon, and under his careful training, the difference in power was far greater than what simple level numbers could show.
After informing his three Pokémon of the plan, Silas could immediately feel their enthusiasm rise.
"Sleep time~"
After reviewing the data a little longer, Silas finally went to bed as the night deepened.
March 23rd, 9:50 a.m.
"Welcome, everyone, to Arena No. 1 the Grass Field for the Indigo League elimination round!
Just moments ago, Hisao and Yuki gave us an incredible battle, and now we're about to begin today's fourth match!"
"Many of you may already know from the League's official website that one of today's participants is none other than our young Tourch Runner from Viridian City — Silas Alaric!
This young trainer has been truly remarkable.
Not only did he achieve an astonishing ten-match winning streak during the preliminaries, but in his first elimination battle, he advanced to the second round after defeating his opponent's entire team with just one Pokémon his Pidgeot!
Out of this year's 512 opening matches, only 26 ended in such a 3-0 sweep.
Will Silas bring us another performance like that today?
And facing him is Keith Morris, another talented trainer whose strength should not be underestimated!"
The commentator's passionate voice echoed throughout the vast Grass Field arena.
The audience roared in excitement.
"Now, both trainers, please take your places on the platforms!
Send out your Pokémon simultaneously at my signal!"
After confirming with both contestants, the referee returned to position, raising one red and one blue flag.
"Day 12, Match 4 on the Grass Field —
Silas Alaric vs. Keith Morris — 3-on-3 Battle!
Each side may switch Pokémon once.
Victory goes to the trainer whose opponent's Pokémon are all unable to battle!"
"Send out your Pokémon begin!"
"Explode with power, Ampharos!"
"Go, Butterfree give it your all!"
Two Pokémon burst from their Poké Balls in flashes of red light, appearing on opposite ends of the grassy arena.
The Grass Field was shaped much like a standard battle arena, but instead of rock or tile, it was covered in dense, uneven patches of grass.
The terrain was chaotic, different grass species, different heights every few steps.
Some areas were soft and shiny; others dull and tough.
Some patches were neatly trimmed like ornamental hedges, while others were wild and overgrown small Pokémon could easily hide in them, yet even a Caterpie might stand out in other spots.
Several clusters of waist-high bushes dotted the field like miniature groves.
Unlike the Ice Field, which limited the mobility of large, heavy Pokémon, the Grass Field more closely resembled a natural forest advantageous to certain species.
"Whoa!!!!!
What are we seeing here? A pink Ampharos!?
Could that be… a Shiny Pokémon?!
I have to say even after hosting so many matches, this is only the second time I've ever seen a Shiny Pokémon in person!
That's as rare as it gets!"
The commentator's voice thundered through the speakers, nearly drowning out the spectators' gasps.
Ampharos had appeared once before during the preliminaries, but with so many simultaneous matches and how quickly Ampharos had won, few people had actually witnessed it firsthand.
Now, seeing that soft pink sheen up close left the crowd stunned.
Shiny Pokémon were rarer even than pseudo-legendaries some people could go their entire lives without ever seeing one in person.
Keith Morris was clearly shocked too though more delighted than worried.
Silas's team information wasn't hard to find. While Keith hadn't been certain that Ampharos was Shiny, he did know it was one of Silas's lower-leveled Pokémon.
Or perhaps not one of but the lowest-leveled.
Of course, Keith knew that level didn't always equate to strength…
But at least it meant the gap shouldn't be too ridiculous certainly better than facing one of Silas's Pesudo-Elite-tier Pokémon.
"So, you're underestimating me, huh? Trying to train your weaker Pokémon?
I'll make you regret that!"
Keith clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination.
He wasn't angry.
If his opponent underestimated him, that was good why be angry about that?
That was his best chance at victory!
"Butterfree, use Poison Powder!"
"Ampharos, Electric Terrain"
Both sides issued commands almost simultaneously.
Butterfree flapped its wings, releasing a swirl of deep violet powder that floated toward Ampharos like a slow, poisonous cloud.
Ampharos, not exactly known for its speed, was a step behind.
Even with its refined control over moves, it couldn't match Butterfree's agility.
But that hardly mattered.
A Flying-type like Butterfree would never willingly approach an Electric-type such as Ampharos—unless it was asking for trouble.
It could only attack from a distance, and that stretch of space between them was more than enough for Ampharos to strike second yet hit first.
Charged yellow particles spread outward from Ampharos's body, crackling with sharp electric sounds.
A golden semicircle of energy formed around it, its range quite wide.
The move Electric Terrain had one main function: to convert all of Ampharos's subsequent attacks into Electric-type moves.
In addition, against powder-based techniques, it acted like a protective barrier.
For something like Poison Powder, the superheated charged particles generated by the plasma field were enough to burn it away completely.
As the violet dust approached the yellow semicircle, it instantly dissolved into thin wisps of purple smoke that drifted upward.
"Use Psybeam!"
After hearing Silas command Ampharos to use Electric Terrain, Keith Morris didn't even bother to check the Poison Powder's outcome.
He immediately gave his next order to Butterfree.
Psybeam had a chance to confuse its target.
If Ampharos became confused, it would open a huge tactical opportunity—then even Butterfree, with its type disadvantage, could seize victory.
He'd actually won battles like that before.
"Butter—!"
Butterfree let out a sharp cry. Between its two antennae, a multicolored sphere of energy began to take shape.
"Use Charge Beam!"
Only a beam-type attack could properly clash head-on with another beam attack—Silas knew that well.
Ampharos wasn't about to back down.
Its body surged with electricity, and between its hands formed a sphere of bright yellow light, arcs of lightning crackling around it.
Biu! Biu! Biu!
Both Pokémon released their beams at nearly the same time, streaks of colored light colliding mid-field in a silent clash.
Gradually, the yellow beam began to overpower the other.
Butterfree could indeed learn Psychic-type moves, but it wasn't a Psychic-type itself.
Even though Charge Beam's base power was lower, Psybeam was still suppressed by sheer force.
Suddenly, electric arcs flared around Ampharos's body—its Charge Beam surged forward, completely overwhelming the Psybeam and striking Butterfree directly!
"Butter—free!"
Butterfree screamed in pain.
"Charge Beam's effect of boosting the user's Special Attack proved crucial in this beam struggle!
Butterfree took some serious damage from that hit!"
The commentator's voice came right on cue.
"Now—Thunder Shock!"
Seeing the successful hit, Silas immediately ordered Ampharos to press the attack.
That was exactly what Ampharos wanted.
Electric sparks danced across its fur as it unleashed a barrage of small but rapid bolts of electricity at Butterfree.
Keith Morris could only be grateful that Butterfree hadn't been paralyzed by the last attack—otherwise dodging would have been impossible.
"Dodge it—then use String Shot!" he shouted hastily.
Butterfree, breathing heavily, flapped its wings with all its strength.
It knew perfectly well what would happen if those electric bolts struck again—it refused to lose so easily.
Zzt!
White silk threads filled the air almost instantly, spreading across the entire battlefield.
Those fragile strands of silk turned out to be a surprisingly effective defense.
Ampharos's lightning could scorch them black and even set them ablaze, but couldn't quite pierce through the dense web.
Having practiced String Shot since it was a Caterpie, Butterfree had a far deeper mastery of the move than most.
The white threads darkened, turning black as they burned and fell from the sky, covering the lush green field beneath a shadowy layer.
"Thunderbolt!"
Silas noticed the rhythm of Ampharos's attacks slowing, but the electric arcs flickering around its body only growing stronger.
He instantly understood Ampharos's intent and gave the command it was waiting for.
"Ampharos!"
The pink, irresistibly cute Ampharos let out a roar utterly at odds with its appearance.
The scattered sparks around its body suddenly condensed into surging currents of electricity, covering it completely.
"Ampharos!!"
Another roar and the lightning exploded outward.
....
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