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Jacob stood on the battlefield, gazing at the crowded audience around him as their enthusiastic cheers filled the air. His heart raced with anticipation and nervous energy.
Even the most composed person would feel overwhelmed when standing before tens of thousands of spectators, and the roaring voices from every direction crashed over him like waves.
"Jacob! You can do it!"
"Jacob, bring glory to Starlight City! You have to win!"
"Wylder, show them what you're made of!"
"Sunbreak City is unstoppable!"
"Jacob! Victory is yours!" Kyle screamed from the stands, her voice raw with emotion. Beside her, Amelia and Parker waved their support lights enthusiastically, their cheers joining the thunderous crowd in rhythmic waves of encouragement.
The energy was electric, pulsing through the stadium as anticipation reached its peak.
"The battle begins!"
When the referee's whistle pierced the air, both Jacob and Wylder threw their Poké Balls simultaneously. Charizard and Glimmora materialized on the field at exactly the same moment, their powerful presences commanding immediate attention.
The massive stadium screen split instantly, displaying both trainers' official portraits. Below their images, their first Pokemon's data appeared, showcasing detailed information about Charizard and Glimmora for the eager spectators.
"There it is! The legendary black Charizard! Jacob's signature Pokemon!" Layne called out from the commentary booth, his voice filled with passionate excitement. "From everything we've witnessed in previous matches, Jacob's remarkable black Charizard specializes in devastating special attacks. Its ability is Solar Power, and it has mastered the powerful Solar Beam technique. With today's blazing Sunny Day weather conditions, we might witness an absolutely spectacular performance!"
Liliana, the elegant commentator beside him, added her own analysis with a knowing smile. "Wylder clearly anticipated that Jacob would lead with Charizard, which explains his strategic choice to send out Glimmora first. As a Rock and Poison-type Pokemon, Glimmora possesses the formidable Power Gem attack and various Rock-type moves that pose a significant threat to any Fire and Flying-type like Charizard."
While both commentators provided their expert analysis, Jacob wasted no time issuing his opening command.
"Charizard, use Solar Beam!"
Under the intense Sunny Day conditions, Solar Beam's charging time was dramatically reduced. The moment Jacob's order left his lips, Grass-type energy began swirling frantically around Charizard's massive form. Within seconds, the Solar Beam had fully charged, erupting as a brilliant beam of concentrated light that shot toward Glimmora like a precision laser cannon.
"Glimmora, set up Stealth Rock!"
Rather than attempting to counter Jacob's aggressive approach, Wylder chose a completely different tactical strategy by having Glimmora execute the Stealth Rock technique.
Stealth Rock remains one of the most devastatingly effective moves against Charizard in competitive battles. Glimmora deliberately ignored Charizard's incoming attack, its dark blue crystalline petals spreading wide as it concentrated Rock-type energy. Countless small, razor-sharp rocks materialized and began floating throughout the battlefield, creating a dangerous obstacle course that would severely limit Charizard's aerial mobility.
Simultaneously, the powerful Solar Beam struck Glimmora directly, dealing massive damage that sent it sliding across the battlefield before it managed to regain its balance. As it recovered, purple Toxic Spikes automatically scattered across the ground due to its natural response to taking damage.
If Glimmora hadn't possessed Overlord Class strength and exceptional durability, Charizard's Solar Power-enhanced attack under these perfect Sunny Day conditions might have knocked it out in a single devastating blow. This demonstration perfectly showcased the incredible destructive potential of a Solar Power Charizard operating under ideal weather conditions.
"Charizard, continue with Solar Beam!" Jacob's eyebrows furrowed with concern as he immediately issued his next command.
The Toxic Spikes that Glimmora had just scattered resulted from its signature ability, Toxic Debris, activating automatically upon taking significant damage.
Toxic Debris serves as Glimmora's exclusive ability, unique to its evolutionary line. In competitive battles, this ability triggers whenever Glimmora sustains physical attack damage, causing it to release Toxic Spikes across the battlefield that poison any Pokemon that enter the field afterward. Pokemon that remain airborne avoid this poisoning effect entirely.
In real-world battles, the Toxic Debris ability functions slightly differently, activating whenever Glimmora takes substantial damage of any kind, whether from physical or special attacks, making it incredibly versatile for battlefield control.
Toxic Debris ranks among the most powerful abilities in competitive Pokemon battles, and it perfectly complements Glimmora's role as a premier hazard-setting specialist, allowing it to control the battlefield even while taking damage.
However, despite the dangerous Toxic Spikes covering the ground, Jacob knew that Stealth Rock posed the far greater immediate threat to his Charizard. As long as Charizard remained airborne, it would inevitably collide with the floating rocks, suffering severe damage due to its quadruple weakness to Rock-type attacks.
"Charizard, stay alert and maintain your altitude! Use Solar Beam again!" Jacob commanded. Charizard followed its trainer's instructions precisely, maintaining its elevated position while beginning to charge another powerful Solar Beam, drawing in brilliant Grass-type energy from the surrounding environment.
The dazzling pillar of concentrated light erupted from Charizard once more, streaking toward Glimmora with devastating precision.
"Counter with Power Gem, Glimmora!"
Facing Charizard's relentless Solar Beam assault, Wylder's expression remained completely calm and focused. He confidently ordered Glimmora to launch a direct counterattack using its signature Power Gem technique.
Intense Rock-type energy surged through Glimmora's crystalline body, accumulating power at an incredible rate. Within moments, the concentrated Rock-type energy burst forth in a spectacular display of brilliant light, creating its own beam of destruction that raced toward Charizard's position.
"Dodge it now!"
Confronted with Glimmora's incoming Power Gem attack, Jacob made the tactical decision to have Charizard evade rather than take the hit. Given Charizard's severe quadruple weakness to Rock-type moves, withstanding a full-power assault from an Overlord Class Glimmora would likely result in catastrophic damage.
Unfortunately, this evasive maneuver meant that Charizard would be forced to fly directly through the field of floating Stealth Rock.
"Roar!"
Charizard obeyed Jacob's urgent command without hesitation, beating its powerful wings and soaring through the air to successfully avoid Glimmora's devastating Power Gem attack. However, as it maneuvered through the sky, the sharp, pointed Stealth Rock fragments tore into its hide, creating numerous small but painful wounds across its body. Crimson blood began seeping from the cuts, staining its dark scales.
Despite the injuries, Charizard's Solar Beam found its mark, engulfing Glimmora in the brilliant column of Grass-type energy. The intense beam struck Glimmora's body with tremendous force, launching it clear off the battlefield and immediately ending its ability to continue fighting.
Two consecutive, perfectly executed Solar Beam attacks had secured Jacob the first victory, but Glimmora's Toxic Debris ability activated one final time before it collapsed. Additional Toxic Spikes scattered across the already heavily contaminated battlefield, creating an even more treacherous environment thick with poisonous hazards.
"Glimmora is unable to battle!" the referee announced clearly. The stadium immediately exploded with wild celebration and deafening cheers as countless fans roared their approval for Jacob's impressive performance.
On the giant display screen, Glimmora's portrait faded to black, officially confirming its elimination from the battle.
Jacob's dedicated fanbase and the enthusiastic crowd from Starlight City erupted in pure jubilation. An observer might have assumed Jacob had just won the entire Championship tournament, though he had actually only claimed victory in a single preliminary match.
This explosive reaction made perfect sense considering Starlight City's recent competitive history. The city rarely produced a trainer of Jacob's exceptional caliber, and the painful memory of Kyle and the others being eliminated just days earlier had left local residents carrying significant pent-up frustration and disappointment.
Now that Jacob had finally secured a meaningful victory, the audience naturally wanted to release all their suppressed emotions in one cathartic celebration.
Despite the crowd's infectious excitement, Jacob felt no overwhelming joy or satisfaction. He understood that Pokemon like Glimmora don't typically excel in direct one-on-one combat situations. Glimmora's true strength lies in its unparalleled ability to set up battlefield hazards and control the flow of battle.
By successfully combining its Toxic Debris ability with the strategic placement of Stealth Rock and multiple layers of Toxic Spikes, Glimmora had already accomplished its primary mission and could withdraw having completed its role perfectly.
Wylder remained remarkably composed despite losing the opening round, showing no visible signs of frustration or concern. His calm demeanor suggested this outcome fell well within his strategic expectations.
"Go, Drapion!" Wylder calmly retrieved Glimmora's Poké Ball and immediately sent out his next Pokemon. A creature he had kept completely hidden throughout the entire High School Cup tournament emerged onto the battlefield - a menacing Drapion!
"Oh my!" Excited exclamations erupted from the commentary booth as both announcers reacted with genuine surprise. "Drapion represents a Pokemon that Wylder has never once used since the High School Cup competition began! This suggests that Drapion must be his absolute ace Pokemon, his secret weapon. Otherwise, he never would have chosen to reveal it now when he's already trailing 1-0 in this crucial match."
"Roar!"
The moment Drapion materialized on the battlefield, it released a bone-chilling roar that echoed throughout the stadium. Its fierce, predatory gaze locked onto Charizard hovering above, promising an intense continuation of this already captivating battle.