Chapter 178: Rock Field! Vs. Crystal [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Indigo Plateau – Stadium]
The next day passed as all the finalists of the top 256 had been picked after the battle royal of the sudden death matches of one-on-one battles concluded. The 700 applicants who attended experienced non-stop battles throughout the day, gradually reducing the competitors until only 256 remained.
For those who earned their badges, they had a full day of rest to prepare for today. Some spent analyzing their opponents' Pokémon choices or trained before the day arrived when the true battles would begin.
By the time the dust settled, the tournament reached its Top 256, and the Trainer's village had grown noticeably quieter for those who managed to survive this long. That evening, beneath the dazzling lights of the central stadium, the strongest 256 trainers gathered on the grand battlefield.
Standing in front of the rows of Trainers, the Chairman of the Pokémon Association finally announced in a proud tone, "For those who made it to the Top 256, congratulations! You've made it to the preliminaries! As such, I'm proud to finally announce the Tenth Pokémon League Tournament to begin!"
"YEAHHHH!!!"
The crowd roared as the Trainers stood excited, nervous, or bored. Each of them has read the new rules for the Preliminaries, along with knowing the new battlefields along the Central stadium battlefield purposes.
In the preliminary rounds, 256 Trainers must compete on the new four different battlefields: Rock, Grass, Water, and Ice. All matches are of 2 Pokémon each at the beginning, but will change as the number of people is reduced.
A game of chance decides the battlefield, and the competitors are chosen randomly by a computer for fairness. Only Trainers who win on all four battlefields will progress to the final rounds.
When the Top 256 are cut down to the Top 32, the format will change. From the Top 32 through the Top 16 rounds, Trainers use 3 Pokémon each.
And for the Final round, battles take place in the Indigo Stadium. From the Top 8 onward, however, all battles are Full Battles. Only 8 Trainers make it to the final rounds.
*Click*
From above, a giant screen appeared at the top of the stadium, flickering rapidly as it sorted the 256 names into their respective matchups. The Chairman declared, "Now the matchups for preliminaries shall begin!!"
*DING*
After finishing sorting the names, Azure's name appeared in the Rock Field bracket. He checked his opponent as his lips moved slightly, "I'm against… Crystal the Capturer in the first round, huh? Interesting."
Azure smiled lightly as he noticed the Kanto Dex Holders were in the other fields. Red in the Grass Field, Green in the Ice Field, and Blue in the Water Field. He sighed a breath of relief as the Kanto Dex Holders all thought, 'Phew… we're not battling against each other.'
With the new Tournament rules, they had to be on edge. Meanwhile, Crystal's eyes twitched, seeing her opponent in a nervous tone, "Great… just… great… I have to pick him as my first opponent…"
Crysal looked nervous, having a match against Azure being first. But she steadied herself for the battle ahead, narrowing her eyes as she thought, 'Welp! It's not much, but it's either I go all in or lose!'
*Beep*
With that, everyone who knew their matches received a ring from their phones. All showed varied expressions, but all looked determined to win for the next day as they prepared their tactics…
/////
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Indigo Plateau – Rock Field]
The next day, the colossal, sun-drenched stadium of the Tenth Pokémon League Tournament buzzed with an electrifying energy that seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth. Confetti, the color of a thousand rainbows, still dusted the air from the opening ceremony, clinging to the banners that proclaimed the pinnacle of trainer skill.
Among the swirling sea of hopefuls stood Azure Sky, his eyes, the same tranquil blue as the clear sky above, reflecting a quiet confidence. Beside him, perched on his shoulder, was Pikachu, its ears twitching, a spark of anticipation dancing at the tips of its tail.
At his feet, Eevee, ever curious, nudged his leg, its soft fur a comforting presence. Azure breathed in the scent of excited trainers, the faint ozone of electrical Pokémon, and the distinct aroma of the various elemental battlefields.
The top 256 trainers, the elite of their regions, were now being sorted into divisions, set to clash on terrains designed to test every facet of their strategic prowess. The preliminaries were about to begin.
A crisp, authoritative voice boomed over the stadium's loudspeakers, echoing through the stands, "Attention, Trainers! The preliminary matchups for the Tenth Pokémon League Tournament are now displayed on the main screens! Please proceed to your designated battlefields!"
Azure looked up, craning his neck along with thousands of others to see his name flash across the impossibly large screen. And the battlefield of choice… the Rock Field.
His opponent's name appeared next, sending a ripple of murmurs through the crowd: CRYSTAL. Azure's lips curled into a faint smile. Crystal. The Dex Holder of the title, The Capturer.
Renowned for her seemingly boundless energy, her meticulous approach to Pokémon data, and her uncanny ability to capture almost any Pokémon she encountered. She was a legend in her own right, her team as diverse as it came to capturing Pokémon.
Facing her in the first round was a baptism by fire, exactly the kind of challenge Azure embraced. Azure murmured, stroking his partner's head, "Rock Field, huh, Pikachu? Ready?"
Pikachu chittered, sparks flying from its cheeks, a grin mirroring Azure's. Eevee let out a determined, "Eevee!"
They made their way through the throng, the vibrant energy of the stadium growing more focused as they approached the Rock Field arena. It was a spectacle of jagged, craggy formations, sharp stalagmites, and deep crevices, all bathed in the harsh, unforgiving light of the mid-morning sun.
The ground beneath their feet was rough and uneven, perfect for Pokémon that thrived in such environments. Crystal was already there, a whirl of motion, doing stretches and adjusting her gloves.
She had an aura of boundless vigour, her blue hair tied back in a practical ponytail, her eyes sharp and assessing. She spotted Azure and offered a confident, friendly wave as she said in a friendly tone, "Azure Sky, right? Heard a lot about you! This is going to be fun!"
Azure replied, a genuine warmth in his voice, "Likewise, Crystal. May the best trainer win this match."
A referee, stoic and unmoving, stood at the center of the field. He then declared the rules, "Trainers, take your positions! This will be a two-on-two Pokémon battle. The first trainer to have all two of their Pokémon unable to battle will be eliminated from the tournament! Are both trainers ready?"
Crystal declared, her voice ringing with enthusiasm. "Ready!"
Azure affirmed, a quiet power in his tone, "Ready."
The referee announced, raising his flags as he declared loudly, "Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!"
Crystal's hand flew to her belt, and with a swift motion, she sent out her first Pokémon as she declared, "Go, Monlee!"
*Pop*
A powerful, lean Pokémon with a lithe, disciplined stance materialized on the rocky terrain. It was a Hitmonchan, its boxing gloves already positioned, its eyes fixed intently on Azure. Monlee, Crystal's most trusted fighting-type partner, is known for its rapid-fire punches and unpredictable agility.
Azure, in turn, reached for a Poké Ball attached to his belt. A soft smile touched his lips as he hurled his Poké Ball proudly, "Alright, Mismagius, show them your magic!"
*Pop*
With a flourish, a spectral, elegant Pokémon shimmered into existence. Mismagius, its flowing, ethereal form a striking contrast to the solid rock and its pugilistic opponent.
Its glowing red eyes met Hitmonchan's, an ancient, enigmatic power radiating from its very being. Mismagius, a Ghost-type, floated above the uneven ground with its Levitate ability, immune to the immediate hazards beneath it.
The referee declared, "Battle begins!"
Crystal's eyes narrowed, a competitive fire igniting within them. She swiftly ordered, "Monlee, start with Mach Punch! Close the distance quickly to follow up with a Thunder Punch!"
*Zoooom*
Hitmonchan, a blur of motion, shot forward, its fist cocked, aiming for Mismagius's spectral form. Mach Punch, a priority move, was incredibly fast as its other fist coated with electricity to follow up with a Thunder Punch.
*Murmur*
*Murmur*
Azure, however, had anticipated Crystal's speed. He gazed at Mismagius's ability as its chanting began, as he thought, 'Perfect. Time to see your fruits of your training, Mismagius. Time to wow the crowd!'
Suddenly, Hitmonchan's head hurt aborting its attacks, along with Crystal receiving a headache as she muttered, "Uhn… what's with this headache – what's this?!"
Upon Mismagius' entry, both trainer and Pokémon begin to feel dizzy. Crystal soon finds herself in a jungle as the crowd is shocked seeing the scene. Unaware of them, it was merely an illusion of Mismagius' product.
Azure smirked, seeing they were caught off guard by Mismagiu's illusion abilities, as it forced Monlee to halt its attacks from the headache and illusions. He commanded in a confident tone, "Mismagius, Imprison then unleash Strong Style Psyshock!"
Mismagius effortlessly spins, as it creates a force field around its opponent's body that prevents it from moving. This prevents the opponent from using any moves that Mismagius knows.
Crystal's eyes widened as she bit her lips as she thought rapidly, 'Drat! Monlee can't punch his way out, and his attack is incoming! With the forcefield here, we can't use Detect to avoid it effectively! I must use Protect!'
Crystal called out her command, "Quick use Protect!"
However, Hitmonlee couldn't perform the move because of Imprison. This gave Mismagius the chance as three thick masses of light blue, blue, and purple energy forms around the front of its body. Mismagius then fires the masses at the opponent, one after the other.
*BOOOM*
*BOOOM*
*THUD*
The super-effective hit landed with a sickening thud, sending Monlee skidding across the rocky ground, a faint tremor running through its body. The attack struck Monlee full-on with no means to defend itself.
With one final grunt of effort, Hitmonchan collapsed, swirls in its eyes. The referee declared, lowering one flag, "Monlee is unable to battle! Mismagius wins!"
A hush fell over the crowd, quickly replaced by a roar of applause. Crystal recalled Monlee with a gentle touch as she said, "You did great, Monlee. Get some rest."
She looked at Azure, a glint of respect in her eyes. She said calmly, "Impressive, Mismagius. That Psyshock was perfectly timed."
Azure responded, Mismagius floating proudly beside him, "Thank you."
Pikachu chittered its approval, and Eevee hummed a happy tune. Crystal took a deep breath, her strategic mind already working.
She needed something that could handle a Ghost type, something durable, and something with raw power. Seeing the jungle environment, Crystal picked her strongest Pokémon she had on her team, "I only get one shot to turn this around. Archy, stand by for battle!"
*Pop*
Crystal called out, her hand going to a Poké Ball at her belt. With a flash of white light, a magnificent Arcanine materialized on the field, its fiery mane blazing, its powerful legs poised ready for battle.
A proud growl rumbled in its chest, "Grrr…"
Azure smiled as he stunned the crowd, recalling his Mismagius. Upon doing so, the illusion of the jungle faded.
Azure took a deep breath, his fingers tracing the smooth surface of a standard Poké Ball. He grinned as he hurled his next one in an excited tone, "Alright, my friend, let's get this started! Quagsire, I choose you!"
*Pop*
Another white flash, and a cheerful, blue Quagsire with a perpetual grin appeared before Azure. It blinked its innocent eyes, then swiveled its head, taking in the formidable Arcanine and the rugged terrain.
Quagsire, a Water/Ground type, was known for its laid-back nature, but under Azure's command, its true power was always ready to emerge. This seemed to surprise the crowd using such an unassuming Pokémon.
Crystal blinked a flicker of surprise in her eyes as she thought, baffled at his choice, 'A Quagsire! Interesting choice… Most trainers would go for a more aggressive Water-type like his Shiny Gyarados, but…'
Her analytical mind was already processing the implications. Quagsire was slow, but incredibly bulky and resistant.
Azure replied, a knowing glint in his eyes as he saw the flicker of surprise in Crystal's eyes, "I wouldn't underestimate my Pokémon Crystal. Quagsire's got a few tricks up its sleeve. And it's more than capable of handling this terrain."
The referee bellowed, dropping his arm, "Battle begins!"
Crystal commanded, her voice ringing with authority, "Archy, start with Flame Charge!"
*Sssss*
Arcanine roared, its body wreathed in flames as it surged forward, gaining speed with every powerful stride. The rocky ground seemed to blur beneath its paws as it closed the distance, aiming to ram into Quagsire with devastating force.
Azure countered calmly as he ordered his Water Fish Pokémon, "Quagsire, Agile Style Mud Shot into the ground beneath Archy!"
*Splat*
Quagsire's grin didn't falter. With surprising speed, it slapped its massive tail onto the rocky ground, sending a torrent of thick, sticky mud erupting upwards.
The mud splattered across the uneven surface just as Arcanine was about to make contact. Arcanine, caught off guard by the unexpected terrain change, skidded.
Its momentum was broken, and the Flame Charge, while still delivering a scorching blast of heat, missed its direct mark, instead searing the air around Quagsire. The ground around Arcanine became treacherous, slowing its advance.
Crystal pressed, attempting to bypass the mud, "Archy, shake it off! Use Extreme Speed!"
*Zoooom*
Arcanine glowed, its form becoming a blur as it tried to dart through the muddy patch, its incredible speed momentarily overcoming the hindrance. It was a testament to Crystal's training that Archy could adapt so quickly.
Azure called out, his voice unwavering, "Quagsire, Yawn!"
*Yaaaa*
Quagsire let out a massive, unhurried yawn, a wave of soporific energy washing over the battlefield. Arcanine, mid-dash, seemed to hesitate for just a split second, a hint of drowsiness clouding its blazing eyes.
Extreme Speed propelled it forward, but the effect of Yawn was already setting in. Crystal urged, knowing she had to end this fast before the drowsiness took hold, "Don't let it get to you, Archy! Flare Blitz!"
*Ssss*
Arcanine, now fully enveloped in a raging inferno, lunged. This was a powerful, all-out attack, but it came with significant recoil. The Rock Field around it began to scorch and crumble from the intense heat.
Azure commanded, his voice sharp now, "Quagsire, Protect!"
Quagsire, understanding the gravity of the incoming attack, immediately crossed its arms with a determined look. Casting a transparent barrier, Quagsire's eyes narrowed, prepared to block the attack.
*CLANG*
With a surprising clang, Arcanine charged ahead, hitting the protective barrier. Arcanine's Flare Blitz tore through the spot where it had been, sending shrapnel of rock flying, but Quagsire held its ground.
The powerful Fire-type attack crashed harmlessly into the barrier, and the recoil damage visibly shook Arcanine, making it stumble and wince. The mud on the ground seemed to stick to its paws even more, exacerbating its condition.
Crystal cried, her brow furrowing with concern, "Archy!"
The Yawn was taking its toll on the Legendary Pokémon. Arcanine's movements grew sluggish, its fiery spirit dimming slightly.
Quagsire had positioned itself perfectly, using the terrain to its advantage. Azure ordered, striking while Arcanine was vulnerable, "Now, Quagsire, Water Pulse!"
*SPLASH*
Quagsire unleashed a powerful jet of pressurized-heated water. The water slammed into Arcanine, sending a plume of steam into the air.
Arcanine cried out, its magnificent mane hissing as the water extinguished some of its flames. The Water Pulse not only dealt massive damage but also left Arcanine further weakened.
Crystal's eyes widened. She bit her lips as she recalled his plan using Quagsire in a surprised tone, "He controlled the flow of battle by exploiting the terrain. By using Quagsire, he made me mentally lower my guard around it, and using its abilities, managed to change the tide of battle to his advantage without worrying about his loss…"
Azure's strategy was brilliant – using Quagsire's bulk to survive, its status moves to disrupt, and the terrain to evade, all while exploiting Archy's type disadvantage. Crystal urged, hoping for a critical hit, "Archy, one last push! Fire Fang!"
*Ssss*
Arcanine, its body wavering from the attacks and the growing drowsiness, gathered its remaining strength. Its fangs glowed with a desperate, orange light as it lunged forward, but its movements were sloppy, hindered by the mud and the overwhelming desire to sleep.
Azure's voice was firm, decisive, "Strong Style! Liquidation!"
Quagsire met the charge head-on fearlessly. Its entire body became a conduit for water, molding into a powerful, liquid fist. It swung its arm, the watery punch connecting squarely with Arcanine's jaw.
*SMASH*
The force of the strike was immense, sending Arcanine skidding backward. Arcanine tried to stay on its feet, shaking its head groggily, its eyes drooping heavily, but the combination of the powerful Water-type attack and the Yawn effect finally overwhelmed it.
With a soft whimper, Archy collapsed onto the muddy rock, completely unconscious. The referee declared, raising a green flag, "Arcanine is unable to battle! The winner is Azure's Quagsire!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Crystal rushed to Archy's side, recalling him to his Poké Ball with a sorrowful expression. She then turned to Azure, a respectful nod replacing her earlier analytical gaze as she said respectfully, "A masterfully executed battle, Azure. Your Quagsire is magnificent. I underestimated its tactical prowess."
Azure replied, recalling Quagsire with a proud smile as he said calmly, "Thank you, Crystal. Archy fought bravely. You're a formidable trainer. If you need help training your Arcanine, I'm always around."
As Azure walked off the Rock Field, Quagsire's Poké Ball held securely in his hand, Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder with an excited, "Pika-Pika!"
Eevee twirled happily around his legs. Azure whispered, running a thumb over the Poké Ball, "Great job, Quagsire, and Mismagius. You both were incredible."
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau – Rock Field, Stands]
From the stands showed Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Silver, and Gold as they saw the battle from they're seats. Yellow frowned sadly as she muttered, "Poor Crystal… she lost in the first rounds against him…"
Gold clenched his fist as he declared proudly, "I'll avenge! That guy will lose to me!"
Silver simply rolled his eyes, used to his friend/partner/sidekick's antics. But his eyes sharpened, seeing the battle.
But for the Kanto Dex Holders, they're eyes glinted in determination as Blue said calmly, breaking the silence, "Seems like Azure improved greatly during his time in Johto. None of his Pokémon didn't even took any damage."
Green nodded, agreeing with Blue's suggestion, as she added cheerfully, "Yeah. He plays around to his Pokémon's strengths with using Mismagius illusions to his advantage. He certainly got trickier this time around."
Red nodded as he stood up, getting ready for his match, as he stated calmly with an eager expression on his face, "Yeah. His new Pokémon aren't pushovers, but it makes me want to battle him even more! But for now, I have to get to my match, guys."
Leaving to attend his match, Yellow quickly followed over happily, "Hold up, Red! I'll get Crystal to cheer for you!"
Blue and Green looked at each other, with Silver and Gold looking confused. Blue asked dumbfoundedly, "… That idiot still hasn't noticed yet?"
Blue, referring to Yellow's Crush on Red, Green chuckled as she answered, "Nope! I'm waiting to see how this blows up!"
Blue scoffed, leaving for his match, muttering disdainfully, "Tch. What a fool."
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!