As Grass-type's undisputed ultimate move, Power Whip had almost no flaws beyond its overly wide swings making it easy to dodge.
But against Slowbro—painfully slow and sluggish—this weakness became irrelevant.
Shielding most of its body behind the Shellder clamped to its tail, Slowbro barely had time to relax before a fiery pain exploded across its back.
Slowbro instinctively tilted its head. Its delayed mind took a moment to process what happened before it slowly twisted to look behind.
Then it discovered Ogerpon's vines—somehow bypassing Shellder's barrier—hovering before it. Strangely, they'd stopped attacking.
"Oger~!"
As Slowbro stared at the vines, Ogerpon's stifled laughter sounded from behind.
Countless vines instantly descended. Under relentless lashing, Slowbro's naturally pink body quickly showed vivid wounds.
"Slow…"
The assault continued until Ogerpon tired, its vine strikes slowing. Only then did Slowbro suddenly pop its head out.
"So tough???"
Aiden was stunned. 'Caitlin really is skilled—her Slowbro's endurance is incredible. Even Ogerpon couldn't OHKO it…'
But he quickly corrected himself.
Watching Ogerpon retract its vines, Slowbro absentmindedly scratched its head.
Then it noticed the obvious whip marks on its stubby arms.
"Slow?"
Slowbro belatedly realized—it had just been beaten senseless…
'So I'm this badly injured?!'
'Shouldn't I show it then?'
'Otherwise I'll just get more beatings…'
"Slow…"
As if on cue, the previously unharmed-looking Slowbro suddenly wailed, collapsing limp to the ground, unconscious.
Aiden exhaled in relief.
'Phew—scared me for a second. So this Slowbro has the Oblivious ability?'
"..."
Unlike Aiden, Caitlin's mood wasn't so light.
After Ogerpon easily eliminated another Pokémon, only her final hope remained.
With Aiden's Mewtwo almost certainly waiting in reserve, facing Ogerpon and Mewtwo consecutively made a 1v3 miracle nearly impossible.
Though unwilling to accept it, Caitlin knew she'd lost.
Worse—she'd been effortlessly defeated by Aiden in her own domain (the Psychic Master Tournament), under Cynthia's cheering gaze…
'Is the gap between us really this vast?'
'As long as he exists, I'll always be the supporting character—never noticed by others.'
'It was true then. It's true now…'
'That weak self of mine… never actually left…'
Caitlin shook her head helplessly.
Her battling spirit shattered, she nearly raised her hand to forfeit before even sending her third Pokémon.
'There's no point fighting on. Why waste time when defeat is certain?'
'Better to admit failure gracefully…'
Just as negative emotions drowned her and her right hand lifted unconsciously, the Poké Ball in her pocket shook unexpectedly—as if sensing her despair.
'This… Gothitelle?'
Through their psychic bond, Caitlin instantly recognized it.
Her eyes regained their light.
'No—I can't surrender!
'My partners haven't given up. How can I, their trainer, lose my will?
'If I abandon hope now… I'll develop a psychological shadow every time I face Aiden!'
'I refuse to live under Aiden's shadow—to avoid him whenever we meet for the rest of my life!'
Caitlin snapped back to determination. Recalling the fallen Slowbro, she took a deep breath and pulled out her final Poké Ball.
Though better options existed, victory no longer mattered.
Answering a Pokémon's trust was a trainer's fundamental duty!
"No matter what—I'll fight to the end."
"So… I choose you, Gothitelle!"
'Exactly—I've been wrong this whole time.
'Losing to Aiden isn't unacceptable. I just kept comparing myself to him unconsciously.'
Recalling past days with Cynthia, Aiden's presence always drew Cynthia's gaze, making her unhappy.
But…
I had to admit—he'd been a genius since childhood.
'A guy Cynthia admires… of course I envied him.'
But Aiden was Aiden. I am myself.
I never needed to measure up to him.
So instead of living in his shadow until it became my demon… better to wake up sooner and be more open-minded…
Like deciding to go to Unova—taking one step forward might reveal how childish my past self was.
'To leave behind my weak past self… I don't need to defeat Aiden to prove it!'
'Right—I just need to be the best version of myself. As for Aiden…'
'He's just a life accident. Not worth mentioning!'
'Even with Aiden here, I'm still Cynthia's best friend—forever!
'Can you achieve that, Aiden? Of course not!'
Thinking this, Caitlin's expression transformed. Confidence filled her gaze as she looked at Aiden.
When she spoke, Aiden clearly showed surprise.
He'd expected Caitlin to have prepared some special counter-Pokémon.
Instead, she chose to trust her ace—Gothitelle.
Three Psychic-types was theoretically unwise, but in actual battles, emotional decisions often surpassed logic.
Because after sending Gothitelle, all traces of dejection vanished from Caitlin's face. Only hunger for victory and a desire to leave no regrets remained.
Gothitelle stabilized Caitlin's mindset—it was also her most skilled Pokémon.
Aiden simply nodded.
The final battle will be purer now.
Gothitelle's Shadow Tag activated on entry. Pitch-black shadows spread from under it, instantly locking Ogerpon's shadow and stripping its ability to rotate out.
"Gothitelle, Fake Out!"
"Ogerpon, Protect!"
Aiden and Caitlin commanded simultaneously. Their Pokémon moved instantly.
Gothitelle's ghostly form vanished. By the time viewers tracked it, it was already beside Ogerpon.
Fake Out—Aiden's favorite trick from his streams.
When opponents were unprepared, this sudden slap stunned them, disrupting their tactics.
In singles battles, this move had limited value—especially under Master Rules, where wasting a move slot for non-damaging harassment was rarely worth it.
Even Aiden saw through it instantly, ordering Ogerpon to defend early.
"Oger!"
Before Gothitelle's strike landed, Ogerpon raised a hand, forming an energy barrier that completely separated them.
"Just as expected—this move could never work on Aiden…" Lance sighed instinctively.
'This Miss Caitlin made the same mistake as previous trainers.'
'Subconsciously using tactics learned from Aiden's streams, forgetting he always teaches counters in those very lessons. These concepts are so ingrained in him, he doesn't even need to think.'
Caitlin's reckless command would clearly cost her dearly.
Gothitelle—specialized in energy harassment—was now at point-blank range with Ogerpon. Its destruction was imminent.
Though regaining fighting spirit deserved praise, it seemed her journey ended here.
For these young newcomers, defeating Aiden is still too early.
After all, besides Aiden's terrifying Unseen Fist Lucario and the Sylveon that comes with its own special effects every time it makes a move, he even deployed Ogerpon + Mewtwo. These stats…
Lance mused inwardly.
'Let him grow a bit more. Maybe when facing us veterans in future tournaments, he'll bulldoze through them like this Psychic Master Tournament…'
Too terrifying!
But soon, the battlefield shifted again—making Lance's eyes widen.
Caitlin's move completely defied his expectations.
"Ogerpon, Ivy Cudgel."
Aiden's thoughts mirrored Lance's. He too felt Caitlin's play was overly reckless.
At close range, Gothitelle and Ogerpon's combat strength weren't even comparable. This battle's outcome was clear.
"Oger!"
Ogerpon nodded seriously, gripping its flame-wreathed Ivy Cudgel, ready to end this match and bring Aiden victory.
But then…
Caitlin smiled—a chill ran down Aiden's spine for no reason.
"Gothitelle—use Hypnosis!"
Caitlin shouted with all her might, unleashing her final move.
Simultaneously, Ogerpon's cudgel rose, swinging fiercely toward the opponent's head.
SMASH—!
Gothitelle flew backward from the blow, skidding several steps before barely stopping. Its momentum visibly weakened.
Yet, the heavily injured Gothitelle smiled confidently.
As if it had won.
"Tsk…" Aiden clicked his tongue inwardly.
A deliberate opening—just to get close and put Ogerpon to sleep with Hypnosis?
Caitlin's logic wasn't hard to grasp. The moment she spoke, Aiden understood—but the timing was perfect. He couldn't stop Ogerpon's attack in time.
Hypnosis rarely landed—that was common knowledge.
Especially early in battles when distance allowed reaction—it was merely a probing move to force positioning.
But when any hard-to-hit move was used point-blank against an unprepared opponent… its accuracy became absurdly high…
Though Ogerpon faced away, Aiden could already tell it was highly likely hit.
Reality confirmed it. Seeing Ogerpon's eyelids drooping—using its cudgel to prop itself up, fighting sleep—Caitlin's face lit with ecstatic joy.
"Aiden—you fell for it!"
Caitlin's triumphant gaze locked on Aiden, not forgetting to press the advantage:
"Gothitelle—use consecutive Psychic to crush the opponent!"
Shadow Tag's effect meant Ogerpon couldn't leave the field—not even via forced switch with a Poké Ball.
Aiden could only sigh helplessly.
'Was I the one who let my guard down?'
'Thinking victory was certain, I commanded Ogerpon carelessly… letting Caitlin seize her counter-chance.'
'This is a lesson—no matter the opponent, I must always secure victory before relaxing…'
'This point is the price. Against stronger foes later, I can't repeat this mistake—every second must be all-out!'
"Aiden has no counterplay! All he can do now is pray Ogerpon wakes quickly—if they even have a fighting chance!" DJ Mary timely commented.
Lance, however, shook his head.
"From what I know, Gothitelle is Caitlin's absolute ace. At full power with this opportunity, even Aiden's Ogerpon would struggle to endure."
"Though for him—with such overwhelming advantage—the impact is minimal."
That Ivy Cudgel strike, even if not finishing Gothitelle, surely dealt heavy damage.
When Mewtwo entered, a casual attack would easily secure the victory.
Both sides knew this.
So Caitlin's goal from the start was likely only one—
Even in defeat, I'll stand tall. At least defeat Aiden's troublesome Ogerpon to prove my strength!
In the stands, Cynthia—who'd been clenching her hands—finally relaxed.
"Hoo—thank goodness Caitlin snapped out of it. Defeating Ogerpon… even in loss, she's shown her level."
One was a childhood friend; the other, a close best friend. Though Cynthia secretly hoped Aiden would win, she dreaded seeing Caitlin's spirit shattered by a crushing defeat.
The current situation was the most "stable" outcome.
Aiden gained victory. A 3-1 score was very acceptable for Caitlin.
After all, she'd defeated Aiden's great general Ogerpon under extreme disadvantage—and even used his style to annoy him…
'Exactly—I can see it. That Fake Out + Hypnosis combo Caitlin used? Definitely learned from watching Aiden's streams!'
'She once told me she hated Aiden—never watched his streams. Meeting him in-game was always "coincidence."'
Thinking this, Cynthia's gaze turned complex as she watched Caitlin below—celebrating like she'd already won against Aiden.
'Using internet slang… does this count as tsundere behavior?'
'Perhaps her relationship with Aiden isn't as bad as I thought…'
Under Gothitelle's relentless barrage, Ogerpon woke quickly but could only desperately defend against the continuous assault.
Finally, at Aiden's signal, Ogerpon dramatically mimicked Slowbro—flinging its mask away to reveal starry eyes before flipping backward, collapsing limp.
"Ogerpon is unable to battle!"
The referee declared instantly. Aiden seized the chance to recall Ogerpon.
"Nice move, Caitlin."
"I didn't expect that Hypnosis."
Aiden wasn't angry. He even smiled at Caitlin.
For him, this was more like a friendly match. Losing one point didn't matter much.
No—this entire Psychic Master Tournament felt like a "streamer tournament" anyway…
"Bring your best, Aiden!"
Caitlin shot back with a smile, practically urging him to send his next Pokémon.
"See? Even in loss, I'll fight with my own style!"
"Show me your full strength now!"
Since Caitlin insisted, Aiden stopped hesitating. He pulled out his final Poké Ball.
"Then… I leave the rest to you, Mewtwo."
Mewtwo—the star of previous battles—appeared brilliantly. Aiden and Caitlin exchanged glances and smiles before commanding in unison:
"Gothitelle—Psychic!"
"Mewtwo—Psystrike!"
Just like its attack on Ogerpon, Gothitelle rapidly gathered energy, unleashing consecutive blasts toward Mewtwo.
Mewtwo, however, made no attempt to dodge. Eyes closed on entry, faint blue psychic light glowed from its shut eyelids.
As its psychic power gathered, a pure energy blade materialized above Mewtwo's head—nearly solidifying.
The moment Psystrike formed, Mewtwo's eyes snapped open. The raised blade swung forward, clashing with Gothitelle's Psychic.
The collision of psychic powers didn't become the tug-of-war viewers expected—both sides straining until one broke first.
Instead, the moment Psystrike struck Gothitelle, Mewtwo's overwhelming psychic force shattered all resistance along its path, crashing directly into Gothitelle's core.
BOOOOM—!
Amid a violent explosion, Gothitelle—already wounded by Ogerpon—collapsed instantly, its last strength and options gone.
"I lost."
Caitlin shook her head helplessly. Looking up at Aiden, a smile touched her lips. Before the referee could declare, she spoke first:
"It's a pity I couldn't win against you. But…"
"A match this thrilling… makes the journey worthwhile."
"And in this battle with you, I gained something far more important than victory."
"From now on—carry both my and Cynthia's expectations. Defeat every opponent, Aiden!"
"If you beat me but lose to others… I won't forgive you!"
To emphasize her words, Caitlin earnestly clenched her small fists, shaking them at Aiden mid-air.
Clarity struck her—her past self had been so childish.
Had Aiden not been so tolerant, her subtly targeted acts would have long angered him…
Since one is Cynthia's childhood friend, the other her lifelong best friend—
It's better to get along with him!
After all—a triangle is the most stable structure!
"..."
Caitlin's unusually warm behavior left Aiden momentarily stunned. Her expression seemed almost… alien.
Is this… the legendary "awakened face"?
Who are you? Did you possess Caitlin?!
But seeing sincerity in her eyes, Aiden smiled back. Making a fist-bump gesture across the field, he nodded.
"Of course."
Though he didn't know why Caitlin had transformed—and even started cheering for him—Aiden felt oddly unsettled.
But since he'd promised her… he couldn't lose now!
Entering the semifinals, his next opponent was the even stronger Lucian. Only total effort could defeat this super "stream fan"...
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