"Trainer number one, Ethan Black, and trainer number two, Jake Turner, please prepare for the battle evaluation," announced the system's voice over the loudspeaker.
Hearing this, Ethan Black nodded toward Alex Baxter and headed to the battlefield.
In front of him, Jake Turner was already ready.
"Go, Wartortle!"
When the instructor announced the start of the battle, Jake Turner threw his Pokéball, and an excellently developed Wartortle appeared on the field.
"Hmm, very good Wartortle. It has been trained outstandingly," commented the three instructors in charge of the exam, beginning to note down scores on their sheets.
"Wow, this looks a lot like the Pokémon Coordinator contests," murmured Ethan Black, surprised at how the teachers evaluated.
Next, he also released his Pokémon: Sandslash.
"Huh? It's a special Sandslash!"
"Even so, this Sandslash is incredibly well trained."
"Right, it's larger than the average of its species, and its rear spikes look more developed than those of a normal specimen," said the evaluators in amazement, making it clear that Ethan Black's breeding method, based on specialized books, had produced great results.
"No wonder you dared to challenge me. Looks like you do know what you're doing," mocked Jake Turner. "But a mediocre Pokémon like Sandslash will never be a match for my Wartortle!"
"Go, use Water Gun!"
"Sandslash, dodge with Rapid Spin!"
Whizz!
Sandslash spun quickly and dodged the Water Gun in the blink of an eye. Immediately, spinning with force, it lunged at Wartortle.
"Wartortle, use Withdraw!"
Wartortle reacted quickly, pulling its body into its shell, which began to glow with Water-type energy. It took the Rapid Spin head-on.
"That's it! Now use Headbutt!"
Without leaving its shell, Wartortle charged energy and rammed straight into Sandslash, sending it flying.
"Very good! Now use Bubble and soak it!"
Wartortle spat out a large number of bubbles after the attack.
"Use Sand Attack!"
Sandslash regained its balance, dug its claws into the ground, and whipped up a violent sandstorm that clashed with the bubbles midair, creating a foggy cloud.
"Impressive control of Sand Attack! This Sandslash is incredibly well trained," exclaimed one instructor while writing down bonus points.
"Use Rollout!"
Ruuuumble!
Before the fog dissipated, an order from Ethan Black made a loud rumble resound—like a heavy tire rolling across the ground.
"Wartortle, use Withdraw again!"
Before Jake Turner finished speaking, a loud impact sounded within the fog, and a figure was sent flying, crashing into the protective barrier.
"It's Wartortle! It took the Rollout attack!"
"But... how did Sandslash find it in the middle of that fog?"
The instructors looked at each other in confusion, though they didn't hesitate to award Ethan Black a high score.
"Damn it! Wartortle, get up already!" shouted Jake Turner in frustration as he watched his Pokémon being dominated.
"Was that all you had?"
"If that's your full strength, you're below Alex," said Ethan Black with a sarcastic smile, while ordering a new attack. Sandslash, with its claws glowing, prepared to use the move Crush Claw it had learned after evolving.
"Wartortle, Headbutt!"
Wartortle responded quickly: its shell glowed with a white light and rammed directly into Sandslash.
Boom!
Both attacks clashed violently. Although Headbutt is a stronger move, Sandslash's brute force allowed it to match the collision. Both stepped back at the same time.
"Headbutt needed a charge and still only tied. That Sandslash is definitely stronger," commented one of the examiners, shaking his head.
"Sandslash, use Crush Claw again!"
Ethan Black smiled with confidence.
"Wartortle, use Water Gun to keep it away!" shouted Jake Turner, visibly nervous.
He knew that Crush Claw, which lowers the opponent's defense, was a nightmare for a Pokémon like Wartortle, whose defense was its greatest strength. If things continued, its shell wouldn't last much longer.
"Spin Top!" ordered Ethan Black firmly.
At that moment, Sandslash stopped its move, stretched its arms, and began spinning rapidly, like a real spinning top.
Although it was called Spin Top, it wasn't related to the move Gyro Ball. It was a rotation technique on its own legs, different from rolling into a ball.
Whizz whizz whizz!
Sandslash's claws spun so fast they looked like a circular saw—and managed to split the water jet in half!
"Now, Crush Claw!"
Ethan Black shouted with all his energy.
Sandslash charged forward at full speed, cutting through the water, appeared in front of Wartortle, suddenly stopped its spin, and using the inertia, slashed with its glowing claws.
Crack!
In the silence, Wartortle slowly fell to the ground. On its tough shell... there was a deep crack!
(End of chapter)