----
Drake didn't seem too surprised about Ditto's defeat.
If anything, he would have been more shocked if Kai hadn't won.
Kai's Gyarados was monstrous exactly what he expected from an Indigo League Champion.
What did surprise him, however, was how quickly and brutally Ditto had lost. He took a deep breath, then gave Kai a small nod.
"Your Gyarados is strong. But this match is far from over."
Kai smiled slightly.
"Your Ditto was no pushover either. Against most opponents, it would have been a nightmare to deal with. But… unfortunately, it faced my Gyarados. And when it comes to sheer brutality, nothing beats the real thing."
Drake's eye twitched slightly.
This guy…
Did he realize how arrogant that sounded?
But oddly enough, instead of annoying him, Kai's confidence actually excited him. For years, he had waited for a challenger who could truly push him to his limits.
Maybe… just maybe…
Kai was that challenger.
With a grin, Drake reached for his second Poké Ball.
"Alright. Let's see how you handle this!"
He threw the ball, and with a flash of blue light, a massive Onix materialized onto the battlefield.
The announcer immediately picked up the energy.
"Ohhh!! It's Drake's Onix!"
"This Pokémon has had many stellar performances in past battles! Will it be the one to turn the tables for Drake?! Let's find out!"
Hearing this, Drake's supporters roared in approval, shaking off the shock of Ditto's defeat.
The energy in the stadium returned, as the crowd erupted into cheers for Drake's second Pokémon.
Kai, however, remained calm.
With Onix on the field, the battle had just become much easier.
The best way to win a battle was simple:
Exploit weaknesses.
And Onix had a glaring one.
Kai reached for his next Poké Ball.
"Venusaur, let's do this."
With a loud thud, Venusaur landed heavily on the battlefield, its massive plant-covered body exuding a powerful presence.
It locked eyes with Onix, its gaze unwavering.
The announcer's voice carried a hint of surprise.
"Ahhh, it's Venusaur! Looks like Kai is choosing to take advantage of type matchups!"
His tone was slightly disapproving.
It was obvious what Kai was doing countering Onix with a Grass-type Pokémon.
"A rather… convenient choice!" the announcer added, flipping through his notes.
A few moments later, he chuckled.
"Hmm… interesting. According to the records, during the Indigo League Tournament, Kai often relied on exploiting type advantages. It seems he's carrying that same strategy over to the Orange League!"
Though the announcer's words were meant to sound neutral, there was a clear implication behind them—
Kai was playing "too safe".
Instead of winning through sheer skill, he was relying on type advantages.
Kai heard every word but didn't react.
He had nothing to prove.
Type matchups were part of Pokémon battles.
There was nothing unfair about it.
And if Drake had an issue with it, he should have prepared better.
Kai glanced at his opponent.
Drake, however, didn't seem bothered at all.
He wasn't the type to complain about such things. This was a battle, and he had to find a way to win.
The scoreboard updated, showing Onix vs. Venusaur. As both Pokémon locked into position, the referee raised the flags.
"Trainers, prepare for battle!"
Both Kai and Drake nodded.
The referee swung his flags down.
"Begin!"
Kai took the initiative.
"Venusaur, Vine Whip!"
Two long, thick vines shot out from Venusaur's flower, lashing toward Onix with incredible speed.
Drake acted instantly.
"Onix, Dig!"
Onix reacted with lightning speed, smashing into the ground and burrowing underground just as the vines snapped through the air.
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
Fast.
Onix's Dig speed was incredibly quick faster than a normal Onix.
Clearly, it had been trained to execute underground manoeuvres efficiently.
"Tch. Just barely missed…"
Venusaur's Vine Whip attack struck the empty ground, sending small dust clouds into the air.
With Onix now hidden, Venusaur stood still, its eyes scanning the battlefield.
Kai quickly assessed the situation.
This was a rocky battlefield, meaning Onix had a clear advantage underground.
It could burrow through the terrain effortlessly, using the jagged rocks and uneven ground to hide its movements.
Venusaur, on the other hand, had no such advantage.
"Alright. Change positions. Move toward the pool!"
Venusaur immediately obeyed, backing away toward the water's edge.
By staying near the pool, it would have an escape route in case Onix tried to strike from below.
The crowd watched with anticipation.
"What's Kai planning?!"
"Why is he moving Venusaur toward the pool?!"
Drake noticed the adjustment, his expression unreadable.
"Smart move, but let's see if it actually works."
The ground rumbled slightly.
A clear sign—
Onix was about to strike!
Kai remained calm.
"Be ready."
Venusaur lowered its stance, its muscles tensing.
Any moment now—
The real fight was about to begin!
---
Cliffhanger it seems!🙈
----
Don't forget to drop some PowerStones!💎💎💎
For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon.
P@treon/iamxeno
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!