At the farm, after a long day of work, Slowking sat under the shade of a tree.
It took a moment to reflect on today's tasks.
Hmm… Patrolled the farm? Check.
Trained some of the younger Pokémon? Check.
Completed its own routine training? Check.
Work was basically done.
"Yadon"
After reviewing its day, Slowking's gaze returned to the tablet in front of it.
Or rather—the tablet resting on its belly.
Since the farm had plenty of electronic devices, Slowking had claimed one for itself.
On the screen was a livestream—one that, until recently, hadn't attracted much attention.
But over the past few minutes, the number of viewers had skyrocketed.
The reason?
Natsume was about to battle.
It might sound strange, but recently, Natsume's presence online had been growing stronger.
A high school graduate who didn't pursue higher education, instead inheriting a farm all on his own…
A Pokéblock maker, a trainer who defeated a Legendary…
Stacking all these buffs together, well—
Let's just say it perfectly fueled the internet's curiosity and love for drama.
Especially in online arguments, Natsume had become the go-to example.
"Oh, your brother is talented and hardworking?"
"You think Tei Akira is the rising star of this generation?"
Yeah? Check this guy out. (Referring to Natsume.)
Of course, most of these people didn't actually like Natsume.
They just enjoyed arguing.
Or they were just pure internet trolls.
Hmm… thanks to Corviknight's personal live demonstrations, Slowking had actually developed some insight into online meme culture.
Out of pure entertainment, Slowking had even joined a Natsume fan group that had just been created.
The group leader was currently rallying members to boost Natsume's popularity on social media.
"And now! Let's give a warm round of applause to our two semifinalists!"
"Natsume! Mei!"
The host's voice was filled with over-the-top excitement.
But Slowking found it obnoxious.
After some thought, it muted the livestream.
It didn't need commentary to understand the match.
In fact—Slowking's battle analysis was better than most professional trainers.
---
"Hoo…"
Inside the waiting room, Mei rocked onto her toes, then steadied herself.
So far—Serperior had never won against Corviknight.
Not even once.
Not even close.
Natsume's training direction for Corviknight had always been clear—
Bigger. Heavier. Tougher.
Everything else was secondary.
Speed? Not important.
Attack? Not the priority.
Because even if you dodged dozens of times—
Corviknight only needed to hit you once.
And even if Serperior somehow took down Corviknight,
Shiny Furret would still be a massive hurdle.
Neither Pignite, Dewott, nor Steenee had a real chance of victory.
Especially Tsareena—
She outright refused to fight Shiny Furret.
Because living at the farm, she knew exactly how ridiculous that thing was.
In Mei's mind, Shiny Furret was at least as strong as any of the Pokémon Natsume had used against Ting-Lu.
"You got this, Mei."
Mei lightly patted her own cheeks, trying to reset her mindset.
Sure, she couldn't see a path to victory—
But so what?
A trainer is supposed to face challenges head-on.
If you only fought battles you were sure to win,
You'd never truly grow.
…Yeah.
That was some motivational nonsense she had read in a third-rate magazine once.
At the time, she had rolled her eyes at it.
But now?
Now she was using it to comfort herself.
Well—if nothing else, it was helping a little.
"Both trainers, please enter the field."
Hearing the host's announcement, Mei hurriedly left the waiting room.
She moved a little too quickly at first, her steps almost awkwardly uncoordinated.
But just before stepping out, she regained her composure.
"The sun's a little blinding…"
Shielding her eyes with her cap, Mei squinted slightly.
Directly across from her—
Was a familiar figure.
Looking at Natsume, Mei suddenly felt like she had a lot to say.
Her thoughts on everything that had happened recently…
Her gratitude toward Natsume…
And so much more.
But at this distance—
Those feelings wouldn't reach him.
So in the end, Mei pressed them all down—
And decided to save them until after the battle.
"Begin!"
The referee swung down the flag, signaling the start of the match.
"Go, Corviknight."
"Serperior!"
A flash of white light—
And the two longtime rivals appeared on the battlefield.
"Serp!"
Serperior's regal green body slithered gracefully, its sleek scales shimmering under the sunlight—
Like ripples across an emerald lake.
Its gem-like red eyes locked onto Corviknight's form.
Meanwhile—
Corviknight flapped its wings, completely at ease.
The gleaming steel-gray feathers covering its body made it look like a knight in full armor.
Their appearance alone sent the crowd's excitement soaring.
"I heard a rumor that these two are friends off the battlefield."
"Wonder who's gonna win the championship?"
One spectator asked their friend with eager anticipation.
At first, they hadn't expected much from this tournament.
They had only come because their workplace was involved in organizing it—
And they got some free tickets.
They figured it'd be something to kill time—
Something to chat about over lunch later.
But surprisingly—
The battles had been insanely high quality.
Especially Natsume and Mei—
Their skills were far beyond what this tournament level should have.
"Oh, that's easy—Natsume. No question."
A voice, slightly rough with age, suddenly cut in.
The two spectators instinctively turned their heads—
And were met with a very familiar face.
"Wait… aren't you… Tei Akira?"
One of them hesitantly asked.
They recognized his face well enough—
After all, Tei Akira's match against Natsume had been one of the best fights in the tournament.
But… this outfit—
Made them doubt themselves.
A headband, sloppily scrawled with "NATSUME VICTORY".
A handmade sign, featuring a full-body photo and chibi drawing of Natsume.
And a life-sized cutout strapped to his leg.
He looked like a die-hard fan at a concert.
"Yeah, that's me."
Seeing the puzzled looks around him, Akira took the initiative to explain:
"I asked the event organizers for a ticket."
"They were pretty generous—gave me a front-row seat, even."
"As for my outfit—well, isn't it obvious? I'm a Natsume fan now."
"In fact, I've been a Natsume fan since birth. I came here to see my idol."
Tei Akira spoke with absolute sincerity.
If someone didn't know any better, they might have actually believed him.
Unfortunately—
The last guy who said, "I'm your biggest fan," in a world tournament ended up kicking his so-called idol around like a football.
And Tei Akira?
He got utterly destroyed by his idol, had his confidence shattered, and was now ready to quit pro battling altogether.
"Ahaha… I see…"
"Tei Akira, you're… pretty enthusiastic, huh?"
The spectators next to him let out awkward laughs.
They weren't sure whether to admire his shamelessness—or just be speechless.
Even the people nearby were giving Akira some interesting looks.
This guy… was really something else.
But for a veteran trainer, a few weird looks were nothing.
In fact—Tei Akira had done far more than this.
If he was going to be a fan, he was going to do it right.
Not only was he calling himself a Natsume fan,
But he had just now rushed to set up—
✔️ A Natsume fan group
✔️ A social media super-topic
✔️ A dedicated forum
If things took off, he even considered forming a full-on fan club.
Akira was sure—Natsume's future wouldn't stop here.
Even if Natsume really just wanted to run a farm,
That "reclusive master" image was still marketable.
Besides—life doesn't always go the way you expect.
Tei Akira had already seen plenty of people online trying to visit Natsume's farm just for the hype.
"Tsk. What the hell? You guys are just making trouble for him."
Scratching his head, Akira figured he should do something about it.
Not because he was overly devoted to Natsume or anything.
He wasn't that kind of fanboy—he wasn't some love-starved kid.
From beginning to end, his real reason was simple—
If he moved faster than others, he might be able to profit from it.
Making money wasn't shameful.
Since he was retiring from pro battling, he had to think about the future.
Of course—he still had professional integrity.
If he was going to call himself a fan, he had to do it right.
"BOOM—!"
The thunderous crash of battle snapped Tei Akira back to reality.
Refocusing on the battlefield, he saw—
The fight between Corviknight and Serperior had begun.
And for some reason—
Serperior, usually the epitome of calm arrogance,
Now looked visibly irritated.
"Serp!"
You damn feathered freak!
"GAAAH!"
Weak! Weak! Weak! Absolutely no offensive power! Didn't I teach you anything?!
On the ground, Serperior had completely abandoned its usual composure.
And in the air, Corviknight was openly gloating—
Hurling insults as fast as it was hurling attacks at Serperior's face.
Despite all its effort to manage its emotions,
The moment it saw this stupid snake—
Corviknight couldn't hold back anymore.
"Serp!"
I'm going to rip your head off and shove it down your stupid throat!
Serperior's muscles tensed, its entire body coiling with power.
Then—
With a massive whip of its tail,
A storm of razor-sharp leaves came roaring forward.
For a Contrary-ability Serperior, strategy didn't matter.
Just keep spamming Leaf Storm.
Of course—Serperior wasn't dumb.
It knew Leaf Storm alone wasn't enough to defeat Corviknight.
That much was obvious.
Which was why it had been thinking hard—
Watching Corviknight's every move.
Studying its personality, its battle habits.
Figuring out how to bring this oversized bird down.
"Serp!"
Suddenly—
Serperior opened its mouth, gathering a deep green energy sphere.
After a barely noticeable charge time,
The energy ball rocketed straight toward Corviknight.
Then came the second.
The third.
A barrage of energy spheres—
Like surface-to-air missiles targeting their prey.
This was Serperior's latest specialized training.
By reducing the energy cost and charge time,
It had achieved rapid-fire energy blasts—
Like a Seed Machine Gun.
A clunky, unrefined technique—
But highly effective against Corviknight.
Because Serperior knew—
Corviknight had a bad habit.
If an attack seemed weak,
It would take the hit on purpose,
Just to mentally crush its opponent.
But—
If an attack even remotely threatened it,
It would dodge—
Even if the actual damage was negligible.
Sure enough—
Faced with the barrage of energy balls,
Corviknight chose to evade.
With a powerful wingbeat, its speed spiked—
The attacks all missed.
But Serperior hadn't expected them to land.
The very next second—
A whirlwind of razor leaves engulfed the sky.
This time—Leaf Storm completely surrounded Corviknight.
"GAAAH!"
Weak! Weak! Weak! Useless! Useless! Useless!
A metallic glow flickered over Corviknight's body—
A solid steel barrier forming around it.
The leaf blades clashed against its body—
A flurry of sharp, ringing sounds echoing through the air.
Tch. That actually hurt a little.
Corviknight's eyes flickered with surprise.
Serperior's attacks were definitely stronger than before.
This fight… might actually be a little interesting.
"Serperior!"
"Serp!"
Seeing Leaf Storm land successfully,
Mei's eyes lit up—
She clenched her fist in excitement.
Everything was going according to plan!
While Corviknight's vision was blocked,
Serperior steadied its breathing—
Forcing itself to remain calm.
This was already expected.
Before the match, Mei had told it—
"Be ready with Leech Seed. The moment that dumb bird rushes out—hit it!"
Serperior stared intensely into the Leaf Storm,
Watching for that towering silhouette within.
Up in the stands, Mei was just as focused.
All their follow-up strategies relied on not getting one-shot.
"GAAAH!"
A steel-clad shadow burst from the storm—
A force too overwhelming to resist.
Corviknight spread its wings wide,
Expanding its presence as much as possible.
"GAAAH! GAAAH!"
Brave Bird.
Like a falling meteor,
Its body plummeted at full force,
The friction igniting the air,
Giving its black feathers a streak of glowing orange-red light.
White streaks of air currents sliced through the battlefield.
No... I can't dodge this.
With that impact force, the Leech Seed would be blown away before even making contact.
A moment's hesitation—just a fraction of a second—was enough for Serperior to miss its best chance to evade.
The move didn't activate in time.
And in that fleeting moment of indecision, the scales of victory seemed to tilt ever so slightly.
At least, that's how it looked.
"Serp!"
A crisp cry echoed as a faint green light flickered into existence.
A half-spherical protective barrier swiftly formed around Serperior.
"Boom!"
From above, Corviknight came crashing down with full force onto Protect.
A mere Protect move? Watch me break through it!
Corviknight was brimming with confidence.
"Crack!"
The protective barrier, which normally brought a sense of security, was now covered in fractures almost instantly.
It looked fragile, on the verge of collapse—far from reassuring.
If anything, it was more worrisome.
"Serp!"
Serperior's gem-like eyes reflected Corviknight's form.
Ah... what a familiar sight.
It's always like this.
Once, twice… Every time, it's this move that defeats me.
You stupid bird, don't you have anything else?
...Then again, if I keep falling to the same move, maybe I have no right to complain.
In the next second, Serperior's eyes cleared with renewed focus.
"Crack!"
Under Corviknight's overwhelming pressure, Protect shattered.
Emerald shards scattered through the air.
But Corviknight didn't slow down—it crashed directly into Serperior.
A thick cloud of dust exploded into the air, obscuring both Pokémon from view.
To the audience, it seemed like a decisive blow—Corviknight's overwhelming victory.
However...
"Gaah?"
...What the hell?
A sudden gust of wind swept through, dispersing the dust.
The scene that emerged was almost comical.
Serperior, utilizing its natural snake-like flexibility, had wrapped itself tightly around Corviknight.
Vine Whips extended from both sides, coiling around Corviknight's neck and pulling its head backward.
And Serperior? Face-to-face with Corviknight, mouth slightly open.
A dark green energy orb began forming between its fangs.
This time, it wasn't a weakened feint.
This was a fully powered Energy Ball.
Thanks to its specialized training, Serperior had dramatically reduced the charge time needed.
In the blink of an eye, the move was ready.
"Boom—!"
The Energy Ball detonated right against Corviknight's face.
A burst of fiery explosion engulfed its head.
"Serperior! Don't stop!"
From the trainer's platform, Mei shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
Maybe it was the harsh sunlight, but sweat was starting to bead on her forehead.
"Serp!"
Die, you damn bird!
Slam!
Serperior tightened its coiled body, executing a textbook over-the-shoulder slam, sending Corviknight crashing into the ground.
And without hesitation, Serperior immediately flung it away.
A Giga Drain followed.
Green energy particles rose from Corviknight's body, as if drawn by an invisible force, flowing directly into Serperior.
The once-exhausted Serperior, panting heavily, now visibly regained some strength.
"Corviknight."
"GAAAH!"
At the sound of Natsume's voice, Corviknight's eyes snapped open.
With a powerful beat of its wings, it stabilized itself midair.
Then, it quickly ascended, climbing to an even higher altitude.
Its piercing red eyes locked onto Serperior.
There was a flicker of surprise in its gaze.
This damn snake…
"Still not enough, huh?"
Mei's hands clenched the railing so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her gaze never left Corviknight.
That last series of perfectly chained attacks—originally, the plan included planting Leech Seed as well.
The idea was to disrupt Corviknight's rhythm with Slam, subtly slipping in Leech Seed, then following up with Giga Drain to extend the fight.
But in the heat of battle, things didn't go exactly as planned.
Corviknight's sheer strength exceeded both Serperior's and Mei's expectations.
In truth, Serperior had barely managed to keep Corviknight restrained during the Slam.
Had they forced the original plan, Corviknight likely would have broken free and slammed Serperior into the ground instead.
"Serp!"
Refocusing itself, Serperior took a defensive stance.
Even though it had caught Corviknight off guard earlier…
The gap in raw power was undeniable.
This dumb bird—
It may be an idiot in every way…
Except when it comes to its physical abilities.
Its defense was impenetrable, its stamina near-endless.
Even after all those attacks, all Serperior had managed to do was chip away some damage.
Meanwhile, Serperior itself was barely hanging on.
That last attack from Corviknight, combined with earlier hits, had pushed it to the brink.
Even with Giga Drain, it had only bought a few extra seconds.
...No matter.
Fight until the very end.
The battle dragged on—this was the longest fight Natsume had in this tournament so far.
Serperior turned into a relentless turret, continuously unleashing attacks.
Meanwhile, Corviknight became the embodiment of an indomitable heavy-armored warrior.
It faced every attack head-on, enduring them all—only to return even greater force with each counter.
"Serperior! One more Leaf Storm!"
On the trainer's stand, Mei called out her final command.
If nothing unexpected happened—this would be the last Leaf Storm.
Honestly, she was stunned Serperior had lasted this long.
Based on her calculations, Serperior should have collapsed several hits ago.
"Corviknight, Brave Bird."
"Gaaah!"
With a powerful cry, Corviknight acknowledged Natsume's command.
Even it was feeling the strain of battle now.
Rapidly gaining altitude, Corviknight hovered briefly at its peak.
Then, it dove—a falling meteor streaking down from the sky.
At the same time, a storm of emerald-green blades roared to life.
Just like at the start of the fight.
This time, Corviknight dove straight into the storm.
The swirling leaves and chaotic air currents—torn apart in an instant.
Bursting through the storm, Corviknight spread its wings wide and crashed toward Serperior.
No escape…
Serperior had never felt so drained before.
Its once-fluid movements felt foreign, disconnected.
Even as its mind screamed commands, its body refused to obey.
Every cell in its body was begging—
Just let go. Stop fighting. It's over.
"Serp…"
Serperior mustered the last traces of its energy, barely managing to activate Protect once more.
But after multiple uses, the success rate of Protect had plummeted.
And so, the classic scene of "Protect failing to protect" played out.
"Boom—!"
This time, Serperior could hold on no longer.
Its proud head slowly drooped.
It tried desperately to keep its eyes open, but its heavy eyelids refused to listen, gradually closing bit by bit.
"Serperior, you did great."
Faintly, it seemed to hear Mei's voice.
Was she… praising me?
Then… I guess I can rest now.
Maybe…
"Serperior is unable to battle! Corviknight wins!"
"Ohhh!"
As the referee announced the outcome, the audience erupted into a frenzy of discussion.
At first, everyone thought this was just a beginner's tournament.
Then they saw Natsume, and thought it was going to be a stomp fest.
And now, watching Natsume and his supposed "easy opponents" go at it—well, this was turning out to be a real show.
"Mei, please send out your next Pokémon."
"Come back, Serperior."
"You did really well."
Recalling Serperior, Mei softly whispered to its Poké Ball.
She took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and refocused on the battle before her.
She had trained specifically to counter Corviknight before this match.
But as for Shiny Furret and Marshtomp?
She didn't have much of a plan.
With Marshtomp, it was simply lack of intel.
With Shiny Furret… well, it was a straightforward problem.
There was no real weakness to exploit.
It fought in the most direct, unrelenting way possible, crushing opponents head-on.
Since that was the case…
"Come out, Dewott!"
"Shiny Furret, it's your turn."
Just as before, Natsume recalled Corviknight and sent out Shiny Furret instead.
"Furr!"
"Dewo!"
The moment it appeared, Dewott took a deep breath, retrieving the shells from its sides and gripping them tightly.
Like a wandering samurai preparing for battle.
It had been waiting for this fight for a long time.
Before today, it hadn't known who its opponent would be.
But that didn't matter.
It had trained diligently and relentlessly, step by step.
Just as its stoic personality dictated—serious, disciplined, and always striving for improvement.
It was prepared to face any challenger.
"Furr!"
Shiny Furret's eyes sparkled with excitement as it faced Dewott.
Ah, it's that kid from the training sessions.
Shiny Furret vaguely remembered Dewott.
Among all of Mei's Pokémon, it was the only one that could keep up with the training regiment from start to finish.
As an opponent, it was definitely qualified.
This would be a properly intense fight.
"Furr!"
Come on! Show me how much you've improved!
Shiny Furret struck a bodybuilder's pose and flashed a bright, confident grin at Dewott.
For a moment—just for an instant—Dewott thought it saw a blinding light reflecting off something.
...Was that its teeth?
Must have been a trick of the light.
"Dewo!"
Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, Dewott took its battle stance.
The left shell was held in front as a guard, while the right shell extended outward, ready to strike.
Its center of gravity lowered slightly, and it took a deep breath, sharpening its focus.
A pale aura flickered around its form before sinking into its blades.
Focus Energy—enhancing the precision of its attacks, making critical strikes more likely.
"Furr?"
Oi. That's foul play!
Shiny Furret was stunned.
It was in the middle of pumping itself up, and this guy was sneaking in a buff move?
Damn, this dude was serious about battling.
"Shiny Furret, watch out for its shells."
"Dewott has higher special attack."
"Its speed is moderate—just think of it as a Water-type Scizor."
After giving a few brief pointers, Natsume fell silent.
Many rookie trainers liked to micromanage their Pokémon during battle, giving orders for every little move.
But that approach often backfired.
A Pokémon sees and senses far more than its trainer during a fight.
If a trainer issues the wrong command, it could lead to more than just losing a match—it could damage the trust between trainer and Pokémon.
"Furr!"
Originally standing upright, Shiny Furret dropped to all fours—and in the next instant, it shot forward like a pink meteor.
That was always Shiny Furret's preferred battle style.
Its vast move pool allowed for complex strategies, sure.
But… why bother?
If you can knock out your opponent with brute force, why waste time with fancy tactics?
"Dewo!"
Dewott's eyes glinted.
Suddenly, a gentle stream of water coiled around its body.
A moment later, the water surged violently, acting like a thruster, propelling Dewott at high speed toward its foe.
From a bird's-eye view, it was like two meteors colliding head-on.
As they were about to clash, Dewott angled its body slightly, swinging its shell upward toward Shiny Furret's abdomen.
"Thud!"
The fierce slash was intercepted by a frost-coated fist.
The thin layer of ice was as hard as steel.
They passed each other like two streaks of light in the night sky.
"Shhhh—"
Barely managing to stop itself, Dewott quickly turned back toward Shiny Furret.
For the past few weeks, it had been training under Gallade, studying sword techniques and battle strategy.
Its mind was free of distractions.
Water surged around its form once again.
It knew full well—if they traded blows normally, it had no chance of winning.
A battle of endurance? A defensive counterplay?
Unnecessary.
This fight would be quick.
Either it landed a decisive blow and took control of the battle—
Or it got completely overpowered.
There was no in-between.
All it needed to do was pull Shiny Furret into its tempo.
That was its one chance to win.
The blades glowed fiercely, energy surging through them.
The two Pokémon clashed repeatedly, moving like streaks of light across the battlefield.
Each collision of steel and ice sent sparks flying.
Dewott continuously searched for an opening, its two swords weaving a web of sharp, cold slashes.
And in response—
Shiny Furret met every attack head-on, fighting blow-for-blow.
Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch—cycling between them seamlessly.
Burn marks and frostbite slowly appeared across Dewott's form.
As the fight raged on, their clashes grew even more intense.
Shiny Furret's relentless attacks were taking their toll.
Dewott desperately wanted to find an opportunity to use a status move to boost itself.
Unfortunately, in such an intense exchange of attacks, there was no chance at all.
Shhh!
Its feet scraped against the ground, leaving a long trail behind.
After another collision, the two Pokémon swapped positions, with Dewott now standing right in front of Natsume.
At this moment, Dewott felt its breathing burn, as if every breath was scorching its windpipe.
Was it lucky that it had trained so hard before?
If not, forget about winning—just staying in the fight wouldn't have been possible.
Adjusting its breath, Dewott crossed its shells and charged forward once more.
However...
Swish—
A sudden wave of weakness in its legs shattered its focus.
The sharp glow around its shells flickered unsteadily.
Its stamina... had hit its limit.
The sounds around it suddenly became distant.
Its vision stretched and distorted, pulling everything away.
The pink silhouette of its opponent, rushing toward it at full speed, seemed to move in slow motion—moving forward yet somehow getting farther and farther away.
Ah, this feeling... not good at all.
The edges of its vision darkened.
This must be the precursor to fainting, huh?
It wasn't exactly unfamiliar.
But still… it left a lingering sense of unwillingness.
"Dewott!"
Was that Mei's voice?
Straining to shift its gaze, Dewott caught sight of Mei in the distance.
Her face was filled with worry, clearly visible even from afar.
Suddenly, the noise of the stadium returned—the roaring wind, the clamor of the crowd.
With that, its fading focus snapped back, along with the remnants of its technique's glow.
Swish!
A surge of raging water exploded from behind Dewott like an out-of-control jet engine, recklessly propelling it straight at Shiny Furret.
It was a full-on, do-or-die attack.
The gleam on its shells flared, then rapidly condensed into solid, visible light-blades.
Through breeding, Oshawott had the potential to inherit Sacred Sword.
Dewott wasn't sure if it had that innate ability.
But after training with Gallade for so long, it felt like it had grasped something.
Swish!
Furr!
After the clash, both Pokémon maintained their forward-charging stances, frozen in place.
A few seconds later, Dewott's body slackened.
Its shells slipped from its grasp as it collapsed onto the ground.
Shiny Furret remained standing, its tail raised high in triumphant declaration.
"Return, Dewott."
Seeing that, Mei let out a quiet sigh as she recalled her Pokémon.
Though Furret bore a few scratches, it still looked full of energy.
The gap… is massive.
But Mei quickly refocused, her gaze sharp as she threw her final Poké Ball.
"Come on out, Steenee!"
As the light faded, a small, elegant, humanoid Pokémon materialized onto the battlefield.
Hand on its hip, Steenee exuded the grace of a refined young lady.
During registration, after much consideration, Mei had chosen Steenee for battle.
Compared to Pignite, the Grass-type Steenee had a natural advantage against Marshtomp's Ground-Water typing.
Maybe… just maybe, she could pull off an upset.
Taking a deep breath, Mei called out:
"Steenee, don't feel pressured."
"Just follow the battle plan we discussed."
Of course, there wasn't much of a plan.
Given the current situation, there wasn't a strategy that could truly turn the tide.
The gap was simply too large.
It was like sending a master tactician to fight an invincible warrior.
This isn't a strategy issue—it's a pure power gap.
"Marsh."
With its usual indifferent expression, Marshtomp sized up its opponent.
Hmmm.
Doesn't look too strong.
Not in aura, not in anything.
It vaguely remembered this one—wasn't Steenee the weakest Pokémon in Mei's team during training?
It had also heard that she came from the same farm as him, but Marshtomp didn't quite recall.
One thing was certain, though.
This match was in the bag.
The moment the battle began, Steenee swiftly launched an attack, using its agility to its advantage.
Countless Magical Leaves shot out from behind her.
In the games, Magical Leaf always hits its target.
But in reality, it was more like a homing attack that could be partially guided—but not with absolute accuracy.
"Marsh"
As the incoming leaves flew toward him, Marshtomp's eyes momentarily sharpened.
Frost encased its fists as it activated Ice Punch, smashing the leaves apart one by one as it steadily advanced—
Like an unstoppable armored soldier.
The moment the enchanted leaves were tainted by frost, they grew brittle and crumbled into dust under Marshtomp's relentless blows.
Steenee wasn't surprised by this outcome.
She quickly alternated between Razor Leaf and Seed Machine Gun, trying to suppress Marshtomp and buy herself time for a setup move.
But despite the relentless onslaught, Marshtomp displayed absolute dominance.
Raising its arms in front of itself, water began swirling in its mouth, steadily gathering power.
The next second, a Hydro Cannon blasted forth.
The water shot toward Steenee like an artillery shell, its impact force overwhelming.
Using this opening, Marshtomp rushed in.
"Marsh!"
Brick Break!
A powerful chop slammed into Steenee.
She was forced back, barely managing to stay upright.
But Marshtomp showed no mercy.
It kept attacking, one relentless strike after another.
As the battle raged on, Steenee struggled to keep up.
Under Marshtomp continuous pressure, her defenses weakened, her counterattacks growing feebler.
Finally, in a desperate attempt to plug a gap in her defense, Steenee panicked—
And made a crucial mistake.
A miscalculation in the heat of battle rarely ends well.
Whether she overcompensated or hesitated, the result was the same: an opening too big to ignore.
Seizing the moment, Marshtomp lunged forward.
"Marsh!"
Take this—Focus Punch!
Gripping its left fist with its right hand, Marshtomp took a brief moment to gather its strength.
Then, with a transparent energy wave coating its knuckles—
It delivered a devastating blow straight into Steenee.
"Marsh"
It was over.
Retracting its fist, Marshtomp's expression returned to its usual look of enlightened detachment.
No worldly desires.
Mercy? Compassion?
Steelix once said, "Only fools hold back in battle. If they do, they deserve to be taken out."
Why waste time?
There were naps to take.
Marshtomp wasn't about to waste energy where it wasn't needed.
"Steenee is unable to battle!"
"Mei's Pokémon are all unable to battle—Natsume wins and advances!"
The referee swung down the flag, signaling the battle's conclusion.
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