A mix of nervousness and excitement coursed through Kenji's body as he saw his name flashing on the giant screen. The moment of truth had arrived. His chance to prove himself was right before him.
"Good luck, Kenji," said Hiroki, giving him a firm pat on the back. "I know you can do this. I believe in you."
Kenji smiled at his new friend, grateful for the support. "Thanks, Hiroki. I'll need it."
He stood up and made his way toward Arena 1, feeling the stares of everyone around him. Some looked at him with curiosity, wondering who this unknown contender was. Others gazed at him with disdain, thinking he had no chance against the more experienced aspirants. But Kenji paid them no mind. He was focused on his goal, determined to prove his worth.
Arriving at Arena 1, Kenji took a moment to admire the grandeur of the place. It was a massive circular space surrounded by stands filled with spectators. The ground was covered in fine sand, ready to be disturbed by the fierce combatants. The atmosphere was electric, charged with energy and anticipation. Kenji couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of beastly battles would take place once the six smaller arenas merged into one colossal battlefield.
As he approached the arena's entrance, a guard signaled that he could proceed. Kenji took a deep breath and climbed the steps, feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
At the top, he took in the vastness of the battleground. It was even larger than he had imagined—a place where dreams could be realized, and nightmares could come true. He wondered just how massive the creatures that fought here could be.
A voice, dripping with arrogance, snapped him out of his thoughts.
"So, you're my opponent," the voice sneered. "My name is Hayato, and you'd best surrender now unless you want to be humiliated in front of everyone. I don't want to have to hurt you."
Kenji turned to face his challenger. Hayato was an elegantly dressed boy, his expensive clothing a testament to his wealthy status. His eyes gleamed with superiority. By his side stood an imposing beast—a "Laserwolf," a creature with a striking presence.
The Laserwolf had sleek, jet-black fur with glowing yellow streaks running across its body, framing its fierce face. Its muscles were taut and well-defined, ready to spring into action. Its powerful legs ended in razor-sharp claws, capable of ripping through flesh and bone. Its golden eyes shimmered with electrical energy, exuding its elemental power. It was an intimidating predator, built for speed and destruction.
"A Laserwolf," Kenji thought, a shiver running down his spine. "I've heard of these creatures. They're fast, ferocious, and incredibly dangerous. But… could their abilities be compatible with my world?"
As the thought crossed his mind, the system provided him with the beast's data.
📜 Poke-System Data – Laserwolf
📊 Level: 12 ⚡ Rank: E+ (Potential Rank D)
🐺 Type: Energy and Speed Beast
🔹 Abilities:
• Laser Shot: Concentrates energy in its tail or mouth and fires a precise beam capable of piercing weak materials.
• Supersonic Speed: Moves in short bursts of incredible speed, leaving behind a trail of blue light.
• Lightning Reflex: Its hyper-developed nervous system allows it to react almost instantly to any attack.
• Energy Charge: Absorbs light from the environment to boost its speed or enhance the power of its next attack.
• Optical Tracking: Its eyes analyze enemy movements in real-time, predicting attacks with high accuracy.
Hayato smirked at Kenji's silence. "I see you're speechless. That's normal. Your little lizard doesn't stand a chance against the mighty Elektro. But don't worry—I'll be merciful. Just surrender now, and no one will get hurt. You can lick your wounds in peace. What do you say? Deal?"
Despite the fear creeping up inside him, Kenji didn't break eye contact with his opponent, who oozed arrogance and entitlement. Holding his gaze, Kenji smirked. "Sorry, but I never surrender. If you want me gone, you'll have to defeat me."
Hayato frowned. He had expected his opponent to flee with his tail between his legs, not to stand up to him. But Kenji wasn't like the other aspirants. There was something in his eyes—a spark of determination that set him apart.
"If that's what you want," Hayato said with a malicious grin. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Elektro, take him down!"
Kenji reacted immediately, tossing his Pokéball to release his partner. With an intense gaze, Charmander let out a fierce, "CHARR!"
The observing professor nodded and announced, "Let the battle begin!"
At the signal, Hayato and Elektro sprang into action.
To everyone's surprise, Elektro didn't lunge at his opponent as expected. Instead, it started running in rapid circles, its speed increasing until it became a blur. It was impossible to pinpoint a weakness. "Impressive," Kenji thought. But he wasn't intimidated—he had tricks of his own.
The few seconds Kenji took to analyze his opponent's strategy were enough for the crowd to start jeering.
"That lizard won't last a minute—it's scared!" "He's a rookie! That's not how you fight an Elektro!"
Charmander, growing frustrated, glanced at Kenji as if asking whether to act.
"Stay calm, Charmander," Kenji murmured. "It's not time yet. Trust me, and everything will go as planned."
Hearing Kenji's words, Charmander relaxed, ready for his trainer's next command. Meanwhile, Elektro continued circling at an incredible speed, nearly invisible to the human eye, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Then, Hayato sneered. "What's wrong? Are you scared? I don't blame you—that's what most do."
Kenji, who had remained silent and focused on his opponent, finally smirked and raised his voice. "You think I'm like the others? Let me show you how wrong you are."
Without hesitation, he gave the order. "Charmander, use Ember!"
Charmander obeyed instantly, launching bursts of flame at Elektro, who dodged effortlessly, continuing to weave at high speed.
Seeing Elektro avoid every attack with ease, the crowd's mockery grew louder.
"Hahaha! This guy is nuts! He won't hit a thing!" "With that strategy, he'll never win!" "Charmander is too weak—he has no chance!"
However, Kenji remained calm, giving continuous commands to Charmander. Though the Embers weren't landing, the battlefield was growing hotter and more suffocating by the second.
"Keep going, Charmander! Keep firing Embers!" Kenji urged.
Charmander continued relentlessly, filling the arena with flames. Elektro began showing signs of fatigue, its movements slightly slowing, though it remained focused on its task.
Then Kenji smirked and made his move. "Now, Charmander, use Smokescreen!"
The stage was set. Victory was within reach.