The thick black smoke spread quickly across the arena, engulfing Elektro in a dense fog that made it difficult to see. Hayato frowned, irritated by his opponent's tactic. He had relied on his LaserWolf's speed to dominate the fight, but now that advantage had vanished.
"Elektro, use Discharge!" Hayato shouted, trying to counter the Smokescreen. "Destroy the smoke with your power!"
The LaserWolf's body lit up with an intense glow, and a surge of electricity coursed through its fur, creating a shockwave that dispersed part of the smoke. However, the cloud was too thick, and the electricity failed to clear it completely.
Kenji seized the opportunity and issued new orders to Charmander. "Charmander, move through the smoke! Attack from different angles! Use Explosive Spark!"
Charmander obeyed instantly, darting through the fog with agility. His orange body blended with the smoke, making him almost invisible to the Laserwolf .
Frustrated, Hayato tried to direct his beast, but it was useless.Laserwolf was completely disoriented, unable to see its opponent.
Suddenly, Charmander emerged from the smoke like a phantom, launching a barrage of embers at LaserWolf's face. The attack struck hard, scorching its fur and triggering a small explosion that forced it to recoil.
"What?!" Hayato exclaimed, stunned by the attack. "How is this possible?!"
Kenji smiled, confidence surging through his veins. His plan was working. The combination of Smokescreen and Explosive Spark was destabilizing his opponent.
"Elektro, focus!" Hayato shouted, desperate to regain control. "Use your senses! Find that lizard and destroy it!"
LaserWolf shut its eyes and began sniffing the air, attempting to track Charmander by scent. However, the acrid smoke from Smokescreen made the task nearly impossible.
Charmander continued moving through the mist, launching Ember attacks from different angles. Each strike created small explosions, increasing the chaos and confusion in the arena.
Growing more frustrated, LaserWolf began firing random attacks, discharging electricity in all directions. But Charmander was too fast, too nimble. He dodged every attack, using the smoke as a shield to evade danger.
"Damn it!" Hayato growled, clenching his fists in frustration. "This kid is making a fool of me."
Kenji grinned, enjoying his opponent's frustration. He knew he was winning. He was on the verge of defeating one of the academy's top contenders.
"It's time to end this," Kenji thought, a wave of determination washing over him. "I'll use everything I've got."
He raised his voice, giving his final command. "Charmander, emerge from the smoke and use Fire Claw!"
Charmander responded instantly, bursting from the smoke like a fiery meteor. His claws glowed with intense flames, ready to unleash their full power.
Laserwolf, caught off guard by his opponent's sudden appearance, had no time to react. Charmander lunged forward with speed, slashing at Laserwolf with his flaming claws.
The Fire Claw struck LaserWolf's face, triggering a devastating explosion. The beast howled in pain, staggering backward. Its fur was scorched, and agony gleamed in its eyes.
LaserWolf collapsed to the ground, defeated. Its body trembled, its breathing labored. It was out of combat.
A stunned silence fell over the arena. All eyes were locked on Charmander, admiring his power and bravery. He had taken down one of the academy's finest contenders, defying all expectations.
Kenji took a deep breath, feeling victory pulse through his body. He had won. He had proven his worth.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the stadium, breaking the silence.
"The winner is Kenji!" announced the supervising professor, a mix of surprise and admiration in his voice. "Charmander has proven to be a formidable opponent!"
Thunderous applause erupted, filling the air with cheers and praise. Kenji blushed at the attention, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions.
However, as he basked in the victory, Kenji noticed something strange in the professor's gaze. There was more than admiration in his eyes. There was curiosity, suspicion, and perhaps even a hint of fear.
Kenji realized he had revealed too much power. He had exposed his connection to the Pokémon System, and that could have consequences. He would have to be more cautious in the future—he had to keep his secret at all costs.
Charmander, on the other hand, roared triumphantly, celebrating the hard-earned victory. His eyes burned with intensity, and his tail flame blazed brighter than ever. He had proven his worth and was ready for any challenge that lay ahead.
The professor approached Kenji and extended his hand. "Congratulations," he said. "That was an impressive battle. Your Charmander has great potential."
Kenji shook the professor's hand, feeling the scrutinizing gaze upon him. "Thank you," Kenji replied. "I still have much to learn."
The professor nodded. "I hope I get the chance to teach you," he said. "You have a special talent."
With that, the professor gestured for Kenji to leave the arena as the applause continued, accompanied by looks of astonishment. Hiroki rushed over and high-fived him, congratulating him on his victory.
Kenji found himself lost in thought, prepared to face the path ahead with the knowledge he had gained—and with much more still to discover.