Chapter 72: First Round
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Indigo Plateau – Stadium]
The tournament begins the following morning within the Indigo League Stadium, as many people who came to participate dwindled as they had dropped out or been eliminated in the preliminary rounds. Out of the hundreds of participants, only 8 managed to make it to the finals.
Azure Sky stood on the precipice of his dream. The roar of the Indigo Plateau stadium washed over him, a symphony of anticipation and excitement. He clutched a Poké Ball in his sweaty palm, his heart hammering against his ribs.
He had done it. He, along with his loyal team, had navigated the winding roads of the Kanto region, conquered daunting Gym challenges, and clawed his way through the grueling preliminary rounds.
Now, he was one of the eight finalists in the Pokémon League Tournament, a testament to his unwavering dedication and the bond he shared with his Pokémon. His team was his family.
Pikachu, his steadfast partner since the very beginning, always perched on his shoulder, crackling with energy. Eevee, with her ever-curious gaze and boundless potential. Gengar, the mischievous prankster with a hidden kind heart.
Arcanine, the loyal and powerful guardian. Dragonite, a menacing giant of the skies. And Scizor, with his steely resolve and unmatched precision. Each of them had played a vital role in his journey, pushing him to be a better trainer and a better person.
He wasn't alone. He could see Fire Red, his fiery spirit reflected in his determined eyes, standing confidently on the opposite side of the arena. Blue Oak, calm and collected as always, leaned against a pillar, observing the crowd with an analytical gaze.
Leaf Green, with her vibrant energy and infectious enthusiasm, waved at him, her smile radiating encouragement. He knew they were all formidable opponents, each with their own strengths and strategies.
He also knew that alongside them were four other Ace Trainers from regions unknown, each a mystery wrapped in a cloak of formidable power. He observed their stoic expressions, their intense focus, and knew that they were all here for the same reason: to prove themselves the best.
*CLICK*
Suddenly, a spotlight illuminated the center of the stadium, and a booming voice echoed through the arena as the announcer said proudly, "Trainers and fans, welcome to the Kanto Pokémon League Tournament! We have witnessed incredible battles and breathtaking displays of skill in the preliminary rounds. Now, we are down to our top eight finalists! Let the games begin!"
A giant TV screen shimmered to life, displaying the bracket for the first round. Azure Sky vs. A Trainer from Hoenn, Selena. He studied the trainer's picture, trying to glean any information he could from her confident smirk and the silhouette of a Pokémon behind her.
He knew about Hoenn Pokémon from his experience playing games, adding another layer of challenge to the already daunting task ahead. He took a deep breath, trying to quell the butterflies in his stomach.
Pikachu nuzzled his cheek, a silent gesture of support. Azure whispered back, finding strength in the small, yellow Pokémon, "We can do this, buddy."
The announcer's voice cut through the rising tension. Azure listened as the announcer said excitedly, "Azure Sky, please proceed to the battlefield on Stadium Block B! Your match is about to begin!"
He stepped onto the battlefield, the roar of the crowd intensifying. He could feel their eyes on him, their expectations weighing heavily on his shoulders.
He met Selena's gaze across the field, a silent acknowledgment of the battle that was about to unfold. The referee, a stern-looking man in a crisp uniform, stepped forward as he explained the rules, "Trainers, the rules are as follows: Each trainer is allowed to use up to three Pokémon. You may exchange your Pokémon freely during the battle, but only between the Pokémon that are being used. You lose if all of your Pokémon faint first. Are you both ready?"
Azure and Selena replied in unison, "Ready."
The referee declared, stepping back, "Then let the battle begin!"
Selena reached for a Poké Ball. She shouted, releasing a massive, blue Pokémon onto the field, "Let's go, Swampert!"
*Pop*
Swampert, a dual-type Water/Ground Pokémon, stood tall and imposing, its powerful muscles rippling beneath its thick hide. Azure knew he had to choose his Pokémon carefully.
Swampert's Ground typing meant that Pikachu's Electric attacks would be ineffective. He considered Arcanine, but Swampert's Water attacks could easily overwhelm the Fire-type, and a prolonged fight with Scizor wouldn't be wise.
He needed a strategic advantage. Azure yelled, throwing the Poké Ball into the air, "Gengar, I choose you!"
*Pop*
Gengar materialized onto the field, her ghostly body gleaming under the stadium lights. Her grin widening and eyes glinting menacingly, ready for battle, as Selena smirked, "Gengar, huh? Interesting choice. But Swampert will crush it! Swampert, use Water Pulse!"
Swampert opened its maw and unleashed a barrage of condensed water, each one packed with immense force. Azure commanded, "Gengar, Mean Look and phase!"
*Wooosh*
Gengar's eyes glowed red as Swampert was stuck in the battle. Along with Gengar turning intangible, it managed to avoid the Water Pulse attack entirely as it levitated in the air, keeping a safe distance away.
Selena's eyes narrowed as she commanded, "Ice Beam!"
*Pew*
Shooting a condensed beam of ice at Gengar Azure, countered, "Use Substitute to split yourself up!"
*Poof*
Creating an energy construct clone of itself by sacrificing ¼ of its health, Gengar split off, avoiding the Ice Beam. But Selena's eyes narrowed, seeing green aura slowly healing Gengar as she scowled, muttering, "Black Sludge… It's healing, it's lost HP while avoiding direct contact. Annoying ghosts…"
Having the ability to levitate, both Gengars laughed mischievously, looking down at the Swampert. Not only that, but Azure also commanded, "Confuse Ray!"
Both Gengar's nodded as their eyes glowed red, aiming at Swampert, looking up as it tilted slightly, confused. Selena gritted her teeth as she commanded, "Swampert, get yourself out of confusion!"
As Selena tries to wake up, Swampert, Gengar dash forward as it reaches the Mud Fish Pokémon, and Azure commanded, "Giga Drain."
*Shiii*
Gengar opens its mouth and fires a dark green energy beam from it at the Swampert as it recoils in pain, having its energy drained. Selena tries to analyze the situation as she thought concerned, 'Damn it! If only that Shadow Pokémon stayed on the ground, my Swampert would've been able to find it with its fins – that's it!'
Smirking, she commanded, "Ice Punch!"
*Swooosh*
Gengar narrowly avoided an Ice Punch as Swampert's fins detected the faint, subtle differences in the area with its fins. Having been drained, Swampert was panting with Gengar too close to it.
But Azure commanded, "Agile Style! Shadow Punch!"
*Zoooom*
Immediately, as Swampert swiped its arm for an Ice Punch. Gengar reacted to Azure's command flawlessly, tilting its body to the side, as Gengar raises one of its arms, and purple sparks travel up its arm and appear around its fist.
Gengar's fists become surrounded by a light and dark purple misty energy, and it punches through the ground. The fist then comes back up through the ground and punches the opponent…. Right between the Mud Fish Pokémon's legs.
*SMASH*
Swampert's eyes widened, feeling extreme pain as it recoiled in pain, "Swamp! SWAMPERTTTTT!!!"
*THUD*
Azure winced, seeing Swampert holding its privates, fainting on the spot with Gengar wickedly grinning as it looked down on him in a proud tone, "Gengar! Gen! (Welcome to the real world!! I'm Gengar the Nut Cracker!!)"
Selena glared at Azure as she recalled her Swampert as she said harshly, "That was a dirty trick there, kid. Hope you're prepared to pay the price! Go! Vigoroth!"
*Pop*
Materializing in front of Azure was Vigoroth, a white, sloth-like, bipedal Pokémon with a teardrop-shaped tuft of red fur on its forehead. It has stubby ears, two small, triangular teeth in each jaw, a brown lower jaw, and large eyes encircled by brown rings. There are two stripes on its back, which are also brown.
Its arms are long, and its hands and feet have two sharp black claws. The undersides of its hands and feet have circular red pads, and its rear also has a baboon-like patch of red. The fur on its chest, tail, and sides of its mouth is shaggy.
Azure's eyes narrowed, seeing an Everstone around its neck as it jumped around with a lot of energy, "Vig! Vig! Vigoroth!!"
Realizing that Selena chose a Normal-type Pokémon, he cautiously thought, 'Bringing out a Normal-type huh? With Vigoroth, Gengar's Ghost moves won't work anymore as they will be useless against Normal Types. But if she brought out that Vigoroth – '
Not giving him the chance to think, Selena commanded, "Shadow Claw!"
*Swooosh*
Vigoroth rushed ahead with surprising speed, closing in on Gengar. Its claw was enveloped with ghostly energy, intending to slash down at the Gengar, but instead, Azure said, "Use Mean Look!"
*Pop*
Gengar glared at Vigoroth, forcing it to stay in the field. And when Vigoroth slashed at Gengar, its energy substitute stepped in, tanking the blow, popping up like a balloon, taking the blow.
Raising his Poke Ball, Azure swiftly recalled Gengar, "Gengar return!"
Managing to switch Gengar in time, he grinned as he thanked his Shadow Pokémon, greatly appreciating her, "Thanks for fighting Gengar. Take your rest. Now then… I'll choose you! Arcanine!"
*Pop*
Revealing its appearance, Arcanine stood tall and proud, landing on all fours with a determined expression on its face. Its eyes darted towards the Vigoroth as Selena commanded, "Tch. Vigoroth use – "
*Vooooom*
Vanishing, in a blur, Azure's words cut off Selena's order, "Extreme Speed."
*BASH*
*THUD*
Reappearing behind the Vigoroth, Arcanine dashed forward, his fangs aimed and prepared with fiery energy. He expertly appeared using Extreme Speed, blitzing across the battlefield, as his fangs were engulfed by fire, as Azure commanded, "Fire Fang."
*CRUNCH*
*Brrrr*
Aiming at the neck of Arcanine, used Fire Fang, biting through the Vigoroth fiercely as the Wild Monkey Pokémon cried in pain. Seeing the situation, ordered, "Use Brick Break to get out, Vigoroth!"
Both its arms glowed with Fighting Type energy as it tried to pry Arcanine's jaws from its neck, defiantly struggling. But Azure commanded, "Overheat."
*BRRRR*
Arcanine's body turns a faint red, and it releases white fire with a red-orange flame spiraling at the Vigoroth in its jaws, burning it up. The blast is most powerful when first used and becomes weaker when used repeatedly.
However, thanks to being engulfed in flames, Arcanine's Flash Fire activated, increasing the fire damage by 50%. Along with having the Charcoal around its neck Vigoroth was burnt to a crips as it was launched out like a bag slumping on the floor.
*Thud*
Vigoroth damaged stood panting tired as Selena eyes narrowed as she thought bitterly of her next choice, 'Damn it… I was hoping to save this tactic for later. But… now's a good time as any to pull it off.'
Just as Azure prepares his finishing moves, she orders, "Use Fling! Then evolve!!!"
*Swooosh*
Tossing the Everstone at Arcanine, it merely side-stepped away. But upon doing so, Azure's eyes widened as a bright light enveloped Vigoroth.
*Shiii*
Vigoroth's form grew as it was no longer little. Now, as the light faded revealed to be a very angry Slakang growling at Arcanine, "Sla… king... grr…."
No sooner does Slaking yawn and relax. Then the injured parts of its body sparkle with white energy, its body becomes momentarily covered in a light green, waving aura, restoring its lost health.
Azure eyes widened realizing what it did as he thought critically worried of the current situation, 'Fuck! It's a signature move, or rather, it's an inherited move! The signature move of Slaking is Slack Off!'
Realizing the danger, Azure's eyes narrowed as Slaking returned to health. But at the same time, its Truant ability made it lie down being lazy.
Realizing the danger, Azure didn't hesitate to go all out as he ordered his Arcanine, "We can't allow them to steamroll us, boy! Sunny Day!"
*Shiii*
The sun above intensified as Selena ordered, "Go! Mega Kick!"
*Swooosh*
With impressive agility and speed, Slaking lunged forward, its feet charged with Normal Type Energy, aimed directly at Arcanine. But Azure countered, "Agility to dodge it, Arcanine!"
*Wooosh*
Avoiding such a devastating blow Selena bit her thumb as she thought seeing how her Slaking can't touch Arcanine always avoiding confrontation, 'Damn it! Arcanine's selling points are its well-known speed and balanced strength! Even evolving my Slaking, which should have a higher base speed, it can't compete with this mutt's reactionary speed. What the hell is this speed!'
Avoiding attacks narrowly, Slaking's Truant ability activated as it yawned, lying down, being lazy. Azure took that moment to exploit its well-known weakness, "Now! End it, Arcanine! Strong Style! Flare Blitz and Extreme Speed!!"
*Sssss*
Erupted in a coat of fire of azure flames, Arcanine grinned, finally getting the chance. Fuel by its own fire, activating Flash Fire, Sunny Day, and Charcoal, enhancing its fire-type abilities, it lunged forward full speed.
*BOOOOOOM*
Selena's eyes widened as Arcanine broke the sound barrier as its legs lunged full speed, creating a shockwave vanishing in an azure blur. It didn't take long for it to reappear as the sounds of Slaking's cries rang out.
"SLLLAAAA!!!"
*Sssssss*
All eyes were now on Arcanine chomping down on Slaking's neck, along with it engulfed in azure blue fires, refusing to let go. Selena, alarmed, ordered, "Slaking! Quickly use Body Slam to – "
She was interrupted as Azure shouted, "Go! Raging Fury!"
*SMASH*
*CRUNCH*
Slaking attempted to push Arcanine off its neck with a Body Slam. But Arcanine's maw only tightened as it engulfed the two in azure blue flames, as it went on a rampage at Slaking, thrashing it around, refusing to let go.
In the process, the battle between the two continued till finally the Lazy Pokémon couldn't handle Arcanine's sheer ferocity. Slaking lay down defeated as Arcanine placed its paw down on its chest, roaring out loud in a victorious cry, "Arf! Raoooor!!!"
Selena's eyes flinched seeing her Pokémon state as she recalled it, preparing her next Pokémon in a defiant tone, "Thanks, Slaking, you did enough. Time to bring my ace in the hole… go! Flygon!"
*Pop*
Choosing her strongest ace, Selena brought out Flygon, the Majestic Pokémon. Flygon is a Pokémon that resembles a slightly insectoid, bipedal dragon. It is primarily light green and has a pair of large rhombus-shaped wings with red trim, toeless hind legs, and skinny arms with three-clawed hands.
Flygon's tail has several dark green stripes and three small green rhombus shapes with red trims at the end. It has large eyes and a pair of green antennae that point back. Its eyes have red covers that prevent sand from getting into them.
Seeing this, Azure smirked as he recalled his Arcanine immediately. And then tossed out his next Pokémon, "Alright, Eevee, time for you to shine!"
*Pop*
Eevee appeared happily, landing on all fours, "Bui!"
Selena's face shifted to frustration as she thought, gazing at Azure in anger, 'What! You arrogant brat, thinking that small Pokémon can beat my Ace! I mean, who the hell trains an Eevee as an Elite Level Pokémon!'
The battle continued as Selena says, "Dragon Dance!"
Seeing this setup as Flygon powers up Azure, countered, "Strong Style Razor Leaf!"
This brought Selena a moment to pause, hearing that as she thought, 'What? But Eevee doesn't learn – '
*BANG*
A loud banging sound was heard as Flygon recoiled from a sharp pain in its stomach. From the sharp pain, a single leaf was gently flying down as Selena tried to comprehend what had happened, that a single leaf from Razor Leaf was the source of the loud sound barrier breaking.
Azure smirked as he thought proudly, after training Eevee to master the Razor Leaf move to a different usage, 'Perfect the Razor Leaf Diamond Special Mach only is complete. This move was made by the Dex Holder Diamond in later series by decreasing the number of leaves used, I would increase a single leaf's power that can fly at a speed of a hundred times faster than usual. Not only that…'
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
Eevee was rapidly firing those Razor Leafs at Flygon, boosted by her ability, Adaptability, granting Pokémon to increase their STAB from 1.5 to 2. And thanks to Eevee's ability to change into her other forms, her Razor Leaf gets the STAB benefit if she were a Grass-type Pokémon.
Seeing her Flygon getting attacked she returned to her serious expression as she commanded, "Damn it! Flygon use Dragon Tail to divebomb at that Eevee!"
*Wooosh*
Returning to the battle, Flygon's eyes narrowed as its tail glowed with Dragon Type energy, dove-bombed ahead after Eevee. With a light nod, Azure commanded, "Counter with Stronge Style Disarming Voice!"
*Screeee*
Eevee took in a deep breath as she unleashed a powerful soundwave attack with hearts, causing Flygon's eyes to widen. It forcibly stopped its attack, trying to avoid the Disarming Voice as it cried in pain, "Fly! Raooowr!"
Selena, noticing Flygon's distress, asked, concerned, seeing such a negative reaction, "What! Flygon, what's – "
Before she could ask, Azure continued, "Freezy Frost."
*CRACK*
Freezy Frost attacks with a crystal made of cold frozen haze as it lands on Flygon. Flygon recoiled in pain from the super effective moves as it crashed down onto the arena floor, creating some dust.
*Poof*
When the dust settled, Flygon was lying on the ground, unable to battle. The referee announced, his voice filled with awe, "Flygon is unable to battle! Eevee wins! Azure Sky is the victor!"
The stadium erupted in cheers, the noise deafening. Azure ran over to Eevee, scooping her partner into his arms. He exclaimed, his voice filled with joy, "We did it, buddy! We did it!"
He looked across the field at Selena, who was smiling despite her loss, feeling a bit salty. She said, extending her hand, "That was an incredible battle. You and your Pokémon are truly amazing."
Azure shook her hand, his heart filled with gratitude and respect. He said calmly, "Thank you. You were an amazing opponent."
As he walked off the battlefield, Pikachu perched on his shoulder, he knew that this was just the beginning. He still had many battles ahead of him, many challenges to overcome.
But he also knew that with his loyal team by his side, he could face anything. The Azure Sky was truly limitless with his Pokémon by his side.
/////
A/N: How did you guys like this chapter? Like seeing other Characters other than the protagonists show their plans and ideas?
The goal of 100 PS is to get an extra chapter. Otherwise, have a good day.