As the Poké Ball burst open, Jolteon appeared on the icy battlefield, eyes gleaming, electricity crackling from its fur ready to fight.
From a type matchup perspective, Dewgong, a Water/ice type, was doubly weak to Electric attacks. On paper, it looked like Kai had a huge advantage before the battle even began.
Pryce knew this, of course. But he showed no reaction.
After all, with over five decades as a Pokémon Trainer under his belt, he had seen every kind of matchup imaginable. Dewgong had already gone toe-to-toe with dozens of Electric types in its lifetime—and Pryce had long developed strategies for fighting against type disadvantages.
'Come then' the old man thought. 'Show me what makes you different from all the others, Champion-to-be.'
As the match began, both Trainers issued their first commands.
Predicting that Kai would immediately go for a Thunder-type move, Pryce's first order was for Dewgong to raise an Ice Wall.
Sure enough, as Dewgong slammed its flippers into the ice, a thick frozen barrier erupted from the ground. The next instant, Jolteon's Thunder Shock struck it with lightning speed!
The bolt slammed into the Ice Wall, sending shards of frost into the air—but failing to shatter it.
Maybe it was Dewgong's raw power, maybe it was the resistance of Ice to Electric attacks, or maybe both—but either way, the wall held.
"Jolteon, flank it!" Kai shouted.
Jolteon darted sideways, trying to circle around the Ice Wall but its sharp claws weren't built for gripping smooth, frozen terrain. Its speed dropped, giving Dewgong just enough time to react.
As Jolteon began to build up another surge of electricity, Dewgong launched a Powder Snow in retaliation.
Ice and electricity collided mid-air in a sparkling explosion. Tiny flakes and static mist rained down between the two Pokémon, obscuring the field in a fog of frost and crackling energy.
Kai narrowed his eyes.
Two straight attacks—both thwarted.
He was quickly realizing Pryce wasn't just some grumpy old man. He was a seasoned, intelligent fighter. His Dewgong wasn't just strong—it was exceptionally well-trained.
This wasn't brute force. This was chess.
And that made it all the more exciting.
Kai looked at Jolteon, who was crouched and focused, its fur on edge.
A tough opponent is exactly what we need.
"Jolteon!" Kai called. "Stop holding back—go all out!"
Jolteon twitched, then let out a sharp bark of excitement. Its fur stood completely on end as electricity surged through its body. It kicked off the ground and began darting across the ice at incredible speed.
Though it slipped a few times, Jolteon was agile—adapting fast. With each step, it adjusted its gait, digging its claws into the ice to stabilize.
Pryce's eyes narrowed. 'It's learning… mid-battle?'
Jolteon moved in a zigzag pattern. First, it launched a Pin Missile, forcing Dewgong to block its line of sight. Then, while hidden by the deflected shards, it leaped between ice pillars, closing the gap.
Electricity surged through its jaws.
By the time Dewgong saw it again, Jolteon was already at point-blank range.
Dewgong opened its mouth and exhaled a blast of icy wind—but Jolteon didn't stop. It charged straight through the freezing air and sank its fangs into Dewgong's side.
The electric shock coursed through Dewgong's body. It cried out in pain from the super-effective hit.
Pryce's brows furrowed. Most Trainers avoided taking damage if possible. But Kai's Jolteon had gone straight through the attack—trading hits for results.
It was rare to see a Pokémon with the courage and conditioning to fight that way—especially voluntarily.
But what Pryce didn't know was that Jolteon had learned this mindset by watching Gyarados. Kai's Pokémon were no strangers to reckless bravery. The pain didn't deter them—it only sharpened their instincts.
Still latched onto Dewgong, Jolteon twisted, tore free, then launched a Double Kick—followed by a point-blank Thunderbolt that lit up the arena.
Electricity exploded across the frozen battlefield. Steam hissed as the ice cracked and melted beneath the heat. Thin streams of water seeped from the fissures.
Dewgong's eyes rolled back. With a groan, it collapsed.
Pryce silently returned it to its Poké Ball.
"You win the first round."
His voice was even, emotionless.
At his age, after all he'd seen, he didn't show much on the surface—win or lose.
Kai gave a small bow. "Thanks for the match."
He turned back to Jolteon and raised a Poké Ball. "You did great—come on back."
But Jolteon didn't budge.
It glanced over its shoulder, barking eagerly.
Kai blinked. "Huh? You want to keep going?"
Jolteon nodded vigorously, clearly energized by the fight.
Kai smiled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're fired up. One more round, then."
On the other side, Pryce watched the exchange in silence.
Once… he'd been like that too young, full of fire, bonded closely with his Pokémon.
But after that day… he'd learned the hard way that Pokémon were just that—Pokémon. No matter how deep the bond, they weren't human. They couldn't be counted on like people could.
That was all in the past.
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