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Because the opening rounds were blind draws, there was always a sense of unpredictability. No one knew which opponent or which Pokémon they'd be up against until the battle began.
For Travis, that unpredictability wasn't in his favor. His Kingler, being a pure Water-type, wasn't at a type disadvantage against Kai's Dragonite, but its attacks would only deal half damage to the Dragon Pokémon. That was hardly good news.
The battle began with Kingler charging forward, claws raised, while Dragonite soared gracefully into the air.
"Kingler, use Water Gun!" Travis shouted, realizing his Pokémon couldn't reach Dragonite on the ground.
A jet of water blasted upward but Dragonite rolled midair with ease, the stream passing harmlessly below.
"Kai doesn't miss a beat," Erika murmured from the sidelines.
"Dragonite, Dragon Rush!" Kai commanded.
Dragonite's body glowed with a faint blue aura as it tucked its wings, spiraling down like a comet.
"Use Protect!" Travis countered.
A shimmering barrier surrounded Kingler just as Dragonite slammed into it. The shield absorbed the brunt of the impact, pushing Kingler back several meters, but when the glow faded, it was completely unharmed.
"That's Protect for you…" Kai muttered, unfazed. He had never expected a single strike to finish things.
"Don't let it recover—Thunder Punch!"
Dragonite surged forward, fists crackling with electricity.
"Meet it with Crabhammer!" Travis barked.
The two Pokémon clashed Dragonite's sparking fists colliding with Kingler's massive claws. On raw power alone, Crabhammer hit harder, and those oversized pincers sometimes landed devastating critical blows.
But Kai wasn't relying on brute strength alone.
After a series of traded strikes, Dragonite's Thunder Punch connected, and sparks spread across Kingler's body. Its movements faltered, its muscles seizing up from paralysis.
Kai's eyes narrowed. That's my chance.
"Now! Aqua Tail—then Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite's tail, cloaked in rushing water, whipped Kingler skyward. As the crab Pokémon crashed back toward the ground, Dragonite's chest swelled with orange light.
With a roar, a massive Hyper Beam erupted from its mouth, slamming Kingler the moment it landed.
The impact shook the field. When the smoke cleared, Kingler was down, its claws twitching weakly.
"Kingler is unable to battle! Dragonite wins!" the referee declared, raising his flag.
Travis stood frozen. Just moments ago, it had felt like an even match… yet in an instant, everything had collapsed.
He exhaled heavily, recalling Kingler, then walked across the field to shake Kai's hand.
"I lost."
Kai patted his shoulder. "You fought well. But like I said my Dragonite is strong."
He hadn't needed to say more. Truthfully, Kai could have kept Dragonite aloft, raining ranged attacks until victory was certain.
But after meeting Travis and learning of his dreams, Kai didn't want to crush the boy's spirit. Facing him head-on had been risky but worthwhile.
Walking off the field, Kai was greeted by Misty and Erika.
"Congratulations, Kai! Only two more wins and you'll advance!" Misty cheered.
Erika's eyes were more analytical. She glanced toward Travis. "That boy's strong too. With his level of skill, he should go far."
Kai nodded. Erika was right. Against another opponent, Travis might have won.
After a short rest, Kai was called again for his second match.
This time, his opponent was an older man who looked more like an exhausted office worker than a trainer, with round glasses, a weary expression, and the aura of someone whose passion for life had faded.
Perhaps entering the League was his attempt to reignite it.
He sent out a Houndoom.
Kai answered with his Tyranitar.
From the moment their battle began, the difference in experience was obvious. The man's Houndoom lacked the sharpness of a well-trained partner. Its movements were sluggish, its attacks unpolished.
Tyranitar, in contrast, fought like a force of nature relentless and merciless. It battered Houndoom without pause, its roars echoing through the stadium.
By the end, Houndoom was whimpering on the ground, unable to stand.
Kai turned his head away, almost wincing. He hadn't wanted the battle to be that brutal.
But it was a reminder of why the League held these preliminary rounds to separate the dreamers from the contenders before the real tournament began.
Two straight wins. Kai was moving forward.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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