"Well done. Time to withdraw the roots."
Hearing the host's call, Paul showed no noticeable change in expression. He simply walked over to Torterra, gently patted its head, and spoke.
"Raaa~"
Torterra responded with a satisfied rumble and nuzzled Paul before beginning to retract its roots spread across the battlefield.
Although many of its roots were embedded into the ground, most were merely formed from condensed energy. Cutting off the energy supply caused them to dissipate into light particles.
Within less than a minute and before Lorelei even descended from the stage, Torterra had completely retracted its roots.
"Take a rest for now. I'll call on you again if needed."
Paul gently stroked Torterra's head with one hand and returned it to its Poké Ball with the other.
Once back at his position, Paul waited calmly for Lorelei's arrival.
Theoretically, he could have let Torterra at full strength and with all stat boosts—battle Lorelei. But beyond concerns of suitability, it would also compromise fairness.
Paul's goal was to defeat Lorelei in a fair and square battle, to prove his strength.
Given that, it would be inappropriate to use a Pokémon that had already been in an extended match.
Meanwhile, up in the audience, Rosa and Wally who had long since struck up a friendly conversation, were deep in discussion.
"Hey, do you think Paul can beat Lorelei?"
Rosa whispered curiously.
"There's a chance, but not a big one."
Wally thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"Under normal circumstances, if Lorelei just used one of her regular mainstays and Paul countered it with a tailored Pokémon, then yes, he'd have a solid shot."
"But after seeing Torterra's performance earlier, Lorelei will likely get serious. She'll probably send out one of her strongest to avoid an upset."
"That's a good read. It's just like when she didn't use a Water-type against me, my Volcarona had a fighting chance."
Rosa said it nonchalantly, though in truth, Volcarona's odds of beating a non-Water-type were still better than the odds of Lorelei choosing one without a Water typing.
After all, Lorelei known as the Ice Queen had at least half of her team carrying the Water type. In most battles, she would send out Slowbro, Dewgong, Cloyster, or Lapras—all of which were Water-types.
Wally added, "I wonder if Paul will send out his starter."
"You mean Electivire?"
Rosa had done her research and quickly caught on.
"I've never battled his Electivire, but I imagine it's no weaker than his Torterra. Against a Water-type, it should have a strong advantage."
Wally's analysis was sound, but what he didn't know was that Paul only had Torterra with him at the moment, his other top Pokémon had gone to the Tree of Beginning in search of Mew.
Just then, Lorelei entered the battlefield, gently adjusted her glasses, and looked at Paul with bright intelligent eyes.
"Impressive, young man. Your Torterra is remarkable—both in power and presence. Are you ready to face me?"
"Thank you. I'm ready."
Paul replied coolly.
"Let's go, Jynx."
From somewhere unseen, Lorelei drew a Poké Ball and tossed it forward.
"Jyyynx~"
A flash of white light and Jynx appeared, a humanoid figure in a flowing red gown with a purple face, full pink lips, disc-like eyes, long blonde hair, white arms, and purple hands.
Despite the odd appearance, this Jynx radiated a uniquely elegant power.
Lorelei hadn't chosen Jynx lightly.
As a rising star on the global stage, Paul's background had been carefully studied. What stood out most to Lorelei was his Electivire.
Reports described Electivire as overwhelmingly powerful and lightning-fast, with no losses in official matches. Even in its rare unofficial defeats, it had only lost to Champion- or Elite-level opponents—and typically in crushingly close fights.
According to Champion Cynthia, Electivire's speed before the League rivaled even the fastest Elite Four Pokémon, and its current strength remained unknown.
Using Torterra as a benchmark, Lorelei wasn't confident in reliably defeating Electivire. So she opted for Jynx, which wouldn't be weak to Electric moves.
What she didn't know was that this choice caused a barely noticeable smirk to tug at the corner of Paul's lips.
Without hesitation, Paul tossed a Poké Ball—this one obtained mid-tournament in exchange for his Froslass.
"Ninetales, prepare to battle!"
"Wooo~"
With a crisp cry, Ninetales emerged on the field.
Having battled Mewtwo, Ninetales was no longer the same as before. Even against an Elite Four opponent, it showed no fear, sitting gracefully and flicking its nine elegant tails.
"Ninetales? A fine choice."
Lorelei smiled slightly. Paul's Ninetales had powerful Fire-type moves, but defeating her Jynx would take more than just type advantage.
"Battle, begin!"
The referee announced.
"Nasty Plot. Fire Blast."
Ninetales instantly shed its previous languor. Upon triggering Nasty Plot, its mind ignited and Special Attack soared. Flames surged from its body as it entered Flash Fire mode, and it launched a massive Fire Blast.
The fireball grew as it traveled, its radius and intensity swelling.
"Nasty Plot. Blizzard!"
Jynx, a seasoned battler showed no fear. After powering up with Nasty Plot as well, it unleashed a chilling Blizzard toward the incoming Fire Blast.
Ordinarily, Blizzard could block a Fire Blast of the same level. But with Ninetales' Flash Fire boost, the fire attack's power had increased, forcing Jynx to expend more energy to stop it.
"Boom!"
The two attacks clashed in the center, triggering a blinding explosion.
Then, a glowing sigil emerged beneath Ninetales, forming a mystical seal around it.
Sensing something unfamiliar, Jynx instinctively tried to use Psychic to defend itself—only to find she couldn't.
None of her Psychic-type or mind-based moves would activate.
"Imprison?"
Lorelei immediately recognized the technique. Ninetales had sealed off all moves it also knew, rendering Jynx unable to use its own Nasty Plot and Psychic abilities.
"Nasty Plot again."
There's no harm in repetition—unless it's useless.
With Jynx's setup moves sealed, Ninetales took the chance to further boost its Special Attack.
"Taunt!"
Lorelei reacted swiftly. Jynx motioned toward Ninetales in a provocative gesture, attempting to interrupt its setup.
But Ninetales, having withstood Mewtwo's pressure, was not so easily manipulated.
Its eyes glowed blue. With incredible mental force and mastery of mystic power, it shielded itself perfectly—dodging the Taunt entirely.
"Fire Blast."
Now fully powered up, Ninetales launched another Fire Blast. The flames twisted the air itself as they flew.
"Protect!"
Jynx raised her hands, forming a green barrier in time.
The Fire Blast exploded against it with a roar, but the shield held firm.
Lorelei, ever the tactician, issued a new command.
"Trick Room!"
Even as she maintained Protect, Jynx began conjuring Trick Room. If successful, Jynx's slower speed would now surpass Ninetales'—giving her a tactical edge.
Like Torterra before her, Jynx could sustain Protect for an extended time.
Most trainers would have no solution for this.
But Paul remained composed, calmly issuing a command.
"Fire Spin."
Ninetales unleashed a blazing vortex in front of Jynx. The swirling fire trapped both Jynx and her Protect barrier inside.
The flames kept burning, forcing Jynx to sustain Protect or be scorched.
"Nasty Plot."
Only once Ninetales had trapped her opponent did Paul speak again.
"Wooo~"
You want to hide in a shell? Then stay in there.
With a haughty snort, Ninetales began boosting once more.
Jynx found herself in a dilemma. She could prepare moves while maintaining Protect, but for them to work, she had to drop the shield and doing so meant exposing herself to raging flames.
Worse, her mind-based techniques were all sealed.
Retreat was not an option, not for Lorelei. She wouldn't just sit and watch Paul finish boosting.
"Light Screen! Blizzard!"
Prompted by Lorelei, Jynx raised a Light Screen inside the barrier, then dropped Protect.
As Trick Room warped the field, the residual Fire Spin inflicted minor burns—just as a powerful Blizzard surged outward extinguishing the flames.
"Jyyynx~"
Now free, Jynx looked up—only to see Ninetales at full power, shimmering with mystic energy.
"Wooo~"
Ninetales smiled confidently, eyes glowing blue, as overwhelming psychic force erupted.
Psychic!
Jynx suddenly floated into the air, then slammed down hard into the ground.
"Mean Look! Lovely Kiss!"
THUD!
After the impact, a sinister eye materialized behind Jynx—its pupil dilating like that of a demon.
Mean Look, it did far more than trap the opponent—it could cripple their ability to dodge or even act.
If followed by Lovely Kiss, the battle would turn completely in Jynx's favor.
And Mean Look was hard to block, even Protect might fail.
Thankfully, Ninetales had Jynx locked down. Her cast time was slowed.
Paul's mind raced, he quickly calculated the best counter: Disable + Hypnosis.
Disable, like Mean Look, could halt movement; followed by Hypnosis, both might fall asleep—but Ninetales, in its heightened state, would likely wake first.
But reality shifted faster than plans.
"Wooo?"
Trying to scare me, huh?
Unaware of the danger, Ninetales mistook Jynx's actions as bluffing and got mad.
Instantly, she unleashed Psychic and Extrasensory together, battering Jynx from all directions.
She flipped Jynx upside down and repeatedly slammed her head-first into the battlefield.
"Disable. Hypn—"
Just as Paul gave the command, Ninetales, still mid-slam, flung the unconscious Jynx aside and turned toward him with a puzzled expression.
What? Say that again?
"..."
Paul stared at the KO'd Jynx and the vanishing demon eye in silence.
Two seconds later, he simply praised, "Not bad."
"Woooo~"
That one was too weak. Give me a real opponent next time.
From Ninetales' point of view, Jynx had barely moved before getting flattened—like playing with a toy.
To the crowd, however...
"That Ninetales is insane! It crushed Jynx like it was nothing!"
"Wait, what?"
"Ninetales just soloed Jynx!"
"How?! Lorelei lost?!"
"Am I dreaming? Lorelei's Jynx got rolled?! This can't be real!"
"My Queen Lorelei..."
Except for a handful of objective fans, most Lorelei supporters sat in stunned disbelief.
One reporter, however, wasted no time. He began drafting headlines:
"Unknown Challenger Crushes Lorelei!"
"Ice Queen Lorelei Meets Her Match..."
"No Answers, No Resistance: Lorelei Falls"
"Return, Jynx."
Lorelei stood frozen for a few seconds before snapping out of it, recalling Jynx and shaking her head.
But then she smiled brightly and said:
"You truly live up to the hype, Paul. You remind me of someone I once knew. I have no regrets in this loss."
"Thank you for the battle. My journey has only begun, and there are many more opponents I must defeat."
Paul bowed slightly, patted Ninetales gently, and turned to leave.
His face remained calm but inside, he was elated.
He, Paul, had finally defeated a member of the Elite Four in a one-on-one match!
"I can't believe it... Paul actually pulled it off."
In the stands, Wally was still in disbelief. He'd encouraged Paul but hadn't expected this.
"Yeah. He beat Lorelei... with a 'regular' Pokémon."
Rosa was equally stunned.
Though strong, Ninetales lacked Volcarona's explosive power. But Rosa knew Volcarona would have lost to Jynx—one combo of Mean Look plus Lovely Kiss was enough to nullify even its highest bursts.
Yet Ninetales had not only withstood that combo, it had crushed it.
Clearly, Paul had prepared a counter in advance.
After a moment, Rosa asked, "Who do you think Lorelei meant when she said 'that person'?"
Wally thought for a second.
"If I had to guess—probably the current Kanto Champion, and the world's strongest trainer... Red."
(End of Chapter)
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