"Haha, let's give a round of applause to Mo Ian, Mo Yan, and their two Meowth for that… well, hilarious and unforgettable match."
"And now, let's enjoy our fifth battle—who will seize a spot in our Top Eight? Stay tuned!"
Auron and his friends were feeling quietly tense. So far, Auron, Jace, Serena, and Lena hadn't fought yet, and with only a handful of contestants left, the chances of a head-to-head were high.
"Next up, Jace Rowan and Sierra Frost—please come to the arena!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. No inner-team matches this round—Jace would be facing another girl.
Relaxing a little, Auron grinned at Tim.
"Why does Jace always end up battling girls? Wanna bet if this one's gonna cry too?"
Tim stroked his chin, eyes narrowed in mock seriousness.
"I think so. Sierra Frost—that name sounds gentle as snow."
They slapped hands together.
"It's a bet!"
Jace and his opponent, a girl with a ponytail and a determined look in her eyes, stepped onto the field and took their positions.
"Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
"Awooo!"
"Kuh!"
Jace released his Growlithe, who opened with a howling entrance.
When Sierra sent out her Pokémon, Auron and the others were surprised—and so were the spectators. With such a pretty name and a striking girl, who'd have guessed her Pokémon was a Gurdurr? The contrast was almost comedic.
Pokémon: Gurdurr
Gender: Female
Type: Fighting
Ability: Sheer Force (Boosts moves with secondary effects, but removes those effects. Items still work as normal.)
Tier: Orange
Moves: Leer, Pound, Rock Throw, Low Kick, Focus Energy, Bulk Up, Rock Slide, Slam, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch
Egg Moves: Detect, Mach Punch, Drain Punch, Defog
The camera zoomed in for a close-up on Sierra's focused face. From the stands, someone suddenly recognized her.
"Isn't that the daughter of the Vantora City Gym Leader? I didn't know she was competing!"
"You mean the Gym Leader who always spars with the City Guardian?"
"Hey, it's called training, not fighting, alright?"
"Anyone who can spar with the Guardian must be close to Elite Four level!"
The crowd whispered and speculated. Auron and the gang couldn't hear, but one look at Gurdurr's move list told them this wouldn't be an easy match for Jace.
Swish!
The referee's flag dropped. The match began.
"Gurdurr—Mach Punch!"
"Growlithe—Flamethrower!"
Gurdurr darted across the arena with blinding speed, her fist aimed for Growlithe. Growlithe hunched down, flames gathering in his mouth before launching a pillar of fire straight at his opponent.
Gurdurr, unfazed, twisted nimbly past the flames and closed the distance, landing a punch right on Growlithe's head.
"Growlithe! Come on!" Jace gritted his teeth.
He hadn't expected Gurdurr to be so agile.
"Growlithe—Flame Charge!"
"Gurdurr—Slam!"
Growlithe glared fiercely at his foe, his body flaring up with orange-red flames as he charged. Gurdurr sidestepped, caught Growlithe around the neck, and—with flames licking at her arms—tossed him to the ground in a classic over-the-shoulder throw.
Growlithe staggered up, shaking his head. Gurdurr stood calmly, one hand resting on her steel beam and the other beckoning, a real martial artist's gesture.
"This is tough," Jace muttered, chewing his lip as he tried to figure out a strategy.
"Gurdurr—Mach Punch!"
Sierra wasted no time, going for another direct attack.
Jace still hadn't found a way through. "Growlithe, dodge it—quick!"
Growlithe darted left and right as Gurdurr threw punch after punch—always just a hair away from landing, but never connecting.
Suddenly, Jace's eyes lit up. Watching Growlithe weave and slip away, he realized something—this was just like the Meowth-vs-Meowth match earlier.
"Growlithe—Agility!"
"Gurdurr—again, Mach Punch!"
Gurdurr came in swinging again, but Growlithe, boosted by Agility, became an orange blur—impossible to catch.
Now Jace was grinning ear to ear. "Growlithe, keep your distance—Howl!"
"Gurdurr—Rock Slide!"
Growlithe bolted clear of danger, howled to the sky, boosting his Attack. Boulders crashed down where he'd just stood.
Jace laughed. "That's it! Keep kiting her and stack those Howls!"
Growlithe's grin turned almost smug, and he kept darting away, his attacks growing stronger with every Howl.
"The tide's turning! With Flame Charge and Agility, Growlithe's speed is just too much for Gurdurr!" the announcer shouted.
"Growlithe pulls away, howls again, dodges another Rock Slide! Gurdurr tries to catch up, but Growlithe just keeps pulling ahead—another Howl, another escape. He's turning this match into a game of tag!"
Soon, Growlithe's Attack was maxed out, and Sierra realized she had to match him somehow.
"Gurdurr—Bulk Up!"
And so, for a moment, nobody attacked. Growlithe howled, Gurdurr flexed—like a bodybuilding contest instead of a battle.
After a few turns, Growlithe had hit peak strength. Gurdurr's Attack and Defense had climbed three stages each.
"It's time! Growlithe—Flame Wheel!"
Growlithe bared his teeth in a wide grin as flames engulfed him, and he tore across the field toward Gurdurr.
Sierra's face didn't change.
"Gurdurr—Detect!"
Gurdurr crouched low, eyes locked onto the oncoming Growlithe. At the last second, she dodged aside, and Growlithe rolled right past, only to be gently tripped and sent tumbling.
"Growlithe!"
"Gurdurr, follow up—Thunder Punch!"
Lightning crackled along Gurdurr's fist as she strode toward the fallen Growlithe.
(End of chapter)