The third match had just concluded, and with that, the last pair of the quarterfinals was set.
Simon Greaves' cheeks flushed red as he quietly told Lena Greaves, nestled in his arms, "Lena, I have to go up now."
Lena pouted, then whispered sweetly in his ear, "Then you'd better hug me again as soon as you're done!"
Simon quickly agreed, and once Lena let go, he ducked his head and hurried to the stage, still blushing.
Auron Vale, Serena Elm, and the others couldn't help but tease Lena once Simon was gone. But Lena was no longer bashful—instead, she stood confidently, hands on her hips, and retorted, "Why are you looking at me? The match is about to start!"
She then pulled Serena aside for some girl talk, lowering her voice so the boys couldn't overhear. Auron could only catch scattered words like "girl," "affection," and "love," before his attention was drawn back to the field as the next battle began.
The fourth match featured Simon Greaves versus Gavin West, who sent out his star Lilligant, famed for her impressive movepool.
Both Trainers wasted no time, jumping straight into battle preparations.
Lilligant set up with Sunny Day, bathing the arena in warm sunlight, while Simon's Gengar responded with Toxic, hurling a wave of venomous energy.
From there, the two clashed skill after skill.
Lilligant lashed out with Petal Blizzard; Gengar countered with Icy Wind.
A barrage from both sides—fair and square.
When Gengar snuck in a Hex, Lilligant instantly responded with Aromatherapy, cleansing herself of poison and refusing to give Gengar that double damage bonus.
Not to be outdone, Gengar unleashed a relentless rotation of Shadow Ball, Will-O-Wisp, and more Icy Wind.
Lilligant wasn't about to let up either. For every Shadow Ball, she answered with an Energy Ball.
For every Will-O-Wisp, she had Aromatherapy at the ready.
If Gengar tried Icy Wind, and she couldn't dodge, she'd use Growth to boost herself further.
Finally, after a long exchange, Lilligant had managed to stack up her boosts with Growth—only for Gengar to wipe it all away with Clear Smog, resetting all her progress.
The fight raged on, neither giving ground. By the time Sunny Day faded, both sides were weary.
But Simon's Gengar seized the moment, pressing the attack and not letting Lilligant set up Sunny Day again. In desperation, Lilligant used Ingrain to recover HP, but it played right into Gengar's trap. Gengar dropped a Curse plus Hex combo, and simply watched as Lilligant succumbed.
The commentators couldn't help but praise the match.
"What an incredible duel between Gavin West and Simon Greaves! Both sides played at the highest level, each move answered and countered. In the end, though, Simon's Gengar edged out the win and knocked the potential champion Lilligant out of the quarterfinals. Sometimes, it just comes down to luck."
"Now, we'll take a short break before the semifinals. Which two trainers will reach the finals of the Vantora City Little Cup? Stay tuned!"
On the field, Gavin comforted his Lilligant before recalling her, then, smiling graciously, waved to Simon before heading off the stage.
With the matches concluded, the participants had a half-hour break to rest and recover, both for themselves and their Pokémon. Meanwhile, the jumbotron replayed highlights from the earlier rounds, keeping the crowd entertained.
After the break, the announcer's voice boomed across the arena:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the semifinals are about to begin! Who will step onto the field for our first match?"
The screens flashed. "Auron Vale versus Lena Greaves!"
Auron strode to the field as his friends called out mismatched cheers—some loud, some half-hearted. Opposite him, Lena Greaves walked onto the field with her usual cool, emotionless face.
"Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Auron and Lena both released their Pokémon simultaneously.
The commentator set the scene:
"We've got two close-combat specialists here, both with powerful physical attackers. This match is going to be an all-out slugfest! But, honestly, things don't look great for Munchlax. Fighting types are his hard counter—not only does Munchlax have lower physical defense, but Fighting moves do double damage to his Normal type. Still, a lot can happen. Let's see how this unfolds!"
The referee's flag dropped.
"Conkeldurr—Mach Punch!"
"Munchlax—Fire Punch!"
The two Pokémon charged, fists blazing. Mach Punch met Fire Punch, but the difference was clear. Conkeldurr found himself outmatched—his attack couldn't overpower Munchlax's, and he was forced to retreat after the clash.
A flicker of confusion crossed Lena's face. She'd warned Conkeldurr to play it safe in close combat and avoid hard trading blows—especially since Munchlax could use both fists at once, something her Conkeldurr could never manage.
But this… this was strange. Mach Punch might not be as strong as Fire Punch, but as a Fighting-type, Conkeldurr should be at least equal in raw strength, right? Yet he was the one sent skidding back. For a moment, Lena wondered if the "muscle-boosting" Pokéblocks she'd made for her Pokémon were defective.
Conkeldurr stared at his arms, then at Munchlax's broad smile, just as baffled.
Lena shook off her surprise, issuing her next command.
"Conkeldurr—Low Kick!"
Conkeldurr's leg flashed with energy as he dashed at Munchlax. Auron quickly countered, "Munchlax—Earthquake!"
Low Kick, Lena knew, depended on the target's weight. And Munchlax was as heavy as they come—this hit would be devastating, almost as strong as Reckless Charge, and with type advantage, it could KO in a single blow.
Munchlax understood the threat too. Before Low Kick could land, he stomped the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. The surprise quake broke Conkeldurr's momentum, dispersing the energy from his Low Kick.
The attack was stopped in its tracks.
Munchlax grinned. Even though he'd blocked Low Kick, he wasn't done yet.
He dashed forward, fists turning icy blue, and launched a double Ice Punch assault.
Conkeldurr, battered but determined, used Fire Punch to block one blow—but he couldn't stop both. After two sharp hits to the face, he had to cross his arms in defense and roll backward to escape.
It wasn't graceful, but it got him out of danger.
Lena's expression darkened, but she didn't back down. She pushed Conkeldurr to attack again—no buffs, no gimmicks, just raw fighting spirit.
Auron couldn't help but respect her. Lena was as stubborn as they came; she was a martial artist through and through. She simply refused to believe her prized Fighting-type couldn't go toe to toe with Munchlax.
Conkeldurr took a deep breath, then lunged forward, fist sparking with electricity.
Munchlax, grinning wider, charged both hands with Thunder Punch, waving them at Conkeldurr in a playful, taunting gesture.
Conkeldurr hesitated, visibly thrown by the sight of two fists glowing with electric power. Still, he forced himself to keep calm.
But his eyes betrayed him—the determination, the pride, and just a hint of frustration.
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