🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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"The last opponent is... Jonathan?"
When he clearly saw the face of the hooded man, Ethan Black was stunned: that person turned out to be none other than Jonathan Turner, one of the members of the university team!
"Ethan, I didn't think I'd end up running into you here."
Jonathan Turner looked at the energetic Ethan Black standing on the battlefield and sighed with a trace of helplessness.
When Ethan Black entered the battle, of course he had recognized him. However, seeing that Ethan had sent out a Shellder, he thought it unlikely that they would face each other.
But what he hadn't expected was that the strength of that Shellder would be so great. At first glance, it didn't look much weaker than Sandslash or Cacturne, which truly surprised him.
In the end, when everyone else had been defeated, he had no choice but to stand up and enter the field. This battle was unavoidable.
"Since I joined the university team, it seems we haven't fought yet. This time is the perfect opportunity to meet again."
Ethan Black's gaze fixed on Jonathan Turner, showing a confident smile.
"I was thinking the same. Then let's battle!"
Jonathan Turner nodded, took a deep breath, and a Poké Ball expanded in his hand.
"Even if it's not entirely fair, I have to win this battle."
With those words, a green figure with a mushroom cap appeared on the field.
"A Breloom?"
Ethan Black's eyes lit up for a brief moment upon seeing it.
Although Jonathan Turner's strongest Pokémon was his Poliwrath, as a veteran from the university's Beginner Campus, his six Pokémon already formed a solid team.
This Breloom, while not quite at Poliwrath's level, wasn't far below. Moreover, it was a very advantageous matchup against Shellder—possibly even better suited than Poliwrath to face it.
In the stands, both the spectators and the ring leaders of the Pokémon Nightstar Club tensed upon seeing it.
Ethan Black's Shellder, with its broken shell, had significantly weakened physical defense, and a Fighting-type Pokémon like Breloom directly countered it.
Not to mention Breloom's Grass-typing, making it a perfect opponent against Shellder's Water-type.
"The battle begins!"
Once both were ready, the referee gave the signal.
"Breloom, charge in!"
"Shellder, use Aqua Ring!"
The commands were given almost simultaneously.
Breloom launched forward with a leap, charging at great speed.
But Ethan Black and Shellder were already prepared: Shellder quickly activated Aqua Ring, which began spinning rapidly around it.
In an instant, Breloom appeared before Shellder, Fighting-type energy condensed in its claws, slashing downward.
Shellder, having taken precautions in advance, responded with a whirl of water, clashing head-on against Breloom.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed. Breloom's surprise strike failed to land, but its speed was still impressive: it leapt nimbly and evaded the forming whirlpool.
In the first exchange, the two Pokémon were evenly matched; neither gained the upper hand.
"Hydro Pump!"
As Breloom retreated, Shellder locked onto it with its psychic power and fired a powerful torrent of water.
Breloom tried to dodge, but felt an invisible force pressing down on it. Its eyes narrowed: it realized there was no escape. It gathered energy in its fist and struck forward with Mach Punch.
Boom!
The Hydro Pump burst apart upon impact.
"Whirlpool!"
At that moment, Shellder floated in midair, surrounded by Aqua Ring. Channeling its psychic power, it transformed the water into a whirlpool that surged toward Breloom.
This time, Breloom was caught off guard and trapped inside.
Boom!
However, thanks to its strength, it tore through the current and broke free with a punch, shattering the whirlpool into a shower of droplets.
"Now, Breloom, use Spore!"
Jonathan Turner immediately commanded, and Breloom released sleep-inducing spores, aiming to put Shellder to sleep.
"Spore?"
Ethan Black showed a strange expression.
Spore, a move that guaranteed sleep, had always been one of Breloom's signature techniques, both in games and in real battles.
But Ethan Black's Shellder had the ability Overcoat: spore and powder-based moves simply had no effect on it.
"Shellder, ignore that dust and strike Breloom with psychic power!"
That thought flashed through his mind, and Shellder instantly unleashed Psychic-type Hidden Power.
"Ignoring Spore?"
"But this is a guaranteed sleep move... what is Ethan trying to do?"
Jonathan Turner, unaware of Shellder's Overcoat ability, was baffled. He had used Spore countless times, and hardly any Pokémon could escape from it.
Suddenly, he saw Breloom's spores being repelled by an invisible force before they reached Shellder.
"Could it be because of psychic power?"
While he was still thinking, a blue glow enveloped Breloom, suspending it in the air before it could touch the ground.
Breloom's face twisted in pain, trapped by the relentless psychic energy. Under the double type disadvantage, the damage was continuous and severe.
"What?"
"That really is a psychic move? Breloom, break free quickly!"
Jonathan Turner, seeing his Pokémon caught, no longer cared about the explanation—he shouted in urgency.
Breloom began struggling violently. If this continued, the battle would be lost.
"Not so easy! Shellder, throw it into the air, then create the most powerful Whirlpool!"
Obeying, Shellder used its psychic power to hurl Breloom high into the sky. Then, wrapped in Aqua Ring, it spun rapidly under psychic control, becoming a gigantic whirlpool that surged upward.
(End of chapter)