"Next up is a 1·2 Double Battle.
The Trainers entering the field are Fukuoka and Gary Oak.
Please release the Pokémon you will be using for this match."
As Gary and Fukuoka were still trading verbal jabs, the referee at the edge of the field raised the green signal flag and waved it down sharply.
"Kid, you'd better give up now," Fukuoka sneered.
"This city arena isn't a place for little brats like you."
"Come out—Ekans, Sandshrew!
Our opponent's just a kid. Let's have some fun with him."
Bang! Bang!
With a flourish, the skinny man named Fukuoka released both of his Pokémon.
On the opposite command platform, Gary didn't bother continuing the trash talk.
Ash had already told him—
the Trainers in the lower-numbered arenas loved running their mouths.
The more you argued back, the more excited they got.
The best response wasn't words—
It was crushing them in battle.
"Wartortle, Eevee—you're up."
No hesitation.
Gary decisively sent out his Pokémon.
"Wartor~!"
"Eevee~!"
The Poké Balls opened, and the two Pokémon appeared on the field.
The referee didn't give either side any extra preparation time.
Seeing that all four Pokémon were in position, he raised his arm and shouted:
"Battle start!!"
"Kid, I'm gonna—"
"Eevee, use Swift!
Wartortle, Water Gun on Sandshrew!"
Fukuoka's bad habit of trash-talking cost him the initiative.
Gary showed zero mercy, swinging his arm forward and launching the first assault.
"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!"
Eevee leapt lightly into the air.
Its fluffy, light-brown tail whipped through the air like a painter's brush, flinging out a barrage of golden, five-pointed star projectiles that spun toward the two opposing Pokémon standing close together.
"Pshhh—!"
At the same moment Eevee attacked, Wartortle didn't idle either.
Its mouth opened wide, revealing two small fangs, as a thick jet of water—as wide as a child's arm—shot straight toward Sandshrew.
Ground-types were weak to Water-types.
If Sandshrew took that hit head-on, it wouldn't be walking away easily.
"Damn it!!"
"Ekans, block the Water Gun for Sandshrew!
Sandshrew, use Dig!"
Cursing under his breath, Fukuoka reacted quickly and issued counter-orders.
As a seasoned regular of the city arena—famous for his 'snake-and-mouse Dig combo'—Fukuoka might have loved trash talk, but he clearly wasn't all bark.
Thump!
Thump!
Ekans coiled its body and sprang forward like a loaded spring, intercepting Wartortle's Water Gun head-on.
At the same time, Sandshrew seized the opening—diving forward and burrowing underground in an instant.
"Hiss—!!"
Struck by both Water Gun and the scattered hits from Swift, Ekans let out a sharp cry of pain.
But this arena veteran wasn't weak by any means.
The moment it hit the ground, Ekans twisted its body and slipped straight into the tunnel Sandshrew had just dug.
In the blink of an eye, both opposing Pokémon had vanished underground.
After losing the opening exchange, Gary found it difficult to immediately launch another offensive.
But he knew this wasn't the time to force an attack—
What he needed now was to defend against a counterstrike.
"Eevee, keep moving—don't let them catch you!
Wartortle, use Water Gun on the tunnel!"
Even as the situation shifted, Gary stayed calm and responded instantly.
"Eevee~!"
"Wartor~!"
Eevee dashed across the battlefield, following orders.
Wartortle, meanwhile, rushed straight toward the tunnel Sandshrew had dug.
…
Player Waiting Lounge
"Using Water Gun on the tunnel is a reasonable response under normal circumstances," Ash murmured while watching the giant wall screen.
"But this is a Double Battle."
"Wartortle might not only fail to achieve anything—
it could even walk straight into a trap."
On the screen, Fukuoka showed no sign of panic.
In fact, the slight curve of his lips revealed unmistakable delight.
The players on the field were often blind to the bigger picture—
but spectators, with access to overhead cameras and close-ups, could see it clearly.
And sure enough—
"Now! Ekans—use Bite!!"
As Wartortle lowered its head at the tunnel entrance, preparing to fire Water Gun inside, Fukuoka shouted triumphantly.
"Not good—Wartortle, fall back!!"
Whoosh—!
Gary sensed the danger, but it was already too late.
The instant Wartortle leaned forward, Ekans, which had been lying in wait underground, burst out like a lightning strike.
Its jaws opened wide, venomous fangs flashing—
Crunch!
Ekans clamped down viciously on Wartortle's neck.
For most Pokémon, the neck was a critical weak point.
Wartortle was no exception.
"Wartor—!!"
Caught completely off guard, Wartortle let out a piercing cry, clawing desperately at Ekans' body in an attempt to tear it away.
"Eevee, use Tackle on Ekans!
Wartortle, Bite back!!"
Though panic flared in his chest, Gary didn't lose his composure.
He immediately issued countermeasures.
"Ekans, disengage and retreat!
Sandshrew—now!"
Almost simultaneously, Fukuoka barked out his own commands.
Whoosh—!
Before Wartortle could retaliate, Ekans released its grip and slid back underground like a retracting spring.
But this was a Double Battle—
Ekans wasn't the only threat.
The moment Ekans struck, Eevee had already rushed in to help, obeying Gary's order.
What Gary didn't realize was that Sandshrew, silent since diving underground, had been lying in ambush the entire time.
Knowing that Ground-types were weak to Water—and that Wartortle's shell provided exceptional defense—Sandshrew had targeted Eevee from the very beginning.
Earlier, Eevee's speed and unpredictable movement made it impossible to lock onto.
But now—
Eevee had abandoned evasive footwork and charged in a straight line to rescue Wartortle.
Sandshrew predicted Eevee's path.
It tunneled rapidly underground—
And erupted from the earth right beneath Eevee's next step.
BOOM!
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T/N:
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