"Next on the field, representing the Sinnoh region — Cynthia!"
"As many of you know, Cynthia is the reigning Champion of the previous Lily of the Valley Conference, widely revered as the Battle Goddess!"
"And her opponent today is no pushover either — runner-up of the Unova Alderwood Tournament, Yuuta!"
"What kind of clash will these two prodigies bring us? Let's watch together!"
As the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, Cynthia and Yuuta stepped onto opposite sides of the field.
Back in the rest lounge, Chen Shi raised a brow.
Yuuta — runner-up of a major Unova tournament?
Respectable. Strong, even.
But against Cynthia?
He wasn't qualified.
Chen Shi turned his attention back to the screen as the referee gestured for both trainers to send out their Pokémon.
Cynthia lifted a hand, wrist flicking with practiced elegance.
"Lucario."
A flash of blue light burst open — Lucario stood firm on the battlefield, aura pulsing outward like an invisible shockwave. Calm. Steady. Dominant.
The commentator nearly screamed:
"Incredible! A pseudo-Elite Lucario appears right out of the gate!"
"This is the first pseudo-Elite Pokémon showcased in the entire tournament — unbelievable!"
The stadium erupted.
Yuuta's face drained of color.
A pseudo-Elite?
Why did he feel like the universe personally chose to torment him today?
Facing Cynthia in Round 1 of the main event…
He might as well have drawn a death certificate.
"Yuuta, please send out your Pokémon."
The referee's calm voice echoed.
Jaw clenched, Yuuta hurled his Poké Ball.
"Go! Serperior!"
A massive Serperior, well over three meters long, uncoiled with a commanding hiss.
In the lounge, Daiu blinked.
"Not bad — that's a late-Gym Serperior. Yuuta's stronger than I expected."
Chen Shi narrowed his eyes.
He couldn't scan Serperior's Ability from the broadcast.
If it had Contrary, there was a tiny chance.
If it had Overgrow, there was none.
On the field, the referee raised his arm.
"Begin!"
Yuuta reacted instantly.
"Serperior — Growth!"
But Cynthia's counter sliced through the air like a blade.
"Lucario — Screech."
Yuuta stiffened.
She read me…?
Serperior's rising power shattered as a piercing sonic wave ripped through it, making its entire body coil in pain.
"Ssss—!!"
Before Yuuta could recover—
"Lucario — Aura Sphere."
"Lu-ca!"
A brilliant blue orb shot forward like a comet.
Yuuta panicked.
"Serperior — Protect!"
Cynthia's eyes sharpened.
"Lucario — Extreme Speed into Hammer Arm."
Lucario blurred — a streak of white light — closing the gap before the green barrier even faded.
BOOM!
Serperior crashed into the ground, rolling helplessly.
Yuuta's voice broke.
"Serperior, dodge—!"
In the lounge, Chen Shi shook his head.
"The match is already over."
Daiu nodded.
Serperior couldn't dodge the next Hammer Arm.
It certainly couldn't survive one.
Yuuta made his error the moment he tried to set up.
"He lost at turn one," Daiu murmured.
Chen Shi chuckled softly.
"Even if the Growth succeeded, Serperior is naturally disadvantaged against Lucario. Cynthia would never allow a free setup."
And indeed — moments later, Serperior collapsed unconscious.
The referee raised his flag.
"Winner — Cynthia!"
The arena exploded in cheers.
Cynthia recalled her completely unscathed Lucario and exited the field with her usual calm, never arrogant.
Yuuta silently recalled Serperior.
His dream had been to reach Top 16…
Instead, he was eliminated instantly.
He left the arena with trembling fingers and slumped shoulders.
Back in the lounge—
"Congratulations. Beautifully done."
Chen Shi greeted Cynthia as she entered.
Cynthia sat beside him, giving only a faint smile.
With Furong and Daiu out for their own battles, the room held just the two of them.
They continued watching the live broadcast.
Daiu crushed his opponent — his pseudo-Elite Aggron stepped out, and the opponent's spirit evaporated on the spot.
Almost cruel.
Furong, however, had a real fight.
Oak Nanami proved far stronger than expected.
Her late-Gym Clefable exceeded all expectations.
But Nanami lacked competitive experience, and Furong's Gengar eventually overpowered her.
Chen Shi sighed silently.
Nanami was technically his senior's granddaughter.
Seeing her fall this early left him a bit regretful.
He also watched Diantha and Leon — both using their late-Gym Pokémon and hiding every trump card they had.
Not surprising — but annoying.
Chen Shi rubbed his forehead.
A bunch of damn schemers.
Would it kill you all to show one real Pokémon like Cynthia or Daiu?
Just one?
Scheming gremlins indeed.
Then—
The door banged open.
Furong burst in, Daiu behind her.
"Cynthia! I won too!"
She puffed her cheeks proudly, like a Piplup demanding praise.
Chen Shi gave her a blank stare.
"You won one match. Why do you look like you've won the whole tournament?"
"Hey!! I was talking to Cynthia, not you!" Furong huffed.
"Hmph! I'm ignoring you!"
She plopped onto the sofa, half-deflated from his teasing.
Cynthia sighed.
"Alright, you two… enough."
Chen Shi shrugged and checked the time.
"It's about time. My match is next."
He stood, heading toward the door.
The next battlefield was waiting.
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