Chereads / POKEMON : A Battle of Monsters / Chapter 2 - I Present to You

Chapter 2 - I Present to You

[Ash Ketchum!!!]

-Boom!!

"""""Whoaaaaaa!!!!"""""

The entire stadium erupted with cheers. That name. It resonated with every individual, known far and wide.

For he's the one who faced nearly every Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in existence. He's the one who defeated every gym leader across every region. He's the one who conquered legendary champions like Cynthia, Alan, and Steven. He's among the few who dismantled many criminal organizations like Team Rocket and Team Plasma. Indeed, it's none other than Ash Ketchum, also known as the Legendary Trainer.

As the crowd roared, one of the two pocket doors in the arena, one with a blue metallic gleam, slowly opened with a robotic sound.

Out stepped an individual, exuding confidence with each step, calm and collected.

If one were to describe his appearance, he'd be a boy with a toned physique, dark black hair, slightly tanned skin, and deep brown eyes.

He sported a white and blue shirt with short sleeves over a black long-sleeved undershirt, black fingerless gloves with white borders, black baggy jeans, and a pair of red and black high-top sneakers.

Completing his attire was a red and white baseball cap with a red semicircle across the front and a brown leather jacket with a white furry collar.

Careful observation would reveal a vibgyor glimmering crystal with a black DNA-like pattern on the back of his left hand, adorned on his glove, adding to his majestic aura.

And perched on his right shoulder was a small yellow Pokémon with a zig-zag-shaped tail and a red circular pattern on each cheek. Yes, it was none other than his partner, Pikachu.

(Ash and Pikachu's Image)

"Whoaaa!!! Ash!!"

"Kyaaa!! Pikachu!! You're so cute"

"Marry me, Ash!!!"

""""""Ash! Ash! Ash! Ash! Ash!....""""""

As Ash Ketchum strode towards the arena, the crowd fervently cheered his name. Some waved banners like "Give it your all, Ash", "Go go tiger", and "If you mess with Ash, then you will get bashed."

Among the spectators were well-known figures, friends, and companions from his journey.

May - "Give it your all, Ash!!"

Max - "All the best, Ash!!"

Clemont - "We are watching you, Ash!!"

Bonnie - "Pikachu!! Do your best!!"

Brock, holding a banner that says "Lady's boy is here!" - "Ash!! Ash!! Ash!! Ash!! Woohoo!! Ash my hero!! You can do i- gwekh!! Aw aw aw! Misty!!, My ear will fall off!!"

Misty, with a vice grip on Brock's ear - "Stop embarrassing him, you idiot!!"

Serena with a beaming smile - "Good luck, Ash!"

With a fearless smile, Ash acknowledged his friends and the crowd, though he couldn't help but chuckle at the drama between Brock and Misty.

'Sigh, those two as always.'

But soon, his smile faded, replaced by a serious expression, as the commentator announced the next trainer, his opponent.

[ And now, on the red corner, the winner of yesterday's second semifinal match, hailing from Alola, but bearing the title of the new and 3rd generation Champion of Kanto and Johto Region, in short, Indigo League!!... With his serious personality, I Present To Youuuu..., ]

Again, he drew out the words.

[ Kai Veynor!!! ]

"""Whoaa!!!"""

Cheers erupted from the crowd, though not as fervently as for Ash. Some even booed and hissed, banners nowhere in sight.

Even Ash didn't smile at this moment. Nervousness and solemnity crept across his face as he awaited his long-anticipated opponent.

He didn't have to wait long as the pocket doors with a red metallic gleam slowly opened with a robotic sound.

And from there emerged his opponent...

And Ash felt it. A sensation he always felt when near this particular individual. A feeling of difference, an indescribable quality that set him apart. He couldn't find the words, but he knew this boy was different...

Just like himself.

A boy of similar age walked towards him, his footsteps heavy, emitting an imposing presence that silenced the crowd, including the few individuals who had booed and hissed.

If one were to describe his appearance, one word would suffice: Strong.

Tall, muscular, with dark blue and silver-white hair and pale skin tinged with tan. Light-purple eyes held a hint of ferocity, and a scar marred the left side of his face, extending from his jaw to just below his eye.

He wore a dark purple t-shirt, a short black jacket with red stripes and yellow buttons, black fingerless gloves with red borders, dark-purple baggy pants, and black sneakers with red stripes.

Around his neck and draped to his back was a thick, white scarf, swaying in the wind like a cloak as he walked. On his forearms, he wore red and black arm-guards, giving him the aura of a hand-to-hand fighter.

A vibgyor glimmering crystal with a similar DNA-like pattern adorned his left arm-guard, much like the one Ash had.

But what caught everyone's attention were not these accessories, but the two imposing and dangerous monsters that these items belonged to.

As living beings, every person in that stadium felt it in their instincts. This battle—this battle would be unlike any they had ever witnessed before, nor would they ever see its like again.

A clash so intense, that it would be etched in history as "A Battle of Monsters."

.

.

.

*Pov Change*

Just moments before, as Kai Veynor walked towards the arena, Ash observed him with a serious gaze.

The scar on Kai's face looked as though it were inflicted by the claws of a powerful Pokémon, perhaps a Nidoking or a Rhydon. Ash wondered about the pain he must have endured.

His attention then shifted to Kai's hand-guards. On the right one, five minimized Pokéballs were attached to the forearm area in a line. On the left, a Key Stone was affixed to the back of his arm-guard.

(Kai Veynor's image)

'I hope now you will finally show it to me—what "that" belongs to.'

Ash's thoughts lingered on the Key Stone and the Ultra Ball on Kai's neck. However, what captivated him the most were Kai's eyes.

Hidden by his long bangs until now, their gaze met, and Ash felt a suffocating pressure on his shoulders, like a giant wave crashing down on him.

'Argh! Aaaahhhhh!'

He struggled to breathe, internally screaming as the pressure weighed heavily upon him. Yet, instinct kicked in, and with a internal roar, he did something that pushed back against the pressure several folds, preventing it from overwhelming him.

He couldn't comprehend what he had done, but pushing back felt akin to connecting with his "Bond."

Confusion clouded his mind. He had felt this sensation only a few times before, usually in battles with powerful trainers. No, not from the trainers, but from their pokemons. But he never in his life, felt like this from a human before.

As he calmed his nerves, now he could see a powerful aura radiating from Kai—a presence that screamed danger.

Their eyes locked, and Ash noticed a flicker of surprise in Kai's eyes, quickly replaced by a knowing smirk.

Now Ash knew. He knew what he was up against.

'What a monster.'

That single thought echoed in Ash's mind as he prepared himself for the battle ahead.

.

.

.

*Pov Change*

'What a monster,' I thought, mind consumed by the gravity of the impending battle.

Yes, if anyone were to ask me to describe Ash Ketchum in a few words, I'd simply say he's a monster—a force of nature driven by instinct.

He had honed his instincts and reaction time to such a level that no trainer, no matter how skilled, could best him in these seven years since his defeat in the Kalos League.

Ash had challenged countless trainers during this time, emerging victorious in every encounter. He had faced life-and-death situations head-on, emerging stronger each time.

Compared to him, I felt like a mere mortal, relying on life experience, future knowledge, and past memories to navigate this world.

Well, that's why Ash was the protagonist—the embodiment of insane talent and relentless hard work.

A few years ago, if someone had told me with a straight face that I would battle Ash Ketchum in the final match of the biggest Pokémon League, or that I would have my own squad of living and breathing Pokémon, I would have laughed until my stomach ached.

Yet, here I stand, moments away from facing off against this legendary trainer, with my own Pokémon by my side.

But before we delve into the heart of this battle, let me introduce myself properly.

Hello, my name is Kai Veynor, at least in this life. Yes, I am a guy who has experienced reincarnation—a concept that may seem cliche and childish to some.

But my journey through the world of Pokémon has shown me the dangers it harbors and the darkness that lurks beneath its vibrant facade.

This is my story, the tale of a boy whose once ordinary life was turned upside down—plunging him into a world of danger, camaraderie, and unfathomable power.

But that's a story for another time.

Let's rewind the clock a few years before these events unfolded—back to a time when battling Ash Ketchum was nothing but a distant dream, and my only concern was a stubborn Miltank...