Ding Ding Ding—
A quick series of bell rings signaled the official end of the match.
Several Chansey teams rushed out from the back of the court, carrying stretchers. Both Cobra and Suicune, who had lost, as well as Sanji and his Blaziken, the victors, were immediately escorted off the field. Each was surrounded by a few large Chansey who loaded them onto stretchers and carried them to the treatment room.
Meowth on the announcer's stand leaned close to the microphone and declared:
"Congratulations to Sanji and his Blaziken for successfully winning this round of the 16-to-8 knockout stage!"
"Unfortunately, this also means that Cobra is eliminated from the Pokémon League Tournament. We hope he continues to improve, and we look forward to seeing his future performances."
With the announcements done, Meowth smiled at the crowd and addressed the thousands of spectators:
"Now, we'll move on to the next battle of the 16-to-8 knockout stage..."
"Next up, it's Nami versus Smoker! Get ready."
"We'll take a short break, and the second match of the knockout round will start in half an hour!"
With that, Team Rocket on the podium packed up their notes and walked off slowly, like news anchors leaving the set. But as soon as they turned the first corner and were sure no eyes were on them, the trio bolted as fast as they could.
What a joke! No one told them a match would last two hours! The audience had it easy, but those on the podium didn't even get time for a bathroom break. Leaving mid-match under the spotlight would be unthinkable.
The rest periods between matches were, of course, planned by the event organizers. After the relentless battle between Suicune, Sanji, and Blaziken, the arena was drenched in water and ice. Although Suicune's Rain Dance had ceased due to exhaustion, dark clouds still lingered above, casting a gloomy atmosphere.
During this break, a little Eevee suddenly appeared in the arena.
"Hey, isn't that Sir Leo's Eevee?" someone in the crowd recognized it immediately, and all eyes were fixed on the small Pokémon. Eevee, looking visibly tired, ignored the cheers of the audience. With a flick of its tail, a fierce flame swept across the entire battlefield.
In an instant, all the ice and water evaporated, leaving the arena spotless. A powerful hurricane then blew, scattering the dark clouds overhead.
"Eevee~"
After tidying up, Eevee chirped as if reporting its task, then flicked its tail and disappeared. Throughout the entire sequence, Eevee never once acknowledged the audience—like an emotionless cleaner. Yet, its display of power sent shivers down the spines of the spectators, especially those who knew its true strength.
After all, this was a divine Pokémon that could easily toy with even Admiral Akainu!
——
Half an hour passed by quickly. The Rocket Trio returned to their seats, and the second match of the top 16 knockout rounds began. Under the gaze of the world, Nami appeared in a stunning black evening gown, her elegant figure accentuated by the smooth, flowing fabric. On the opposite end, Smoker, looking as rugged as ever, carried his sea-stone weapon over his shoulder, his expression serious with wisps of smoke around him.
"Long time no see, Mr. Marine," Nami greeted sweetly, her smile revealing a row of perfect white teeth as she glanced at her opponent.
Nami knew Smoker well; he was the first Marine soldier captured in the Goa Kingdom. Though many more high-ranking officers, including Akainu, were captured after him, the memory of the first always stood out. This was also the soldier defeated by Kuro.
Although she didn't want to sound arrogant, the truth was there: Nami's Pikachu, with its full power unleashed, could instantly overwhelm Kuro. So, this battle seemed easy in her eyes.
Sensing Nami's confidence, Smoker scowled and exhaled two long puffs of smoke-gray breath.
"Long time no see."
He recalled his time spent in captivity as he laid down his reinforced sea-stone weapon, now upgraded to be fully composed of sea-stone, making it virtually unbreakable.
Having emerged from the Revolutionary Army's prison, Smoker believed he had walked out of hell itself. Since then, he had trained relentlessly, harder than ever before. His Gastly had also evolved into Haunter in response to the emotional turmoil of defeat, reaching level 48 and becoming much stronger.
This newfound strength filled Smoker with confidence. Against other opponents, even without bond evolution, he would be formidable in this tournament. But luck was not on his side today, as he was facing Pikachu—a powerhouse in its own right.
As the competitors prepared, Meowth announced the start of the match to the audience's roaring cheers! Nami and Smoker's eyes sparkled with anticipation, both sporting confident smiles.
"Pikachu, go!"
"Haunter, let's do this!"
With two flashes of red light, their Pokémon appeared on the battlefield. Pikachu's rosy electric sacs sparked, its fighting stance so adorable that it instantly won over the fans. Across from it, Haunter's eerie form floated mid-air, shrouded in purple gas that made anyone hesitate to approach.
"Pika!"
"Haunter~!" Haunter let out a sinister laugh.
"Pikachu, use Thunder!" Nami commanded. She didn't activate the bond evolution right away, opting for a straightforward attack instead.
During a special training session on Celestial Island, bolstered by the Revolutionary Army's discounted resources, Pikachu's strength had skyrocketed to level 50. With the added power of the Light Ball, Pikachu's current might was on par with a level 60 Pokémon.
Rumble, rumble!!!
The clear sky didn't last long before it was once again covered by thick, dark clouds. Amidst the clouds, golden lightning danced like dragons, crackling fiercely as they surged through the sky.
Smoker's smile quickly faded as he watched the violent storm above. He suddenly realized that Nami had never truly fought at full strength in her previous battles. What's more, her power seemed far beyond his and Haunter's, even without bond evolution!
"How could she have such terrifying strength?" Smoker wondered in disbelief, feeling his confidence crumble as he stared at the ominous thunder prison above. Was he doomed to be defeated at every turn? Did he possess some sort of curse that made him lose every time he fought?
Crack!!!
Before Smoker could think further, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky. He narrowly escaped by transforming into smoke, but it was clear that Pikachu's assault had only just begun.
Rumble, rumble!!!
The initial thunder was merely a prelude. A moment later, a barrage of lightning bolts rained down like an army, instantly enveloping Smoker and Haunter.
"Oh my God!!!"
Gasps echoed from the crowd as the overwhelming storm of electricity crashed down. Who would have thought such a cute creature could wield this much power?
"Haunter, dodge!" Smoker shouted, desperately trying to give commands as his body dissipated into smoke. But Pikachu's enhanced lightning, with its expanded range and precision, was impossible to evade.
Amidst the flashing lights, Smoker and Haunter were both caught in the electric storm. Smoker instinctively expanded his smoke form, trying to shield Haunter, but the thunder's crackling tendrils still penetrated the cloud.
When the smoke and lightning finally cleared, Smoker reappeared, visibly weakened, his body occasionally flickering with residual sparks. However, thanks to Smoker taking the brunt of the attack, Haunter remained unscathed.
"Haunter~" Haunter looked at Smoker with concern.
Smoker's resolve remained unbroken. Despite the odds, he knew he still had a chance.
"Haunter, use Mist!" Smoker commanded, taking advantage of Pikachu's brief recuperation time.
"Haunter! (Leave it to me!)" Haunter understood the strategy and immediately released a thick cloud of mist, blanketing half of the arena. Smoker, despite his paralyzed state, managed to release his own smoke, pushing the poisonous gas toward Nami and Pikachu.
It was clear he intended to replicate Joffrey's tactic: using toxic smoke to force Nami into a corner and forfeit the match.
But...
"This won't work on us!" Nami declared, smiling confidently. She raised a finger and shouted, "Pikachu, use Rain Dance!"
Pikachu, having learned this technique from Butterfree long ago, finally put it to use. Light rain began to fall from the cloud-covered sky.
"What... how is this possible?!" Smoker's face contorted in shock. How could an Electric-type Pokémon know a Water-type move? But as the raindrops hit the poisonous gas, they neutralized it instantly, turning it into harmless puddles on the arena floor.
Nami's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Sorry, but I'm winning this match!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Nami commanded with a soft yet assertive voice.
Electricity crackled around Pikachu's tiny hands, surging with energy.
In an instant!
The darkened sky was flooded with golden light as thunder roared once more.
ZZZZZZZ!!!
Pikachu lifted its head, its eyes flashing with power as electricity surged from its body.
"Pika-chuuu!!!"
Boom!!!
A colossal thunderbolt shot from the sky, tearing through the rain and crashing down onto Smoker and Haunter with unstoppable force.
"No! I can't accept this!!!" Smoker roared in frustration, his pride finally breaking. Ever since coming to the East Blue Sea, he had failed against one strong opponent after another, making him question if he was cursed.
But there was no more time to think—lightning struck, and with one final blast, Smoker and Haunter were overwhelmed, their bodies left scorched and defeated on the ground.
...
...
The arena fell into a stunned silence as the thunder subsided. It wasn't until Meowth stepped forward and declared Nami the winner that the audience snapped out of their daze, realizing...
The battle was over.
(End of this chapter)