Towering cheers filled the air as Johan and his opponent, Tapeya, walked onto the battlefield under the watchful eyes of cameras.
According to Roxanne, Tapeya was a trainer who excelled in using Electric-type Pokémon and was a specialist in Electrowave Tactics.
Tapeya was no amateur—he had once earned eight badges, competed in the Hoenn League's Ever Grande Conference, and even made it into the Top 32. He currently served as a battle instructor for Year 1 Class Four.
Today's battle format? A 6-Pokémon Rotation Battle with Three Active Slots.
Johan nearly rolled his eyes.
Was it rigged?
Facing the golden-haired man in a green coat, Johan muttered to himself:
"Top 32, huh? Even that blockhead in his first Indigo League got Top 16."
He didn't mean to look down on Tapeya's achievement. Reaching the league's main stage already spoke volumes about one's strength as a trainer.
Still, Johan's constant association with elites like Steven and Cynthia had significantly raised his standards.
Tapeya looked dead serious as he threw his first Pokéball. His respect for Johan's tactics was evident—he wasn't going to hold back.
Johan, on the other hand, wore a relaxed smile.
His expectations for this tournament had already been surpassed. Win or lose, it didn't matter.
Facing Tapeya, Johan thought: At least teachers usually avoid trash talk—keeps things classy.
"Johan, I'll admit your tactics are strong," Tapeya suddenly shouted. "But with only three Pokémon, you're far too easy to counter. This will be your last match!"
Johan blinked.
...So much for teachers being classy.
The audience erupted into excited cheers, loving the tension and drama.
Johan sighed.
Really? Trash talk against a psychology teacher?
With a faint smile, Johan countered, "Tapeya, did you have breakfast?"
Tapeya furrowed his brow. "Huh?"
"My grandmother's voice is louder than yours."
Tapeya's expression darkened.
The crowd roared with laughter.
"This is exactly why trash-talking the psychology teacher is a bad idea."
The referee raised the flags and declared the battle underway.
Red light flashed as Tapeya released his first Pokémon.
Out came a sleek, wolf-like Pokémon covered in blue and yellow fur—Manectric, the Discharge Pokémon!
Johan had swapped out Tinkatuffk, sending out...
"Ka-kah~!"
With a mischievous cackle, Haunter emerged, its ghostly laughter resonating like that of a cunning villain.
Haunter's fanbase in the audience erupted into cheers, with some waving their handmade signs.
"Manectric, start running—use Thunderbolt!" Tapeya commanded.
Electric arcs crackled from Manectric's golden mane, surging forward in a blazing stream of lightning.
BOOM!
The Thunderbolt hit dead on, shattering Haunter into countless fragments.
Wait, what?!
"Was that a Substitute?!" the commentator shouted in excitement.
But where had Haunter gone?
"Manectric, watch your back!" Tapeya quickly warned.
Having done his research, he knew Johan's Haunter loved sneaky attacks.
Sure enough, a grinning Haunter emerged from Manectric's shadow, its claws raised to strike.
"Ka-kah!"
Manectric unleashed another surge of electricity, shredding the Haunter to pieces—
Or did it?
Johan smirked.
"Haunter, Toxic."
From the front, Haunter reappeared, a glob of toxic sludge forming at its claws before splattering onto Manectric.
Purple goo seeped into its golden fur, hissing as it corroded.
"Manectric has been poisoned!"
"Manectric, Rain Dance!"
Tapeya's command caught the audience off guard.
Manectric howled, summoning dark clouds that quickly blanketed the battlefield. Rain poured down in torrents.
Johan chuckled. So predictable.
Manectric's Rain Dance could only mean two things: setting up for Thunder or preparing for Volt Switch.
"Haunter, Confuse Ray," Johan said calmly.
As the eerie, glowing orbs of light struck, Manectric stumbled, sparks crackling chaotically.
With Manectric now both poisoned and confused, Tapeya's strategy fell apart.
Haunter capitalized immediately.
"Ka-kah~!"
Using Hex to double its damage against the poisoned opponent, Haunter's attack overwhelmed Manectric, leaving it too weakened to fight.
"Manectric is unable to battle!"
The referee's declaration sent a wave of cheers through the stadium.
"Johan's strategic predictions are flawless!"
Tapeya's second Pokémon, Heliolisk, emerged. The sleek Electric-Normal type's Dry Skin ability made it thrive in rain, healing it over time while preparing for a devastating Thunder.
It was an ideal counter to Haunter.
But Johan simply smirked.
"Haunter, return."
He swapped Haunter out with...
"Oowu~"
Vulpix appeared, its snowy white fur shimmering under the rain.
"Heliolisk, Thunder!"
The charged blast shot toward Vulpix—only for the rain to abruptly stop as Snow Warning changed the battlefield to a snowy wonderland.
Thunder missed entirely.
"Blizzard," Johan said with a grin.
Snow swirled fiercely, pelting Heliolisk with icy winds. In the hailstorm, Heliolisk stood no chance.
"Heliolisk is unable to battle!"
With two Pokémon down, Tapeya's frustration was evident. His strategic rhythm had been completely disrupted.
Johan remained relaxed as he switched to his final Pokémon.
Out came Tinkatuffk, hefting its massive hammer with a mischievous twinkle in its eye.
"Chu!"
Tapeya sent out his last Pokémon, Magneton, in desperation.
The battle was over in mere moments. Tinkatuffk's Gigaton Hammer crushed Magneton's defenses, sealing Johan's flawless victory.
"Johan is the winner!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
As Johan and Tapeya shook hands, Tapeya opened his mouth, hesitating.
"What is it?" Johan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My Magneton's magnet... Could you, uh... give it back?"
Johan looked genuinely confused. "What magnet?"
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Powerstones?
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