The battle ended, and applause broke out.
Rax looked up but quickly realized the applause wasn't for him. Their match had little audience appeal. Still, the victory mattered; it meant he could at least claim half of the prize money bet by his opponent.
Back in the waiting room, Rax approached the service window and opted to continue competing. The previous match had been nothing more than a warm-up. For the rest of the day, as long as Marowak and Skiploom still had energy, they would keep battling.
Now, all he could do was wait.
As Rax sat quietly, a broadcast on the nearby television caught his eye. Blake's battle was being shown. It turned out he was participating in an elite singles and doubles competition. His Pokémon, Tangrowth and Floatzel, showcased excellent teamwork, eventually overwhelming their opponents.
No wonder Hogan had avoided confronting Blake earlier; it seemed Blake's strength was as formidable as his cunning.
Before long, Rax's second match was announced. His placement remained tucked away in a corner—even though a slightly better one than before.
Across from him stood a middle-aged man in a suit and tie, his demeanor screaming "overworked office worker." He looked rushed, distracted, and entirely out of place, as though he had slipped away from his desk job for a quick match.
The referee announced the rules, and both trainers released their Pokémon. On Rax's side, Skiploom and Marowak stood poised and ready. The man in the suit countered with Swellow and Shroomish, an unfavorable matchup for Rax in terms of type advantage.
Rax's brows furrowed. This might be trickier than his last match.
The man wasted no time, grinning smugly as he commanded the first move.
"Swellow, Aerial Ace! Shroomish, Seed Bomb!"
"Protect! Acrobatics!" Rax countered swiftly.
Swellow's speed was blinding as it lunged at Skiploom. However, Protect activated just in time, forming a shimmering shield that nullified the attack. Skiploom even managed to hover in front of Marowak to shield it.
Ding!
The shimmering barrier blocked both Swellow's Aerial Ace and the Seed Bomb launched by Shroomish.
Rax saw his chance.
"Marowak, Bonemerang! Skiploom, Acrobatics!"
The spinning bone soared through the air, striking Swellow's right wing with a satisfying crack. The bird Pokémon shrieked and staggered, its agility crippled. Meanwhile, Skiploom darted around the battlefield with uncanny speed, delivering a sharp Acrobatics blow to Shroomish.
The man in the suit looked stunned. He quickly barked out a command.
"Shroomish, Mach Punch!"
"Substitute! Double Team!" Rax replied.
Shroomish's fist connected—only to punch through Skiploom's decoy. The real Skiploom reappeared alongside several illusory copies, surrounding the bewildered Shroomish.
Meanwhile, Marowak had closed in on the grounded Swellow. With one powerful strike of its bone club, it knocked Swellow out cold.
Seeing this, the man in the suit raised his hand in defeat. The referee declared Rax the winner.
Two matches down, both ending in dominant victories.
Rax continued battling throughout the day. His team, Skiploom and Marowak, displayed unparalleled synergy, earning them five consecutive wins. With each victory, Rax's matches were held in progressively more prominent positions within the arena.
Finally, his consistent success attracted attention. His next opponent was no longer an unknown trainer but a senior contender on the leaderboard.
---
This time, Rax faced Brady Bane, a 16-year-old from Andrew City. Brady's tall, slim build and youthful, handsome face had earned him a devoted following in the arena. Dressed in a knight's outfit to match the venue's atmosphere, he looked every bit the crowd favorite.
Brady waved confidently to his fans, flashing a charming smile before turning to Rax. The young trainer radiated arrogance, and Rax couldn't help but smirk.
The referee—a familiar face to Brady—allowed him to finish greeting his admirers before explaining the match rules.
As the battle began, both trainers released their Pokémon simultaneously.
On Rax's side, Marowak and Skiploom took their places. On Brady's side, the field lit up with the striking presence of Arcanine and Cherrim.
The stark contrast between the teams was immediately apparent. The radiant, mane-covered Arcanine and the delicate, blossoming Cherrim outshone Marowak and Skiploom in terms of appearance. However, Rax knew better than to underestimate them based on looks.
Cherrim's Flower Gift ability would boost Arcanine's stats under sunny conditions. When combined with Arcanine's natural firepower, this duo posed a significant threat.
Rax's grip tightened on his Poké Ball. This is going to be tough... but I can't lose.
"Skiploom, Tailwind! Marowak, Focus Energy!" Rax called out.
Brady grinned, unfazed.
"Cherrim, Sunny Day! Arcanine, Flame Wheel!"
Cherrim summoned a miniature sun, bathing the battlefield in radiant light. Arcanine, enveloped in roaring flames, dashed forward with incredible speed. Its power surged thanks to both the sunny weather and Cherrim's Flower Gift.
Rax remained calm.
"Marowak, Bonemerang! Skiploom, Toxic!"
Marowak's bone spun through the air, aimed directly at Arcanine. At the same time, Skiploom unleashed a spray of toxic sludge at Cherrim.
The Bonemerang struck true, forcing Arcanine to halt its advance. Meanwhile, Cherrim attempted to dodge the Toxic attack but was only partially successful; the poison began taking effect.
Brady clenched his fists.
"Cherrim, Aromatherapy!"
Rax smirked.
"Skiploom, Worry Seed! Marowak, Double-Edge!"
Skiploom dashed forward, planting a seed on Cherrim that negated its Flower Gift ability. Meanwhile, Marowak lunged at Arcanine, its attack enhanced by the earlier Focus Energy.
The clash was intense, but Rax's tactics were sharper. Brady's grin faltered as he realized his Pokémon were now at a disadvantage.
This battle isn't over yet...