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Even Kai was stunned when Harrison's final Pokémon stepped onto the field.
The tall, fiery figure drew gasps from the crowd and from those watching on screen: Ash, Misty, Brock, and Erika.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?" Misty exclaimed.
None of them had ever seen anything like it.
Because Kai had helped resolve the Sneasel problem at Mount Silver earlier, he and Harrison had met briefly, but since there was no Team Rocket interference, Harrison had never revealed his strongest Pokémon.
And throughout the earlier rounds of the Silver Conference, Harrison had kept this mysterious Pokémon hidden, saving it for the right moment.
Now that it finally appeared, the audience couldn't look away.
Standing tall with blazing wrists and fierce eyes, the Pokémon looked both noble and intimidating.
Ash immediately pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it but the screen simply flashed a message:
"No data available."
"No data?!" Ash blinked. "That's never happened before!"
Kai smiled faintly. "Don't bother scanning, Ash that's a Blaziken. It's a Fire and Fighting-type Pokémon from the Hoenn region the next place we'll be traveling to. Just like my Gardevoir, Blaziken doesn't naturally exist in Kanto or Johto."
"Blaziken…" Erika repeated softly, her eyes drawn to the Pokémon's flaming red feathers. "So it's Fire-type?"
"Fire and Fighting," Kai explained. "It's the Fire-type starter of the Hoenn region like Charizard in Kanto or Typhlosion in Johto."
"Hoenn's Fire starter…" Ash murmured, eyes glowing with excitement. "I can't wait to go there someday!"
Meanwhile, in the arena, Tyson quickly understood what he was facing. Both his Typhlosion and Blaziken were Fire-types meaning Fire attacks would be resisted on both sides.
But what Tyson didn't expect was Blaziken's secondary Fighting typing.
When the match began, Blaziken wasted no time. Its fiery legs blurred as it charged in, landing a rapid series of powerful kicks and punches that caught Typhlosion completely off-guard.
"Typhlosion, counter with Flamethrower!"
But Blaziken spun through the flames, bursting from the fire like a comet, and delivered a devastating Sky Uppercut that sent Typhlosion crashing to the ground.
The crowd erupted.
"Typhlosion is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
Kai frowned slightly. Tyson's ace had fallen too quickly the rest of the battle would only spiral from there.
Indeed, Harrison's momentum didn't slow. His Blaziken, still brimming with energy, tore through Tyson's next few Pokémon in record time.
Only Tyson's Beedrill managed to hold its ground long enough to save him from a humiliating 6–0 loss.
Kai sighed as he watched from the stands. "What a shame… Tyson never really recovered mentally after his loss to Marina. And now, against someone like Harrison, that hesitation cost him the match."
Erika nodded. "It's hard not to be shaken after something like that. Most Trainers would lose confidence."
Kai smiled faintly. "Except maybe Ash. He's too emotionally oblivious to get distracted."
Erika giggled. "That's true."
Ash looked confused. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Kai said with a grin. "Just a compliment."
Later that afternoon, after the match ended, Kai and Erika found Tyson sitting quietly in the lobby, his head low. Marina was by his side, whispering something encouraging.
"Kai…" Tyson looked up, forcing a weak smile. "I lost."
Kai simply patted his shoulder. "It happens to everyone. You fought well."
But Tyson shook his head. "No… Harrison's Blaziken is unbelievable. Be careful when you face him that Pokémon is on another level."
"Thanks," Kai said sincerely. "I'll remember that."
As Tyson and Marina walked away, Kai couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. The Silver Conference was merciless every loss meant a dream cut short.
The next morning dawned bright over Silver Town. Fireworks thundered above the stadium, announcing the semifinals.
Kai sat quietly in the locker room with Erika, listening to the echo of the crowd through the walls.
"Good luck," Erika said softly, adjusting his collar.
Kai smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her gently. "Don't worry. Wait here I'll bring back a victory."
She nodded, smiling through her blush.
Moments later, Kai stepped into the roar of the crowd. Across the icy battlefield stood his opponent Harrison.
It was their first true meeting, and Kai finally got a good look at him. Slightly older, with a tanned complexion and a bright, easy smile the look of a seasoned traveler.
No words were exchanged. The two simply nodded to one another, acknowledging mutual respect.
The referee raised his hand. "Now deciding the battlefield and attack order!"
The big screen spun rapidly before settling on a frozen tundra setting.
"The Ice Field has been chosen!"
Kai exhaled cold, but manageable. He tightened his gloves.
Next came the attack order.
"The first move goes to Harrison!"
A minor disadvantage, but nothing Kai couldn't handle.
Harrison sighed in mild disappointment he knew Kai's reputation. Taking the first move against someone like him was never ideal.
Still, he had no choice.
"Go — Kecleon!" he called, throwing his Poké Ball.
The chameleon-like Pokémon appeared, its green body gleaming under the stadium lights.
For most Johto Trainers, a foreign Pokémon like this would've been bewildering but Kai immediately recognized it.
"Kecleon," he murmured. "Normal-type, with Color Change ability."
From his Poké Ball, Kai's choice emerged Tyranitar.
The audience gasped as the massive Pokémon roared, its presence shaking the icy floor.
"TYRANNNN!"
Even Kecleon flinched back, trembling at the sight.
Harrison frowned. That's not good.
Kai folded his arms. "Don't underestimate it. That Kecleon can turn invisible and it uses its tongue as a whip. Stay sharp."
Harrison's eyes widened. "How does he know that?!"
He'd never used Kecleon in previous rounds he'd planned it as a surprise. Yet somehow, Kai knew everything about it.
He's done his homework, Harrison thought grimly.
"Kecleon, vanish!"
At once, Kecleon's body faded, blending perfectly into the icy terrain.
Gasps filled the crowd as it disappeared completely.
"Where'd it go?!"
Only Kai remained calm. He narrowed his eyes and there, faintly visible against the white, was a ripple of color: a faint red zigzag stripe.
A flaw in Kecleon's camouflage.
He smiled slightly. "Found you."
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