Indigo League—Rock Field—First Round
"As expected. Forget about the rotation battles wearing Tauros down—Tetsuya's attacks barely drained even half of its stamina."
From the stands, Sundae shook her head with a sigh. She was starting to understand Tetsuya's rigid battle style.
For a theoretical battler like him, once the pre-planned strategy collapses, both trainer and Pokémon often crumble as well. Tetsuya and his team were clearly no exception, struggling to adapt outside their narrow framework.
"No wonder they call him Lord Red," whispered another spectator excitedly. "Not only did he predict Tetsuya's resistance tactics, but he's even showing off a rare shiny Tauros. I can't wait to see what he does next!"
The announcer's voice rang through the stadium. Though he had to remain impartial, the awe in his tone made it clear: he didn't believe Tetsuya had a chance.
"Damn it, Victreebel—Razor Leaf, now! Even if the strategy fails, we can still win this!"
Frowning, Tetsuya barked the command, desperate to strike first.
Victreebel swung its leaves wide, releasing twin blades of green energy that sliced through the air toward Tauros.
But Tauros stood calmly in the center of the field, as steady as a mountain, completely unbothered.
"How is this possible? Red hasn't even given a counterattack order yet! Could he have some secret tactic in mind?" the announcer shouted, his tone both shocked and thrilled.
"This opponent can battle on its own," Red said quietly, arms folded. He had no need to direct Tauros; trust alone was enough.
The audience gasped as Tauros casually opened its mouth, catching the incoming blades between its teeth. Then, under Victreebel's horrified gaze, Tauros chewed them leisurely, almost savoring them like a treat. It even licked its lips with a mocking calmness.
"That's just… insulting," Sundae muttered. Yet as her eyes drifted back to Red, her irritation melted into admiration.
"Victreebel, Vine Whip—bind its horns!" Tetsuya ordered hastily.
Victreebel, ever obedient, sent out two vines that coiled tightly around Tauros' horns. For a brief second, it appeared as though Tetsuya's strategy had succeeded.
"Hm?" Red raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.
Mistaking Red's expression for fear, Tetsuya smirked arrogantly, tilting his chin upward.
"Idiot…" Red sighed.
In an instant, Tauros erupted with power. With a fierce, guttural roar, it yanked on the restraining vines, dragging Victreebel helplessly forward.
"Victreebel, retreat! Quickly!" Tetsuya shouted, panic in his voice.
Too late. Purple psychic energy enveloped Tauros' forehead before it rammed into Victreebel with devastating force.
"Bang!" The impact echoed like thunder.
Victreebel flew across the battlefield, smashing through several stone pillars before crumpling against the wall. Dust and debris rained down as the Pokémon slid lifelessly to the ground.
"Victreebel is unable to battle!" the referee declared. He cast an uneasy glance toward Tauros, as though unsure whether such destructive power truly belonged in the Indigo League.
"What an overwhelming performance! In a single blow, Red's Tauros crushes Tetsuya's first Pokémon! Less than a minute has passed, and Tetsuya is already down one!" the announcer cried, his voice trembling with adrenaline.
Grinding his teeth, Tetsuya recalled Victreebel and hurled out his second Poké Ball. "Don't think I'm finished! Cloyster, let's turn this around!"
The heavy bivalve Pokémon landed with a crash, opening its jagged shell wide as it glared at Tauros, ready for battle. Cloyster was Tetsuya's ace for the Rock Field—yet being forced into the field so early left him shaken.
Tauros only flicked its tails impatiently, curious to test its strength against the iron-clad defense.
"Cloyster, Horn Attack!" Tetsuya roared.
Cloyster barreled forward, horn glinting dangerously. Without hesitation, Tauros charged headlong in return.
"Bang!"
The two titans collided in a shockwave of force, but the outcome was immediate—Cloyster was driven backward, its shell digging deep trenches into the rocky floor as it struggled to resist Tauros' raw might.
Tauros' three tails suddenly glowed with blinding silver light. In a single fluid motion, it sidestepped Cloyster's resistance and lashed forward. The triple Iron Tail slammed into Cloyster's jagged body, sending it crashing across the battlefield like a boulder.
Even with its legendary defense, Cloyster couldn't endure. The devastating blows combined sheer power with Tauros' own ability-enhanced strength, leaving no room for resistance.
When the dust cleared, Cloyster lay at the edge of the arena, shell cracked, eyes spinning before it fainted outright.
"Cloyster is unable to battle!" the referee announced, still struggling to comprehend how quickly the match was unraveling. He glanced at his stopwatch, astonished—the fight had ended in under a minute.
"This is unreal—two defeats in two minutes! Red's Tauros is utterly overwhelming!" the announcer shouted.
Tetsuya clenched his fists, fury and desperation battling across his face. With a growl, he hurled his last Poké Ball.
"Rapidash, I'm counting on you!"
The fiery steed erupted onto the field in a blaze of flames, pawing the ground as it neighed with fierce determination. This was supposed to be Tetsuya's safeguard against Grass-types—but now, faced with Red's relentless Tauros, even Rapidash looked unsettled.
The audience held its breath. Tetsuya was down to his final hope, and Red hadn't even broken a sweat.