"Let us congratulate Giovanni! He defeated the powerful opponent Leon and successfully became the fourth Trainer to enter the 'Eight Masters'!"
The Sunglasses Host was excitedly 'roaring'. As a resident of the Kanto region, seeing Kanto Champion Giovanni enter the Eight Masters.
He was naturally extremely excited at that moment.
Whoa—!!
The entire stadium also erupted in incredibly warm applause.
"Tsk~ Still couldn't manage it? Leon."
Raihan looked at Leon on the field and couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Champion Giovanni's strength is truly overwhelming."
Hop lamented, clutching his head. Although Leon was no longer the undefeated Champion in the hearts of the people of the Galar region.
Seeing his own older brother eliminated, Hop still felt terrible.
"Don't worry, Senior Leon still has a chance in the revival matches; that is his special privilege."
Gloria was quite calm. She looked at the large screen, her gaze fixed on the avatar of Giovanni's sixth Pokémon, Beedrill.
"However, Senior Giovanni is really confident; he didn't even use Groudon."
Gloria adorably clicked her tongue. Yes, in this battle, Giovanni did not even use Groudon.
Because Giovanni's sixth Pokémon was Mega Beedrill, and Mega Beedrill successfully defeated Leon's Charizard Y.
"Giovanni is still too incredible~!"
Raihan was also full of emotion.
"Gloria, now that Leon has fallen, Gloria are the only hope left for our Galar region."
Raihan looked toward Gloria and teased her.
"Hmm... let's see the next match-up."
Gloria touched her fair face, not showing excessive confidence.
Because she clearly knew that the remaining contestants were highly competitive, and she didn't have 100% certainty.
Not to mention, Akari was still in the contestant pool, and that young woman was definitely a boss.
The first day of the sixteen-to-eight tournament concluded.
The four exciting matches today made all the spectators increasingly addicted.
All regional forums were entirely dedicated to discussing the remaining spots and the content of today's matches.
Fortunately, the waiting time was not long.
The next day, the competition continued.
It was still the Indigo Plateau Arena, and the Sunglasses Host was giving the opening speech.
"I wonder who Sister Caitlin will be matched with."
Platinum listened to the Sunglasses Host's words, her eyes already fixed on the large screen.
Those were the remaining eight contestants.
Rosa, Akari, Caitlin, Serena, Gloria, Red, Lance, May.
"Hmm, as long as she doesn't get matched with Akari, it's fine."
Cynthia's gaze finally settled on Akari's avatar. Among these seven people, in Cynthia's view, Caitlin had the strength to fight the remaining six, excluding Akari.
But if she was matched with Akari, then it would truly be over.
"Let's see the match-up."
Caitlin shook her head. Random matching was like this; who could guess?
After the Sunglasses Host finished his opening speech, he went straight to the main topic. On the large screen, the first pair of battling contestants for the day began to be matched.
The entire stadium instantly quieted down.
Before long, the first match-up appeared.
Rosa vs. May!
"Oh my! It's me!"
May's eyes instantly widened, and a smile appeared on her innocent little face.
"Unova Champion Rosa. This is a strong opponent, May, be careful."
Steven slightly frowned, looking at the Maruko Head girl on the large screen, and reminded May.
Rosa, the monstrous girl who topped Unova last year, was also a Team Rockets Top Executive who performed exceptionally well in the Saffron City battle.
Compared to her good friend, the equally talented girl Hilda, Rosa's strength was superior.
She was definitely a formidable opponent.
"I will!" May grinned, her bright big eyes shining brilliantly.
"May, don't be afraid! I believe you can definitely defeat Rosa!"
Wallace cheered on his junior.
"She's merely a trivial Unova Champion. Perfect! May, use her to display your edge to everyone!"
Clearly, Wallace had great confidence in May, although Rosa was indeed enjoying great momentum.
But as his and Steven's successor, shouldn't May winning against a mere Unova Champion be a piece of cake?
May: "..."
"you better shut up." Steven looked speechlessly at his close friend.
He was afraid that May would be jinxed to death by Wallace.
"Rosa and May, this match is interesting."
Mammon crossed his legs, watching the large screen with interest.
The protagonist of the ruby series vs. the protagonist of Black and White 2. This battle is expected to be spectacular.
"Alright, both contestants are ready! Let us welcome both contestants with enthusiastic applause!"
"Rosa!"
"May!"
The Sunglasses Host's passionate and fervent shouts echoed continuously.
In the contestant tunnels on both sides, May and Rosa slowly walked out.
Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, Rosa walked to her designated contestant position.
"Hiyah~ It's this kind of fiery atmosphere! I really do prefer battling in a venue like this."
Rosa stretched widely, the hem of her tight short shirt lifting up, revealing her slender, delicate waist, which was dazzlingly white.
"Especially when the opponent is this strong."
Lowering her arms, Rosa grinned widely, looking towards her opponent for this battle, her smile open and unrestrained.
May, of course, was not unfamiliar to her.
After all, May later joined Team Rockets, and they were all Top Executives. Although they hadn't met often, they were acquainted.
Moreover, Hilda was eliminated by May!
This time, she would take revenge for Hilda!
The referee entered the field and announced the battle rules. On the large screen, the pointer began to spin, finally stopping on Rosa's side.
"My first move, that's not bad."
Rosa exercised her long fingers, which twisted gracefully and beautifully like a dancer's.
"Heh~ May, let me see what capabilities you, the one who eliminated Hilda, truly possess!"
Rosa was never a humble girl; rather, her cheerful and outgoing personality gave people a sense of pride and arrogance.
"Hey! I also want to experience the strength of the Unova Champion!"
May tilted her head slightly, her smiling face pure and adorable, but her words showed no sign of backing down.
"Then watch closely!"
Rosa took out a Poké Ball, tossed it high, and her pure and energetic voice rang out loudly.
"Serperior! Go!"
White light flashed. The gorgeous and noble Serperior coiled its body forward, slowly raising its upper half, its ruby-like eyes watching May with cold arrogance.
A Grass-type Serperior!
"Serperior, huh?"
May slightly narrowed her eyes. Of course, she knew Serperior, the Grass-type starter from the Unova region's starter trio.
Serperior was also Rosa's starter Pokémon, and its strength was completely beyond doubt.
"Gallade!"
Without much hesitation, May decisively threw out her first Poké Ball.
The sharp-willed Gallade landed, raised its arm blades, and adopted a battle stance toward Serperior.
"Gallade battling Serperior? There's no discussion of type advantage or disadvantage here."
Steven watched the two Pokémon on the field.
"May's Gallade has the Sharpness Ability. Serperior has no other advantage except for being slightly faster."
Wallace analyzed.
Serperior looks beautiful and elegant, but it is actually a Pokémon specializing in Defense; its Attack is not considered high.
Gallade is inherently strong in Physical Attack, not to mention the boost from the Sharpness Ability, which greatly increases the power of cutting moves.
"It still depends on how both sides perform." Steven shook his head.
The battle began.
Just as Wallace analyzed, Serperior is not a Pokémon that excels at offense, as its specialties are Defense and Speed.
Furthermore, Rosa's Serperior does not have the Contrary Ability, so even if it is Rosa's main Serperior, a head-on clash is no match for Gallade.
Rosa certainly understood this better. As an excellent Serperior Trainer, she knew precisely how to use Serperior in battle.
Taking advantage of May's opportunity to let Gallade attack up close, Rosa decisively had Serperior use Glare to paralyze Gallade.
Normal-type Glare is a move unique to snake Pokémon, which can cause the opponent to become paralyzed.
After that, Serperior used Black Eye to Lock-On Gallade, preventing it from being recalled into its Poké Ball.
May's pressure instantly mounted.
Serperior then used the Grass-type move Growth to increase its Physical Attack and Special Attack.
Although May seized the opportunity to have Gallade, whose first bout of paralysis had worn off, attack, Gallade's movements were already much slower due to the effects of paralysis.
After coiling was finished, Rosa immediately had Serperior widen the distance and perform Growth a second time.
May ordered Gallade to attack again, but while charging forward, Gallade became paralyzed.
And Serperior's second Growth was completed.
"Rosa is really smart. She deliberately kept Gallade around to power up Serperior."
Ash exclaimed admiringly.
Rosa did not attack while Gallade was paralyzed because she wanted to use the paralyzed Gallade to power up.
To prevent May from switching Pokémon, she specifically used Black Eye to Lock-On Gallade.
"Yes, her battle relies on brains." Misty said faintly.
Ash looked at Misty in confusion, feeling that Misty's words were pointed.
On the field, May clearly understood this point too. Seeing Serperior begins its third Growth.
May knew she couldn't let this continue, or else if Serperior powered up its double attacks six times.
Then she would truly be fighting a boss, and Serperior would become very difficult to handle.
She had Gallade use Taunt. After Taunt, the opponent would be unable to use status moves for a period of time.
Growth could no longer continue.
"Tsk~ What a quick reaction."
Seeing that the third Growth was unsuccessful, Rosa couldn't help but click her tongue.
But it was enough for now. After two uses of Growth, Serperior's Physical Attack and Special Attack had both been boosted twice.
Defeating this paralyzed Gallade would be no problem.