"Crawdaunt, let's go,time to fight."
Silas strode out of the training grounds, his boots crunching against the gravel path as he made his way toward Verdanturf's Battle Club.
He wasn't alone. Dozens of trainers were heading in the same direction, excitement buzzing through the air.
After half a month of hype, this million-Pokédollar championship,with a special Ability Capsule as the prize,had turned the whole town upside down.
A million Pokédollars.
An amount most families would never see in their entire lives.
It wasn't just Verdanturf; even trainers from neighboring towns had flocked here for the spectacle.
By the time Silas arrived, the streets were packed shoulder to shoulder. Stalls lined both sides of the road, selling snacks, glow sticks, and banners with names scrawled in bold ink "Black Sky!" and "Thunder God!"
He paused briefly, scanning the crowd. For the past two weeks, he'd visited the Club often not only to prepare, but hoping to catch another glimpse of Sidney, the Hoenn Elite Four member who had briefly mentored him.
But it seemed Sidney had already left Verdanturf.
A faint sigh escaped Silas.
Still, he carried the small notebook Sidney had given him,a Dark-type specialist's personal notes, filled with insights on discipline, instinct, and the raw spirit that defined the Dark type.
'A personal manual from an Elite Four member… this would sell for a fortune on the black market', Silas thought.
But he would never sell it.
The pages weren't just technique,they held a mindset. A way of understanding the heart of a Dark-type.
Even if he never used it directly, that notebook was a bond,a sign that someone like Sidney had seen potential in him.
And in the world of trainers, influence like that was worth more than money.
"...Tch, focus," he muttered, shaking off the thought. "The real test starts now."
He raised his gaze toward the towering sign ahead-bold letters gleaming under the midday sun:
BATTLE CLUB.
Adjusting the black mask the Club had issued him, Silas entered under his competition alias: Black Sky.
...
Behind the Arena
Inside the Club's lavishly decorated control office, four men lounged on leather couches, smoke curling lazily through the air. The walls were lined with ornate paintings, antique vases gleamed under the soft lights, and a massive display screen showed live feeds from each arena.
"Hey, look at that guy in the Intermediate bracket,three wins in a row!" one man said, setting down his expensive cigarette.
"Tch. Three wins? Please. That's kid stuff. Wake me up when we get another High-Rank Arena match."
The others gave him a glance and quickly lost interest.
"High-Rank matches aren't cabbages, you know. We're lucky to get one in this town every year. If you're that bored, go beg the League to transfer you to Slateport."
Though all four worked as Battle Club managers, their tones hinted at rivalry. Still, it was clear one of them was in charge,the others looked to him before speaking.
The leader reclined comfortably in his chair, swirling red wine in one hand, cigarette in the other.
When one of the others spoke up, his tone carried unease.
"Boss, I heard the League's been investigating our Club lately. You think they'll look into our Verdanturf branch?"
The leader chuckled, blowing a ring of smoke.
"What are you afraid of? The Hart family scandal wasn't just our side's doing. A few big families got their hands dirty too. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."
The others relaxed, reassured by his words.
The leader's expression then hardened.
"But listen well,you make no moves during the Ten-Win Match today. I don't care if you rig a few low-tier fights for pocket change, but if this match's integrity gets questioned and the Club's reputation tanks…"
He let the sentence hang.
"You'll answer to me."
Silence fell briefly before they returned to watching the giant screen, where the crowd's cheers were already deafening.
.....
The Arena
Verdanturf's Intermediate Arena was bursting with people,every seat taken, banners waving wildly.
Weeks of nonstop promotion had worked.
Two undefeated trainers, both with ten consecutive victories, were about to clash for a rare Ability Capsule worth over one million Pokédollars.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers, full of practiced energy.
"Today's Intermediate Arena brings you a true clash of titans!
Two trainers, each undefeated through ten matches in just a single month.
Let's welcome… Black Sky!
And his challenger Reggie, the Thunder God!"
The audience roared.
Wearing his dark mask, Silas(Black Sky)walked calmly onto the stage. Across from him, Reggie stood tall, barefaced and confident, basking in the attention.
'Of course he wouldn't wear a mask,' Silas thought dryly. 'Reggie really can't resist showing off.'
"Black Sky! Black Sky! Black Sky!"
"Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!"
The chants crashed together like waves as the referee raised his hand.
"Both trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Silas's hand flicked.
"Crawdaunt-let's make it count."
"Crawdaaaunt!"
A flash of light, and the Water/Dark-type emerged, claws gleaming under the arena lights. The crowd erupted instantly,Crawdaunt were well-known and respected in Hoenn, often seen in local rivers and shores.
Reggie smirked and tossed his Poké Ball with flair.
"Let's go, Staraptor!"
"SKREEEEEH!!"
The majestic bird swooped in, wings flaring, its feathers catching the light like steel blades.
Silas raised an eyebrow. "So it's Staraptor again."
Reggie crossed his arms, his tone dripping with arrogance.
"Tch. I thought it might be someone new but it's just that same weak trainer from before. Guess weak trainers attract weak Pokémon."
He laughed lightly, then added, "To think a nobody like you would share a stage with me.
I'll show you what true strength looks like,you can't just luck your way past me!"
Silas met his glare with a calm, cold stare-the kind one might give a stubborn child.
He didn't bother responding.
Some people only learned after being crushed.
The host, sensing the tension, jumped at the chance to fuel the drama.
"Oh-ho! Looks like there's some history between these two contestants!"
"Could it be that Thunder God Reggie holds a personal grudge against our mysterious Black Sky?!"
The audience roared with excitement, half of them cheering, half booing, but all completely hooked.
After all, nothing entertained people more than a battle born of rivalry.
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(End of chapter)