"Good job, Ethan."
"That way of using the move Ingrain really surprised me!"
After the battle ended, Ethan Black stepped down from the stage and saw Lucas Silver approaching with his companion.
"The ones who really did well were you two."
"Even after finishing your own match, you still had time to watch mine?"
"That can only mean you had already finished your battle a while ago, right?"
Ethan Black looked at Lucas Silver and also smiled.
"We also just finished now. It was simply coincidence that we arrived in time to see the end of your match."
"Then see you in the afternoon. I'm looking forward to facing you!"
Lucas Silver shook his head with a faint smile, gave Ethan Black a thumbs up, and then, together with his companion, headed toward the reception hall. It seemed he had another round of social obligations ahead.
"Looks like being the son of a wealthy family isn't as good as it seems."
"It's better to be like me, just an ordinary civilian. Life is calmer and freer."
Watching the resigned expression on Lucas Silver's face, Ethan Black shrugged with a slight laugh.
"Bwaaaah, Sarah!"
At that moment, Hailey Blake's voice could be heard from afar.
Ethan Black looked up and saw Hailey Blake, face full of sorrow, running toward Sarah Anderson. Behind her, Kyle Miller followed with a resigned expression.
"You lost?"
Seeing Hailey Blake throw herself into Sarah Anderson's arms, Ethan Black approached Kyle Miller and asked in a low voice.
"Yeah, they surrounded us and gave us a beating."
Kyle Miller sighed heavily, clearly frustrated.
"Don't worry. In the end this is just a friendly tournament, if you lose, then you lose."
Ethan Black shook his head and patted him on the shoulder to console him.
"Hailey, don't be sad either. If needed, I'll find a way to get a Nidoran and give it to you."
Kyle Miller shrugged at Ethan Black, then went to Hailey Blake to try and cheer her up.
"Hmph! Those two Pokémon brats... I heard they were found in a Secret Kingdom."
"I don't want Pokémon raised in breeding centers! Wild ones are better." Hailey Blake said dejectedly. It was clear even she hadn't imagined that her duo with Kyle Miller wouldn't even make it into the official competition. It was a very hard blow.
"Do you want that Pokémon egg?"
"Aren't Sarah and I still in the competition?"
Ethan Black thought for a moment and then stepped in.
"That's right! Ethan and Sarah won!"
"If those two don't win the championship, I don't think we stand a chance."
Kyle Miller's eyes lit up and he quickly jumped into the conversation.
"Don't worry. If I win, I promise that Nidoran egg will be yours."
Sarah Anderson also smiled at that moment, stroking Hailey Blake's hair. She immediately showed a joyful expression and nodded vigorously like a toy drum.
...
Noon.
The four of them went to a restaurant to enjoy a good lunch.
After eating, Kyle Miller pulled out the list of the day's qualifiers and began studying it carefully, trying to ensure that Ethan Black and Sarah Anderson would win their next match.
"God, Ethan! Is your Cacnea broken or what?"
"We also got attacked by everyone, and you two wiped them all out!"
Seeing the battle data of Ethan Black and Sarah Anderson, Kyle Miller couldn't help but let out an exaggerated shout.
"Definitely, in this tournament, the only duo that poses a real threat is Lucas's."
"If we can take out Lucas, the tournament is won."
Then Kyle Miller also examined the information of the other participants and sighed. He thought most were clearly weaker than him and Hailey Blake... and yet the two of them were the only ones to lose. Frustrating.
"Lucas, huh?"
"So he's also using a new Pokémon?"
"A combination of two Lairon? No wonder... only someone with money can afford to feed a species that eats pure minerals."
Seeing the Pokémon Lucas Silver had prepared for the tournament, Ethan Black was surprised. Lairon was already a Pokémon that gave off a sense of power, and considering Lucas Silver had personally raised it, it had to be very strong.
The good thing was that Lairon hadn't yet evolved into its final form, Aggron, otherwise the battle would be even harder.
"Lucas's Lairon must be the strongest."
"You try to hold that one back, and I'll take care of the other with my Cubone."
Sarah Anderson looked very serious as she said this.
"Alright, understood."
Ethan Black nodded. Against such a heavy and resilient Pokémon like Lairon, Cacnea really struggled to perform. On the other hand, Cubone, with his Ground-type moves, had a quadruple advantage against Lairon.
So yes, that was clearly the best strategy.
...
The noon hours passed quickly.
In the afternoon, Ethan Black and Sarah Anderson walked side by side toward the stadium.
Since only one match was scheduled for that afternoon, they went directly to the battlefield.
On the opposite side, Lucas Silver was already waiting. At his side, his companion held a Poké Ball in hand and looked at Sarah Anderson with a slightly challenging air. Then he threw the Poké Ball, and a Lairon appeared on the field.
Lairon was a Steel- and Rock-type Pokémon. It had dark gray skin and light blue eyes. Its back was covered with segmented steel plates, each with a central protrusion and circular openings on the sides.
Its jaw had several flat protrusions, with only two sharp fangs jutting out of its mouth. On each leg it had bands with horns, dark on top and silver underneath. It walked on four legs, and its teeth were extremely sharp.
When Lairon appeared on the field with that imposing presence, many trainers tensed up, showing respect in their eyes. It was clear they knew this opponent wouldn't be easy.
Soon, the other eight trainers also stepped onto the field, releasing their respective Pokémon, positioning themselves in the corners and looking around cautiously.
Their gazes especially lingered on the two Lairon and on Cacnea, showing some hesitation on their faces.
Meanwhile, Ethan Black and Lucas Silver lifted their eyes at the same time. Suddenly, both smiled. As their gazes crossed, it seemed they had understood each other without words.
"Then, let's go! Lairon, use Metal Claw!"
"Cacnea, Ingrain!"
With the referee's order that the battle had begun, Ethan Black and Lucas Silver gave commands to their Pokémon.
As soon as their voices fell, Cacnea quickly used the move Ingrain, absorbing the earth's energy, while Lairon charged with such force that it seemed like a roaring heavy truck in motion.
(End of chapter)