The largest battle arena in the club.
Luxurious decorations and expansive stands.
This area is usually used by famous individuals for exhibition matches or by wealthy and influential people when they come to the club.
Today, it's being used as the venue for a challenge, which is quite a show of respect.
As Natsuhiko and the others arrived, they saw that the people from the Jade Rainbow City Club were already raring to go.
There were a total of ten people, not too many, but not too few either.
The manager, Aiwei, went up to greet them and then returned with a smile.
As she approached Natsuhiko and the others, her smile suddenly vanished.
For the first time, she revealed a cold demeanor.
"We must win today. For every match we win, the reward increases to fifty thousand league coins, and the person who wins the most matches can choose two sets of manuals and matching training resources from the club's warehouse."
It seems that during the "friendly" conversation just now, they couldn't gain any advantage.
However, everyone present appreciated the benefits.
Both sides sent their representatives to the two ends of the battlefield.
Natsuhiko did not step up first.
Although he was also eager for those rich rewards, he didn't think the opponents would be pushovers.
Since they were aware of the fame of the Silver Pokémon Battle Club and still came so eagerly to challenge, it was clear that they had some confidence in their own strength.
In such a situation, it's better to observe a bit first.
After all,
it's unlikely that someone can take down ten opponents in a row, right?
That would make the opponents lose all face.
He crossed his arms, leaned against the wall at the entrance, and silently watched the beginning of the first battle.
Soon enough.
Under the referee's command, the members from both clubs threw out their Pokeballs.
"Machoke!"
"Persian!"
Leaning against the wall, Natsuhiko raised his eyebrows; Fighting Type against General Type seemed like a disadvantageous attribute matchup for his side.
And from the Machoke's demeanor and its muscular condition, it was quite well-trained.
However, it's not unbeatable. If the General Type Persian has mastered the Psychic Type Hypnosis and Dream Eater, it wouldn't be too hard.
With the referee's command.
The two Pokémon instantly moved.
In terms of speed alone, Persian was slightly faster.
Persian moved its four limbs, its agile body swiftly moving within the field, not giving Machoke any chance to strike first.
Machoke stood still, its fists colliding, exhaling heavily through its nose, its eyes following Persian's movements.
The next second.
Persian suddenly leaped, mid-air, its left paw glowing white, launching a Clap Attack first. If Machoke was hit, despite the attribute disadvantage, there was still a high probability of withering effect appearing.
Once caught in the withering state, Machoke would become an easy target for Persian.
The opposing trainer suddenly smiled.
"Just waiting for you, Machoke, Quick Guard!"
Machoke's reaction was quick, its fists transforming into palms, combining into an invisible defense that instantly blocked Persian's Clap Attack.
Following the momentum.
The opposing trainer immediately commanded, "Machoke, Seismic Toss!"
After blocking Persian's Clap Attack, Machoke seizing the opportunity, grabbed Persian's paw, and a smooth arc went over Machoke's head.
Bam!
Smashing solidly into the ground, followed by a muffled sound.
With a powerfully heavy Seismic Toss along with attribute suppression, Persian instantly lost its combat ability.
But the opponent didn't seem willing to end it there, smirking viciously, shouting, "Knock Down!"
"You!" The trainer commanding Persian's eyes widened in disbelief as Machoke delivered another kick, directly sending Persian flying to its trainer's feet.
Shhh—
The referee's whistle came slightly late.
"Manwa, take it easy, don't overdo it." The opposing manager, Matsukita, said just right.
The trainer commanding Machoke, Manwa, scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't think Persian would lose its combat ability so quickly. I'll be more careful next time, hand, down, hold, back." He said the last four words deliberately and slowly.
The referee glanced at Aiwei.
Seeing that Aiwei was stoic but still shook her head.
An inferiority in skills is nothing to complain about, in the wild, you'd already be dead.
Receiving Aiwei's instruction, the referee gave Manwa and Machoke a warning.
But on Aiwei's side, the atmosphere was rather tense.
It was almost as if they were hit and defeated in one move, the gap in strength between the two sides seemed rather large.
They even delivered another kick, clearly not intending for this to be a "friendly" exchange.
Though they knew this battle wouldn't be simple, they didn't expect it to be so ruthless.
The person who retrieved Persian looked down, no longer speaking.
Aiwei's gaze swept over everyone.
"0389, you go."
This was a sparring partner whose Pokémon was a Fearow, Flying Type having the attribute advantage against Fighting Type, Aiwei had to regain some momentum for their side.
Being called by name, 0389 nodded, having some confidence in himself.
Against the wall, Natsuhiko unconsciously shook his head.
Since the opponents had learned a move like "Quick Guard," which seems specifically targeted, how could they not have prepared some countermeasures against Flying Types that suppress Fighting Types?
It's understandable to lose when at an attribute disadvantage, but losing despite having an attribute advantage would be utterly disgraceful.
"What's wrong? You don't think Fearow will win?"
Suddenly, a cheerful voice sounded in Natsuhiko's ear.
"Not very optimistic... Huh? When did you appear beside me..." Natsuhiko instinctively answered, then realized and turned with a frown.
He didn't think anyone could appear beside him without him noticing.
But when he turned and saw who it was, he was clearly taken aback.
Silver-blue hair, a confident smile, a form-fitting black suit with a red noble bow tie at the collar.
Isn't this the Hoenn Region's...
Flint?
The young master of Devon Company, the future champion of the Hoenn Region, Zfuchi Flint!
"Sorry, I walk quietly." Flint explained with a grin.
Natsuhiko came back to his senses.
So, the person Zhenzi mentioned, who came from other companies in the Hoenn Region to discuss cooperation with the Silver Company, turned out to be Zfuchi Flint.
That seems a bit surprising.
"By the way, you said you're not very optimistic earlier, can you tell me why?" Flint continued to ask.
Natsuhiko pondered for a moment and said, "This Machoke is better trained, and speaking purely from attributes, Fearow's advantage is only in the offensive aspect, and the Flying-type techniques Fearow can learn are mostly close-range techniques, making it easy for the opponent to seize an opportunity."
"This Machoke is very good at seizing opportunities." He added.
"Oh?"
Flint gave Natsuhiko a meaningful look but didn't say more.
Because what was happening in the battle arena explained everything.
Fearow attempted to use the Pecking Drill flying-type technique to quickly establish an advantage, willing to take some risks for it.
But just as Natsuhiko said, this Machoke was very good at seizing opportunities.
While dodging Fearow's attack, it landed a Soul-Devouring Thunder Fist on Fearow, turning it into a frazzled bird.
Silver's side had lost another match.
Their momentum was diminishing rapidly, and collectively they fell into silence.
Aiwei's expression was the ugliest. Just as she was contemplating who to send next, Natsuhiko had already walked from the wall to her side.
"No need to think, I'll go." Natsuhiko said calmly.
Hearing this, Aiwei's eyes lit up, and before she could speak, she heard Natsuhiko's next words.
"How do you want them to lose?"
"In a crushing defeat!" Aiwei instinctively said.
"Alright, for the club's glory."
Natsuhiko stepped into the battlefield, and a light comment floated over, "Get the money ready."