Silas was stunned. Squirtle was strong enough but now it had evolved into Wartortle. He quickly scanned the newly evolved pokemon.
Wartortle— Level 16
Ability: Torrent
Potential: B+
Moves: Rank C Rapid Spin, Rank C Water Pulse, Rank C Water Gun, Rank C Shell Smash, Rank D Aqua Jet
Silas frowned. Of course Wartortle would learn a troublesome move upon evolving.
This battle would be tough but Silas felt no fear. He knew that the only path to strength was through adversity. Fighting easy battles served no purpose, only by overcoming challenges could they become stronger.
The matches for the other divisions went by quickly. Silas went near the arena, Gary was also nearby lounging in a chair nonchalantly. He stared at SIlas provocatively. Silas ignored him. He was calm and focused.
The announcer turned on his speaker. "Beginner Division Finalists, please make your way to the arena."
Both trainers silently entered the arena. The gathered crowd cheered for both boys.
"Go, Wartortle."
"Go, Chimchar."
Wartortle materialized in front of Gary, solid and composed. Chimchar appeared opposite Silas, flames flickering at its tail as it dropped into a ready stance.
Wartortle was going to be trouble.
The evolved Pokémon stood firm, feet planted wide, shell thick and gleaming under the arena lights. Its breathing was slow and measured. Unlike Squirtle, there was no nervous energy left in its movements.
"The Beginner Finals match between Silas Cross and Gary Oak will now get underway!"
"Chimchar—Taunt."
Silas moved first, intent clear. Chimchar stuck out its tongue as dark, mocking energy surged toward Wartortle.
"Aqua Jet."
Water exploded around Wartortle as it vanished in a blur. The Taunt sliced through empty air as Wartortle closed the distance instantly, slamming into Chimchar's chest.
Chimchar was knocked off its feet—but it rolled and sprang back up before the dust settled.
"Keep the pressure up," Gary said calmly. "Rapid Spin." Wartortle withdrew into its shell and began to rotate, the spinning form darting forward with frightening speed.
"Aura Sphere!" Blue light gathered between Chimchar's palms, compressing into a dense orb before firing straight at the oncoming shell.
BOOM.
The explosion rocked the field. Wartortle was blasted backward, bouncing off a stone pillar before crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.
A critical hit.
Silas didn't hesitate. "Now—Taunt!" Dark energy struck true this time, sinking into Wartortle as it struggled to rise.
Good.
Shell Smash was sealed.
"Flame Wheel!" Chimchar tucked into itself, flames roaring as it rolled forward like a living fireball.
But Wartortle moved. It sidestepped at the last possible moment.
"Perfect timing," Gary said. "Water Pulse." A blue orb formed instantly and slammed into Chimchar mid-motion, detonating in a burst of water and white steam. Chimchar skidded across the stone, coughing as it forced itself upright.
"Follow up with Rapid Spin." Gary was pushing now, trying to drown Silas in momentum.
"Chimchar counter with Aura Sphere!"
Gary shook his head. "That won't work twice."
Silas said nothing. He trusted his pokemon's battle instinct. Chimchar didn't disappoint.
He calmly waited to fire. Silas saw an annoyed look on Gary's face as this unfolded.
As Wartortle's spinning shell closed in, Chimchar thrust the Aura Sphere forward at the last possible second—placing it directly in the shell's path. The collision was catastrophic.
Gary went from annoyed to shocked for the first time today.
Water and aura detonated together, throwing both Pokémon backward. Wartortle tumbled across the field. Chimchar hit the ground hard, sliding on its back. Both rose—unsteady, breathing hard.
Silas felt it in his chest.
This was the end.
"Chimchar," he said quietly. "Combine Aura Sphere and Flame Wheel." Blue aura and orange fire merged as Chimchar rolled forward, its flames flickering with compressed energy.
"Rapid Spin and Water Gun combo." Wartortle became a storm. Rotating water streams lashed outward like whips with Wartortle spinning stationary in its shell as the center.
The water whips struck Chimchar repeatedly, tearing the attack apart before it could connect. Chimchar was knocked flat, flames sputtering.
"Finish it with Aqua Jet" Gary said. Wartortle surged forward cloaked in water crashing into the struggling Chimchar. The impact sent Chimchar crashing into the ground at Silas's feet.
It was knocked out.
"Chimchar is unable to battle which means the Winner of the Beginner division is Gary Oak!"
Silas consoled Chimchar, helping it to its feet and feeding it an Oran Berry. Chimchar was upset, crying openly in Silas's arms. Silas could always sense Chimchar's general feelings, and right now they were loud and unmistakable.
Chimchar felt like it had let him down.
Silas held it firmly, letting the emotion pass between them. He made sure Chimchar understood—without rushing, without exaggeration—how proud he was. The reassurance had its effect. Slowly, Chimchar calmed, its breathing evening out as the familiar cheer returned to its expression.
Madam, Zane, and Bruno approached Silas as Professor Oak moved toward his grandson on the battlefield.
Bruno stopped in front of him.
"Kid, you did great. You both have nothing to be ashamed of," he said. "True character is built by how we respond to setbacks. How will you respond?"
Silas paused briefly before answering.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I don't expect to win every battle," he said evenly. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated, though. We threw everything we had at him and it just wasn't enough."
Madam interjected, arms crossed.
"Yes. That water gun and rapid spin defense combination won Gary both the semifinal and the final. His execution and follow-up were impeccable."
Silas nodded slowly. "That kind of tactic is going to be difficult to counter."
The arena gradually cleared as the remaining matches concluded. Once everything wrapped up and the rewards were distributed, Professor Oak made sure he was the one to present Gary with his Rare Candies. He was visibly pleased, pride shining through his otherwise controlled expression.
The conference soon shifted back into lecture format. Other professors took turns presenting their research, covering topics ranging from Pokémon physiology to long-term combat efficiency.
After several hours, it finally ended.
Silas stretched beside Zane. Informative or not, the lectures had dragged on too long without breaks. By now, most of the audience had already left. Only League officials, researchers, close associates, and a handful of dedicated Pokémon fanatics remained in the auditorium.
Suddenly, the doors burst open.
A lab assistant rushed inside, breathless.
"Professor Oak—it's bad. Team Rocket is attacking the lab."
Oak frowned. The research grounds were extensive, and the lab and auditorium sat on opposite ends of the complex. With the baby Zapdos under his supervision here, he had assumed any attack would target the auditorium directly.
Before he could speak, another assistant entered in a similar fashion.
"The auditorium is being surrounded by a large group of bikers. They all have swords."
Oak sprang into action, issuing rapid orders to his staff. Bruno did the same with the League trainers. In moments, over fifty Pokémon were released, filling the space with tense, controlled chaos.
Oak, Bruno, and a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes remained still.
Madam leaned toward Silas. "That's Koga, the leader of the Elite 4."
Silas listened intently.
She walked away and began coordinating with Oak's assistants. She wasn't part of the League, but she was by no means a weak trainer.
No one was panicking, almost as if they had expected this. Oak and Bruno's Group would go defend the lab while Koga and Madam would remain here to defend.
Silas straightened his posture, forcing himself to remain calm through slow, deliberate breathing.. He didn't want to look like a child but fear crept in regardless.
The tension in the air was palpable. There would be a large-scale battle. Not the kind with rules and regulations, the kind where pokemon and even people would die.