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The Elite Four of the Hoenn Region consist of Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia, and Drake.
The first Elite Four member standing before Chris is Sidney.
Sidney—the name might sound like someone's ordinary son-in-law, but his appearance tells a different story. He's a rough-looking young man with spiky purple hair sprouting from his otherwise bald head. He wears a black shirt paired with purple suit pants that expose his ankles, pointed dress shoes, and a gold watch gleaming on his wrist. Everything about him screams "street tough turned professional."
His mastery of Dark-type Pokémon fits his edgy appearance perfectly.
"Welcome, challenger! I'm Sidney of the Elite Four," he announces with surprising warmth. "You've made quite an impression on me, and I have a feeling this is going to be an excellent match."
"Come on, let's enjoy the kind of battle that can only happen here in the Pokémon League!"
Despite Sidney's intimidating appearance, his voice carries a magnetic quality that's surprisingly pleasant. If you closed your eyes, you might imagine him as a distinguished middle-aged gentleman rather than the punk-styled trainer standing before you.
That rough exterior is just remnant of his past—now he's a reformed Elite Four member who's turned his life around!
The battle is about to begin.
Chris versus Sidney—the first match of the Hoenn Region Pokémon League Victory Road challenge!
"This is the Hoenn Region Pokémon Victory Road Challenge, featuring Elite Four member Sidney against Trainer Chris! The battle rules are full party combat—when all Pokémon on one side lose their ability to battle, the match concludes!" the referee announces the official rules.
Unlike Chris's previous real-world encounters that were typically six-versus-four battles, the League's full party battles are strictly six-on-six affairs.
Challenging the Elite Four and Champion is no simple feat. Even if a trainer possesses strength that theoretically exceeds the Champion's level, victory isn't guaranteed.
The reason is brutal: challengers must defeat twenty-four Elite Four-level Pokémon consecutively before earning the right to face the Champion. Pokémon substitutions aren't permitted during the gauntlet.
Only those who've attempted this grueling challenge truly understand its difficulty.
"Both trainers, please release your Pokémon!"
"Let's go!" Sidney and Chris simultaneously hurled their Poké Balls forward.
Two Pokémon materialized on the battlefield.
Sidney's choice: a Level 85 Shiftry.
Chris countered with: a Level 85 Blaziken.
After extensive training over these past months, even though Pokémon level progression slows significantly at higher tiers, Chris had managed to push his main team considerably forward.
At minimum, his core Pokémon now matched the Elite Four's game-level strength.
"Level 85 for the Elite Four... the Champion probably sits around Level 90," Chris estimated silently.
"Battle begin!"
"Shiftry, use Agility!" Sidney opened with a speed-boosting strategy.
Shiftry leaned forward slightly, its clog-like feet barely touching the ground as its form seemed to dissolve. Like a specter dancing through fallen leaves, it became nearly impossible to track with the naked eye.
Shiftry's dual Grass and Dark typing put it at a severe disadvantage against Blaziken's Fire and Fighting combination.
In direct confrontation, Sidney knew he'd be overwhelmed, so his tactical approach focused on hit-and-run guerrilla warfare.
As Sidney mentally constructed his battle strategy, he suddenly noticed Chris's Blaziken had already condensed a basketball-sized Aura Sphere between its claws. The surface rippled with energy flows as wave-guide power swirled and merged from all directions.
Just by observing it, Sidney immediately recognized that this Aura Sphere's power far exceeded any ordinary version of the move.
Sidney's assessment was correct—Blaziken was executing what Chris called the "Spiral Aura Sphere."
This enhanced technique would serve as Shiftry's executioner!
Blaziken launched the Spiral Aura Sphere from its palm. The attack streaked toward Shiftry with relentless precision, tracking the nimble Pokémon regardless of its speed or evasive maneuvers.
"Razor Leaf!" Sidney commanded desperately, hoping to detonate the enhanced attack prematurely.
The result was devastating—as soon as the razor-sharp leaves made contact with the Spiral Aura Sphere, they were instantly consumed and absorbed without leaving a trace!
"That won't work!" Sidney gasped in shock. "Protect!"
Ordering Shiftry—a Pokémon ill-suited for defensive tactics—to use Protect was Sidney's last resort.
Shiftry immediately halted its evasive movements, crossing its fan-like leaf hands before its chest to erect an invisible barrier.
"BOOM!"
The next instant brought a thunderous explosion.
Sidney watched helplessly as the Spiral Aura Sphere pierced straight through Shiftry's Protect barrier, striking its crossed arms with tremendous force. The impact launched Shiftry backward until it crashed into the arena wall, where the attack finally detonated in a spectacular explosion!
As the smoke gradually cleared, Shiftry's motionless form became visible.
It lay unconscious on the ground, completely drained of fighting spirit.
"Shiftry is unable to battle! Blaziken wins!" the referee announced the first victory.
Sidney retrieved his fallen Pokémon with its Poké Ball, his expression growing deeply troubled.
The reason was simple—this Blaziken posed a serious threat!
He pulled out his second Poké Ball and launched it skyward.
A vulture-like Pokémon emerged, displaying gray-black feathers over a flesh-colored body.
According to research, this species represents the female evolution of Braviary in certain regions.
Sidney's Mandibuzz retained the Dark typing but gained Flying type as well, making it take normal damage to Fighting-type moves.
"Mandibuzz! Use Hurricane!" Having lost the opening exchange, Sidney switched to a completely different strategy.
He would employ type-advantage moves for area control, forcing Blaziken to show its true capabilities.
Mandibuzz spread its wings wide as Hurricane winds erupted across the entire battlefield, engulfing Blaziken in the swirling vortex.
"Aura Sphere," Chris commanded with the same calm confidence, sticking to his proven strategy.
Blaziken raised both hands, condensing another blue Aura Sphere between its clawed feet.
With a forward thrust, the Spiral Aura Sphere launched once again.
The azure Spiral Aura Sphere moved like an unstoppable freight train, crushing everything that dared block its path.
The Hurricane covering the entire battlefield was pierced straight through its center, the attack boring through the wind wall bit by bit.
"Air Slash!" Sidney saw another Aura Sphere approaching and quickly added follow-up commands.
Mandibuzz's wings beat frantically, each wingbeat sending razor-sharp air currents toward the Spiral Aura Sphere like steel blades cutting through the atmosphere.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The Air Slash attacks struck the Spiral Aura Sphere, producing sounds like metal striking steel.
"BOOM!"
After enduring more than a dozen consecutive Air Slash attacks, the Spiral Aura Sphere finally exploded.
It was blocked!
Sidney's eyes lit up with hope—his strategy was working.
"THUD!" came a muffled impact sound.
When Sidney refocused his attention, Blaziken had somehow appeared directly in front of Mandibuzz. The Fire-Fighting type stood triumphantly with the unconscious Mandibuzz pinned beneath its powerful, flame-wreathed legs.