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After the dazzling opening ceremony, the contestants were given a short break before the tournament officially began.
Today's matches followed a single-elimination format. While the champion wouldn't be crowned today, the top four would be determined through multiple knockout rounds. The final two would then face off the next morning to decide the winner of the Whirlpool Cup.
Erika and Brock had once again taken seats in the spectator stands. But since they had bought tickets late, they were stuck in the farthest row barely able to see the action clearly.
The format was the same as the preliminaries: each Trainer could only use one Water-type Pokémon per match. This system forced Trainers to put forward their strongest team member and give it their all no backups and no do-overs.
It made the competition faster-paced perfect for someone like Kai, who didn't want his travels delayed.
Among the trio, Ash was the first to compete. His opponent was a boy even younger than him, barely holding a fishing rod. For this match, Ash sent out his Totodile, while the boy cast his line and flung a Poké Ball from the rod's tip.
A Kingdra emerged onto the water's surface.
Kai and Misty were still in the waiting zone, watching intently from the Trainer's box.
From a type standpoint, it didn't look good for Ash.
Totodile was pure Water-type, while Kingdra was Water/Dragon, which meant Kingdra took very little damage from Water-type moves. Worse, Totodile didn't have anything that hit Kingdra for super-effective damage while Kingdra could strike freely.
Still, Ash was unshaken.
He had a reputation for thriving in uphill battles.
As the match began, Totodile dove into the water but Kingdra quickly retaliated, spinning its long body and generating a rising [Twister]. The swirling vortex connected sky to sea, sucking Totodile into its grasp and tossing it about in the air.
Totodile flailed helplessly in the spinning waters, unable to break free until the young Trainer ordered Kingdra to stop. Only then did Totodile tumble out of the spiral and escape further damage.
But the barrage continued.
As Totodile fell, Kingdra fired a [Water Gun] directly at it. Totodile twisted midair and narrowly dodged the attack barely avoiding a knockout blow.
The match had barely started, and already Ash's Pokémon was being thoroughly outclassed.
Ash, who had confidently crushed his way through the preliminaries, suddenly realized he couldn't afford to take any opponent lightly.
He had assumed he'd coast into the finals again.
He hadn't expected this kind of challenge not in round one.
The battle dragged on, both Pokémon leaping between the stone pillars and diving in and out of the water. Kingdra suddenly released a large cloud of [Smokescreen], darkening the water and hiding itself in the inky depths.
Totodile, now unable to see clearly, cautiously retreated onto a pillar, waiting for Kingdra to surface.
The black ink drifted, clouding the water like a pool of shadows. Kingdra had vanished, lying in wait like a sea serpent in ambush.
Misty frowned. "These matches are way tougher than the preliminaries. That Kingdra's on a whole other level…"
Kai nodded thoughtfully. "It's not just the Pokémon. That's Kingdra's final evolution it's stronger than Totodile in every category. Plus, the boy's using solid tactics. Ash didn't draw a bad matchup he just drew a great opponent."
Misty went quiet.
Watching the boy, who was at least a couple of years younger than Ash, she felt a strange sense of pressure.
If Ash was struggling like this, then she'd better not let her guard down.
At that moment, the match entered a tense standstill.
The young boy was clearly trying to wear Ash down, waiting for a mistake. But Totodile? It wasn't worried.
In fact, it started dancing.
Totodile leaped in place, swinging its arms and tail, smiling like a goofball totally unaware of the tension in the air.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
Just like that, the stress of the moment evaporated.
But the young boy wasn't amused.
Feeling insulted, he shouted for Kingdra to surface and use [Hydro Pump].
Kingdra rose from the water. Its body swelled. Its gills pulsed. A torrent of pressure built in its core but before the attack launched, Totodile sprang forward and bit down hard on Kingdra's snout!
A stunned gasp swept through the stadium.
Totodile's bite had clamped Kingdra's long snout shut, preventing the [Hydro Pump] from escaping!
With the water still building inside, Kingdra's body began to bloat, swelling like a balloon.
Even the young boy froze, jaw open in disbelief. This kind of move—this bizarre, unpredictable, Ash-brand tactic—he'd never seen anything like it.
Neither had the crowd.
The entire arena burst into cheers and laughter.
Totodile finally let go.
A massive blast of water exploded from Kingdra's mouth. Like a popped balloon, it rocketed into the air, spiraling wildly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
A streak of blue shot skyward, faster than the eye could track. Kingdra soared through the air like an untethered firework, tumbling as it went.
Eventually, the water ran out and Kingdra plummeted, slamming back into the sea with a loud splash.
Seconds passed.
Then its unconscious body floated to the surface, eyes blank and limbs limp.
The referee only needed one glance.
> "Kingdra is unable to battle! Totodile wins! The match goes to Ash Ketchum!"
In the waiting area, Kai and Misty applauded alongside the others.
Kai had believed Ash could win but he never expected that.
Then again… Ash was full of surprises.
Totodile's bite hadn't caused any real damage. Kingdra had technically knocked itself out from its own [Hydro Pump] being turned against it.
Still, the crowd loved it.
It was creative. Chaotic. Classic Ash.
As the match ended, the young boy slumped to the ground, eyes wide in disbelief. He looked like his entire worldview had just collapsed.
Meanwhile, the spectators were still roaring.
Ash had made his mark not with raw strength, but with unshakable resolve and sheer unpredictability.
This was one of those Ash moments.
The kind of moment that reminded everyone why he was so unforgettable.
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