The Elite Four Tournament was, apart from the Champion Challenge, the highest-level event hosted by the regional League.
The registration requirement for participating Trainers was owning at least six Elite Four level Pokémon.
At this stage, major powers, Families, Clans, corporations, and the Pokémon League would all "send out" their strongest contenders.
On the surface, this tournament was just a way to rank strength. But behind it lay the battle over future resource allocations for a very long time.
In simple terms, whoever had the bigger fists, got the bigger slice of land!
Technically, both Sato and Morty were Trainers on the League's side, but their victory or defeat still affected how much the League would allocate to each Gym.
So even if the man standing in front of Sato was Howard of Goldenrod City, he would still go all out to defeat him!
As for Morty… he had even less mental resistance!
"Weavile, charge in, Night Slash."
A shadow flickered. By the time Weavile was already in front of Dusclops, Morty had only just managed to give his command.
"Will-O-Wisp!"
Ssshhh~
The cold white claws slashed hard across Dusclops's rock-like body.
Type advantage + explosive damage!
Weavile carved three deep claw marks right across Dusclops's neck!
Unfortunately, Dusclops had no real flesh or blood, so its neck was hardly a weak spot…
The next moment, clusters of blue-purple flames ignited in midair. The Will-O-Wisp spread with eerie slowness and in just an instant, filled the entire battlefield.
A full-field Will-O-Wisp!
Even a minor move like Will-O-Wisp, in the hands of an Elite Four level Pokémon, could be played with flair.
But… what about Weavile?
Hundreds of Will-O-Wisps floated silently in the air, yet not a trace of Weavile could be seen.
Underground? No sign of Dig…
Sky? Completely empty…
'…Where?'
"DUSCLOPS, IT'S-"
"Night Slash."
SSSHHH!!~
With the second ripping sound, Dusclops staggered forward two steps, and three deep gashes appeared across its back!
"C-CLOPS!"
This time, Dusclops didn't hesitate. With a single thought, countless Will-O-Wisps surged down onto Weavile like a tidal wave.
Direct hit!
Dusclops had timed it perfectly. Catching Weavile right at the moment it had finished one move and hadn't yet regained momentum.
Will-O-Wisp, with its ghostly flames, guaranteed the Burned status and halved the opponent's Attack.
Weavile's body flickered with faint flames. For a Pokémon that relied on raw offense, this was like being cut in half.
And Dusclops wasn't finished yet. As a voice called out from across the field -"Pain Split!"- an eerie red glow lit up both Pokémon.
As the move took effect, the six claw wounds on Dusclops's front and back visibly began to heal.
{Taunt.}
At this critical moment, Sato immediately issued a command to Weavile through synchronized resonance.
"Wea~ Wea… Vile!"
Weavile, enduring the sharp drain of health/stamina, unleashed a full-on mocking glare at Dusclops.
Weavile: "#＊@!#＊HDP[1]!"
"Clo…OOOOPS!"
Dusclops flew into a rage, abandoning its half-completed Pain Split. Its pale gray fists detached from its body and flew straight at Weavile!
Guaranteed-hit Ghost-type move: Shadow Punch!
Whoosh~
Weavile once again turned into a black shadow, charging straight into Dusclops's Shadow Punch.
Shua! Shua!
As expected, Shadow Punch couldn't withstand Weavile's assault and was completely shredded into pieces.
Weavile didn't slow down at all and once again flashed in front of Dusclops.
"Dusclops, use Brick Break to defend!"
Defense, not offense!
Morty's command was unquestionably correct. Even though Dusclops was under Taunt and could only attack…
Dusclops had never relied on offense to win!
Orange light glimmered on Dusclops's newly-formed fists, a glow unique to Fighting-type moves.
And thanks to its detached, floating fists, Weavile's attack was actually blocked quite a bit.
But… why hadn't it gone down yet?
Sato frowned at the situation on the field. Although Dusclops had excellent defense, it shouldn't still be holding up after taking so many Dark-type attacks.
'Dusclops… Dusclops… yet it hadn't evolved into Dusknoir…
Wait… IT HADN'T EVOLVED!'
Sato suddenly realized a possibility and gave a decisive command: "Weavile, use Knock Off!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Morty's expression changed. Before he could say anything, a faint purple stone was knocked off Dusclops's body by Weavile.
Eviolite: when held by a Pokémon that can still evolve, it boosts Defense and Special Defense by 50%!
The reason Dusclops had been able to endure so many attacks was clearly due to the Eviolite.
"Weavile, Night Slash!"
"WEAAAV!"
Good tricks never get old; Night Slash struck Dusclops again!
Without the Eviolite's boost, Dusclops's defense weakened significantly.
"D-DUUUS!"
With one final cry, Dusclops staggered and collapsed, its lone red eye turning into spirals.
But in the next instant, a surge of dark energy suddenly flashed over Weavile's body, forcing it to one knee.
Through synchronized resonance, Sato could clearly feel Weavile's condition.
At that moment, its body felt completely drained. Though not yet fallen, its mental state was terrible.
"A voluntary sacrifice…"
Sato murmured softly, then helplessly recalled Weavile.
By the end of the battle, Taunt had worn off. Knowing it couldn't win, Dusclops had used Memento without hesitation.
Memento: lowers the opponent's Attack and Special Attack significantly at the cost of the user fainting.
Weavile had already been Burned, its Attack halved. Now under the effect of Memento as well, its threat level had practically dropped to zero.
The only thing left to console Weavile was that it still managed to stand and win.
But Sato knew. If that Dusclops had inherited Destiny Bond, it would've used that instead of Memento.
And then… it would've been a draw.
Fortunately, Weavile got lucky.
With this, Sato claimed another victory, and Morty Sr. of Ecruteak City had only one Pokémon remaining.
This time, Morty didn't say a single word.
He recalled Dusclops, threw out a new Poké Ball, and Morty's third Pokémon officially entered the field.
[1] For my hispanohablantes bros!