The stadium roared with anticipation as the announcer's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the second semifinal match is about to begin! On one side, the rising prodigy, Ray Virel, who shocked everyone with his spectacular victories against Donovan Lux and Aurora of the Dragon Clan! And on the other side, the tactical genius and crowd favorite, Ritchie!"
The camera panned across the crowd. Flags waved, chants rose, and tension filled the air. In the stadium, Kira leaned forward, her eyes glued to the field, while her hand instinctively clenched into a fist. "Ray… give it your all."
Ritchie stepped onto the stage first, confidence in his stride but anger simmering just beneath. He locked eyes with Ray as the boy from Pallet Town walked calmly into the arena, the sunlight glinting against the badge case at his belt.
"You won't win this time," Ritchie spat, his voice laced with determination. "Don't think you'll get the same lucky break you had against Aurora. My Pokémon and I will crush you."
Ray stopped halfway, tilting his head slightly. His expression wasn't fiery or angry, just steady—like steel forged through countless battles."I won't hold back anymore," he replied with a quiet firmness that silenced even part of the crowd. "It's not just my Pokémon who are strong. Today, I'll show you my skill as a trainer."
For a brief second, the intensity in his gaze made Ritchie flinch. He clenched his jaw. "We'll see about that."
The referee raised his flags. "Trainers, release your Pokémon!"
Both boys threw their Poké Balls in unison.From Ritchie's side, a massive Blastoise emerged, slamming its heavy feet against the ground, water mist spraying from its twin cannons. Its very presence screamed raw power.From Ray's side, wings spread wide with a piercing cry, a majestic Pidgeot descended into the battlefield, its feathers gleaming under the sunlight, its presence commanding awe from the crowd.
Ritchie blinked in surprise, his confidence faltering for a second."Pidgeot? You're starting with him?!" he exclaimed. "I thought for sure you'd save your ace for last!"
Ray's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "All of my Pokémon are my aces. And today… you'll see the level of our bond."
The statement sent a ripple through the audience. Kira's eyes widened in the stadium. "He's… serious from the start."
The referee dropped his hand. "Begin!"
Blastoise wasted no time, stomping forward as torrents of water blasted from its cannons. "Hydro Pump!" Ritchie shouted.
The colossal jets of water roared through the battlefield, tearing up dirt and sending shockwaves into the stands. But Pidgeot was already in motion—its wings spread wide, catching the air with grace and speed. With a powerful flap, it vanished in a blur, reappearing above the stream of water, the sunlight glinting off its feathers.
"Wing Attack, straight through!" Ray commanded.
With a sonic boom, Pidgeot swooped down like an arrow. Its wings cut through the mist and slammed against Blastoise's shell with enough force to shake the ground. The water-type staggered, grunting, and stumbled backward, cracks appearing in the earth beneath its feet.
The crowd erupted.
"Blastoise, Rapid Spin!" Ritchie barked.
Blastoise tucked into its shell, spinning violently while releasing water from its cannons to create a whirling cyclone. Dust and mist erupted around the field, creating a blinding curtain. For the audience, it was chaos—but for Ray, it was exactly what he wanted.
He didn't give any outward command, but his eyes gleamed knowingly. This was the plan.
Every strike, every dodge, every soaring movement of Pidgeot had been deliberate. Not only was Pidgeot keeping Blastoise on the defensive, but within the swirling clouds of dust, its wings glowed faintly with an ominous red aura. Dragon Dance.
They had trained this in secret, just one day after Pidgeotto's evolution. With Dragonair as a guide, Pidgeot had managed to learn the essence of the move—at least enough to fuel its body with sharpened strength and swifter reflexes. Ray's idea was genius: accumulate the boosts while masking them with the chaos of battle, making it look like nothing more than evasive maneuvers.
"Hydro Pump again!" Ritchie shouted, his voice sharp.
The cannons fired, tearing through the battlefield, but Pidgeot, glowing faintly now, blurred through the air, too fast to follow with the naked eye. Each dodge wasn't just evasion—it was another step in building its hidden power.
Minutes passed like seconds, the duel looking even to the untrained eye, but Ray's strategy was reaching its peak. His fingers tightened slightly on his jacket. Just a little more… hold it in, Pidgeot.
The battlefield was filled with craters, dust storms, and shattered stone. Blastoise was breathing heavily now, its shell dented from repeated aerial slams. Pidgeot hovered above, wings spread wide, radiating a quiet storm of power. The audience couldn't tell, but Ray knew—the Dragon Dance was fully charged.
His lips curved into a faint, calm smile."End it, Pidgeot. Aerial Ace."
The majestic bird vanished in a silver blur, faster than even the cameras could follow. The only thing visible was a streak of light cutting across the field. The impact resounded like thunder. Blastoise's eyes widened before its massive body was hurled backward, slamming into the stadium wall with a deafening crash. The water cannons went silent.
Dust settled. Silence filled the arena. Then, Blastoise slumped to the ground unconscious, the referee's flag snapping upward."Blastoise is unable to battle! Pidgeot wins!"
The stadium exploded in cheers, though part of the crowd also gasped, realizing the battle hadn't been as simple as it looked. Ritchie's face hardened, sweat dripping from his forehead. His mind raced. That wasn't just a lucky strike—there had been something calculated, something dangerous behind that performance.
He clenched his fist around his next Poké Ball, lifting it slowly."Sparky," he said, voice low but sharp, "it's all up to you now."
From his hand burst forth a flash of lightning and sparks, revealing his ever-reliable partner, Pikachu, landing with a confident chirp. The air around the battlefield tingled with static.
Ray's eyes narrowed. His strategy had worked perfectly so far, but now came the true test.