"Look at the match in Arena 7: Onix versus Lapras. It's a bit one-sided, but definitely worth watching."
"Yeah, who'd pay for this otherwise? Shame it's in Arena 7—but you can still see clearly from here."
A cluster of spectators behind the Trainers' benches leaned forward, eyes fixed on Arena 7. Hayashi Kaede's mouth twitched—Shibata's commentary made the outcome painfully obvious. First Onix would shine, then Lapras would crush it. Such contrast guaranteed Lapras would steal the show.
"Snivy!" Snivy, long bored, suddenly brightened in Kaede's arms. Among all the Pokémon here—even the Fire Pheasant—only this Lapras radiated genuine power.
"Don't worry," Kaede murmured, stroking Snivy's head. "We'll meet that rockhoof soon enough."
He summoned his Eye of Investigation:
[Pokémon: Lapras]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Water Vein]
[Aptitude: Purple]
[Level: 19]
[Stats: HP 29 | Atk 20 | Def 19 | Sp.Def 21 | Spd 18]
[Moves: Roar, Water Gun, Sing, White Mist, Life Dew, Ice Shard, Ice Beam]
[Introduction: A dinosaur long suppressing its power risks an energy overflow when its restraints break.]
[Friendship: 0]
[Pleasure Value: 0]
Purple aptitude and exceptional HP—Lapras was on the brink of an Elite breakthrough. Suppressing so much energy could be painful and even cap its growth ceiling. If Snivy had evolved naturally before this match, she might have withdrawn to spare herself that distress. Lapras's Trainer clearly lacked that awareness.
The match began. The boy—Lapras's Trainer—simply ordered, "Water Gun." A powerful torrent exploded from Lapras's jaws, filling the confined arena with raw force. Onix's massive form had nowhere to dodge.
"Coil and expose only the flanks!" Onix's Trainer shouted. But Lapras, finally free to vent its pent-up energy, unleashed wave after wave of unrelenting blasts.
Onix staggered, its concentration broken. Its Trainer cried, "Onix, Rock Slide!" Jagged boulders hurtled forward, but Lapras shrugged them off like raindrops and unleashed another Water Gun, felling Onix with a single, crushing blast.
"Oh my god—Lapras took it down in one move," Shibata Kiyoshi exclaimed. "Its Trainer didn't even flinch—he must have predicted this outcome."
A roar of astonishment swept the stands. Thousands of spectators turned to stare at Lapras, murmuring:
"That Trainer looks so unassuming… yet his Lapras is unstoppable."
"Unless something unexpected happens, first place has to be his!"
"A truly formidable rockhoof!"
In the Group Nine seating area, Kaede sighed. "Lapras's strength rivals yours, Snivy—and it's about to break free."
Snivy's eyes gleamed. The more formidable the opponent, the more she awakened to battle.
"By the way," Kaede instructed, "if you feel evolution stirring on stage, don't hold back."
With the third wave concluded, the fourth wave began on time. Kaede and his next opponent walked toward Arena Nine.
His challenger was a defiant-looking boy in a black T-shirt. "I've been watching you hold Snivy. Does it never battle?"
Kaede blinked. "No—why do you ask?"
"Pokémon are meant to fight. You pamper it too much—it'll grow arrogant." The boy smirked, tossing a Poké Ball. A Sandshrew scuttled out.
[Pokémon: Sandshrew]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Sand Veil]
[Aptitude: Green]
[Level: 14–16]
[Stats: HP 18 | Atk 20 | Sp.Atk 10 | Def 19 | Sp.Def 11 | Spd 12]
[Moves: Scratch, Defense Curl, Poison Sting, Sand Attack, Rollout, Fury Cutter]
[Introduction: Its scales loosen when soaked—requires prompt treatment.]
[Friendship: 0]
[Pleasure Value: 25 ("How can I overcome water?")]
"I've won nine matches with this Sandshrew. You'll witness my tenth straight victory," he declared proudly. "To conquer its water weakness, I made it run in the rain and swim daily."
Kaede was speechless. Overcoming a Water-type's weakness that way had nothing to do with his Grass-type strategy—and he didn't believe in such punitive methods.
He stepped forward, raised his Poké Ball—and prepared to prove that true strength comes from trust, not suffering.