"What's wrong with that guy?"
"I was supposed to be the next challenger!"
A challenger at the bottom of the stage showed an angry expression. He felt that, after so many battles, that Ethan Black guy should already be exhausted, and now this green-haired fellow appeared to steal the victory.
"Shhh, keep your voice down."
"That guy's name is Ryan Grant, he's the son of the owner of the Pokémon Island Adventure Club."
"Relax, it's not worth making an enemy of him."
A companion beside him held him back just in time and whispered softly.
"So it's him..."
The challenger's expression immediately changed.
...
"Make your Sandshrew recover its strength and face me!"
"I'm going to make the Pokémon Nightstar Club understand which club is the strongest in Ironvale City!"
Ryan Grant let out a cold laugh and suddenly tossed a medicine bottle to Ethan Black. The green liquid inside swirled in the vial, shining under the stage lights.
"This is... a recovery potion?"
Ethan Black caught it and saw it was labeled as an "Advanced Recovery Potion," with an official seal from the Pokémon Center, confirming it was a legitimate product.
"Wow, you can really tell he's the owner's son... throwing money around like it's nothing."
Without hesitation, Ethan Black gave the medicine to Sandshrew, and it immediately regained its strength, returning to full energy.
"Now that your Sandshrew has recovered, let's begin our battle!"
Ryan Grant signaled the judges and announcers to get ready. The announcer, with his mouth half open, could only sigh and start his commentary. After all, this was the young master of the club. Even if he broke the rules, no one dared oppose him.
"Go, Ursaring!"
Without waiting for the announcer, Ryan Grant hurled his Pokéball. An imposing Ursaring appeared, roaring so fiercely that the entire place trembled.
"An Ursaring! And judging by its appearance, it's clearly been trained at the highest level... This kid does have the means to boast."
Ethan Black's face turned serious. Ryan Grant's Pokémon had already reached an elite level among intermediate-tier Pokémon. Its strength surpassed previous opponents like Scyther or Electabuzz. Without a doubt, this was the strongest opponent he had faced so far.
Moreover, Ursaring's greatest strength was its overwhelming physical power—the exact weakness of Sandshrew.
"According to the rules, I get the first move, right?"
"Use Hammer Arm!"
Ryan Grant smiled disdainfully.
"Use Defense Curl!" Ethan Black ordered.
Ursaring moved at incredible speed. In the instant it attacked, Sandshrew quickly curled into a ball.
BOOM!
Ursaring's Hammer Arm struck with force, sending Sandshrew flying through the air.
"Sandshrew, use Sand Attack against the ground!"
Under Ethan Black's command, Sandshrew began releasing clouds of sand from midair, creating a current of wind that slowed its fall.
But before Ethan Black could relax, Ursaring charged again. With its powerful arms raised, it executed another Hammer Arm, this time directly at the airborne Sandshrew.
"Use Rapid Spin with Sand Attack!"
Sandshrew reacted swiftly. Using Defense Curl to coat itself with Normal-type energy, it spun fiercely, unleashing a powerful combination of attack and sand-laden wind.
BOOOOM!
The swirling sandstorm briefly held back Ursaring's strike. A spinning storm of sand enveloped Sandshrew completely.
WHAM!
Just as Ethan Black thought the blow had been stopped, he saw Ursaring's hand, wrapped in white energy, pierce through the whirlwind and, with Hammer Arm, hurl Sandshrew flying!
BOOM!
Still spinning, Sandshrew was launched like a baseball, slamming hard into the stage's protective barriers!
At that moment, the entire audience erupted into cheers. Ursaring had just shown what true physical power meant.
It was pure, elegant violence!
"Sandshrew!"
Ethan Black's heart clenched at the crash. He never imagined that the combination of Rapid Spin and Sand Attack, which he trusted so much, would be brutally countered.
"Is that all you've got?"
"If that's the best the Pokémon Nightstar Club can offer, then they're disappointing."
"And to think I had expectations for the upcoming annual club competition... What a letdown."
Ryan Grant crossed his arms arrogantly, looking down on Ethan Black with disdain.
"Sha!"
Just as Ryan Grant finished speaking, Sandshrew roared fiercely. Its eyes gleamed with intensity.
BOOM!
The sandstorm that seemed to have vanished suddenly surged back with explosive force. A shockwave spread in all directions, pushing Ursaring back.
"What's that?"
"How's that possible? Is that a sandstorm!?"
"What the hell is going on?!"
Amid the astonishment, the sand began covering the entire battlefield. Through the dense dust, only the vague silhouette of Ursaring's hulking body could barely be seen.
(End of chapter)