Three days later.
Thanks to the joint effort of numerous Trainers, all the Pokémon were driven out of the disaster zone.
With the gradual retreat of the waters, the League also began reconstruction work in the affected area. Ethan Black and the other Trainers who came to help slowly started to withdraw.
During this period, Ethan Black earned a considerable amount of contribution points, and with them, he exchanged for a wide variety of resources to train the Pokémon under his care.
After leaving the disaster zone, Ethan Black returned directly to the club along with Rachel Blake, intending to participate in the Ironvale City Pokémon Club Tournament.
...
The next day, Ironvale City Stadium.
Today marked the beginning of the Annual Ironvale City Pokémon Club Tournament.
The Pokémon Nightstar Club and the Pokémon Island Adventure Club, the only two clubs in the city, had maintained both open and hidden rivalry for years.
Neither of the clubs was willing to yield to the other, and thus this annual tournament was born.
The club that wins this competition will be recognized as the best club of the year in Ironvale City, in addition to earning the right to represent the city in the National Pokémon Club Tournament.
In the previous edition, the Pokémon Island Adventure Club emerged victorious and represented the city in the national championship, though the result was not ideal: they ended up in sixth place.
That's why, in this edition, both clubs were determined to claim victory at all costs.
In the competitor rest area of the stadium, both clubs were busy organizing their representatives.
Since the format is a "Champion Tournament" (that is, the winner stays on the field), the first combatant is especially important.
This is because the first representative is chosen randomly, but in the following rounds, the clubs can select a counter opponent.
Therefore, when the combatants' levels are similar, type advantage becomes critical.
...
Soon, the stadium announcer called for the entry of the teams.
Upon hearing this, Rachel Blake led a group of ten people out of the rest area.
At the same time, on the other side, the representatives of the Pokémon Island Adventure Club, led by Ryan Grant, also entered the stadium. As both teams came face to face, the tension became palpable.
In the final battle of the previous tournament, it had been Ryan Grant versus Rachel Blake.
The result was clear: Rachel Blake lost to Ryan Grant.
Since then, both had advanced to Senior Trainer rank in the same year, and this year, both had become Pokémon Hunters.
They seemed destined to face each other again and again, and here they were once more.
"This time, I will definitely win!" declared Rachel Blake.
"Then let's wait and see," Ryan Grant replied coldly.
After that brief exchange, both led their respective teams to the battle area.
"Hmm? Isn't that... that guy?"
The representatives of the Pokémon Island Adventure Club also noticed Ethan Black's presence and looked at him intently.
"Oh? Is that the boy they were talking about?"
"The one who defeated your Ursaring?"
A young man from the Pokémon Island Adventure Club looked at Ethan Black with an arrogant smile on his lips.
"Hmph, yeah, that's him."
"After all this time, I wonder how much stronger he's gotten?"
"If he's still as weak as before, Ursaring will crush him in seconds!"
Even Ryan Grant cast a cold glance at Ethan Black. He hadn't forgotten that back then he had been forced to accept the challenge and that his Ursaring had lost to Ethan Black's Sandslash. That defeat still stung.
"Leave him to me," the young man said confidently, shooting a disdainful look at Ethan Black.
Shortly after, the referee signaled that both sides were ready, and the announcer grabbed the microphone with excitement.
With an energetic introduction that fired up the crowd, he announced the first combatants:
"Now, let's welcome the champions of the first round! Representing the Pokémon Island Adventure Club: Cody Barrett! And representing the Pokémon Nightstar Club: Ethan Black!"
"We invite both Trainers to the battlefield!"
Amid the cheers of the crowd, Ethan Black and Cody Barrett stepped onto the stage, each holding a Poké Ball, staring intensely at one another.
"The first one is that Ethan Black guy!"
"Cody Barrett's first Pokémon is Shiftry, a Grass-type, so he has a type advantage over Sandslash!"
Seeing the participants, the members of the Pokémon Island Adventure Club were visibly excited.
But in the next moment, Ethan Black surprised everyone by sending Cacnea onto the field, when everyone thought he would choose his powerful Sandslash.
At the same time, Cody Barrett released his Shiftry.
With a brown body, a face covered in white fur, hands like three large leaves, and wearing tall wooden sandals, Shiftry gave off a sly and dangerous impression.
The match turned into a battle between Grass-type Pokémon, with no obvious type advantage. It was bound to be a close fight.
"Is this guy trying to act tough?" Hailey Blake commented, worried upon seeing Ethan Black actually use Cacnea.
She had heard that his strongest Pokémon was Sandslash. If he had used it, his chances of victory would have been much higher.
"Just a Cacnea?"
"If it were a Cacturne, I'd take you seriously, but with just this one, the battle's mine!"
Both Shiftry and Cacturne share the Grass/Dark typing, which is why they're often compared.
Seeing Ethan Black's Pokémon, Cody Barrett felt certain of victory.
"Enough talk! Cacnea, use Poison Sting!"
Ethan Black smiled slightly, and as soon as the referee gave the signal to start, he was the first to issue a command.
But Cody Barrett reacted just as quickly and ordered Shiftry to use Razor Leaf.
In an instant, the purple-glowing poisonous needles clashed with the spinning leaves of Razor Leaf, colliding and exploding in the air.
"Go! Use Leaf Blade!"
Following Razor Leaf, Shiftry stomped the ground hard and lunged forward, its leaves glowing intensely as it unleashed Leaf Blade.
"Cacnea, use Magical Leaf!" ordered Ethan Black calmly.
Then, Cacnea began to glow with green light, and multiple leaves appeared on the field, forming a barrier in front of him.
(End of chapter)