Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

Ninetales let out a pained cry as Sandslash's Metal Claw struck its body, forcing it back several steps. Seeing that the next Ice Ball was about to land, Fawn immediately recalled her Alolan Ninetales into its Poké Ball.

As the Snow Warning weather setter of her team, Ninetales was the key to Fawn's hail strategy. Keeping it alive was crucial, so she had no choice but to withdraw it for now.

"Beartic, go!"

In the midst of the swirling snowstorm, a massive Beartic stomped onto the battlefield.

At the same time, two Ice Balls came crashing down, slamming into Beartic's body with tremendous force.

"It's her Beartic!"

"She's already sending out such a beast? Looks like the Sandstorm Elite is putting a lot of pressure on her!"

Fawn's Beartic was infamous—many trainers had fallen to it during the tournament. The fact that she was sending it out so early meant she was taking this match very seriously.

Despite the direct hit from Ice Ball, Beartic grinned viciously, unfazed. Meanwhile, the two airborne Ice Balls split into four, continuing to rotate in a synchronized, swirling pattern.

"Beartic, Bulk Up!"

Fawn's command rang out. Immediately, Beartic's muscles tensed and expanded, and an intense heatwave radiated from its body, causing the snow on the ground to evaporate in wisps of steam.

The four Ice Balls shot forward in a rapid assault, but Beartic was faster.

With Slush Rush boosting its speed in hail, Beartic launched itself like an arrow, its fierce eyes locked onto Sandslash. The sheer ferocity of its charge made it feel as though it would rip through anything in its path.

"Brick Break!"

A chopping strike descended with blinding speed.

Sandslash could feel the sheer brutality emanating from Beartic. Klein knew that if his Pokémon showed even the slightest hesitation, its fighting spirit would waver—because this Beartic wasn't just powerful.

It was ruthless.

Fawn's Beartic had already terrorized many trainers in the regional tournament, sending shivers down their spines the moment it appeared on the battlefield.

As the four Ice Balls fell, Sandslash twisted its body, tensed its arms, and viciously clashed claws with Beartic's chopping attack.

A resounding boom echoed as the two attacks collided.

Beartic, using its enhanced Slush Rush speed, suddenly leapt over Sandslash, aiming to strike from above.

It was like a predatory hawk swooping down on its prey.

And with Bulk Up further increasing its strength, Beartic's movements were impossibly fast—it didn't just attack, it had already prepared a follow-up combo.

An aerial strike. A downward chop. A sweeping kick.

All at once.

At this critical moment, the four Ice Balls rained down.

Sandslash rolled left, dodging the initial attack while simultaneously kicking out with its right leg.

Like a whip, its foot slammed into Beartic, knocking it off balance.

Beartic stumbled, struggling to recover, but the continuous barrage of Ice Balls left it no time to counterattack.

Forced onto the defensive, Beartic planted one paw against the ground, using its sheer strength to disperse the snow in a whirlwind to break free from the assault.

"Sandslash's battle instincts are insane!"

Despite being much smaller than Beartic, it had held its ground through technical precision and relentless counterattacks.

As the four Ice Balls became eight, they hovered around Sandslash in a rotating formation.

The moment Beartic stepped forward, one Ice Ball suddenly detonated, sending a powerful shockwave straight into Beartic's chest.

"Bulk Up again, then Brick Break!"

Beartic roared, muscles swelling once more, unleashing a wave of blazing energy that made the surrounding snow sizzle into steam.

At the same time, sixteen Ice Balls encircled the battlefield.

With a wild grin, Beartic charged head-on, showing zero hesitation. In this frozen battlefield, speed, offense, and defense were perfectly synchronized.

This was the true power of a hail-boosted Beartic.

In the stands, Lance—now dressed in his casual clothes—chuckled.

"Weather-based stat-boosting strategies… This girl really does fight like Klein."

Klein's Lucario used Calm Mind, Tyranitar used Dragon Dance, and Scizor used Swords Dance.

Fawn's Beartic was no different.

The audience began whispering.

"She's definitely a Klein fangirl."

"She fights exactly like him!"

Beartic's relentless offense surged forward.

But in the blizzard, Sandslash's Snow Cloak was fully active.

Its body blurred, shifting into multiple afterimages.

Beartic's first attack missed completely.

And in that moment—Sandslash struck.

Its cold, glowing claws stabbed forward like an ice pick, aiming for Beartic's head.

Beartic roared, unleashing a burst of power that slowed Sandslash's movements.

It pivoted, about to counterattack—

And that was when Klein finally spoke.

"Defense Curl. Then Breakthrough."

Breakthrough.

A technique where precision matters more than raw power. It ignored the opponent's buffs and landed clean damage.

Beartic's chopping strike descended like a meteor.

But Sandslash's body curled into a ball, absorbing the impact, before uncurling in an instant, delivering a focused counterstrike.

A flash of movement.

Sandslash's right claw whipped forward, striking Beartic at its weakest point.

A critical hit.

Both Pokémon staggered back, their bodies covered in injuries from the relentless clash.

As the snowfall lightened, the audience could see—

Beartic's speed had slowed.

And in the end—

It was Beartic that collapsed first.

Fawn's expression darkened.

Her two strongest hail Pokémon—Beartic and Ninetales—had both fallen to just one Sandslash.

She clenched her fists.

"Why is this guy so strong?!"

"That was insane!"

Back in the Cinnabar Pokémon Center, Silver was stunned.

Even though the TV broadcast didn't fully capture every moment of the fight, he was completely absorbed.

Klein had used the most basic techniques to outmaneuver, outthink, and overpower his opponent.

"So this is what it means to be an Elite Four member…"

Silver slowly picked up his exam paper.

Then, for the first time, he opened his laptop and began researching battle strategies.

Even though Klein had won, his Sandslash was badly injured.

With a faint sigh, he recalled it into its Poké Ball and turned toward Fawn.

"She's too dependent on hail support."

"You're really worried about your hail setter, aren't you?" Klein asked.

Fawn's expression stiffened.

"That's none of your business! Weavile, go!"

Her third Pokémon Weavile leapt onto the battlefield, its sharp eyes glinting mischievously.

But the audience already knew…

This Weavile was a menace.

It had terrorized many trainers in the tournament, known for its ruthless, cruel battle style.

Klein's gaze was calm.

"Lil Sprout, I never planned on breaking your hail team."

Fawn narrowed her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Klein smirked.

"Ninetales, go."

With a burst of light, Klein's own Alolan Ninetales appeared.

And the battlefield was once again engulfed in a raging snowstorm.

"Unbelievable! Klein also has an Alolan Ninetales with Snow Warning!"

(End of Chapter)