Pokémon: Sandstorm Sovereign

Chapter 85: Three Battles, Three Victories, Three KOs

Basalt smirked. As expected, he and Drilbur were so in sync they were practically one mind. He didn't even need to give the command; Drilbur had already set a trap within its Rock Tomb. It had truly inherited his cunning.

That's my number one fighter, he thought with pride.

As a pseudo-Rock-type that had consumed a Smooth Rock, Drilbur's control over Rock-type energy was formidable. Making a single rock change its trajectory at a critical moment wasn't difficult. And sure enough, Fletchinder had taken the bait.

You thought you dodged it, but the rock can turn! Surprise!

As a Fire/Flying-type, Fletchinder had a 4x weakness to Rock. That wasn't just a normal hit. Combined with the incredible power of Drilbur's Rock Tomb, even a slight touch was more than enough for a one-hit KO.

"Drilburr!" (▼へ▼メ)

Three battles, three consecutive one-hit KOs. Drilbur's face was a mask of pure smugness. I am, indeed, very strong!

But while Basalt and Drilbur were feeling pleased with themselves, the rest of the crowd was not. Their minds had collectively exploded. The trainers in Groups C and D were on the verge of a mental breakdown. If even an upper-tier Group C trainer was one-shot by Basalt, what did that make them? Cannon fodder?

"Fletchinder is unable to battle! The winner is... Basalt!"

As the referee made the call, the spectators could no longer contain themselves. A roar of discussion erupted.

"Another one-shot! Is this guy for real?"

"I think he's doing it on purpose! It's psychological warfare."

"I don't care if it's psychological warfare or not. I clearly saw Fletchinder dodge that rock. How did it suddenly hit? That's just... unfair!"

"It's not unfair! Changing a move's trajectory is just a sign of a Pokémon's superior control over its elemental energy."

"Oh, now that you mention it, I remember. I go to the same school as Waylon. I know his Gastly's Shadow Ball can also change its path mid-flight."

"Whoa! Waylon from Group A? He's one of the top dogs here!"

"Dude, are you really comparing this newcomer to an upper-tier Group A trainer? Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

"I'm not saying his strength is comparable to Waylon's. I'm just saying Drilbur's Rock Tomb and Gastly's Shadow Ball have a similar principle. Don't twist my words!"

In the Group A section, Waylon, a cool-looking young man dressed entirely in black, smirked as he watched Basalt and Drilbur. "A little interesting," he mused, licking his lips. "To have developed Rock Tomb to this extent."

Getting a Pokémon to have such terrifying control over its elemental energy at this stage was no small feat. Waylon remembered all too well the hard work he had put in to achieve the same. But superior energy control was only one part of his Gastly's strength. It also had overwhelming special attack, ghostly speed, a diverse movepool, the Levitate ability, and the power to turn invisible.

Basalt's Drilbur was good, but it wasn't enough to catch Waylon's eye. For that, Basalt would have to at least fight his way into the upper tier of Group B.

Even though Basalt was now three for three, all by one-hit KO, the trainers in Group B would be a different story. He might be able to win, but getting another clean, one-shot victory would be a pipe dream. The gap between Group C and the pre-selected city team members in Group B was significant.

Of course, the gap between B and A was even larger.

"Round three, Basalt is the victor!" Hoffman announced from the center of the field. He then turned to Basalt. "You can now rest for ten minutes before deciding whether to continue. If you do, your next opponent will be from the lower tier of Group B. Do you wish to continue?"

Hoffman was starting to look at Basalt like a mother-in-law eyeing a promising son-in-law. Three wins in a row wasn't what was so terrifying. It was three wins, all by one-hit KO, that was truly fearsome. And none of his opponents had been pushovers. Basalt's performance had far exceeded his expectations. The momentum he was building was incredible.

"Of course!" Basalt's voice was as firm as ever.

When he turned his gaze to the four members of Group B, they all frowned, a palpable sense of dread in the air. If they lost, they'd be demoted to Group C. The consequences were severe. If they weren't absolutely certain of victory, it was better to hope he picked someone else.

But wait. One of the boys wasn't looking down. Not only was he not looking down, but he was grinning at Basalt.

Seeing that Basalt didn't say he needed a break this time, Hoffman nodded, satisfied. It seems the kid has both courage and strategy. He's not just reckless. After three consecutive battles, even if they were all wins, Drilbur must have used up a good amount of stamina. Resting now to face a stronger opponent was the wise choice.

Unfortunately, Hoffman's satisfaction was short-lived.

In the next second, Basalt pointed at the grinning boy. "You're next!"

Brother, everyone else is frowning, but you're not. Not only that, but you're smiling at me? What's that supposed to mean? If I don't teach you a lesson today, my name isn't Basalt!

"What...?" Hoffman's composure broke. This kid didn't play by the rules at all. This was far too impulsive. A real man must be able to resist temptation... or, in this case, provocation! But the words were out, and it was too late to take them back.

"Is he serious? He's not resting after three battles?"

"I know, right? He should at least give his Pokémon a berry to recover some stamina. Does he think it's made of iron?"

"I remember when Calvin fought his way into Group C, he rested for the full time after every single battle. Is this guy just trying to show off, without any regard for his Pokémon's condition?"

"I don't think so. I have a feeling this Basalt is the real deal. Maybe his Drilbur still has some hidden trump cards."

The crowd murmured, some with scorn, some with admiration. But when they saw who Basalt had chosen, they all began to worry for him.

"Oh man. He who tempts fate will be consumed by it. His luck has run out. He actually chose Cael!"

"Cael? I remember him. His Pokémon is a Totodile, right? Not only is its Water-type affinity outstanding, but its bite force is also incredible. It's a master of biting moves."

"No wonder! So Cael was trying to provoke him on purpose."

"I remember Cael's Totodile being extremely strong. If it weren't for the fact that it needs more energy to evolve than the other starters, slowing its progress, Cael would definitely be in the running for Group A. Making it to the upper tier of Group B is a certainty for him."

"But I think this Basalt and his Drilbur are also unfathomably strong. It won't be an easy fight."

"If that's the case, then we're in for a good show!"

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