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Amid roaring cheers from the crowd, Kai and Casey walked onto the battlefield, each stepping into their Trainer's box.
As the announcer introduced them to the audience, the two locked eyes across the arena.
Casey looked nothing like the nervous girl Kai had spoken to earlier. She had regained her confidence her face radiant, her energy fully restored.
She adjusted fast, Kai thought.
"Kai!" she called out. This ti, she didn't hesitate or hold back like before. With determination in her voice, she declared, "I'm ready. Please take this battle seriously!"
Kai grinned. "Of course. Give your best shot."
The referee raised his flag. "Deciding the starting side now!"
The stadium's big screen spun a roulette. After several revolutions, the pointer landed on the red icon Kai's side.
Kai let out a soft sigh. He had gotten the opening slot in every match of the tournant so far. He didn't care much, but being forced to lead first every ti was starting to feel unlucky.
"Red side, send out your first Pokémon!"
Without hesitation, Kai unclipped a Poké Ball and tossed it forward. With a flash of light, Jolteon materialized onto the field.
Casey had already studied Kai's lineup before the match, so this didn't surprise her.
The announcer's voice bood across the stadium:
"Kai sends out his Jolteon! As many of you know, Jolteon has been one of his most reliable partners, performing brilliantly both here in the Silver Conference and back at the Indigo Plateau! Now, how will Casey respond?"
Taking a steady breath, Casey reached for her own Poké Ball. "Go, ganium!"
The brilliant light revealed Casey's starter and most trusted partner ganium.
It was a solid choice. Grass-types resisted Electric attacks, so Jolteon's usual advantage would be dulled.
Seeing her smile proudly at her partner, Kai could sense her seriousness and spirit. That's more like it, he thought.
Still…
While Casey had grown fast, Jolteon was battle-tested on an entirely different level. Defeating it wouldn't be easy. And Kai had no intention of giving her such a chance.
The referee raised both flags. "Battle begin!"
Imdiately, Jolteon bolted across the arena, its speed astonishing.
ganium tried launching Magical Leaf and even lunged in with Tackle, but Jolteon's agility made it impossible to land a hit.
Even Razor Leaf, spinning rapidly through the air, was nimbly dodged one after another.
"So fast…" Casey gasped. Even from her perspective, she could barely keep track of Jolteon's movents.
ganium's lack of Vine Whip put it at a huge disadvantage. Its stocky legs couldn't pin Jolteon down, and in the anti, Jolteon struck back with bursts of electricity.
Thanks to its typing, ganium could endure the hits, but the pressure was mounting.
Casey's brow furrowed as she searched for a way to turn things around. Suddenly, an idea struck her.
"ganium, use Poison Powder!"
ganium released a puff of purple powder but Jolteon easily leapt aside.
Casey smiled faintly. That hadn't been the point.
"More Poison Powder! Fill the field!"
ganium exhaled cloud after cloud until a thick purple haze coated nearly half the battlefield. Jolteon had no safe path in, and the toxic cloud gave ganium precious breathing room.
The announcer's voice rang out: "Excellent tactic from Casey! Jolteon can't approach without being poisoned, giving ganium a chance to recover! Now, how will Kai answer this situation?"
Kai arched an eyebrow. The setup was clever, but also… familiar. He couldn't quite place where, but he knew exactly how to counter it.
"Jolteon—Thunder Shock!"
With a sharp cry, Jolteon leapt back and fired a crackling bolt of electricity.
The instant it struck the floating powder, a deafening boom rocked the stadium. The toxic cloud ignited in a violent explosion, engulfing ganium in flas and smoke.
When the haze cleared, ganium was staggering on its last legs.
Casey's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way…"
Any Trainer with experience knew that powder moves could combust if ignited by fire or electricity. But for Casey, this was her first ti learning that painful lesson.
The announcer sighed dramatically:
"Oh no! Casey spread too much Poison Powder, and Jolteon turned it against her! She's been caught in her own trap!"
Before Casey could recover, Jolteon darted forward and finished ganium off with a clean Tackle.
The referee raised his flag. "ganium is unable to battle! Jolteon wins!"
Casey finally snapped back to her senses and gave a half-laugh, half-sigh as she recalled her partner. "I really set myself up for that one…"
Kai gave her a sympathetic shrug, but she stuck her tongue out playfully in response. She wasn't giving up yet.
Pulling out her next Poké Ball, Casey called out:
"Alright then your turn! Go, Pidgey!"
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