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"Talented individuals emerge from each generation..."
Victor couldn't help but sigh, feeling like the old waves being pushed aside by the new. Age was catching up with him whether he accepted it or not.
He remembered the last time he'd felt this way was during his battle against the current Champion, Rex.
Perhaps it was time to retire. The future belonged to young people - better to step down gracefully than risk losing face in his twilight years.
"Well fought," Chris said respectfully, clasping his hands toward Victor.
Both trainers began recalling their Pokémon before mounting their Flying-types to head toward the island where Senior Roy and Tate were battling.
As they approached, Chris noticed something strange in the sky above.
Thick dark clouds crowded together like lumps of sludge, yet directly over the island, a gap had been pierced through, allowing brilliant sunlight to stream down.
Looking at the battlefield from high altitude, the entire island was wrapped in dense black energy, making it impossible to see clearly. However, bright crimson flames danced vaguely within the darkness.
Those flames are still burning.
Fire and Ghost-type energies were colliding violently on the island, generating heart-stopping energy fluctuations.
Chris and Victor had fought a wild battle that ended quickly, while the contest between Tate and Roy was still ongoing, apparently reaching its climax.
Chris kept Red Gyarados at a safe distance.
"Where did Tate get Moltres flames?" Victor muttered.
"Moltres flames?" Chris asked curiously.
"Yes, I spent several years with Moltres and learned about its fire. Those eternally burning, unextinguishable flames - those are Moltres flames," Victor explained, pointing to the continuously dancing fires within the darkness.
"If your second battle is against Tate, beware of those flames. Once you're touched by even a small amount, they won't extinguish until you lose your fighting ability."
Chris nodded, filing away this new knowledge - Moltres flames couldn't be extinguished.
"ROAAAAAR!" A thunderous roar echoed across the sky.
Immediately after, an enormous black figure rose from the dark energy.
From their distant vantage point, Chris and Victor could clearly see the shadowy form resembled a mighty general wielding a guandao blade, slashing forward.
"BOOM!"
The island trembled violently.
"Has Senior Roy developed Night Shade to this extent? He's changed both the appearance and attack method," Victor marveled.
Chris had also seen this technique in records of Roy's battles.
The enhanced, advanced version of Night Shade - Roy called it "Phantom Strike."
It reminded Chris of Stand abilities or Susanoo, summoning a giant specter to attack.
However, he'd never seen such massive size or elegant combat style.
With that finishing move unleashed, the battle seemed to reach its conclusion.
After several minutes, the darkness collapsed, revealing the devastated island.
The landmass was completely wrecked - not only was the ground shattered, but the confrontation between two Elite trainers had actually carved several meters off the island's elevation.
Trees were reduced to ash, and even after the battle's end, flames continued burning tirelessly, accompanied by curling white smoke.
In the island's center, Tate and Roy stood opposite each other. Before them, two Pokémon still faced off.
Roy's Pokémon was the MEGA evolution of his trump card, Gengar. Tate's was an actual Moltres!
"Moltres? Tate has captured Moltres? When did this happen!" Victor was incredulous.
Chris was only mildly surprised. What's so shocking about Moltres? I've tamed Lugia, and if that Zapdos hadn't fled so quickly, I probably would have caught one too.
"Thud."
With a soft landing sound, Moltres rolled its eyes and collapsed weakly, having lost its fighting ability.
Nearby, a pitch-black but barely functional robot announced the results.
"Moltres is unable to battle. Gengar wins. Trainer Tate has no remaining Pokémon available. Therefore, the victor is..."
"Even with Tate's personal strength plus Moltres, he still lost to Roy. Has Roy improved this much during this period?" Victor took another puff from his pipe.
On the battlefield, Tate was already shaking hands with Roy.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you for the excellent battle."
Roy looked up at Chris and Victor.
"You're finished? So who won?"
"I managed a slight victory," Chris replied modestly.
"Come on, young Chris. That kind of modest face-saving isn't advisable," Victor said, stroking his beard with a stern look. He descended from the sky to complain to Tate and Roy about Chris's "atrocities."
"I had a wild battle with Chris and ended up in trainer-versus-trainer combat. But he didn't mention that our Pokémon were going six-against-six while I was getting thoroughly beaten. In the end, his entire team ganged up on me until I surrendered."
Roy and Tate suddenly looked surprised.
They weren't shocked that Chris had defeated Victor - having earned his Elite Four position, Chris had already proven himself in battle against Elian. But to hear that he'd beaten Victor in personal combat...
Could twenty-year-old Chris already be a martial arts master?
"The future truly belongs to you young people," Tate said emotionally. He and Victor, in their fifties and seventies respectively, had been defeated by juniors in their twenties and thirties.
"Then let's head to the central island for the next battle," Roy said. He couldn't wait to face Chris.
"Senior, shouldn't you rest first?" Chris suggested. "My battle with the old man barely consumed any energy."
His fight with Victor had ended relatively quickly. Checking his Rotom Phone, only two of his six Pokémon had lost some health, easily restored with basic Potions.
"It's fine. My main Pokémon didn't suffer significant damage. We can begin the next duel immediately," Roy waved dismissively.
"Why do both of you brothers have to phrase things so unpleasantly?" Tate complained, feeling like neither he nor Victor had forced their opponents to full strength.
"Exactly right," Victor grumbled around his pipe.
Roy and Chris exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile wryly.
They were just telling the truth.
"Then... how about thirty minutes' rest? Some afternoon tea before we begin?" Chris suggested.
"Agreed."