"Wartortle, it's been a long time since we fought side by side. Show me how much you've grown!"
"Wartortle!"
Among the Squirtle Squad, this Wartortle had become the strongest of them all. Even stronger than most Blastoise.
"Facing a Wartortle, huh? Still, Altaria—don't let your guard down!"
"Caaaw!"
Altaria opened its beak and fired off a roaring Dragon Pulse!
A spiraling wave of dragon-shaped energy hurtled downward.
"Dig underground to dodge it!"
"Wartortle!"
Shrinking back into its shell, Wartortle drilled into the ground with Dig, vanishing beneath the battlefield.
The Dragon Pulse slammed into the arena, splitting the stone floor apart with a thunderous crash.
Dust and debris billowed upward, obscuring Titus and Altaria's vision completely.
But Wartortle wasn't just any ordinary partner. Back when it was with the Squirtle Squad, it trained tirelessly in rescue missions, rushing into blazing infernos to save people.
Its eyes had been sharpened through those harsh experiences. Its vision was far superior to that of normal Pokémon.
Even hidden underground, it locked onto Altaria's exact position without hesitation.
"Now, Wartortle—burst out with Hydro Pump!" Ash shouted.
With a roar, Wartortle shot up from underground, still tucked tightly into its shell, and unleashed a powerful Hydro Pump.
The jet of water blasted out of its shell, striking Altaria squarely.
"Ice Beam, now!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Wartortle's head poked out from its shell, and in an instant, a chilling Ice Beam fired.
Altaria's feathers were soaked from Hydro Pump—making the freezing attack even more effective. Within moments, Altaria was encased in ice and plummeted to the ground, immobilized.
"Altaria is unable to battle! Wartortle wins!" declared the referee.
Titus's eyes went wide.
"H-how? My strongest Pokémon… beaten so easily?"
He couldn't believe it. His ace, defeated so decisively. His confidence crumbled.
His second Pokémon emerged—a Florges.
Ash nodded calmly. "Ivysaur, you're up next!"
"Dah-neh!"
Ivysaur bounded onto the field.
"Welcome back, old friend. Wartortle just gave us a perfect start—now it's your turn!"
"Ivy!"
Ivysaur's eyes gleamed as it faced Florges.
"This time, things won't go your way! Florges, use Moonblast!" Titus commanded.
Florges clasped its hands together, channeling the radiant power of the moon.
But Ash's voice cut sharp across the field: "My Ivysaur isn't like the others! Charge in, Ivysaur!"
The bond between Ash and Ivysaur was forged long ago, back when it was still a Bulbasaur fighting in Kanto's Gym battles. Their trust was absolute.
Ivysaur dashed forward, vines already unfurling.
The Moonblast fired—a blazing beam of lunar energy streaking straight toward Ivysaur.
But in a flash, Ivysaur's Vine Whip lashed against the ground, propelling its body high into the air.
"Now, Toxic!" Ash roared.
"Ivy!"
From the bud on its back, Ivysaur released a spray of venomous toxins, splattering directly onto Florges.
"Flor—!"
Florges winced, its body shuddering as the poison sank in. Its energy began to drain.
Titus's face twisted. "What kind of tricks are these?! Florges, finish it quickly—use Disarming Voice!"
The Fairy-type's haunting cry spread across the battlefield in shimmering waves. Ivysaur was struck, but it hardly flinched.
"Now's our chance! Venoshock!"
Ivysaur's bud glowed with a toxic light before firing a stream of poisonous liquid straight into the already-weakened Florges.
The poisonous energy overwhelmed it completely.
"Florges is unable to battle! Ivysaur wins!"
Another crushing defeat. Titus's spirit was broken—his Kalos League journey was slipping away in front of him.
"Go, Chesnaught!"
His starter Pokémon, his last hope, entered the field.
But across from him…
"Your turn, Noctowl!"
A radiant light shimmered as Ash's shiny Noctowl spread its wings proudly, drawing gasps from the crowd.
"Coo! Coo!"
Its eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Air Slash!" Ash commanded instantly.
Noctowl whipped up countless blades of compressed wind, sending them slicing toward Chesnaught.
Titus's face turned pale. Chesnaught was Grass/Fighting-type… meaning Flying-type attacks struck with quadruple effectiveness.
He knew the battle was already lost.
The Air Slash struck hard. Chesnaught crumpled to the ground, unable to move.
"Chesnaught is unable to battle! Noctowl wins! The victory goes to Ash!"
The referee's announcement rang through the stadium.
As cheers erupted, Ash's mind pulsed with the familiar chime of his system—Wartortle, Ivysaur, and Noctowl had all grown stronger from the battle's experience.
"You've all become even more powerful," Ash whispered with a proud smile.
"The second match of the Kalos League is complete! Ash Ketchum advances with a flawless victory! And now, Trainers, let's get ready—the third round will begin shortly!"
The commentator's voice electrified the crowd.
But Ash, leaving the battlefield, began to walk toward the audience seats.
Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined… what awaited him next.
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