"Did I see that right? That's… a Ralts on the field?"
"Could it be Zoroark in disguise…? That's way too casual!"
"Oh~ So it's actually Zoroark? Bro, you're sharp!"
"Hahaha, just average~"
"…"
----
The audience buzzed nonstop. All because Sato had sent out an adorable Ralts, which didn't look like it had any combat ability at all.
Just when everyone thought it was Zoroark using Illusion, a glow of evolution bloomed from its body!
--
"This illusion is so realistic! Even the evolution animation looks legit!"
"Yeah, but what's the point of putting on this show? Just for flair?"
"Now that you say it… I'm kinda confused too."
More murmurs of amazement spread among the audience, but a growing doubt crept into their hearts. Could this Kirlia… be real?
In the waiting room, Ryoko and Phoebe exchanged glances. They had both seen the final evolution -Gardevoir- and knew just how powerful it could be.
What surprised them was that Sato had actually sent it out, even though it hadn't evolved further into Gardevoir.
But he clearly had the confidence to back it up!
--
Back on the field, the newly evolved Kirlia stood like a calm little princess. Yet her black skirt and blood-red eyes gave her noble appearance a faintly eerie edge.
"High Ace level…" Alder frowned, muttering in shock.
Ralts had clearly only been at Peak Elite before. But with evolution, its level had jumped that far?
But it wasn't just Alder who was shocked…
Even Sato himself was surprised.
It seemed that ever since Ralts passed the Domain to Darkrai, it no longer had to suppress its power. In fact, its level had suddenly surged.
"Battle continues!"
"Lapras, Surf!"
"Kirlia, Psychic."
"Lapraaas!"
Lapras slightly raised its head, and a massive wave surged up from beneath, roaring as it rushed toward Kirlia.
Yet even facing such an "overwhelming" attack, Kirlia's eyes didn't change at all. She simply raised her right hand and a surge of powerful Psychic energy instantly gripped the entire wave.
And then… the water went calm.
"Kir!"
With a soft snort, Kirlia swung her right hand… and the whole wave reversed direction, sending Lapras flying uncontrollably backward.
"Thunderbolt."
"Kirlia"
Following Sato's command, Kirlia lowered her right hand and raised her left. A bolt of lightning gathered at her fingertip, then shot out and instantly expanded, striking toward the airborne Lapras.
"LAPRAS, PROTECT!"
"PRAAAS!"
A green barrier surrounded Lapras as Thunderbolt crackled violently against it, but in the end, it couldn't pierce through the absolute defense of Protect.
Only then did the crowd finally have time to react.
Gasps echoing throughout the stands.
'That little loli… WAS SO VIOLENT!'
--
It was a good thing Kirlia was focused on battling. If she found out someone called her a violent little loli…
She wouldn't mind getting even more violent!
After all… she was obviously a kind, beautiful, gentle, elegant, beloved, majestic, flower-of-the-world little princess!
'Hmph…'
--
"Kirlia, Magical Leaf."
"Lapras, use Blizzard!"
Sato commanded Kirlia to keep up the pressure. Lapras, having landed, immediately opened its mouth and unleashed a powerful Blizzard.
Everyone assumed that Kirlia's Magical Leaf would be swallowed by the Blizzard in an instant, posing no real threat.
…But what happened next completely reshaped everyone's view of the lol- Kirlia.
Only Sato noticed that Kirlia's extended right hand began drawing circles in the air, and the Magical Leaf started to spin, then transformed into Leaf Storm, clashing head-on with Blizzard.
Even match?
No, Magical Leaf's base power was far lower than Blizzard's -and Ice-types had a type advantage over Grass- but even so, the two moves were evenly matched!
"KIR~"
With a sharp cry, Kirlia's Leaf Storm suddenly surged in power again, pushing Blizzard back as it forcefully tore toward Lapras.
At last, Lapras's Blizzard was completely shattered, and Leaf Storm began violently slashing into its body.
Visible tiny wounds appeared all over Lapras's body, and the pain made it cry out nonstop.
"Psychic… finish it off." Sato crossed his arms, eyes filled with confidence and certainty.
Kirlia didn't hesitate.
Right after dispersing the Leaf Storm, she unleashed a Psychic!
Alder shouted for Lapras to dodge using its skating ability, but his [Trainer Move: Revival Roar] didn't always work instantly.
Psychic…
Direct hit!
"Lapras has lost the ability to battle! Kirlia wins! Trainer Alder, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Victory.
A clean, decisive win!
Sato casually waved his hand. This was one of the few easy wins he'd had since entering the Ace Tournament. And the reason was simple.
Kirlia was just too strong!
Alder had already recalled Lapras into its Poké Ball. His expression was grim as he looked at Sato and Kirlia, an ominous feeling beginning to form in his heart.
He only had one Pokémon left. Meanwhile, Sato still had two… and Kirlia was barely even scratched.
His final Pokémon was meant to be Crobat, originally selected to counter the highly threatening Zoroark… but that Pokémon hadn't even entered the match.
And Kirlia was a Psychic-type…
With no other option, Alder instinctively grabbed the Poké Ball of his starter Pokémon.
"Charizard, go all out. No regrets!"
"CHAAAAR!"
With a roar, a flame-orange Pokémon landed on the field. Its strength unmistakably at Peak Ace level!
"Battle continues!"
"Charizard, Flare Blitz!"
"Dodge it, Future Sight."
Charizard shot into the air, then dove sharply. The flames surrounding its body turned from red to blue, then to white; its temperature reaching an extreme peak.
And its target was none other than the small Kirlia on the ground, who didn't even look fully evolved.
Just as Charizard skimmed the ground and was about to hit her, she… vanished!
A flash of white light appeared behind Charizard. Kirlia "reemerged", her blood-red eyes now glowing with a deep violet hue.
In that instant, many felt as if something had changed… and yet hadn't.
"CHARIZARD, KEEP GOING, USE AERIAL ACE!"
Future Sight was powerful, but its delay only made Alder feel even more pressure. He became increasingly desperate to defeat Kirlia before it activated.
Aerial Ace was faster than Flare Blitz; Charizard looped and shot toward Kirlia again.
This time, Kirlia didn't dodge. She simply raised both hands, and a wave of powerful Psychic energy struck Charizard.
Charizard's speed dropped.
Slower.
And slower…
Until finally, Charizard was completely frozen in front of Kirlia, unable to move a single inch.
"…"
.
.
150 PS - ExtraChapter