On the battlefield, Zoroark's Night Daze had already swept across every corner.
The intense Dark-type energy had even thickened into a fog-like cloud, blanketing the entire battlefield and sending chills down the spine of the airborne Yanmega.
[Night Daze… Dark Domain]!
As the current Ace Tournament Champion, Masaki quickly noticed that Yanmega's state wasn't quite right.
"STAY CALM! DON'T PANIC. WE'VE GOT THIS!"
"Yan~Yan!"
His reassurance worked. Yanmega rallied, resuming rapid flight around the battlefield.
It was trying to activate its Speed Boost!
"Flamethrower."
"Zoro!"
The moment Sato gave the command, a half-meter-wide column of fire burst out from the [Dark Domain].
Having already completed one Speed Boost, Yanmega easily dodged the first Flamethrower.
But before it could counterattack. Over a hundred jets of fire suddenly shot out with no warning, filling the entire sky above the battlefield!
No matter how fast Yanmega was, there was nowhere left to run!
Masaki clenched his fists, adrenaline surging, mind racing… yet in the end, all he could do was squeeze out one word.
"PROTECT!"
"MEGAAA!"
Just as Yanmega activated its Protect barrier, it was engulfed in a sea of flames!
It was like a grain of sand swept into the ocean; powerless to make the slightest ripple.
And right then, Sato issued another command that made everyone present -and everyone watching live- feel the same thing: 'Sato looked like some kind of arsonist outlaw committing insecticide on regional television.'
"Zoroark… 'increase' power!"
"Zorooo~"
Over a hundred streams of fire continued to scorch the skies. The intense heat was nearly melting the entire battlefield!
But under Zoroark's control, the flames began to shift in color.
From red to blue, then from blue to violet…
The temperature kept rising!
"I-I FORFEIT! PLEASE, S-SENPAI, CALL IT OFF!"
Suddenly, Masaki shouted, dripping with sweat as he stared nervously at the flames, terrified that what would emerge was a charred Yanmega.
Compared to winning or losing, his partner's life was far more important.
Though everyone watching felt a twinge of regret, they all agreed, it was the right call. The difference in strength between them was overwhelming!
After disappearing for a year, Sato had returned… 'like some kind of… Dark King[1]!'
Sato himself, however, only curled his lip in disinterest.
He had overestimated his opponent. Masaki hadn't realized at all, it had all been an illusion.
"Zoroark, cancel everything."
"Zoro~"
In an instant, the hundreds of flame pillars vanished into thin air. The scorching heat evaporated like it had never existed.
Even the "Dark Domain" below was retracted by Zoroark.
From beginning to end, Zoroark had never moved from its original position.
At last, Yanmega reappeared before everyone's eyes… completely unharmed!
"Y-Yan?"
Yanmega slowly flew back to Masaki's side, feeling both touched and ashamed.
Like everyone else watching, it had fallen completely into Zoroark's illusion.
When the flames engulfed it -even with Protect- it had clearly felt the heat rising with terrifying intensity.
But when the flames vanished in an instant, along with the heat, even the slowest Pokémon would realize…
It was all fake!
And yet… staring at the silently standing Zoroark, Yanmega had no courage to raise a challenge again.
That inferno just now… had felt far too real!
Zoroark had used illusion alone to scare off Masaki's second Pokémon, claiming another flawless victory.
Just as everyone thought the one-sided crushing would continue, Zoroark suddenly returned to Sato's side, unwilling to keep fighting.
"Zoro." 'Let the others have a turn.'
Sato nodded. He understood what Zoroark meant.
A battle this lopsided wasn't helping it grow. But for the others, that might not be the case.
And so, under the watchful gaze of the audience, Sato recalled Zoroark and pulled out another Poké Ball.
He brought it close to his lips and whispered, "…This'll be your first public appearance. Don't get so nervous you forget your moves~"
In response, the Poké Ball shook wildly in his hand…
Sato grinned and threw it forward. And a blue Pokémon most people didn't recognize appeared on the battlefield.
Greninja!
It was the last Pokémon Sato had "caught" up to this point, and one of Kalos's starters.
The moment Greninja appeared, it twirled in midair twice before landing smoothly on both feet, striking a cool pose as it stared down Masaki.
"Ninja…" 'Hn…[2]'
The entrance was flashy, but anyone could see. Greninja clearly wasn't on the same level as the earlier Zoroark.
'So… was this villain being considerate to a rookie?
Maybe this Dark King wasn't so bad after all…'
That was the unspoken thought across the arena, and it made everyone even more hyped.
Sure, one-sided beatdowns were cool; but they ended too quickly and left you feeling empty.
Now that he'd sent out a Pokémon closer in strength to the opponent, maybe -just maybe- he'd lose by surprise?
This was exactly the kind of chaos spectators loved!
Seeing that Zoroark had left the field voluntarily, Masaki wasn't angry at all.
Only those who'd faced Zoroark directly could understand what that pressure felt like.
And seeing Greninja on the field, Masaki too couldn't help thinking, 'Maybe this is my chance… Druddigon to Salamence, HERE WE GO!'
He recalled the defeated Yanmega and sent out his third Pokémon.
Breloom!
Typing-wise, Grass + Fighting was a perfect counter to Greninja's Water + Dark.
But whether Masaki could really use that advantage to win… Sato could only say one thing in his heart: 'Not happening!'
"Both sides… continue the match!"
"BRELOOM, BULLET SEED!"
"Water Shuriken."
Both Pokémon charged at each other, attacking continuously while on the move.
Bullet Seed: tatatatata!
Water Shuriken: shwoosh ✧ shwoosh ✧ shwoosh…
Breloom had the stronger offense, but Greninja was far more agile.
In an instant, the green and blue figures collided again and again.
Every clash was a battle of wits and tactics.
Seeing them locked in a stalemate, Masaki began to get anxious.
"Breloom… increase power!" As he said it, he also gave a subtle hand signal.
But Sato's sharp eyes caught it all.
He narrowed his eyes and, without much effort, already predicted seven or eight possible tactics Masaki might use next.
And just as quickly, he thought of a dozen ways to counter them…
Sure enough, after another exchange, Breloom's stance subtly shifted while charging the next Bullet Seed.
Sato smirked and issued his command: "Aerial Ace to interrupt it."
The next moment, Greninja dashed forward without hesitation and used Aerial Ace.
Sliiice…
Aerial Ace landed!
And even now, Breloom still hadn't managed to launch a single "Bullet Seed".
In truth, Masaki's "increase power" order had just been a setup to disguise the use of Seed Bomb.
But Sato had successfully predicted his prediction!
Chapter 930: Greninja's First Time
[1] Sinnoh's Dark King from prevs ch
[2] KYAAAAAA~!