"Hehehe, my Beedrill has the advantage of the air! I want to see how you plan to deal with it now!"
The challenger was full of confidence, as if he already took for granted that Sandshrew had no way of handling a flying opponent.
However, his answer was a powerful Sand Attack. Although Beedrill managed to dodge with its flying ability, its aerial mobility was visibly affected.
Seeing this, Sandshrew unleashed burst after burst of sand, having fun as if it were a game. In the air, Beedrill looked completely overwhelmed.
The opposing trainer's face flickered between confusion and irritation. As soon as Sandshrew finished another volley of sand, he couldn't help but shout: "Beedrill, use Twineedle!"
"Zzzzz!"
At the order, Beedrill lunged forward furiously, its stingers glowing with an intense white light.
But Sandshrew had already anticipated it. Just as Beedrill closed in, it launched another sand curtain that enveloped it completely.
"No, Beedrill, dodge now!"
The trainer saw that Sandshrew could spam Sand Attack endlessly and cursed his luck. But it was too late. Beedrill hadn't managed to take flight again when it was caught in the sand cloud.
"Use Scratch!"
Seizing the moment, Sandshrew pounced on Beedrill, its claws gleaming as they struck with brutal force.
BOOM!
Beedrill's body was hurled violently against the barrier surrounding the arena. It fell to the ground with a heavy thud, completely unconscious.
"W-What?! My Beedrill lost...!?"
The challenger stared in disbelief at his defeated Pokémon.
On the other side, Ethan Black watched Sandshrew's Scratch attack with satisfaction. This past month, he had taken Sandshrew every night to the gym to strengthen its claws and tail, and now the results of that training were clear.
"Mantis, get ready. This little one has progressed very quickly." Electric Beast, one of the club's Ring Leaders, watched Ethan Black with a serious expression.
A month ago, Ethan Black had only barely managed a draw with his Electabuzz thanks to a mistake. Now, he felt Sandshrew could face him on equal footing—and even have the type advantage.
"I know. Leave the last battle to me," said Mantis, the club's designated Ring Leader, nodding seriously. Clearly, he now regarded Ethan Black as an opponent on his level.
At the same time, Ethan Black looked toward the club's Ring Leader section. According to tournament rules, the last battle to retain the title would always be against a club Ring Leader.
That's right: to successfully defend the title, you not only had to defeat the initial Ring Leader, who could be from the club, but also win against a new club Ring Leader in the final round.
After all, if you won, the club had to pay out 10,000 Pokédollars in cash and grant a free one-year membership, which was far too juicy a prize. That was why, in the final round, the club always sent a Ring Leader prepared to stop the challenger.
"Oh oh oh! The final title battle has arrived!"
"Will the current Ring Leader, with nine consecutive victories, manage to keep his spot?"
"Or will our club's Ring Leader, Mantis, reclaim it and defend the honor of the club?"
After defeating the nine previous trainers, Ethan Black reached the tenth battle. The announcer had already begun to stoke up the crowd, and the tension in the arena was at its peak.
"Mantis! Mantis! Mantis!"
Amid the cheers of the audience, Ring Leader Mantis slowly stepped onto the stage with a Poké Ball in hand.
"So it really is Mantis," murmured Ethan Black, seeing his new opponent in front of him.
The club's Ring Leaders were very strong in their own right. But beyond that, as final-round challengers, they had the right to select a Pokémon specifically to counter the challenger.
This made defending the title far more difficult. Winning those 10,000 Pokédollars and the free membership was no easy feat.
"Kid, honestly, your growth speed is astonishing," said Mantis with a smile. "As a rookie, you can start by attacking. Let's see if you have what it takes to beat me!"
He tossed his Poké Ball, which burst open in a flash of white light. From it emerged the sleek green body of Scyther, crossing its sharp fore-blades, which gleamed with a cold, lethal light under the spotlights.
(End of Chapter)