The cheerful lunch ended with laughter echoing through the restaurant, and the group headed back to White Silver Stadium for the Round of 64 matchup announcement.
When the board lit up, even Chen Shi paused in disbelief.
Cynthia's opponent:Denji — future strongest Gym Leader of Sinnoh.
Daiu's opponent:Nachi, the insecure Flying-type heiress and Mikuri's fiancée.
Furong's opponent:Wusong, future Psychic-type Elite Four of Sinnoh.
And Chen Shi's opponent…
Yuuko.
To make things worse, their match was scheduled first.
Field No. 1.
Exactly at 1:00 PM.
They had been eating together just two hours ago.
Now fate had decided they needed to fight.
Chen Shi exhaled deeply.
Daiu clicked his tongue sympathetically.
"Life really likes messing with people."
Chen Shi didn't complain.
By this stage, every opponent among the remaining sixty-four was someone destined to become a giant.
Yuuko simply drew the short stick.
"Old Chen, it's almost time. Head over."
"Mn."
He left the lounge and followed the signs toward Field 1.
When the massive metal gate ahead of him rumbled open at exactly 1:00 PM—
He stepped forward without a hint of hesitation.
White Silver Arena
"Entering the field—Chen Shi!"
"In his last match, his Swampert shocked the world with its explosive Waterfall!"
"What kind of performance will he bring today?!"
The commentator's voice ignited the stadium.
Cheers erupted from every corner.
On the opposite side, Yuuko stood quietly.
When she saw Chen Shi, her voice—usually soft, timid—was nothing like before.
It was steady. Sharp. Burning with resolve.
"Chen-ge… I want to see your real strength."
Chen Shi blinked.
Then smiled.
"I'll show you."
Chen Family Farm — At That Moment
Old Man Chen and Grandma Chen watched the broadcast together.
Old Chen let out a long sigh, eyes softening.
"Never expected Yuuko would grow this far… all the way to the Round of 64, standing against Xiaoshi."
"It was worth making that trip to the League for her."
Grandma Chen nodded gently.
"She must've suffered a lot this past year. But she endured everything and came back stronger."
Old Chen fell silent, watching the determined girl on screen overlap with the fragile child from a year ago.
Field No. 1
The referee stepped forward.
"This round is a 2v2. Each side may switch once. Understood?"
Both nodded.
"Release your Pokémon."
Chen Shi's smile held warmth.
He tossed a Luxury Ball.
"Let's go—Dragapult."
A streak of spectral force ripped through the air—
"Dreeeehya!"
A towering Shiny Dragapult materialized, eyes sharp, aura slicing through the battlefield like a cold blade.
The stadium exploded.
"A Dragapult?!"
"That's a pseudo-legendary from Galar!!"
"Wait—IT'S SHINY?!"
"Already at quasi-Elite?!"
The entire arena shook with excitement.
Yuuko drew a breath—
And threw her Poké Ball.
"Blaziken!"
"Oshaaa!"
A towering female Blaziken burst out in flames, nearly two meters tall, white mane flaring as its sharp claws scraped sparks across the ground.
Chen Shi's scan flickered before his vision.
Pokémon Scan — Blaziken
Level: 61 (Quasi-Elite — early)
Potential: Quasi-Champion
Ability: Speed Boost
Sex: Female
Moves: Quick Attack, Ember, Aerial Ace, Double Kick, Slash, Focus Energy, Flare Blitz, Brave Bird, Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, Protect, Bulk Up, Agility, Low Sweep, Rock Tomb, Blaze Kick, Brick Break, Thunder Punch, Fire Blast
Chen Shi sighed softly.
"So that tiny Torchic from back then… became this strong."
But type-wise?
Ghost/Dragon vs. Fire/Fighting?
It was brutal.
Yuuko clearly understood the mismatch, but she didn't waver.
Blaziken was her strongest.
Her only quasi-Elite.
Her only real chance.
Chen Shi nodded once.
"Then show me how much you've grown."
"I will!"
Her voice was fierce—almost feral.
Chen Shi nearly flinched.
…What happened to the soft-spoken Yuuko?
Where did this fiery battle fanatic come from?
Who swapped my introverted neighbor girl with this warrior??
The referee raised the flag.
"Match… begin!"
Opening Clash
Yuuko's shout split the air.
"Blaziken—Double Team! Move!"
"Oshaaa!"
Blaziken blurred, leaving behind dozens of afterimages, each one sharp and lifelike.
The field shimmered.
Chen Shi's expression sharpened instantly.
"…Dragon Meteor."
"DREHYAAA!"
Dragapult launched a blazing draconic sphere upward.
It exploded into a storm of falling meteors.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions rippled across the entire arena.
But Blaziken's silhouette never appeared.
Chen Shi narrowed his eyes.
"Phantom Force."
Dragapult flicked its tail—
and vanished into the shadow realm.
Yuuko roared:
"Blaziken! Bulk Up—NOW!"
Through the fading smoke, Blaziken leapt out—
Flexing its arms—
But then—
In less than two seconds—
FWAP!
Dragapult reappeared behind it, striking before Blaziken could even tense.
"O… sha?!"
Yuuko's eyes widened.
"No—way.
That fast?!"
"Phantom Force needs time to charge in the shadow realm! Dragapult vanished for barely two seconds—how did it come out that fast?!"
She wasn't wrong.
This wasn't normal Phantom Force.
This was something else entirely—
Something terrifying.
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