"Grandpa, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"Ethan hasn't even started university yet—he's never had any formal battle training."
"Having him fight me… wouldn't that just be bullying?"
Facing her grandfather's suggestion, Iris Jade shook her head helplessly.
It wasn't that she looked down on Ethan.
It was simply a matter of fact.
She was already a professional Trainer.
Even if she wasn't anything extraordinary, battling someone who had zero real combat experience was clearly unfair.
Hearing this, Harold Jade also felt she had a point.
Just as he was about to drop the idea—
Ethan's voice rang out.
"Iris, how about we battle anyway?"
"I'd like to see for myself where the gap between me and a professional Trainer really is."
Iris froze.
She looked at Ethan with clear surprise.
"Ethan… are you serious?"
Ethan nodded firmly and grinned.
"Of course I am."
"And besides, losing to a genius Trainer like you isn't exactly embarrassing, is it?"
Ethan had a basic understanding of Pokémon battles.
He had seen plenty of them—but never experienced one himself.
Strictly speaking, he was still all theory and no practice.
Setting aside the system for a moment, Ethan genuinely wanted to test himself against Iris.
After all, this was someone his father Victor Stone had personally evaluated as having Elite Four potential.
Ethan wanted to see what kind of command such a Trainer possessed.
Seeing his determination, Iris realized she couldn't refuse anymore.
She pressed her lips together slightly and looked at him seriously.
"Alright, Ethan."
"But once the battle starts…"
"I won't hold back."
Ethan laughed.
"That's exactly what I want."
"Only if you go all out can I see how big the gap between us really is."
Jade Family Breeding Park — Private Battle Room
"Anna, who do you think will win?"
Watching Iris and Ethan step onto the battlefield, Harold Jade chuckled and asked his daughter.
"Of course Iris."
"She's been a Trainer for two years now."
"She became a professional Trainer a year ago."
"Another year has passed since then—her battle skills must be far more refined."
"Ethan's still young. Victor never really taught him much about battling."
"So even if Ethan has talent, it'll be very hard for him to win."
Anna Stone wasn't belittling her son.
She was simply stating the obvious.
Harold Jade didn't respond.
Instead, his sharp gaze remained fixed on the battlefield.
"Go, Mudkip."
"This is your first battle."
On the field, Ethan tossed his Poké Ball.
Mudkip appeared with a splash of energy.
Though its strength wasn't high, its presence was.
The moment it landed, it let out a loud cry.
"Mu~kip!"
The voice was still a little childish—but the momentum was undeniable.
"Alolan Vulpix, you're up."
Iris didn't hesitate.
She released her Pokémon immediately.
A graceful Alolan Vulpix appeared on the field.
As it emerged, delicate snowflakes began drifting down across the arena.
Against the backdrop of white snow, the Ice-type Vulpix looked even more beautiful—
Like a spirit born of winter.
Seeing this, Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Snowfall…"
"So its Ability is Snow Warning?"
Snow Warning was Alolan Vulpix's Hidden Ability.
Abilities were innate passive traits tied to a Pokémon's species.
Most Pokémon had common Abilities shared across the species.
Hidden Abilities, however, were exceptionally rare—often one in tens of thousands.
And Ethan knew very well—
Weather-setting Abilities were incredibly powerful.
A Pokémon that could summon weather naturally gained a built-in advantage in battle.
Different weather conditions enhanced certain types, boosting power and resistance alike.
Looking at Iris's Alolan Vulpix, Ethan couldn't help but feel impressed.
"As expected of Iris."
"If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have noticed that in the adoption hall."
Admiring her choice aside, Ethan knew one thing—
Strike first.
"Mudkip, use Water Gun!"
Mudkip opened its mouth, Water-type energy gathering rapidly.
Moments later, a powerful Water Gun shot straight toward Vulpix.
Iris was momentarily startled.
"That Water Gun… it's surprisingly strong."
"So this Mudkip really isn't ordinary."
In just that brief exchange, Iris sensed Mudkip's quality.
For a Pokémon this young, both the speed and power of that Water Gun were rare.
But Iris was still a professional Trainer.
Her reaction speed and judgment were razor-sharp.
"Vulpix, dodge to the right."
"Then—Disable."
Vulpix's demeanor instantly changed.
Its small body darted sideways, narrowly evading the Water Gun.
Immediately after, its eyes glowed blue.
Disable activated.
This was a notoriously strong move.
It could temporarily lock a Pokémon's movements, rendering it unable to act.
In the Donghuang Alliance's official battle manuals, Disable was considered one of the strongest early-game control moves.
Mudkip froze in place.
Unable to move at all.
"Now—Vulpix, Tackle!"
Seeing Mudkip immobilized, Iris gave the next command without hesitation.
Vulpix didn't know many moves yet—
Tackle, Disable, Powder Snow.
Powder Snow was Ice-type, and not very effective against Water-types.
So Tackle was the optimal choice.
The logic was simple.
The execution—clean and decisive.
Vulpix charged like a small cannonball straight toward Mudkip.
At this moment, Iris, Harold Jade, and Anna Stone all believed the battle was over.
And then—
Ethan spoke.
"Now, Mudkip."
"Counter."
The instant Disable wore off, Mudkip's body flashed red.
Boom!
Mudkip took Vulpix's Tackle head-on.
The impact hurt—but Mudkip's naturally sturdy body absorbed it.
For Mudkip, it was painful—but far from fatal.
And then—
The red light intensified.
"Mu~kip!"
With a fierce cry, all the force Mudkip had just taken—
Was reflected back at double strength.
Vulpix was launched backward like a cannonball.
With no footing to stabilize itself, it crashed heavily onto the ground.
Alolan Vulpix had poor physical endurance to begin with.
And this was Counter.
Double the damage, returned instantly.
Vulpix collapsed, completely unable to continue fighting.
Silence.
A moment earlier, Iris had been certain of victory.
Now she stared at her fallen Pokémon in disbelief.
"This…"
"I… lost?"
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