Pokemon: Spiritual Master

At the referee's signal, both threw out their Poké Balls.

"Go, Gyarados!"

Lance's opening move was still his signature red "Intimidate" Gyarados!

The fierce-looking Gyarados clad in red scales, just by raising half its body, already exceeded three meters in height and let out a deafening roar!

"Roar—!!!"

Ordinary Gyarados could reach 6.5 meters in length, but Lance's Gyarados, having evolved due to special electromagnetic interference, was not only shiny but also superior to ordinary Gyarados in physical abilities and talent.

The "Intimidate" ability could cause considerable trouble for physical attack-type Pokémon right from the start.

Not to mention when facing Giovanni, known as "Giovanni of the Earth"—Water-type's advantage over Ground-type went without saying, and Flying-type's immunity to Ground-type moves was even more severely advantageous.

Speaking of which...

Lance really had quite an advantage purely in terms of type matchups against Giovanni.

After all, "Dodo Bird" wasn't called that for nothing.

At the same time.

Giovanni also threw out his Poké Ball, and what entered was—

"Tar!!"

With fierce aura no less than Gyarados, even more exaggerated than Gyarados, the dark green armored Tyranitar landed on the field with a "bang."

Facing Gyarados's "Intimidate," Tyranitar showed no sign of fear and instead glared fiercely back at Gyarados with gleaming teeth.

With Tyranitar's entrance, large sandstorms immediately rose on the field, swirling upward.

"Tar?"

Tyranitar sitting beside Johan looked at the green big guy that entered and was stunned, even stopping its eating motion.

Johan smiled slightly.

Although he didn't know if Giovanni's Tyranitar had any blood relation to his own Tyranitar, presumably...

Through watching the battle, his Tyranitar should be able to learn something, right?

Look, the little guy had half-closed its eyes and seemed to be taking it seriously.

Just as Johan's thought passed, Tyranitar gently tugged on Johan's clothes with its huge, thick palm.

"Tar!"

Hey! It's not as tall as me!

Johan: "..."

Suddenly felt a bit tired.

On the field.

"Battle begin!"

As the referee's flag fell, another "Pokémon World Master Tournament" semifinal officially began!

"Gyarados, Dragon Dance!"

"Roar—!!"

The red Gyarados roared skyward, its momentum rapidly climbing, its already fierce appearance becoming even more menacing.

Lance struck first, but very aggressively chose Dragon Dance as his opening move, which couldn't help but surprise people.

Really bold.

But from this, one could also see that Lance's attacking desire today was... full!

Giovanni's choice, however, was—

"Come back, Tyranitar."

A red beam shot out. After the roaring Tyranitar gave Gyarados one more fierce glare, it disappeared from the field along the red light.

"Mr. Giovanni immediately chose to switch Pokémon!" Even the commentator's voice carried surprise.

Just purely... to raise a sandstorm?

That was one aspect.

On the other hand, although Tyranitar seemed unaffected by Gyarados's "Intimidate," that was only how it appeared.

However.

Both sides' opening moves made Lance's choice seem extremely wise—not only did he gain Dragon Dance enhancement for free, but he also seized the initiative during his opponent's switch.

Clair in the audience curved her lips.

Everyone thought Lance wasn't good at tactics, but only she knew that Lance made thorough preparations before each battle, including watching his opponent's battle videos.

Sandstorm teams were the tactical system Giovanni had used most consistently since participating in the tournament.

"...The substitute is—Rhyperior!!"

Ground and Rock-type Pokémon, Rhyperior?

When everyone saw that massive figure covered in orange brick-like stones with a pointed horn on its head appear on the field, they couldn't help but be puzzled.

Huh?

Although Tyranitar was double weak to Water and got "Intimidated," wouldn't that still be safer than the quadruple Water-weak Rhyperior facing Gyarados?

Are you sure this won't get one-shotted by Gyarados that just finished Dragon Dance?

Even Johan was somewhat surprised.

But after some brief thought, Johan seemed to understand something.

"Gyarados, Aqua Tail!" Lance waved his hand and launched a fierce attack without hesitation.

"Roar—!!"

The red Gyarados roared again, using the speed from Dragon Dance to rapidly approach the just-entered Rhyperior.

At the same time, the "rushing" sound of water rose as its tail, wrapped in surging water flow, slammed heavily toward Rhyperior!

Giovanni's expression remained unchanged, his eyes slightly narrowed as he said in a deep voice: "Rhyperior, take it!"

Take it?

All the audience were stunned.

Although there was a sandstorm ongoing, sandstorms could only cause minor effects on Gyarados, and theoretically, sandstorms enhanced Rock-type Pokémon's special defense, not physical defense...

Moreover, Gyarados had received Dragon Dance's physical attack enhancement.

The next second.

The audience got their answer.

Bang!!

Rhyperior roared and extended its extremely thick arms, directly facing the red Gyarados's tail wrapped in surging water flow.

Dull sounds accompanied by the "rushing" of splashing water.

"Ca-caught it?"

"Really caught it?"

When they saw the two grooves Rhyperior had slid on the ground, when they saw Rhyperior standing tall with raised arms, most people's faces showed amazement and disbelief.

Indeed.

Johan, sitting in the audience, lightly stroked his chin and nodded slightly.

This scene seemed to be captured by the director, and immediately a filming Rotom flew to his face. He appeared in a corner of the big screen as a commentator.

"Can Teacher Johan explain this for us?" the commentator's voice came.

Hm?

Commentary?

Johan was stunned.

My commentary... charges fees!

But after a brief pause, he still spoke quickly: "Because Mr. Giovanni's Rhyperior has the 'Solid Rock' ability."

[Solid Rock: When receiving super effective attacks, the attack power is reduced to three-quarters!]

That is to say.

Although Ground and Rock-type Rhyperior was quadruple weak to Water, with the "Solid Rock" ability, it was actually triple weak to Water.

Furthermore, Rhyperior was inherently a Pokémon that excelled at physical defense. Forcing Lance and Gyarados to use physical attacks under sandstorm was also attacking where Rhyperior's defense was strongest.

So...

Rhyperior wouldn't be one-shotted.

Many in the audience understood.

Johan quickly added: "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Giovanni's Rhyperior should be carrying 'Weakness Policy.'"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Hum—

Rhyperior on the field immediately surged with fierce air waves, sand swirling at its feet as its momentum began rapidly climbing.

"It really is 'Weakness Policy'!" the commentator exclaimed in surprise.

More than just "Weakness Policy"...

Giovanni's voice came at just the right time: "Rhyperior, Rock Polish!"

Bang—bang—

The collision of rock against rock and the grating friction sounds.

With Rhyperior's base speed, using Rock Polish?

Acceleration-type Rhyperior—haven't seen that before, right?

Soon.

Rhyperior seemed extremely familiar with this move. When the "Weakness Policy" effect ended, Rock Polish was already complete!

Thus...

"Stone Edge!" Giovanni raised his hand.

Thud! Thud! Thud—

Sharp rock pillars rose from the ground.

Gyarados, having spent considerable effort breaking free from Rhyperior's tail grab, directly took the full brunt of Stone Edge!

Bang!!

The massive impact force instantly sent Lance's red Gyarados flying, the intense pain nearly knocking it unconscious.

"Gyarados, hold on!!" Lance clenched his fist and shouted.

Watching this scene, the audience gasped.

The quadruple Water-weak Rhyperior wasn't one-shotted by Gyarados's Aqua Tail, but instead Gyarados was nearly one-shotted by Rhyperior's Stone Edge?

Although Gyarados was indeed double weak to Rock-type.

"Roar, roar..."

The red Gyarados ultimately persevered under Lance's shouts, breathing heavily and looking warily at the opposing Rhyperior.

Giovanni's face showed some surprise for the first time.

It held on?

Obviously "hold on" wasn't shouted for nothing.

"Come back first, Gyarados." Lance exhaled lightly, taking the Poké Ball and recalling Gyarados.

The "Intimidate" ability Gyarados was very important to his team. If it completely lost battle ability right from the start, that would be big trouble.

Fortunately, it held on.

"Gyarados held on! Champion Lance chooses to switch Pokémon!"

Johan clicked his tongue.

Is this what battles between two "cheaters" look like?

Both using "lock HP hacks" like they cost nothing.

Having "Viridian Power" makes you so great?

"...The substitute is—Kingdra!"

Lance's second Pokémon, Water and Dragon-type Kingdra!

Upon entry, under Lance's command, Kingdra helped Gyarados finish the final blow.

"Rhyperior is unable to battle!"

The referee waved the flag and announced the result.

The first Pokémon to lose battle ability in this match appeared.

Lance took the first victory!

However, Giovanni, having lost one Pokémon, remained calm, hands in pockets. After recalling Rhyperior to his waist, he immediately threw out his third Poké Ball.

"Mr. Giovanni's third Pokémon is—Nidoqueen!!"

"Nido!!"

Nidoqueen, clad in light blue armor-like shell, roared at Lance's Kingdra.

"Ka-kaah—!!"

Gengar in front of Johan's eyes lit up upon seeing Nidoqueen, floating to the front and cupping its hands like a megaphone, shouting loudly to cheer for Nidoqueen.

Having once played together, they now both stood on the "Master Tournament" stage.

"Kingdra, Rain Dance!" After finishing off Rhyperior's last "HP," Lance, seeing Nidoqueen, commanded again.

The sandstorm's presence was very influential.

Moreover, Lance now somewhat mastered half a "storm" tactic—rainy weather matched well with his Pokémon.

"Oowu—" Kingdra's melodious voice spread throughout the venue.

The sandstorm gradually dispersed, clouds gathered in the sky, and water vapor accumulated.

While Kingdra was using Rain Dance, Giovanni also gave commands.

"Nidoqueen, Ice Punch!"

Somehow, Nidoqueen had appeared before Kingdra, its raised fist covered in frost.

Bang!!

A heavy strike.

Ice crystals scattered.

None fell on Kingdra's body, but Kingdra... shot out like a cannonball.

It flew past Lance in an instant and crashed into the stadium barrier.

This punch...

The entire venue fell completely silent.

Was this that "ordinary" Ice Punch?

The director seemed to have learned, as the filming Rotom appeared before Johan in the audience again.

I'll block him in the bathroom if Leon doesn't pay appearance fees... Johan thought viciously while calmly explaining: "Nidoqueen's ability is Sheer Force, and it's carrying 'Life Orb'—of course its explosive power isn't weak."

But ultimately, it wasn't STAB.

Kingdra hadn't completely lost battle ability.

The sandstorm had dissipated, and rain fell like continuous threads.

"Kingdra, Hydro Pump!" Lance took a deep breath and shouted.

Under rain, Lance's Kingdra's speed soared—the "Swift Swim" ability doubled Kingdra's speed in rain!

A surging water column headed toward Nidoqueen.

Then—

Giovanni raised his arm: "Nidoqueen, Surf!"

Nidoqueen showed everyone what it meant to... ride the waves!

"Earthquake!"

"Nido!!"

Taking advantage of Surf to approach Kingdra, enduring Kingdra's Hydro Pump and heavily stomping the ground, stirring up terrifying tremors across the field.

"Kingdra is unable to battle!" The referee waved the flag.

The score became 1:1!

However, the sandstorm was gone, but the rain continued.

Lance's third Pokémon was—Dragonite!

He unexpectedly sent out his ace Dragonite as his third Pokémon?

No!

Soon people realized.

Although both were Dragonite, this one didn't seem to be Lance's ace?

As heir to the Dragon Clan, having two or three Dragonite was quite reasonable, right?

"Dragonite, Hurricane!"

Under rain, an exaggerated storm swept over.

Giovanni looked at the Dragonite in the sky and said to Nidoqueen: "Hold steady."

"Nido!"

Nidoqueen nodded heavily and stomped the ground hard.

Hurricane howled over, but Nidoqueen seemed to draw strength from the earth, standing unmoved under the storm.

When I stand upon the earth...

"Avalanche!"

Just as Dragonite's Hurricane ended, Avalanche appeared out of thin air above it and crashed down heavily.

[Avalanche: When hit by an opponent's move, this move's power doubles!]

Avalanche's base 60 power suddenly became an exaggerated 120, comparable to Blizzard!

Plus Nidoqueen's own ability and item enhancement...

"Draaa—"

Dragonite cried out in pain and was smashed down from the sky.

Lance's pupils contracted: "Dragonite, hold on!"

Just before crashing to the ground, Dragonite finally regained the ability to flap its wings from Avalanche's extreme cold.

"Extreme Speed! Aqua Tail!"

Dragonite, wrapped in white light, rapidly approached Nidoqueen, its water-wrapped tail striking heavily and sending Nidoqueen flying.

"Nidoqueen is unable to battle!"

Giovanni then sent out his fourth Pokémon, Aggron!

With Stone Edge, it took out Lance's Dragonite and once again stirred up sand and dust, raising a sandstorm.

The score returned to a 2:2 tie.

Lance's fourth Pokémon was a Pokémon from ancient times—Aerodactyl!

Also making use of the sandstorm's benefits.

But...

Aerodactyl couldn't match the terrifying defense of Aggron. The score became 2:3.

Aggron violently swept through two!

This was also the first time Giovanni had taken the lead in score.

Because someone had lost three Pokémon, they entered halftime break for field replacement.

Also giving both sides more thinking time.

The next Pokémon choice was crucial for Lance.

Having lost more than half his Pokémon, if he lost one more, he would fall into a very big disadvantage. Given Giovanni's currently displayed strength... once the score reached 2:4, a comeback would become extremely difficult.

So...

Lance made a choice that surprised many people.

Charizard!

Although Lance's Charizard couldn't be considered his signature, Charizard was indeed Lance's first Pokémon, and the bond between them couldn't be measured by what outsiders called signature or not.

Therefore, at the crucial moment, Lance trusted Charizard.

Even though when facing Giovanni, Charizard had very obvious type disadvantages.

But Charizard responded to Lance, using the Ground-type move Scorching Sands to inflict "Burn" status on Aggron.

Then with Brick Break, it reverse-typed and one-shotted Aggron!

The score became 3:3.

No matter how you looked at it, they seemed evenly matched.

Giovanni then sent out Dugtrio, but Lance and his Charizard had obviously entered some kind of state, ultimately using Charizard's Solar Beam to send Dugtrio out of the field.

4:3!

Now it seemed Giovanni had fallen into disadvantage.

But Giovanni remained unhurried and once again sent out the one that had appeared earliest but hadn't appeared since—Tyranitar!

"Tyranitar!"

Giovanni lightly patted his chest. Where the Team Rocket "R" symbol should have been, there was now a special pin embedded with a Key Stone!

"Mega Evolution!"

"Tar!!!"

He actually chose Tyranitar for Mega Evolution?

Others might think—what was strange about pseudo-legendary Tyranitar being used for Mega Evolution?

But...

Lance recalled his barely surviving Charizard and sent out his final trump card.

"Dragonite!!"

"Soar through the sky!"

Terastallization!

"Draaa—!!"

Transparent crystals built up as Dragonite instantly completed Terastallization, its type changing to—

"Tera Water?!"

"Eh? When did Champion Lance change Dragonite's Tera type?"

"It's actually not Tera Normal—now this is interesting..."