Pokemon:Team Rocket

"How shameless!"

"Swellow, use Aerial Ace!" Ba Xiaoqin ordered, her voice sharp and confident.

Aerial Ace—a move known in the Pokémon world for its high accuracy. In the games, it claimed a 100% hit rate, a trainer's reliable tool in battle. But this was reality. Here, no move could guarantee an unavoidable hit. There were always ways to counter, always a strategy to escape.

As Swellow's wings glinted under the arena lights, it tucked in and spun forward, its speed suddenly increasing as it aimed straight for Beedrill. The move was designed to catch opponents off-guard with its unexpected burst of speed. Ba Xiaoqin smirked. Her plan was simple: strike hard, strike fast, and end the battle in a single, glorious blow.

She wanted to humiliate this arrogant boy, to show him just how outclassed he truly was.

But reality wasn't a video game. And Renjiro was no ordinary boy.

"You're too slow!" Renjiro said calmly, his eyes sharp, his voice steady.

"Beedrill, sidestep—get out of its path!"

Though Swellow's speed was impressive, it wasn't enough. Not against Renjiro's Beedrill. With a subtle shift of its body, Beedrill elegantly turned sideways. The audience watched, breathless, as Swellow soared past, missing its target by mere inches.

"Hmph, do you think that's the end of it?" Ba Xiaoqin's lips curled into a confident smirk. "It's not over yet!"

She was convinced Renjiro didn't truly understand Aerial Ace. In her mind, he must think it was just a straightforward rush. But Aerial Ace was more than that—it was a move that allowed for sudden pivots, for fluid, unpredictable attacks. She knew victory was within her grasp.

Up in the viewing gallery, Gan Fengyu, a seasoned Flying-type Elite, watched with keen interest. His experience told him much that casual observers would miss.

"This Beedrill…" he muttered to himself, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair. "It's not even trying yet."

Gan Fengyu had seen thousands of battles. He knew the difficulty of dodging a properly executed Aerial Ace. But Beedrill's movement had been effortless. There was no panic, no struggle—just clean, controlled evasion. Despite being eight levels lower than Swellow, this Beedrill moved like a predator toying with its prey.

And to an expert like Gan Fengyu, levels on a battle watch meant little. True strength came from the bond between trainer and Pokémon, from their experience, their instincts. Numbers couldn't measure that.

Inside the arena, the tension thickened. Swellow, unfazed by the miss, circled around swiftly, eyes locked on Beedrill.

"It's coming back!" someone in the crowd gasped.

"Be careful, Renjiro!" another called out.

"If that hits, it's over for Beedrill!"

Voices of concern echoed through the hall. Everyone could feel it—the stakes, the danger. Swellow's next strike could decide the match.

Ba Xiaoqin's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Hahaha! Let's see where you'll run this time!"

But Renjiro didn't flinch. His gaze remained steady, his mind clear.

"You don't really think I've never seen Aerial Ace before, do you?" he said, his tone laced with dry amusement.

In his past life, Renjiro had devoured Pokémon games, watched the anime, memorized strategies. And since arriving in this world ten days ago, he had fought countless battles. On average, he faced ten opponents each day. That intense experience had forged him into a calm, calculating trainer.

"Beedrill, Double Team."

Beedrill shimmered, then split into a dozen identical images, each as lifelike as the original. The arena was suddenly filled with buzzing illusions.

Ba Xiaoqin sneered. "It's useless! Swellow, push through!"

Swellow let out a shrill cry and arced around again, aiming to slice through both illusions and the real Beedrill.

But this was exactly what Renjiro had anticipated. He knew Swellow's speed would climb with each loop of Aerial Ace—but that increase would come at a cost: control. And once Swellow was forced to adjust its path repeatedly, its speed would drop, leaving it vulnerable.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Swellow barreled through the clones one by one, shattering the illusions like fragile glass.

And just as it lunged for the real Beedrill—

"Beedrill, dodge!"

Beedrill darted to the side with perfect timing. Swellow's talons sliced through empty air once more.

The crowd erupted.

"Unbelievable! He dodged again!"

"This Beedrill is incredible! Not even Swellow can touch it!"

"Isn't that the Beedrill that fought Salamence the other day?"

"That's what I was thinking! Could it really be the same one?"

"No way! A rookie trainer can't have a Beedrill that strong… can he?"

Gan Fengyu leaned forward, intrigued. "This boy… he's not just battling. He's playing with her."

He could see it plainly. Renjiro was toying with Ba Xiaoqin, drawing out the battle, teaching her a lesson she wouldn't forget. And unless she changed tactics, she was headed for a humiliating defeat.

Ba Xiaoqin clenched her fists, seething with frustration. "Damn it! How is this happening?!"

Her Swellow had come close—twice. And both times, Beedrill had slipped away at the last second.

"Swellow, again! Aerial Ace! Don't stop until you hit it!"

Gan Fengyu smirked from his seat. "Foolish. You can't beat speed with speed alone."

Renjiro shook his head, disappointed by Ba Xiaoqin's stubbornness. "Still attacking blindly? Swellow's fast, but speed without precision is just wasted motion."

Indeed, rather than trying to slow Beedrill or control the field, Ba Xiaoqin kept doubling down on the same move. And each time, Swellow grew sloppier, more fatigued.

Swellow darted forward once more, determined to land a hit. But Beedrill danced away effortlessly, its movements light and mocking.

Renjiro's calm voice echoed through the arena. "Beedrill, now! Twineedle—aim for the wings!"

Beedrill's stingers glinted as it shot forward. Swellow, thrown off by its own momentum, couldn't react in time. The twin stingers struck true, grazing Swellow's wing joints.

Swellow shrieked in pain, its flight pattern wobbling.

"Impossible!" Ba Xiaoqin gasped.

The audience was on their feet now, their cheers deafening.

"He did it!"

"That's what I'm talking about!"

"Renjiro's Beedrill is on another level!"

Ba Xiaoqin gritted her teeth, her mind racing. "Swellow, fall back! Regain altitude!"

But Renjiro wasn't about to let up.

"Agility, Beedrill—stay on it! Don't give it space to recover!"

With a blur of motion, Beedrill zipped after Swellow, harrying it with rapid feints and jabs, forcing Swellow into a defensive spiral. Every time Swellow tried to climb, Beedrill was there, pushing it back down.

Gan Fengyu watched, deeply impressed. "That boy… he's got the instincts of a master."

Ba Xiaoqin's confidence crumbled as she realized the truth. This wasn't just luck. Renjiro had outthought, outpaced, and outclassed her at every turn. No level advantage could save her now.

"Swellow, Quick Attack! Get some distance!" she cried, desperation creeping into her voice.

Swellow shot forward in a final attempt to break free. But Beedrill anticipated the move, cutting across Swellow's path, forcing it to veer off wildly.

Renjiro's eyes narrowed. "Finish it. Twineedle, one last time!"

Beedrill streaked forward. With precision honed by relentless practice, it struck Swellow squarely on the chest. The Flying-type tumbled through the air before crashing to the ground, wings trembling, body still.

The referee raised a flag. "Swellow is unable to battle. The winner is Renjiro!"

The hall exploded in applause and cheers.

Renjiro simply returned Beedrill to its Poké Ball, his expression composed. "Good work."

Ba Xiaoqin stood frozen, stunned. She had come in thinking she could teach him a lesson. But instead, she had been schooled—completely and utterly.

Gan Fengyu leaned back in his chair, chuckling softly. "This kid… I want to see more of him."

As the crowd chanted Renjiro's name, he turned to Nurse Joy. "Please arrange my next opponent."

For Renjiro, this wasn't about fame or pride.

It was about growth. And the next challenge awaited.

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