"Golem, get closer to it."
Tetsuya's opponent in the round of sixty to thirty was completely confident thanks to Golem's weight. Golem was slowly approaching Golurk.
"Focus Punch."
Tetsuya spoke calmly. 'Let's see just how tough your Golem really is.'
White energy gathered in Golurk's hand. The powerful Focus Punch was combined with Golurk's Iron Fist Ability.
Golem continued approaching, preparing to meet its doom…
"Go!"
Golem had already entered Golurk's attack range, and the energy for Focus Punch had already finished gathering.
With a loud "bang!" came the sound of rock shattering.
"G-Golem, hurry and attack while you can!"
Looking at the opponent shouting himself hoarse across from him, Tetsuya could not help but find it amusing.
Golurk's fist struck the rock on top of Golem's head. Golem did not move at all. It lay at Golurk's feet, already having lost its ability to battle.
As Golem collapsed with a thunderous crash, three layers of rock around its body shattered apart. Its body had also become noticeably smaller. Years of painstaking molting had been wasted in a single day. Without another three to five years of shedding and regrowth, it would never recover to its previous state.
Although Golem's Trainer was filled with unwillingness, there was nothing he could do. He could only grit his teeth and recall Golem.
Golem's miserable condition caused many people to sigh in sympathy. The terrifying combat power exhibited by Golurk was simply too frightening. Many people already felt like giving up on the competition. After all, only the champion could obtain the King's Rock, many had already been intimidated.
Sure enough, when Tetsuya reached the round of thirty to fifteen, his opponent retired directly from the competition.
When the competition reached the round of fifteen to eight, Tetsuya received a bye as the top seed and advanced directly into the quarterfinals, while the remaining fourteen competitors fought for the other seven quarterfinal spots.
For two consecutive days, Tetsuya advanced all the way into the quarterfinals without even having to battle.
The quarterfinal matches had already reached a fever pitch. The other three matches had begun fierce competition. However, Tetsuya's opponent still had not sent out a Pokémon. Holding three Poké Balls in his hands, he could not decide which one to choose. Golurk was simply too powerful. There was no obvious way to deal with it.
Only after the referee's third warning did the quarterfinal opponent finally realize that none of his Pokémon could defeat Golurk. In the end, he sent out his strongest Pokémon, Poliwrath.
When it came to trading punches with Poliwrath, Golurk used Thunder Punch. Poliwrath immediately lost its nerve. Although it was also a Fighting-type Pokémon, being a Water-type meant that fearing Electric-type moves was perfectly normal.
The already intimidated Poliwrath was sent flying out of the ring before the electricity from Thunder Punch even had the chance to invade its body.
Despite being the last match to begin, Tetsuya was still the first person to advance into the semifinals.
Normally, the later rounds became increasingly difficult and closely contested. Yet this time, everything had become remarkably simple. His semifinal opponent was a Machamp.
Machamp's Trainer frowned deeply, completely incapable to figure out how to overcome the wall that was Golurk.
Golurk stood motionless in place, while Machamp swung its four arms to warm up!
In reality, it did not dare make the first move…
"Heh~ Fronting!"
Tetsuya deliberately mocked him. After all, he had trained Golurk for many days without allowing it to move freely within the ring.
He himself had only trained for seven days. Many others had likely trained for seven years. Pokémon like those would be extremely familiar with the battlefield and would have a very clear sense of the boundaries. If it were not being pushed by an opponent's attack, it would be impossible for it to step outside the ring.
Golurk, however, was different. Because its training period had been short, it could not guarantee that it would always remain within the dohyō while moving around. It was entirely possible that a moment of carelessness would send it out of bounds and eliminate it. The reason it had managed to win all the way to this point was purely because of its individual strength.
Sure enough, Tetsuya's taunt provoked his opponent, who shouted, "Machamp, use Karate Chop non-stop!"
Machamp advanced slowly, its four arms moving so quickly that they formed an "impenetrable" defense. This move could be used for both offense and defense. On offense, it delivered a continuous barrage of Karate Chops. On defense, it could easily neutralize an opponent's moves.
"Attack with both fists. Shadow Punch."
Since one punch would not be enough, then two punches it would be. It could even be considered a sign of respect toward this four-armed opponent.
Dark Ghost-type energy quickly gathered around Golurk's arms. Golurk threw one punch, which was blocked by Machamp's lower pair of arms. Then it threw another punch, which was blocked by the upper pair.
Machamp's Trainer let out a long breath of relief. Machamp's strength really was enough to withstand Golurk!
However, in the very next moment, the dark Ghost-type energy surrounding Golurk's fists burst forward. Only then was the true power of the move released. Machamp was instantly blasted backward and sent flying. By the time it hit the ground, it had already landed outside the ring.
Tetsuya's Golurk was the first to advance into the championship match.
The other semifinal was a battle between a Hariyama from Hoenn and a Conkeldurr from Unova. Although Conkeldurr was powerful, Hariyama seemed to have been born specifically for sumo. Under Hariyama's relentless barrage of Arm Thrust attacks, Conkeldurr was unable to hold out. Even the two reinforced concrete pillars it wielded as weapons developed cracks before it was eventually pushed out of the ring.
Thus, Hariyama became the final opponent Golurk would have to face.
---◓---
The championship match began. Golurk and Hariyama took their positions on opposite sides of the dohyō.
Hariyama's Ability was very likely Thick Fat. An Ability like that meant its body contained a great deal of fat. A Thick Fat body possessed elasticity, making it impossible to simply send it flying with a direct punch.
Continuing the same strategy it had used throughout the competition, Hariyama charged forward with a relentless series of Arm Thrust attacks.
Golurk threw both fists forward, but Hariyama's palms blocked them perfectly. The elasticity in its palms neutralized Golurk's attack.
Since a direct assault would not work, then there was only one option left, something even more brutal…
"Golurk, grab its arms."
Golurk withdrew its fists. Hariyama's fat trembled slightly. Hariyama's Trainer smiled faintly. This was the power of Thick Fat. No matter how powerful an attack was, it would be absorbed and neutralized by that thick layer of fat. Golurk's glorious streak of sending opponents flying with a single punch would come to an end here. 'My Hariyama was the true strongest competitor on this stage!'
However, things were not that simple…
The next moment, Golurk's massive hands lunged forward in a grabbing motion and locked firmly onto Hariyama's arms.
Hariyama's arms could no longer move at all!
What happened next left everyone dumbfounded…
The more than 250-kilogram Hariyama was lifted directly into the air by Golurk. Then Golurk swung it violently and threw it out of the ring.
In the face of absolute power, everything became simple!
Hariyama's Trainer had never imagined that Golurk owned such overwhelming power. He was completely convinced!
Hariyama's Trainer let out a sigh and recalled Hariyama.