"Blaziken, let's go!!!"
Sam's fourth-round opponent was a female Trainer, but the Pokémon she chose—Blaziken—didn't quite match the delicate aesthetic many would expect.
[Pokémon]: Blaziken
[Type]: Fire + Fighting
[Strength]: Mid Gym Level
[Potential]: Gym Level
Her strength was average, but the moment Sam saw Blaziken, his interest was immediately piqued.
He clearly remembered how Ash's Charizard had once been defeated by a Blaziken in the Silver Conference. This was a worthy opponent.
"Blaziken, Blaze Kick!"
The girl's Blaziken crouched low before launching forward explosively, closing the distance in an instant.
Sam's eyes narrowed slightly. That level of burst speed was impressive.
According to the Pokédex, Blaziken could easily leap over a 30-story building—and now Sam was seeing that power firsthand.
In the blink of an eye, Blaziken appeared in front of Charizard, raising its flaming leg high before bringing it down in a devastating kick.
Logically, the safest move would be to dodge.
Sam knew Charizard could avoid it.
But he didn't give that command.
Because he saw it—the excitement burning in Charizard's eyes.
This wasn't a fight to avoid.
This was a fight to embrace.
"Charizard, Fire Punch!"
Fist met kick.
For a split second, the entire arena held its breath.
Then—
Boom!
Contrary to expectations, Blaziken was blown backward.
Despite the natural advantage of a leg strike, Charizard's raw power crushed through the attack. The moment their attacks collided, a cracking sound echoed through the arena.
Blaziken hit the ground hard, clutching its leg, sweat pouring down its face.
The outcome was obvious.
It could no longer continue.
The girl didn't hesitate. After conceding, she rushed Blaziken toward the infirmary. Fractures weren't uncommon in battles, but delaying treatment could cause lasting damage.
---
The battle continued.
Fifth round.
Sixth round.
Sam defeated both opponents cleanly.
By now, a crowd had gathered around the arena.
Their expressions had changed.
What started as curiosity had turned into genuine respect.
Only one battle remained.
Win this, and Sam would secure a seven-match winning streak.
Lose—and everything resets.
Sam glanced at Charizard. After six consecutive battles, its stamina was nearly depleted.
The final opponent stepped onto the field.
Fortunately, this last challenger wasn't particularly strong.
With sharp execution and minimal wasted movement, Charizard ended the match quickly.
Victory.
Seven consecutive wins.
---
The arena buzzed with mixed emotions.
Some were amazed.
Some were envious.
One Trainer sighed, unable to hide his frustration:
"Man… the gap between people is real. I've tried so many times and couldn't even get past five wins. He comes in and clears seven in one go…"
Sam heard the comments but didn't respond.
He simply smiled faintly and turned to leave.
"Mr. Sam, please wait."
A staff member stopped him.
Sam paused. "Is something wrong?"
The staff member smiled politely.
"Since this is your first time here, let me explain. In the Battle Tower, winning matches earns you points. Consecutive victories give bonus points, and those can be exchanged for rewards."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
So that's how it works.
Most Trainers came here for these rewards.
Sam wasn't—but that didn't mean he'd refuse free benefits.
Under the staff's guidance, he entered a lavishly decorated exchange hall.
The room was quiet, with only a few Trainers browsing.
The walls were lined with finely crafted wooden displays, filled with all kinds of items.
Sam glanced around casually—
Then paused.
Even he couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
The rewards here… were seriously valuable.