"Stepping stone?" Bai Ze sneered. "You've got to be joking. That Charizard hasn't even reached the Elite level. It's not qualified to use me as one."
He withdrew his gaze from Hino's departing figure and fixed it back on Sam and Charizard.
This time, there was no laziness in his eyes.
Only greed.
"Keep winning… the more, the better," Bai Ze muttered, licking his lips. "Once I beat you, I'll cash in big."
---
"Thirty-two consecutive wins…"
Sam stretched his shoulders slightly.
Three days.
That was all it took him to reach this point.
If nothing unexpected happened, today he would hit 35 consecutive wins and move into the advanced area.
His eyes shifted toward Bai Ze in the crowd.
"You're still not coming up?"
---
Bai Ze was slightly surprised—but he didn't hide anything.
"Not yet," he said with a faint smile. "I'll wait until you hit thirty-three."
---
Sam shook his head.
"What a greedy hunter."
To Bai Ze, Sam was nothing more than prey fattened for harvest.
But Sam didn't care.
In fact—
He was looking forward to it.
---
The truth was simple.
The beginner area was too weak.
After three straight days of battles, Charizard hadn't felt real pressure.
And without pressure—
There was no breakthrough.
Now, all of Sam's expectations rested on Bai Ze.
---
Another match ended.
"Thirty-three consecutive wins."
This time, Bai Ze didn't wait.
Afraid someone else might steal his target, he immediately stepped onto the arena.
---
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The crowd erupted.
Bai Ze was famous here—a win-streak hunter.
Many had gathered not just to watch Sam…
…but to watch him fall.
"The only one who can stop him is Bai Ze!"
Even those with no grudge against Sam felt a strange excitement.
After all—
Watching a rising star crash was always entertaining.
---
"It seems you're not very popular," Bai Ze said with a sinister grin. "No one wants your streak to continue."
Sam smiled faintly.
"That's normal."
He paused, then added calmly:
"They still think they're on the same level as me."
"That's the real problem."
---
Bai Ze narrowed his eyes. "What are you implying?"
---
Sam met his gaze directly.
"They know it deep down… but refuse to admit it."
"Once I beat you, they'll understand."
"They won't envy me anymore."
"They'll look up to me."
---
"You're arrogant," Bai Ze said coldly.
"Confidence," Sam replied. "You'll see the difference soon enough."
---
The referee signaled.
No more words.
Only battle.
---
"Come out—Samurott!"
A flash of light—
A powerful, armored sea lion-like Pokémon appeared on the field.
[Pokémon]: Samurott
[Type]: Water
[Strength]: Elite (Low Tier)
[Potential]: Elite
---
This time—
Charizard had met a real opponent.
Type disadvantage.
Power disadvantage.
No room for error.
---
Sam's lips curved slightly.
"Now this… is interesting."
He raised his hand sharply.
"Charizard—Heat Wave!"
---
Flames surged.
With a powerful beat of its wings, Charizard fused fire and wind into a blazing storm that swept toward Samurott.
---
But Bai Ze didn't panic.
Not even a little.
"Samurott—defend with water flow!"
---
Water surged upward instantly, forming a rotating barrier.
The incoming Heat Wave collided with it—
Steam exploded across the battlefield.
---
For the first time in days—
Sam's advance had been stopped.
And the real battle…
was just beginning.