A massive ball of fire burst from Charmeleon's mouth.
"Defense Curl!"
Munchlax's body immediately curled into a ball once again, directly meeting the flames head-on.
After the intense heat washed over it, Munchlax dropped to the ground—but emerged completely unharmed.
"Munchlax is amazing!" Ash couldn't help exclaiming from the stands.
Sam also activated his appraisal ability to inspect Munchlax. Logically speaking, Munchlax was still an unevolved Pokémon. It shouldn't have been able to deal with Charmeleon this easily.
[Pokémon] Munchlax
[Attribute] Normal
[Category] Big Eater Pokémon
[Abilities] Pickup, Thick Fat
[Hidden Ability] Gluttony
[Strength] Gym Mid-Level
[Potential] Champion
Sam couldn't help widening his eyes.
This was another Pokémon with Champion-level potential.
Misty had truly struck gold.
However, its current strength was only at the Gym Mid-Level. Logically, it shouldn't have been overpowering Charmeleon so easily.
Curious, Sam turned his appraisal ability toward Charmeleon.
[Pokémon] Charmeleon
[Attribute] Fire
[Category] Flame Pokémon
[Ability] Blaze
[Hidden Ability] Solar Power
[Strength] Gym Beginner-Level
[Potential] Elite
Looking at the information, Sam was speechless.
Although Charmeleon possessed Elite-level potential, its actual strength was only at the Gym Beginner-Level.
Sam glanced at Erika helplessly.
Even if she didn't particularly like Charmeleon, she could at least have trained it a little more.
For a moment, Sam actually felt sorry for the poor Pokémon.
A Pokémon really was fortunate if it found a good Trainer.
Another loud collision rang out across the battlefield.
Moments later, Charmeleon collapsed to the ground and failed to get back up.
The battle was over.
Erika smiled.
"Congratulations, Misty."
She stepped forward and handed over a badge.
It was the Steadfast Badge, the first badge required for qualification in the Masters Tournament.
Misty happily accepted it.
Although she felt something was a little strange about how smoothly everything had gone, she was still thrilled to receive her badge.
From the stands, Ash turned toward Sam.
"Brother Sam, was Sister Erika holding back?"
Sam smiled awkwardly.
Holding back?
This wasn't holding back.
This was practically releasing the entire Pacific Ocean.
Finally, the most anticipated battle of the day arrived.
Sam vs. Erika.
Sam confidently walked onto the battlefield.
Although Erika was strong, there was still a significant gap between them.
Standing opposite him, Erika looked at him with a smile.
"I won't go easy on you."
"Good," Sam replied. "If you hold back, it'll be boring."
Erika knew Sam loved talking big, so she simply summoned her Pokémon without further comment.
[Pokémon] Vileplume
[Attribute] Grass / Poison
[Category] Flower Pokémon
[Ability] Chlorophyll
[Hidden Ability] Effect Spore
[Strength] Elite Beginner-Level
Sam immediately complained inwardly.
Looks like she's really not planning to hold back at all.
Then he released his own Pokémon.
[Pokémon] Gengar
[Attribute] Ghost / Poison
[Category] Shadow Pokémon
[Ability] Cursed Body
[Hidden Ability] None
[Strength] Champion Beginner-Level
Looking at Erika, Sam grinned.
"Go ahead. I'll finish this in three moves."
Erika chuckled.
"I love how serious you look when you're bragging."
The moment she finished speaking, she made the first move.
"Bullet Seed!"
Vileplume opened fire, unleashing a barrage of seeds toward Gengar.
However, Gengar was already a Champion-Level Pokémon.
Activating Sucker Punch, it instantly crossed the battlefield and appeared right in front of Vileplume.
Without hesitation, it followed up with Mean Look.
A strange psychic-like force locked onto Vileplume.
"Moonlight!"
Erika immediately countered, using a Fairy-type support technique to disperse the effects of Mean Look.
But Sam's next attack was already prepared.
"Shadow Ball!"
Gengar pressed its hands together as a sphere of darkness rapidly condensed between its palms.
The black orb grew larger and larger before being hurled directly at Vileplume.
At the same time, Gengar deliberately allowed one of the Bullet Seeds to strike its body.
Its Cursed Body activated instantly.
A strange curse spread across Vileplume, freezing it in place.
This wasn't merely the normal effect of Cursed Body anymore.
After reaching the Champion Level, the ability had evolved.
Any target immobilized by the curse would suffer greatly increased damage from incoming attacks.
The Shadow Ball shot forward.
Under the effects of the curse, Vileplume couldn't even use Substitute.
The dark sphere struck directly.
Boom!
The explosion echoed throughout the Gym.
When the smoke cleared, Vileplume had already collapsed onto the battlefield.
Unable to continue fighting.
The match was over.
And with a single devastating combination attack, Sam claimed victory and earned his first Masters Tournament badge.
---------------Author---------------
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