Richard's stomach sank, his thoughts churning. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Rowan as he rasped:
"What a move… Rowan."
"I never imagined you were hiding someone like that."
Despair and anger hit him at once.
Ranked fifty-second.
Sebastian was strong enough to break into the rankings, but he'd never reach that high—at best, somewhere around the top eighty. But Rowan's challenger was fifty-second.
With that kind of gap in both rank and strength, how could Richard not feel cornered?
"Hahaha… just luck, hahaha!!"
Seeing Richard's expression, Rowan's smile only widened. He gave him a pointed look.
"Richard… you've sat in that seat long enough. It's time for me to take it."
Ambition burned in Rowan's eyes.
"Hah…"
"Does a high ranking automatically mean strength?"
"Wait until the match is over before you start laughing. You're not Chairman yet."
Richard drew a slow breath, his gaze still fixed on Rowan.
Nathan had fair skin and a clean, gentle look that made him easy to like. He was the prodigy currently ranked fifty-second.
His partner was a girl named Emma. With her baby face and short hair, she carried a youthful charm.
Though she wasn't ranked, she had been personally selected by Nathan.
Her strength was not to be underestimated.
Sebastian wore a faint smile, battle intent flickering in his eyes as he looked across the field at Nathan.
Nathan responded with a polite nod.
"Both sides, please prepare."
"This will be a two-on-two team battle."
"Each trainer may have only one Pokémon on the field at a time, and each trainer may use up to two Pokémon in total."
"When all four Pokémon on one side are unable to battle—"
"The match will be decided."
"Now… I declare—"
"The match begins!"
Standing on the referee's platform at the edge of the arena, the official waved his flag and called out.
With that signal, the battle commenced.
All four trainers threw their Poké Balls at once.
"Grovyle—go!"
"Swampert!"
Aaron sent out Grovyle, while Sebastian chose Swampert.
"Blaziken—your turn!"
"Slowbro, let's go!"
On the opposing side, Nathan sent out Blaziken.
Emma's choice was Slowbro.
A sharp glint flashed in Aaron's eyes.
In the next instant, their status panels appeared before him.
[Name: Swampert]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Serious]
[Types: Ground / Water]
[Ability: Torrent]
[Base Stats Total: 535]
[Level: Elite (Mid Stage)]
[Potential: Champion Level]
[Known Moves: Tackle (Proficient), Water Gun (Mastery), Mud Shot (Mastery), Hammer Arm (Proficient), Mud Bomb (Proficient), Rock Slide (Proficient), Muddy Water (Proficient), Earthquake (Proficient), Protect, Ice Beam, Sludge Wave...]
[Description: Swampert, the Mud Fish Pokemon, evolved from Marshtomp. It possesses immense strength and can drag objects weighing over one ton...]
...
[Name: Blaziken]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Naughty]
[Types: Fire / Fighting]
[Ability: Speed Boost]
[Base Stats: 530]
[Level: Elite (Mid Stage)]
[Potential: Champion Level]
[Knows Moves: Blaze Kick (Mastery), Fire Punch (Mastery), Double Kick (Proficient), Flare Blitz (Proficient), Flame Charge (Proficient), Quick Attack (Proficient), Bulk Up (Proficient), Brave Bird (Proficient), Protect, Focus Energy, Swords Dance, Flamethrower...]
[Description: Blaziken, the Blaze Pokémon, evolved from Combusken. In battle, it unleashes flames from its wrists and fearlessly confronts its opponents...]
These were the status panels of Sebastian's and Nathan's Pokémon. Both had reached Elite (Mid Stage).
Emma's Slowbro was slightly weaker, at Elite (Early Stage).
But when Aaron examined Nathan's Blaziken's panel, his pupils tightened.
Speed Boost.
On top of that, it carried high-impact moves like Swords Dance and Protect, and several techniques had already reached Mastery.
This Blaziken was an exceptionally dangerous offensive threat.
If it managed to set up properly, it would become a nightmare to deal with.
Aaron glanced at the fair, harmless-looking Nathan across the field, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"He's putting on an innocent act."