"Bellossom, Leaf Bde!"

  "Haunter, detonate!"

  Bellossom extended both arms, each wielding a shimmering green bde of energy. With a swift cross-ssh, it struck toward Haunter!

  The Shadow Ball shield had three yers.

  The first was sliced through effortlessly by Leaf Bde, ahe sed yer mao slow it down slightly but was also quickly cleaved apart.

  But when Leaf Bde struck the third and final yer, the entire purple shield erupted in an explosive burst, sending Bellossom flying!

  "Bellossom, use Quiver Dao recover!"

  "Haunter, Literrupt it!"

  Quiver Dance—a move that raised Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed simultaneously.

  If Bellossom mao plete the teique, Haunter would have no ce of turning the battle around!

  Smack!

  A grotesque, crimson tongue shed out, striking Bellossom hard across the back. Mid-air and uo adjust its position, Bellossom was sent hurtling to the ground—its Quiver Dance successfully interrupted!

  "Bellossom, don't panic! Use Magical Leaf to ter!"

  "Ba~na!"

  Despite being knocked down twice, Bellossom showed no fear. Instead, it seemed to awaken its fighting spirit, being even mgressive.

  A flurry of leaves, glowing in shades of green and violet, surged forward, seeking to engulf Hauhe problem? Magical Leaf was a trag move—it never missed, even if Hauurned invisible.

  "Haunter, use Sludge Bomb!"

  "Kehehe!"

  Haunter cackled mischievously. Last night, during the interaining session, it had learned a new move—ohat no one expected.

  Until now, Haunter had only used Toxi battle. Everyone assumed that was its only Poison-type move.

  Now, deep purple sludge shot forth like a on bst, smashing through the ining Magical Leaf storm. The toxic attack didn't stop there—it crashed directly into Bellossom!

  "Ba~na!"

  Bellossom took the full force of the Poison-type attack, its energy draining rapidly. This si nearly wiped out its remaining stamina.

  "Bellossom, Giga Drain!"

  Hotta, still wearing her gentle expression, swiftly gave the perfect ter. Haunter was within range, and Giga Drain would steal its remaining strength.

  "Dodge and use Shadow Punch!"

  But the oute had already been decided. Sludge Bomb had critically weakened Bellossom.

  As Haunter vanished from sight and reappeared behind its oppo, its shadowy fist smmed into Bellossom, pletely depleting its remaining energy.

  Sato gnced up at the bzing afternoon sun.

  Autumn's heatwave was still relentless. If Bellossom had focused on using Synthesis instead, Haunter might have struggled far more.

  But ifs didn't matter.

  For the sed time, Sato had defeated a female trainer, and as expected, the appuse was noticeably less enthusiastic.

  The match featured the rich kid, who sent out a massive Skarmory. His oppo was the very trainer who had popurized the "rge Pokémon" strategy—the one anding a Tyranitar.

  Using a strategy of stant repositioning and le attacks—switg between Fsh on, Dark Pulse, and Air Ssh—Skarmory kept its distance, refusing to engage in close bat.

  Tyranitar, uo nd a si, was left utterly frustrated before finally colpsing.

  Sato simply watched the matd had ohought.

  Having money must be nice.

  Fsh on and Dark Pulse were some of the most expeMs avaible. Giving them to a Skarmory—normally a melee fighter—wasly a waste… but it was defihe kind of move only a rich trainer could afford.

  Perhaps thinking that two matches weren't enough for the audiehe anizers made an annou:

  The final battle would take pce that very afternoon. This short break was enough for both sides to fully recover their Pokémon.

  Though, in truth, only Sato actually he time.

  To have Haureated, Sato decided to grab a quick meal at the Pokémoer. Just as he was halfway through eating, he noticed someoting down across from him.

  "o meet you. I'm Wester."

  Sato looked up, gave the newer a slight nod, theuro his meal, making a mental o repce the niame rich kid with rich Wester.

  Only after finishing the st bite of his not-so-tasty but nutritious meal did Sato finally give Wester his full attention.

  "Sato."

  "You're strong. And your Haunter is quite impressive," Wester said, unfazed by Sato's indifference. Despite the overwhelming aura of wealth surrounding him, his demeanor was surprisingly polite.

  Seeing this, Sato's expression softened slightly. He responded with a quiet, "Thanks," though inwardly, he remained pletely on guard.

  "I know this might seem a bit forward, but have you ever sidered trading Pokémon to diversify your training?" Wester tinued.

  Seeing Sato's immediate frown, he quickly added, "I'm n to sabotage this afternoon's match. I just gehink your Haunter is exceptional."

  That expnation wasn't much better. Sato's frown remained, promptier to sigh slightly before pulling out four Poké Balls and pg them oable.

  "These tain a Houndoom, a Xatu, a Skarmory, and a Breloom. You choose any one of them in exge for Haunter. Plus, I'll add five million Pokédolrs on top of the deal."

  Wester's wealth was on full dispy, but what truly surprised Sato was the sheer quality of his Pokémon lineup.

  Like Houndoom's Dark-type and Xatu's Psychic-type abilities, Breloom's Fighting-type potential had also reached pseudo-Elite Four level!

  If that was the case, Skarmory must also have at least one pseudo-Elite Four level trait!

  Sato's mind raced with possibilities. Haunter's Ghost-type potential seudo-Elite Four as well, meaning, on paper, Wester's offer was fair.

  But there was no way Sato believed Wester was making this deal purely for a fair trade.

  "Why?" Sato asked bluntly.

  "Because I like Haunter…" Wester started, but seeing the clear disdain in Sato's eyes, he awkwardly cut himself off.

  "Ahem… Fine, I'll be ho with you—your Haunter…"

  "The match is about to start. If you have something to say, save it for ter," Sato interrupted. He stood up, poi the clo the Pokémoer, and walked away without hesitation.

  Wester sat there, stunned, watg Sato leave with a plex expression.

  Thanks to his Dark Energy, Sato was highly sensitive to hidden hostility from others.

  On the surface, Wester showed no aggression toward him. Still unsure of his motives, Sato had abruptly ehe versation to observe aion.

  Yet, even after putting some distaween them, he felt no hostility from Wester at all.

  This meant that Wester probably wasn't pnning anything underhanded.

  Sato didn't bme himself for assuming the worst. He had no family, no bag—alone in a world where power determined survival.

  Until he became truly strong, he had to be cautious around majanizations and powerful figures.

  There were still thirty minutes before the match. Sihe arena was only a five-minute walk away, Sato took a detour to ay er and quickly pulled up information oer using his ptop.

  Five minutes before the match, he closed the ptop, retrieved Haunter's Poké Ball, and headed to the petition stage, his expression unreadable.

  There was a question that needed answering.

  And this battle would provide the answer.