Upon seeing the Swellow with its dark blue wings and crimson patterns, Natsume had already prepared words of fort fastly.

  Things like, "Thank you, Gastly," or "It's not that we're weak, it's just that the oppo is too ing."

  This Swellow's move set was simply too impressive, fully deserving of its niame, "Bug Swallow."

  [Swellow: Normal/FlyingAbility: GutsMoves: Growl, Focus Energy, Quick Attack, Aerial Ace, Wing Attack, Agility]

  This was clearly a physical attacker known for its mobility.

  With its dark blue wings spread wide, Swellow soared through the air, diving down like an arrow shot from a bow.

  "The battle has begun!" the entator shouted. "Swellow leads with the move Aerial Ace!"

  As Swellow's signature move, Aerial Ace was intimidating, with its wings and beak glowing with a sharp white light.

  "Whoosh—"

  A sound like a balloon being popped echoed as Gastly's Substitute was instantly torn apart by Swellow's sharp cws!

  On the judges' panel, City Association President Shoya let out a soft sound of surprise.

  "I thought the match would be decided in one round, but I didn't expect Gastly to have such quick reflexes."

  Psychic-type Gym Leader Takuya also nodded. "To instantly decide to use Substitute—this Gastly's battle instincts are incredibly sharp!"

  After missing its first strike, Gastly had already floated to Swellow's underside. Yuta barked, "tih Aerial Ace!"

  Swellow instantly ged dire, aiming its beak like a drill straight at Gastly below!

  "Protect!" Natsume narrowed his eyes. "Watch out for its wings!"

  Fag the diving Swellow, Gastly's misty shield solidified in an instant, blog the sharp cws and sending sparks flying!

  Aerial Ace missed, but Swellow relentlessly fpped its wings, sshing at Gastly with bde-like feathers!

  The entator roared, "The killer move is here—Swellow's Wing Attack!"

  Yet this seemingly unavoidable strike suddenly missed.

  Thanks to Natsume's warning, Gastly dodged with incredible speed, creating a three-meter gap in an instant!

  "Am I seeing things?"

  Shoya muttered, "Gastly's speed in that moment actually surpassed Swellow's?"

  Takuya pondered, "This young man, Natsume, must have trained Gastly specifically in speed."

  "In terms of potential allocation, Gastly's burst of speed is now on par with Swellow's!"

  Every Pokémon has its limits.

  Thus, how to properly allocate a Pokémon's potential is a crucial aspect of Pokémon breeding.

  In gaming terms, Natsume's Gastly had maxed out its Speed Effort Values.

  While Swellow's base speed was naturally higher than Gastly's, Natsume's breeding skills had given Gastly the edge!

  Yuta seemed to realize this too, his expression shifting. "Swellow, use Agility!"

  Gastly had no moves that could threaten Swellow.

  Though risky, if Swellow could outspeed Gastly, the match would be as good as over!

  "Agility, huh?" Natsume sighed.

  "You're really pushing your luck!"

  Natsume didn't eveo give a and—Gastly clearly reized this as the perfect opportunity.

  Gasps erupted from the audieands.

  "Why did Swellow suddenly fall?"

  "Does this Gastly know Hypnosis?"

  Swellow was cirg in the air when a hazy beam of light shot toward it.

  From Gastly's eyes, Hypnosis hit its mark!

  "Swellow!"

  Swellow crashed to the ground with a cry, its eyelids drooping as it struggled to stay awake.

  The sudden turn of events stunned everyone present.

  Just moments ago, Swellow had been dominating Gastly.

  How had the tables turned so quickly?!

  "This guy was hiding Hypnosis all along!" Shoya excimed.

  "He never showed it in the earlier rounds," Takuya remarked.

  "These young trainers are getting more and more strategic!"

  Though Hypnosis had nded, Gastly didn't have much time left.

  Gng at Natsume, Gastly tilted its head, its eyes filled with anticipation.

  "Do it if you want," Natsume said helplessly.

  "It's not like you have any other moves to use."

  "Gastly!" Gastly's eyes lit up with excitement.

  This was the first time Gastly had used Toxice its training.

  Puffing out its cheeks, Gastly took a deep breath, and a sickly green mist spewed from its mouth!

  "Is that... Toxic?"

  On the judges' panel, Shoya muttered, "That looks... uling."

  Takuya's smile also held a hint of awkwardness.

  "Maybe Natsume really has a ce to win!"

  Swellow, now enveloped ioxic mist, turned a sickly green.

  But in the moment, Swellow's eyes snapped open.

  A fierce determination burned in its pupils.

  Its Guts ability had activated!

  "That's it, Swellow!" Yuta ched his fists and shouted, "Use Aerial Ace!"

  "Swellow!"

  The atmosphere in the arena ignited as Swellow charged at Gastly, its wings gleaming with a sharp, cold light!

  Natsume was dumbfounded.

  Wait, I'm the o a disadvantage here!

  "Gastly, Protect!"

  Swellow smmed into the unbreakable mist shield with a loud thud.

  Everyone gulped, almost hearing the sound of Swellow's wings breaking.

  "Use Hypnosis again!"

  In a series of stunned reas, Swellow was hypnotized as soon as it woke up.

  If Hypnosis missed, Gastly would use Protect to buy time, then try Hypnosis again.

  Swellow, now purple and foaming at the mouth, y on the ground, its eyes rolling back.

  Beside it, Gastly crouched, cag mischievously, as if ready to smack Swellow with a brick the moment it woke up.

  Even the referee couldn't take it anymore and blew the whistle.

  "Winner, Natsume!"

  The arena fell silent, the audience's expressions a mix of fusion and disbelief.

  Did we pay to wat intense Pokémon battle?

  Sure, Swellow's performance was intense... but what with this Gastly!

  Who tortures their oppoo death like this?!

  "What the heck, this is so dirty!"

  "Refund! I want a refund!"

  "Natsume-sensei is amazing!"

  Amid the uproar.

  Reina, who had also advao the semifinals, was cheering wildly for Natsume.

  Sakurako, who had watched the ech, seemed to have a dozeion marks floating above her head.

  Is this even allowed?

  Even Association President Shoya and Gym Leader Takuya exged gnces.

  While this strategy was undeniably dirty...

  There was no denying that it was highly effective!

  "Is he really from the Finance Department?" Shoya asked, his expression odd. "He seems more like a professional trainer with five or six years of experience."

  "Who knows," Takuya shook his head.

  "All I know is, he's made histain."

  With Gastly, Natsume had turhe tables against Yuta from Tokyo Yokohama National Uy despite being at a disadvantage.

  He had bee the first non-Battle Department testant to advao the semifinals in Piplup Cup history, setti another record!

  ?? Join My Patreon and Unlock Exclusive Pokémon tent! ??

  Are you a fan of the Pokémon series? Bee a member today and enjoy amazing bes!

  ?? Membership: Pokémon Series - Gold Champion Unlock access to 17 Chapters in advanjoy daily updates with 2 neters every day!

  ?? Membership: Pokémon Series - Ptinum Legend Unlock access to 56 Chapters in advanjoy daily updates with 5 neters every day!Join now and immerse yourself in the exg world of Pokémon like never before! Your support means the world to me!

  ??patreon./PokemonStoryWeaver