165. Kai vs Andrew -4

----

On the battlefield, Jolteon unleashed a flash of lightning, striking Scyther and sending it flying over ten meters away.

The green mantis Pokémon tumbled across the ground before coming to a stop at Andrew's feet, battered and covered in scars.

Standing on the podium, Andrew's heart pounded wildly as he saw his fourth Pokémon collapse.

Four to zero!

He was terrified. If this continued, he would suffer a crushing defeat, becoming nothing more than a stepping stone for his opponent's glory.

The thought of being seen as incompetent in front of the world filled him with dread. Yet, the gap in strength and the unfavourable type of matchups left him powerless.

As the referee called for him to send out his next Pokémon, Andrew reluctantly returned Scyther to its Poké Ball. With a deep breath, he released Sandslash.

Although Sandslash's Ground typing made it immune to Jolteon's Electric attacks, Andrew knew it wasn't enough.

'Kai will just switch Pokémon to counter me,' Andrew thought bitterly.

Sure enough, Kai wasted no time. Spotting Sandslash, he recalled Jolteon and sent out Blastoise.

Andrew clenched his fists. 'Blastoise again...'

Since losing the first match, Andrew hadn't been able to recover. Kai's strategic switches kept him firmly in control.

Yet, when the fifth battle began, Sandslash's unexpected performance ignited a small flicker of hope.

Sandslash burrowed into the ground and unleashed Sand Tomb, creating a massive pit at the centre of the arena.

The once-solid ground shifted into fine sand that swirled toward the pit's centre, pulling everything with it.

Caught off guard, Blastoise lost its footing and slid into the pit. Its heavy frame sank deeper with every movement, unable to escape the sand's grip.

The crowd gasped in astonishment as Sandslash executed the move flawlessly. For the first time, Andrew felt a spark of optimism. 'Could this be my chance?'

But Kai remained calm. After a moment of thought, he issued his command. "Blastoise, aim your Water Gun at the centre of the pit!"

Blastoise's twin cannons erupted with powerful streams of water, saturating the sand. The loose grains absorbed the moisture, compacting into dense, sticky mud. The once-shifting sands solidified, nullifying the effects of Sand Tomb.

Blastoise waded through the mire and climbed back to stable ground, mud dripping from its shell.

Meanwhile, Sandslash, hidden beneath the surface, struggled as water seeped into its tunnel. It surfaced in a panic, coughing and gasping for air.

The audience erupted in applause at Kai's creative countermeasure. Andrew, however, felt his brief glimmer of hope fade back into darkness.

It's no use...

The battle raged on. Sandslash's claws slashed against Blastoise's sturdy shell, sending sparks flying, but Blastoise retaliated with powerful waves of water, leaving Sandslash battered and disoriented.

Finally, both Pokémon spun simultaneously Blastoise withdrawing into its shell and Sandslash curling into a ball. Like spinning tops, they collided with a resounding crash.

When the dust settled, Sandslash staggered before collapsing to the ground.

The referee raised his flag. "Sandslash is unable to battle! Blastoise is the winner!"

"The score is now 5-0!" the announcer exclaimed. "Kai is one step away from claiming the championship! Could this be the moment we witness an unprecedented, flawless victory at the Indigo Plateau?"

The stadium erupted into cheers. Waves of spectators rose to their feet, chanting in unison.

"CHAMPION! CHAMPION! CHAMPION!"

Even Ash, Brock, and Chloe were swept up in the excitement, joining the crowd in applause.

But Andrew stood frozen, his face pale. He still had one Pokémon left, but the audience's overwhelming support for Kai was crushing. He glanced at the referee, who gave him a look of sympathy.

'Even the referee feels sorry for me...' Andrew thought bitterly.

Taking a shaky breath, Andrew sent out his final Pokémon Hitmonlee. In response, Kai returned Blastoise and released his sixth Pokémon, Gardevoir.

Andrew's heart sank. 'A Psychic-type... this is hopeless.'

Hitmonlee had been his ace throughout the tournament, but against Gardevoir, it didn't stand a chance. With a single Psychic attack, Gardevoir ended the battle swiftly.

The Indigo League, after two gruelling weeks, had finally concluded. As colourful ribbons rained down from the ceiling, the announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.

"And the champion of the INDIGO LEAGUE Is... KAI! Not only did he win, but he achieved a flawless victory, setting a new record that may never be broken! Let's give him the celebration he deserves!"

"KAI! KAI! KAI!"

The crowd erupted, chanting Kai's name as he stood in the centre of the battlefield. Even Lance, seated at the commentary booth, couldn't hide his admiration.

"In all my years as a member of the Elite Four, I've never seen a competitor dominate like this. Kai's performance has truly earned the respect of trainers worldwide," Lance said.

Kai, usually composed, couldn't help but feel his heart race as the crowd celebrated his victory. Holding back a grin, he looked up at the championship trophy, knowing it was finally his.

----

Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!

For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon.

P@treon/iamxeno

Thank you so much for your support and for reading!