Chapter 150: Sabrina

"Another boring challenger..."

After Alakazam effortlessly defeated its opponent, a faint trace of frustration flickered across Sabrina's otherwise calm face, though she quickly suppressed it.

"No... impossible..." The challenger, overwhelmed with fear, fell to the ground, scrambling backward in sheer panic. He knew what was coming next. He had heard the stories—those who lost to Sabrina faced an unsettling fate.

He didn't want to become a doll.

Sabrina ignored the desperate pleas of the young trainer. Her piercing gaze sharpened as her Psychic powers activated, enveloping the challenger in an invisible force. Slowly, the trembling trainer was lifted into the air, suspended helplessly in Sabrina's grasp.

"Please! Don't! I beg you! Don't turn me into a doll!" he wailed, thrashing wildly.

But his struggle was in vain. Sabrina's Psychic abilities were far beyond his comprehension. Within moments, his form began to shrink. His limbs grew rigid, his features dulled, and in the blink of an eye, the terrified trainer had been transformed into a small doll—one that eerily resembled himself. He landed softly on the floor, lifeless and still.

The referee, despite having witnessed this scene countless times, could not help but feel an eerie chill every time it happened. Deep down, he feared that one day, if he ever displeased Sabrina, he too would meet the same fate. He didn't dare to speak out against her methods.

"Store him away, along with his Pokémon," Sabrina ordered coldly, her voice devoid of emotion. "He will be released after a week."

"Understood!" The assistant quickly bowed, showing utmost respect, before cautiously picking up the doll and retreating.

Sabrina turned away without another word and walked back to her seat. Crossing her legs elegantly, she rested her cheek on one hand, her expression as icy as ever. She gazed at the large entrance of the battle hall, waiting for the next challenger to enter.

Moments later, another trainer stepped inside.

The battle began, and just like before, it ended in less than two minutes.

This time, the opponent was a more experienced trainer, one who had reached the Poké Ball level and possessed elite-tier Pokémon. But against Sabrina, he was as helpless as a child, utterly outmatched.

What made this battle different, however, was the look in the challenger's eyes. Unlike the others who had faced her, this one didn't seem as frightened. He was certainly disappointed by his loss, but rather than fear, his gaze carried something else—curiosity, perhaps even pity.

Sabrina noticed, of course, but she didn't care. With another effortless use of Psychic, she transformed him into a doll just as she had the last challenger. But as she did, a wave of exhaustion washed over her—not physical, nor even mental, but something deeper.

She was tired of this.

This was not what she had wanted.

None of these battles were challenging enough to push her limits.

None of these trainers were strong enough to make her stronger.

And so, the day continued in the same repetitive cycle. Challenger after challenger, loss after loss, doll after doll.

By the time the battles concluded, the sun had begun to set.

Sabrina returned home.

"I'm back," she said flatly, stepping inside her family's home.

Her mother, Mei, hearing the door open, quickly dried her hands on her apron and rushed to greet her daughter. A warm smile graced her face as she approached.

"Welcome home, Sabrina. How was your day?"

Sabrina walked past her without a word, her expression as cold as ever. Then, in an indifferent tone, she said, "I won't be eating dinner tonight."

Mei's smile faltered slightly. She opened her mouth as if to say something but hesitated. She watched her daughter's back as she walked toward her room, a look of concern clouding her eyes.

She understood Sabrina better than anyone.

Even though Sabrina acted cold and distant, Mei knew her daughter didn't truly want to shut them out. It wasn't that she hated her parents—it was that she didn't know how to face them.

Two years ago, when Sabrina had lost control of her powers, she had unknowingly turned both of her parents into dolls. Though they had since been restored, Sabrina had never truly forgiven herself for what she had done.

Now, even though she lived under the same roof as them, she kept her distance, as if punishing herself for her past mistakes.

Sabrina entered her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Her room was nothing like the cold, emotionless exterior she projected to the outside world. It was surprisingly warm and filled with personality.

The walls were a soft shade of violet, a color that represented the Psychic-type Pokémon she specialized in. Plush dolls and stuffed animals lined the shelves, their wide, button-like eyes staring blankly into the room.

These dolls were important to her.

Ever since she was a child, she had been different. Her Psychic powers had made her an outcast. The other children were afraid of her, whispering behind her back and avoiding her presence. As a result, she had grown up alone, with only her dolls to keep her company.

That loneliness had shaped her into the person she was today—cold, detached, and withdrawn.

She collapsed onto her bed, hugging a pillow close to her chest, and stared at the ceiling.

"What am I even doing...?" she whispered to herself.

The memories of the past haunted her.

She wanted to apologize to her parents, but she didn't know how.

She wanted to leave Saffron Gym and explore the outside world, but she didn't know where to go.

For all her power, for all her strength, she felt helpless.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Sabrina sat up immediately, her expression hardening.

"Come in," she said, her voice neutral.

The door creaked open, revealing her mother and father, Ryo.

"Even though you said you wouldn't eat, I thought you might still be hungry," Mei said gently, holding up a tray filled with home-cooked dishes.

Ryo stood beside her, offering a small nod of encouragement.

Sabrina hesitated. For a moment, she considered rejecting the offer, but after a few seconds, she silently used her Psychic abilities to float the tray from her mother's hands and place it on her desk.

"Leave the dishes outside when you're done," Mei added softly, a smile still on her face.

Sabrina gave a slight nod, then closed the door behind them.

Alone once more, she stared at the meal in front of her.

She didn't say thank you.

She wanted to.

She just couldn't.

Her gaze softened as she picked up the chopsticks and took a bite.

Her mother had made all of her favorite dishes.

The flavors were familiar, comforting. It reminded her of when she was younger, back when things were simpler, before her powers had spiraled out of control.

For a brief moment, her icy exterior melted away.

After finishing her meal, she didn't leave the dishes outside the door as instructed. Instead, she carried them downstairs to the kitchen herself.

As she washed the plates, her parents quietly entered the room behind her. They watched silently, exchanging knowing smiles.

The dishes weren't particularly clean—Sabrina wasn't used to washing them.

But the effort mattered more than the result.

As she finished and placed the plates aside, her parents stepped in to clean them properly. They said nothing, simply smiling as they worked.

And for once, even if just for a moment, Sabrina felt a little less alone.