Chapter 14: Misty (2)

Misty was just about to send out her third Pokémon when suddenly, one of the Poké Balls on her waist moved on its own. With a flash of light, a clumsy-looking Psyduck appeared on the battlefield.

Seeing that what was once a water-filled arena had now turned into an icy battlefield, Misty's Psyduck burst into laughter. It tilted its body and gleefully slid across the ice, thoroughly enjoying the smooth ride.

"It looks like your Psyduck is afraid of water?"

"As you can see."

Misty covered her face as she watched her Psyduck happily bouncing around. What was supposed to be a serious match had turned into a lighthearted scene thanks to its antics.

"In that case, I'll send out Scizor!"

The moment Scizor appeared, a chilling aura radiated from its entire body. The sheer intensity of its presence immediately caused the once-playful Psyduck to freeze in fear. As it turned to look at its opponent, it was met with Scizor's cold, domineering gaze. Terrified, Psyduck burst into tears and ran straight to Misty, crying for help.

"Scizor is different from Sandslash. It has participated in numerous competitions with me, so its presence alone can make more timid Pokémon feel uneasy."

Since Klein's Scizor had made several appearances in Kanto tournaments, Misty nodded in understanding. She gently picked up Psyduck and sighed, "Come on, don't cause trouble."

Defeating just one of the Sandstorm Elite Four's Pokémon in an official assessment match was already a notable achievement. In past evaluations, many Gym Leaders had lost without taking down a single opponent.

Though Sandslash wasn't Klein's true core Pokémon, just being part of his team meant that Misty's victory carried significant weight. It was enough to help Cerulean Gym avoid the risk of being downgraded.

With that in mind, Misty's mindset shifted for the final round—she no longer focused on winning but instead aimed to showcase her full potential as a trainer.

"Come out, Dewgong! Use Ice Beam!"

Since evolving on the way back to Cerulean Gym, Misty's Dewgong had grown considerably stronger. The moment it entered the battlefield, it unleashed a powerful beam of freezing energy.

As the icy blast shot forward, Klein didn't give any commands. Instead, he let Scizor act on its own. In an instant, Scizor's arms transformed into sharp blades, and with a single slash, it split the Ice Beam in half.

A surge of terrifying power erupted from Scizor. The moment its blade met the Ice Beam, the sheer force of its attack shattered the frozen energy mid-air, dispersing it entirely.

Scizor, known for its relentless training, never slacked off in honing its raw strength. Among all of Klein's Pokémon, it was the most dedicated training fanatic. It would often leave the Pallet Town training grounds on its own to seek out wild battles for improvement.

Now, in this match, Scizor was like a sharpened blade, unleashing its might without restraint. The devastating force of its attack sent Dewgong reeling, letting out a weak cry of pain.

With Technician as its ability, Fury Cutter became even more destructive. Each successful hit increased its power, making it even more terrifying in battle.

The first round with Sandslash tested the Gym Leader's ability to adapt to unknown Pokémon. The second round with Scizor, however, tested how well one could withstand overwhelming power.

The impact of Scizor's attack left a deep scar on the icy battlefield. Back in Mt. Moon, this very same Scizor had once taken down a Rocket Grunt's Gengar with a single Bullet Punch—a testament to its devastating strength.

"Don't be afraid, Dewgong! Use Surf!"

Though Misty's Dewgong lacked extensive battle experience, unlike the previous Gym Leader candidate who only cared about aesthetics, Misty's command was swift and decisive. She had Dewgong use Surf not only as an attack but also to break apart the icy battlefield, limiting Scizor's mobility.

Even in a dire situation, Misty's persistence in attacking impressed Klein.

Watching the match from the sidelines, Misty's eldest sister beamed with pride. Misty truly was the rising star of Cerulean Gym—one day, she would make a name for herself across Kanto.

As one of the strongest future Gym Leaders in Kanto, Misty's aggressive battle style posed a real challenge, even for Scizor. The rising tide of water successfully restricted Scizor's movement, giving Dewgong a chance to submerge and engage in an underwater battle.

As the battlefield returned to its original water-filled state, Klein smiled. "Your quick thinking is impressive. From an evaluation standpoint, you've already proven yourself. Scizor, use Bullet Punch!"

A dazzling red glow erupted from Scizor's claws, sending out a flurry of fiery punches. The air itself seemed to ignite as countless crimson streaks shot forward with explosive force.

The sheer intensity of the attack was overwhelming. The battlefield's water surface instantly evaporated under the relentless barrage, turning into a thick cloud of steam. Against such raw power, any resistance was futile.

The relentless assault left the audience in awe. Even Misty, along with Brock and Ash, was momentarily speechless in the face of such terrifying strength.

"The battlefield…"

Once Scizor's Bullet Punch barrage ended, the entire water arena had vanished, leaving behind only an empty, scorched ground. Dewgong, having taken the full brunt of the attack, had fainted and was unable to battle.

"So this is the true strength of an Elite Four?"

As the battle concluded, Misty recalled Dewgong and looked at Klein with a complicated expression.

"The assessment is over. You'll be notified of the results later. For now, take your Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for recovery."

"Understood. Thank you for the match."

Misty quickly left with her injured Pokémon. Ash initially wanted to talk to Klein but decided to prioritize helping Misty instead. He and Brock accompanied her to the Pokémon Center.

Meanwhile, the battle footage from the Cerulean Gym assessment match had been uploaded online.

Scizor's overwhelming final attack left countless viewers in shock, marveling at the sheer strength of an Elite Four-level trainer. At the same time, many were now curious—if Scizor was this powerful, what were Klein's true core Pokémon?

Based on past league footage, Tyranitar, Swampert, and Scizor had the highest battle appearances in Kanto. However, the remaining three spots on Klein's team remained uncertain. Some speculated that he had never truly revealed his full power.

At that moment, the Kanto Elite Four Championship participant list was officially released on the league's website. A highly anticipated match between Psychic-type Elite Four Will and Sandstorm Elite Four Klein was announced.

It was a full 6v6 battle—Klein's first public match against another Elite Four since taking his position.

Immediately, online discussions exploded with excitement. Many fans began placing bets and debating the odds of victory.

Will, a renowned Psychic-type expert, possessed strong telekinetic abilities, making him even more formidable than ordinary Elite Four members. Meanwhile, Klein's true battle strategy had never been fully displayed—his sandstorm tactics remained a mystery to the public.

"Will, what do you think after watching the battle?"

In Johto, the Dark-type Elite Four Karen chuckled as she teased Will. Since Kanto and Johto shared the same Kanto-Johto League, both regions were technically governed by the same Champion, Lance.

A week ago, a veteran Elite Four from Johto had retired, leaving only two active members. According to Johto's ranking system, Fuchsia Gym Leader Koga was next in line to take the position, specializing in Poison-type Pokémon.

Karen, similar to Kanto's Lorelei, held an equivalent role. Since Will oversaw Gym Leader evaluations, he was no stranger to battles like these. Karen was curious—what had he deduced from this match?

"I can't determine his true strength just yet. Only when we battle will I know for sure."

(End of Chapter)