Chapter 161
When it came to Pokémon battles,
as long as the gap between the two sides wasn't ridiculously huge,
Nathan had never backed down from anyone!
Even now, in this high-level field,
the opponents he faced were virtually impossible to find among his own age group.
Even the youngest among them were still at least five years older than Nathan!
Once the semi-finals officially began,
the eight remaining trainers simultaneously headed toward the four battlefields.
The opponent drawn into the same bracket as Nathan was a true middle-aged man named Winston Williams (Winston).
Despite the "Wen" (literature) character in his name,
his body was packed with muscle — he looked anything but scholarly.
So far, Winston had only lost one match.
He was an absolute powerhouse!
"Kid, ready to have a fiery showdown with this old man?"
Winston said with a deep chuckle the moment he entered the field, pulling out a Poké Ball.
"And just so you know — I also have a Zeraora!"
With a click, the Poké Ball opened, revealing a figure bathed in orange-yellow light standing on the grassy battlefield.
At first glance, it looked almost identical to Nathan's Zeraora —
except for the slightly different primary color tone.
No —
on closer inspection, there were some obvious differences!
First, this Zeraora was far more muscular,
suggesting a development path different from Nathan's Zeraora.
Secondly, its eyes were greenish in color,
whereas Nathan's Zeraora had pure sapphire-blue vertical pupils, beautiful like gemstones.
Given the eye color difference, Nathan casually decided to call this opponent "Green" for now.
Currently, Nathan's Zeraora was Level 45,
while "Green" was already Level 50 —
the absolute peak of gym-level strength,
just one step away from entering the Elite ranks!
As soon as Green appeared on the battlefield,
the entire audience erupted in excited cheers!
Even the commentator was red-faced with excitement, Zoaring into the mic:
"Zeraora! It's Zeraora!"
"Winston has brought out a Pokémon he has never used before — just to face Nathan!"
"So how will Nathan respond to such an obvious act of provocation?!"
Just as the commentator finished speaking,
Nathan's entire aura shifted.
The harmless, boyish exterior seemed to vanish.
In its place stood a warrior,
an unstoppable force, yet with eyes terrifyingly calm!
"Zeraora — let's show them the results of our training!"
Nathan gently spoke, pulling out a Poké Ball.
In the next instant, another Zeraora appeared on the field!
The entire spectator stands exploded into a frenzy!
"My god! Nathan didn't hesitate for even a second — he immediately sent out his signature Pokémon!"
"Today, we'll witness a rare battle between two powerful Zeraoras!"
"Which one will emerge victorious? Let's find out!!"
The commentator was practically shouting by now,
further igniting the crowd's passion.
Despite being just, the opening match of the Semi-finals...
the appearance of two Zeraoras pushed the atmosphere to an absolute fever pitch!
An explosive start, in every sense!
Even Nathan couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement.
His golden pupils shimmered uncontrollably into a dazzling, demonic light.
Under those golden vertical pupils,
nothing happening on the battlefield could escape Nathan's sharp senses.
…
"Zeraora, initiate attack — Agility!
Enter Lightning Release Mode!"
"Synchronize!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Nathan's golden pupils narrowed as he issued his commands at lightning speed.
In the very next moment, mental synchronization was established.
At the same time, electric-blue lightning began crackling around his Zeraora!
"Green, don't fall behind!
Use Quick Attack, then Fire Punch!"
Winston immediately countered, his reaction just as swift.
(TN: I'll call Winston's Zeraora as green to avoid confusion with Nathan Zeraora)
Unlike all previous opponents,
Winston was a genuine powerhouse!
In terms of both combat experience and Pokémon strength,
Nathan held no particular advantage.
The two Zeraoras sprang into action almost simultaneously —
one cloaked in electricity, the other wreathed in flames.
However, Nathan's Zeraora was faster,
while "Green" radiated raw, brutal strength!
"Fifty-degree dodge angle! Evade the Fire Punch, then counter with Chidori!"
Keeping his sharp golden eyes wide open,
Nathan calmly and precisely issued his next command.
Sure, against another Zeraora, an Electric-type move wouldn't inflict as much damage as Fire Punch would.
But Chidori's true power didn't lie in paralysis or raw damage —
it lay in its piercing force and explosive impact!
"Zoar!"
Without any hesitation, Nathan's Zeraora shifted its trajectory mid-sprint and unleashed a roaring Chidori from its right claw!
"Heh, still too young!
Green — Thunder-Fire Fusion!"
Seeing this, Winston sneered coldly and issued a quick counter-command.
Although Green's Fire Punch was dodged,
its left claw suddenly erupted with lightning —
Thunder Punch!
By using Thunder Punch, Green absorbed Nathan's Chidori attack with minimal damage —
then immediately launched another devastating Fire Punch from its right claw!
Seeing this, many spectators gasped and held their breath.
Was this it?
Was the legend of Nathan's undefeated Zeraora finally about to end?
Would his perfect win record be shattered in the very first match of the Semi-finals?
"You think I'd come this far without leaving myself a trump card?"
A strange, sharp smile curled at Nathan's lips.
His dazzling golden pupils narrowed into a dangerous sliver.
If he was willing to field Zeraora now,
then of course — he was fully prepared!
"Let's show them...
what true Lightning Release Mode looks like!"
"Zeraora — Bond Evolution!"
There was no overlong chant, no cringey self-hyping speeches —
only Nathan's swift, cold command.
Through the heart link,
a pillar of white light instantly engulfed Zeraora!
"Hmph! So, what if you evolve?!
The difference in level isn't something you can just wish away!"
Winston scoffed, eyes flashing coldly.
Green's twin Fire and Thunder Punches erupted with renewed intensity,
making people wonder whether this Zeraora was actually Fire-type instead of Electric-type!
However —
the next scene shocked everyone.
Within the white light,
a set of gleaming blue-white thunder claws blocked Green's Fire Punch!
And as the white light faded —
Nathan's Zeraora had taken on a new form!
It was still in its Bond Evolution form —
but it was even more than that.
Around its body,
pure blue-white lightning wasn't just crackling —
it had become solid, wrapping Zeraora like a living armor,
reminiscent of a Tailed Beast Mode!
"Because of its extreme focus on offensive power, Zeraora's left claw was always less flexible and strong than its right."
"But who told you...
that was actually a weakness?"
Nathan's sharp golden eyes glowed with unveiled scorn.
In the early days, Nathan and Zeraora had trained rigorously in Lightning Release Mode, aiming for perfect battle posture.
Yet ironically, moves like Chidori ended up being more practical and attention-grabbing —
because Lightning Release Mode couldn't improve Zeraora's fragile physical endurance or limited health.
However,
after Bond Evolution,
when Nathan and Zeraora revisited Lightning Release Mode training,
they made an unexpected discovery:
The highly purified and compressed lightning wasn't just "energy" anymore.
It had changed state —
like gas becoming liquid!
Thus, alongside their Bond Evolution mastery,
Nathan and Zeraora once again refined their Lightning Release Mode.
And now —
this was the result.
"Lightning Release Mode — Thunder Beast Battle Form!"
"Zeraora now has no weaknesses!"
With his smirk vanishing, Nathan coldly declared.
One-dimensional fighter?
All-rounded six-stat warrior?
Nathan now had both!
"You've got to be kidding me!
You think one evolution will let you defy the gap in strength?!"
Winston's expression darkened.
After all, he had spent countless hours studying intelligence reports,
formulating strategies,
all for one goal:
to crush Nathan in the first match,
to shock everyone watching, and to send Nathan's mentality spiraling into collapse!