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After Tentacruel collapsed in defeat, the Trainer gave a long, weary sigh.
That had been his strongest Pokémon.
And yet it hadn't even forced Kai to break a sweat.
He had done his homework before the match. He knew Kai had a monstrous Gyarados in reserve, and yet... even Blastoise alone was enough to steamroll him.
He hated to admit it, but his journey in the Whirlpool Cup was likely over.
There was no shame in reaching the Top 16 it was his best showing in years. But the difference in strength was undeniable. Kai wasn't just another contestant. He was on a different tier altogether.
"Why is someone that strong even in a local Cup tournament?"
Still, with a deep breath, the old man called out his second Pokémon.
A flash of light revealed a familiar creature Octillery, a pure Water-type Pokémon resembling a red octopus with glistening tentacles and suction cups.
Kai immediately recognized it. Octillery were cave dwellers sneaky, opportunistic, and capable of disorienting their foes with bursts of ink and surprise strikes. Despite their soft, squishy look, they packed surprising strength in their tentacles and a cannon-like mouth capable of long-range attacks.
Even so, Kai didn't bother switching. Blastoise would handle this too.
The match resumed. Octillery launched an [Aurora Beam] right out of the gate, hoping the Ice-type move might pressure the Water-type Blastoise.
No dice.
Blastoise simply dove into the pool, dodging the attack with ease. The freezing beam barely managed to crystallize some splashback.
Desperate, Octillery slipped into the water too, attempting to keep distance and outmaneuver the armored turtle.
Kai saw right through it.
"Blastoise, chase it down. Relentlessly."
On the massive arena's underwater monitors, the audience could see everything Blastoise was hunting Octillery like a predator. Despite its size, it was faster, and the poor octopus had no escape.
The old man muttered under his breath, "No mercy, huh…"
In desperation, he ordered Octillery to release a cloud of ink.
The water turned black.
Kai's eyes narrowed and a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Let's try Ash's move…"
"Blastoise spin drill!"
Blastoise withdrew into its shell and began rotating rapidly. The whirling force created a spiraling current, dispersing the ink and clearing the battlefield with a whirlpool effect.
Octillery was now fully exposed.
Panicking, it lunged and attempted to ensnare Blastoise with its tentacles.
But Blastoise wasn't having it.
With sheer strength and weight, it tore free then hit back with a one-two combo of [Bite] and [Hydro Pump], ending with a devastating [Skull Bash] that knocked Octillery out cold.
The ref raised his flags.
"Octillery is unable to battle! Kai advances to the Top 8!"
The crowd exploded.
Kai, once again, had soloed the match with just one Pokémon.
By now, he wasn't just the crowd favorite he was a sensation.
Strength, poise, looks he had it all. And each day, more and more people gathered just to see him battle. Many were already calling him the future "Hero of the Sea."
—
Back in the rest area, Kai was greeted by Ash and Misty.
"Nice one!" Misty beamed.
"Yeah… congrats," Ash said, trying to smile.
But Kai could see the flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
He'd been eliminated. His two closest companions had moved on. He hadn't.
Still, Ash was Ash. Within minutes, he'd shaken off the funk and returned to his usual cheerful self, cracking jokes over lunch like nothing had happened.
—
Later that afternoon, the brackets for the Top 8 were posted. But before the group could even approach the bulletin board, someone walked up to them.
A young woman, striking and confident.
She was around twenty-four or twenty-five, with flowing crimson hair tied in a side ponytail, silver pearl earrings, a red T-shirt, and a flowing pink skirt.
She glanced over Kai first, then turned to Misty.
"You're Misty, right?"
Misty looked surprised. "Yeah… and you are?"
Before the woman could answer, Brock practically teleported into view.
"I know who you are!"
He was already in full flirt mode, kneeling down and grabbing her hand with starry eyes.
"You're the dazzling beauty who dominated every round! I've watched all your matches! You shine brighter than a Fire Stone in a moonlight cave!"
The woman flinched and pulled her hand back, taking a step away like she'd just encountered a feral Jynx.
Misty groaned and smacked Brock's head, dragging him back by the ear.
"Sorry! Just ignore him—he's defective."
Kai, Ash, and Erika couldn't help but chuckle. Even Erika, who hadn't known Brock long, already recognized this as his default setting.
The woman refocused on Misty. "I'm Trinity And I'm your next opponent."
Misty blinked. "Wait—seriously?"
She hadn't expected her next challenger to approach her like this.
But Trinity wasn't hostile. She smiled.
"I watched your match. You and your Pokémon work together beautifully. Your instincts are sharp, and your Psyduck… it left quite the impression."
Misty blushed slightly, relaxing.
"Thanks. That means a lot."
Trinity extended a hand.
"Let's give the audience a battle worth remembering."
Misty shook it firmly. "You're on."
Then, Trinity's gaze shifted to Kai.
Her eyes lingered, curious. Calculating.
Kai, clueless as always, was thinking about 'Hmm... What if I create a combo attack of Gyarados and Blastoise?'
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Yo! I've just released a brand new fanfiction titled "One Piece: Wind-Wind Fruit!" If you've been enjoying this story, I'd love your support on the new one too. Check it out and let me know what you think!
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