NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Semifinals
Ron glanced at his bank card, where another 20 million League coins had been deposited. His emotions remained calm and steady—it was just a number after all.
Without hesitation, Ron contacted the betting station and wagered his entire fortune on himself, betting that he would win the next match.
Having defeated a string of formidable opponents, Ron was now entering the semifinals. Victory would put him just one step away from claiming the coveted Master Ball. A loss, however, would mean walking away with nothing.
Perhaps noticing how smoothly Ron had progressed, Silph Co. deliberately arranged for him to face a trainer with a Charizard in the next match.
This Charizard, at level 39, was not only immensely powerful but also had the natural advantage of flight, posing a significant challenge to grounded Pokémon.
As a result, Ron's odds in the betting pool shifted slightly. His payout ratio rose to 1:0.2, while his opponent Watson's odds were set at 1:0.5.
This disparity was likely due to the fear Ron had instilled in his previous matches. The audience suspected he might still be hiding some trump cards. Otherwise, the odds would have been more even.
After thoroughly studying Watson's battle strategies, Ron devised a countermeasure. But he knew he'd have only one shot—if he failed, his only option would be to patiently wait for his opponent to make a mistake.
Having communicated tomorrow's battle plan with his Machamp, Ron decided to rest early to conserve his energy.
Meanwhile, Watson was glued to his TV, repeatedly analyzing Ron's previous battles. He focused on the matches where Ron had revealed his full strength.
The astonishing speed of Ron's Pokémon left Watson doubtful. Could his Charizard's attacks even land? And if it turned into a prolonged battle, could Charizard's stamina outlast Machamp's boundless energy?
Caught in his thoughts, Watson stayed up until past midnight before finally succumbing to sleep.
Just as Ron was troubled by Charizard's aerial advantage, Watson was equally vexed by Machamp's overwhelming strength. He struggled to pinpoint a clear weakness he could exploit to secure victory.
The next day.
As Ron's popularity—or animosity—among spectators grew, his match was again scheduled as the opening battle of the day.
Standing on the battlefield, both trainers released their Pokémon as the referee's whistle signaled the start.
"Charizard, take to the skies!"
"Machamp, use Bulk Up!"
Two streaks of white light flashed, revealing Charizard and Machamp. Charizard immediately soared into the air following Watson's instructions, while Machamp stayed grounded, activating Bulk Up to enhance its attack power.
"Charizard, interrupt it with Fire Spin!"
Blazing flames coalesced into a fiery vortex, spiraling toward Machamp.
"Machamp, dodge with Shave, then use Strength on the ground!"
As the flames descended, Machamp waited patiently, timing the moment Bulk Up took full effect.
The air grew increasingly hotter, and just as the Fire Spin was about to engulf it, Machamp executed Shave, vanishing in an instant.
The fiery vortex struck the ground, charring the battlefield, but Machamp was nowhere to be seen.
Moments later, the ground began to tremble as Machamp unleashed its Strength attack, its raw power reverberating across the arena.
"Machamp, use Rock Throw!"
"Charizard, stay alert!"
Watson couldn't help but wonder what "Rock Throw" might entail, but he ordered Charizard to remain vigilant.
Machamp soon demonstrated the move's devastating potential. Gripping chunks of shattered rock with its four mighty arms, it hurled them skyward with incredible force. Within seconds, Charizard's vision was filled with flying debris.
"What the heck? That's Rock Throw?! Even I could do that!" Watson thought, but he wasted no time commanding Charizard to counter with Air Slash, slicing through the incoming rocks.
However, this was merely the appetizer. With Machamp seemingly channeling the energy of a berserk beast, the battlefield's surface was gradually leveled as it dug out more rocks.
The aerial assault intensified, forcing Charizard to retaliate with Heat Wave alongside Air Slash, obliterating the incoming projectiles.
Amid the chaos, Machamp's figure flickered among the rocks, moving with such speed that Watson's eyes began to strain. In a moment of weakness, he blinked—and Machamp disappeared entirely.
"Charizard, stay sharp! Use Fire Blast!"
Realizing something was amiss, Watson shouted instructions. The bond between him and Charizard prompted it to instinctively gather fiery energy, launching a massive, blazing "大" shape downwards.
The flaming attack destroyed numerous rocks, but it failed to reveal Machamp, who was stealthily hiding behind one of the larger boulders.
This was Ron's plan all along: have Machamp dismantle the battlefield to create cover and divert both Watson and Charizard's attention.
As Charizard struggled to keep up, Machamp leapt skyward, using the scattered rocks as stepping stones to close the gap.
"Machamp, Leer! Follow up with Cross Chop on Charizard's wings!"
"Don't let it get to you, Charizard! Use Steel Wing!"
As Machamp approached, its Leer attack momentarily disrupted Charizard's focus, preventing it from dodging. Forced into a defensive stance, Charizard's Steel Wing clashed with Machamp's rapid Cross Chop.
After several ferocious blows, Machamp's relentless strikes overwhelmed Charizard, shattering its Steel Wing.
With a pained roar, Charizard was grabbed mid-air by Machamp, who promptly executed a Seismic Toss.
The two Pokémon crashed onto the battlefield with tremendous force. Though both were battered, Machamp's superior endurance allowed it to recover first. Seizing the dazed Charizard, it flung the dragon across the arena.
"Shave, follow up with Cross Chop!"
"I surrender!"
Seeing his Charizard on the verge of collapse and Machamp ready to attack again, Watson wisely conceded. He had no intention of letting his Charizard suffer further injuries.
With the match concluded, Ron didn't press the attack. He had no personal grudge against Watson and saw no reason to cripple another trainer's Pokémon.
With another 40 million League coins—nearly 50 million—credited to his account, Ron immediately bet everything on himself winning the finals.
He then headed to the training room to continue preparing his Pokémon. To better counter future opponents with Flying Pokémon, he focused on helping Machamp master Moonwalk as soon as possible.
Experiencing the benefits of the Golden Spirit Fruit during training, Ron grew more confident in his ability to eventually master techniques like the Navy's Six Powers.
In this world of martial arts and special abilities, Ron suspected Fighting-type gyms might hold the key to his growth and the refinement of his battle style.
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