Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Final Battle
In the final match, the betting odds for Ron had shifted back to an overwhelming 0.1:1, while his opponent Feli's odds stood at an even 1:1.
The massive disparity in odds made it clear: Ron had an overwhelming chance of claiming the championship.
Those who had been hesitant to place their bets before were now scrambling to wager on Ron's victory. Conversely, those who had already bet and lost everything glared hatefully at the TV, praying for Ron to lose as soon as possible.
Some went so far as to plan attacks against him.
From their perspective, Ron must have made a fortune through his act, and winning the Master Ball as a prize, along with other rewards from Silph Co., made him an even bigger target. Especially given Ron's Elite Junior Trainer status, he seemed like a lucrative and tempting prey.
Unaware of what was brewing outside, Ron stepped onto the battlefield, ready for his final match.
Compared to Ron's calm demeanor, his opponent, Feli, was noticeably nervous.
Then again, anyone who had seen Ron's previous battles couldn't help but feel the same tension.
His Machamp was already a formidable Pokémon, but Ron's Machamp surpassed others of its kind in strength, skill, and even speed—bordering on teleportation.
It was akin to a warrior fully equipped with six legendary items, maxed-out speed stats, and an unrelenting attack style that left no room for escape. All it took was one barrage to finish opponents off completely, leaving no chance for counterattacks.
As the referee's voice signaled the start of the match, Feli had no choice but to release his Pokémon, Scizor, onto the battlefield.
Hailing from Johto, Feli's ace Pokémon, Scizor, had a combat style similar to Machamp, which only added to his nerves.
The moment Scizor appeared, it merely glanced at Feli. No words were exchanged, but that was enough.
Their long-standing partnership allowed Feli to see unwavering trust in Scizor's eyes.
Having made it this far together, Feli resolved to give it his all. He couldn't accept a loss without giving his best.
"Scizor, use Double Team and charge in with Quick Attack!"
Feli's voice rang out, brimming with fighting spirit, a stark contrast to his earlier anxiety.
"Machamp, let's give them a good battle! Charge in with Brick Break!"
Seeing Feli and his Scizor so determined, Ron decided not to end the battle too quickly. It was a good opportunity for Machamp to have a proper match against their opponent's Scizor.
Sensing Scizor's intense fighting spirit, Machamp, as a Fighting-type Pokémon, couldn't hold back any longer.
Without using Shave (Soru), Machamp charged forward.
As the distance between the two narrowed, Ron stood calmly as Machamp systematically dismantled the illusions created by Scizor's Double Team.
With all four arms moving in tandem, Machamp left no openings, swiftly reducing the number of Scizor's clones.
Realizing the window to act was closing, Feli decided he couldn't wait any longer.
"Scizor, use Agility and follow up with Bullet Punch!"
Feli hoped that, even if Scizor's attack failed, its boosted speed from Agility might improve its chances of victory.
"Machamp, counter behind you with Close Combat!"
The moment Scizor launched its charge, Ron's command echoed in Machamp's ears.
With the power granted by Fighting Aura, Scizor's movements couldn't escape Ron's gaze, making it impossible for Scizor to land a hit on Machamp.
As fists clashed, Scizor felt as if its arms were about to shatter and immediately attempted to create some distance from Machamp.
However, even without using Shave, Machamp's speed far surpassed most Pokémon, let alone Scizor.
Step by step, Machamp relentlessly closed the gap, keeping Scizor within its attack range. Using Scizor as a sturdy punching bag, Machamp unleashed a relentless barrage of powerful strikes.
"Scizor, fight back with Fury Cutter!"
"Be careful of its slashes. Aim for its joints with your brute force!"
Both trainers' commands rang out in succession.
As Scizor launched its Fury Cutter, Machamp deflected the strikes and landed a precise blow on Scizor's joints.
The impact of Machamp's attack left Scizor's left arm completely numb, though it continued attacking with its remaining arm.
Another precise punch from Machamp rendered both of Scizor's arms useless under its overwhelming power.
Seizing this moment, Scizor finally managed to create some distance.
Standing still, Machamp refrained from pursuing, waiting for Scizor to recover.
At the edge of the battlefield, Ron saw no issue with Machamp's behavior.
Thanks to the gradual influence of Fighting Aura, even a few months of training had brought about significant physical improvements in Machamp and his other Pokémon.
Coupled with rigorous training in Shave, the demanding exercises and acquired techniques gave Machamp strength that outshined Pokémon of similar levels.
Ron firmly believed that no matter how many chances Machamp gave Scizor, Machamp would still emerge as the victor in the end.
"Use it now, Scizor—Giga Impact!"
During the brief exchange, Feli realized that a close-range battle would never allow Scizor to overcome its opponent. Instead, he decided to take a risk and unleash all of Scizor's remaining strength.
"Machamp, use Focus Punch!"
Since teaching Machamp the high-power move Focus Punch, with a base power of 150, Ron rarely had opportunities to use it.
Against weaker opponents, it wasn't necessary. Against evenly matched ones, Ron often relied on Shave to close the gap and overwhelm them with a flurry of attacks.
As for stronger opponents, battles often turned into ambushes or group fights, leaving little room for Focus Punch to shine.
Even though Ron had recently used it once at the Saffron City Gym, he couldn't help but look forward to seeing Machamp execute the move again.
Fighting energy surged around Machamp's fists, glowing a brilliant azure as the power enveloped its hands.
Scizor, fully prepared, launched itself like a dazzling bullet with Giga Impact straight toward Machamp.
The collision of their moves generated shockwaves that tore through the battlefield.
As the tense moment unfolded, Ron suddenly found himself wondering: if an Elite Junior battle could so easily destroy a battlefield, what would happen in fights between Elite Intermediate, Elite Advanced, or even Champion-level Pokémon?
Before Ron could reach a conclusion, the clash between Machamp and Scizor had decided the victor.
With its overwhelming strength, Machamp crushed Scizor with ease.
The recoil effect of Machamp's Focus Punch took effect, momentarily preventing it from pursuing its opponent. However, there was no need for a follow-up. The force of the attack sent Scizor flying, and the Bug-Steel Pokémon lay motionless on the ground, completely unable to continue battling.
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