Chapter 6: Easy Win
"Gible! Garchomp's Pre Evolution form!" the referee exclaimed, his voice echoing through the arena with a mix of disbelief and excitement.
As the name resonated in the air, a wave of astonishment washed over the audience, transforming their initial ignorance into a buzz of animated chatter. Gasps and murmurs travelled through the crowd, igniting a palpable sense of intrigue among the spectators.
Gible, the Pokémon in question, is a rarity in the Trainer world, making appearances exceedingly scarce. However, most Trainers, whether by rumour or reputation, are familiar with Garchomp. Revered as one of the most formidable pseudo-legendary, Garchomp is a dual-type Pokémon, possessing both Dragon and Ground Types, which makes it an exceptional force in battles. The rarity of encountering them in real life only adds to the allure, and everyone present wore expressions of awe and disbelief.
Luna, a strikingly beautiful young woman, found herself captivated, her eyes widening with wonder. Her small hands clenched tightly in anticipation as she caught sight of the extraordinarily handsome young man standing on stage. The intensity of the moment made her heart race uncomfortably, a mix of admiration and excitement coursing through her.
On the opposite side, Jacob stood frozen, his mind racing as a chill cascaded down his spine. The presence of Gible, combined with the confidence of its Trainer, left him momentarily paralyzed as he struggled to process the weight of the situation. The atmosphere in the arena had shifted, charged with energy and anticipation, and it was clear that something extraordinary was unfolding before their eyes.
Goosebumps prickled across his skin, a physical manifestation of the disbelief washing over him
.
"How, how could this be happening?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as he struggled to comprehend the extraordinary scene unfolding before him. The thrill of the moment left him feeling slightly dazed, caught between awe and confusion.
"This is exhilarating! I never imagined I would witness a pseudo-legendary Pokémon in person!" he thought, his heart racing with excitement.
A voice broke through his reverie, adding a dose of reality to the spectacle. "Not necessarily. It is just a pre-evolution form of Garchomp, Jacob has been defending the champion title for an entire week now," someone remarked, their tone a mix of amusement and insight.
Jacob, the subject of the comment, was caught off guard. The murmurs from the audience reached him, shocking him back to the present moment, pulling him from the trance-like state he had been in.
"That's right! Don't panic now!" he murmured, shaking off the distractions as he focused on the decisive moment ahead.
"Sandshrew, Rollout Tackle!" he commanded firmly.
At the sound of his order, Sandshrew sprang into action without hesitation. It contracted its limbs, curling into a perfectly shaped ball, and then propelled itself forward with all its strength, rolling straight toward Gible with an intense, determined force.
Adrian narrowed his eyes, keenly observing every movement, his mind racing with possibilities for what would happen next.
"Go head-to-head, Gible! Use Tackle!"
In the next moment, Gible lowered its eyelids slightly to shield itself from the intense light flashing before its eyes. Its limbs bent slightly, and it kicked off the ground with great force, launching its body like an arrow from a string!
The explosive power was astonishing, living up to the reputation of the Pseudo-legendary Pokémon—Garchomp!
The two Pokémon collided. For a brief second, the air was still.
**Bang!**
Under the watchful gaze of hundreds of spectators, Sandshrew was sent flying, arcing through the air before crashing to the ground. A crack instantly formed in the arena floor.
On the other side of the battlefield, Gible stood frozen, exuding an air of dominance as he gazed down at his fallen opponent, Sandshrew. The energy of victory surged through it, palpable and intense. The audience could sense the finality of the moment, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation and tension.
"Hiss—" A collective intake of breath echoed from the crowd, a mixture of awe and disbelief at the unfolding scene.
Jacob, watching with a heavy heart, called out desperately, "Sandshrew, get up!" His voice trembled with emotion, and he clutched his chest, the weight of worry nearly overwhelming him. It felt like his very breath was at stake as he watched Sandshrew struggle.
In a daze, Sandshrew seemed to catch his master's frantic call. Its limbs twitched painfully, making a valiant but shaky attempt to rise from the ground, driven by the bond of loyalty to its trainer.
"Are you really not going to admit defeat?" Adrian's voice sliced through the tension, cold and unyielding. It echoed ominously, adding a sense of doom to the already heavy atmosphere, like a verdict waiting to be sealed.
Jacob gritted his teeth, his muscles tense and cheeks tightened in a show of determination, yet he stubbornly refused to admit defeat. In that intense moment, he felt a powerful urge to call out to his daddy.
After successfully defending the ring for an entire week, he never anticipated that his moment of failure would arrive so abruptly. It was just one move, yet its impact felt overwhelmingly devastating. Why did it have to end this way? He struggled to accept the crushing reality of defeat.
On the other side, Adrian remained blissfully unaware of the turmoil swirling in Jacob's mind. He was someone who thrived on swift decisions, and sensing the urgency of the battle, he swiftly gave his last command.
"Gible, use Sand Tomb!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the tension, ready to turn the tides of battle in his favour.
Sandshrew had just managed to stand upright, but its body wobbled unsteadily, struggling to find balance. Suddenly, it felt its legs weaken, as if they were turning to jelly, and it began to sink slowly into the ground beneath him. Looking down, it was shocked to discover that the arena had been transformed; a layer of yellow sand now blanketed the surface, hiding the treacherous nature of what lay below. It was stuck in quicksand.
Jacob, watching in horror, stepped onto the sandy ground with trepidation. For a brief moment, he stood frozen, staring in disbelief at his Pokémon's predicament. Then, overwhelmed by despair, he exclaimed, "I give up, I give up!" His voice carried a mix of urgency and heartbreak, echoing through the arena.
As soon as the words left his lips, Gible responded by retracting the yellow sand that had engulfed them, pulling back the hidden threat. Both trainer and Pokémon stood side by side, their expressions mirroring one another—stoic and seemingly indifferent. Yet beneath that calm façade, their incredible strength and determination glimmered, radiating a sense of power that was anything but subtle.
The referee, suddenly coming to life in the chaos of the moment, leaped into the ring with an infectious energy. He exclaimed, "Sandshrew is unable to battle, Gible wins!"
His voice echoed through the arena, penetrating the excitement-heavy air and startling four to five hundred spectators who had been momentarily caught in a stunned silence.
What followed was a crescendo of chatter that stirred throughout the stands, reminiscent of a swarm of bees buzzing fervently into the sky.
"Absolutely incredible match!" shouted one enthusiastic fan, clearly exhilarated by the adrenaline of the event.
"I can't believe it! This arena match was totally worth the ticket price; I'd pay it again in a heartbeat!" another spectator chimed in, their voice brimming with excitement.
"Oh my gosh, witnessing the power of a pseudo-legendary Pokémon up close is something else entirely!" gasped a nearby onlooker, their eyes wide with awe.
"Wow, that guy is unbelievably handsome!" someone remarked, pointing towards Adrian, captivated not just by the match but also by the competitor.
"Great job, bro!" shouted a friend from the crowd, cheering in support of Adrian.
From that exhilarating moment forward, Adrian's name began to resonate within the audience, slowly carving a path into the hearts and minds of everyone present.
Luna sat in the audience, her eyes glistening with tears as a wave of emotions crashed over her. It was as if a seed, once buried deep within her soul, had suddenly sprouted into a magnificent, towering tree, full of life and vigour. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, and she felt a profound sense of pride and exhilaration.
In a breath-taking display of skill and determination, Adrian executed a single, flawless move that showcased his exceptional strength and technique. The crowd erupted in cheers as he was declared the champion, his victory resonating with everyone present.
Meanwhile, on the ring, Jacob fell to his knees in utter despair, the weight of defeat heavy upon him. His companions rushed to his side, offering their support and helping him off the ring, where they noticed the fine grains of sand that clung to the back of his clothes—a testament to the fierce battle he had just fought.
Suddenly, an announcement echoed throughout the arena, breaking the tense atmosphere.
[Congratulations to the host for winning the first battle! The ten times experience bonus has been activated, and Gible's level has increased to level 9!]
With a sense of accomplishment washing over him, Adrian simply said, "Good," a smile breaking across his face as he absorbed the moment.
Adrian smiled for the first time since the game began. With the contest conditions providing ten times the experience, his level increased rapidly; he was promoted by three levels in just one game.
"Adrian has become the new champion! There are ten minutes left to sign up for a challenge against the new champion!" the referee announced excitedly, picking up the microphone.
As soon as the words were out, the auditorium erupted with activity as people rushed toward the registration point. Adrian was momentarily stunned. Was it because everyone loved difficult challenges?
He was puzzled, but the audience's motivations were surprisingly simple. Of course! Although Jacob was powerful, how often do you get to see a small club featuring pseudo-legendary Pokémon? Even if they got beaten, it was still worth the experience!
That's right! They rushed forward to contribute to the performance and lend a helping hand to Adrian by solidifying their positions as challengers. If Adrian could read the inner thoughts of the crowd, he would definitely be unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"Adrian, Adrian, choose me!" someone shouted.
"Go away! Your Catterpie has no right to show off! It would be embarrassed standing in front Gible!" another person retorted.
"Bah, it's none of your business! How good is your Magikarp?" came the response.
The manager of the club, alerted by the commotion, rushed over. Before he could flatter Adrian, he heard the loud argument at the registration desk and hurried over to intervene.
"Ahem, everyone, calm down! It's first come, first served!" he announced.
As soon as the club manager took charge, the scene fell silent. Everyone quickly lined up to register, eager not to waste time arguing.
Luna, noticing Adrian's speechless expression, couldn't help but laugh, revealing two dimples. Adrian initially looked on helplessly but, upon seeing her dimples, felt an irresistible urge to poke them.
After he poked her cheek, he was surprised by how soft it felt under his fingers. Luna's face turned bright red, and she looked like she was about to get angry. The atmosphere between the two became quite charged.
"The break is over! Welcome the next challenger to the stage!" the referee called out, breaking the tension between them.
Adrian turned to see a young man with yellow hair on the stage, brimming with excitement.
"Adrian, come quickly!" the yellow-haired young man shouted, bouncing up and down with enthusiasm. However, Adrian maintained his calm demeanour.
"Poliwag, use Water Gun!" the young man commanded, confident that water would overcome Ground-type Pokémon.
"Gible, use Sand Attack!" Adrian responded, unfazed by the type advantage.
Following his command, Gible raised its paw, and a small storm vortex suddenly swept away all the sand in the area.