"It's your turn, Budew!"

  Amid her nervousness, Ning tossed a Poké Ball.

  It was clear that this young trainer, like Paul, didn't have many Pokémon and couldn't tailor her strategy to ter her oppo.

  "The match begins! Trainer Ning takes the first move!"

  The referee announced.

  Having watched Paul's previous match, the novice trainer Ning khat a direct csh would meaai.

  Thus, she opted for a strategy of hit-and-run tactics.

  "Budew, use Sleep Powder!"

  "Bu-deew!"

  Budew opehe flower bud atop its head, releasing a pale green powder toward Elekid.

  "Quick Attack."

  Elekid pushed off the ground with its feet, disappearing in a fsh of light. It effortlessly dodged the Sleep Powder and rammed into Budew, sending it flying.

  Bang!

  Since Elekid hadn't been recalled between matches, the effects of its previous "Work Up" boosts were still active.

  Even a simple Quick Attack almost knocked Budew out i.

  "Budew, hang in there! Use Magical Leaf!"

  Despite being knocked away, Budew showed resilience, refusing to give up and preparing to attack.

  However...

  "Pin it down."

  Just before Budew could release Magical Leaf, Elekid extended both hands, grabbed Budew, and shook it violently, f it to stop its attack.

  "Work Up."

  At Paul's and, Elekid ruthlessly pinned Budew to the ground. Pressing it down with one foot, it began using its "Work Up" move to further boost its Attad Special Attack.

  But was that enough?"Don't let it attack. Keep using Work Up."

  Paul hadn't fotten his ultimate goal of achieving ten secutive wins. Under normal circumstances, even with Elekid's strength, a ten-win streak would be impossible.

  By exploiting the rules and tinuously enhang its power, Paul aimed to maximize his odds of victory.

  "Bzzt-bzzt!"

  Elekid let out a sinister ugh, pressing down harder on Budew as it powered itself up again.

  Its Attad Special Attacreased further.

  In this state, Budew looked utterly despo, almost on the verge of tears.

  "Budew, don't be afraid! Use Absorb on Elekid!"

  Ning enced with determination.

  Summoning its ce, Budew unleashed a green energy whip from the bud atop its head, aiming it at Elekid.

  "Disperse it. Work Up again."

  Elekid, having used "Work Up" three times already, swatted the Absorb attack away with a casual strike, then tio boost itself further.

  Oime, two times, three times.

  After ahree uses of Work Up, Elekid's Attad Special Attack had reached their peak. It finally stopped suppressing Budew, ending the battle with a decisive stomp that left Budew unscious.

  "Budew is uo battle. Elekid wins!"

  The referee decred.

  "Budew, are you okay? e back... sniff..."

  Recalling her fallen Budew, Ning's voice trembled with emotion. She hadn't evehe battlefield before tears streamed down her face.

  "gratutions to Paul for seg his sed victory! Let's wele the challenger..."

  As the announcer's voice rang out, araiered the arena.

  pared to the noviing, this trainer was clearly more experienced. He released a Rhydon, a Ground and Rock-type Pokémon with the Lightning Rod ability, obviously intending to ter Elekid.

  Unfortunately for him...

  Thanks to the prior match against the adorable Budew and its trainer, Elekid's power had been boosted to its peak. Even a casual move now carried four times its inal strength.

  A single Focus Bst, a Fighting-type move, instantly knocked out the Rhydon, leaving the audien an uproar.

  "What? It got one-shot?"

  "This... this... how is this even possible?"

  "One move? Isn't Rhydpn supposed to be strong? What's going on?"

  The stunned audience murmured in disbelief.

  "Is Elekid really that strong? I want to cate too!"

  Some trainers began fantasizing about owning their own Elekid.

  "It's not that Rhydon is weak, or that Elekid is absurdly strong. The issue is that in the previous match, Elekid used too many boosting moves to enhas power.

  This means that defeating Elekid now is at least four times harder than at the start."

  An experierainer in the audience expined.

  "Four times? How do you even fight that?"

  "It seems uhat anyone beat this now-boss-level Elekid."

  "Not necessarily."

  Amid the audience's excmations, a green-haired, gsses-wearing boy adjusted his frames, the light refleg off them exuding a sense of wisdom.

  Instantly, the bespectacled boy drew everyone's attention.

  "Elekid's power has indeed increased, but so has its energy ption when using moves. As long as a Pokémon withstand its attacks long enough, Elekid will iably run out of stamina."

  The boy fidently stated before leaving the stands and heading toward the registration area.

  Some petitors in the waiting area realized this as well and attempted to outst Elekid rather than e head-on.

  However, under Paul's tactical guidano trainer was able to ht defeat Elekid.

  One by one, Pokémon fell.

  This seemingly ordinary Elekid achieved an unpreted eight-win streak. With just one more victory, it would tie the current record of nine secutive wins.

  After ches, Elekid had taken minimal damage, but its stamina was critically drained.

  "Bzzt-bzzt..."

  Sweating profusely, Elekid k on the ground, panting heavily.

  Among the eight matches, one oppo—a Pokémon that could use Dig—had given it signifit trouble, f Elekid to expend a rge amount of energy to secure victory.

  Though its fighting spirit still burned brightly, its body was clearly reag its limit.

  If it faced an oppo willing to stall and drain its stamina, the oute was obvious: defeat.

  "Paul's skill is truly remarkable! Achievi secutive wins with just one Elekid! Let's give him a round of appuse!"

  The announcer called out.

  Cp, cp, cp...

  The crowd erupted into thunderous appuse.

  In Pokémon battles, strength is what ultimately earns respect.

  ", let's wele our challenger—way!"

  "Will ut ao Paul's winning streak, or will Paul reach the record-setting nine secutive wins? Let's find out!"

  As the announcer fihe bespectacled boy from earlier stepped onto the field, fag Paul.

  "way?"

  Looking at the unassuming boy before him, Paul recalled some details about him.

  way, a rival of Ash's from the DP series, and a Top 16 petitor in the Lily of the Valley ference.

  A highly intelligent trainer known for employing intricate strategies and tactics.

  However, if his oppo deviated from his carefully crafted pns, way could struggle to adapt.

  In his match against Ash during the ference, had it not been for the ridiculous biting antics of Ash's Gible disrupting his strategy, way might have emerged victorious.

  This guy, stepping onto the field now, must have been Paul for a long time.Had he already figured out a way to ter Elekid?

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