Chapter 42

Takumi snapped his fingers.

In an instant, the arena filled with a roaring crowd of thousands. The deafening cheers sent chills down the spines of everyone from the Knights, making even the experienced members feel a rush of adrenaline.

Rosaria, who was used to working alone in the shadows, shifted uncomfortably at the unfamiliar setting.

Meanwhile, Noelle, who always longed for recognition from others, felt her breath quicken, her face growing flushed.

Courtside, Jean, Kaeya, and the others also felt the weight of the atmosphere, their hearts racing.

"I'm starting to regret not joining the battle myself," Lisa murmured, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Even if I lose, this feels like an experience worth remembering."

Jean spoke in a low voice, "This environment and atmosphere… it's incredible!" Even as a knight from the noble Gunnhildr family, she could feel an urge to give her all in this arena.

"Let the battle begin!" Takumi announced from the referee's seat.

"Each side will use one Pokémon. The match ends when a Pokémon can no longer fight, signaling a defeat for that side."

As soon as Takumi finished, Noelle wasted no time, throwing her Poké Ball forward. "Senior, I won't hold back!"

The large Onix emerged from the Poké Ball, its rocky form seeming even larger and more intimidating after consuming a bottle of Moomoo Milk and some energy cubes.

Rosaria smiled calmly. "As it should be. And as your senior, I'll show you what a real battle is like."

She tossed her own Poké Ball, revealing her Sneasel, a dark, cat-like creature brimming with ferocity.

"Sneasel!" it cried, unflinching in the face of the massive Onix.

From the sidelines, Jean, Kaeya, Lisa, and Amber quickly checked the Pokédex entries of both Pokémon. They were both at level 1, so attributes, characteristics, and skills would play a crucial role.

"Hey, Rosaria's Sneasel has a hereditary skill, giving it three moves in total!"

"And Noelle's Onix isn't bad either!"

"Moves like Rollout, Rock Throw, and Wide Guard (also inherited)… it's strong!"

While the group analyzed their chances, on the field, Rosaria seized the initiative.

Understanding from the Pokédex that Sneasel had high speed and attack, she decided to strike first, knowing her Pokémon was made for quick assaults. "Sneasel, use Scratch! Move quickly!"

Sneasel dashed forward, its claws sparking as it slashed at Onix's massive frame.

Noelle gasped, "So fast! Onix, dodge—" but before she could finish, Sneasel's attack had already landed.

Surprisingly, though, Onix seemed unaffected; the scratch left only a faint mark on its rocky surface, barely a scratch against its sturdy body.

Rosaria blinked, a bead of sweat forming. "Right… Onix's Rock type makes it resistant to normal attacks like Scratch. That barely did anything."

Realizing her mistake, Rosaria scanned Sneasel's remaining moves in the Pokédex: Quick Attack and Double Hit—both also normal-type physical attacks.

She inwardly groaned, resisting the urge to facepalm. "Great… all normal-type moves. None of them will be effective against Rock type."

Despite her momentary frustration, Noelle seized the opportunity. She may have been new to battles, but she wasn't about to let such an opening go to waste.

"Onix, use Rollout!"

Onix's large body started to rumble as it transformed into a rolling rock chariot, smoke trailing behind. Rosaria's eyes sharpened.

"Sneasel, use your speed and evade!" she commanded.

Sneasel swiftly dodged the rolling Onix, escaping its range. However, the constant rolling kicked up large clouds of dust, quickly filling the arena and obscuring their view.

As Sneasel panted, evading the Onix's repeated attempts, Noelle's voice echoed through the haze. "Rock Throw! Now!"

A large rock flew through the air, hitting Sneasel squarely. A crater formed at the impact site, with Sneasel lying at the bottom, unable to move.

The dust settled, and Takumi glanced at Sneasel, announcing, "Onix wins!"

The crowd, both real and virtual, burst into cheers, and Rosaria felt an unfamiliar heat rise to her cheeks. She quickly recalled Sneasel, masking her embarrassment with a stoic expression.

She walked toward Noelle with a calm demeanor. "An unexpected loss, but you did well, Noelle. Takumi was right—Onix is incredibly strong."

Reflecting on the battle, she added, "The Rollout skill alone is devastating. When Onix matures to its full size of eight or nine meters, the power will be even more frightening."

Noelle smiled bashfully. "I was just lucky. Your Sneasel has Ice type, which makes it more vulnerable to Rock-type moves."

Rosaria paused, realizing she had overlooked a crucial detail, and shook her head with a small smile.

Takumi, observing from the sidelines, grinned. "And don't forget, the bond and resonance of Rock types are exceptionally powerful!"

Noelle and Rosaria exchanged confused glances, wondering if he was talking about "Gou Ba" or something else. But Takumi just gave them a knowing smile, pleased to see them discovering the nuances of Pokémon battling.