Ch.39

Eventually, I hear my name being called to come out to the main battle area of arena three. Walking out I see the stadium is filled completely with cheering people. In the large battle arena, I see several official Pokémon Referees, with the main one presiding over the fight. The others are here probably to validate any issues that someone might try to bring up. Then I see my opponent standing across from me at their spot, though it is not anyone I recognize. 

"Please send out your first Pokémon," the referee says as the others are standing behind them without speaking. 

I then toss out Mamoswine's Poké ball and he appears and stands in his spot stoically. Then my opponent sent out his Pokémon, I could already see the nervousness in their eyes since they could feel that Mamoswine is King Ranked. The Pokémon they send out is a Machoke, though even with our severe type disadvantage, the Machoke is not even Duke Rank still in the Earl Rank. 

"Begin," the referee says seeing everyone ready.

"Mamoswine, take them down," I say with Mamoswine charging down Machoke who appears battle-happy. 

"Machoke, buff up!" the nervous trainer says right as I command Mamoswine. Machoke then uses Bulk Up and Focus Energy. 

However, just as Machoke finishes using Focus Energy, Mamoswine is already on top of him. 

"Machoke, dodge!" the trainer says quickly and with desperation in their voice. 

Machoke tries to jump out of the way, but it is too late as Mamoswine slams into Machoke using all his weight behind the hit. Even with the loud fans, we can hear the breaking of bones as Mamoswine collides with Machoke. Machoke is thrown like a ragdoll into the invisible barrier smashing into it and falling to the ground in a mangled ball of limbs. 

"Machoke is unable to battle! The winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine! Please send out your next Pokémon," the referee says seeing the mangled mess of unmoving Machoke. 

The trainer gives a very worried look while withdrawing Machoke and stabilizing them first. Then they send out their next Pokémon, which is a Pidgeot and appears to be their Ace as it is a Duchess Ranked Pokémon. 

"Begin!" the referee says seeing everyone ready again. 

"Mamoswine, freeze them," I say as Mamoswine quickly gathers his Ice-type energy. 

"Pidgeot, stop them!" the trainer says with some panic. Then Pidgeot gathers their Flying-type energy. 

Mamoswine then releases his Blizzard which explodes outward from himself covering the battle arena completely. The Blizzard dies down shortly after, as Mamoswine stops it from continuing due to knowing Pidgeot is down. Then we all see that Pidgeot is on the ground looking completely frozen like a statue.

"Pidgeot is unable to battle! The winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine! Please–" the referee says seeing Pidgeot down and the trainer withdraws her while stabilizing her. 

"I forfeit!" the Trainer says before the referee can continue and as I suspected Pidgeot was their Ace. 

"Trainer Sam has forfeited the match! Winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine!" the referee announces as the crowd continues to cheer. 

The Trainer then quickly leaves running off to the nearest Pokémon Center I imagine. I walk back to the waiting area for us contestants for my next battle today. As I walk in most of the people there look at me with nervousness seeing that I easily won the battle without much effort. While a few others eyed me up with interest in their eyes, as all the stronger trainers know the first two weeks are just annoying and the real competition doesn't start until the quarter-finals. 

The day eventually ends with me beating all my competition like my first battle without even having Mamoswine injured. And since betting was allowed, it seems more and more people were now betting on me. Though competitors were not allowed to bet. We went back to my room and rested, then the next morning after breakfast and getting ready headed back to arena three. 

Like that, the next few days went by with me winning each battle fairly easily as the trainers I was fighting against were just barely at Ace Trainer Rank. While technically I was already qualified for Champion Rank, but unsure if I will officially get that Rank. So only trainers who already were at Ace Trainer Rank before, or Elite Rank will be a real challenge to me. Since they must have gotten stronger since the last tournament, as Red was officially an Elite Trainer, but in actuality is most definitely a Champion Rank Trainer leaning toward Master Rank. 

Then the day came when the quarter-finals arrived, with it the knowledge that I would be facing against Brock. I can only hope he doesn't take the loss too hard. Though we will see afterward. I then walked to arena one as now all the remaining people will be facing each other here. As I enter into the arena and see Brock standing still but I can see a nervous look in his eyes. 

"Don't hold back Lucas, I want to see how far I've come and how far you have gone," Brock says to me as we shake hands before taking our places in the arena. 

"Sure, let's show them how strong we are," I say after we shake hands and then we walk to our places. 

"Please send out your first Pokémon!" the referee says and like normal I throw out Mamoswine who stands in front of everyone proudly. 

"Onix we can do this," Brock says throwing out his Poké ball with a huge rock snake-like Pokémon appearing. 

"Begin!" the referee says once everyone is ready. 

"Mamoswine, don't hold back," I say as Mamoswine immediately buffs up with Amnesia and Mist, then begins gathering his Ground-type energy.

"Onix, buff up!" Brock says at the same time I command Mamoswine. Onix then appears to use Rock Polish and Iron Defense. 

Luckily as Onix finished using Iron Defense Mamoswine just released his Earthquake by rearing up and slamming into the ground. The systemic energy reached Onix as he screeched in pain and the energy caused cracks to form along his body. Onix then collapsed as the energy dissipated from him but picked himself up slowly. The only reason he is still standing is because of his natural ability of Sturdy. 

"Onix, you know what to do!" Brock says and Onix rushes Mamoswine with gathered Fighting-type energy. 

Mamoswine grunts and then releases shards of Ice toward the rushing Onix. Who with his crippled body and desperate attempt can't dodge and gets hit with the shards of Ice. Onix then collapsed right in front of Mamoswine who has moved since he appeared. 

"Onix is unable to battle! The winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine!" the referee says as Brock looks determined still, but I can see the sadness in his eyes. 

Brock then withdraws Onix while stabilizing him and saying something to Onix. The referee asks for him to send out his next Pokémon and Brock throws out another Poké ball right after. 

"We can do it Rhydon!" Brock says with a Rhydon appears and smacks his fists together a lot like Primeape used to do. 

"Begin!" the referee says. 

"Rhydon, quickly buff up! But be ready to act at a moment's notice!" Brock says to Rhydon who like Onix uses Iron Defense, but also a Sword Dance. 

I don't say anything as Mamoswine knows what he can do against Rhydon. So Mamoswine immediately gathers more Ground-type Energy. Then slams into the ground causing another Earthquake. Though this time, Rhydon waited and then jumped up avoiding the attack. However, right after his Earthquake, Mamoswine closed the distance with a High Horsepower. 

Rhydon was not expecting Mamoswine to have this much move mastery so was hit head-on by Mamoswine. Rhydon cries out in pain as Mamoswine smashes into Rhydon making him stumble back a few feet and have cracked armor from the attack. Then without giving a chance for Rhydon to recover or for Brock to speak, Mamoswine bits down onto Rhydon with Ice Fang. 

Rhydon tried to block the attack with his arms, but Mamoswine just grabbed one of the arms and appeared to have broken it. As he released Rhydon who fell down to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Rhydon stayed unmoving showing he was unconscious. 

"Rhydon is unable to battle! The winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine!" the referee says as Brock looks very sad, but is hiding it well behind his stoic face, like his father. 

"Please send out your next Pokémon," the referee says and Brock throws out his next Poké ball. 

"Alright Dugtrio, we can do it!" Brock says as the three-headed Pokémon that just looks like three oval-shaped heads sticking out of the ground. 

"Begin!" the referee says. 

"Dugtrio, use Hyper Beam!" Brock says wanting to just damage Mamoswine at this point. 

Mamoswine then charges up his Ice-type energy. Then releases his Blizzard once again takes over the arena. The icy storm fills the arena and dies down quickly after being released. Showing a frozen-over Dugtrio. At this point, Brock looks ready to cry but is keeping up his facade of being cool and collected. 

"Dugtrio is unable to battle! The winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine!" the referee says with a side-eye look at Brock feeling bad for having to face me right at the beginning of the quarter-finals. 

"Please send out your next Pokémon," the referee says and Brock throws out his next Poké ball. 

"Ok, Golem let's show them what we can really do and how far, we've come!" Brock says after tossing out Golem, his ace. Brock only as Golem let, so once this is over I will have won, though I'm glad Brock didn't forfeit like many of my other opponents. 

"Begin!" the referee says. 

"Golem, buff up, and don't hold anything back!" Brock says with Golem using Iron Defense and Rock Polish. 

Mamoswine just sends an Earthquake his way. Due to his body shape and weight can't jump to dodge. Golem cries out in pain as the systemic energy rakes his body making cracks appear all over it and some parts of his shell to fall off. However, just as Mamoswine is about to finish it with an Ice Shard. Golem used all his powered-up energy to explode himself. 

A huge explosion shook the arena, and a blast of light made everyone look away. Even the invisible barrier cracked a bit from the explosion. Before quickly getting reinforced immediately after, though I could only tell due to my powers. As the dust cleared we see a horribly injured Golem that looks like he might be dead. Then we see Mamoswine still standing, but heavily injured with blood dripping down his body. 

Without waiting for the referee to announce anything Brock ran out to Golem quickly trying to stabilize him. Then rushed out with some of the staff toward the in arena emergency Pokémon Center. 

"Golem is unable to battle! The winners are Trainer Lucas and Mamoswine!" the referee says just as Brock runs out to the arena. 

After the announcement, I follow after Brock to check up on him. My next battle won't be for another hour and my next two battles will determine if I make it into the semi-finals. I see Brock standing outside the waiting area in the Pokémon Center. 

"Brock…" I start to say since I feel bad Golem might just be permanently injured because of our battle. 

"Lucas, it was my mistake… I told him to not hold back at all and it seems he knew we were going to lose, so wanted to at least take one down with him," Brock says as I just nod my head and pat his shoulder unsure what else to say to him. 

I then sit in the waiting area with Brock. Then before we can hear anything else about Golem's condition, one of the staff tells me my next battle is up next in five minutes. Brock gives me a defeated smile and nods before I follow the staff back out to the arena.