Good Luck?

Five minutes passed quickly, and the referee confirmed both sides were ready. He cleared his throat and began reading out the rules for the battle.

"Welcome to the Riverstone University Freshman Military Tournament! Trainer John will face off against Trainer Sam. Each trainer is allowed only one Pokemon, and the battle ends when one Pokemon is unable to continue fighting."

"Now, please release your Pokemon at the same time!"

John and Sam exchanged a quick glance, both sizing each other up like opponents in a high-stakes poker game. They both reached for their Pokeballs and tossed them into the air, sending their Pokemon out with a flash of light.

Sam's Pokemon was Croagunk, a purple, frog-like creature with a goofy grin that looked like it belonged in a cartoon. John had to admit, Croagunk wasn't the most intimidating of Pokemon, but it certainly had its moments—especially when it paralyzed Brock with Poison Jab in the anime.

John's Pokemon, however, was a sight to behold. A Shiny Makuhita, its red gloves and cheeks a sharp contrast to the usual yellow-orange color. John didn't feel the need to use his top Pokemon for this audition, so Makuhita seemed like a solid (if somewhat unexpected) choice.

"Yes! I've got the advantage here!" Sam clenched his fists, grinning as he eyed his opponent.

Croagunk, a Poison-type, had an inherent advantage over Fighting-types, though Poison Barb wasn't particularly effective against Fighting-types. Still, it had an edge thanks to its resistance to Fighting moves. Sam figured this would be an easy win.

But just as he was about to bask in his victory, the crowd around them gasped.

"Wait, that's a Shiny Makuhita!" someone shouted from the crowd, clearly impressed.

Suddenly, the attention of every spectator shifted to John's Pokemon, as if they'd all just spotted a rare celebrity.

Especially Grace, who was standing nearby. Her eyes went wide with surprise.

"What's going on with this guy? First, he catches a Shiny Ralts, and now he's got a Shiny Makuhita? How is he so lucky?" she thought, her mind spinning.

Shiny Pokemon were always a spectacle. It didn't matter how strong they were; they always attracted attention, like a person showing up in a one-of-a-kind outfit. People couldn't help but stare.

Sam, too, couldn't tear his eyes away from the vibrant red of Makuhita. It was strong, it was flashy, and it had an undeniable presence. But Sam quickly shook off the distraction. This was a competition, and he couldn't afford to get caught up in the flashiness of it all.

"Hmph, so what if it's a Shiny? That doesn't mean it's strong! I'll show you how it's done!" he muttered under his breath, trying to focus.

The referee raised his flag, signaling the start of the battle.

"Croagunk, use Poison Barb !"

"Makuhita, use Fake Out !" John and Sam called out their moves at the same time.

Croagunk fired a stream of purple liquid at Makuhita, hoping to poison it. Poison-types often relied on this tactic at the start of a battle, but Makuhita didn't flinch. Instead, it took the hit head-on and, to Sam's surprise, nothing happened. Makuhita didn't seem poisoned at all. It looked completely unfazed.

"Lucky." Sam muttered, frustrated. He wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Dodge, then use Mud-Slap!"

Makuhita charged forward, raising its arm as though it was about to deliver a crushing slap. Croagunk, despite being faster, attempted to dodge, trying to prepare for a counterattack. The faint silver glow of Mud-Slap in Croagunk's hand meant it was ready to strike back.

But before Croagunk could react, Makuhita's speed suddenly shot up. In the blink of an eye, it closed the gap and launched its Fake Out attack directly into Croagunk's face.

The impact was so strong it sent Croagunk spinning through the air, its body twisting like a top before it crashed into the ground. It slid a good two meters before finally coming to a halt.

"Boom!" The sound of the collision echoed across the battlefield.

"What... What just happened?" Sam stared, wide-eyed. One second, Croagunk was about to dodge, and the next, it was sent flying like a ragdoll. He had no idea what hit him.

What Sam didn't realize was that John had done his homework. Makuhita had learned Quick Attack, a move that allowed it to close the distance between itself and the opponent in the blink of an eye. It wasn't just a fast strike—it disrupted the rhythm of the opponent, leaving them no time to react.

And there was one more detail Sam missed.

Makuhita's ability, Perseverance, boosted its attack power by 50% when it was affected by a status condition. Even though Croagunk's Poison Barb hadn't poisoned Makuhita, the effect of Perseverance was enough to make that Fake Out hit like a truck.

Sam still didn't understand what had happened, but John did. This was his moment.

"Makuhita, finish it! Use Arm Thrust!"

Makuhita grinned and charged at the stunned Croagunk, who could do nothing but watch in horror as it approached. Sam's frantic commands came too late.

Makuhita raised its fists, the bright red gloves flashing as it unleashed a flurry of punches. The strikes came down like a thunderstorm, fast and relentless.

In just five seconds, Croagunk was out.

The referee stepped forward, his voice carrying across the battlefield.

"Croagunk is unable to continue the battle. Makuhita wins, and the final winner of this match is Trainer John!"