Chapter 62 - I Will Only Use Pidgeot!

The next morning, Julian woke up early with the intention of finding out who his next opponent would be and what type of battlefield he'd be facing.

He headed back to the location where he had checked in the previous day, noticing that the area was already bustling with trainers, despite the early hour. He approached a receptionist and proceeded to check in.

Julian asked, "Who is going to be my next opponent?"

He pressed a button, and a computer screen began to generate information about the battlefield and his upcoming opponent. As the selection process concluded, it revealed that the battlefield would be of the Rock type, and his next opponent was a lady named Kassandra.

The receptionist informed Julian, "Your match will be at 1 pm at the Rock Battle Stadium. I hope you'll be there on time."

Julian replied with a nod, "Sure."

As he left the check-in area, he found himself face to face with Ash and his friends. Julian sighed inwardly but maintained a polite demeanor.

Ash greeted him, saying, "Hey Julian."

Julian acknowledged him with a nod and asked, "Hey Ash, how are you?"

Ash launched into an enthusiastic conversation, "I'm fine! By the way, I saw your battle yesterday, you were so awesome, and your Venusaur was also so strong! I couldn't believe you could defeat your opponent so easily..."

Julian patiently waited for Ash to finish talking, his thoughts betraying his impatience with the young trainer's chatter.

Ash's enthusiasm didn't waver as he continued, "...and so I wanted to ask you, could we have a Pokémon battle?"

Julian couldn't help but think to himself, 'He really doesn't quit, does he? Even though he knows he's not going to win. Well, he is the main character and was made to be like this. I cannot change him even if I wanted to.'

Julian replied, "If we happen to meet in the battlefield and face each other, then I'll battle you. So, try to at least make it to the top 16."

Julian then looked at his Pikachu and patted it, reflecting, 'This Pikachu was kept by Professor Oak and wasn't let out much often. I always wondered why it's so strong, even though it doesn't seem much different from the others.'

Julian replied to Ash, "You have a very unique Pikachu here. I hope you take great care of him."

He gently rubbed Pikachu's cheeks and then walked away, leaving Ash and his friends staring at his retreating figure.

Brock suggested, "Ash, let's go and check yourself in so that you can find out who you're battling next."

Ash agreed, saying, "Yeah, let's go."

They hurried off toward the registration hall. As they approached the receptionist, they noticed a lady with dark purple hair who was looking at her next battle opponent. When Ash saw the opponent's image on the screen, he recognized him.

Ash exclaimed, "It's Julian!"

The lady who had been looking at the screen turned around to see Ash looking at her opponent on the screen. She walked towards him, and Brock, noticing her beauty, tried his usual flirty approach, but she completely ignored him. Misty quickly intervened, dragging Brock away from the situation.

Kassandra introduced herself, and Ash, Misty, and Brock did the same. When Kassandra asked if Ash knew Julian personally, Ash confirmed that they lived in the same town and briefly mentioned Julian's strength, especially his powerful Venusaur.

Kassandra "Hey my name is Kassandra, do you perhaps know my next opponent personally?"

Ash "Hello my name is Ash and this is my buddy Pikachu"

Misty "I am Misty"

Brock "And you can call me Brocky if you want"

Ash "Yes, I know Julian, we live in the same town"

Kassandra "Oh then can you tell me about him?"

Ash "Julian is really strong, I once saw his Gengar which was also super strong and you might know about yesterdays match right how Julian's Venusaur wiped the floor single-handedly"

Misty "Hey Ash what are you doing you cannot tell other people about other's information, are you out of your mind?"

Misty quickly scolded Ash for sharing information about Julian, reminding him that it wasn't appropriate. Ash apologized for his oversight, realizing his mistake.

Ash "Ahh, I am sorry I forgot"

Kassandra "No, No I am sorry I should have not asked about this stuff, I was just curious about my opponent that's all, I will take my leave"

Kassandra apologized as well, acknowledging that she shouldn't have asked for such information. She then excused herself and walked away, leaving Ash and his friends behind.

Ash turned to his friends and sighed, "Sorry, guys. I didn't think about it."

Misty reassured him, "It's okay, Ash. Just be more careful next time."

Brock added, "Yeah, we should respect other trainers' privacy and strategies."

With that, they continued with their preparations for the upcoming battles.

Ash felt embarrassed by his earlier mistake, but his friends reassured him that it wasn't a big deal, and they continued with their preparations for the upcoming battles.

Brock advised Misty not to dwell on it too much, emphasizing that even if Kassandra knew about Julian's Pokémon, it didn't guarantee her victory.

Meanwhile, Kassandra, Julian's next opponent, was deep in thought at a restaurant, carefully considering her strategy for her upcoming battle against Julian.

Ash put his head down in embarrassment.

Brock: "Misty, let's not take it too far. Even if she knew about Julian's two Pokémon, that doesn't mean she's going to win."

Misty: "I guess you're right."

Brock: "Ash, let's go and see who your next opponent is."

Ash and his friends continued with their tasks, while Kassandra, Julian's next opponent, sat in a restaurant, pondering her strategy for the upcoming battle.

Kassandra continued to mull over her strategy, recognizing that her next opponent, Julian, was not to be taken lightly. She knew about his Venusaur and Gengar, but that limited information wouldn't be enough to formulate a winning plan. She resolved to dig deeper and find additional insights to bolster her strategy.

Kassandra thought, 'My next opponent is not something I can take on lightly. I have to give it my all to defeat him. All I know about him is that he has a Venusaur and a Gengar. I cannot just make a fighting strategy based on only this much; I have to find something else.'

As she contemplated her next steps, she was startled to see Julian himself casually entering the restaurant.

Kassandra, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety, decided to approach him. She approached Julian with a friendly smile.

Kassandra: "Hello there, Julian, right?"

Julian nodded with a polite smile.

Julian: "Yes, that's me. And you must be my next opponent, Kassandra, if I'm not mistaken."

Kassandra: "That's right. I thought it might be a good idea to get to know the person I'll be battling against. I've heard you have quite a reputation."

Julian: "Reputation, huh? Well, it's always nice to meet someone before a battle. I don't know much about your battling style, so it'll be an interesting match."

Kassandra: "Likewise. I don't have much information about your team, either. Besides your Venusaur and Gengar, that is. Do you have any other surprises up your sleeve?"

Julian's casual demeanor suddenly shifted to a more serious tone, leaving Kassandra slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected him to see through her intentions so easily. But what surprised her even more was his willingness to reveal some of his strategy.

Kassandra: "You're willing to share your strategy with me?"

Julian: "Why not? I believe battles should be fair, and if I hold all the information, it wouldn't be much of a challenge, would it?"

Kassandra: "Fair enough. So, what can you tell me about your strategy?"

Julian leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

Julian: "Well, I can tell you that my Venusaur is versatile and can adapt to different situations. It's not just about brute strength; it's about how you use your Pokémon's abilities and moves strategically. My Gengar, on the other hand, is a bit of a trickster. You'll have to watch out for unexpected moves and tactics."

Kassandra nodded, absorbing the information.

Kassandra: "Thank you for sharing that. It's good to have some insight. But I won't underestimate you."

Julian: "Well, you see, Miss Kassandra," Julian began, his voice calm and measured, "I have an offer for you. I'll use only my Pidgeot in our battle. If you manage to defeat my Pidgeot, I'll surrender and quit the battle, making it your victory."

As Julian spoke, his intense gaze never wavered from Kassandra. Her initial shock and confusion soon gave way to a peculiar sensation. It was as though an invisible web was slowly encircling her, though she couldn't quite grasp what it was. She couldn't help but feel a profound intensity emanating from Julian's crimson-red eyes, like a predator locking onto its prey. Yet, her thoughts churned with conflicting emotions and doubts.

Kassandra met Julian's intense gaze, her own eyes locked with his deep crimson ones. She felt an odd sensation, as though she were a prey being targeted by a powerful predator. Her mind raced, analyzing the situation.

Kassandra: "Why... Why would you do that?"

Julian: "Sometimes, battles are not just about winning or losing. They're about pushing our limits, learning, and growing as trainers. This could be a valuable experience for both of us."

Kassandra couldn't deny the logic in Julian's words, but the unease persisted. She was torn between her competitive spirit and the feeling that something about this offer was unsettling.

Kassandra: "Alright, Julian, I accept your challenge. I won't hold back."

Julian: "Very well, Kassandra. I look forward to our battle."

Their conversation concluded, both trainers continued their preparations, each with their own thoughts and emotions swirling within them, as the impending battle loomed large on the horizon.

Kassandra was fuming with determination as she left the restaurant. Julian, on the other hand, continued to enjoy his meal, a calm expression on his face.

Julian thought to himself, 'I've given her the information; now, it's up to her whether she chooses to believe it or not.' He focused on his food, patiently awaiting the time for his next battle, still contemplating his own strategies and tactics.