Chapter 60 - Round One

Outside the Grass battlefield, a bustling crowd had gathered, eagerly anticipating the next battle scheduled to take place within its confines. Among the throng were a number of devoted fans, proudly waving banners adorned with Alan's name and face.

While a few in the crowd were privy to Alan's opponent, most of them had already begun placing their bets on Alan. His reputation as a top 16 finisher in the previous tournament carried considerable weight. Additionally, he had garnered a dedicated following of fangirls who cheered passionately for him, adding to the fervor in the crowd.

Spectators who had purchased tickets to witness the upcoming battle were steadily streaming into the battlefield, taking their seats in the designated spectator areas as they awaited the arrival of the trainers.

Gary, accompanied by his entourage of enthusiastic female fans, made his grand entrance, and he quickly spotted Ash, Brock, and Misty as they, too, entered the spectator area of the battlefield.

Gary couldn't resist a teasing remark as he approached Ash, saying, "Hey, Ashy-boy, I caught your match. Who would've thought you'd luck out and face such a weak opponent in your first battle?"

Ash's irritation was evident, but he chose not to engage in a retort. Fortunately, Misty stepped in to change the subject.

Misty inquired, "Gary, are you also planning to watch Julian's match?"

Gary replied with enthusiasm, "Of course, I am! Julian's one of the few trainers I genuinely admire. How could I possibly miss his display of dominance today?"

Ash shared some information, saying, "I've heard that Alan is quite formidable. He made it to the top 16 in the previous league. Who do you think will come out on top in this battle?"

Gary displayed his usual confidence and replied, "Ha, Alan doesn't stand a chance against Julian. Just watch how Julian effortlessly takes him down in this match."

Although Gary had always been known for his arrogance, there had been a change in him since his battle with Julian's Electabuzz. The realization of the vast gap in skill between him and Julian had transformed him. He now looked up to Julian as a role model, determined to bridge that gap and one day surpass him.

Ash, Brock, and Misty exchanged surprised glances at Gary's unwavering confidence in Julian's abilities. They weren't the only ones taken aback; several nearby spectators, many of whom were Alan's fervent supporters, also found themselves intrigued by Julian's reputation.

The sudden shift in the conversation caught the attention of Alan's fans, who had gathered to cheer for their favorite trainer. Some of them began to ridicule Gary for what they perceived as baseless overconfidence in Julian, adding an unexpected layer of tension to the atmosphere.

Gary, not willing to engage further with the crowd, decided to leave. He beckoned to his group of adoring girls, saying, "If you don't want a seat, then stay here. I'm going. Come on, girls, let's go."

Ash, Brock, and Misty quickly followed Gary and his entourage, making their way into the battlefield building.

Meanwhile, Julian remained composed in the waiting room, deep in meditation. As the cheers from the crowd outside grew louder, he recognized that it was time. Julian rose slowly, dusting off his coat before departing from the waiting room.

Julian stood just behind the door that led to the Grass battlefield, where his first tournament match awaited. His heart raced, and a surge of anticipation coursed through his veins. Despite his experience in two different lives, this was a feeling he couldn't quite get used to.

The adrenaline pumped through him as he realized that hundreds of pairs of eyes would soon be fixed upon him. In the world of Pokémon trainers, those who reached the pinnacle were akin to superstars. Aspiring to become famous in the eyes of both commoners and fellow trainers was a dream shared by many. Today, Julian was one step closer to realizing that dream, and the excitement in the air was palpable.

Julian couldn't help but savor the new and exhilarating feeling coursing through him. As he waited for his turn to enter the battlefield, the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium.

Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, the fourth match on the Grass battlefield is about to begin. Let's introduce our participants. First, representing the green corner, we have Alan, an immensely experienced Pokémon trainer who achieved an impressive top 16 finish in the previous Indigo League!"

The crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers as Alan made his entrance onto the battlefield. He waved graciously at the roaring spectators, his dedicated fans proudly hoisting his banner high. Among his female admirers, confessions of love and marriage proposals filled the air, adding an extra layer of excitement to the atmosphere.

The announcer chuckled at the enthusiastic reception for Alan, remarking, "Haha, it seems Alan has quite a following this time around. Now, let's introduce his opponent. A relative newcomer to the Indigo League, with little known about him, representing the red corner, we have Julian."

The crowd hushed, anticipation filling the air, as the door of the red corner began to swing open. Julian emerged, moving deliberately and locking his gaze directly onto Alan. An invisible pressure seemed to emanate from him, casting a momentary hush over the battlefield.

The crowd was momentarily stunned by the striking appearance of Julian as he entered the battlefield. His handsome features seemed to captivate the audience, and after a brief pause, the cheers erupted even more fervently. Some who had not been fans of Alan began to shift their support toward Julian. The women in the crowd were particularly entranced by his looks, and a few of them couldn't help but switch sides in their excitement.

Among the spectators, Brock, who had been trying to charm a lady, couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. He sighed and muttered to himself, "This isn't fair."

As Alan felt the overwhelming invisible pressure emanating from Julian, he clenched his teeth, his determination mounting. The memory of the earlier humiliation outside the battlefield fueled his desire for revenge.

The referee stepped forward and began to explain the rules, "This will be a three vs. three Pokémon match. Trainers are allowed to switch Pokémon during the battle. The trainer who has all three of their Pokémon unable to battle will be declared the loser and eliminated from the tournament."

Turning to Alan, the referee asked, "Green corner, are you ready?"

Alan responded with determination, "Yes."

Referee: "Red corner, ready?"

Julian nodded in confirmation, indicating his readiness.

Referee: "Then, let's begin. Both trainers, send out your Pokémon!"

Julian commanded, "Go, Venusaur!"

Alan quickly responded, "Go, Arcanine!"

The arena's announcer commented, "And it appears that we have Venusaur versus Arcanine starting off this battle. Alan seems to have an early advantage here. Let's see how this unfolds."

Alan couldn't resist a taunt, sneering at Julian, "You're already at a disadvantage. Watch how I humiliate you!"

Julian remained composed and confident, countering Alan's taunt with determination. He issued his command swiftly, "Venusaur, use Earthquake!"

Venusaur responded by rearing up on its hind legs before slamming its front legs onto the ground with incredible force. The resulting earthquake rippled through the battlefield, causing the very earth beneath to tremble and shake. The grassy field displayed visible cracks, and even Arcanine, struggling to maintain its balance, felt the powerful vibrations coursing through the ground.

Alan swiftly commanded, "Arcanine, jump!"

Julian, seemingly unfazed by Alan's move, scoffed, "Hmpf, how predictable. Venusaur, manipulate the grass and ensnare Arcanine!"

Alan reacted in panic, shouting, "What? No, Arcanine, dodge quickly!"

However, luck was not on Alan's side. As Arcanine was still airborne, its mobility was limited. Venusaur skillfully wove layers upon layers of grass, swiftly wrapping Arcanine in a tight cocoon of vegetation and pinning it to the ground. The grass bindings restricted Arcanine's movement entirely, rendering it helpless. Every attempt to burn through the bindings with fire proved futile, as the grass constricted even more if Arcanine struggled, leaving it immobilized and vulnerable on the battlefield.

The arena's announcer narrated, "Venusaur has successfully bound Arcanine, rendering it completely helpless. It looks like this match might be over in mere moments."

A stunned hush fell over the crowd as they witnessed the rapid turn of events, realizing the formidable skill Julian possessed. Gary sported a confident smirk, while Ash's admiration for Julian's abilities grew exponentially.

Julian issued the final command with unwavering confidence, "Venusaur, finish it with Solar Beam!"

Venusaur responded, charging up a powerful Solar Beam. With Arcanine immobilized on the ground, there was no escape. The Solar Beam struck its target, and as the dissipating smoke cleared, Arcanine lay defeated, fainted from the powerful attack.

The referee declared, "Arcanine is unable to battle, Venusaur wins."

The announcer followed up, "Just as predicted, Arcanine has been defeated. Let's see which Pokémon Alan will choose next."

The crowd erupted into cheers after the announcement, their discussions revolving around Julian as he became the center of attention within a matter of minutes.

Alan clenched his teeth in frustration, observing his defeated Arcanine. He had come to a realization that Julian was not an opponent he could easily overcome, but the determination in his eyes showed that he wasn't ready to give up just yet.

Alan commanded, "Go, Fearow!"

The announcer narrated, "Alan has sent out Fearow, and once again, Julian appears to be at a disadvantage. Let's see how Julian responds."

Alan continued, "Fearow, use Air Cutter!"

Julian countered swiftly, "Venusaur, respond with Razor Leaf!"

With both Pokémon unleashing their respective attacks, Venusaur's Razor Leaf emerged as a massive and powerful projectile, while Fearow's Air Cutter was swift and razor-sharp. The two attacks collided in mid-air, creating a powerful shockwave that rippled through the battlefield. Spectators in the crowd instinctively shielded themselves from the impact, bracing for the shockwave's effects.

Julian seized the opportunity, commanding, "Venusaur, finish this with Giga Drain!"

Alan, alarmed by Julian's move, watched as the smoke from the previous attack still lingered, limiting Fearow's visibility.

Thinking quickly, Alan shouted, "Fearow, dive down and use Aerial Ace!"

However, Julian had an ace up his sleeve. With a smirk, he ordered, "Venusaur, unleash Leaf Storm!"

Fearow's dive was abruptly halted as it found itself ensnared in a raging vortex of leaves and wind. The Leaf Storm proved relentless, relentlessly assaulting Fearow and making it increasingly difficult for the bird Pokémon to maintain its flight. It struggled within the tempest, enduring both damage and disorientation.

Alan found himself in a difficult situation with Fearow, unsure of how to escape from the relentless assault of leaves surrounding it. The slightest movement would result in more sharp leaves cutting into Fearow.

The arena's announcer marveled at the strategy, saying, "Incredible! Julian used a fake call for Giga Drain to set up the perfect ambush, trapping Fearow with Leaf Storm. Will Fearow face the same fate as Arcanine? We'll soon find out!"

Julian declared confidently, "It's over, Venusaur, Giga Drain!"

Venusaur acted swiftly, extending its vines toward the trapped Fearow within the Leaf Storm. The vines ensnared Fearow, drawing out its energy before releasing it, causing Fearow to plummet from the sky to the ground. Fearow lay on the battlefield, unable to continue.

The referee declared, "Fearow is unable to battle, Venusaur wins."

The arena's announcer pondered aloud, "As we expected, Fearow has also fallen. Can Alan make a comeback? Will he be able to defeat Julian's Venusaur?"

Alan was well aware of the dire situation he was in. He hadn't anticipated facing elimination in the first round.

Alan thought to himself, 'I have no choice but to bring out my strongest Pokémon. I need to take down at least one of his Pokémon before I'm eliminated.'

Alan then declared with determination, "Let's see how you fare against my strongest Pokémon. Go, Charizard!"

The announcer narrated, "Alan's final Pokémon is Charizard. Once again, Alan appears to hold a significant advantage, but based on the previous battles, the outcome is far from certain."

With a resounding roar, Charizard entered the battlefield, fixing its fiery gaze on Venusaur, setting the stage for the next clash.

Julian contemplated the situation, thinking, 'A Charizard, huh? Let's see how strong it really is.'

Alan quickly issued his commands, "Charizard, take to the sky and use Flamethrower!"

Julian, however, had a plan of his own. He commanded, "Venusaur, activate Overgrow, then counter with Energy Ball!"

Venusaur's power surged as it performed Overgrow, increasing its attack power significantly. In response to Charizard's Flamethrower, Venusaur unleashed a massive Energy Ball. The impact of these powerful moves was even greater than in the previous battle. To ensure the safety of the spectators, a protective forcefield activated around the spectator area, shielding them from any harm.

Alan, recognizing an opportunity, seized it, hoping to create a distraction to attack Venusaur. However, Julian's sharp battlefield instincts, honed through experiences from his past life, were always at the forefront.

Alan commanded, "Charizard, use Wing Attack now!"

Venusaur responded swiftly, "Trap it with Leaf Storm!"

As Charizard descended with its wings glowing for a powerful Wing Attack on Venusaur, it suddenly found itself encircled by a swirling vortex of razor-sharp leaves. The Leaf Storm surrounded Charizard, and the leaves began to pelt it, causing minor damage. However, Charizard was effectively trapped within the tempest.

The arena's announcer remarked, "It appears Julian is employing a strategy similar to what we saw against Fearow."

Alan retorted, "You think the same move is going to work on us again?"

Julian, however, had a different plan in mind. He calmly commanded, "Who said it's the same move? Venusaur, now use Poison Powder."

In response to Julian's command, Venusaur released a substantial quantity of Poison Powder into the air. The Leaf Storm, already swirling around Charizard, sucked in the toxic powder. Unlike the usual spread of Poison Powder, Julian cleverly concentrated it within the Leaf Storm, resulting in Charizard being heavily poisoned. The concentrated poison quickly took its toll on Charizard, making the situation even more dire for Alan's Pokémon.

Charizard, overwhelmed by the overdose of poison, grew weaker with each passing moment until it finally crashed onto the ground.

The announcer was bewildered, exclaiming, "What just happened? Julian ingeniously used Leaf Storm to manipulate Poison Powder, poisoning Charizard. It seems Charizard's fate is sealed."

Alan cried out, "Charizard?"

Struggling to get back on its feet, Charizard displayed visible signs of severe poisoning.

Julian swiftly capitalized on the situation, commanding, "Venusaur, finish it with Venoshock."

Venusaur unleashed waves of Venoshock toward the struggling Charizard. Already suffering from severe poisoning, Charizard succumbed to the double damage inflicted by Venoshock, collapsing to the ground in a faint, unable to continue the battle.

The referee declared, "Charizard is unable to battle, Venusaur wins. The match is over, Julian wins!"

The arena's announcer exclaimed, "It's over! Julian has triumphed over Alan, relying solely on his Venusaur!"

The crowd erupted into cheers at Julian's victory, with some even making plans to form a fan club in his honor. Discussions about Julian's impressive performance quickly spread across the internet.

The announcer added, "It seems we have a new crowd favorite!"

Among the spectators, Gary, Ash, Brock, and Misty couldn't contain their excitement at witnessing Julian's victorious battle.

Brock remarked, "Just as expected, Julian keeps his unwavering focus on the battlefield. He meticulously notes every detail, and when the opportunity arises, he executes his plans flawlessly. Battling against Julian is like being trapped in a spider's web, where every move you make only entangles you further. When facing Julian, all you can hope for is luck to be on your side to escape the intricately woven web he creates."

Listening to Brock's insightful analysis, Ash's determination grew stronger. He silently vowed to train harder, aspiring to reach a level where he could one day challenge Julian and test his own skills against such a formidable opponent.

Brock's analysis impressed upon Ash the significance of Julian's battlefield acumen. He reflected on Brock's words, realizing that battling Julian was akin to getting ensnared in a meticulously crafted spider web. Every move an opponent made only entangled them further in Julian's intricate strategy. Ash became even more determined to intensify his training, with the ultimate goal of one day facing Julian in a battle of wits and skill.

Brock's words had Gary pondering the same thoughts as Ash. He, too, considered the formidable challenge of facing Julian in a battle.

Brock then turned his attention to Ash and asked, "Ash, if you were to face Julian in a battle, what would you do?"

Ash's response was filled with unwavering determination as he declared, "I know I might not stand a chance against him, but I'll give it my absolute best."

Gary observed Ash's resolute spirit and couldn't help but admire it. He chimed in with a somewhat teasing remark, "Ha, you won't even make it past the qualification rounds, let alone facing Brother Julian."

Ash, incensed by Gary's comment, retorted, "What did you say?" Their exchange of words quickly escalated, leading to an intense moment between the two.

Julian was now being interviewed by some TV reporters.

Reporter 1: 'Julian, how do you feel about your first victory?'

Julian: 'I feel great.'

Reporter 2: 'From what we can see, you're a highly experienced trainer. What advice would you like to share with young, aspiring trainers?'

Julian: 'A Pokémon battle isn't just about the strength of the Pokémon; it also depends on the trainer's guidance. So, a trainer should always stay focused during battles and effectively guide their Pokémon to victory.'

Reporter 3: 'What are your goals for this league? Are you aiming for a top-16 finish or higher?'

Julian: 'Something along those lines. Thank you, but I need to get some rest now.'

Julian left the interview, ignoring further questions from the reporters as he retreated to the waiting room to recuperate.