**Chapter 19: Dare to Play a Big Knife in front me? **

In preparation for the afternoon battle, Kane and Ditto both adjusted themselves to their best condition.

At two o'clock, the eight contestants gathered in the courtyard of the Ecruteak Gym on time. With the exception of Kane and Thunderstorm, the other six contestants were all accompanied by their parents, and a war of words between several parents had already begun before the official fight.

The first battle was between the fourth and fifth-place contestants: a battle between Furret and Flaaffy. It was a typical messy scuffle, with no tactical rules to speak of. In the end, Flaaffy's tendency to bite Furret's tail led to Furret losing in pain.

The third-place contestant, Mareep, faced off against the sixth-place Spearow. The process was simply laughable. In the face of Mareep's electric-type attacks, Spearow actually dived into Mareep's fluffy wool. If it got electrocuted, it would be no one's fault but its own.

The second-place contestant, Thunderstorm, commanded his Machop to fight against the seventh-place Geodude. If it weren't for Geodude's Sturdy ability allowing it to last one more second, it would have been a true one-hit KO.

The losers left early, and no one cared about their disgraceful exits.

The battle between Kane and the young girl, Lori, was saved for last.

Kane took off his sun hat, threw it out, and shouted, "Ditto."

A lilac, mochi-like Pokémon appeared on the battlefield.

chiyama nodded. "Ditto... This young man is truly bold. What kind of battle can he show us? This will be interesting."

When Lori saw the Ditto, she couldn't help but laugh. "A slug? You're killing me! I'll crush you in no time. Come out, Drapion!"

A fierce-looking, dark-purple Drapion appeared, roaring loudly enough to make people instinctively step back in fear.

chiyama glanced at Lori's father, who looked ashamed and turned his head away, not daring to face chiyama. However, chiyama had already made up his mind. As long as Kane's performance was commendable, he would make an exception and allow him to advance, understanding that this was an entirely unfair battle.

Thunderstorm was secretly pleased. *Kane, Kane, you can't blame me for this. There's no way your Ditto can handle a Drapion like that. *

The other two qualifiers also felt that Kane's chances were hopeless.

Kane glanced at the Drapion before him, shaking his head. *Its eyes aren't sharp enough, its pincers and tail hook look rusty, and its color shows weak toxicity. It's completely subpar, it probably just evolved. *

*What a pity, * Kane thought. *You shouldn't use Poison-type Pokémon if you're not ready to handle them. You've chosen the hard way. *

"Ditto, transform," Kane commanded coldly.

With a roar, Ditto transformed into an exact copy of Drapion, not inferior in momentum to Lori's Pokémon.

Lori, having placed eighth in the knowledge test, understood Ditto's ability and wasn't too surprised. *Anyway, he doesn't know Drapion's moves. I'll just knock him out before he figures it out, * she thought. if only she knew Kane was a master of using drapion.

"Drapion, use Pin Missile!" Lori shouted, eager to attack.

The Drapion obeyed its young master's orders and fired a barrage of sharp needles, as dense as a rainstorm, straight at Ditto.

"Use Cross Poison to deflect them," Kane ordered calmly.

Familiar with Drapion's capabilities, Kane had no trouble countering the move. Ditto's pincers swung through the air, effortlessly deflecting the incoming missiles. The sharp needles, repelled with force, pierced Drapion's own body, causing more pain than the original attack would have.

Seeing this, Lori was at a loss, her father growing anxious on the sidelines.

Chiyama nodded approvingly. *Even a Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, and he knows its moves so well... Such talent will certainly bring glory to my gym. *

Kane's face remained cold. "Ditto sharpen your claws."

As Ditto's claws scraped together, growing sharper, Drapion still hadn't fully recovered from the rebounded Pin Missile attack.

Lori, clueless about what was happening, hastily commanded, "Drapion, use Poison Fang! Bite it!"

She stomped her feet, desperate, not thinking about how to properly organize her attack. Fighting is more than just shouting the name of a move. Without situational awareness and tactical thinking, you're just sending your Pokémon into its death.

Drapion lunged forward, its fangs bared, purple venom dripping from its teeth.

Kane, noticing the venom simply soaking into the ground with no reaction, scoffed. *Is this even considered poison? *

"Use Scary Face."

Ditto transformed its face into a terrifying expression, instantly halting Drapion's momentum. Drapion, startled, took a step back, its body momentarily stiffening.

"Now, grab the second joint of its front claws with your pincers."

Seizing the opportunity, Ditto's pincers latched onto Drapion's, completely immobilizing its claws. Drapion's pincers were effectively neutralized.

Kane knew Drapion inside and out, especially its weak points. After sharpening its claws, Ditto's hook-like pincers had no trouble piercing Drapion's joints, leaving it in excruciating pain.

No matter how much Lori screamed, Drapion couldn't move. Struggling only intensified the pain.

"Use Ice Fang," Kane commanded.

Ditto's pincers froze Drapion's muscles and bones, the chill spreading throughout its body while the exterior remained unaffected.

Drapion, now incapable of even roaring, could only tremble as it felt the biting cold and tearing pain. 

Kane stood like an iceberg, unmoved, his gaze cold and deadly. Drapion's mind, overwhelmed by the agony, began to hallucinate.

"That's enough release it," Kane said.

Ditto released Drapion. Kane knew he couldn't push it any further; otherwise, Drapion might not survive.

As soon as Drapion was freed, Lori shouted hysterically, "Attack, Drapion! Attack!"

But Kane simply scoffed.

With a loud crash, Drapion collapsed, unable to move.

"This is impossible! He didn't even do anything! How could Drapion lose like this?" Lori cried out, bordering on madness.

Her father, embarrassed and furious, walked over and slapped her. Lori shocked looked at her father with a flushed expression holding her left cheek It was clear this was the first time she'd been hit, leaving her in shock.

"There are always people stronger than you, and skies beyond the skies. Learn to lose with dignity. Look at yourself— even i your father cant defeat him. Do you think you can? If it wasn't for the rules prohibiting killing, you'd be dead right now."

Her father withdrew Drapion and bowed to chiyama before leaving with his daughter clearly embarrassed.