Chapter 23: Ralts Shows Its Might!

Chapter 23: Ralts Shows Its Might!

As the match began, both trainers released their Pokémon simultaneously.

Cai Kunkun predictably sent out his Pidgeotto, clearly relying on his strongest Pokémon to secure an early victory.

When Hikaru chose Ralts instead of Charmander, Cai Kunkun's expression twisted into a mocking sneer.

"What? You're using a new Pokémon instead of Charmander?" he scoffed, his tone full of disdain.

The decision felt like an insult, as though Hikaru wasn't taking him seriously.

---

The announcer's voice rang out, "Battle start!"

"Pidgeotto!" Cai Kunkun shouted, his voice filled with anger. "Use Quick Attack!"

The bird Pokémon, seemingly fueled by its trainer's frustration, launched itself forward with a burst of speed. Its body shimmered with a radiant white glow as it streaked toward Ralts.

---

Hovering mid-air, Ralts turned to Hikaru with a nervous thought, conveyed through its telepathic bond:

"(Hikaru... I'm feeling a bit nervous...)"

"I'm nervous too, so let's be nervous together," Hikaru joked back, his playful tone instantly easing Ralts's anxiety.

The little Pokémon giggled softly, its previous hesitation replaced by determination.

---

Watching Ralts laugh, Cai Kunkun clenched his fists in anger.

"You think this is funny? Pidgeotto, hit it hard!"

Pidgeotto closed in on Ralts with incredible speed, its glowing form cutting through the air like a blade.

Hikaru, however, remained calm.

["Use Substitute, then follow with Confusion. Hold back a little,"] Hikaru directed through their mental link.

"Ralts!"

Ralts's weeks of training and mastery over its psychic abilities came into play. As the Pidgeotto's attack appeared to land, Ralts vanished, leaving behind a shimmering, ghostly duplicate.

---

"Got it!" Cai Kunkun cheered as he saw his Pidgeotto seemingly hit Ralts.

But his excitement was short-lived.

"What the—?!"

The substitute dissolved into thin air, and the real Ralts appeared high above, glowing with psychic energy. Before Pidgeotto could react, it was suddenly trapped in a powerful telekinetic grip.

---

"Confusion!" Hikaru commanded.

Pidgeotto struggled desperately against the invisible force holding it aloft, but Ralts's psychic grip was unrelenting. The bird Pokémon flailed helplessly before being thrown out of bounds like a broken kite.

---

The arena fell silent for a brief moment as the crowd processed what had just happened.

Then, a thunderous roar erupted from the spectators.

"Ralts is amazing! Not only cute but also so powerful!"

"Can someone explain what just happened? I blinked, and the match was over!"

While casual viewers were merely awestruck, seasoned trainers in the audience saw something more profound.

"That Pidgeotto couldn't even struggle properly against Ralts's Confusion... Its psychic power must be incredibly strong," one murmured to their companion.

---

The announcer's voice boomed again:

"An incredible turn of events! Ralts used a perfectly timed Substitute to avoid Pidgeotto's attack and followed up with Confusion to secure victory! The winner of this match is Hikaru from Shuimu Third High!"

Cai Kunkun stood frozen in disbelief. His strongest Pokémon had been defeated in mere moments.

"this..this can't be..." he muttered.

---

Hikaru smiled as Ralts returned to his side, looking pleased with itself. He gave it a pat on the head.

"Great job, Ralts. You did wonderfully."

"(It wasn't that strong... I barely tried,)" Ralts replied modestly, but Hikaru could sense its pride.

---

Back in the observation area, Hikaru was greeted by Coach Luo Hoshino, whose expression was a mix of exasperation and grudging admiration.

"Nicely done," the coach grumbled, clearly recalling his earlier frustration over Hikaru's decision to send out Ralts instead of Charmander.

The other team members gathered around, equally amazed.

"That was incredible, Hikaru!"

"Your Ralts is seriously strong. I don't think I've ever seen psychic abilities used like that in a school match!"

Hikaru waved off the praise with a humble smile.

"Just got lucky, I guess. I'm sure you guys will have it even easier in your matches."

His modesty drew eye-rolls from his teammates, who knew how much effort it took to train a Pokémon to that level.

---

After the first round, only five of Shuimu Third High's six participants remained in the competition. The one who had been eliminated had faced an opponent from Shuimu First High, widely considered the tournament's strongest school.

Coach Luo Hoshino seemed satisfied overall, especially with Hikaru's performance.

"This kid might actually have a shot at the championship," he mused to himself, though he tempered his expectations.

Word was spreading that a competitor from Shuimu Second High had a Pokémon that had already reached Elite-tier strength—a significant hurdle for any trainer to overcome.

For now, Hikaru focused on preparing for his next match.

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Next Chapter: The Power of Ralts Unleashed Again?