"Is it really Ethan, the junior champion of the Pokémon World Championship?"
"If it's him, then there shouldn't be any problem defeating that foreigner, right?"
Another spectator also reacted and let out an exclamation.
"Shhh, keep your voices down. Let's just wait and watch the show."
"A common 20-year-old student from Ironvale City Pokémon University?"
"Since Ethan said it like that, we just have to stay here and watch."
"Exactly, exactly! Suddenly I'm really looking forward to this!"
"Our League only needs to send out a common 20-year-old student to defeat this foreigner! Just imagining it is already exciting."
At that moment, the spectators began whispering in low voices; all of them were restraining themselves with all their might not to laugh, while looking at the field with anticipation.
"20 years old?"
On the field, Sanada Ichiro kept frowning nonstop.
Naturally, he did not believe that Ethan was only a common student.
That Slowking on the field looked extremely strong!
But regarding Ethan's age, he truly could not be certain.
The young man in front of him was absurdly young; at first glance, he did indeed seem to be 20 years old.
"20 years old? Then it seems you are also a genius."
"Ethan Black, I will remember that name. But since this is my second battle since arriving at the Daleron League, I cannot lose!"
Sanada Ichiro took a deep breath, looked at Ethan, and nodded.
"I accept your challenge. Also, to make it fair, have the Gym Leader fill the pool again."
Sanada Ichiro was an extremely serious person: if he was going to win, he had to win absolutely.
"The pool, of course, of course."
The champions of the Ironvale City Gym, seeing that Ethan had gone up onto the stage, were delighted.
Now, upon hearing Sanada Ichiro's words, they immediately reacted: they had to win this battle no matter what!
"There's no need. As for the pool, in a moment it will fill itself."
Ethan shook his head slightly and directly rejected Sanada Ichiro's proposal, making the latter frown even more.
"Besides, Mr. Sanada, do you not intend to change Pokémon?"
"That Torkoal of yours seems to have already consumed a great deal of energy. It would be better for you to change it."
After rejecting the repair of the water field, Ethan even allowed himself to give Sanada Ichiro a suggestion.
"Hmph! To face your Slowking, my Torkoal is more than enough!"
Sanada Ichiro let out a cold snort, clearly very annoyed by the arrogance Ethan was showing.
"Now begins the battle between Ethan Black and Sanada Ichiro!"
When the referee saw that both were ready, he immediately announced the start of the battle.
"Slowking, use Rain Dance directly!"
As soon as the battle began, Ethan gave an order that left everyone completely surprised.
Immediately afterward, dense dark clouds began to appear in the sky, covering the sunlight.
"Rain Dance, it's Rain Dance!"
"How imposing! Ethan is declaring war on him head-on!"
Seeing that scene, the spectators erupted with excitement.
If one could suppress the opponent precisely in the field where he excelled the most, then there was nothing more satisfying!
However, they remembered that the weather Ethan mastered best was sandstorm, followed by sunny weather. As for rain, they had never seen him use it.
"Relax. When the weather moves were first researched, Ethan was one of the participants. As for mastery of weather moves, Ethan is undoubtedly among the best in the country."
A spectator with the appearance of a researcher looked at Ethan with admiration as he said that.
The other spectators nodded repeatedly and turned their attention back to the field. At that moment, the rainy and sunny weather had already begun to confront each other.
"If it's a contest for weather control, my Torkoal will not lose!"
Seeing that, Sanada Ichiro let out a cold laugh.
Torkoal itself possessed the Ability Drought, and also had great mastery of the move Sunny Day.
With the double reinforcement of Ability and move, Torkoal's weather control was not something a Slowking that only mastered Rain Dance could compete with!
"Wait, what is happening?!"
"The sunny weather... is being suppressed!"
That thought flashed through Sanada Ichiro's mind, but in the next instant he was stunned.
Just when he was brimming with confidence, Torkoal's weather control was directly suppressed by Slowking!
Seeing that, Ethan smiled slightly.
If they depended only on Slowking's move Rain Dance, naturally they would not be able to suppress Torkoal's combination of the Ability Drought and the move Sunny Day.
But what if it was a double use of the move Rain Dance?
In the previous use of the move Rain Dance, in reality, it had been Shellder and Slowking who had activated the move at the same time.
Under the joint execution of both Pokémon, the power of the move Rain Dance was no longer inferior at all to Torkoal's combination of Ability and move.
And then, adding the immense mental strength of both Pokémon, which allowed them to continue condensing energy nonstop, the rainy weather ended up completely suppressing the sunny weather.
Splash, splash, splash!
Rain began to fall from the sky.
Amid the sound of water, the pool, which before had been somewhat dried out, began to fill again. Just as Ethan had said, it would not take long before it was completely full!
At the same time, the rain continued striking Torkoal nonstop on the platform, making it let out cries of discomfort.
"Torkoal, attack at once, use Overheat!"
Seeing that, Sanada Ichiro knew that Torkoal would not hold on much longer, so he gave the order directly.
"Then we'll use Double Helix Hydro Pump."
Knowing that this would be the final move, Ethan also gave his order.
Then, Shellder and Slowking expelled two streams of water at the same time.
Both attacks of the move Hydro Pump intertwined in the air, like the double-helix structure of DNA, rotating and coiling as they advanced with force.
In the air, the flames of the move Overheat collided with the move Double Helix Hydro Pump.
And then, before Sanada Ichiro's incredulous gaze, the move Hydro Pump swept forward head-on and completely suppressed the move Overheat.
"Hey, hey, what a terrifying Hydro Pump!"
"Although I already knew Ethan was strong, I never thought he would crush Overheat like that."
Seeing that scene, the spectators were also somewhat stunned. Ethan's strength was simply exaggerated!
What was more, looking at his calm face, they suddenly developed the feeling that Ethan had not even gotten serious yet.
"Who the hell are you?"
Sanada Ichiro looked at Torkoal, which had lost the ability to battle, and finally lost his composure.
That Trainer of only 20 years old had just easily crushed him, a 26-year-old Trainer.
When had a monster of that level appeared in the Daleron League?
"I already said it, I'm just a very common student."
Ethan's face remained completely calm, as if defeating Sanada Ichiro had been something so insignificant that it was not even worth mentioning.
"Besides, if you are not convinced, then just bring out your next Pokémon."
After hearing those words, Sanada Ichiro's face turned liver-colored, changing several times between shades of anger and shame.
(End of chapter)