The announcer began to hype up the crowd for the start of the second round. They had to wait for the ten minute break the trainers were to be over, and it would be bad if the audience began to leave from boredom.
"We should head to the waiting area," Eliana said, tapping Gabriel on the shoulder. "Our match is next."
"Right," Gabriel said, his playful demeanor replaced by a look of intense focus. He followed Eliana out of the main area, his mind already ready for the next match.
In the waiting area, they met their next opponents. Team Data Reapers were a couple, Felipe and Dolores, who looked to be a pair of rich kids. They had smug looks on their faces, their confidence almost tangible. Their Pokémon, a Persian and a Tauros, rested beside them.
"Well well, if it isn't the new kids," Felipe said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Think you can beat us? You may have gotten past the first round but these Pokémon are the tops of their species."
"Uh yeah? I think we'll win pretty easily," Gabriel said, looking genuinely confused. He knew that it wasn't everything but type advantage was a big part of battling. With Eliana's support he shouldn't have any trouble with the two normal types at all. Mark looked like he swallowed a sour grape at the younger boy's words.
"Looks like your partner is the only confident one," Dolores said, looking at Eliana. "What's the matter, cat got your tongue? Or are you just scared?"
Eliana didn't even glance at her. She was too busy analyzing their Pokémon. A Persian and a Tauros, two normal types. While both were fast and could learn a good amount of moves, with the quality of their trainers, they wouldn't that much of a threat.
"Gabriel let's go," Eliana said, turning and walking back towards the stage. "Our match is about to start."
Felipe and Dolores looked at each other, a flicker of annoyance in their eyes. They were used to getting a rise out of their opponents, and Eliana's indifference was throwing them off their game.
"We'll see who's laughing after we're done with you," Felipe muttered, as the two followed them out.
They took their positions on the stage, the roar of the crowd washing over them. The announcer, her smile as bright as ever, introduced the teams. "And now for our second match of the semi-finals! We have our newcomers, Team No-Clip, taking on the formidable Team Data Reapers!"
The crowd cheered, their anticipation for the battle palpable. Eliana and Gabriel faced their opponents, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Let's make this quick," Eliana said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Always," Gabriel replied, a determined glint in his eyes.
"The battle between Team No-Clip and Team Data Reapers will now begin! Each trainer can now send out their chosen Pokémon!"
"Machoke let's go!" Gabriel yelled, his PokéBall flying through the air, the grey Pokémon flexing his muscles as he appeared on the field.
"Raichu, you're up." Eliana calmly sent out her own choice, the electric mouse's cheeks sparking eagerly.
"Machoke? You think a type advantage will help against my Tauros?" Felipe laughed. "Fine then, show them your power Tauros!" he yelled, the bull Pokémon materializing on the field. It let out a loud bellow, stamping its hooves aggressively.
"Don't forget us, Persian use your Fury Swipes on the Machoke!" Dolores commanded, her cat-like Pokémon appearing in a flash of light. It moved with a predatory grace, its claws glinting in the stage lights.
"Raichu, use Eletric Terrian then follow up with a Reflect for Machoke." Eliana commanded, her mind already calculating the trajectory of the battle.
Raichu moved so fast she was a blur, the field was covered in a yellow wave of electrical energy. Then a shimmering barrier of light appearing in front of Machoke just as the Persian's claws were about to connect.
The attacks slammed against the screens, the impact echoing through the stadium. Persian staggered back, its claws vibrating from the force.
"Now Machoke use Thunder Punch on that Persian!" Gabriel yelled.
Machoke, a mountain of muscle, charged forward, its fist crackling with electricity. Persian, still recovering from its failed attack, was unable to dodge. The terrain boosted attack connected, sending the cat Pokémon flying.
"No, Felipe stop standing there and beat them!" Dolores cried out, demanding her boyfriend do something.
"Tauros take that Raichu out with Double-Edge!" Felipe called out to his waiting Pokémon.The bull Pokémon lowered its head and charged, its body glowing with a white light.
"Raichu, use Double Team then Thunderbolt." Eliana countered.
Raichu vanished, replaced by a series of afterimages. Tauros, unable to determine the real one, crashed through one of the copies, its momentum carrying it forward into the wall. The recoil from the Double-Edge was significant, Tauros stumbled, a pained grunt escaping its lips. It was already weakened, its own attack having taken a heavy toll when it was struck by a powerful bolt of lightning. The normal type let out a bellow of pain as the electricity went through its body.
"Machoke use Power-Up Punch then Seismic Toss on Persian!" Gabriel, taking advantage of the opening.
Machoke's fist glowed with a red light as it connected with the dazed Persian. The attack sent the cat Pokémon flying, but Machoke wasn't done. It grabbed the Persian in mid-air, spun around a few times, and then threw it with all its might towards the waiting Tauros.
The impact was devastating. Both Pokémon were thrown back, their bodies colliding with a sickening crunch. They attempted to struggle to their feet but they collapsed, their eyes swirling with pain and confusion.
"What was that Felipe? How could you let those brats defeat us?!" Dolores snarled, her face a mask of fury as she turned towards her boyfriend.
"This is impossible, I spent so much money on these two!" Felipe's face was a mixture of disbelief and rage. He couldn't understand how his "superior" Pokémon had been defeated so easily. He then turned towards his ranting girlfriend, "This is because of your incompetence!"
"My incompetence?!" Dolores looked aghast at that accusation, stepping closer to her boyfriend "If you hadn't bought such useless Pokémon we wouldn't be in this situation!"
"Don't put this all on me," Felipe glared angrily at her and continued the fight.
Gabriel looked at the two with disbelief, Is this what it's like to date? Why would anyone want to do this…
As everyone watched the couple argue, Eliana soon got bored and turned to the referee, "I believe the match is over."
The referee jolted out of his daze, "Ah, right… Persian and Tauros are unable to battle!" the referee announced, raising a flag. "The victory goes to Team No-Clip!"
The crowd was silent for a moment still watching the arguing couple before they started roaring, their cheers a deafening wave of sound. They had come to see a battle, and Team No-Clip had delivered. They were efficient, powerful, and utterly ruthless.
"I was expecting it to be easily but not that much," Gabriel said, a wide grin on his face as he recalled Machoke. "We didn't even break a sweat."
"They were arrogant," Eliana said, recalling Raichu. "Arrogance without the power to back it is a weakness."
"So, are you two ready to face the champions?" the announcer asked, her microphone in their faces.
"We were born ready," Gabriel said, puffing out his chest.
Eliana remained silent, her eyes fixed on the stage where the next match was about to begin. She was already thinking about her strategy, her mind a whirlwind of calculations and possibilities.
The next match was a blur of motion. It was Team System Crash, the previous champions, versus Team Null.Exe, a team of two burly men with a Dugtrio and a Sandslash. And just like their first battle, Pedro and Antonio ended the battles with a One Hit KO move. Eliana personally thought they relied much to heavily on them, but she was sticking to her plan on fighting in close quarters. It'd be great training for Kirlia, and Riolu as well.