Chapter 106 Semi-finals
After the top eight were decided, the schedule was divided into two halves, upper and lower.
Ash and Gary were quite lucky not to be placed in the same half, which meant that if they truly wanted to compete against each other at the Indigo Plateau Conference, they would both have to reach the finals.
The quarterfinals were a 6v6 full battle, and Ash's opponent was a random trainer in his early twenties.
Only three of his Pokémon were Gym-level, with the remaining three not being extensively trained, ranging from Elite to Excellent tier.
Facing such an opponent, Ash only needed Venusaur and Blastoise to sweep through.
Similarly, Gary also successfully advanced to the semifinals, where his opponent was also a random trainer.
Ash's opponent in the semifinals, however, was the familiar Giselle.
"Ash, I'm definitely going to defeat you!" Giselle stood on the red side, shouting at Ash.
Ash shook his head and said, "I'm waiting."
"Dear audience members, next up is the first semifinal match.
The opposing sides are Ash, the contestant from Pallet Town, and also the biggest dark horse of this competition, and his opponent, Miss Giselle, the student council president of our Kanto region's Pokémon Research Academy.
Who will advance to the finals? Let's wait and see!"
"Go, Miss Giselle! Miss Giselle will win!"
In the stands behind Giselle, more than half of the people were wearing the school uniforms of Giselle's school, holding various signs and banners to cheer for Giselle.
As soon as the match began, Giselle threw out a Poké Ball: "Go, Altaria!"
Pokémon: Altaria
Type: Dragon + Flying
Gender: Female
Level: Early Gym
Ability: Cloud Nine
"A Dragon + Flying Altaria, Giselle, it seems you've forgotten my other identity." Ash looked at the Pokémon Giselle sent out, shook his head, then placed Togepi onto the field, saying, "Togepi, the first match is up to you!"
"Jiojibuli!"
Togepi trotted happily on its short legs to the opposite side of Altaria.
Seeing Ash send out a Pokémon that appeared to have no offensive power, Giselle frowned slightly. "Ash, are you looking down on me by sending out this little guy?"
"Hehe, you'll see if you watch." Ash was quite confident in Togepi.
In the stands.
"Huh, Ash is letting Togepi battle, is that really okay?" Misty asked with some concern.
"It shouldn't be a big problem.
Ash seemed to have said before that Togepi is a Fairy type, and Altaria is Dragon + Flying, so Togepi has a big advantage in terms typing.
But how will Ash make Togepi defeat Altaria?" Brock also had doubts about Ash's choice.
Giselle only thought Ash was looking down on her. "Ash, since you're looking down on me like this, I won't hold back. Altaria, use Dragon Dance!"
"Togepi, Metronome!"
Togepi's two hands rhythmically waved back and forth.
After a few swings, a white light carrying frost shot towards Altaria.
"Psybeam?" Giselle quickly commanded, "Altaria, dodge quickly!"
However, it was useless.
Altaria was hit directly as soon as it made an evasive move.
Due to being 4x weak to Ice, Altaria, after only using one Dragon Dance, was knocked out.
"Oh my, this Pokémon called Togepi, sent out by contestant Ash, very fortunately used Metronome to unleash a move that countered Altaria!
I have a premonition that this Togepi might very well be contestant Ash's hidden trump card!
Contestant Ash might even sweep all six Pokémon to advance in this match!" The commentator said with great emotion.
"Next up is you, Ninetales!"
Giselle sent out her next Pokémon.
Pokémon: Ninetales
Type: Fire
Gender: Male
Level: Excellent Advanced
Ability: Flash Fire
"Togepi, come back.
Gardevoir, it's your turn."
Ash chose to switch Pokémon.
"Gardevoir!"
Gardevoir slowly walked onto the field.
"Wow, contestant Ash has finally sent out his Shinny Gardevoir that always accompanies him!
Looking at this Gardevoir, it looks much better than a normal one.
It seems this Gardevoir is contestant Ash's ace Pokémon!"
On the commentary desk, the commentator excitedly stood up.
The audience's attention was also drawn to Gardevoir, after all, Pokémon like Gardevoir are too rare in the Kanto region, and Ash's is a Shinny one, making it even rarer than ordinary Gardevoir.
"A Psychic-Fairy Gardevoir?
Come back, Ninetales, go, Haunter!"
Giselle once again switched to Haunter, which had a type advantage.
Pokémon: Haunter
Type: Ghost-type + Poison
Gender: Male
Level: Excellent Advanced
Ability: Levitate
"Kekeke!"
Haunter emerged and showed a strange smile to Gardevoir.
"Giselle, type advantage also depends on strength.
Gardevoir, Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gardevoir!"
"Haunter, hold on!"
Gardevoir unleashed a powerful rainbow-colored light.
An Excellent Advanced Ghost-type Pokémon, in a novice competition like the Indigo Plateau Conference, indeed has strength comparable to many Gym-level Pokémon.
But it's clear that an Excellent-level Haunter, when facing an Elite-level Gardevoir, even with a type advantage, needs to be able to initiate an attack first.
"Haunter is unable to battle.
Contestant Giselle, please send out your next Pokémon!" The referee raised the flag and shouted.
"So strong…"
Giselle at this moment only felt that Ash's Gardevoir was like an insurmountable mountain.
Among her Pokémon, only Haunter had a complete type advantage.
Nevertheless, she still wanted to see how big the gap between her and Ash really was.
"Go, Blastoise!"
Pokémon: Blastoise
Type: Water
Gender: Male
Level: Early Gym
Ability: Rain Dish
"Kame!"
As soon as Giselle's Blastoise appeared, it shot two blasts into the sky, and then a light rain began to fall on the field.
"Rain Dish ability, you want to fight a long battle?
I won't let you have your way.
Gardevoir, Thunder Punch!"
Gardevoir's right hand flashed with lightning, and it instantly teleported in front of Blastoise, delivering a punch directly to its abdomen.
Zzzzt!
After a burst of lightning, Blastoise was directly smoking from the shock.
"Blastoise is unable to battle…"
"Another one-hit knockout?"
Giselle was almost depressed.
She admitted that her action of using Rain Dance to activate Blastoise's ability immediately upon its entry was a bit tricky, but how could it still be knocked out in one hit even with the ability boost?
Is this Gardevoir hacked again?
"No, no matter what, I have to take down one of Ash's Pokémon."
Giselle's goal unconsciously shifted from defeating Ash to trying her best to take down one of Ash's Pokémon.
"Go, Roselia!"
Pokémon: Roselia
Type: Grass + Poison
Gender: Female
Level: Excellent Advanced
Ability: Poison Point
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