January 26th, Tuesday.
The entire Indigo Plateau buzzed with the excitement of the Battle Festival.
Following the official Top 32 bracket, today would determine the Top 16.
On the Rock Field, studded with jagged stone pillars, Giselle—dressed in a JK uniform—commanded elegantly:
"Cubone, Bonemerang!"
The powerfully thrown boomerang shattered the glowing Energy Ball mid-air before slamming into Victreebel with a heavy thud.
"What a brilliant command!"
The commentator's voice echoed through the arena.
"Our first Top 16 contestant has been decided—Giselle from Kanto!"
The stands erupted in cheers. Natsume, who had come to spectate, clapped along.
Brock crossed his arms, nodding with narrowed eyes.
"To think… even Natsume-sensei's student has reached Top 16 strength."
"Well, she did attend a lot of tutoring sessions," Natsume said.
"Huh?"
Giselle's performance had been stellar, even securing a flawless three-KO sweep.
As reporters interviewed her, they quickly pieced together her background—and everything made sense.
So she's Natsume-sensei's student?
No wonder she's ridiculously strong!
Come to think of it…
If even his student could crack the Top 16, while Natsume himself was competing…
Was this what they called "staying true to one's roots"?
A male reporter from Tokyo Evening News scribbled fervently, sighing in admiration:
"Now that's a true master!"
Though spring was still distant, the chilly Indigo Plateau winds carried the festival's fervor.
On the square's massive screen, the Sacred Flame of the main stadium burned fiercely.
"Natsume-sensei, your match is this afternoon, right?" Brock asked.
"Yeah." Natsume smiled amiably. "Gotta prepare properly."
Brock's hand twitched. "I'll go handle field maintenance. See you later!"
Before the next round began…
Natsume headed to the food stalls, grabbing a box of spicy rice cakes before wandering toward the vendor area.
In the distance, the Meowth-coin-adorned Team Rocket stand was, as usual, swarmed by crowds.
As for Green's business…
Well. Best of luck to her.
"Eh, Silver'll buy her out anyway."
Natsume nodded sagely, munching on his snack.
Thankfully, Arcanine's newly mastered Solar Beam hadn't been tested inside their hotel room.
And to honor Sirfetch'd's determination to grow stronger…
Natsume-sensei had decided to let it take the stage for this afternoon's match.
"Sirfetch'd~(ಥ﹏ಥ)σ" Tears streamed down Sirfetch'd's face as it nibbled a rice cake—spicy beyond endurance.
Natsume glanced over, satisfied.
Look how happy it is!
By afternoon, the temperature had warmed slightly.
Amid the roaring arena, Natsume's battle officially began.
"Gengar, your mom's here to watch~!"
"Ugh, how dare they ignore Natsume-sensei's Sirfetch'd? Isn't it adorable?"
Kazuki, a fellow Top 16 contestant (and proud Level 15 livestream subscriber), gulped nervously.
Back during the true beginner tournament—the Piplup Cup—he'd already been a diehard Natsume-sensei fan.
Through family support and grueling effort, Kazuki had barely scraped together eight badges to stand here today.
And now, Natsume was finally revealing his hand.
This guy had stopped playing fair over a year ago.
Now he was treating the Indigo Plateau Conference like another Baby Cup—
This was his style all along?!
Kazuki yelled, "Come on Natsume-sensei!!"
"AND IT'S BATTLE TIME!"
The commentator's voice boomed. "Both sides have sent out their Pokémon—Nidoking!"
"And from the Galar region, the Fighting-type Sirfetch'd!"
Natsume had already gathered intel from Team Rocket.
This opponent, a Kantonian trainer named Tetsusuke, had trained extensively in Unova—his strength wasn't to be underestimated.
As for the hulking, violet-horned Nidoking snarling across the field…
[Nidoking | Poison/Ground
Ability: Sheer Force
Held Item: Life Orb
Moveset: Earth Power, Sludge Wave, Ice Beam, Fire Blast]
"A special-attack-focused Nidoking… Not exactly a hidden ace."
Natsume muttered. "Just confirms my theory."
Honestly, cheating feels boring now. Might as well play fair.
[?]
Natsume's gaze sharpened. "Leek Pancake, Swords Dance!"
"Sirfetch'd!" It brandished its leek indignantly.
Wrong name again!
But as Sirfetch'd eyed the monstrous Nidoking, a shiver ran down its spine.
"Sirfetch'd! (☉_☉)"
If I lose… Togepi will avenge me, right?
"In a surprising shift, Natsume has opted for an aggressive stat-boosting opener!"
The commentator announced. "Tetsusuke retaliates immediately!"
Tetsusuke—a lanky, middle-aged man—had heard of Natsume-sensei's reputation.
But returning home to Kanto, he'd wanted to prove his own strength.
Steadying his nerves, he barked: "Nidoking, Earth Power!"
"Nidoking—!!"
Nidoking stomped, sending jagged stone shards spiraling like blades before launching them like machine-gun fire!
Dust clouds erupted as rubble embedded itself into the terrain.
"Sirfetch'd!"
Yet the Swords Dance continued uninterrupted.
A localized whirlwind enveloped Sirfetch'd, its leek and shield spinning into a blur as it deflected the barrage with metallic clangs and blue sparks.
"Hmm." Natsume nodded.
By blending Brutal Swing into Swords Dance and using its shield defensively, Sirfetch'd had created a makeshift Counter-Shield.
But…
Natsume's expression turned subtle.
Since when does Swords Dance double as King's Shield?
Is this move even legal?
"What dazzling technique."
From the VIP booth, Chairman Charles Goodshow marveled. "Not just flashy—it even boosts its user's power."
Beside him, a red-caped man crossed his arms.
Natsume-sensei entering this kind of match… there was never any suspense.
Still, this newly bred Sirfetch'd is quite interesting.
Lance smirked, his gaze fixed on the battlefield.
As the Swords Dance faded, Sirfetch'd took the full force of an Earth Power—yet remained almost unscathed.
Dust swirled and settled, leaving the viewers stunned.
"A perfect block?"
"Now that's a Master-level move!"
"Sirfetch'd?" The"Sirfetch'd glanced at its honed leek blade, then down at its snow-white breast.
…I didn't get one-shot?
Holy crap, I'm actually this strong now?!
"Sirfetch'd~! (〃ω〃)"
Its thick brows furrowed, eyes glinting with determination as it raised its sword and charged forward.
Forwaaaard~!!
Tetsusuke's expression darkened. This overwhelming pressure reminded him of his reckless challenge against the Elite Four.
But—I'm not out of options yet!
The distance closed rapidly. Under Sirfetch'd's imposing aura, even the fierce Nidoking broke into a cold sweat.
Point-blank range!
Tetsusuke swung his arm and roared: "Nidoking, Fire Blast!"
"Nidoking!!"
Nidoking's maw gaped wide, a swirling inferno blazing with orange fury as scorching heat erupted.
The audience's throats went dry. The stands fell deathly silent.
A point-blank Fire Blast…
At this range, even a Fire-type would be wrecked by the explosion!
At the same instant—
Natsume snapped his fingers:
"Detect."
The Fire Blast erupted, flames painting the spectators' vision crimson.
BOOM!!
The explosion roared, the fiery kanji "大" surging toward Sirfetch'd!
Did it hit? The crowd held their breath. Tetsusuke's eyes widened.
Whoosh!
A flash of steel.
The noble white knight swung its blade in a flawless arc—bisecting the flaming "大" clean in half!
KABOOM!!
Twin fireballs detonated harmlessly on either side of Sirfetch'd as it lunged forward, Leaf Blade gleaming with razor-sharp brilliance.
The verdant slash fell!
"Nidoking—" Nidoking's roar choked off mid-cry.
The arena lay in stunned silence. Only the wind whispered through the charred battlefield.
THUD.
The hulking purple beast collapsed heavily.
"Nidoking is unable to battle!"
The referee's whistle pierced the air.
"The winner—Sirfetch'd!"
The crowd erupted in deafening cheers.
Sirfetch'd stood unfazed, its calm demeanor instantly winning countless admirers.
"Holy hell, that was cool!"
"Sirfetch'd!~(ಥ﹏ಥ)σ" The Sirfetch'd wept.
Too close for comfort~!
Almost became roast duck there!!
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