Pelipper was a very common Pokémon in the Hoenn Region. Large flocks of them could often be seen around the harbors of most cities.
But Aoya's Pelipper was anything but ordinary.
Judging from its aura alone, it was on the same level as Sam's Charizard. No wonder Aoya was so confident.
The referee had already signaled the start of the match. Just as Sam was about to give an order, Aoya spoke first.
"I think you should just surrender. Your Charizard can't beat my Pelipper."
"Oh?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you so sure?"
Aoya smiled faintly and pointed upward.
Sam followed his gaze.
The sky above the battlefield had darkened. Thick storm clouds gathered rapidly, and heavy rain was about to pour down at any moment.
"Rain ability, huh…" Sam murmured. "Figures. This is Hoenn, after all—you're bound to run into all kinds of rare Pokémon."
Unlike in games, Pokémon with the ability to summon rain were extremely rare in reality. Not even one in a thousand Pelipper could do it.
Sam had essentially hit the jackpot.
"So," Aoya continued, "it's better to give up now. If you surrender, you can still save your strength for the next round."
"Sorry," Sam replied calmly. "I have no intention of backing down."
A Pelipper with a rain ability wasn't something you encountered every day.
If anything, that made the battle more interesting.
Seeing the fighting spirit in Sam's eyes, Aoya frowned.
"I really hate battle-crazy people like you… Fine. After this fight, I'll probably lose my streak anyway. What bad luck."
"Pelipper, use Rain Dance!"
The dark clouds churned violently, and in the next instant—
A torrential downpour engulfed the battlefield.
Rain soaked Charizard's body, droplets sliding down its face.
But instead of discomfort…
Aoya saw something unexpected.
Excitement.
He blinked, thinking he was mistaken.
But no—
This Charizard was just as abnormal as its Trainer.
---
Aoya wasn't wrong.
Charizard was excited.
The harsher the conditions, the more driven it became.
It had been watching Lapras grow stronger at an incredible pace. Even if it knew there were special reasons behind that growth, it still couldn't accept being surpassed.
Its pride wouldn't allow jealousy—
So it chose something else.
Growth through battle.
Stronger opponents. Worse conditions.
Only by overcoming them could it evolve.
---
"ROAR!!!"
With a thunderous cry, flames erupted across Charizard's body.
The rainwater evaporated instantly.
Engulfed in blazing fire, it looked like a demon emerging from the abyss.
The sheer pressure made Pelipper stiffen.
For the first time—
It felt fear.
Aoya noticed it immediately. His expression changed.
He could no longer afford to be careless.
"Pelipper, Hydro Pump! Full power!"
He couldn't let Charizard get close. If it did, the battle would be over.
Encouraged by its Trainer, Pelipper gathered energy and unleashed a powerful stream of water.
Enhanced by the rain, the Hydro Pump surged forward with terrifying force.
"Charizard, take to the air and dodge," Sam ordered calmly.
There were still four battles left.
Winning wasn't enough—he had to conserve strength.
---
Charizard moved like a streak of fire through the rain.
With its speed pushed to the limit, it weaved effortlessly through the incoming attacks.
No matter how many Hydro Pumps Pelipper fired, none could hit their mark.
In the blink of an eye—
Charizard closed the distance.
Flames exploded outward as it slammed into Pelipper with overwhelming force.
BOOM!
The impact alone sent Pelipper flying out of the arena.
The flames weren't what defeated it—
It was the sheer power of the charge.
"Pelipper is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"
---
Three consecutive victories.
And each one had been effortless.
The staff watching nearby began to look at Sam differently.
None of his opponents had been weak—
Yet he had crushed them all with ease.
It was clear now.
He wasn't here for practice.
He was aiming for a full seven-win streak.
---
Gradually, spectators began to gather around the arena.
Sam's performance had finally caught attention.
"That Trainer—Sam—he's strong. I bet he can win all seven matches."
"Isn't that a bit much? Seven in a row isn't easy."
"Are you kidding? His Charizard one-shot three opponents. One of them was Aoya."
"Wait—Aoya lost?!"
The mood shifted instantly.
Aoya wasn't just anyone—he was a seasoned Battle Tower Trainer.
If even he had been defeated so easily…
Then this newcomer wasn't ordinary at all.
"If I remember correctly, this is Sam's first time here," someone said.
"If he gets a full streak on his first day… that would be insane."
---
As the crowd buzzed with excitement—
Sam's fourth opponent stepped onto the field.
A new battle was about to begin.
---------------Author---------------
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