"Torkoal is unable to battle..."
Two minutes later, as Torkoal collapsed, Aria from the Heaven's Heart Dojo advanced. Wenyu was eliminated with a look of regret.
The slow-moving Torkoal had spent the entire match in frustration, unable to land a hit on an Abra that could both hit hard and run fast.
The result was exactly as expected.
Watching this, Owen sighed. He was now officially set for a final showdown with the Psychic-user, Aria.
As for his confidence in winning... it was only 50/50. This was the only match so far where he felt he didn't have a clear upper hand.
As soon as the match ended, Owen didn't stick around for the commentator's analysis. He waved a quick goodbye to Lynnea and headed straight for the athlete's warm-up area.
Since there had only been two matches that morning, there was a long gap before the finals—time he and Eevee could use to prepare.
That preparation... turned into sheer exhaustion.
The Price of Training
"Thank you very much."
In the arena's medical room, Owen thanked the Pokémon doctor after a Chansey finished restoring Eevee's stamina.
"Vee!" Eevee chirped from Owen's shoulder, echoing the thanks.
"This is your second time here this morning," the doctor said with a wry smile. "While we do our best to ensure every Pokémon enters the final at peak condition, repeated treatments in a short window eventually yield diminishing returns.
You should know the basics: continuous healing can lead to a 'resistance' against healing moves."
"This is definitely the last time," Owen said sheepishly.
"Still, your will to win is encouraging. Good luck in the finals!" the doctor added.
Owen and Eevee thanked him once more.
Because the organizers guaranteed peak condition for the final, Owen had decided to push Eevee to her limit in a final test: repeatedly using Quick Attack and Sand Attack to see exactly how much she could handle.
Owen had simulated the battle in his mind. Given Eevee and Abra's styles, this would be a war of attrition—a "sawing match." Neither would be able to finish the other quickly.
It would be a cycle of attacks and dodges, a test of who would slip up first under extreme fatigue.
Eevee's edge lay in her stamina and her physical toughness, honed during those days of tree-stump training and fighting Raticates.
Aria's Abra, meanwhile, was like a fusion of the Misdreavus and Snorunt Owen had faced—combining unpredictable movement with high offensive power.
If Eevee was going to win, it would be through sheer grit and willpower.
Walking out of the medical wing, Eevee sat on Owen's shoulder, looking up at the sky and reflecting on their journey. Suddenly, she felt a hand patting her head.
"Don't feel too much pressure," Owen smiled. "Even if we don't win, I'll still buy you that phone. You've worked incredibly hard."
Eevee's eyes sparkled: (oωo)! A look of pure joy and surprise washed over her.
Then, she let out a long, long breath, as if a massive burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
Owen suddenly felt his shoulder go limp. He looked down and saw that Eevee had instantly transformed into a "salted fish."
She looked ready to retire on the spot, her face practically screaming, I don't want to work hard anymore!
Owen panicked. Wait, this isn't how the script goes! Aren't you supposed to be moved by my kindness and explode with 120% combat power? Why did you turn into a puddle?
He realized his mistake. He missed the "good old days" when Eevee was a naive little fluffball who worked hard just because she didn't want to see him suffer.
Now... she was getting too smart for her own good.
He had to fix this immediately.
"Even if we don't win, I'll still buy you a phone," Owen added quickly, "but I won't be able to afford a nice one.
You know we're short on cash. I'll probably get you a 'Senior Phone' like my grandma has—it's small, the volume is deafeningly loud, and the buttons are huge. It'll be perfect for you."
Eevee: ???
Owen felt his shoulder go heavy again. Eevee's fur stood on end, her entire body tensing up as she stood bolt upright. She slapped Owen's shoulder with a paw, giving him a look that said, Don't worry about a thing.
"Vee!" she barked with absolute confidence. That championship was hers!
"That's the spirit I'm looking for!" Owen said, satisfied. "Come on, let's go get a top-tier lunch."
Time ticked away. Whether it was the official Young Ho-Oh Cup website, the forums, or the Aurora Live app, the hype was reaching a fever pitch.
Watching these rookie trainers was a unique experience. Many fans felt that in a few years, they might be looking back at the early steps of a future Elite Four member or even a Champion. As the only non-seeded "Dark Horse" to reach the finals, Owen had drawn the most attention.
In the afternoon, the guests began to take their seats, discussing the potential outcome.
"This Owen is quite the surprise," one guest said to a man named Principal Shen. "You're always looking for new talent, right? I heard his high school is just an ordinary one.
If you invited him to transfer, he'd probably jump at the chance. He's likely a shoe-in for Metropolis University next year."
"You talk too much," Principal Shen grumbled, though his mind was already racing. His school didn't lack money; it lacked talent.
Having a future Professional Trainer as an alum was worth the investment. "I'll look into him after the match. If he's a good fit, we can talk."
Ten minutes later, the referee and commentators were in position. To a thunderous roar of applause, Owen and Aria emerged from their respective tunnels.
Aria looked like a completely ordinary high school student, save for her eyes—they had a depth that made it hard to look away.
Owen cleared his throat, about to initiate some of his trademark pre-match psychological warfare, but Aria cut him off before he could speak.
"Shh," she said softly. "Let's just wait for the match to start in peace, okay?"
"..." Owen went silent.
What's with these trainers? First, the Ice Beauty, now the Silent Psychic. Why won't anyone let me talk?
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