Breeding Memories (55/56)

Semifinals.

The rancher had met his strongest opponent yet.

His opponent clearly was not participating in the tournament for the first time. Four of the Pokémon on his team were unique to Unova, fully demonstrating the depth of a Trainer who had traveled through multiple regions.

Strictly speaking, this was only the rancher's first time entering a tournament. His Pokémon were at a certain level disadvantage compared to his opponent's.

Fortunately, his other profession as a Pokémon Breeder could make up for that shortcoming.

A Pokémon's combat strength had never been determined solely by level. Whether it had been carefully cared for was also one of the decisive factors.

The love the rancher had poured into his Pokémon, and the decades of understanding between him and them, would never lose to any Trainer's.

If he played both sides' advantages like cards in a poker game, there was no reason for him to lose.

But as his Pokémon were defeated one after another and the battle entered its final stage, his ace Rapidash had long since fallen alongside its opponent. The rancher had only a Tauros left, burned and repeatedly staggering with every step.

Meanwhile, his opponent's Pokémon still had plenty of stamina.

The outcome seemed decided.

[You seemed to see the end of the match. The fall of old companions and new members told you the road ahead had ended. At that moment, you heard a voice.]

[You heard your daughter's shouts, your wife's shouts, and the breathing of your Pokémon.]

[You knew the match was not over.]

The image seemed to freeze.

The next moment.

"Get up! Tauros!"

The bursting speech bubbles seemed to echo like roars beside Baimu's ears. Tauros, its forelegs on the ground, widened its eyes and unleashed an unprecedented