"Hitmonlee is unable to battle! Claydol wins!"
As the referee's voice rang out, the system notifications arrived as well.
"Ding! Claydol won an official battle! Gained 500 training points! Gained a large amount of experience!" "Ding! Cosmic Power, Confusion, Trick Room, and Extrasensory proficiency increased!"
Hitmonlee's defeat had clearly exceeded Bruno's expectations, especially since it had been taken down almost instantly.
Even Yong felt a moment of disbelief. A Pokémon that had been so dominant in the earlier matches had actually fallen to him in an instant.
Only now did he belatedly begin to take his own strength seriously.
Looking at Bruno across from him, Yong suddenly realized that none of them-not Bruno, Lorelei, Cynthia, or even Lance-were the major figures they would become in the future. Have I been viewing them as members of the Elite Four all this time?
Have I been imagining their future selves as my opponents?
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Yong felt some shackle within his heart inexplicably fall away.
"What's wrong, Bruno? What are you waiting for? Are you giving up?"
Sensing the sharp confidence Yong suddenly exuded, Bruno snapped out of his thoughts and grinned, his gaze growing even keener.
"What are you talking about? A real man never gives up!"
After recalling Hitmonlee, Bruno hurled his second Pokémon Ball!
"Let me show you the strength my Pokémon and I forged by training beyond our limits!"
Dazzling light washed half the field white.
Clang!!!
"Hagaa!!!"
The sound of something heavy hitting the ground suddenly rang out, followed immediately by a deep, furious roar.
Huh? Why does that sound so familiar?
Yong focused his gaze and saw a familiar figure emerge from the light.
It had a gray body, scarlet eyes, a huge, vicious-looking head, eight heavy body segments