Pokemon: Psychic Master

"Let's welcome the competitor from Alola, Ilima!"

Ilima walked out, radiating an elegant and composed aura. His shoulder-length pastel-pink hair, neatly pressed shirt, and sweater vest gave him the look of a model student. He held a tablet and notebook, clearly well-prepared for the competition.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Next, let's welcome Johan from Kanazumi City in the Hoenn region!"

Cameras followed Johan as he entered the arena, capturing his confident stride. His warm smile was projected on the massive screens around the stadium.

The applause grew even louder.

It was clear that female spectators made up a significant portion of the audience for this match—after all, this wasn't just a battle.

It was a showdown between two of the tournament's "most handsome competitors"!

"Johan, crush him!" someone yelled.

"Prince Ilima, you've got this!" another shouted.

Neither Johan nor Ilima seemed affected by the audience.

"It's an honor to battle you, Johan. Please go easy on me," Ilima said with a courteous smile.

Johan nodded. "Likewise."

Ilima sighed internally.

No wonder Professor Kukui speaks so highly of Johan. He really is approachable, not at all like the online rumors of him being underhanded or ruthless.

Ilima's purpose in competing in the Indigo League was to learn from other trainers and bring new strategies back to Alola.

In essence, his goal was quite similar to Leon's—to inspire change in his home region.

A light breeze swept across the grassy battlefield, rustling the grass and signaling that the match was about to begin.

The crowd fell silent, holding their breath in anticipation.

"Competitors, prepare your Pokémon!"

The referee raised his flag, signaling the trainers to send out their first Pokémon.

"Ilima specializes in Normal-type Pokémon," a commentator noted. "Johan's Kubfu would be the perfect counter."

"Or perhaps his Dragonair, since Normal-types generally struggle against airborne opponents."

"Battle start!"

As the referee's flag dropped, Ilima tossed out his Poké Ball.

"Go, Gumshoos!"

The stern-looking Gumshoos crossed its arms as it appeared, its deep brown coat resembling a detective's trench coat. Its slicked-back fur and the missing chunk from one ear gave it an air of experience—like a seasoned detective who had seen it all.

Johan chuckled to himself.

The resemblance is uncanny.

"Ilima sends out Gumshoos, the same Pokémon that swept his first-round opponent. And Johan has chosen..."

"Tinkaton!"

"Cha!! (・ω・)"

The petite Tinkaton hefted her massive hammer onto her shoulder, creating a striking visual contrast.

While Tinkaton wasn't as strong against Normal-types as Kubfu, her Steel typing gave her a significant advantage in resisting their moves.

"Johan, with a smile, calls for a Swords Dance to start things off!"

With a resounding thud, Tinkaton slammed her hammer into the ground, causing a faint tremor as crimson swords formed in the air around her.

"Gumshoos, Yawn!"

Ilima remained calm and collected.

"Ah, Ilima's signature sleep-kill strategy," the commentator explained. "He used this to sweep his first-round opponent!"

[Yawn: Forces the target to fall asleep after a short delay.]

Yawn was almost guaranteed to hit.

If Johan had sent out Kubfu, he could have ignored the sleep-inducing effect. But Tinkaton?

"Phoo—"

Gumshoos let out a long yawn, sending an invisible wave of drowsiness toward Tinkaton.

"Cha!!"

Tinkaton, unfazed, charged toward Gumshoos with her hammer raised high.

Ilima remained composed.

He knew that most trainers would go on the offensive to capitalize on the time before their Pokémon fell asleep.

"Gumshoos, Protect!"

A green barrier shimmered around Gumshoos.

Johan wasn't surprised.

Yawn followed by Protect was a textbook combo.

He smiled faintly.

"Tinkaton, toss it!"

"Cha!!"

Tinkaton grinned mischievously, gripping her hammer tightly before hurling it through the air like a missile.

The hammer smashed into Gumshoos's barrier with a deafening crash.

BOOM!

The Protect shattered, and the hammer rebounded back toward Tinkaton, who effortlessly caught it.

"Brick Break!"

Without missing a beat, Tinkaton leaped forward, bringing her hammer down with devastating force.

CRASH!

The ground shook as Tinkaton's hammer struck, sending debris flying in all directions. The audience felt the shockwave from the impact.

When the dust settled, Gumshoos lay unconscious in a crater, eyes swirling.

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Then:

"What insane power!"

"How heavy must that hammer be?!"

"That's not just strength—that's monstrous strength!"

Even Steven couldn't help but marvel.

"Teacher's Tinkaton... I doubt even my Aggron could lift that hammer."

Ilima's composure wavered slightly, but he quickly gathered himself.

Johan's Tinkaton had been hit by Yawn. She was on the verge of falling asleep.

"Go, Kangaskhan!"

Ilima's second Pokémon appeared—a towering Kangaskhan with her baby peeking out of her pouch.

"Kangaskhan, Fire Punch!"

The mighty Pokémon charged forward, fist engulfed in flames.

Tinkaton blinked sleepily, her eyelids growing heavier.

The audience watched anxiously.

Subbing out Tinkaton would be the best option...

But Johan made a surprising call.

"Tinkaton, take a nap."

"Huh?"

"Cha... (｀ω´) zzz."

Tinkaton yawned, leaning against her hammer and closing her eyes.

As Kangaskhan's fiery punch landed, Tinkaton's hammer absorbed the blow.

The hammer didn't budge.

Kangaskhan, stunned, stared at the hammer.

Not a single scorch mark.

Ilima clenched his fists.

"Kangaskhan, aim for Tinkaton directly!"

"Sorry," Johan said with a grin. "Tinkaton is the hammer."

"Tinkaton, Heavy Slam!"

At Johan's command, Tinkaton woke up instantly, grabbing her hammer with both hands.

She swung it in a wide arc, slamming it into Kangaskhan with earth-shattering force.

BOOM!

Kangaskhan flew across the field, crashing into the arena wall with a deafening thud.

The audience sat in stunned silence.

Then:

"Johan's Tinkaton just... woke up?! And launched a nuke!"

"That hammer... is that even legal?"

Ilima stood frozen.

Wasn't Johan supposed to be a tactical genius?

Where was the strategy?

This was pure brute force!

Gritting his teeth, Ilima sent out his final Pokémon.

"Eevee!"

The adorable Eevee took the field, determined despite the odds.

Some audience members couldn't bear to watch.

"Eevee, Quick Attack into Return!"

Eevee glowed with white energy, charging at Tinkaton with all its heart.

"Cha!"

Tinkaton's eyes sparkled.

She loved a good clash of wills.

Ice began to coat her hammer as she prepared a chilling Ice Hammer.

With a playful grin, Tinkaton met Eevee's charge head-on.

CRASH!

The hammer smashed down, leaving the field in ruins.

"Eevee is unable to battle! The winner is Johan from Kanazumi City!"

The crowd erupted.

"He's back! Johan swept another match!"

"Violence! Absolute violence!"

"Tinkaton's a beast! I need one!"

Tinkaton ran back to Johan, proudly carrying her hammer.

"Cha-cha~~ ╭(￣ω￣)╯"

Johan patted her head. "Good job. You're a tournament star now."

Tinkaton giggled, basking in the applause.

Ilima approached with a strained smile.

"Johan, Professor Kukui wants to invite you to be the Head of Battle Studies at Alola Academy."

Johan raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not interested in teaching battles."

Ilima added, "You can set your own salary."

Johan coughed.

"Let's discuss this later."

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Powerstones?

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