Pokemon: Psychic Master

5 bonus chapter's coming out at 11 AM EST. So I ask that you save you're powerstones until then.

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The crowd erupted.

A true, thunderous wave of cheers filled the enormous stadium as Johan and Mélanie walked into the arena for their quarterfinal match.

The oval-shaped stadium was packed to the brim with spectators, their collective roar crashing like a tidal wave.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, signifying the grandeur of the upcoming battle.

"Johan-sensei, you've got this!!"

"Mélanie, show them what you've got!!"

Both trainers had their fair share of fans in the crowd.

Mélanie, dressed in a robe resembling a magician's cloak, stood with a serious expression.

She had previously been stopped in the semifinals of the Lumiose Conference in Kalos. This time, her eyes were set on the championship.

And now, standing before her was likely the strongest opponent she'd ever faced.

Johan adjusted his monocle and smiled warmly.

"Give it your best shot. You've got this."

Mélanie's tense expression softened, and she nodded firmly.

For some reason, standing before Johan, she felt as though she were speaking to her mentor.

That gentle tone of encouragement reminded her of a senior trainer guiding a junior.

Though it felt a little strange, she did feel more relaxed.

"Professor Oak, is this Johan's first time participating in a full 6v6 rotation battle?" Bruno asked from the VIP box, arms crossed, his voice as deep as ever.

Professor Oak chuckled.

"Yes, it is. It reminds me of when I first entered a tournament myself…"

"Full rotation battles put more pressure on trainers," Bruno noted, recognizing the subtle praise Oak had for Johan.

"I believe he'll handle it just fine," Oak said confidently.

Morty, sitting quietly in his wheelchair, glanced at the two of them. He didn't share their optimism.

Where did Oak's blind faith in this kid come from?

Just because he bonded well with his Pokémon?

If that were all it took to become a top trainer, why bother with rigorous training?

Dubbed "The Winter of Morty," he was a firm believer in harsh discipline and keeping a respectful distance from Pokémon to maintain a purely professional relationship.

The referee raised his flag high, signaling the start of the match.

"Let the battle begin!"

Mélanie flicked her magician's robe and gracefully tossed out her Pokéball.

"Go, Solrock!"

The orange, rock-like Pokémon floated in the air, its eight jagged rays extending outward, resembling a miniature sun made of stone.

"Solrock, the Meteorite Pokémon. A Rock/Psychic-type with Levitate," the commentator explained enthusiastically.

On Johan's side, a burst of red light materialized into a striking figure.

"Oowoo~~:.ヽ().:+"

A majestic Alolan Ninetales appeared on the battlefield, its pure white fur glistening like freshly fallen snow, and its nine tails gracefully fanned out, shimmering under the sunlight.

Its elegant form captivated the audience, rendering the stadium utterly silent for a moment.

Then, like a dam breaking, the crowd erupted into wild cheers.

"So beautiful!"

"This is Ninetales? She's stunning!"

"Finally, Johan-sensei's fourth Pokémon! Ninetales is on the field!"

The flood of compliments and admiration perfectly captured the visual impact of Ninetales' entrance.

"Oowoo~ (//▽//)"

Despite being a little shy, Ninetales was slowly getting used to performing in front of large crowds.

Mélanie narrowed her eyes.

An Alolan Ninetales?

No glaring type disadvantage. This should be a fair fight.

"Solrock, Stealth Rock!"

Knowing full well that rotations were inevitable in a 6v6 match, Mélanie set up her trap early.

Chunks of floating rocks shimmered into existence across the field before vanishing from view, ready to damage any Pokémon Johan might switch in later.

Simultaneously, Johan gave his command.

"Ninetales, Aurora Veil."

With a soft hum, Ninetales conjured a protective barrier that sparkled under the stadium lights, reducing both physical and special damage taken by her team.

"Both sides are playing cautiously, focusing on long-term strategies!" the commentator noted.

"Is this a sign that Johan will show us his more calculated, defensive style today?"

"Flexible strategies! He can be both aggressive and defensive—that's Johan-sensei for you!"

Mélanie smiled slightly, sensing a mutual understanding.

"Solrock, Cosmic Power!"

As Solrock glowed with the energy of the cosmos, boosting its defensive stats, Mélanie planned her next move.

If she could keep stacking Cosmic Power and then Baton Pass the boosts to her next Pokémon, she could dominate the match.

However...

A blur of white fur dashed toward Solrock with surprising speed.

What?

Ninetales wasn't using a special Ice-type move?

Even with the snowstorm supporting her, she's going for a physical attack?

Mélanie had already prepared to counter an Ice Beam with a Fire Spin.

But in the blink of an eye, Ninetales was upon Solrock, her nine tails gleaming with a metallic sheen.

The tails coiled together, forming a hammer-like shape reminiscent of Tinkaton's weapon.

Iron Tail!

BAM!

The impact cracked Solrock's stony surface, sending it flying backward.

Crash!

Solrock smashed into the stadium wall and fainted instantly.

The entire stadium fell into stunned silence.

The commentator's mouth hung open, unable to process what had just happened.

One second he was discussing Johan's "defensive approach," and the next—bam!—it was over.

"Oowoo~~ε=ε=┌(>_<)┘"

Ninetales quickly trotted back to Johan's side, her expression anxious.

That was close!

If Solrock had finished setting up, the fight would've been much harder.

Phew, crisis averted.

Though... her Iron Tail training paid off. Next time she compared tails with Cynthia's Eevee, she wouldn't lose!

Mélanie bit her lip.

She hadn't expected Iron Tail.

What kind of trainer would think to use that move with Ninetales?

At least Stealth Rock was in place, and she had deduced that this Ninetales was a dual-specialist, capable of both physical and special attacks.

Taking a deep breath, Mélanie sent out her second Pokémon.

"Go, Slowbro!"

The water-and-psychic-type Pokémon emerged, standing upright with a Shellder clamped onto its tail.

"Yadon?"

Slowbro tilted its head quizzically.

Both Johan and Ninetales tilted their heads in unison, equally perplexed.

?

Mélanie, however, remained serious.

"Slowbro, Psychic!"

"Ninetales, Nasty Plot."

?

Mélanie froze.

Wait, weren't we going all out? Why are you back to boosting stats again?

Is he... trolling me?

"Slowbro, crush that barrier!" Mélanie commanded.

Slowbro unleashed a powerful Psychic blast, breaking through Ninetales' Aurora Veil.

Cracks spread across the shimmering shield...

And then, behind that layer, another Aurora Veil appeared.

??

"What in the world?!"

Slowbro broke the second layer—only to find a third.

The crowd gasped.

Layer upon layer of Aurora Veil flickered in the light, stretching between Ninetales and Slowbro.

"...This is ridiculous."

As the final barrier fell, Ninetales had finished her Nasty Plot.

She inhaled deeply, forming a glowing, blue sphere of ice.

Amid swirling frost and crystallized air, a multicolored beam burst forth.

Freeze-Dry!

CRACK!

Slowbro, unable to dodge, was frozen solid.

Freeze-Dry's type advantage against Water-types hit Slowbro with devastating force.

The referee, shivering from the cold, raised his flag.

"Slowbro is unable to battle!"

The stadium exploded into cheers once again.

"That many Aurora Veils?!"

"And another one-shot KO?! This Ninetales is insane!"

"Yeah, but... why is she playing so cautiously?"

"She's clearly super strong, but maybe too safe?"

"Oowoo..."

Ninetales exhaled softly, patting her chest with a paw, then glanced at Johan for reassurance.

That Slowbro was strong! It broke two layers of Aurora Veil!

Johan gave her a slight nod, his expression serious.

"Keep playing it safe, and you might just sweep all six of them."

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