POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

On the field, two elite trainers stood alongside their Pokémon.

A Bronzong and a Mr. Mime served as defensive walls, excelling at shielding their teammates. Positioned behind them were long-range special attackers, while agile scouts moved stealthily to gather intel.

In the low sky, a Staraptor and a Skarmory circled each other warily, each trying to deny the other the chance to relay information to their team.

At the center of the forest arena, a fierce 2v1 battle captured most spectators' attention.

An Empoleon—one of Sinnoh's renowned starter Pokémon—stood alone, holding its ground against the relentless assault of a Rhydon and a Gyarados.

The trainers on both sides remained hidden in the background, leaving the three Pokémon to clash fiercely. Empoleon's prowess quickly won the admiration of the crowd.

But battles change in an instant. A seemingly unremarkable Emolga suddenly swooped down from the sky, landing squarely on Empoleon's head.

In the next moment, a burst of blue electricity surged through the arena as Empoleon staggered under the assault of a powerful Thunderbolt, leaving it charred and dazed.

Before the spectators could recover from their shock, an explosive Hydro Pump and Fire Blast struck from the sidelines, targeting Rhydon and Vileplume, another Pokémon from the opposing team.

The simultaneous explosions reverberated through the glass, and the three Pokémon—Empoleon, Rhydon, and Vileplume—collapsed almost simultaneously.

As Emolga tried to escape, it was suddenly caught in the chilling path of an incoming Ice Beam!

A Swampert, concealed in the underbrush, revealed itself. It had launched the devastating Hydro Pump that felled Rhydon earlier and now sought to eliminate Emolga as well.

But before Swampert could finish the job, a Pelipper emerged, intent on double-teaming the elusive emolga.

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A Surprise Victory

Suddenly, the whistle signaling the end of the match blared through the arena.

Swampert and Pelipper turned around, only to see their trainer being carried away by a Dracovish, its jaws clamping down menacingly.

In its claw, Dracovish held the fainted Mr. Mime, signaling the victory of its team.

In a wild battle with no rules, the match ends when either all of one side's Pokémon are incapacitated, or their trainer is rendered unable to continue.

In this case, Dracovish's underground ambush secured an early win for its team, leaving the audience stunned but cheering loudly.

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Rax's Fascination

Rax watched the entire match with rapt attention.

The combination of raw power, strategic planning, and wild unpredictability was addictive to witness.

Rax was especially drawn to the idea of participating himself, imagining how his own Pokémon could thrive in such chaotic battles.

However, he knew he wasn't ready yet. He hadn't even assembled a full team of six Pokémon, and his current strength wasn't enough to meet the elite-level requirement for unregulated battles.

For now, he decided to focus on single and doubles competitions, which allowed senior-level trainers like him to participate.

With a clear goal in mind, Rax spent the rest of the day carefully observing singles and doubles matches. He paid close attention to move combinations and tactical strategies, which fascinated him even more than the unregulated wild battles.

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Preparations for Tomorrow

After a full day of watching matches in the VIP room, Rax returned to his hotel, resisting the urge to sign up immediately.

As he left, he noticed the guide's curious gaze. He realized he hadn't placed a single bet all day but dismissed the thought.

Dreaming about getting stronger is far more important than gambling, he thought.

That night, in the Dream World, Rax began preparing for tomorrow's challenge.

He first arranged a training regimen for Metang before calling in Marowak and Skiploom.

"Tomorrow, I'll sign us up for the senior-level singles and doubles competition. You two will be my picks for the match!"

Both Marowak and Skiploom's eyes lit up with excitement, nodding eagerly.

Marowak listened intently as Skiploom shared what it had seen during the day, growing increasingly fired up at the prospect of battling.

"Tonight, we'll focus on refining some of the coordinated tactics we've trained before. Let's make sure we get off to a strong start tomorrow!"

"Maro!"

"Fa Fa~!"

The night passed quickly in the Dream World as Rax and his Pokémon worked tirelessly to prepare for their upcoming match.

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Signing Up

The next morning, Rax arrived at the Hearthome Arena early and registered for the senior-level singles and doubles competition.

"Since this is your first time competing, it's assumed no one will bet on you. You'll need to place a minimum bet of 1,000 Pokécoins on yourself. Cash or card?"

Having already read the rules, Rax paid the amount without hesitation.

If he weren't trying to stay low-key, he might have even bet more.

After registering, Rax entered the player's waiting room, finding many trainers already gathered there. He quietly took a seat in the singles and doubles area.

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A Mysterious Newcomer

As soon as Rax sat down, someone approached him.

"Hey there, little brother. Are you here for the singles and doubles matches? What's your name?"

Rax turned to see a man with light yellow hair slicked back, exuding an air of formality. The man's strong woody perfume was overwhelming.

His tailored suit, pristine from careful ironing, and gold watch screamed "businessman" rather than trainer.

"Rax. Who are you?"

Rax decided to play along, curious about the man's intentions.

"Blake. I'm competing in today's singles and doubles matches too."

Rax nodded cautiously, giving short responses to keep up the facade of being inexperienced.

Noticing Rax's reserved demeanor, Blake's eyes gleamed with interest, and he leaned in closer.

"This your first time competing? Do you know anything about the other participants?"

Blake gestured subtly to a group of trainers nearby.

Feigning curiosity, Rax listened as Blake shared detailed insights about their potential opponents, including their Pokémon types, battle styles, and weaknesses.

As Blake spoke, Rax couldn't help but laugh internally. Did I just run into someone who thinks they're a spy?

Still, he appreciated the information. His first official battle was about to begin.

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Celebrating Chapter 100!

This marks the 100th chapter—let's commemorate the milestone!