As the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, two figures slowly emerged from the opposite entrances of the Lumiose Arena.
Blue was as casually stylish as ever—purple slacks, a black high-neck shirt, and that trademark spiky hair radiating confidence. His sharp, handsome face carried an untamed pride.
Confident. Cool.
Facing him, Serena wore a sleeveless black top and a high-waisted red skirt that hugged her slim waist. Long black stockings accentuated her long legs, leaving just a glimpse of pale skin between skirt and stockings—a breathtaking "forbidden zone."
Elegant. Stunning.
As the two stars of the day took their places, the arena erupted in wild cheers.
"Wow! That's the new Champion of Kalos? She's gorgeous!"
"I hadn't paid attention before—Serena's so young!"
"Champion Serena for the win!"
"Tch—Blue's the Kanto Elite Four! No way he's losing!"
"Both of them are so young… what chance do the rest of us Trainers even have?"
Online, the match was trending worldwide, and the hype only kept growing.
"The next round of the World Championships upper bracket begins now! Challenger: Blue from Kanto! Defender: Serena, Champion of Kalos!"
The referee raised his hand to explain the rules.
"This will be a full six-on-six battle. Both Trainers may use two types of power-ups. When all six Pokémon of the challenger are unable to battle, the challenge ends."
"Battle… start!"
With a respectful bow, the referee retreated from the stage.
On the giant screen, portraits of both Trainers appeared as the pointer spun to decide who would take the first move.
Blue stood casually, one hand in his pocket, the other twirling a minimized Poké Ball between his fingers.
Serena's pretty face was serious, her eyes fixed on the screen.
She wasn't wearing her usual hat today—her long hair was tied back in a ponytail. That was her battle mode.
Whenever she faced a powerful opponent, she always tied up her hair. She'd done the same when she challenged the Kalos League at the end of last year.
It meant she was going all out.
The pointer stopped—on Blue's side.
"Heh, looks like I'm up first. Not that it matters."
Blue grinned, eyes flashing with the sharp intensity of a predator.
"Let's see what kind of strength the Kalos Champion really has."
He flicked his wrist, throwing his Poké Ball high.
With a sharp cry, a majestic Pidgeot spread its enormous wings and swooped through the air, circling before landing before Blue, its piercing eyes locked onto Serena.
"Don't disappoint me," Blue said, catching the returning Poké Ball with a smirk. "I've been looking forward to this."
"You'll see for yourself," Serena replied firmly, her big brown eyes gleaming. "The strength of me—the Champion of Kalos!"
She'd always been modest, knowing she still had room to grow.
But as a ranked Master Class Trainer, she knew strong opponents would come sooner or later—and she'd prepared for that.
She wouldn't lose. Not to Blue of the Kanto Elite Four.
"My power comes from the bond I share with my Pokémon—and that's not something anyone can beat!"
Serena drew a Poké Ball and threw it.
"Meowstic!"
A flash of light, and a blue-and-white feline Pokémon appeared, standing gracefully on two legs. Most of its body was white, while its ears, neck, legs, and tail base were deep blue. Its golden eyes were calm and cold, showing no emotion.
"A female Meowstic, huh?"
Blue narrowed his eyes. He'd studied this species, though he hadn't battled one often.
Bzzt!
Meowstic (female), Psychic type, the Constraint Pokémon.
Ability: Keen Eye.
Known moves: Misty Terrain, Psychic, Imprison, Fake Out, Baton Pass...
Entry: When it unleashes its full psychic power, it can tear apart a cruise ship. Its cold demeanor is part of its charm (female form).
"Looks strong…" Lillie murmured from the audience as Rotom Dex finished its readout.
On another side of the stands, Giovanni and Red sat side by side, watching intently.
"It's just a cute little cat," Blue thought to himself. "But against my Pidgeot—!"
He quickly ran through strategies in his mind, then decided to strike first.
"Aerial Ace!"
Blue's style had always been aggressive. This was his first time facing Serena, so intel was limited—but the same was true for her.
If they were both in the dark, then there was no point holding back.
Pidgeot screeched and raised its wings for an attack.
"Fake Out!" Serena commanded sharply.
Meowstic's golden eyes flashed. Her body blurred into a white streak, vanishing from sight.
The Normal-type move Fake Out!
In an instant, Meowstic dashed beneath Pidgeot and leapt upward—
Smack!
Pidgeot's head snapped back from a clean slap before it could even flap its wings, its attack canceled and its body recoiling midair.
"Tch…" Blue clicked his tongue. Fake Out—such a nuisance.
"Yawn!"
Serena didn't hesitate.
Yawn? Blue frowned.
Still suspended in the air with psychic power, Meowstic let out a long, deep yawn. A wisp of white energy floated toward Pidgeot.
The bird had just recovered from its flinch—no time to dodge.
The yawn drifted into Pidgeot's body, making it reflexively yawn back before shaking its head, regaining focus.
But everyone knew what was coming next.
Yawn – A Normal-type move that makes the target drowsy. The opponent will soon fall asleep.
A delayed sleep effect—once you're hit, it's inevitable.
"Troublesome…" Blue muttered.
He understood Serena's strategy perfectly. Fake Out followed by Yawn—a practiced combo, clearly something they'd drilled countless times.
And then—
"Calm Mind," Serena ordered.
Meowstic's eyes glowed blue as waves of psychic energy shimmered around her, boosting her Special Attack and Special Defense.
Just as Serena had expected, Blue didn't risk attacking.
He recalled Pidgeot in a beam of red light.
"Smart move," Serena said softly, pressing her lips together. "Much tougher than Diantha ever was."
"Blue's quick on the draw," Leon commented from the viewing area.
"Exactly," Dylan agreed. "We can see the strategy clearly from here, but it's a lot harder when you're in the arena yourself."
"If he'd kept Pidgeot in to attack during Calm Mind," Dylan explained, "the Yawn would've triggered mid-fight, putting Pidgeot to sleep and leaving it vulnerable."
Lillie tilted her head. "So recalling it early was better?"
"Right," Dylan said with a smile. "Now it's safely awake. If he'd waited, Pidgeot would've fallen asleep the moment he switched."
Leon nodded. "Good judgment."
Serena had deliberately used Calm Mind to bait him—but Blue wasn't taking the risk.
"She looks so elegant," Wallace said, "but her battle tactics are vicious."
Hearing their analysis, he couldn't help but grin. "This match is going to be incredible. And it's only just begun."
On the field, Blue replaced Pidgeot with his powerhouse—Tyranitar.
The Dark type was a perfect counter to a Psychic Pokémon like Meowstic, but Serena smoothly used Baton Pass, swapping in Chesnaught, Kalos's Grass-type starter.
Chesnaught's secondary Fighting type was exactly what made it a threat—Tyranitar's four-times Fighting weakness.
Blue grimaced. This matchup was brutal. Tyranitar excelled in close combat, but a quadruple weakness was a deadly flaw.
So he acted instantly—Terastallization!
Rock Tera type. Now Tyranitar's weakness to Fighting was only double.
Serena responded just as decisively—Gigantamax!
The massive Chesnaught loomed over the field, fists glowing with fighting energy.
"Max Knuckle!"
The colossal strike left Tyranitar nowhere to run—but Blue didn't flinch.
"Use Aerial Ace!"
The Terastallized Tyranitar charged head-on, its wings slicing through the air.
Even with doubled HP from Gigantamax, Chesnaught's huge body made it difficult to evade—and it was four-times weak to Flying!
After three thunderous exchanges—three Max Knuckles for three Aerial Aces—both sides were battered, but in the end, Chesnaught fell.
It was a brutal trade, the crowd roaring with excitement.
Still, Blue had taken the first round.
"As expected of a Kalos prodigy," Giovanni muttered approvingly. "That was impressive. Tyranitar held on even through three Gigantamax attacks."
But the cost was clear—Tyranitar was badly weakened, each Max Knuckle raising Chesnaught's Attack before it went down.
Serena wasted no time, sending out her Vaporeon. In a flash, the Water-type dashed forward—Quick Attack, then Hydro Pump—taking down the exhausted Tyranitar.
The score was even again.
"Blue's really met his match this time," Giovanni said with a quiet laugh, glancing at the ponytailed Champion whose refined face was now set in fierce determination.
Red said nothing, his crimson eyes reflecting something unreadable.
(End of Chapter)