Yoshiki recalled his unconscious Persian and sent out a Dodrio, hoping to gain a type advantage over Venusaur. However, Natsui, a master of this strategy, would naturally not let him have his way. He switched out for Jolteon to counter the Dodrio.
In terms of skill, Yoshiki was probably on par with Gary, perhaps even a bit stronger.
But at this moment, he was finally experiencing the same sense of powerlessness that Gary had faced against Natsui, with his types being constantly suppressed!
The man before him was relentless in this regard. As long as he won the first bout, he would never allow himself to be at a disadvantage in type matchups for the rest of the match!
Yoshiki found this incredibly difficult to deal with.
And in fact, when the second round began, things unfolded just as he had feared: Dodrio was slowly pushed into a disadvantage.
As a flightless bird that spent its life running on land, Dodrio's wings had long since atrophied. Although it was a Flying-type Pokémon and knew some Flying-type moves, it couldn't actually fly.
However, its legs were thick and powerful. While slightly slower than Jolteon, its endurance was extremely high, which allowed it to keep up in the chase without immediately falling behind.
But this couldn't change the inevitable. As the intensity of the battle increased, and after being repeatedly hit by Electric-type moves, Dodrio's stamina began to wane, and its steps became weak and unsteady.
On the other side, even though Jolteon had the advantage, Natsui remained cautious and didn't let it get too close to Dodrio.
After all, Dodrio's three heads could all attack independently, which gave it a huge advantage in close-quarters combat!
"Jolteon, use Thunderbolt!"
In the end, covered in wounds and in a precarious state, Dodrio finally fell to Jolteon's Thunderbolt after a battle of attrition!
Outside the field, the audience waved their cheer sticks and shouted with excitement.
Compared to Ash's recent match, Natsui's two bouts, while also lacking in grand spectacles, were still quite exciting for the spectators.
This was especially true for those who were already fans of Natsui; seeing their chosen competitor win so easily put them in a great mood.
"Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen!" Even the announcer's commentary seemed to be completely biased in Natsui's favor. "Trainer Natsui once again has a 2-0 lead, securing the match point! Will this be another clean and decisive victory, just like his previous ones!? Let's wait and see!"
On the field, Yoshiki, having worked so hard to get into the Top 16, was naturally unwilling to be eliminated so easily.
He recalled his Dodrio and sent out his final Pokémon.
"Go, Golem!"
As the blue light faded, Golem's heavy body landed on the ground with a dull thud. Seeing this, Natsui decisively recalled Jolteon and sent out Blastoise.
However, compared to the Dodrio just before, this Ground- and Rock-type Golem was in an even worse position, facing a four-times weakness to Water-type moves. Its chances of a comeback were incredibly slim!
But facing Blastoise's Water Gun and Hydro Pump attacks, Golem still displayed a tenacious fighting spirit. Relying on its tough hide, it rolled like a boulder towards Blastoise, making one last struggle.
It wrapped its arms around Blastoise, then leaped high into the air. Upon reaching a certain height, it suddenly flipped its body over and smashed down towards the ground!
"He's using it!" the announcer shouted. "Faced with a type disadvantage, Golem is using Seismic Toss! It was with this powerful move that it blazed a trail to the Top 16! Now, facing trainer Natsui's Blastoise, can it make a comeback and turn the tide of the battle!?"
The two Pokémon continued to plummet from mid-air.
On the way down, Blastoise tried to struggle, but Golem's strength was immense, and it couldn't break free.
Seeing this, Natsui showed no signs of panic.
If it were another Pokémon, he might have been worried about it getting injured, but his Blastoise had its own unique defensive measures!
"Blastoise, use Withdraw!"
Hearing Natsui's command, Blastoise quickly retracted its body into its thick shell.
CRASH!
With a loud bang, the shell slammed heavily onto the ground, instantly creating a huge crater in the flat field!
The resulting dust cloud floated up, shrouding a large area.
Golem stood panting outside the smoke, and like its trainer Yoshiki, stared hopefully at the Blastoise in the crater.
However, to their disappointment, as the dust settled, the shell twitched, and the next second, Blastoise extended its limbs and poked its head out again!
It shook its head. Although it had been rattled by the impact, it appeared to be largely unharmed.
"What!?"
This was completely beyond Yoshiki's expectations!
He gritted his teeth, a sense of powerlessness welling up inside him. That was his final trump card, and it had been neutralized so easily!
"Oh, my!" The announcer's tone had a hint of gloating. "Protected by Withdraw, the damage from Golem's Seismic Toss was completely negated! So, what will he do now to break this deadlock?"
However, what no one expected was that Yoshiki, pushed into a corner, chose another path at this moment.
He spread his hands and said helplessly, "I surrender."
"What?" The referee seemed to not believe his ears and asked subconsciously.
"I said, I surrender." Yoshiki raised his right hand and sighed in defeat. "There's no need to fight anymore. I've lost this match!"
Yoshiki could see the situation clearly. Even if he got lucky and defeated this Blastoise, his opponent still had two other Pokémon. Golem was in no condition to win.
Since defeat was inevitable, why should he let his Pokémon suffer needlessly?
"Trainer Yoshiki has surrendered!" the announcer exclaimed. "Although it lacks the never-say-die spirit of sportsmanship, one must admit, this is indeed a wise choice! So, let's congratulate trainer Natsui on successfully advancing to the next round!"
The crowd erupted in a massive cheer, the sound of their cheer sticks and other items creating a deafening rhythm.
From the stands, Ash stared intently at Natsui, clenching his fists.
It was the first Pokémon League for both of them, but their performances were completely different.
In terms of the strength he had shown, this man was already far ahead of him. He, on the other hand, had struggled all the way here, only to have his final result be a spot in the Top 16.
Watching Natsui make his stylish exit under the watchful eyes of thousands, and seeing even Misty and Koharu cheering for him wholeheartedly, he couldn't help but feel envious, even if he didn't say it out loud.
Defeating one strong opponent after another alongside your Pokémon... that must be the greatest joy in life, right?
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