Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Pokémon.

I have returned with the chapter of the quarter finals. Feast your eyes…

Neutral P.O.V

As Tyler gets out of his confinement, he puts on a calm expression. But like an eclipse, it's only the calm moon that is his fragile self-restraint that hides the raging sun that is his uncontrollable anger. Brock watches him come out quietly. But before getting revenge on the cause of his anger, Tyler has one thing in mind. One priority.

"There is still 5 minutes left, right? Can you tell me where the infirmary is?"

"… Sure."

Brock then takes the mentally unstable Tyler to the infirmary. Brock leaves immediately afterwards. Tyler goes to the bed where Skyna is resting. Just in front of it, Skyla is talking to a nurse.

"Is she going to be alright? Please tell me the truth."

"Her days were never endangered, but I can tell you that she is suffering excruciatingly. Unlike Pokémon, humans are not meant and prepared for those kinds of problems from Pokémon moves. Her Pokémon are fine, but as far as she's concerned, the antidote is going to take a few hours to act. We can only wait. I'm sorry." The nurse leaves after saying that.

Skyla then enters.

"Oh. It's you, Tyler. Are you OK? Why are you here?"

"I came to check up on her." Tyler answers with a sinister face. He sits next to her bed.

"The nurse said she'll be alright after a while." Skyla informs. But it was clear that she isn't even convinced of it herself.

"I see… My match is soon so I just want to say a few words." Tyler says hoarsely.

Skyla, sensing something off in Tyler's aura, leaves the room entirely. She isn't scared, just worried and empathic. When Skyla isn't in the room, Tyler's restrained anger turns into sadness. He doesn't cry, but his face shows an undeniable suffering. But suddenly forcing himself to smile, he speaks.

"Hey Boring Chick. Looks like you got a taste of your own medicine. You were such a poison to me, hahaha!"

"…" Skyna has a respirator on her mouth and her eyes closed. It's a total silence; Tyler only hears her light breaths in the room.

(Yeah, who am I kidding? She can't hear anything I say anyway!) He thinks, letting his pained expression show up again.

However, even though Skyna looks unconscious, she is totally awake but the pain of the poison is so strong she can't move or react to it, making it seem like a calm sleep. Tyler takes her hand.

"Skyna… I don't know how to handle this kind of situation except making the one who did this to you pay dearly. My silence on her actions is the thing that led to this after all. I'll fix my mistake right now. I WILL make her suffer." Tyler spits out hatefully. It looks like Skyna reacted, but Tyler could be wrong so he continues.

"As strict and annoying as you are… To me… I still consider you as… As… Hum… A very precious person to me… And…" Said with difficulty, those words came straight out of Tyler's heart.

The exterior suddenly gets noisy. Because the first match is about to begin.

"… I guess it's time to go."

! He is then grabbed by the hand by another hand… It's Skyna's.

"Ty… ler…" She says with a weak voice.

"Skyna!?"

But she then starts convulsing. The nurses rush in.

"The poison inside her is trying to resist the Antidote."

"Get ready to administer more!"

"Sister!" Skyla screams as she comes back.

"SKYNA!" Tyler screams at first, but then remembers what the cause of her state is in the first place. Knowing what needed to be done, Tyler heads out…

During the moment Tyler went to see Skyna, something else was going on. Ernest was in a corridor talking to Roxie.

"Things are going smoothly."

"Of course!" Roxie replies.

"But I would like you to refrain from using such showy and barbaric techniques. We do not want to be discovered or have complications."

"Alright, I get it! That bitch was just pissing me off so I silenced her. Now I gotta face that angry sucker."

"Do you truly believe you can win against him?"

"Just who do you think you're talking to? I've beaten him and I'll do it again."

"Whatever, just make sure you stay in the competition long enough to eliminate the most strong ones as possible."

"I know what I have to do. Just watch!"

"Then go! We do not want to be seen together."

Roxie leaves for the battlegrounds.

(I feel a certain form of danger coming from this Tyler person… Nothing that can faze me of course. After all, I come from the place where the stronger than the strong reside: Elysium!)

"AND HERE ARE THE PAIRINGS FOR THE QUARTERFINALS!"

Tyler

VS

Roxie

Jack

VS

Ratzky

Ernest

VS

Jimmy

Cheren

VS

Brock

"AND NOW THE FIRST MATCH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"

The crowd is totally hyped.

"INTRODUCING FIRST, THE ARCANINE BOY, FROM VIC-OHHH!" The announcer is surprised at Tyler's early arrival. He probably can't wait any longer.

"HOW INCREDIBLE! TYLER IS SO FIRED UP THAT HE SHOWED BEFORE HIS OWN INTRODUCTION!"

"AND ALSO FROM VICTORY HIGH, THE POISON MASTER, ROXIE!"

Roxie enters calmly and slowly, like she's doing it to piss Tyler off.

"ROXIIIIIIIIEE! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW!" Tyler yells, still containing himself.

Roxie then accelerates and is now facing Tyler on her side of the field.

"Relax, I'm here. I knew you'd grow addicted of me."

"Luxray, no mercy!" Luxray comes out with sparks flying everywhere.

"Your Luxray again?"

"I guess he wants to repay you for your 'kindnesses' from last time. Now shut up and fight." Tyler answers in a calm rage.

"Hmph! Koffing, Rock and Roll!" The Koffing reappears before Luxray.

"ARE YOU READY? FIGHT!"

"Luxray, Thunderbolt!" Koffing gets zapped silly.

"Koffing, use Clear Smog!"

"Dissipate it with Charge Beam!" The smoke is blown apart by the beam that strikes Koffing. Luxray's power seems to be on the rise.

"Gyro Ball now!"

"Counter it with Wild Charge!" The spinning tackle is completely blocked by the electric mauling. Koffing is getting dizzy.

"Grrr, hurry up and use Sludge Bomb!"

"Jump at maximal power!" Luxray jumps high above the place where the attack lands. "Now, use Thunder!" The violent electric attack smashes through the Poison type. Koffing is still here but is in pain, covered in sparks. It is paralyzed.

"Tyler Dark, you bastaaaard!" Roxie rages.

"Luxray: his power is maximum! Now how does it feel like to have a status ailment? And use it so meanly? But believe me, the worse is yet to come." Tyler says with a glare of pure evil. "Luxray, zap it away with Thunderbolt!" Koffing is felled by the attack.

"You'll pay for this!"

"WHAT INCREDIBLE LACK OF MERCY! TYLER DISPATCHED THAT KOFFING ASAP!"

"Come back, you! Garbodor, Rock and Roll!" The stinking Pokémon comes out.

"Time to end this. Luxray, come back! Absol, no mercy!" Absol lets out a vicious cry as it comes out.

"Garbodor, DoubleSlap!"

"Dodge and use Swords Dance!" As it gets out of the way, Absol sharpens viciously.

"Now, use Hyper Beam!"

"Jump over it and use Swords Dance!" The Hyper Beam hits nothing as Absol leaps over it with ease. It then sharpens even more viciously.

"Grrr!"

"Try Swords Dance one more time!" Absol viciously powers up while Garbodor recharges. "Now, let's slaughter" Says Tyler from his evil eye.

"No you don't! Garbodor, send Gunk Shot!"

"Blow it away with Night Slash!" Absol easily and viciously casts the trash aside. "Now, clobber it with Zen Headbutt!" The move is viciously overkill and instant knockout, Garbodor is sent flying in the wall next to the crowd: that's how strong it is. But for Tyler, it's not enough. "Now, use Psycho Cut!" the psychic blade tears viciously through the already knocked out Pokémon.

"What'd you think you're doing?!" Roxie yells, outraged and dumbfounded.

"It's in the way. Get that eyesore in its fucking ball and get on with it." Tyler says in a calm rage. An evil light shines through his eyes.

"Come back, dumbass!" She calls it back. "Scolipede, Rock and Roll!" Roxie's last Pokémon makes its entrance.

"If you think I'm done here, you're delusional. I won't stop until I ERASE you." Tyler seemed, at that moment, even more evil than Roxie ever was.

"…" For the first time, Roxie stayed quiet to Tyler's words.

"WHAT AN OVERKILL MOVE, TYLER IS DOMINATING, CAN ROXIE REVERSE THE TIDE OF THIS DUEL?!"

"Scolipede, use Toxic (on Tyler)!"

But Tyler and Absol simultaneously dodge left easily. Roxie roars with frustration: "RHAAAAAAH!"

"Absol, use Psycho Cut!"

"! Parry it with Sludge Bomb!" But the blade viciously cuts through. Scolipede staggers, barely holding on.

"Scolipede, hurry up and do something, you dope!"

"Now Absol, Night Slash it to pieces!" Just for this very instant, Scolipede felt what being sashimi felt like. The slaughter fest has come to an end. Tyler is the winner.

"COMPLETELY ONE-SIDED TO THE END! TYLER WINS INCONTESTABLY! HE IS THE FIRST QUALIFIED TO THE SEMIFINALS!" The crowd cheers for The Arcanine Boy.

Roxie calls back Scolipede and leaves in a huff.

Tyler also leaves. The next match is Jack's…

In the corridor, Ernest watches, looking disappointed.

(Tch, I should've known that this is what happens when you employ trash. When you're not from Elysium, you always end up that way. She will meet appropriate consequences later. Here I thought I wouldn't have to break a sweat. I guess I'll have to make a tiny effort in this tournament.)

Then, a husky voice calls for him, breaking his thoughts.

"Prepare yer anus, Elysium prick! I might face ya in the finals!" Ernest turns to see that Ratzky was talking to him, putting his hand on his shoulder. The atmosphere gets heavy as Ernest gives Ratzky a scorning glare.

"I would like you to refrain from addressing me with such overly familiarity. With the difference in our ability, you can't even hope to make it to the finals. And finally, refrain from putting your filthy trash hands on myself. Now disappear!"

Before Ratzky can say another word, Ernest leaves to the honorary box. Ratzky then realizes that his hand is shaking…

Roxie is leaving. She traverses the corridor leading to the back exit.

"Flamethrower!"

Roxie avoids the flames just in time. Her attacker is… Tyler. Arcanine is just beside him.

"You even followed me here. You anger and persistence really turn me on." Roxie grabs Tyler's waist with an insane expression.

"You didn't think I would stop paying you back only with a Pokémon battle, did you?!" Tyler finally releases his anger and resentment. "I didn't use Arcanine during our fight because I kept his strength just for this moment. Now I can keep my promise and ERASE you!"

"Your viciousness, your rage… It's so…"

A horny Roxie gives Tyler a wet kiss. Their tongues lick each other sensually. Tyler kisses her back. They both caress each other's private parts. Why did he do that? Is it because of lust, the stress due to all the events or maybe his way to channel his rage…? Or maybe a farewell to all the indecent things that he had because of her, willingly or not? It seems like the latter, because when Tyler stops, all sanity and mercy are gone from his eyes.

The next moment in about 1.2 seconds, Arcanine chomps her by the abdomen with Flame Fang. It then tosses Roxie's body like a sack of potatoes.

"How does it feel to get a taste of your own medicine?" Tyler asks, less angry than before but still heartless.

"Hehehe… You are so vicious…" Roxie barely manages to say.

"At least you gave me enough determination to get as strong as I am now. But now that you are defeated, you have served your purpose, disappear."

"Wait!"

"?"

"I just did what I did… Because it's a job that was given to me… By Elysium's representative."

"That Ernest guy?"

"Yeah…"

"What was that 'job'?"

"Evaluate and hinder through every means possible… The strong trainers for this tournament. I operated in… The other schools at night. I had to… Make sure that the least numbers of strong trainers could participate."

"Then why attack Boris, Jimmy and Daniel?"

"To lure you, Tyler… Into a trap, it almost… Worked."

Tyler recalls that poison attack on him, but he had managed to help himself with primary first aid.

"Why would you work for them?"

"Cause it's my way of life… Of course. I was going to gain a good paycheck and expensive, power-up items… For my Pokémon. But I couldn't eliminate enough people from the tournament so… I won't get anything and I'll be probably punished."

"Believe me, that is the last of your worries. Why would Elysium do that, anyway? Aren't they strong enough?"

"Elysium is a school… Full of snobbish people who look down on everyone in society just because they are not from their school, strong or not. They need the least amount of strong people… To oppose them in events like these. This is so their victories look one-sided even more."

"What? That makes no sense."

"Think about it. Elysium wouldn't look as prestigious if that wasn't the case. If they had to struggle more to win, people would think that you can get stronger outside of Elysium. They want to make sure that no one can hope to have any worth in society without having been an Elysium student. And that's where I came into play."

"I see. Then I just have to clobber that Ernest guy and then Elysium will shut their traps." Tyler concludes bluntly.

"Hahaha… You must be crazy…"

"Look who's talking."

"Why do you think Elysium sent only one first year? That guy is worlds apart from your level. A class is nothing to him."

"I may not be from Elysium, but that won't stop me. I just have to win, that is all."

"…"

"The time for talk is over. Now you will pay for what you did to Skyna." Tyler finishes while Roxie gets up.

"I just did what I had to do. I have no regrets… Rather… I enjoyed it! KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Her psycho expression reappears.

"I figured as much. Arcanine, use Extremespeed!" Arcanine plows Roxie who crashes on the stone wall. "I wasted enough time here, wrap this up with Flamethrower and let's get out of here." Roxie is then burned on the spot. While her body engulfs in flames, Tyler whispers: "Mad Skills." with an evil grin covering his face...

When Tyler gets back to the locker room, Jack had almost won his match…

"So yer the bastard that defeated meh boyz before the tournament, eh? Yer gonna pay fer this!"

"So you are the leader of those small fries? Even they fight better than you."

"Wad ya say?!"

Ratzky had just his Scrafty left when Jack still has all his 3 Pokémon left. Lucario is dominating.

"Scrafty, use Hi-jump Kick!"

"Lucario, duck!" The attack passes over Lucario's head and Scrafty crashes and burns.

"Grrr!"

"Lucario, Aurasphere!" Scrafty faints from the attack.

"AND IT IS ALSO A PERFECT VICTORY FROM JACK! THE TWO PERFECT VICTORS WILL FIGHT EACH OTHER IN THE SEMIFINALS! TYLER VS JACK CONFIRMED!" The crowd goes rabid.

Ratzky leaves, enraged beyond belief.

(You're not the only one that can do a flawless victory. And now the real fun begins, just you see, Tyler! I will have my thrill beating you!)

When Jack gets back, they both look at each other with respect and excitement. Jack then goes to sit further back.

"Oh! Tyler! I meant ta tell you dat Skyna's alright now!" The Coach says.

"Ok." Tyler says, seemingly relieved.

"By da way, where's Roxie?"

"Hehehe, who knows? She probably went somewhere."

Mr. Damian looks at Tyler suspiciously for a moment, but he doesn't pry any further.

Jimmy heads out for his match against Ernest.

"Good luck, Jimmy!" Daniel and Boris wish him almost together. Jimmy nods to this and goes.

(I may be unable to get back at Roxie now but I can make still an impact. I'll show that I'm no joke!)

"FROM THE LEGENDARY SCHOOL OF ELYSIUM, THE RESPECTABLE ERNEST!"

Ernest enters looking at everyone like they are dirt. No one realizes that in their excitement though.

"AND THE C CLASS FROM VICTORY HIGH, THE TENACIOUS JIMMY!"

Jimmy enters, serious.

"I congratulate you for making it this far. But your luck is now over; you won't even be able to hit one of my Pokémon before you bite the dust."

"We'll see. Go, Azumarill!" Azumarill is out.

"Come forth, Ninetales." The gorgeous Ninetales is back again.

"ERNEST HAS CALLED A POKEMON WITH A TYPE DISADVANTAGE, IS THAT A SIGN OF HIS CONFIDENCE?! ANYWAY, BEGIN!"

"Azumarill, use Water Pulse!"

"Ninetales, utilize Flamethrower!" The flames evaporate the sphere of water and faint Azumarill.

"A 1 HIT KO WITH A TYPE DISADVANTAGE! CAN ERNEST BE STOPPED?!"

"Come back! Go, Zangoose!" A ferocious Zangoose is sent out.

"Administer Flamethrower again!"

"Dodge it quickly!" Zangoose barely avoids the move. "Now, use Crush Claw!"

"Switch to Energy Ball!" The green orb of light hits Zangoose before it reaches Ninetales. It faints.

"No! Come back, Zangoose! Go, Golduck!" Jimmy's Golduck appears.

"Display Flamethrower once again!"

"Block it!" Golduck gets pushed back while blocking even with both hands with all its might. "That was close, now Hydro Pump!"

"Oppose it with Flamethrower!" The two moves counter each other to a standstill. "Now give it a taste of Energy Ball!"

"Bounce it back with Psychic!" The telekinetic move changes the direction of the attack that comes back to Ninetales. It hits. "Now's our chance! Hydro Pump!" The Water type attack further damages the opponent.

"Congratulations, you actually managed to hit my Pokémon. This calls for praise." Ernest says while clapping. "But playtime is over. Ninetales, Psyshock immediately!" The psychic matter particles defeat Golduck inevitably. The match is over.

"AND A PERFECT VICTORY FROM THE FAVORITE OF THE INTER-SCHOOL TOURNAMENT, ERNEST! BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, A C CLASS TRAINER MADE IT AS FAR AS THE QUARTERFINALS; LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO JIMMY!" Due respect is given from the crowd.

(And another trash out of the way. This task sure is tedious.) Ernest thinks while returning to the honorary box.

Jimmy leaves, disappointed.

(Have I reached my limit?)

A few minutes after his return to the locker room, the time for the last quarterfinal match finally comes…

Brock and Cheren decide to enter together in the arena.

"AND BOTH FROM VICTORY HIGH AND FROM THE SAME CLASS, HERE ARE 2 A CLASS TRAINERS, THE MIGHTY CHEREN AND THE IMMOVABLE BROCK!"

"Let's give it our all." Cheren suggests.

"Don't expect me to hold back." Brock replies.

"Goes without saying." Cheren smiles.

"Go, Onix!" The giant Pokémon appears.

"Let's go, Gigalith!" The heavy Rock type Pokémon is summoned.

"WAVE BATTLE, RIDE ON!"

"Onix, use Dig!" Onix hurries underground.

"Gigalith, use Earthquake!" The shockwave hits Onix even underground.

"Onix, attack now!" Onix surfaces and the super effective hit throws Gigalith off balance.

"Gigalith, use Stone Edge!"

"Onix, use Stone Edge too!" The rocks rain on both sides. Both opponents are damaged.

"Gigalith, Giga Impact!"

"Counter it with Iron Tail, full strength, let's go!" The gigantic tail sends Gigalith crashing on the ground. It's fainted.

"WOW! UP UNTIL THEN, BOTH OF THEM WERE EVENLY MATCHED, AND BY A HAIR, BROCK TAKES THE UPPER HAND!"

"Good battle, Gigalith. Return! Let's go, Haxorus!" Haxorus makes an entrance roar.

"Onix, use Stone Edge!"

"Haxorus, finish this battle with Surf!" The wave washes the rocks away along with Onix, who faints. Brock calls it back.

"NEITHER OF THEM WANTS TO LET THE OTHER TAKE THE ADVANTAGE! WHAT A MATCH!"

"Go, Kabutops!" A Kabutops comes out.

"Haxorus, Rock Slide!"

"Tear it apart with Stone Edge!" The Rock Slide attack crumbles to Stone Edge and Haxorus takes the full brunt of both attacks.

"Now, use Surf!"

"Endure it and use Rock Polish!" Kabutops resists the wave and polishes itself.

"X-Scissor, Haxorus!"

"Dodge it!" Kabutops dodges easily.

"Haxorus, use Outrage, quick!"

"Counter with Giga Impact!" The two raging attacks collide. But both are still standing.

"Haxorus, attack again!" Haxorus comes back for more.

"Snap out of your tiredness! X-Scissor, now!" Kabutops makes an effort and the collision occurs again. But this time, Kabutops finally wins. Cheren calls Haxorus back.

"AND NOW BROCK IS WINNING AGAIN, WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT!?"

"Let's go, Serperior!" A graceful Serperior comes out. "You better not underestimate this one. Come on!"

"Fine, then I won't. Kabutops, X-Scissor!"

"Block with Dragon Tail!" The tail attack blocks Kabutops scythes. And then, Serperior's tail grabs the Rock type and tosses it in the air. "Now, finish it with Leaf Blade!" The hit is decisive and brutal. Kabutops faints. Brock calls it back.

"IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE LAST POKEMONS OF EACH COMPETITOR!"

"Go, Rhyperior!" Rhyperior lets out a battle cry as soon as it is sent out.

"Dragon Tail!"

"Grab it and use Stone Edge!" The parry is successful and the rocks hit Serperior.

"Use Leaf Blade!" The attack almost puts Rhyperior out of commission but it survives thanks to its special ability: Solid Rock. But it won't take another one of those.

"Use Rock Wrecker!" The rock attack catches Serperior off guard. But it's still fine.

"Wrap this up with Leaf Storm!"

"Charge! Finish this fight with Megahorn!" Rhyperior drives through Leaf Storm and lands the move. But the power of both attacks cause a shockwave. When the smoke clears, both Pokémon are down. But then, Serperior is the only one who gets up. Cheren wins.

"AND THIS EPIC MATCH CONCLUDES WITH CHEREN'S VICTORY, HE'LL FACE ERNEST IN THE SEMIFINALS! BUT BROCK GAVE ALL OF YOU YOUR MONEY'S WORTH! LET'S CONGRATULATE HIM!" The crowd applauds both trainers.

Brock comes to Cheren and they share a fair-play handshake. Liking this, the crowd cheers even louder.

The quarterfinals are over…

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! HERE ARE THE PAIRINGS FOR THE SEMIFINALS! DON'T MISS ANYTHING AS THIS TOURNAMENT WILL SOON REACH ITS CLIMAX! *cough**cough*"

Tyler

VS

Jack

Ernest

VS

Cheren

"IN 10 MINUTES, THE FIRST MATCH OF THE SEMIFINALS WILL BEGIN! TYLER WILL GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH JACK! TWO FAVORITES OF THE COMPETITION WILL FINALLY CLASH, SO YOU BETTER BE READY!"

10 minutes. In 10 minutes, two massive powers will collide, once again.

The clock is ticking…

Next week, the semifinals. Tyler will face his rival Jack for the first time since chapter 6. Like it, don't miss it…