Ichigo's and Grimmjow's battle continues to escalate. They battle each other intensely and neither of them are backing down. The battle is now even with them both having only two pokemon left. Only one trainer will be able to walk as the winner. We're about to see who will win and who will advance to the top eight.

Pokemon

Every trainer has a choice

To listen to that voice inside

I know the battles maybe long

Winners may have come and gone

I will carry on

Yeah, this dream will last forever

This dream will never die

We will rise to meet the challenge every time

(Advance challenge)

Yeah, this dream keeps us together

This shows that you and I

Will be the best that the world's ever seen

Cause we will always follow this dream

Pokemon

(Ichigo's voice): The Better Trainer

Ichigo's and Grimmjow's battle is coming closer and closer to an end. It was now Persian vs. Haxorus. Ichigo was a little surprised to see a Persian.

"Persian. So that Meowth of his has evolved." Ichigo said. "Be careful, Haxorus. That Persian might be a little tricky if it's anything like the Meowth it use to be."

"Let me show you how better he is." Grimmjow said. "Persian, Iron Tail!"

"Persian!" Persian moved really fast and slammed its tail against Haxorus. Haxorus was pushed back and Ichigo could see that Persian was a lot stronger.

"Persian is stronger than before, but we're not going to quit." Ichigo said. "Haxorus, Rock Smash!"

"Haxorus!" Haxorus charged right at Persian.

"Protect." Grimmjow said. Persian formed a barrier around itself and was able to block the attack. "Now use Thunderbolt!" Persian unleashed an electrical attack and blasted Haxorus with it. "Iron Tail!" Persian leaped at Haxorus and slammed its tail against Haxorus again.

"Haxorus is getting beaten around out there. That Persian is a tough pokemon."

"Haxorus, Dragon Tail!" Ichigo said. Haxorus formed energy in its tail and was able to slam it against Persian and knocked it back.

"Now use Dig!" Grimmjow said. Persian started digging its way underground and there was no telling where Persian was going to come out from. Haxorus and Ichigo tried keeping an eye out for it, but there wasn't a sign of Persian anywhere.

"This could be a problem. Persian has disappeared underground. Where is it going to come up?" Haxorus was trying to find Persian and Persian came up right under Haxorus and slashed against Haxorus.

"Now use Iron Tail!" Grimmjow said.

"Dragon Tail!" Ichigo said. Both of them used their tails and slammed them against each other. "Now push through and use Rock Smash!" Haxorus was able to knock Persian's tail away and smashed its tusk against it. Persian was pushed back, but was still standing. "Now use Giga Impact!" Haxorus charged right in the spiral of energy.

"Have you forgotten already? Persian, Protect!" Grimmjow said. Persian formed the barrier around itself. Haxorus smashed into the barrier and kept trying to push through.

"Haxorus is trying to push through, but will Persian's Protect hold?" Haxorus kept trying to push through, but both attacks cancelled each other out.

"Now use Thunderbolt!" Grimmjow said. Persian used the attack and zapped Haxorus. Haxorus couldn't handle it anymore and was knocked right out.

"Haxorus is unable to battle. Persian is the winner."

"Haxorus is out. Ichigo is down to one last pokemon. Will that last pokemon be enough to win?" Ichigo brought back Haxorus and turned towards Absol.

"Looks like it's all up to you." Ichigo said.

"Absol." Absol ran out on to the battle and Persian was looking forward to this.

"Ichigo's last pokemon is Absol. Perhaps Absol might be enough to help Ichigo to win this."

"I was looking forward to this." Grimmjow said. "This reminds me of when we first battled. It may have ended in a draw, but I'll be the one walking away as the winner. Persian, Iron Tail!" Persian didn't waste a second as it went to attack.

"Dodge it and use Razor Wind!" Ichigo said. Absol jumped out of the way and readied his attack. He released and it hit Persian with it. Persian was blown back by the attack, but wasn't going down. "Now use Night Slash!"

"Persian use Protect!" Grimmjow said. The two of them used their attacks with Absol smashing against the barrier. Absol was blown back, but was still going. "Now use Thunderbolt!"

"Swords Dance!" Ichigo said. Persian used the attack, but Absol generated the swords and was able to block the attack and gained power.

"What an impressive use of Swords Dance." Persian was starting to get annoyed with Absol.

"In that case, let's use Dig!" Grimmjow said. Persian started digging its way underground and Absol was keeping his guard up.

"Get moving! Don't let Persian catch you!" Ichigo said. Absol was moving as fast as he could and was trying not to get caught by Persian. Persian however jumped out right in front of Absol. "Absol, Night Slash!"

"Iron Tail!" Grimmjow said. Both pokemon used their attacks and they collided against each other. "Look at that. It's just like when we first battled." Ichigo was confused, but he remembered the same thing happened when these two first battled. "Only this will not end the same way. Now use Thunderbolt!" Persian was able to blast Absol at point-blank range and was knocked back. Absol may have been hit by a powerful attack, but Absol was still strong. Persian was enjoying this.

"Persian might be strong, but we're just as strong." Ichigo said. "Now use Dark Pulse!"

"Protect, one more time!" Grimmjow said. Persian formed the barrier as Absol used the attack. The barrier tried to hold, but it smashed and Persian got hit with Grimmjow surprised.

"Dark Pulse got through! What just happened?!"

"Persian was using Protect a little too much." Rukia said. "Persian must be getting a little tired."

"That means Ichigo still has a chance." Orihime said.

"That won't stop us. Persian, Dig!" Grimmjow said. Persian started digging its way underground again.

"Not this time. Absol use Razor Wind right on the ground!" Ichigo said. Absol jumped up and sliced right through the ground with the attack and Persian was knocked into the air. "Now use Night Slash!" Absol came right at Persian and slashed against it with Persian getting knocked to the ground and it appeared that was it.

"Persian is unable to battle. Absol is the winner." The referee said.

"That's it. Both sides are down to only one pokemon now."

"Great, Absol. Get ready for one more." Ichigo said. Absol was ready as Grimmjow got his last pokemon ready.

"Aerodactyl, take them down!" Grimmjow said as he called on his last pokemon.

"Argh!"

"This time, you won't be holding back on me." Grimmjow said, but Ichigo didn't seem to understand. "Your mega evolution. You never used it against me. You've been holding out on me. I hate that feeling as well, but this time I'll get you to show me." Grimmjow grabbed his jacket and moved it to show there was a keystone inside it. Ichigo was shocked to see that. Upon closer look, a mega stone could also been seen around Aerodactyl's neck. "Aerodactyl, mega evolve!" Energy travelled from Grimmjow to Aerodactyl and it caused Aerodactyl to become Mega Aerodactyl.

"Look at that! Aerodactyl has actually mega evolved!" Everyone was amazed that happened.

"So you want that kind of battle? You got it! Absol, mega evolve!" Ichigo said as he used his keystone and Absol began to mega evolve into Mega Absol.

"Absol has mega evolved as well! This is sure to be an interesting battle!"

"That's more like it! Now use Steel Wing!" Grimmjow said.

"Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Both pokemon charged at each other and their two attacks collided with both being blown back. "Now use Razor Wind!" Absol used the attack and it blasted Aerodactyl, but it didn't seem to have much effect.

"You'll need a better attack than that since Aerodactyl is part rock-type. Now use Ancient Power!" Grimmjow said. Aerodactyl formed a white orb and launched it at Absol.

"Swords Dance!" Ichigo said. Absol formed the swords and was able to block the attack while increasing his own power.

"Rock Slide!" Grimmjow said. Aerodactyl formed the rocks and had them fall at Absol.

"Jump on those rocks to get in close with Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Absol jumped across the rocks and was getting close to Aerodactyl. When Absol was close enough, it slashed against Aerodactyl and knocked Aerodactyl back.

"Push back with Steel Wing!" Grimmjow said. Aerodactyl hardened its wings and slammed them against Absol that Absol crashed into the ground. "Now use Giga Impact!" Aerodactyl flew down in a spiral of energy and crashed into Absol.

"Absol!" Ichigo called. He and his friends were worried that Absol was hurt. Absol did take some damage, but was getting back up. "That's it. Don't give up, Absol. You can do it. I know you can." Ichigo encouraged Absol to keep battling and Absol wants to keep battling. Absol wasn't going to give up and could feel the power coming to him.

"Absol!" Absol unleashed some energy from his horn and launched it at Aerodactyl. Aerodactyl got hit from the attack and was blown back from it.

"Look at that! What did Absol just do?!"

"Wait. That attack was….Psycho Cut! Absol, you know how to use Psycho Cut now!" Ichigo said. "This is perfect! Now we have a chance!"

"Don't get cocky just because you know a new move. Aerodactyl use Rock Slide!" Grimmjow said.

"Absol use Razor Wind!" Ichigo said. Both pokemon used their attacks and collided against each other with an explosion going off. Aerodactyl didn't see anything, but Absol surprised it as it jumped right through the smoke. "Now use Psycho Cut!" Absol used his full power in this last attack as he launched the blade and it blasted against Aerodactyl and knocked Aerodactyl right out of the sky. All of them watched closely what was going to happen after that. Aerodactyl tried to stand back up, but Aerodactyl couldn't and dropped down with it going back to it's original form.

"Aerodactyl is unable to battle. Absol is the winner. Victory goes to Ichigo!" The referee said.

"It's over and done! Ichigo wins and will advance to the second round!" Everyone cheered as he and his friends were real happy about this. Ichigo ran over to Absol as Absol changed back to normal.

"You were great, Absol. Amazing, as well as your new move." Ichigo said. Absol was happy about this as well. Ichigo watched and saw Grimmjow walking over to Aerodactyl and brought it back in its pokeball. Grimmjow didn't even look into Ichigo's eyes as he walked away. The other matches went off and soon the top eight were determined.

"We now have our eight trainers and their matches." All of them watched as the matches were set and it showed Ichigo going against Ulquiorra in the next round.

"It's Ulquiorra!" Orihime said.

"Ulquiorra…" Ichigo said. He knew this might be an even greater challenge. Ulquiorra saw this as well, but didn't seem concerned.

Later

It was an intense day. There were many great battles and it's all coming to an end. Orihime stepped outside with Rukia and Chad, but she didn't see Ichigo.

"Where's Ichigo?" Orihime said.

"I think he went to talk to Grimmjow." Chad said.

"That was one heck of a battle." Rukia said. "I think Ichigo has more respect for Grimmjow because of it."

…..

Grimmjow

Since Grimmjow lost, he was on his way out. No reason for him to stick around. Before he could really get all that far, Ichigo and Absol were able to catch up to him.

"Grimmjow!" Ichigo called and got him to stop. "You're leaving already?"

"I lost. Why stick around?" Grimmjow said without even facing him. Grimmjow battled so hard and now it's all over and now he really feels like he's being looked down upon.

"Hey, Grimmjow. You want to go again, let me know." Ichigo said. "I'll take you on any time." Grimmjow was a little shocked to hear Ichigo say that. Now he feels like Ichigo really acknowledge him. Ichigo really has proven he's the better trainer in more ways than one. Grimmjow waved off and they parted ways with hopes that they get to battle each other again.

It was an intense battle, but Ichigo pulled through. Now, he ready's himself as he faces against Ulquiorra in his next battle. What kind of battle can we expect out of this? Stay tune to find out.

To Be Continued…..