Chapter 4: Pokémon Battle Team
"YOU! I choose you!"
Amber shouted in excitement. She must have been waiting for this opportunity since Jan caught her interest in the Assembly Hall.
"I was hoping to not stand out too much, too"
Jan sighed and stepped forward, reluctantly accepting the invitation.
"Perfect. You two are both newly transferred students so it will be a good chance to showcase your Pokémon to everyone as well."
The instructor approved of Amber's decision.
"I will explain the rules of the mock battle. Each student is allowed 2 Pokémon, 1 of them should be the one you received earlier. This is only a mock battle so no points will be given to the winner."
As mentioned by the instructor, Pokémon Academies employ a point system for Pokémon Battles. In addition to academic performance, there is a distinct system known as Battle Points, which independently determines rankings among individuals worldwide. Each person is ranked within their respective district and on a global scale. This system doesn't affect the class's total; however, there is a Pokémon Battle Competition between all District Academies that is hosted in the Capital annually.
"Round 1, start!"
"Torchic, show them what you've got!"
Amber exclaimed. She just couldn't wait to show off the new addition to her team. Torchic emerged, its feathers glowing with all the fiery prowess potential. Amber's eyes sparkled with excitement, mirroring the flames within Torchic's eyes as it eagerly waited for its opponent.
"Cyndaquil, let's go"
In contrast to Amber's fiery demeanor, Jan was calm and collected. Cyndaquil appeared with a composed demeanor. There was a sense of complete trust between Cyndaquil and Jan, as if the Pokémon knew it could rely on Jan's guidance, despite them only meeting roughly 30 minutes ago.
"The key to winning battles is to be swift as the wind. Quick Attack!"
Torchic started off the battle by launching a Quick Attack, following Amber's command, to catch Jan and Cyndaquil off-guard.
"Smokescreen, then Quick Attack"
Jan remained composed and issued the command right when Amber issued the attack. In an instant, Cyndaquil released a thick veil of smoky black mist from its back, obscuring the battlefield and setting the stage for its evasive maneuver. Unable to stop its own force, Torchic's attack launched itself into the center of the smoke, making it vulnerable to the incoming Quick Attack.
"No need to panic. Use Scratch all around you, Torchic!"
Unfazed by Jan's countermeasure, Amber adjusted her strategy swiftly, proving that she is experienced with Pokémon Battles.
"That's not a bad strategy. But you forgot one spot…"
Jan praised Amber's cleverness in using Scratch as a defensive shield from all possible conceivable directions while pointing his finger upward. Amber, puzzled at first, quickly understood his intent as she glanced upward.
"Wait a minute, Cyndaquil used Quick Attack TO JUMP UPWARD!?"
"Quick Attack"
Before Torchic had time to evade as the smoke was clearing up, Cyndaquil crashed down directly from above like a mini rocket. It used the fire from its back to boost the speed of Quick Attack even more.
*BAAM*
"…"
"Torchic has fainted! It is now 1-0 in favor of Jan!"
The instructor declared. A ripple of amazement swept through all the students watching; even the instructor himself displayed an impressed expression.
"Round 2, start!"
"Judging by the speed that Torchic's Quick Attack was coming at, does it have a nature that boosts its speed? Considering how it went down after 1 Quick Attack from Cyndaquil, perhaps…hasty?"
Jan thought to himself as he recalled Cyndaquil. Amber, being down 0-1, seemed to be enjoying this even more.
"I never thought you could use Quick Attack that way. You are even more interesting than I thought, Jan Siyah~"
"Why is she looking at me like that…?"
Amber grinned. She seemed to be in even higher spirit than before the battle started. She retrieved her other Poké Ball. This one is a little different from her others, it has a black fire sticker on it.
"Incineroar, it's time to rock and roll!"
Emerging from the Poke Ball, a giant figure let out a thunderous roar. As it roared, the flames on its body intensified. The air surrounding the battle court seemed to heat up tremendously, making some spectators even break a sweat. Incineroar smirked, using its sharp claw to motion for Jan to release his Pokémon, a subtle but bold taunt aimed at challenging his opponent.
"Wait, I remember who she is now! Isn't she Amber Blazeheart, the 3-time Champion of Junior Division for Pokémon Battle Tournament!"
Similar to the government's annual Pokémon Battle Competition between districts, they also organize yearly Pokémon Tournaments that cater to individuals worldwide. These tournaments are divided into Junior and Open Divisions, with the Junior Division exclusively available for 1st-8th-year students, while the Open Division welcomes all participants from 1st-12th-year students.
"Wow! That's crazy! That means our Pokémon Battle Team will get even stronger when she joins!"
The crowd erupted with excitement upon learning about the potential addition to their Pokémon Battle Team. However, Jan, seemingly indifferent to Amber's identity, called upon his next Pokémon.
"Alright, let's finish this quickly, Lucario"
In contrast to Incineroar's dramatic entrance, Lucario emerged silently. Its eyes mirrored Jan's stoic expression, displaying a calm and relaxed demeanor, yet carrying an underlying sense of vigilance.
"Lucario!? Isn't his attribute supposed to be fire? Is he a dual attributer?"
The crowd appeared to be shocked.
"Man, Jan, you just keep getting more and more interesting, huh! Incineroar, use Flamethrower around the whole court!"
"I see…not bad, indeed."
Amber started off the battle quickly, just like the last round. She was aiming to exploit Lucario's steel type and deplete its health gradually using the rising heat of the surrounding with Flamethrower. Jan, however, saw through her plan immediately.
"Vacuum Wave"
Before Incineroar could completely engulf the court in flames, a shockwave struck it directly in the midsection, interrupting the stream of fire emanating from its mouth.
"Extreme Speed"
Jan, without waiting for the opponents to react, commanded Lucario swiftly.
"Cross Chop!"
Amber, confident in her Pokémon's physical ability, trusted it to take Lucario's attack head-on with its own.
*WHIFF*
Just when the crowd thought a huge collision was about to happen between the 2 Pokémon's attacks, Lucario just sped by Incineroar, missing it completely.
"Forced Palm"
Before Incineroar could even complete its attack, Lucario was already directly behind it thanks to Extreme Speed.
*POW*
Incineroar stood still, resisting its body from falling. But it started to lose balance…
"That didn't do the job? It seems this Incineroar has Intimidate as its ability."
"It's not over yet! Double Kick!"
As its large body was falling, Incineroar stomped both its arms down, lifting up its legs and unleashing 2 powerful kicks toward Lucario, knowing it was still directly behind.
"Detect, then Aura Sphere"
Lucario gracefully sidestepped, evading Incineroar's kicks by a matter of inches. As it evaded the attack, it gathered energy in its palm, pointing toward Incineroar's arms that were still stuck on the ground, and released a spiral energy-fused ball. Incineroar tried to react to the attack, but an electric shock paralyzed it. Force Palm's side effect seemed to have successfully taken effect.
*BAANG*
The ground trembled as Incineroar took a direct hit from Lucario's Aura Sphere. It seemed the battle had been concluded. Amber recalled Incineroar. Despite the loss, a contented expression adorned her face as she whispered words of appreciation to both Pokémon in her hands.
"You both did great out there, thank you."
"The battle is over! Jan won 2-0"
"WOW! That was crazy! Amber Blazeheart totally got out-classed! District 11's PB Team is about to be unstoppable!"
"I don't remember saying I would join…I don't even know what it is to begin with"
Jan pondered silently as he called back Lucario while the crowd was still erupting in excitement.
"SPLENDID! That was splendid!"
Breaking the rowdiness of the crowd, a commanding voice resonated in the distance, bearing an authoritative tone tinged with a touch of conceitedness.
"I am here to give you both a verbal offer to join our Pokémon Battle Team."
It was a beautiful-looking young man with baby green-hued color hair. His eyes, sharp as blades, held a profound gaze akin to the depth of the ocean. He exuded the confident aura that only a natural-born leader could possess.
"My name is Questo Crawler, Captain of the Pokémon Battle Team."