Everyone looked at Kazuma who seemingly arrived out of nowhere and challenged Kenan to a Pokemon Battle out of the blue.
"Hey, who are you and what do you think about interrupting such a sweet moment between trainer and Pokemon?" Kasumi said to Kazuma angrily before pouting.
"Sorry about that but I have been wanting to battle with you since the first day of class, I haven't really gotten the chance… until now." Kazuma said as he made his way over to the battlefield.
Kenan looked down at Sydney wanting to see if she was up for it. Sydney look up at Kenan and with a determined look and letting out a determined yelp said yes to the battle.
Kenan nodded before looking back at Kazuma.
"Alright I accept your challenge." Kenan said to him.
Kazuma smiled as he ran over to the other side of the battlefield while Kasumi joined Kenan's friends.
"So do you guys know what Pokemon this Kazuma guy uses?" Kasumi asked them.
Rex sighed as he looked across the field, first at Kenan and then at Kazuma.
"Well the only one I know is Jolteon and it is pretty strong but against a Pokemon like Clodsire he might use a different Pokemon." Rex said.
Kazuma soon brought out a Pokeball.
"Now Dragalge, I choose you!" he said as the Poison/Dragon type soon materialized on his side of the battlefield.
Shion frowned as she saw Draglage appear.
"Great… another Poison-type" Shion thought in her head.
Kenan meanwhile had never seen this Pokemon before as he brought out his phone and scanned it with his Pokedex App.
"Draglage, the Mock Kelp Pokemon. A Poison and Dragon type and the evolved form of Skrelp. Their poison is strong enough to eat through the hull of a tanker, and they spit it indiscriminately at anything that enters their territory." The Pokedex said to Kenan.
Kenan was caught off guard by it being a Dragon-type and told Sydney to stay sharp.
"Since you issued the challenge I figured it is only right you get to make the first move." Kenan said to Kazuma.
"Why thank you, now Draglage use Poison Tail!" Kazuma said to his Pokemon.
Draglage soon lets it's tail glow purple as it soon approached Sydney ready to strike.
"Alright Sydney dodge then use Bulldoze!" Kenan commanded.
The Spiny Fish Pokemon, against all logic managed to dodge the Poison Tail before landing a super effective Bulldoze that dealt massive damage to Draglage.
"Great job Kenan! Ground-type moves are super effective on Poison-types!" Tyson said with excitement.
Soon Draglage stumbled back as Kazuma gave it's next command.
"Stay strong Draglage and use Icy Wind!" Kazuma commanded.
Draglage soon blew a frosty breath from their mouth as it landed on Sydney causing her to cringe and cry out in pain from the super effective attack.
"This guy is pretty smart… teaching his Draglage a Ice-type move as a counter for Ground-types." Robyn said as she saw the battle going on.
"Get up Sydney!" Kenan said as Kazuma commanded Draglage to soon use Dragon Pulse.
Soon a great burst of Dragonic Energy came out of Draglage's mouth as it headed towards Sydney.
"Crap, all right Sydney counter it using Liquidation!" Kenan commanded.
Soon water appeared all over Sydney's body as it met the Dragon-type move. The two attacks collided with each other creating a huge explosion that covered the whole battlefield and slightly damaged both Pokemon.
Both Kenan and Kazuma coughed a bit as the accidentally inhaled some of the smoke that was generated by the explosion as their Pokemon began to breath heavily.
"Wow… I didn't think I ever find someone like you, it has been ages since I have had a great battle like this." Kazuma said to him.
Kenan was surprised, sure he got the indication that Kazuma was strong from the first day of class but he seriously was the first trainer to give him a good challenge?
How strong was this guy?
"Um thanks, say mind if I ask you a question?" Kenan asked.
"Um sure I guess." Kazuma said though he was clearly confused.
"Ok there is no doubt to your skill, both of the Pokemon I have seen you used are incredibly strong there is no doubt you could easily win any of the Pokemon Leagues you enter. So why did you then decided to come to the academy instead of going on your own journey?" Kenan asked him.
The rest of Kenan's friends were also interested in that as they eagerly awaited to hear Kazuma's answer.
Kazuma soon chuckled a bit and looked to the sky.
"It is true, I am probably stronger than the average freshman hear at the academy… but my ultimate goal is to challenge a certain someone to a battle and to do that me and my Pokemon have to get a lot stronger." Kazuma said to him as his Draglage nodded in agreement.
Kenan could relate to him, after all that is why he was here as well.
"But enough talking let's get on with the battle. Draglage use Water Pulse!" Kazuma ordered.
Soon Dragalge sent out a spherical ball of water that would hurt any normal Ground-type Pokemon. But when it hit Sydney, the water soon disappear as Sydney appeared to be refreshed from her battling.
"What they… don't tell me your Clodsire has Water Absorb!" Kazuma said in horror and shock.
Kenan smiled as he nodded while Shion looked confused.
"Water Absorb? I never heard of an ability like that." Shion said to her friends.
"Basically any Pokemon that has Water Absorb, if they are hit with a Water-type move then it would immediately restore their health." Robyn explained to Shion.
"Alright now, use Liquidation once more!" Kenan commanded.
Soon water covered her body once more as Sydney hit Draglage once again dealing damage to it again.
"Stay strong Draglage and use Icy Wind!" Kazuam said.
Once again, the Ice-type move soon dealt immense damage to the Poison/Ground-type as both Pokemon seemed to be at the end of their ropes.
"Alright looks like we are near the end." Kenan said to his opponent.
"I agree, so let's end this battle with a bang. Now use Icy Wind!" Kazuma said.
"Use Bulldoze!" Kenan said.
Soon both of their Pokemon used their respective moves as they collided creating a huge smoke cloud. When the cloud finally dissipated, both Sydney and Dragalge appeared to be fine.
Both Pokemon smiled at each other as they both soon went down at the same time.
"Sydney!"
"Draglage!"
Both trainers ran over to their Pokemon as the rest of them soon got up, surprised at the results.
"So they tied? I can't believe it." Tyson said in disbelief.
Kasumi could with Kazuma reminding her of a old rival of hers but chose not to say anything as she went up to both of them.
"That was a great battle both of you, but I think you two should head over to the Pokemon Center to get your Pokemon healed." Kasumi said to both of them.
Kenan nodded as Kazuma looked at his Draglage's Pokeball after he recalled it.
"Looks like I got a new rival here." Kazuma thought as he said he had to take care of something before heading to the Pokemon Center as he left leaving the rest of them confused as to what he was going to do.
Soon after healing Sydney, the five of them (and Kasumi) soon made their way to the common area to celebrate all of them completing their Shadow Stripes.
"I can't believe it but we all completed our Shadow Stripes!" Robyn said as she chugged a chocolate shake down her gullet.
Shion soon rolled her eyes at her roommate's antics while agreeing with her, glad to finally get something like this out of the way.
"I have to say, that Kazuma guy just continues to surprise and confuse me. What do you think Kenan?" Rex asked him.
Kenan looked up from her soda and looked out the window.
"I honestly don't know, I do know two things. First is that he is strong." Kenan said.
"And the other thing?" Tyson asked.
Kenan soon stared at the rest of his friends and said.
"This probably won't be the last time we battle each other." He said as he stared into the pitch-black sky of the night.
Meanwhile Kazuma was walking back to his dorm after healing Draglage as he had his phone out and was staring at a picture.
It was a picture of Ash back when he had competed in the Sinnoh League.
"Soon… soon you and I will finally get to battle." Kazuma said as he soon entered his dorm with thoughts of his future in his head.
