Chapter 7
Get ready for the Champion League Arc!
The Champion League
"So this is where the Champions show up? I've heard rumors about this place, but I still can't believe it really exists." Issei said, looking at the grand arena where potential Champions of their home regions come to test their skills to become the next Champion.
Normally, most trainers have to defeat the Elite Four and the Champion should they win the Pokémon League if they wish to attempt to become champions truly. Unfortunately, hardly any trainers have won this way, which is why many trainers haven't defeated the Champion or the Elite Four because of how strong they are in the league.
"We don't exactly show it to the public because we want to test the potential Champions, Elite Four, or even Gym Leaders in a secure location away from the public," Lance explained before speaking to Issei about his trials.
"Now, before we begin your trials, I know you've faced all the other champions except Steven and me, so I would like to ask who you wish to face first. If you choose either of us, then you'll face our Elite Four, or at least the strongest Elite Four in my case, since I'm the Champion in both Kanto and Johto." Lance explained while Issei pondered his choices since he recalled the Elite Four in the regions and knew they were skilled.
In Kanto, the Elite Four consisted of Lorelei, the Ice Specialist; Bruno, the Fighting Champion; Agatha, the Mistress of Ghosts; and then there was the Johto group, which had Will, a Psychic mentalist trainer; Koga, the Poison Master; and Karen, the Dark Specialist.
Issei knew that taking on Lance would be a good way to deal with Lance first and challenge the strongest of the Elite Four in two regions at once so he could then focus on Steven.
"I choose Kanto and Johto." Issei said while Kora was ready and excited to battle much stronger trainers until the Hoenn Elite Four and Champion.
"Very well. I hope you're prepared, for you'll face the strongest of the Elite Four from Johto and Kanto." Lance said as he left the arena with Steven. A massive arena emerged from the floor and stopped as Bruno appeared on the other side of the arena.
"I am Bruno of the Johto Elite Four! Prepare yourself, Issei Hyoudou!" Bruno shouted as he flexed his muscles to intimidate Issei, but the 'intimidation' never worked since Issei had seen tougher people, and Bruno was far from that level.
"I am honored. Now let's begin." Issei said before the referee joined the battlefield.
"The battle of Issei Hyoudou of Pallet Town and Bruno of the Elite Four in Johto. This match shall be a five-on-five battle with no time limit, and only the opponent may use substitutions." The referee said before Issei and Bruno nodded in agreement.
"Now let the first battle begin! Call out your Pokémon!" The referee shouted while both Issei and Bruno called their first members.
"Let's go, Hitmontop!"
"Appear, Dodrio."
Bruno and Issei said as their Pokemon appeared. The two Pokémon faced each other on the battlefield, the crowd buzzing with excitement. Hitmontop spun on its head, poised and ready, while Dodrio's three heads scanned the arena, each one keeping an eye on a different aspect of the environment.
"Begin!" The referee shouted before the real battle began.
"Hitmontop, use Rapid Spin!" Bruno commanded before Hitmontop accelerated, spinning at incredible speed as it barreled towards Dodrio.
"Dodrio, Agility," Issei ordered before Dodrio's legs moved in a blur, easily sidestepping Hitmontop's attack. The speed boost made it even more elusive.
"Hitmontop, use Triple Kick!" Bruno shouted, not giving Issei a moment to rest. Still, Issei didn't really see Hitmontop as a real threat since Issei already knew Bruno's strategy with the Tyrogue Evolution Trio, Onix, and his Machamp.
Hitmontop launched into the air, aiming a series of kicks at Dodrio while Issei was thinking of his next move until Hitmontop got close enough.
"Drill Peck," Issei said with a bored tone as Dodrio's central head glowed with fierce energy, transforming into a powerful beak that met Hitmontop's kicks head-on. The force of the clash sent shockwaves through the arena, but Dodrio's superior speed and agility allowed it to land a decisive blow, sending Hitmontop tumbling back.
"Now finish with Tri Attack," Issei said as he picked his ear before Dodrio nodded and blasted Hitmontop with the elemental attack that did serious damage to Hitmontop since while spinning, Hitmontop was powerful. Still, without its spinning to use its abilities then, Hitmontop was left wide open to a much stronger attack.
"Hitmontop is unable to battle! Dodrio wins." The referee called out while Bruno grimaced but maintained his focus. "Hitmontop, return!" Bruno said as he recalled his first Pokémon before pulling out his next Pokémon.
"Appear, Machamp!" Bruno shouted as the four-armed behemoth emerged, muscles rippling with power. The crowd roared in anticipation, while Issei didn't seem very impressed by the Elite Fours Machamp.
'This Machamp is surprisingly weaker than not just mine but the one I saw back in the ancient Sinnoh with the Elder Warriors.' Issei said in his mind, recalling the Machamp, who was his sparring partner when he mastered the Urshifu's ultimate fighting techniques when he was part of the Galactic Council and helping the Noble Guardians.
Bruno was surprised by Issei's lack of excitement, while Dodrio seemed bored of the first battle. It was as if Dodrio wasn't even trying to see him as a threat.
This began to hurt Bruno's pride before the referee began the match.
"Machamp, use Rock Slide!" Bruno commanded with determination, determined to prove his worth.
Machamp slammed its fists into the ground, causing large boulders to rise and cascade towards Dodrio, who still looked bored since all three heads were in agreement that this was a waste of time since their master didn't even seem fazed by the Machamp.
"Dodrio, use Agility again!" Issei ordered, his tone unwavering.
Dodrio's legs blurred once more, easily dodging the falling rocks with its heightened speed, but Bruno had a plan to deal with the speedy bird.
"Machamp, grab them and use Seismic Toss!" Bruno shouted, hoping to catch Dodrio off guard, as Machamp leaped into the air, its powerful arms outstretched to grab Dodrio.
But Issei was ready as he sighed at Bruno's attempt to catch him off guard.
"How predictable," Issei murmured under his breath before speaking to his partner.
"Dodrio, Triple Drill Peck."
Dodrio's three heads glowed fiercely as they met Machamp mid-air, drilling into its chest. The force of the attack knocked Machamp back, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Machamp, no! Get up!" Bruno called out, but it was too late since the Dodrio continued the assault with a deadly Tri Attack that resulted in the Pokémon's defeat.
"Machamp is unable to battle! Dodrio wins!" the referee announced, making Bruno clench his fists. He nodded in acknowledgment, his pride wounded again as an Elite Four member.
"Return, Machamp. Go, Hitmonlee!" Bruno shouted as the Kicking Pokémon appeared, its legs coiled and ready for action.
"Dodrio, you've done great. Return for now." Issei said before returning the three-headed bird until he pulled out another Pokeball.
"Go, Gyarados!" Issei said, sending out the massive Water/Flying type that roared into the sky while Hitmonlee eyed the towering Gyarados, but Bruno didn't waver.
"Hitmonlee, use High Jump Kick!"
Hitmonlee leaped into the air, its leg glowing with power as it aimed a kick at Gyarados.
"Dodge and then Dragon Dance!" Issei commanded as Gyarados dodged the High Jump Kick in the air thanks to its long serpentine body before he began to spin and weave, its body glowing with a fiery aura as it boosted its attack and speed. Hitmonlee's kick missed and hit the ground, causing the Pokémon to wince a bit but continue standing.
"Now, Gyarados, use Waterfall!" Issei ordered before Gyarados roared, summoning a massive wave that crashed down on Hitmonlee, sweeping it away. The sheer force of the attack pushed Hitmonlee back until Gyarados fired a Dragon Pulse at the Kicking Pokémon, sending it back even more before the waterfall ended, leaving Hitmonlee unable to continue.
"Hitmonlee is unable to battle! Gyarados wins!" The referee declared.
Bruno's frustration grew, but he remained focused since he didn't wish to lose his cool in front of his fellow Elite Four members and Lance. "Hitmonlee, return. Go, Hitmonchan!"
The Punching Pokémon appeared, its fists blazing with elemental energy before the referee began with Issei making the first move.
"Gyarados, Thunder Wave!" Issei commanded.
Gyarados released a wave of electricity, striking Hitmonchan and paralyzing it. Hitmonchan struggled to move as the paralysis took hold, but Bruno wasn't going to lose another battle without dealing some damage to Issei's Pokémon.
"Hitmonchan, use Ice Punch!" Bruno ordered, hoping to land a critical hit or at least take out one of Issei's Pokemon.
Hitmonchan's fist glowed with icy energy as it punched Gyarados. Still, the paralysis slowed its movements, allowing Gyarados to evade the attack before hitting the Fighting type with an Aqua Tail.
"Finish it with Hyper Beam!" Issei commanded as Gyarados charged a massive beam of energy, unleashing it upon Hitmonchan. The powerful attack struck Hitmonchan, knocking it out instantly, shocking the arena since Issei just swept through four of Bruno's Pokémon.
"Hitmonchan is unable to battle! Gyarados wins!" the referee announced, and Bruno sighed, accepting the outcome since he thought he could've given Issei a challenge. But he was wrong; the Elite Four were no match for the soon-to-be Champion before him.
Bruno then looked at his fellow Elite Four, who were looking at him with their gaze, wanting to support him. Bruno's shoulders slumped in defeat, but he smiled, thanking them before turning back to look at Issei.
"You've proven your strength, and I know that even my last Pokémon won't be able to stand a chance against your Pokémon. I thought you were just a rookie I could've beaten, but I was wrong. Still, though, it was an honor to battle you," Bruno said, and Issei nodded back in response, grateful for the battle.
"Thank you, Bruno. It was an honor to face you."
Lance and Steven, who had been watching from the sidelines, exchanged glances and nodded. Issei had passed his first trial, but the Champion League arc was beginning. More challenges awaited, and Issei was ready to face them head-on.
After the first battle, Issei was allowed to get his team healed, and this was nice for Dodrio and Gyarados since the two were part of Issei's Fighting Team. Issei had many different teams when it came to facing any type, so after knowing that his opponent would be Bruno, he had his team ready to battle with Bruno, which consisted of some of his Sinnoh Pokémon but also those he gained in trades at Swap Meets whenever he wanted to see if a Pokémon would pique his interest.
In his battle with Bruno, Issei's team included Dodrio, Gyarados, Swalot, Medicham, his flying-type Eveelution, Aveon, the Weightless Pokemon, and finally, Lucario.
Dodrio, or Triple Threat as Issei calls them, was a Pokémon from a Pokémon Ranch when Issei saw the bird was actually from a racer who traded it to someone else in Sinnoh, who then abandoned it after it refused to follow their orders. Issei could tell that the three heads were saddened by their abandonment, but he decided to approach them and bring them with him.
The rancher warned Issei about them, but Issei gained their respect and trust because he didn't use them in battle. He tended to them and trained them as well, which made Dodrio thankful and proud to fight alongside Issei.
Gyarados, Medicham, and Lucario, on the other hand, were from his Sinnoh journey, with Issei capturing each of them and training them to become powerful fighters and even helping them resist their weaknesses by putting them through hellish training, such as Lucario learning how to take Issei's Dragon Flames, Medicham learning how to focus its psychic powers while fighting, and even Gyarados flying through a storm and tanking multiple lightning attacks.
Swalot was actually from a Pokémon Swap Meet since Issei was interested in a powerful tank for psychical attacks to use a sword and shield tactic like Aegislash, so when he found Swalot, he was interested in the Pokémon and took it under his wing. Surprisingly, it only cost him a Slurpuff, which was easy to obtain since he had a few back in his days of Kalos.
Aveon was a special Pokémon that Issei read about since he was interested in many different forms that Evee could become. Since he actually had a few many more Evees from a job he took on in Sinnoh, Issei kept them and learned how to help the Eveelutions emerge from his extra Evees who didn't want to become the other Eveelutions from the other regions.
While Issei was recalling his meetings with each of his Pokémon, Kora walked towards him with a surprised look on her face.
"I'm surprised you accepted the muscle head defeat with no effort. Were you disappointed by Bruno?" Kora asked while Issei sighed in response.
"You're not wrong. I was a bit disappointed that he decided to throw in the towel, but the others knew that Bruno was beaten since I literally used only two Pokémon to take down his four Pokémon. Even if he had used his Onix for his last Pokémon, the result would've been the same, which is why he swallowed some of his pride and threw the match. They still count it as a win, but it only proved my point that Bruno may be strong in Kanto, but he's no match for me." Issei said that he was a bit arrogant due to him being a dragon now, but Issei still expected more from an Elite Four member but was disappointed when two of his Pokémon were able to destroy Bruno's team with ease.
"Hopefully, the next three are at least somewhat better than Bruno or someone who can actually make me take them seriously," Issei said before receiving a text from Lance about his next opponent, which made him a bit excited before Issei sighed at the name he was given.
"What's wrong?" Kora asked before Issei showed the name of his opponent.
"Well, she might be better than Bruno, right?" Kora asked before Issei sighed in reply.
"Well, see," Issei said as he tapped on his gauntlet and swapped his team out for a new six-team of Pokémon that consisted of three Dusk Balls, Two Ultra Balls, and one regular Pokeball.
"Let's see how the Mistress of Ghosts likes my team of spirits and exorcists," Issei said while smiling at the regular Pokeball that had a small flame sticker on top of its button.
"Time to bring the heat," Issei said with Kora following him, a bit excited about this next battle.
After they left, Lance came out and nodded towards Issei's direction while watching his back.
"He's like me in a way. I remember when my Charizard and I were so strong that we were disappointed by those who didn't wish to battle us or threw in the towel at the last minute. A real trainer fights despite all odds, and if they lose, then they lose with grace and acceptance before standing back up to brush off the dirt and fight back after training for the battle again." Lance said before smiling, recalling how excited Agatha was when she was told she'd face Issei next.
"Agatha may be old, but she's more than ready to give him a good battle," Lance said before heading back to the arena where a more exciting battle would begin.
The arena transitioned to the next stage, as Issei prepared himself for the next member of the Elite Four. The crowd buzzed with excitement, anticipation filling the air, especially after seeing Issei's team dominate Bruno.
"Well done, Issei," Lance said, stepping forward. "But your next challenge won't be any easier. Prepare to face the Mistress of Ghosts, Agatha!"
A shadowy figure emerged from the other side of the arena, her presence eerie and commanding. Agatha's eyes gleamed with fierce determination as she approached the battlefield.
"I hope you don't go easy on me just because I have a few years on me," Agatha said before Issei smiled at this challenge in front of him.
"Heh. Don't bet on it. After I fight you, then it's time for Johto!" Issei roared excitedly before another figure emerged from behind Agatha, much to Issei's surprise.
"Actually, you'll be facing two of us at once in a double tag team battle." Koga, the Poison Ninja Master of the Johto Elite Four, said, making Issei cheer in excitement.
"Oh man, this is going to be exciting! Let's rumble!" Issei said before his aura began to shake the arena, making Agatha and Koga look at Issei in surprise until he pulled out one of his Dusk Balls and the regular Pokeball from his current team.
Agatha then smirked at the boy as she pulled out a Pokeball from her dress. Koga, still a bit nervous, summoned his own Pokeball until the referee appeared.
"This match between Elite Four members Agatha and Koga versus Issei Hyoudou from Pallet Town is about to begin. Agatha and Koga are allowed to use three Pokémon each, while Issei is allowed to use a full team of six and is allowed substitutions. Are both sides ready?" The referee asked before both sides acknowledged him.
"Now call upon your Pokémon!"
"Time for some magic, my witches!" Issei said as he summoned a Mismagius and Delphox before Agatha and Koga summoned their own Pokémon.
"I choose Venomoth!"
"Let's go, Arbok!"
The arena buzzed with anticipation as both sides called out their Pokémon. The battle was set to be intense, with Agatha's eerie presence and Koga's stealthy determination to face off against Issei's confident and powerful team.
"Begin!" the referee shouted, signaling the start of the match.
"Venomoth, use Sleep Powder!" Koga commanded. The bug Pokémon flapped its wings, releasing a cloud of sleep-inducing spores into the air.
"Arbok, Gunk Shot!" Agatha ordered, the serpent's eyes glowing menacingly before firing a ball of poison to poison Issei's Pokémon.
"Mismagius, use Mystical Fire to disperse the Sleep Powder! Delphox, Mystical Barrier!" Issei countered swiftly.
Mystical Barrier: A combined movie that uses Mystical Fire to enhance the defensive capabilities of a special shield created by Barrier, Reflect, and Light Screen to form a powerful shield against both physical and special attacks.
Mismagius conjured a burst of fiery energy that dispersed the spores, while Delphox created a shimmering barrier to reduce the damage from both physical and special attacks.
"Arbok, use Hyper Beam!" Agatha shouted, not sure what this move would do, so she used a powerful move to one-shot the two Pokémon.
"Venomoth, use Signal Beam!" Koga shouted as both Arbok and Venomoth unleashed their attacks on the two Pokémon.
"Now Mismagius! Time to put your training to good use. Let's use our Counter Shield!" Issei called out as Delphox summoned a massive ring of Will O Wisps around both of them before Mismagius used Psychic to combine it into a powerful shield before the two attacks didn't get deflected but rather absorbed into the shield that the duo made, shocking both Koga and Agatha while both Mismagius and Delphox bent the attacks into their shield before the duo launched the shield at the duo, burning and damaging them with the power of the Hyper and Signal Beam.
The result was a massive explosion. The combined efforts of Mismagius and Delphox's attacks took their toll on Venomoth and Arbok, leaving them both struggling to continue.
"Venomoth and Arbok are unable to battle! Mismagius and Delphox win!" the referee announced.
Agatha and Koga exchanged glances, their determination undiminished. They recalled their defeated Pokémon and prepared their next choices.
"Go, Gengar!" Agatha called out, summoning her signature Pokémon.
"I choose Crobat!" Koga shouted, releasing the speedy bat Pokémon.
Issei smirked, knowing this battle was far from over. He decided to swap Mismagius on the field.
"Mismagius! Return for now." Issei said before returning the witch and pulling out another one of his Dusk Balls.
"Now let's go, Trevanant!" Issei said as he summoned his shiny Trevenant, which then began to plant its roots into the ground.
The crowd roared with anticipation as Issei's Shiny Trevenant emerged, its eerie glow contrasting against the dark battlefield. Agatha's Gengar and Koga's Crobat eyed their opponents warily, knowing that they were in for a tough battle.
The arena buzzed with anticipation as both sides prepared for the next phase of the battle. Agatha's Gengar and Koga's Crobat faced off against Issei's newly summoned Pokémon.
"Begin!" the referee announced, signaling the start of the match.
"Gengar, use Shadow Ball!" Agatha commanded, aiming to strike hard and fast. Gengar formed a dark, swirling sphere of energy and hurled it towards Trevenant.
"Crobat, use Cross Poison!" Koga ordered as Crobat's wings glowed with a toxic aura before it slashed toward Trevenant.
"Delphox, use Mystical Fire to intercept Crobat's attack! Trevenant, stand your ground and get ready for Shadow Ball!" Issei commanded calmly.
Delphox launched a stream of mystical flames that collided with Crobat's Cross Poison, neutralizing the attack. Meanwhile, Gengar's Shadow Ball made direct contact with Trevenant, but instead of causing damage, Trevenant absorbed the ghostly energy, a faint glow surrounding its form.
"What?! Impossible!" Agatha exclaimed, eyes widening in disbelief since she knew that the tree should've fallen after taking Gengar's Shadow Ball attack.
"How did that not affect Trevenant?" Koga muttered, equally shocked.
"Phantasmal Roots," Issei explained with a smirk. "Trevenant's Hidden ability makes it immune to Ghost-type attacks, and when struck by said attacks, Trevenant can drain energy from Ghost-types."
"That's... that's incredible," Kora whispered, amazed by Trevenant's resilience.
"Trevenant, use Shadow Claw!" Issei ordered. Trevenant's claws glowed with dark energy as it lunged at Gengar, slashing through the air with spectral force. The attack hit Gengar, and Trevenant's ability activated, draining some of Gengar's current health and transferring it to Trevenant.
"Gengar, no! Use Hypnosis!" Agatha shouted, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Gengar, G-Gengar!" Gengar's eyes glowed, attempting to put Trevenant to sleep, but Trevenant's spectral roots absorbed so much of Gengar's energy that it rendered the move ineffective.
"Crobat, use Air Slash!" Koga commanded, hoping to at least deal some damage to Delphox.
"Delphox, counter with Fire Blast!" Issei ordered. Delphox launched a massive burst of flames that collided with Crobat's Air Slash, creating a fiery explosion that engulfed the battlefield.
"Now, Trevenant, finish Gengar with Horn Leech!" Issei commanded. Trevenant charged forward, its horn glowing with verdant energy, and struck Gengar, draining the last of its energy and healing itself further. Crobat fell after Delphox used a Psychic to slam the bat into the ground, preventing the bat from flying away and making Crobat faint.
"Gengar is unable to battle! Trevenant wins!" the referee declared. "And Crobat is unable to battle as well, which means Delphox wins!"
Agatha clenched her fists, recalling her defeated Pokémon. "You've truly trained your Pokémon well, Issei," she admitted, respect in her eyes.
"Return, Crobat," Koga said, accepting the outcome.
Issei's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Ready for round two, Trevenant? Let's show them our true power!"
The crowd roared with excitement, eager to see how the next phase of this intense battle would unfold. With Trevenant's Phantasmal Roots and Delphox's fiery might, Issei was ready to take on whatever challenges Agatha and Koga had left.
"Let's go, Muk!"
"Time to come out, old friend!" Agatha said as she summoned a Spirtomb, impressing Issei, while Koga summoned a massive Muk.
Issei's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Ready for round two, Trevenant? Delphox, let's continue our assault!"
The referee signaled the continuation of the battle. "Begin!"
"Muk, use Sludge Bomb!" Koga ordered.
"Spiritomb, use Shadow Sneak!" Agatha commanded.
Muk launched a massive glob of poisonous sludge towards Delphox, while Spiritomb vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Trevenant to deliver a sneaky attack.
"Delphox, counter with Psychic!" Issei ordered. Delphox's eyes glowed with powerful psychic energy, intercepting the Sludge Bomb mid-air, but the sludge still managed to splatter onto Delphox, dealing significant damage.
"Trevenant, use Phantom Force to dodge!" Issei commanded as Trevenant disappeared into an ethereal dimension, evading Spiritomb's attack.
Muk's toxic liquid-like body seemed to absorb Delphox's psychic attack, which took little damage. "Muk, use Minimize!" Koga ordered, and Muk's form shrank, becoming harder to hit.
"Delphox, use Fire Blast!" Issei commanded, but Muk's minimized form made it difficult for Delphox to land a direct hit. The blast of fire only managed to partially hit Muk, who retaliated with a Gunk Shot that splattered all over Delphox, poisoning it.
"Spiritomb, use Dark Pulse!" Agatha shouted as Spiritomb unleashed a wave of dark energy towards Delphox.
"Delphox, no!" Issei called out, watching as Delphox was overwhelmed by the combined attacks of Muk and Spiritomb. Delphox collapsed, unable to continue.
"Delphox is unable to battle! Muk and Spiritomb win!" the referee announced.
Issei recalled Delphox, determination in his eyes. "You've done well, Delphox. Now, let's show them what we're made of. Go, Exploud!"
Issei threw another Pokéball, releasing Exploud onto the battlefield. The loud, boisterous Pokémon roared, shaking the arena with its powerful voice.
Kora, watching from the crowd, was surprised. "Exploud? But Issei said this team was his 'exorcists and spirits.' Why would he have an Exploud?"
Issei smirked, knowing Exploud's true role in his team. "Exploud, use Hyper Voice!" he commanded.
Exploud unleashed a roar, creating sound waves that crashed into Muk and Spiritomb, disrupting their attacks and causing significant damage. Muk, being more susceptible to special attacks, took the brunt of the damage, while Spiritomb seemed to be trembling from the powerful sound bomb.
"Muk, use Acid Armor!" Koga ordered as Muk's body became more fluid and slippery, enhancing its defense.
"Spiritomb, use Confuse Ray!" Agatha commanded, hoping to disorient Exploud.
"Exploud, use Soundproof to block Confuse Ray!" Issei countered. Exploud's ability is activated, nullifying the effects of Confuse Ray. Issei knew that his Pokémon's abilities normally only activate when needed or necessary. Still, he trained his Pokémon to be able to control their abilities so they could use them in battle to give them an edge over their opponents.
"Trevenant, return to the battlefield with Phantom Force!" Issei called out as Trevenant reappeared from its ethereal dimension, striking Spiritomb with a powerful attack. Trevenant's Phantasmal Roots absorbed energy from Spiritomb, weakening it further.
"Muk, use Toxic on Trevenant!" Koga shouted, but Trevenant's spectral roots absorbed the poisonous attack, leaving it unaffected, which shocked Koga before realizing that the roots were protecting Trevenant from taking the poisoned effect. However, it's still doing minor damage to the tree.
"Now, Exploud, finish Muk with Boomburst!" Issei ordered. Exploud unleashed a massive shockwave of sound, causing the entire arena to tremble. Muk, despite its enhanced defense, couldn't withstand the overwhelming power of Boomburst and collapsed into a puddle.
"Muk is unable to battle! Exploud wins!" the referee declared.
Koga recalled Muk, nodding in respect towards Issei. "You've trained your Pokémon exceptionally well."
Agatha's Spiritomb, now weakened, was still determined to fight. "Spiritomb, use Dark Pulse!"
"Exploud, counter with Hyper Beam!" Issei commanded. Exploud charged a massive beam of energy and unleashed it toward Spiritomb, overpowering the Dark Pulse and striking Spiritomb with immense force.
Surprising Agatha since Normal types don't harm Ghosts unless the opponent used Foresight or an item which she noticed on Exploud's body: Ring Target, an item that makes noneffective attacks effective like Normal type moves harming Ghost types.
"Spiritomb is unable to battle! Exploud wins!" the referee announced.
Agatha recalled her defeated Spiritomb, smiling despite her loss. "You've proven yourself worthy, Issei. This battle was an honor."
Issei nodded, grateful for the challenge. "Thank you, Agatha. It was a great battle."
The crowd erupted in cheers, witnessing the incredible battle unfold. Lance and Steven, watching from the sidelines, exchanged glances and nodded in approval. Issei had successfully defeated another pair of Elite Four members, but the Champion League arc was far from over. More challenges awaited, and Issei was ready to face them head-on.
Kora was excited as she flew down towards Issei and hugged him before congratulating him on the victory. She then kissed his cheeks, much to Issei's surprise, before he hugged her back and kissed her lips, making the Winged Queen blush at this before smiling with a large grin on her face.
The Winged Queen and the Champion Destroyer would soon become the champions of their land and forge a new region for future battles.
Scene!
I hope you like it. I wanted to have Issei battle two of the strongest Kanto and Johto Elite Four before his battle with Lance, so get ready for the next one. The next chapter will be about Issei versus either the deadly Psychic or Dark user, Will or Karen!
Also, Ash will appear in the next chapter as he prepares to take on his second gym while giving a brief glimpse into how his Pikachu is handling his new free time at Oaks Ranch without being with Ash on his journey.
Hope to see you all next time. Ta-Ta!~