Chapter 142: Advancing to the Top Four, Facing Bajir

“You lost.”
“Come back, Snivy. You did really well.”
“Congratulations, Miko.”
“Ash, you were great too. If it weren’t for Beartic evolving, your Snivy could have won.”
“But you have other Pokémon, don’t you? Alright, I’ll be cheering for you next.”

And so, Miko successfully advanced to the semifinals, while Cheng Cheng also defeated his opponent and secured a place in the top four. The other semifinalist was Bajil, whose Eevee evolutions were exceptionally strong.

Cheng Cheng remembered that Bajil had won the Unova League that year, so it was clear that whether Cheng Cheng or Miko faced him, the battles would be thrilling.

The semifinals, where four competitors would be whittled down to two, were scheduled for the afternoon. Soon, the matchups were announced: Cheng Cheng would face Bajil, while Miko would battle another contestant. Unsurprisingly, Miko won his match and advanced to the final.

“Cheng Cheng, good luck! I’ll be waiting for you in the finals.”
“Of course.”

“Next is the second semifinal match. The contenders are Bajil and Ash Ketchum. Each may use six Pokémon. When one side’s entire team loses the ability to battle, the other side wins. Now, please send out your Pokémon.”

“I’ll send out the first one. Go, Sunflora.”
“A Psychic-type Sunflora, huh? Then I’ll send out Moonstone.”

“Sunflora used Rapid Spin.”
“Moonstone, use Rock Blast.”

Moonstone’s Rock Blast collided with Rapid Spin, and both attacks were neutralized.

“Sunflora, use Quick Attack.”
“Moonstone, fly up.”

Moonstone soared high into the sky, completely out of reach of Sunflora. Flying Pokémon hold a significant advantage over those that cannot.

“Sunflora, use Illusion.”
“Moonstone, use Telekinesis to break it.”

Moonstone broke the illusion control with telekinesis.

“Return, Sunflora.”

Bajil suddenly recalled Sunflora.

“Next, it’s your turn. Go, Vaporeon.”

Bajil switched to the more powerful Water-type Vaporeon.

“Vaporeon, use Hydro Pump.”
“Moonstone, dodge.”

Moonstone effortlessly avoided the attack.

“Rock Blast.”
“Water Absorb.”

The Rock Blast passed through Vaporeon without causing harm, as Vaporeon absorbed the attack.

“Vaporeon, Hydro Pump again.”

Another Hydro Pump was launched.

“Moonstone, use Protect.”

Moonstone blocked the Hydro Pump.

“Vaporeon, Ice Beam.”
“Electric Pulse.”

Moonstone used the recently learned Electric Pulse, and the two forces clashed.

“Leafstorm, use Rock Slide.”

A barrage of rocks fell from the sky, striking Vaporeon.

“Use Awakening.”

The move hit Vaporeon, and it lost the ability to battle.

“Vaporeon is unable to continue. The winner is Moonstone. Bajil, please send out your next Pokémon.”

“Next, go, Espeon.”

Bajil sent out his third Pokémon, Espeon.

“Moonstone, return. Now it’s your turn. Go, Gardevoir.”

Cheng Cheng sent out his ace, Gardevoir.

“Espeon, use Shadow Ball.”
“Gardevoir, use Shadow Ball as well.”

The two Shadow Balls collided and exploded. Cheng Cheng’s team was notably adept at flight, making them a bane for Eevee evolutions.

“Espeon, continue with Shadow Ball.”

Espeon suddenly charged forward, unleashing multiple Shadow Balls at Gardevoir. Although Gardevoir dodged many, it was still hit by one.

“Use Dazzling Gleam.”

Espeon quickly followed with Dazzling Gleam.

“Gardevoir, use Protect.”

Gardevoir blocked the attack.

“Gardevoir, use Psychic.”

Gardevoir’s Psychic attack successfully struck Espeon.

“Thunderbolt.”

Thunderbolt hit Espeon, which then lost the ability to battle.

“Return, Espeon. Good job.”

“Now it’s your turn. Go, Leafeon.”

Bajil sent out his fourth Pokémon, Leafeon.

“Leafeon, use Leaf Storm.”

Leafeon unleashed a powerful Leaf Storm, far stronger than the one Snivy had used earlier. A massive whirlwind swept across the battlefield, quickly cornering Gardevoir.

“Gardevoir, use Psychic Shield.”

The attack from Leaf Storm was blocked, but Gardevoir was trapped within the whirlwind. The entire arena was filled with the storm, leaving Gardevoir no room to maneuver.

“Gardevoir!”
“Sa-nae!”

Gardevoir suddenly unleashed tremendous psychic power, tearing the Leaf Storm apart.

“Gardevoir, Shadow Ball.”
“Leafeon, Energy Ball.”

The two attacks collided, and Gardevoir immediately followed up with Hypnosis.

“Use Dream Eater.”

Gardevoir’s Dream Eater hit Leafeon, knocking it down.

“Leafeon lost the ability to battle. The winner is Gardevoir.”

“Bajil’s Pokémon are strong, but Cheng Cheng’s team naturally counters them.”

“Return, Leafeon. Now it’s your turn, Sunflora.”

Bajil sent out Sunflora again.

“Return, Gardevoir. Go, Alakazam.”

Cheng Cheng sent out Alakazam, who hadn’t appeared in battle for some time.

“Sunflora, use Quick Attack.”
“Alakazam, use Teleport.”

Alakazam teleported right in front of Bajil, narrowly avoiding the Quick Attack.

“Sunflora, Shadow Ball.”
“Use Phantom Slash.”

Alakazam’s Phantom Slash sliced through the Shadow Ball.

“Rapid Spin.”
“Sunflora, use Illusion.”

The Illusion clashed with Rapid Spin, evenly matched.

“Sunflora, use Double Team.”

Sunflora created multiple copies of itself.

“Alakazam, use Future Sight.”
“Sunflora, use Dazzling Gleam.”
“Alakazam, use Protect.”

Alakazam blocked the attack.

“Alakazam, use Phantom Slash.”

Using Future Sight, Alakazam anticipated which Sunflora was real and struck it precisely.

“Alakazam, use your final move, Illusion.”

The Illusion hit Sunflora, which lost the ability to battle.

“Sunflora is unable to continue. The winner is Alakazam.”

“Alakazam!”

After his victory, Alakazam was so happy he danced with joy, but Cheng Cheng quickly recalled him.

“Next, it’s your turn, Flareon.”

Bajil sent out his fifth Pokémon, Flareon.

“Flareon, huh? Then it’s your turn, Slowpoke.”

Since the opponent used a Fire-type, Cheng Cheng chose Slowpoke.

“Slowpoke, use Hydro Pump.”

Hydro Pump fired at Flareon.

“Flareon, dodge.”

Flareon leapt up, avoiding the attack.

“Flareon, use Double Team.”

Flareon split into over ten copies, making it impossible for Slowpoke to tell which was real.

“Flareon, use Blast Burn.”

All the Flareons unleashed Blast Burn simultaneously. Cheng Cheng ordered Slowpoke to defend.

“Slowpoke, use Protect.”

Protect was invaluable and widely learned, so Cheng Cheng had taught it to all his Pokémon.

“Slowpoke, use Hydro Pump in a sweeping attack.”

Hydro Pump swept across all the Flareon copies, and several were hit.

“Slowpoke, continue with Hydro Pump.”

Hydro Pump struck again. Flareon dodged swiftly, but the sheer volume of attacks meant it was still hit.

Flareon lost the ability to battle.

“Return, Flareon.”

“Cheng Cheng, although I know I can’t win this match, I’ll send out my last Pokémon: Jolteon.”

“No type advantage, huh? Then Slowpoke, stay in.”

“Slowpoke, use Hydro Pump.”

“Jolteon, use Thunderbolt.”

Thunderbolt and Hydro Pump collided.

Thunderbolt surged through the water and struck Slowpoke, while Hydro Pump hit Jolteon.

“Slowpoke, keep using Hydro Pump.”

Slowpoke continuously unleashed Hydro Pumps, while Jolteon responded with repeated Thunderbolts. The electric attacks pained Slowpoke, but the pain fueled its fury, prompting even stronger Hydro Pumps.

Cheng Cheng didn’t switch Pokémon; he wanted to see how many Thunderbolts Slowpoke could endure.

Ultimately, Slowpoke was knocked out by the electric shocks, and Jolteon also lost the ability to battle.

“Both Jolteon and Slowpoke are unable to continue. Since Bajil has lost all his Pokémon, the winner is Ash Ketchum.”

“Return, Jolteon. Well done.”

Cheng Cheng approached his Slowpoke, who was still tingling from the electric shocks, feeling a bit sorry but knowing it was a valuable training opportunity.

“Return, Slowpoke.”

Cheng Cheng recalled him.

“Ash, congratulations on reaching the finals.”
“Thank you. That was a great battle.”

Cheng Cheng had also advanced to the finals, setting up the ultimate showdown between him and Miko.

“Ash, you made it to the finals too. Now let’s see who will claim the championship. Use all your strength.”
“Of course. But first, I need to heal my Pokémon. Slowpoke is still tingling from the shocks.”

“You really shouldn’t let it get hit like that.”

The two headed to the Pokémon Center and handed their Pokémon over to Nurse Joy for treatment.

“Ash, will you let Gardevoir Mega Evolve?”
“No, it’s not the right time to use Mega Evolution now.”
“That’s good then.”

...