Pokemon: The Legendary Trainer

Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof

-----------------

In a large battle arena on the 15th floor of the Battle Tower, the stands were packed with an enthusiastic audience. 

As the two trainers stepped onto the battle platform from opposite ends of the arena, the atmosphere electrified, and cheers erupted, filling the entire space with fervor.

Sato's nine-win streak had already garnered attention when he first arrived at the Battle Tower. Many still remembered the overwhelming power of his Marshtomp, which dominated opponents effortlessly in one-on-three battles.

His impressive performance earned him a small following among regular spectators. However, his subsequent disappearance had been as sudden as his arrival. 

In a place like the Battle Tower, where countless talents rose and fell like fleeting comets, Sato was soon forgotten.

Yet, over the past few days, Sato had returned with even greater dominance. 

His Marshtomp, now more refined and powerful, swept through opponents from the 8th floor to the 15th. The competition grew fiercer with each level, but no trainer could halt his ascent. 

Except for a brief moment on the 14th floor when he switched to his Golbat to handle a similarly skilled opponent, Sato's Marshtomp continued its streak of one-on-three victories.

The scene of Marshtomp relentlessly delivering Ice Punches to subdue its opponents thrilled the audience. Its raw, visceral combat style captivated them, embodying a heroic vigor. 

Particularly memorable was when Marshtomp, battered but unyielding after defeating the opponents first two Pokemon, defeated a Druddigon in an intense, climactic showdown, standing triumphant on the fallen dragon's body and letting out a victory roar. 

That image had solidified Sato's place in the minds of many spectators.

Today, fate seemed to have orchestrated a climactic encounter. 

Sato's opponent was another trainer on a nine-win streak. Like Sato, she hailed from Kanto and had begun her journey on the third floor. 

This young woman, with her Charmeleon and Wartortle, had dominated her matches, achieving nine consecutive victories on her first day itself—a feat that even surpassed Sato's initial streak in decisiveness and flair.

To the predominantly male audience, this stunning trainer, with a beauty rivaling that of Champion Cynthia, was seen as a rising star. 

Cynthia had achieved an awe-inspiring 32-win streak in this very tower two years prior, and many believed this girl might follow in her footsteps. 

Unfortunately for Sato, he seemed to stand in the way of her rise to fame.

Unsurprisingly, the audience's cheers overwhelmingly favored the young woman. When she stepped onto the battle platform, her confident posture and haughty demeanor elicited even louder applause. 

Raising a delicate finger, she pointed at Sato and smirked.

"So, it's her. It sure is a small world." Sato thought, his expression twitching slightly. He was both exasperated and bemused. 

His opponent was none other than Alice Sasaki, a girl he had deliberately avoided.

Looking up at the large screen displaying their details, Sato quickly surmised how Alice had found him—likely through media coverage of his activities in Larousse City. He even suspected the Battle Tower staff had been bribed by Alice. 

After all, what were the odds of them meeting in a place teeming with trainers?

However, Sato's musings led him to a different conclusion: the officials probably engineered the matchup for profit. Pitting two nine-win trainers against each other was a surefire way to attract attention and boost revenue.

"Oh-hohoho~! Surprised to see me, Sato?" Alice's haughty laughter echoed. 

"Your win streak ends today! You've made it so hard for me to find you, but now you're doomed! I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"

After boldly making her declaration, Alice turned back to her normal position and looked at Sato with a smug look, waiting for his response. 

"..."

However, the response never came. 

Sato remained stoic, ignoring her provocations. However, his complete disregard and disdainful gaze made his feelings clear, which only further enraged Alice. She huffed and puffed, throwing a tantrum like the spoiled aristocrat she was.

"Oh my, it seems these two know each other," the glamorous commentator remarked, her interest piqued. "And apparently, they're not on the best of terms! Could they actually be rivals?"

After hearing Alice's words and witnessing Sato's response, everyone could see that these two clearly knew each other.

The beautiful female commentator sitting on the podium immediately showed a gossipy face as if she had something to dig up, and swiftly voiced her thoughts to the audience. 

The audience, ever the gossip-loving crowd, erupted at this suggestion. If they were rivals, this battle promised to be spectacular.

"Rivals? Don't be ridiculous!" Alice retorted, her indignation flaring. "This plebeian isn't my rival! I'm here to teach him a lesson, nothing more!"

When Alice heard that everyone thought they were rivals, she became like a furious cat whose tail was stepped on, yelling at the commentators and the people in the audience. 

However, her protests only fanned the flames of speculation, as the audience reveled in the drama. To many, the tension between Sato and Alice hinted at something deeper—though the single men in the crowd chose to ignore such notions.

"Hmph! This is all your fault!" Alice glared at Sato. "Prepare for defeat! This time, your Golbat won't stand a chance against my Charmeleon!"

Sato sighed inwardly. "Damn, this has nothing to do with me. This girl is really a tsundere girl who is extremely willful. She is really unreasonable," he thought, shaking his head.

Fortunately, the referee, seated on a Pidgeot, received the signal to start the match. With a clear command, the battle commenced. Alice, her earlier arrogance replaced by sharp focus, was a different person entirely.

Fortunately, the referee soon indicated the start of the battle and the match had officially begun. Immediately after, Alice entered a calm state and began to focus. She seemed like a completely different person than the haughty brat from just moments prior. 

"Go, Pelipper! I'm counting on you!" Sato called, releasing a well-developed Pelipper onto the field.

"Strike, Scyther! Cut them down with your blades!" Alice countered, sending out a Scyther that hovered menacingly in the air.

As soon as Pelipper entered the field, its Drizzle ability activated, summoning dark clouds overhead. Rain began to fall steadily on the grassy battlefield, signaling the start of a fierce showdown.