Chapter 62: Zhang Feng vs. Tetsuya, Full Team Battle!

The tournament bracket for the third round had been set up as follows:

Tetsuya of Hoenn versus Maple of Hoenn!
Gary of Kanto versus Vincent of Hoenn!

After this round, the two finalists would secure gifts from the professors!
Even those who tasted defeat would still be allowed to choose a first-partner Pokémon from any of the regional professors!
This was the special privilege reserved for the final four!

Upon learning that his opponent was Tetsuya, Maple could not help but cast his gaze toward him.
Just like himself, this guy had started with Treecko, which had successfully evolved into Sceptile by now!
Not to mention, Tetsuya possessed the boot-wearing Meowth that had once defeated Ash's Pikachu. He possessed formidable strength and would undoubtedly make a fantastic opponent!

As for Vincent and Gary—although Gary's standing in the Pokémon League was not as high as Vincent's, it was hard to say who would truly come out on top if the two of them fought.
Maple actually leaned more toward Gary. As Professor Oak's grandson, his strength should be slightly superior, seeing as he was Ash's lifelong rival, after all!

Having rested for another day, Maple had already begun agonizing over which first-partner Pokémon he should claim.
According to the professors' rewards, making the final four granted one first-partner Pokémon, while reaching the semifinals meant two!
The ultimate winner would walk away with three!

Should he choose the classic Kanto starters—Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle? Or perhaps Torchic, Mudkip, Turtwig, Totodile, or maybe Snivy from the Unova region?
"Ah! This is so agonizing, I want them all!"

The next day, as the matches resumed, Maple and Tetsuya arrived at the battle field ahead of schedule!
Since it was an internal Hoenn region civil war, Professor Birch was serving as the referee today!
"The next match will be a full six-on-six battle between Maple and Tetsuya! The winner will advance to the finals and earn the right to choose two first-partner Pokémon from the professors of various regions!"
"Of course, the loser is still guaranteed a single first-partner Pokémon. Now, let the battle begin!"

As Professor Birch's voice faded away, Maple and Tetsuya exchanged glances, and a Poké Ball materialized in each of their hands simultaneously.
The very next instant, a Shiftry and Maple's Glaceon materialized on the field!

Upon laying eyes on the Glaceon in Maple's possession, Professor Rowan could not help but click his tongue in admiration and wonder!
"Even the exclusive Sinnoh evolution, Glaceon, is something Maple possesses. This boy is truly astonishing!"

***

"It looks like my type has the advantage here. Glaceon, use Ice Beam!"
"Types don't decide everything. Shiftry, use Brick Break!"

The moment the two trainers issued their commands simultaneously, Maple's Glaceon unleashed a fierce pillar of ice. Shiftry's speed was remarkable, and it easily sidestepped the attack!
Witnessing this, Glaceon immediately adjusted its aim, sweeping the Ice Beam across Shiftry's path of movement.
With the ground covered in a layer of ice, friction was drastically reduced, turning Shiftry's own speed into the fatal flaw of this exchange!
With a loud thud, Shiftry slipped directly on the icy surface and went tumbling, causing the move it had been gathering to instantly dissipate.
Seizing this opening, Glaceon unleashed another Ice Beam, completely encasing Shiftry in a block of ice!

"Finish it, use Iron Tail!"

Prompted by Maple's command, Glaceon darted swiftly toward Shiftry.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of fracturing ice, Shiftry was sent flying by Glaceon's Iron Tail. Followed up by a blast of Icy Wind, Shiftry was thoroughly defeated!

"Ding-dong! Glaceon has defeated Shiftry, gaining four hundred and thirty-seven experience points. Level up! Current level: Level 40!"

Losing the first round did not dishearten Tetsuya in the least. Recalling Shiftry, he spoke to Maple,
"Maple, you really are strong. It seems this year's Ever Grande Conference is getting genuinely interesting. I'm counting on you, Meowth!"

As a red flash pulsed from the Poké Ball, a Meowth wearing boots and a hat stepped onto the stage!
Observing the opponent's peculiar attire, Maple instinctively checked Meowth's stat panel:

"Ding-dong! Meowth's current stats are as follows:"
Pokémon: Meowth (Special)
Level: 52
Ability: Technician
Type: Normal
Potential: Gold
Bond Evolution: Unlocked
Mega Evolution: Unlocked

Moves: Pay Day, Bite, Assurance, Scratch, Screech, Slash, Thunderbolt...

A level 52 Meowth with gold potential and a special title—this was undoubtedly one of Tetsuya's ace cards. As the original canon champion of the Hoenn League Ever Grande Conference that year, having such a Pokémon was hardly surprising.

"Since it's Meowth, it's your turn to shine. I'm counting on you, Aerodactyl!"

Glaceon was certainly no match for the Meowth before him, so Maple naturally switched Pokémon.
Recalling Glaceon, Maple sent out Aerodactyl!
This specimen, resurrected from an ultra-ancient fossil, had yet to fight a single formal battle under Maple's ownership. Today would be its grand debut!

Seeing Maple bring out yet another powerful and rare fossil Pokémon, the assembled professors became increasingly bewildered, yet their appreciation for Maple deepened all the more.
This boy was terrifyingly strong, and every single Pokémon in his possession was more absurd and unusual than the last!

"Aerodactyl, is it? Meowth, use Pay Day!"

Following Tetsuya's command, Meowth let out a sharp cry as a gold coin suddenly materialized in its paw. Channeling formidable strength, it charged directly at Aerodactyl!
However, faced with this strike, Aerodactyl—possessing the Rock Head ability—felt no fear whatsoever.

"Aerodactyl, do it! Use Giga Impact!"

Maple's Aerodactyl possessed a unique trait: executing Hyper Beam and Giga Impact carried absolutely no backlash side effects!
In other words, it could ignore the recovery stiffness of those devastating moves and strike again immediately!
Therefore, the moment Meowth launched its attack, Aerodactyl plunged fiercely from the high skies. As an apex predator from the ultra-ancient era, it aggressively initiated an offensive against its prey!

Faced with the incoming gold coin attack, Aerodactyl roared toward the heavens. Its sheer might shattered the move completely, and maintaining its fierce momentum, it charged straight at Meowth!
Catching sight of this, Tetsuya's expression shifted slightly.

"Meowth, use Iron Tail!"

The next moment, Giga Impact and Iron Tail collided head-on. Feeling the unbearable weight of the force transmitting from Aerodactyl, Meowth relied on its agility to dodge away at the last second!
As a result, a massive crater was gouged into the battlefield by Aerodactyl's impact!
As for Meowth, having evaded swiftly, it emerged almost entirely unscathed!