Chapter 600 - 600: 600. Shelton

"Dear audience, welcome to today's Level 3 Gym Leader League match. I imagine everyone here has been looking forward to this one for quite some time."

"Let's begin by introducing the contestants taking part in this Level 3 League."

"Our first contestant is Jacob, representing Capital University — and also the reigning Champion of last season's High School Cup…"

As the host's voice carried across the arena, the massive screen overhead lit up with Jacob's contestant photo alongside his team lineup.

"You can see right away that Jacob's lineup for today looks quite different from the one that carried him to the High School Cup title."

"Of the Pokémon he used back then, only Dragapult remains on the roster."

"Sceptile, Charizard, and Noivern are nowhere to be found this time."

"In their place, we've got five newcomers: Haxorus, Salamence, Cinderace, Indeedee, and Gengar."

"Three Dragon-types among them, which fits perfectly with Jacob's reputation as a Dragon-type specialist."

"Let's see what he brings to the arena today."

"Our second contestant is…"

… … … …

Once all sixteen contestants had been introduced, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for — the draw.

Numbers scrolled rapidly across the big screen before finally settling. Jacob drew the number seven. His opponent would be contestant number eight — Shelton.

"The draw is complete! Let the matches begin! All contestants, please make your way to your arenas!"

… … … …

Eight matches kicked off at once across eight separate arenas, though the broadcast director wasted no time cutting the first shot straight to Jacob's field.

The crowd erupted in cheers almost instantly.

It was hardly surprising — most of the people in the stands were there for exactly one reason: to watch Jacob fight.

"Let the match begin! Both Trainers, release your Pokémon!"

At the referee's signal, Jacob and Shelton threw their Poké Balls at the very same moment.

There was little mystery to Jacob's choice. In a straightforward 1-on-1 match, he went with the safest option — his ace, Dragapult.

Shelton answered with Stoutland, a Normal-type Pokémon near the very peak of Gym Leader-level strength.

Normal and Ghost types share a natural counter relationship, which meant Stoutland was, at least on paper, well suited to standing up against a Ghost-type opponent.

"You can see the broadcast has wisely shifted its focus to Arena Four, where Jacob and Shelton are squaring off."

"Jacob has sent out his signature Pokémon — his Shiny Dragapult."

"And Shelton has countered with his Normal-type Stoutland. If I recall correctly, this Stoutland carries the Ability Scrappy, which lets Normal- and Fighting-type moves land on Ghost-types that would otherwise dodge them entirely — giving it a slight edge against Dragapult."

"The match is officially underway — let's watch how this unfolds."

… … … …

Out on the field, Shelton's expression had soured — though, to be fair, it had looked much the same ever since he first learned he'd been drawn into the same bracket as Jacob.

Everyone in the stadium already knew exactly how strong Jacob was, and just how strong his Dragapult had become.

That Dragapult had once defeated a Dragapult belonging to a Heavenly King-Level Trainer. Against opposition at this Level 3 League tier, it was less a contest and more a one-sided beatdown waiting to happen.

Hardly seemed fair.

From the very moment Jacob's name had appeared on the bracket, everyone in attendance understood the real competition today was for second place.

Given the strength of his Dragapult, by rights Jacob should already have been competing for a Gym Leader position in the Ranking Tournament. So why was he still fighting his way through the Level 3 League at all?

… … … …

"Stoutland, use Thunder Wave!" Shelton forced himself to stay composed, ordering his Pokémon into an early status move, hoping to slow Dragapult down with paralysis.

Head-to-head, Stoutland stood no real chance against Dragapult. His only real hope lay in tactics and misdirection.

But Jacob's very next command crushed even that faint hope.

"Dragapult, use Substitute!"

Substitute was, without question, one of the more unusual moves in the game — sacrificing a portion of its user's own HP to conjure a stand-in that absorbed incoming damage and effects in its place.

Beyond simply soaking up damage, a Substitute could also block a great many status moves outright — Thunder Wave included.

Dragapult's body flickered with Normal-type energy as it spent a portion of its HP to summon a Substitute in front of itself. At almost the same instant, Stoutland's Thunder Wave struck home — only to slam harmlessly into the Substitute instead.

"A Substitute… Jacob really doesn't take any chances. Now, if Stoutland wants to land any damage or any status effect on Dragapult at all, it'll have to break through that Substitute first."

Watching the Substitute shimmer into place before Dragapult, Shelton's expression darkened further. Jacob wasn't giving him a single inch.

Fine. If that's how it is, then I'll fight with everything I have.

"Stoutland, use Return!"

"Dragapult, Dragon Darts!"

… … … …

Both commands rang out in the same breath. Stoutland gathered Normal-type energy through its entire body, let out a booming roar, and charged straight at Dragapult.

At the same moment, Dragapult unleashed Dragon Darts — the twin Dreepy coiled at either side of its head wreathing themselves in draconic energy as its whole body tensed before launching forward like a pair of loosed arrows.

BOOM!

The Dragon Darts moved almost too fast to track. All the crowd could make out were two streaks of indigo-blue light, trailing long fiery afterglows, slamming straight into Stoutland.

The first dart struck home, energy exploding outward with a deafening crack, scattering the Normal-type energy swirling around Stoutland entirely.

The second followed immediately after, the sheer force sending Stoutland crashing backward into the arena wall — hard enough to crack the solid barrier on impact.

Between the two strikes, Stoutland had already taken devastating damage.

"The gap in raw power is simply too wide… this is pure, overwhelming strength on display. No amount of strategy could have closed a difference like this."

"There's not a single Fighting-type on Shelton's side, either. This match is really a reminder to every other contestant here — to stand any chance against Jacob's Dragapult, a Trainer needs Pokémon at least at Quasi-Heavenly King level. Anything at ordinary Gym Leader level simply isn't enough."

"To be fair, Shelton probably should have led with his Psychic-type instead. Sure, it's at a type disadvantage against Dragapult, but at least it's got Quasi-Heavenly King-level strength behind it."

"Such a shame, really — Shelton is genuinely a strong Trainer in his own right."

… … … …

Dragapult's Dragon Darts had, once again, made its terrifying strength plain for everyone watching.

Among Quasi-Heavenly King-level Pokémon, Dragapult stood firmly among the very strongest.

Jacob glanced at the badly weakened Stoutland, then turned his gaze toward Shelton. Seeing that he still hadn't called it, Jacob had no choice but to give the order once more. "Dragapult — one more Dragon Darts, and let's finish this."

"I concede."

… … … …