Pokémon: Above the Top

Phoebe's sudden explosive performance left Sato and the other waiting contestants in complete silence.

The battle was too bizarre, they couldn't even understand how Fantina lost!

Destiny Bond? Curse? Pain Split? Parting Shot?

Ghost-type moves were always unpredictable, and Phoebe's ability to communicate with Ghost Pokémon made things even more difficult to analyze.

Many times, her Pokémon didn't even need verbal commands, just a single glance was enough for them to know exactly what to do!

"Contestants 2A and 2B, please proceed to the battlefield!"

The head referee's voice snapped everyone back to reality, pulling them out of the confusion of the previous match.

The next moment, Court and Norman both stood up!

"I'm up. See you later!" Court said to Sato, clearly satisfied with his matchup.

"Be careful. Your opponent is no pushover!"

"Hm?" Court hesitated for a moment.

He had researched Norman before but hadn't found anything particularly concerning. However, seeing Sato's serious expression, Court decided to take this match more seriously.

"Both Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"

Four flashes of red light lit up the battlefield.

Norman sent out Snorlax and Swellow.

Court responded with Golem and Machamp!

From a type advantage perspective: Golem countered Swellow. Swellow countered Machamp. Machamp countered Snorlax.

Overall, Court had a slight advantage.

However, in Double Battles, matchups alone weren't enough. Team coordination was what mattered most!

…

Ten minutes later, Court stood there in shock, recalling his defeated Machamp. His Golem had already been knocked out three minutes earlier.

What confused him the most was: Even until Machamp's final moment, he still thought he was going to win!

Norman calmly returned Snorlax to its Poké Ball, as if his victory was completely expected. With a polite nod toward Court, he walked off the battlefield.

"How… did I lose?"

Court returned to Sato's side, asking the question out loud.

"You want the truth or a sugar-coated answer?" Sato glanced at Court's frustrated expression.

"The truth, of course!"

"From start to finish, it was like Norman was leading you step by step. Every attack, every dodge. You were playing right into his calculations, down to the smallest detail."

Court's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's impossible!" How did you even notice that?" Court shook his head, unwilling to accept the one-sided defeat.

"Throughout the match, Norman's commands were perfectly timed.

No excitement.

No anxiety.

His Swellow and Snorlax were already moving before he even finished giving orders."

Court sat down with a dazed look, the weight of reality sinking in.

He was already 18 years old. He had relied on his age advantage and clever tactics to make it this far.

But in the end... he was crushed by a true genius.

And it felt terrible.

The third match featured two unfamiliar Trainers, but their battle was fierce. At least in this match, the winner understood why they won, and the loser understood why they lost.

The audience breathed a sigh of relief: "This is what a normal match should look like!"

As for the previous two battles? No one understood them. No one wanted to mess with them.

Just move on to the next match.

As the next battle was about to start, Sato stood up first. And his opponent followed immediately after.

Koga!

Sato clenched his right fist slightly... this was his first true opponent in the Young Elite Tournament!

Winning. Would be extremely difficult!

In the waiting area, Court finally snapped out of his depression. Seeing Sato's opponent, he couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for him.

"If he uses that terrifyingly fast Sharpedo, maybe he has a chance to win?"

That was the thought in everyone's mind.

"Both Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"

"Houndoom, Gengar! stay alert, this opponent is strong!"

"Muk, Crobat—battle ready!"

Neither side had a clear type advantage, but the difference in level was significant!

Houndoom and Gengar were Mid Elite!

Muk was near Peack Elite! Crobat was Peak Elite!

"In the end… his base isn't strong enough." The head referee let out a silent sigh.

He had high expectations for Sato's talent. But experience and accumulated training time weren't things that could be easily overcome!

"Battle begin!"

"Houndoom, Fire Blast! Gengar, vanish!"

"Muk, Toxic Gas! Crobat, Tailwind!"

"Boom!"

Houndoom immediately opened with a big move; this was something Koga hadn't expected. However, his counterattack was just as ruthless!

Tailwind + Toxic Gas!

Since Toxic Gas was flammable, it immediately exploded upon contact with Fire Blast!

Due to Tailwind, Houndoom was positioned at the center of the explosion, suffering massive damage!

"Houndoom, Rest! Gengar, Psychic!"

Houndoom collapsed onto the ground, instantly falling asleep! Its severe burns visibly healed at an alarming rate!

At the same time, Gengar's powerful Psychic energy tore through the lingering smoke and struck Muk head-on!

Unfortunately, Muk had shrunk down to the size of a palm. Psychic's effect was significantly weakened!

Minimize: A transformation move!

"Whoosh!"

With blazing speed and enhanced echolocation, Crobat locked onto the sleeping Houndoom.

With a flap of its wings, seven or eight crescent-shaped Air Slashes streaked toward it with unstoppable force!

"Houndoom, Snore! Gengar, intercept!"

"Boom!"

A powerful soundwave materialized into a tangible force, disrupting Air Slash's trajectory!

The next moment, Houndoom woke up! Seeing the incoming Air Slashes, a fully recovered Houndoom dodged them all!

"Whoooom-"Minimize had its benefits. It made Muk harder to hit with straightforward attacks.

However, when facing Gengar's Hypnosis, its smaller body actually became a liability!

"Crobat, Aerial Ace!"

"Houndoom, Agility-intercept it!"

A black blur and a purple blur simultaneously rushed toward the drowsy Muk and Gengar, who was casting Hypnosis!

But Crobat was faster!

Aerial Ace struck Gengar directly, interrupting Hypnosis and sending it flying!

With its low physical defense, Gengar was instantly knocked out!

"Destiny Bond!"

Even with its eyes shut, Gengar's golden pupils suddenly snapped open, two red rings flashed, searing themselves into Crobat's gaze!

Midair, Crobat lost all consciousness, spiraling toward the ground before rolling several times from sheer momentum!

Both Gengar and Crobat were knocked out simultaneously!

"Fire Blast!"

A blazing inferno struck Muk at point-blank range, just as it was trying to recover!

Massive damage!

"Hold on! Use Feint Attack!"

Sato issued his command. From the very start, Houndoom was never meant to support Gengar!

Crobat was simply too fast. Gengar couldn't stop it.

Instead of trying to protect Gengar, the better move was to take down Crobat immediately and give Houndoom a real chance to fight back!

"Muk, Toxic!"

Feint Attack landed perfectly!

And as a Poison-type, Muk's Toxic also had a 100% hit rate!

Deadly poison flooded Houndoom's body. Within seconds, Houndoom began trembling violently.

Even though its eyes remained locked onto Muk, it couldn't take another step forward!

This poison... Was terrifying!