Pokemon-Aster

After a few seconds of thought, he responded.

"Tobias has the edge."

Lance raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?"

Aster pointed at the screen. "Ethan is reacting to everything Tobias does, but Tobias isn't reacting—he's controlling the pace of the battle. Ethan's strength is adaptability, but Tobias is forcing him into a defensive position, limiting his options. The moment Ethan hesitates, Tobias will go for the finishing blow."

Bruno gave a small nod. "Hmm. A sharp observation."

Agatha smirked. "Well, well. Maybe the boy does have something in that little head of his."

Lorelei smiled slightly, watching her son with pride. "He's been watching battles for a long time. He understands more than he lets on."

As if on cue, the battle on screen took a decisive turn—Tobias's Dragonite landed a devastating Outrage on Ethan's Charizard, securing his victory.

Lance let out a small chuckle. "Looks like the kid called it."

Aster remained calm, but inside, he felt something stir. This was his first taste of what it meant to be in the presence of top trainers—and it made him even more determined to start his own journey.

Why Tobias?

Tobias fits the mold of a calculated, control-based trainer who seems to value strategic thinking. Ethan is adaptable, but Tobias dictates the battle's flow, which is a huge advantage.

Battle Overview:

Tobias

Dragonite – His ace, a powerful Dragon/Flying-type with a diverse moveset.

Alakazam – A fast, devastating Psychic-type capable of outpacing most opponents.

Gengar – A tricky Ghost/Poison-type with status moves and high-speed attacks.

Arcanine – A powerful Fire-type with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Rhydon – A bulky tank that can take physical hits and dish out strong Rock/Ground moves.

Gyarados – A Water/Flying powerhouse, covering his weaknesses and adding intimidation.

Ethan

Charizard – A Fire/Flying-type starter and one of his strongest Pokémon.

Jolteon – A fast Electric-type to deal with Tobias' Flying and Water-types.

Machamp – A strong Fighting-type for breaking through defenses.

Venusaur – A bulky Grass/Poison-type that provides sustainability.

Lapras – A Water/Ice-type to counter Dragonite and Rhydon.

Pidgeot – A solid Flying-type that offers speed and scouting potential.

Ethan opened strong with Jolteon, immediately putting pressure on Gyarados, forcing Tobias to switch into Rhydon to absorb the Electric-type attacks.

Recognizing the danger, Ethan quickly swapped to Machamp, leveraging its raw power to take down Rhydon and gain an early advantage.

However, Tobias' Gyarados returned to the battlefield, making quick work of Machamp with its overwhelming power.

Alakazam and Gengar proved to be major obstacles for Ethan, their speed and special attacks keeping him on the defensive. Jolteon and Venusaur managed to take them down, but both were knocked out in the process.

Dragonite entered the field late in the game, dominating the battlefield with its sheer strength. Lapras was Ethan's best counter, managing to land key hits, but it ultimately fell to Dragonite's relentless assault.

The big showdown came down to Ethan's Charizard vs. Tobias' Dragonite—a battle of titans. Charizard fought fiercely, but in the end, Dragonite landed a crushing Outrage, sealing Tobias' victory.

Ethan's last Pokémon, Pidgeot, remained—but against Arcanine, Gyarados, and Dragonite, it was a lost cause but Ethan still wanted to try and somehow bring victory from the jaws of defeat. The battle was not even close Pidgeot got slammed by Dragonite and that was it. 

With the battle concluded, the strategy room was silent for a moment before Lance finally spoke.

"Tobias moves on. That means he'll be our next challenger."

Agatha grinned. "Good. I was getting tired of pushovers."

Lorelei crossed her arms. "Ethan was impressive, though. He could have won if he had better control over the match's pacing."

Bruno nodded. "Endurance is key. No matter how strong a trainer is, they have to last through all four of us."

Lance glanced toward Aster again, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well, kid, looks like you're already thinking like a trainer. Maybe one day, we'll be analyzing your battles instead."

Aster met his gaze, his determination unwavering. "Maybe sooner than you think."

Lance chuckled at that, but something in Aster's voice told him the boy wasn't just making a childish remark—he meant every word.

1. Reviewing Tobias' Battle History

Lance leads the group to a high-tech analysis room filled with monitors, showcasing footage of Tobias' past battles, not just from this tournament but from previous competitions.

As they watch the footage, Lance is the first one to break the silence, "Tobias is methodical. He rarely makes unnecessary moves, and his team covers each other's weaknesses well. If we give him an opening, he'll exploit it immediately."

Bruno added on by saying "His Alakazam and Gengar are especially troublesome. Speed and Special Attack at their peak. We'll need countermeasures."

Meanwhile Agatha was grinning and said "Oh, I have some tricks for a fellow Ghost-user. He won't see them coming."

Finally, Lorelei also added on, "His Dragonite is the real threat. It took out Ethan's Charizard and Lapras. I'll need to make sure my Lapras can handle it if it shows up."

Aster watches closely, fascinated by how they break down Tobias' tactics. This isn't just about brute force—it's a chess match where every move matters. 

2. Individual Training Sessions

The Elite Four moves into action, each preparing in their own way for the upcoming challenge. Aster, still with Lorelei, gets a rare behind-the-scenes look at how top-tier trainers fine-tune their strategies before a major battle.

Each member of the Elite Four heads to their personal training areas to sharpen their Pokémon's skills. Aster follows Lorelei to her training grounds, but he also gets glimpses of how the others prepare.

Lance works with his Dragon-types, focusing on speed drills and counterplay against Ice-types. His Dragonite spars with an Aerodactyl, dodging and weaving through powerful Ice Beam attacks to refine its evasive skills.

Bruno has his Fighting-types endure Rock Slide barrages, preparing them for Tobias' Gengar and Alakazam. He practices commanding his Machamp to predict teleportation-based movements.

Agatha disappears into a shadowy chamber with her Ghost-types, likely preparing mind games and status-inflicting tactics to disorient Tobias's Pokemon.

Lorelei sharpens her team's precision, making sure her ice types can freeze opponents before they get the chance to counter. She also reinforces their ability to handle Fire types like Tobias's Arcanine. 

Aster watches as Lorelei's Cloyster and Lapras fire off pinpoint Ice Beams at moving targets, while her Jynx practices countering Psychic moves.

Lorelei glances at Aster. "Learning anything?"

Aster nods. "Tobias won't just rely on power. He'll play around weaknesses. You all have to think several moves ahead."

She smirks. "Exactly. That's what separates challengers from champions."

3. Mental and Tactical Preparation

The night before Tobias arrives, the Elite Four gathers for one final meeting. Each member gives their thoughts on how they plan to counter Tobias' strategy.

Lance: "I'll be the final obstacle. If Tobias reaches me, I need to be ready for his Dragonite."

Bruno: "My job is to wear him down. If I can make sure he wastes his strongest Pokémon early, we have the advantage."

Agatha: laughs "I'll make sure he doesn't even get to you, Lance. His Gengar may be fast, but I've been using Ghost-types since before he was born."

Lorelei: "I'm the first line of defense. If I can take out one or two of his key Pokémon early, the rest of you will have an easier time."

Aster sits quietly, absorbing every word. The way they think is completely different from regular trainers. Each of them isn't just focused on winning their battle—they're thinking about the entire challenge as a whole.

Aster's Takeaway

After witnessing their preparations, Aster begins to reflect on his own journey.

He realizes that battling at this level requires much more than just strong Pokémon—it demands planning, adaptability, and control over the flow of battle. He starts thinking about what kind of trainer he wants to become and how he'll eventually prepare for challenges of his own. Seeing the Elite Four in action makes him even more determined to find his first Pokémon and begin his training.

This experience solidifies Aster's belief: If he wants to reach their level someday, he has a long way to go—but he's ready to take the first step.