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Chapter 95: The Clash Of Minds (1)
🕑 Added 2025-02-25 16:17:01 +0000 UTC
The Indigo League stadium buzzed with electric anticipation, a sea of spectators stretching across the stands like a living, breathing tapestry of excitement.
Today was the semifinals, and the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers, rich with passion and a touch of theatrics.
“Ladies and gentlemen, trainers and dreamers, welcome to the semifinals of the Indigo League!” The announcer, a wiry man with a mustache that could double as a broom, practically vibrated with enthusiasm.
“On one side, we have a rising star from Moonwood Town—Gladion Vortex! Son of Moonwood’s fiery minor Gym Leader, Erza Vortex, and grandson of the legendary War Hero, Maren Vortex! At Gladion’s own request, we honor his grandfather’s legacy today—a man who stared down Legendaries in the Pokémon Wars and lived to tell the tale! This young psychic prodigy has stormed through the tournament without a single Pokémon knocked out. Not one! Can you believe it, folks?”
The crowd erupted, a tidal wave of cheers crashing over the stadium. A group of kids in the front row waved handmade signs reading “GLADION’S GRANDPA = GOAT” and “YOUTH POWER FTW!” A grizzled old man near the middle, sporting a faded military cap, wiped a tear from his eye and muttered, “Maren’d be proud, kid.”
“And his opponent!” the announcer continued, his voice rising to a fever pitch. “From the psychic heart of Kanto, Saffron City—Sabrina! Daughter of Gym Leader Marcus, a prodigy among prodigies, and a psychic so powerful she could probably levitate this entire stadium if she felt like it! She’s been crushing her foes with ruthless precision, and folks, she’s got a reputation for making grown trainers cry. This is the battle of the century—psychic versus psychic, mind versus mind! Who’s gonna come out on top?”
The stands exploded again, though the reactions were delightfully mixed. A cluster of teenage girls near the railing squealed.
“Sabrina’s so cute! Look at her outfit—red and black is everything!” A burly man with a beer belly elbowed his buddy and chuckled, “Yeah, but that Gladion kid’s got swagger. Bet he’s got tricks up his sleeve.”
A little girl clutching a Slowpoke plushie tugged at her mom’s sleeve and whispered, “Mommy, I want an Umbreon like Gladion’s—it’s so cool and spooky!”
The buzz intensified as Gladion and Sabrina stepped onto the field from opposite ends. Gladion’s dark blue jacket fluttered slightly in the breeze.
Sabrina, meanwhile, strode forward with her signature icy grace, her red-and-black ensemble pristine, her face a mask of cool indifference. She didn’t even glance at Gladion—no words, no taunts, just pure, silent focus.
“Aw, c’mon, Sabrina, say hi!” a guy in the crowd shouted, earning a ripple of laughter. “She’s too classy for that!” someone else yelled back. “Nah, she’s just plotting how to turn him into a Psyduck!” The banter bounced around, lightening the tension for everyone except the two trainers locking eyes across the dirt.
The referee raised his flags. “This will be a full 6-on-6 battle! Substitutions are allowed, and the first trainer to knock out all six of their opponent’s Pokémon wins! Begin!”
Without a word, Gladion flicked a Poké Ball from his belt, and Nyx leaped forward, landing with a dramatic flourish. Her rings glowed faintly under the sunlight, and she tilted her head as if sizing up the battlefield—or her next victim. The crowd oohed and aahed. “That Umbreon’s so sleek!” a woman gushed. “Bet it’s fast as heck!” a kid piped up.
Sabrina responded with equal silence, her hand moving with precision to release Slowbro at the same time as Gladion released Umbreon.
The dopey Water-Psychic Pokémon materialized with a yawn, scratching its head with its tail as if it had just woken up from a nap. The crowd’s reaction was instant and chaotic. “Slowbro? Seriously? That thing looks like it’s half-asleep!” a guy snorted. “Don’t underestimate it—Sabrina’s Slowbro’s a tank!” another fan shot back. “Ten bucks says it trips over its own tail!” someone else cackled.
Gladion smirked faintly, sensing Sabrina’s strategy. Slowbro might look sluggish, but its bulk and psychic prowess made it a wall—and a dangerous one.
Sabrina didn’t waste a second. “Slowbro, Surf!” she commanded, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
A massive wave surged from Slowbro, water glistening as it roared toward Nyx. The crowd gasped, some leaning forward in their seats. “Whoa, she’s going for the kill already!” a teenager shouted. “That’s my girl—drown that Umbreon!” a Sabrina fan cheered.
Gladion’s eyes narrowed, but his grin didn’t falter. “Nyx, Copycat!” he called. Nyx’s rings flared, and in an instant, she conjured her own Surf—a mirror image of Slowbro’s attack. The two waves collided mid-field, water exploding in a spectacular spray that drenched the entire battlefield.
For a moment, it looked like a stalemate—Nyx’s mimicry had neutralized the threat. But then Sabrina’s lips curled into a rare, smug smirk, and Gladion’s stomach dropped. “You’re predictable,” she said coolly. “Slowbro, Disable.”
Slowbro’s eyes glowed pink, and a strange pulse rippled through the air. Nyx froze, her body twitching as if she’d been caught in an invisible net. The crowd murmured in confusion, then awe. “What just happened?” a kid asked his dad. “Disable locks a move that was last used by the opponent Pokemon—Nyx can’t use Copycat anymore!” the dad explained, sounding impressed.
Gladion blinked, processing the move. Copycat was Nyx’s ace in the hole—her signature trick, letting her turn any opponent’s move against them.
It had carried her through countless battles. Without it, Nyx’s versatility took a massive hit. Sabrina had just dismantled his opening strategy, and she’d done it with that infuriating smirk.
The crowd caught on, buzzing with excitement. “Ooh, Sabrina’s playing dirty!” a woman laughed. “That Umbreon’s toast now—Copycat was its whole deal!” a guy predicted. “Nah, Gladion’s too sneaky—bet he’s got a backup plan!” another countered.
For a split second, Gladion stood there, stunned. Then, something snapped inside him—not panic, but exhilaration. His lips parted, and a wild, almost maniacal laugh burst out, echoing across the stadium.
'This tournament has been boring so far. I wanted to be a Pokemon trainer to have fun. To have the thrill of battling and then to make Grandpa's gym a major gym while earning a lot of money. But all I did was bully some kids who did not have the experience or training to even have a chance.'
“Finally!” Galdion shouted, throwing his arms wide. “A worthy challenge! Come on, Sabrina, show me what you’ve got! Make it worth my while—otherwise, this tournament’s been a total snooze-fest!”
