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Chapter 139: An Angry Quadra Kill
🕑 Added 2025-08-15 14:07:04 +0000 UTCChapter 139: An Angry Quadra Kill
The atmosphere in the rented conference room was heavy. No one dared to speak as they looked at Director Sterling's grim face.
Although Waylon's Gastly evolving into a Haunter was a cause for celebration, the fact remained that Metro City had only managed a draw in the morning's individual matches. This was a result Director Sterling could not accept.
Feeling the immense pressure, Skye and Yao kept their heads bowed in shame.
"Let's hear it. What's the plan for this afternoon's Relay Battle?" Sterling finally broke the silence.
"Director, if I may," Mr. Shane spoke up. As the strongest trainer present besides Sterling himself, his experience and insight were the most valuable.
"Go ahead."
"To be honest, Kyanite City is definitely stronger this year than in the past," Shane began. "But the problem is, two of their main members rely on Pokémon that were force-evolved with evolution stones. That method will never produce a top-tier competitor. Against trainers like Basalt and Waylon, they're nothing but fodder."
"In a Relay Battle, with our Drilbur and Haunter, it's virtually impossible for us to lose. I think the key for this afternoon's match isn't just winning, but winning decisively!"
The others nodded in agreement. In the regionals, what mattered was placement. Only trainers who made it to the Top 16 in the main event would earn points for their city. It was harsh, but trainers like Yao and Skye, while skilled, weren't quite at that top level. They were likely just there to fill out the numbers.
"Winning decisively? You mean winning by a large margin?" Director Sterling's eyes narrowed, understanding Shane's implication. The Relay Battle was a 5v5 format, with the battle order predetermined. If they could defeat all five of Kyanite's trainers with only two or three of their own, it would be a powerful statement of Metro City's strength.
"In that case, why not send me in first?" Basalt raised his hand with a grin. "Even without using Sandstorm, I promise I won't disappoint."
His Drilbur had been thoroughly underwhelmed by the morning's battle. This is the competition? Seems pretty weak. It hadn't even survived three of his attacks.
Basalt knew, however, that Sandstorm was Drilbur's ultimate trump card. Unless it was absolutely necessary, Director Sterling would never allow him to use it. They had gone to great lengths to keep Drilbur's ability to use Sandstorm a secret.
Hearing his offer, Sterling was clearly tempted. With Drilbur's strength, it could handle almost any opponent, with the possible exception of Kadabra. That Pokémon's Teleport would be tricky to deal with without Sandstorm.
"Basalt, you should go second," Mr. Shane interjected. "Yao and his Onix should lead. He has Stealth Rock, and we need to make sure that's set up early to be effective."
"Damn it," Basalt thought, annoyed. To think his coveted leadoff spot would be denied because of Stealth Rock.
With the first and second positions decided, the rest of the lineup was quickly finalized. Waylon and his new Haunter would be fourth, in the anchor position. Skye and his Pidgeotto would be fifth, a solid main member to close things out if needed. To counter any potential Dark-types sent out against Haunter, or Ice and Grass-types against Drilbur, they also selected Forrest and his Heracross from the substitute pool for the third spot.
As for Luna, Cael, and Fletcher, they would have to warm the bench.
By the time both teams had finished their strategy meetings, it was already afternoon. The polite chatter from the morning was gone. Even Director Sterling and Director Falcone were silent. The Relay Battle was too important; it would decide the winner of this exhibition.
"First trainers for both teams, Yao and Slade, please take the field," the referee announced, having been given the predetermined lineups.
"Nidoking can also learn Stealth Rock. It seems they had the same idea as us," Mr. Leo commented, stroking his chin.
Sure enough, as the battle began, both Pokémon used Stealth Rock, setting up rings of jagged stones on their opponent's side of the field.
Then, the battle began. It was a near-perfect repeat of the morning's match. Knowing that Nidoking had Water Pulse, Onix had no choice but to go for an all-out close-quarters brawl. The two giants clashed again, trading blows. But Nidoking's super-effective Brick Break was simply too powerful. It eventually pushed Onix back and landed a decisive Water Pulse.
"Trainer Basalt, please enter the field."
At the referee's call, Basalt walked calmly onto the battlefield.
"Just as I thought," Director Falcone's eyes narrowed. The Kyanite team had anticipated that Metro City would send in one of their powerhouses early to gain a crushing advantage. But they had prepared for it. Everything was going according to plan.
CRUNCH!
The moment Drilbur appeared on the field, the surrounding Stealth Rocks shot towards it. It took damage right out of the gate. Fortunately, the Rock-type move wasn't very effective against a Ground-type, so the damage was minimal.
"Nidoking, Bulldoze!" Though heavily injured, Nidoking gave it one last shot, trying to inflict as much damage as possible.
"Sand Tomb!" Basalt commanded. Nidoking was a fully evolved Pokémon and also a Ground-type. In a straight-up fight, Drilbur might not win.
RUMBLE!
Just as Nidoking leaped into the air to stomp down, the ground beneath it collapsed into a swirling pit of sand. Landing in the soft, yielding sand, the power of its Bulldoze was completely negated. It barely caused a tremor. Nidoking, however, with its heavy body, was now sunk halfway into the sand.
"Drill Run!"
WHIRRR!
With a sound that set teeth on edge, Drilbur spun into a drill and shot forward, an unstoppable force.
"Nidoking, counter with Horn Attack!" Slade commanded, refusing to back down. With Nidoking's immense strength and Steel-type energy reinforcing its horn, surely it could win a head-on clash against a tiny, unevolved Pokémon, right?
He quickly learned how wrong he was. While size was a factor in a Pokémon's power, the true key was the mastery of its energy. And after a month of intensive training, Drilbur's energy control was on a whole different level from a Pokémon that had been force-evolved with a stone.
CRACK!
Under the relentless assault of the drill, Nidoking's steel-hard horn was shattered. Drilbur's Drill Run slammed squarely into its body. Despite the massive size difference, the super-effective attack sent the giant Pokémon crashing to the ground, knocked out cold.
First blood.
"Next challenger, please," Basalt said, a hint of arrogance in his voice.
Director Falcone's eye twitched. I thought Metro City was supposed to be the 'City of Harmony.' Why is this kid so cocky? He'd seen arrogant trainers before, but not like this. Still, thinking of their plan, he smirked. Basalt won't be arrogant for long.
The second trainer for Kyanite City was a new face, clearly a substitute. "Go, Sneasel!"
A sleek, black Pokémon with a red tail and silver claws appeared. It was Sneasel, a Pokémon hand-picked to counter Metro City's aces. Its Ice-type moves were super-effective against Drilbur, and its Dark-typing countered Haunter.
As it entered the field, it too was hit by Stealth Rock. The super-effective attack took a significant chunk of its health.
"Ice Shard!" Shaking it off, Sneasel fired a sharp icicle at Drilbur. As a priority move, it was incredibly fast, and this Sneasel's was exceptionally so. Drilbur had no time to dodge.
BAM!
The attack landed, and a thin layer of frost covered Drilbur's body before quickly melting away. Drilbur's micro-sandstorm, though invisible to others, was active. Thanks to the metal fluids, its defenses had been transformed. Otherwise, a super-effective Ice Shard from a Sneasel would have taken it down to half health. As it was, it was just a chilling blow.
"Quick Attack!"
Sneasel shot forward, its incredible speed leaving a trail of afterimages.
"Sand Tomb!" Basalt commanded, and the ground between the two Pokémon once again collapsed into a ten-meter-wide pit of sand. Sneasel had no choice but to leap over it.
"Chaa!" Seeing the airborne Sneasel, Drilbur smirked. In the air, Sneasel was a sitting duck. If there's no opening, create one. That was the philosophy Basalt had drilled into it.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Twelve massive chunks of rock materialized and shot towards the helpless Sneasel, a meteor shower of destruction.
"Crap! How are there so many?" the Sneasel's trainer gasped. Was this still Rock Tomb? It looked more like a precision version of Rock Slide.
Sneasel managed to slash through seven or eight of the rocks with Metal Claw, but it was overwhelmed. The remaining rocks buried it. The super-effective attack knocked it out instantly.
"Double kill," Basalt grinned, his eyes gleaming. This Relay Battle is the perfect place to show off! Crushing multiple opponents in a row felt amazing.
Next up for Kyanite City was Jenna, with her Torkoal. That was the tricky thing about Relay Battles; the order was set. Even with a type disadvantage, she had to fight.
It was a slaughter. Torkoal barely had time to release its smoke before it was hit by Stealth Rock, then a Bulldoze, and then a Drill Run that finished it off. Three super-effective hits were too much even for its high defenses.
"Triple kill!" Basalt licked his lips like a hungry wolf.
"BASALT IS A BEAST!" The gloom that had settled over the Metro City team was completely gone. The Kyanite team, on the other hand, looked devastated. Who is this guy? He's a monster!
Next, a young trainer with trembling legs walked onto the field.
"Oh, another new face?" Basalt smiled. A substitute? Looks like the quadra kill is in the bag.
