"Now begins the Ferrum League Challenge!"
"In the left corner, we have Trainer John from the Hoenn Region! In the right corner, returning after three years away, it’s Chloe, a familiar face we haven’t seen in far too long! Let’s give them both a warm welcome!" The referee doubled as an enthusiastic announcer, his voice booming across the arena.
John and Chloe emerged from opposite tunnel entrances simultaneously, their footsteps echoing as they approached the battlefield’s center.
"You’ve got this, Chloe!"
"All the way to the championship this time!"
The spectator stands erupted in cheers.
The Ferrum League’s battlefield rivaled those of the Galar Region, massive in scale with equally impressive stadium seating. Even for routine daily matches, the five-thousand-seat venue maintained over fifty percent attendance, and the crowd’s energy was infectious.
"This many people are supporting her?" John muttered, genuinely surprised by the continuous waves of encouragement. He’d expected to face some random trainer, not someone with what appeared to have a dedicated fan base. Several young women in matching outfits held colorful banners and performed choreographed cheers.
Tsk tsk, Gary Oak vibes, John thought wryly.
Chloe beamed as she waved to the crowd, acknowledging longtime supporters and hometown friends with genuine warmth. Their encouragement meant the world to her.
The referee ensured both trainers were positioned correctly before announcing loudly, "The battle between these two competitors is about to commence. Let me review the rules."
"Each trainer may use one main battle Pokemon, supported by two backup Pokemon. Support Pokemon may only be deployed twice total throughout the match."
"Victory is achieved when the opponent’s main battle Pokemon loses its ability to fight. Deploying unregistered Pokemon, or sending multiple Pokemon simultaneously, results in immediate disqualification. I trust both trainers understand these conditions clearly." The referee directed this explanation primarily toward John, the out-of-region newcomer.
Both John and Chloe nodded their acknowledgment.
"Excellent! The match officially begins, please release your main battle Pokemon!" The referee raised red and green flags as starting signals.
John and Chloe simultaneously drew Pokeballs and launched them skyward.
Twin flashes of silver light erupted as both Pokemon materialized on the battlefield.
John’s choice was Kubfu.
Gray fur covered its compact frame, with white cloth strips tied around its head like a traditional martial artist’s headband. Fists positioned at its waist, the Fighting-type radiated determination despite its small stature. While John hadn’t prioritized its leveling, Kubfu had trained extensively with Blaziken and learned from his more experienced teammates. Its strength hadn’t peaked yet, but its fighting spirit burned bright.
What it truly needed was time, time to mature and evolve into its destined form.
Chloe’s Pokemon was Scizor.
Crimson armor gleamed brilliantly under the stadium lights, its polished surface reflecting meticulous care and training. Even from a distance, anyone could tell this Scizor had been lovingly raised by a skilled trainer.
John’s enhanced perception immediately revealed more detailed information.
"Level 82? I actually ran into a veteran trainer," John realized with surprise. A Pokemon exceeding level 80 represented champion-tier combat power in most regions.
And this was his very first Ferrum League match.
Was this the standard difficulty level for the Ferrum Region? Or had he simply encountered terrible luck by facing a former championship contender?
John strongly suspected the latter.
While John processed this revelation, Chloe felt a wave of relief. Old Pete’s concerned expression had worried her, making her wonder if she’d face some overwhelming challenge in her comeback battle.
Instead, her opponent had sent out Kubfu. Google seaʀᴄh NovєlFіre.net
Certainly, this extremely rare Pokemon’s appearance was noteworthy, but regarding actual strength...
Before evolving into Urshifu, it posed no significant threat. She’d battled her way to championship finals before, after all.
Combined with three years of intensive training, her abilities had transformed completely.
Not just against Kubfu, even a fully evolved Urshifu wouldn’t intimidate her now!
If anything, she felt slightly disappointed it was only Kubfu.
This victory is mine!
The referee confirmed both Pokemon were ready, then dramatically crossed his flags.
"Quick Attack!" Chloe immediately seized the initiative.
Facing what appeared to be a weaker opponent, she intended to make a statement with her comeback, crushing her rival with overwhelming force to demonstrate her growth to the hometown crowd.
Scizor charged forward instantly, its red steel armor producing rhythmic "thump, thump, thump" sounds with each thunderous step, reminiscent of a freight train building momentum.
Within seconds, Scizor closed the distance to Kubfu. Its twin pincers moved like gleaming blades, creating crimson afterimages as they sliced through the air with deadly precision.
As the clearly disadvantaged trainer, John didn’t hesitate. The moment the referee’s voice faded, he was already reaching for his second Pokeball.
The level gap was nearly double, no amount of training or strategy could overcome such a disparity. If Kubfu attempted to fight alone, it would be overwhelmed instantly.
Time to give the Ferrum Region locals a little shock therapy.
"Garchomp, Precipice Blades!" John called out calmly.
The Pokeball opened mid-air, and Garchomp made its dramatic entrance, landing protectively in front of Kubfu with earth-shaking impact.
Garchomp raised both Dragon Claws skyward, and before even completing its landing, terrifying Ground-type energy condensed around its claws. Using the momentum from its descent, it drove both claws into the battlefield with devastating force.
Before Scizor’s Quick Attack could connect, the entire battlefield erupted in chaos!
The massive arena floor, spanning tens of thousands of square meters, instantly fractured into a complex spiderweb of cracks. Countless razor-sharp rock pillars erupted from the ground like earthen spears, engulfing Scizor in an instant before continuing their upward trajectory, nearly piercing the stadium’s ceiling.