Pokemon: Psychic Master

"He... recalled it?!"

"Johan recalled Tinkaton?!"

"What?! He's changed! He's not going for the thrill of a sweep anymore!"

The audience erupted in shocked murmurs.

Johan was taking no chances.

This wasn't some rookie tournament — it was the Indigo League Finals. The prize for the champion was 12 million Pokédollars, while the runner-up got only 6 million.

Even Gengar could do that math.

After a brief pause, Goodrian, urged by the referee, threw out his second Poké Ball.

"Go, Excadrill!"

A Pokémon resembling a mole emerged, its dark brown fur adorned with red streaks. Its head and forepaws bore razor-sharp steel blades that gleamed menacingly.

"Chak!"

Its metallic claws hit the ground with a crisp sound, and the swirling sands around the battlefield seemed to part respectfully around it, piling gently at its feet.

It was obvious — this Excadrill's ability was Sand Rush.

[Sand Rush: In sandstorm weather, the Pokémon's Speed doubles.]

The sandstorm created by Goodrian's Crustle wasn't random; it had been meticulously planned to boost Excadrill's performance.

A textbook Sandstorm team core.

"Ah, a weather team." Johan smiled faintly.

The giant screen displayed his characteristic "kind" smile.

But for some reason, both Goodrian and the audience shivered involuntarily.

Why did it feel so... unsettling?

"Johan's second Pokémon is... Alolan Ninetales!" the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium.

The crowd gasped.

"Called it! I knew it! He's sending out his cute little Ninetales to counter the weather!"

"It's a weather battle!"

Goodrian twitched slightly.

The sandstorm rapidly dissipated as Ninetales entered the field, replaced by swirling snowflakes descending from above.

He didn't know much about weather battles. He only knew one thing — without sandstorm support, Excadrill's Sand Rush was useless.

"Oowoo~☆⌒(≧▽°)"

Ninetales gave Excadrill a playful wink and an innocent smile.

Excadrill froze for a moment, its breathing stuttering.

But Goodrian wasn't discouraged.

Sure, the snowstorm was troublesome, but Alolan Ninetales was four times weak to Steel-type moves!

There was still hope.

"Excadrill, Dig!"

Excadrill's steel claws whirred as it burrowed underground at lightning speed.

If it could get close enough, it could potentially one-shot Ninetales!

"Ninetales, Aurora Veil!"

Despite Excadrill vanishing from sight, Ninetales tensed up but kept its cool.

"Oowoo~"

A shimmering, multicolored barrier formed around Ninetales.

"There it is! One of the world's greatest mysteries — how many layers of Aurora Veil can Johan's Ninetales stack?"

"I'm telling you, this strategy feels broken! It's like Ninetales is a walking Light Screen and Reflect combined!"

"Forget Mr. Mime. Compared to Ninetales, he's got nothing."

"Excadrill, Iron Head!"

Goodrian's heart raced. He couldn't let Ninetales stack any more barriers!

Boom!

The ground erupted as Excadrill shot up, its steel-clad head gleaming with powerful Steel energy.

But just as it was about to strike, Goodrian's face fell.

Even beneath its feet, Ninetales had layered barriers.

Crash! Crash!

Aurora Veil shattered, but Excadrill couldn't reach its target.

Giovanni's "Secrets of the Earth" training video wasn't wasted, Johan mused.

"Now, Ninetales, Blizzard!"

Ninetales' eyes glowed as it unleashed a fierce snowstorm that quickly concentrated into a powerful vortex.

"Don't give up! Excadrill, another Iron Head!"

But before Goodrian's Excadrill could react...

"It's over," Byron, observing from the VIP seats, muttered.

Excadrill, frozen solid, stood as still as a statue.

"Oowoo~"

Ninetales sighed in relief before releasing a beam of blue energy to strengthen the ice.

The audience was stunned.

"Is that... Sheer Cold?!"

Johan coughed lightly.

"Ninetales, that's enough."

If they kept freezing Excadrill, there might be no way to thaw it out.

Thud.

Goodrian's second Poké Ball indicator dimmed on the giant screen.

"Excadrill, return."

Taking a deep breath, Goodrian recalled his fainted Pokémon.

"Come back, Ninetales," Johan said, returning his Pokémon as well.

Why? Goodrian wondered. Was Ninetales exhausted after that?

Surely, that Blizzard and the barriers must've drained a lot of energy.

"Goodrian's third Pokémon is... Conkeldurr!"

A humanoid Pokémon with bulging muscles and two concrete pillars in its hands appeared, exuding raw power.

"Conkeldurr, huh?"

Johan reached for his next Poké Ball, but it trembled slightly.

"Hm?"

He paused, feeling the stir inside.

You want to battle?

With a smile, Johan tossed the ball.

"Alright, your turn, Kubfu!"

"Ku~! (－ω－) zzZ"

Kubfu appeared on the field... fast asleep, with a snot bubble inflating and deflating with each breath.

"Here we go! The infamous Sleeping Kubfu!"

"Is it really asleep, or is it just pretending?"

The mystery of Johan's Kubfu was well-known among fans.

Even Johan himself wasn't entirely sure.

What he did know was that Kubfu was stronger while asleep.

"Conkeldurr, Brick Break!"

Goodrian commanded his Pokémon to target the remaining Aurora Veil barriers.

As Conkeldurr's concrete pillars smashed through the veils, Johan calmly ordered:

"Kubfu, Swords Dance."

"Ku~ zzZ..."

Still asleep, Kubfu began its battle dance, glowing with power.

"Conkeldurr, Hammer Arm!"

Goodrian's Conkeldurr charged, its concrete pillars spinning furiously.

"Here it comes," Johan murmured.

Conkeldurr's pillar smashed down, but Kubfu raised its tiny paws to block.

Boom!

The concrete cracked on impact.

Kubfu's body shimmered with dark energy — Counter!

"Conkeldurr, Protect!" Goodrian shouted.

The barrier formed just in time... but Kubfu shattered it with ease.

"Now, Close Combat!" Johan commanded.

Kubfu awoke with a roar.

"Ku!!"

What followed was a flurry of punches, kicks, and knee strikes, each hitting Conkeldurr's weak points with precision.

"Did... did it just break Conkeldurr's pillars?!"

The audience was stunned.

Even Goodrian couldn't believe it.

If Kubfu were awake, it might've smirked.

Your pillars? They're nothing compared to Tinkaton's hammer.

"Now, Kubfu — finish it!"

Kubfu's final punch sent Conkeldurr flying across the field.

"Conkeldurr is unable to battle!"

Three of Goodrian's Pokémon were down, while Johan's side remained untouched.

The crowd roared in excitement.

"He's still going for a perfect sweep!"

Suddenly, the sacred flame atop the stadium flared.

A giant shadow loomed in the sky.

"Is that... Moltres?!"

The legendary bird of fire descended from the clouds.

"HE SUMMONED MOLTRES!!"

Goodrian stared at Johan in disbelief.

"You said this was a fair battle!"

Johan was equally baffled.

Why is Moltres here?!

Reaching into his pocket, Johan felt the faint warmth of the Rainbow Wing.

Could it be... because I used my aura?

Was Moltres here... to deliver a feather?

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Powerstones?

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