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he knowes pokemon more than i know _Chapter_395_en
Chapter 395
Chapter 391: The Second Encounter with the Masked Man
Author: Samsung Charmander
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Tomorrow was the day the Top 16 matches would officially begin. After finishing dinner, Ash was now alone on the training field, conducting his final training.
Night fell.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu charged forward on all fours, its speed was incredible. Its segmented tail took on a dazzling metallic sheen.
"Charizard, counter with Wing Attack!"
Ash was multitasking, commanding his two Pokémon to battle each other.
"Roar!"
On the other side, Charizard stood firm on the ground, lowering its center of gravity. The pair of broad wings on its back turned a brilliant white as it met the incoming attack, finally sweeping out with immense force.
"Clang!!"
A metallic explosion erupted at the point where the tail and wings met. The clash of energy spread outwards in a stormy shockwave, forcing Ash to press down on his hat, his eyes fixed on the two combatants on the field.
The attack came to an end. Charizard stood its ground, unmoving, while Pikachu was sent flying backward.
In a simple comparison of physical strength, the fully evolved Charizard was clearly a cut above.
Seeing this, Ash quickly commanded, "Pikachu, curl up!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu understood. As it flew back, it hugged its arms around most of its body, spinning backward like a ball. Just before hitting the ground, it unfurled its limbs, minimizing the damage from the impact.
"Pika..." "Roar..."
The dragon and the mouse faced each other from across the field, gritting their teeth, their eyes filled with the flames of battle.
"That's enough! You both did great!"
Ash immediately stepped between the two of them. They weren't real opponents.
At his words, both of them instantly dissipated their fighting spirit. Pikachu leaped back onto Ash's shoulder in a few nimble bounds, while Charizard affectionately blew a puff of flame at Ash.
"Next up is tomorrow's battle..."
Ash skillfully wiped the black soot from his face. He looked at his own clenched fist, his eyes burning. He felt a complex mix of excitement, thrill, nervousness, and anticipation—a jumble of emotions.
"Beep-beep. The Top 16 match-ups for the Indigo League Conference are now being announced. All contestants, please check for the information."
Just as he recalled Charizard, the Pokedex's voice made Ash jolt. He hurriedly pulled it out, his gaze locked onto the screen.
Unlike the preliminary rounds, the elimination tournament for the Top 16 didn't announce the pairings twenty minutes before the match, but rather the night before.
At this moment, it wasn't just the Pokedex screen; almost every electronic screen connected to the internet throughout the entire Indigo League venue displayed the same image. All the contestants and spectators stopped what they were doing, staring blankly at the nearest screen.
"Starting from the Top 16 of the Indigo League Conference, all battles will be moved to the League's Main Stadium. Opponents are randomized, and the single-elimination format will continue."
"The battle format for the Top 16 will remain the classic three-on-three battle. Starting from the Top 8, however, it will be a full six-Pokémon battle."
Soon, sixteen cards appeared on the screen. Each card showed a contestant's avatar and their name below it.
The cards then flipped to their backs and began to shuffle around.
Finally, they stopped moving, and the cards flipped back over.
Ash's eyesight was excellent, and he instantly found his own position and that of his Top 16 opponent.
It was a trainer who also wore a hat, with longish brown hair, and his face and eyes were full of spirited determination. He looked to be about the same age as Ash. Although it was the first time Ash had seen this person's avatar, it sent an involuntary shiver down his spine.
"..."
Isn't this the trainer from my nightmare a few days ago, the one who knocked me out in the Top 16?!
Ash quickly shook his head, banishing the terrifying thought.
Besides, the preliminary match in that nightmare was already different from his actual preliminary match a few days ago. It was a misleading dream.
"His name is Ritchie, huh... I won't lose!"
Ash put away his Pokedex, his expression serious.
Although it was night, the entire League venue had become restless after the Top 16 pairings were announced. He could faintly hear the rising and falling murmur of discussions all around him, which made Ash raise his head to gaze at the starry sky.
After staring for a few minutes, he finally locked onto a location and slowly walked toward it.
"Ah, I forgot to check who Brother Red's and Gary's opponents are..."
"Forget it. It's not my place to worry about them."
Ten minutes later, Ash arrived in front of a massive building. It was an imposing and vast structure. Though unlit and pitch-black at night, it exuded a majestic and grand aura.
The Indigo League Main Stadium.
According to The Officials, it was an arena that could accommodate several thousand people, with a limit of up to ten thousand.
Nearing midnight, unauthorized personnel were already prohibited from entering, and a few security guards were still on patrol.
But this was no challenge for Ash. He simply walked to a five-meter-high section of the outer wall, got a running start, and planted his feet against it. With a few "thump, thump, thump" steps, he grabbed the top edge, and with a burst of strength from his core, he vaulted right over the wall with ease.
It was such a fluid set of movements that even the Pikachu on his shoulder would have called him a pro.
The path was clear from there. Ash walked inside for a few minutes and stood at the highest point of the spectator stands.
"Hoo..."
A cool night breeze swept by, rustling his hair. Ash lowered his hat slightly and cast his gaze forward.
Before him were countless rows of spectator seats, encircling the central arena, the very battlefield he was set to step onto tomorrow.
At the highest point of the main arena, the brazier burning with Moltres's flame was still blazing fiercely. Its yellowish light cast long shadows, illuminating every corner of the arena.
"To become a Pokémon Master, this is my first step!!"
Ash held out his fist, as if to grasp the distant flame and the entire arena in his hand.
"Huh, someone else is here?"
Ash suddenly noticed another person standing in the spectator seats not far away.
The figure had the height of an adult man. He was bare-chested, his muscles well-defined. He stood with his hands on his hips, his gaze also fixed on the arena and the flame above, lost in thought.
"Ah! Someone else is here!?"
The other person belatedly noticed Ash's presence. He hurriedly took off the glasses on his face and pulled a red and black mask from his pocket, putting it on with a somewhat flustered motion. The lights weren't bright, so Ash didn't see the man's face clearly.
The Royal Mask! The biggest dark horse of this tournament.
Only then did the two look at each other. Ash took a deep breath and slowly walked over, asking curiously:
"Mr. Masked Man, what are you doing here?"
The Masked Man was quite nearsighted, and only recognized Ash when he was a meter away.
Their only other encounter had been at the opening ceremony, where they had exchanged a fist bump from dozens of meters away without speaking a word.
Today, this could be considered their second encounter.
"Oh, it's you! Haha, I couldn't sleep, so I just came out for a stroll..."
The Masked Man scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. After all, trespassing here was, for all intents and purposes, against the rules.
His voice gave Ash pause. Based on his appearance, Ash had expected a rugged, brawler-like style, similar to Bruno's. But the Masked Man's voice, while gruff, was remarkably friendly, like that of a kind uncle from next door.
His tone of voice also lacked the ferocity he displayed in the arena.
"Oh, oh, I couldn't sleep either, so I came out for a walk. By the way, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my partner, Pikachu."
"Pika~"
The Masked Man gave Ash a very strange feeling, as if the two of them were naturally connected by a deep bond, which made him subconsciously introduce himself.
This strange feeling also arose in the Masked Man's heart. He smiled back at Ash and said:
"My name... hmm, I can't tell you just yet. But my hometown is the Alola Region."
(end of chapter)
Author: Samsung Charmander
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Tomorrow was the day the Top 16 matches would officially begin. After finishing dinner, Ash was now alone on the training field, conducting his final training.
Night fell.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu charged forward on all fours, its speed was incredible. Its segmented tail took on a dazzling metallic sheen.
"Charizard, counter with Wing Attack!"
Ash was multitasking, commanding his two Pokémon to battle each other.
"Roar!"
On the other side, Charizard stood firm on the ground, lowering its center of gravity. The pair of broad wings on its back turned a brilliant white as it met the incoming attack, finally sweeping out with immense force.
"Clang!!"
A metallic explosion erupted at the point where the tail and wings met. The clash of energy spread outwards in a stormy shockwave, forcing Ash to press down on his hat, his eyes fixed on the two combatants on the field.
The attack came to an end. Charizard stood its ground, unmoving, while Pikachu was sent flying backward.
In a simple comparison of physical strength, the fully evolved Charizard was clearly a cut above.
Seeing this, Ash quickly commanded, "Pikachu, curl up!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu understood. As it flew back, it hugged its arms around most of its body, spinning backward like a ball. Just before hitting the ground, it unfurled its limbs, minimizing the damage from the impact.
"Pika..." "Roar..."
The dragon and the mouse faced each other from across the field, gritting their teeth, their eyes filled with the flames of battle.
"That's enough! You both did great!"
Ash immediately stepped between the two of them. They weren't real opponents.
At his words, both of them instantly dissipated their fighting spirit. Pikachu leaped back onto Ash's shoulder in a few nimble bounds, while Charizard affectionately blew a puff of flame at Ash.
"Next up is tomorrow's battle..."
Ash skillfully wiped the black soot from his face. He looked at his own clenched fist, his eyes burning. He felt a complex mix of excitement, thrill, nervousness, and anticipation—a jumble of emotions.
"Beep-beep. The Top 16 match-ups for the Indigo League Conference are now being announced. All contestants, please check for the information."
Just as he recalled Charizard, the Pokedex's voice made Ash jolt. He hurriedly pulled it out, his gaze locked onto the screen.
Unlike the preliminary rounds, the elimination tournament for the Top 16 didn't announce the pairings twenty minutes before the match, but rather the night before.
At this moment, it wasn't just the Pokedex screen; almost every electronic screen connected to the internet throughout the entire Indigo League venue displayed the same image. All the contestants and spectators stopped what they were doing, staring blankly at the nearest screen.
"Starting from the Top 16 of the Indigo League Conference, all battles will be moved to the League's Main Stadium. Opponents are randomized, and the single-elimination format will continue."
"The battle format for the Top 16 will remain the classic three-on-three battle. Starting from the Top 8, however, it will be a full six-Pokémon battle."
Soon, sixteen cards appeared on the screen. Each card showed a contestant's avatar and their name below it.
The cards then flipped to their backs and began to shuffle around.
Finally, they stopped moving, and the cards flipped back over.
Ash's eyesight was excellent, and he instantly found his own position and that of his Top 16 opponent.
It was a trainer who also wore a hat, with longish brown hair, and his face and eyes were full of spirited determination. He looked to be about the same age as Ash. Although it was the first time Ash had seen this person's avatar, it sent an involuntary shiver down his spine.
"..."
Isn't this the trainer from my nightmare a few days ago, the one who knocked me out in the Top 16?!
Ash quickly shook his head, banishing the terrifying thought.
Besides, the preliminary match in that nightmare was already different from his actual preliminary match a few days ago. It was a misleading dream.
"His name is Ritchie, huh... I won't lose!"
Ash put away his Pokedex, his expression serious.
Although it was night, the entire League venue had become restless after the Top 16 pairings were announced. He could faintly hear the rising and falling murmur of discussions all around him, which made Ash raise his head to gaze at the starry sky.
After staring for a few minutes, he finally locked onto a location and slowly walked toward it.
"Ah, I forgot to check who Brother Red's and Gary's opponents are..."
"Forget it. It's not my place to worry about them."
Ten minutes later, Ash arrived in front of a massive building. It was an imposing and vast structure. Though unlit and pitch-black at night, it exuded a majestic and grand aura.
The Indigo League Main Stadium.
According to The Officials, it was an arena that could accommodate several thousand people, with a limit of up to ten thousand.
Nearing midnight, unauthorized personnel were already prohibited from entering, and a few security guards were still on patrol.
But this was no challenge for Ash. He simply walked to a five-meter-high section of the outer wall, got a running start, and planted his feet against it. With a few "thump, thump, thump" steps, he grabbed the top edge, and with a burst of strength from his core, he vaulted right over the wall with ease.
It was such a fluid set of movements that even the Pikachu on his shoulder would have called him a pro.
The path was clear from there. Ash walked inside for a few minutes and stood at the highest point of the spectator stands.
"Hoo..."
A cool night breeze swept by, rustling his hair. Ash lowered his hat slightly and cast his gaze forward.
Before him were countless rows of spectator seats, encircling the central arena, the very battlefield he was set to step onto tomorrow.
At the highest point of the main arena, the brazier burning with Moltres's flame was still blazing fiercely. Its yellowish light cast long shadows, illuminating every corner of the arena.
"To become a Pokémon Master, this is my first step!!"
Ash held out his fist, as if to grasp the distant flame and the entire arena in his hand.
"Huh, someone else is here?"
Ash suddenly noticed another person standing in the spectator seats not far away.
The figure had the height of an adult man. He was bare-chested, his muscles well-defined. He stood with his hands on his hips, his gaze also fixed on the arena and the flame above, lost in thought.
"Ah! Someone else is here!?"
The other person belatedly noticed Ash's presence. He hurriedly took off the glasses on his face and pulled a red and black mask from his pocket, putting it on with a somewhat flustered motion. The lights weren't bright, so Ash didn't see the man's face clearly.
The Royal Mask! The biggest dark horse of this tournament.
Only then did the two look at each other. Ash took a deep breath and slowly walked over, asking curiously:
"Mr. Masked Man, what are you doing here?"
The Masked Man was quite nearsighted, and only recognized Ash when he was a meter away.
Their only other encounter had been at the opening ceremony, where they had exchanged a fist bump from dozens of meters away without speaking a word.
Today, this could be considered their second encounter.
"Oh, it's you! Haha, I couldn't sleep, so I just came out for a stroll..."
The Masked Man scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. After all, trespassing here was, for all intents and purposes, against the rules.
His voice gave Ash pause. Based on his appearance, Ash had expected a rugged, brawler-like style, similar to Bruno's. But the Masked Man's voice, while gruff, was remarkably friendly, like that of a kind uncle from next door.
His tone of voice also lacked the ferocity he displayed in the arena.
"Oh, oh, I couldn't sleep either, so I came out for a walk. By the way, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my partner, Pikachu."
"Pika~"
The Masked Man gave Ash a very strange feeling, as if the two of them were naturally connected by a deep bond, which made him subconsciously introduce himself.
This strange feeling also arose in the Masked Man's heart. He smiled back at Ash and said:
"My name... hmm, I can't tell you just yet. But my hometown is the Alola Region."
(end of chapter)
