The rules for the quarterfinals remained unged.

  Sato aer were assigo the first match, meaning they were the first to step onto the battlefield.

  Even though the stands were full, a sense of chill lingered in the air.

  The skies were gloomy.

  Being in the northern regions, Mahogany Town was already colder than most pces, and with autumn approag, even a crowded stadium couldn't pletely dispel the cold.

  Wester seemed to know their oppos, casually chatting with them before the battle even started.

  Sato, oher hand, remained silent. His path as a Trainer had been more like that of a hermit monk.

  At this point, Wester was the only person he could call a friend, maybe along with a few of the Nurse Joys—though they probably only saw him as a kid they looked after.

  Before he realized it, the battle had already begun.

  A Gengar + Bae bo was unon.

  Ghost-types were tricky but had clear weaknesses—Low stamina, weak defenses—one good hit and they could be instantly knocked out.

  Elite Mid Typhlosioe Mid Crobat!

  Sato immediately focused.

  Although his goal in Mahogany Town wasn't really the Elite Four Battle Tour, treating each battle seriously was the best way to improve.

  The fight ignited instantly.

  Both Typhlosion and Crobat had great speed—Gengar wasn't slow either.

  In this sario, Bae's speed was the weak link.

  With its powerful physical attacks, it had the potential to turtle, but its low health pool made it difficult to sustain.

  Choosing team victory over individual survival, Baivated Curse at low health—sacrifig itself to cripple Crobat!

  Bae's first battle as ae Pokémon ended in frustration, its sacrifice setting up a potential win dition.

  "Mean Look!"

  Sato anded Gengar just in time. Curse would disappear if the affected Pokémon was recalled, but not this time.

  The arena suddenly darkehe entire field filled with golden, glowing eyes.

  Crobat and Typhlosion froze in pce, feeling an eerie shift but uo uand what had ged.

  Brave Bird!

  Crobat went all in, reizing that its time was limited. The powerful move was unleashed without hesitation, hurtling straight tengar!

  It was clear—Crobat was carrying a Power Herb!

  In the crucial moment, Xatu appeared befengar—blog the hit with Protect!

  "Psychic!"

  A crushing wave of psychiergy smmed into Crobat, stag with Curse's damage—Crobat couldn't e.

  Another one down!

  R fmes erupted—Typhlosion unched a desperate terattack, catg both Xatu and Gengar off guard.

  But the oppo had gotten greedy—trying to hit both targets at once had given them just enough time to escape.

  O high, the other went low, splitting apart.

  By this point, it was obvious—every trainer left iour was no pushover. If they let their guard down for even a sed, Sato aer could end up on the losing end.

  Gengar retaliated with a few casual Shadow Balls, f Typhlosion to retreat just long enough for its new parto appear.

  A frustratingly ing move.

  "Electabuzz, Thunder!"

  The newly Pokémon was clearly chosen to ter Xatu.

  The moment it ehe battlefield, it immediately began unleashiric attaonstop—Discharge, Thunderbolt, Thunder…

  Xatu was forced on the defensive.

  Typhlosion, highly perceptive, made sure that even when Gengar turned invisible, it couldn't nd a hit oabuzz.

  The oppos' coordination erfect—Sato aer had no room to sositions, because their attacks always lined up oer another, ensuring that one could react at all times.

  It was a straightforward, almost simple strategy—but exeg it this precisely was extremely difficult.

  Their oppos were pying a slow, patient game—waiting for Sato or Wester to make a mistake.

  The moment one of them slipped up, one Pokémon would end up fighting two at ond the battle would end in an instant.

  Just like how Houndoom faked dodging fire attacks yesterday, only to strike at the least expected moment.

  This wasn't going to work—prolonged defense meaual defeat. Especially with Xatu fag Electabuzz.

  Sato made a split-sed decision.

  "Gengar, Toxic!"

  The venomous spray shot foroison-type Pokémon had extremely high accuracy with this move—even if the target was in midair or underground, it was nearly impossible to avoid!

  Taking advantage of Toxic's unique effect, Sato pletely igyphlosion and instead had Gengar switch targets to Electabuzz!

  The venomous attaded, and purple poison bubbles started f oabuzz's body.

  However, Typhlosion's Fmethrower had already been unleashed, and it struck Gengar head-on!

  Sato's eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke softly—

  "Destiny Bond."

  "Oh no!"

  The opposing trainers cried out in arm. As fmes engulfed Gengar, the Ghost-type Pokémon didn't resist at all, already mentally prepared for this oute.

  Just before colpsing, a sinister bck-red energy ring shot forward, binding Typhlosion tightly!

  Thud! x2

  Typhlosion and Gengar—both down!

  Sato calmly recalled Gengar, pletely ign Wester's stunned expression beside him.

  Destiny Bond was something Gengar had retly learhrough staation. After mastering it, Sato had a deep discussion with Gengar about using a life-for-life strategy in battle.

  Being a id-baon, Gengar didn't mind the idea at all—so, without any psychological burden, Sato simply used it wheime was right.

  Outside the battlefield, Sato's risky maneuver caused a loud uproar.

  Some praised his bold strategy, while others criticized it harshly.

  The cept of sacrifig health for damage had always been troversial—let alorading a Pokémon's life for another.

  Many female spectators loudly expressed their disapproval, and some male trainers followed suit—but deep down, many of them were silently impressed.

  Some were probably already thinking about training a Ghost-type Pokémon just for this teique.

  After all, wasn't this the true way to utilize Ghost Pokémon? Toxic first, then use up all remaining stamina, actively bait attacks, and then take down a full-health oppo with Destiny Bond.

  In double battles, if executed successfully, this could tilt the bance of victory pletely.

  With ation, Sato sent out Houndoom.

  At the same time, his oppo sent out Sneasel!

  Their iions were clear—first, focus all efforts on taking down Xatu, and then use a 2v1 strategy to hao's sed Pokémon.

  Unfortunately for them—the moment they saw Houndoom, their expressions darkened.

  Sneasel was even frailer than Houndoom!

  "Sneasel, Agility! Get close to Xatu!"

  "Odor Sleuth! Cut it off!"

  Houndoom's witched, instantly log onto Sneasel's movements—and without hesitation, it charged straight toward it!

  "Electabuzz, Discharge to cover Sneasel!"

  "Ig—just avoid the attack!"

  Electabuzz was already poisoned—avoiding it was enough.

  "Wester, Xatu should use Psychic—just keep Electabuzz restrained!"

  Wester wisely held back, fog entirely on supp Houndoom. They o pin Sneasel down first before w about anything else!

  "Fmethrower—keep firing!"

  Earlier, Typhlosion had domihe battlefield with its fmes.

  Now—it was Houndoom's turn!

  Step by step, Sneasel was ered!