In a standard battlefield within the SeawindCove Arena, Victor faced his first opponent of the day.
Pokémon: [Simisage]
Type: [Grass]
Gender: [♀]
Ability: [Gluttony]
Level: [25]
Held Item: [None]
Moves: [Vine Whip, Leech Seed, Seed Bomb, Scratch, Leer, Magical Leaf...]
Normal level... huh.
Victor sighed inwardly. After battling professional-level, gym-level, and even legendary Pokémon recently, he'd almost forgotten that most opponents at the Poké Ball-level in ranked matches were at the normal tier.
Hmm… I guess it's up to Milotic. Even using her might be overkill, let alone Incineroar or Carbink, he thought.
The trainer standing across from him was an elderly woman wearing an apron, with a basket of groceries at her feet.
Did she just come from the market? Victor wondered, marveling at how even housewives could dream of becoming trainers in this world.
"This magical world of Pokémon…" Victor sighed, a touch of admiration in his voice.
With a dramatic flourish, he exclaimed, "Go, the elegant water spirit—Milotic!"
Victor tried his best to mimic Cynthia's iconic line when sending out her Milotic.
As both Pokémon took their positions, the Rotom referee hovered into place and announced the match.
[This battle is officially recognized as a Poké Ball-level match in the crimson League Ranked Tournament.]
[Victor vs. Abigail.]
[Each trainer may use only one Pokémon.]
[The battle begins!]
"Simisage, Seed Bomb!"
The opposing Pokémon, resembling a green monkey, leaped high into the air. Its most striking feature was the bushy grass-like hair atop its head, making up nearly half of its 1.1-meter height.
The Simisage fired a barrage of glowing energy seeds from its mouth, pelting them toward Milotic like bullets.
"Milotic, Dragon Pulse!" Victor commanded.
With grace and precision, Milotic gathered her energy, her long, elegant body glowing faintly as she unleashed a swirling, dragon pulse directly at the oncoming attack.
==========
Victor suddenly became overly dramatic, shouting out his command with theatrical flair.
As the mysterious blue-purple glow shimmered between the red and blue scales of Milotic's body, her seven-meter-long frame began to weave through the battlefield in a mesmerizing, fluid motion, perfectly synchronized with Victor's instructions.
With an air of absolute confidence, Milotic evaded the barrage of Seed Bombs with unmatched grace, her movements embodying elegance and precision.
"As graceful as a startled bird, as fluid as a dragon in water."
These words, used to describe the ethereal beauty of the Moonlit River Goddess, could not have been more fitting for Milotic at this moment. Her every step exuded unparalleled charm, captivating all who watched.
"Squeak!"
From across the battlefield, Simisage froze in place, her black pupils transforming into heart-shaped pinks. Overcome with infatuation, she abandoned all semblance of battle and knelt before Milotic in a display of utter devotion, performing the traditional mating dance of her species.
"Simisage! Snap out of it!" Aunt is Abigail called out in exasperation, but her Pokémon was utterly smitten, oblivious to her trainer's words.
Victor watched the scene unfold, at a loss for words. He couldn't help but think:
Milotic, the lilies in my hometown are blooming again…
Before Victor could even command Milotic to use her Attract move, Simisage had already fallen completely under her spell. Despite her overwhelming emotions, Simisage dared not get too close, as she perceived Milotic as a goddess—noble, cold, and utterly untouchable.
"Fuwu..."
[I'm sorry, but I must politely decline,] Milotic's telepathic voice echoed, her head held high as she gracefully rejected the Simisage's advances.
A loud "click" echoed through the battlefield as Simisage froze in place, petrified by heartbreak.
Victor sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, Milotic, let's finish this. Use Dragon Tail!"
Milotic twirled with elegance, her long, shimmering tail glowing faintly with dragon energy before striking Simisage gently but decisively, sending her tumbling off the battlefield.
=======
Seeing the Simisage completely give up resistance, Victor remained focused. He was determined to keep his winning streak alive and advance to the super rank today!
Milotic's tail flared with emerald-green energy, transforming into a shimmering whip that moved with the elegance of a dancing silver serpent. With a sharp crack, the energy whip struck the Simisage, sealing her fate.
The Simisage collapsed, unable to battle further.
[Simisage has lost the ability to fight. Milotic is the winner!]
[Poké Ball-level battle—victory goes to player Victor!]
Aunt Abigail, unfazed by her loss, recalled her Simisage with a smile. She walked over and patted Victor's shoulder warmly.
"Oh, so you're the young trainer who defeated Master Jasmine! Our family will be rooting for you from now on. We'll wait for the day you become one of the Elite Four. Keep it up, young man!"
"Thank you for your kind words," Victor replied, bowing slightly out of respect.
Abigail showed no disappointment despite her loss. Instead, there was a sense of relief and pride in her expression.
When she was younger, her husband had been a dedicated investigator. Only a year into their marriage, tragedy struck during a mission to rescue a kidnapped girl from a criminal organization. Her husband had his leg severed by a Crobat's Air Slash while shielding the girl.
Unable to continue his work as an investigator, her husband retired with a generous pension from the league. For his sake, Abigail gave up her dream of becoming a professional trainer. She donned an apron and devoted herself to cooking and caring for their household.
Still, her passion for battling remained. Whenever she had free time, she'd visit the SeawindCove Arena with her Pokémon to participate in a few matches. Winning or losing didn't matter—those battles always helped her shake off the fatigue of everyday life.
Now in her middle age, the girl and her husband had saved often visited their home, expressing gratitude. Watching promising young trainers like Victor rise gave her and her husband a sense of fulfillment.
"Well, young man, Auntie is off to take Simisage for treatment. You go on and keep battling!"
"Alright. Take care, Auntie!" Victor replied with a wave as she left the arena.