Chapter 0600: VS The Divine Beast Tamer - Advance to Finals!

By Natsume-sensei's own admission, he and Sirfetch'd were supposed to be the team's biggest slackers.

Yet as fans stared at the defeated Latios and the determined Sirfetch'd...

Their expressions twisted in disbelief.

You call THIS slacking?!

The livestream chat exploded instantly.

"Natsume-sensei's 'slacker' just solo'd a Divine Beast?!"

"Who dares call Sirfetch'd deadweight now?!"

"DUCK LORD, WRECK THEM ALL!!"

Against all odds—fatigue, type disadvantage—Sirfetch'd had achieved the impossible.

That final Meteor Assault, hurled like a knight's lance, left the audience speechless.

"It took down a Divine Beast single-handedly!"

"Mastered its signature move... terrifying!"

Even Bruno, the Fighting-type Elite Four, couldn't hide his shock.

My Machamp might not survive that technique...

With its critical-hit boosting Leek, perfect terrain synergy, and signature move—

Even a "slacker" could dominate when fully equipped!

"Sirfetch'd~" Sirfetch'd smoothed its ruffled feathers, exhaling in relief.

Close call... Glad we won~

Though Sirfetch'd's "fear" manifested differently from Blastoise's—

The result was equally destructive.

Natsume rubbed his chin.

At this rate, Sirfetch'd might unlock all three types of Haki...

"So scary~" (proceeds to one-shot deities)

In the stands, Ash's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Gold just kept combing his bangs, unfazed.

Sirfetch'd fought Arceus. Latios was child's play.

Lucian sighed deeply courtside.

Latios fainted too...

Now who'll help reinforce these barriers?

The giant screen updated—four of Tobias's Poké Balls darkened, including Latios's.

Tobias quietly recalled his fallen comrade, strategizing his next move.

"Sirfetch'd!"

Despite its critical HP, Sirfetch'd maintained perfect composure—

—looking ready to take on ten more opponents.

Blastoise wishes it had this level of swagger.

Natsume chuckled and recalled it anyway.

As the red beam enveloped Sirfetch'd, it exited gracefully—

Three K.O.s, zero casualties.

"Sirfetch'd! (′︿‵)"

It finally cracked, grinning smugly.

Nailed the performance~ Naptime now!

Nearby, James adjusted his vendor tray. "What'd the Executive's Sirfetch'd say?"

"Dunno, meow~" Meowth mused. "Probably some epic warrior's poem!"

Jessie forced a smile at customers before freezing. "I-It's those kids—"

James hastily intervened. "Snacks! Drinks! Official merch!"

Bruno's eyes suddenly sharpened, radiating killing intent. "Rage Candy Bars?!"

The trio jumped. "Huh?"

"I'll take your entire stock!" Bruno declared.

"Pikachu?" Pikachu scratched its head, eyeing the trio suspiciously.

Ash remained oblivious, smiling. "Two hot dogs, please!"

"Lucky..." Green sighed, resting her chin in her hands with a burnt-out expression. "If I hadn't failed earlier, I'd be selling merchandise in the arena too."

"Nowadays it's all about value for money," Gold laughed. "Face it Green, you've got zero business sense!"

Green and Silver simultaneously turned death glares toward him.

"Let's just watch the match," Gold continued obliviously.

On the battlefield, Tobias sent out his fifth Pokémon—

Walrein.

The massive Ice/Water-type landed with a thud, its thick blubber and gleaming tusks radiating power.

Natsume countered with his own heavyweight—

"Arcanine!"

The Legendary Pokémon touched down with a growl, its golden mane shimmering in the sunlight.

"Walrein, Surf!" Tobias commanded.

With a mighty roar, Walrein's flippers slammed the ground, conjuring a towering tsunami!

Arcanine responded by firing a brilliant beam skyward—

"Sunny Day!"

The scorching sunlight weakened the incoming wave as Arcanine stood firm, shattering the surf against its body like a boulder against the tide!

Shaking off seawater, Arcanine's jaws began glowing with solar energy.

Chat exploded with disbelief:

"Did this madman teach his Fire-type Solar Beam?!"

"That Surf did nothing!"

Under the harsh sun, Arcanine unleashed Solar Beam instantly—

BOOM!

The concentrated sunlight scorched Walrein, leaving it staggering.

Before it could recover, Arcanine's body ignited with golden flames—

"Overheat!"

Tobias's side of the field became an inferno, the grassy terrain reduced to ashes.

Walrein's desperate Waterfall attack evaporated into useless steam as the flames consumed it.

When the smoke cleared, only a soot-covered, unconscious Walrein remained.

"Walrein is unable to battle!" The referee's flag came down.

Tobias took a deep breath, recalling his fallen comrade, his grip tightening on his last Poké Ball.

The scoreboard updated—5-0.

The crowd erupted.

"He's about to shut out the Divine Beast Tamer?!"

"Holy crap, this carry is insane!"

From the shadows at Tobias's feet, Darkrai emerged reluctantly, white mist swirling around its imposing figure.

"It seems I must intervene."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Natsume-sensei taught his entire team Sleep Talk," Tobias muttered.

Given Natsume's notorious tactics, this was entirely plausible.

Darkrai: "..."

Can we just forfeit already?!

Tobias's expression hardened. Natsume-sensei's strength had far exceeded his expectations.

But Darkrai might still claw back some dignity.

A complete shutout in the semifinals would be humiliating!

With focused determination, Tobias threw his final ball:

"Darkrai, I choose you!"

Black mist engulfed the field as the reluctant Nightmare Pokémon materialized, its dark ribbons fluttering ominously.

"Contestant Tobias sends out his ace—Darkrai!"

The audience gasped.

This was the monster that had swept entire teams with 100% accurate Dark Voids and Dream Eater combos—

—a strategy so dirty it made veterans weep!

"Don't tell me he'll reverse sweep..."

"Who asked you to jinx it?!"

"Relax! Fairy-types destroy Dark-types!"

"Saving Darkrai for last?" Natsume asked curiously.

"There's always hope," Tobias replied quietly.

Natsume blinked.

...Fair point.

Time to get serious.

"Gengar?"

The rotund ghost, previously lounging in shadows with a soda, looked up confused.

It suddenly sensed its trainer's Power of One calling—

All units alert! Incoming Dark Void!

"Gengar," Natsume grinned, "your turn!"

"Gengar~(◕‿◕✿)"

Gengar bounced forward, its stretchy tongue wobbling playfully.

The livestream chat exploded:

"How is Gengar this adorable?!"

"Fighting beats Psychic, Ghost beats Dark... Is Natsume-sensei gunning for 'Reverse-Type King' title?"

"The true Shadow Monarch is Gengar!"

Darkrai's eyes widened at its opponent.

It glanced back at Tobias, who gave a solemn nod.

Gritting its teeth, Darkrai steeled itself—

Just don't get one-shot...

The three lone Card Club members finally seized their moment, shouting:

"Witness the bond between Sleep Team and trainer!"

"But Psychic moves don't work on Dark-types..."

"Unless he's packing a Dark Void to counter Darkrai?!"

Darkrai's expression grew increasingly disturbed.

You wouldn't believe me... but that Gengar absolutely knows that move.

Tobias stood rigid, waiting for the referee's signal.

"Battle begin!" The whistle blew.

In one fluid motion, Tobias swept aside his cloak and commanded: "Dark Void!"

Darkrai's azure eyes flashed as inky mist swirled around its claws, forming a sinister black vortex.

This very technique had swept six Pokémon undefeated in previous rounds!

The audience held their breath—

—then collectively gasped at Natsume's unbelievable counter:

"Gengar," he ordered calmly, "Dark Void."

Audience: ?

Referee & Commentator: ??

Livestream: ???

"Dark Void too?!"

"Since when could Gengar learn that?!"

"If Hypnosis fails, just use Dark Void instead?!"

"Absolute madman!!"

The signature move of Darkrai... replicated by Gengar?

Dark Void versus Dark Void!

And somehow—Gengar's version looked stronger!

"Gengar~(◕‿◕✿)" Gengar conjured a swirling abyss so powerful it distorted space itself, debris and grass being sucked into the growing singularity.

Darkrai stared at its own comparatively pitiful vortex, utterly shaken.

Why is yours so much better?!

Gengar—who had once felled Arceus with this very move—grinned wider.

"Gengar!"

With a flick of its wrist, it launched the black hole. Darkrai desperately hurled its own attack.

The two voids collided midair—

BOOOOOOM!!!

Gengar's vortex swallowed Darkrai's whole, continuing unimpeded!

Even the usually stoic Tobias paled.

Darkrai... can't withstand a single hit?

The Nightmare Pokémon had just enough time to think:

I engaged. I got one-shot. Nothing more to say.

When the dust settled, the arena was eerily silent—as if reality itself had been erased.

"Gengar~" Gengar stood triumphant over Darkrai's unconscious form.

After a long pause, the commentator croaked:

"N- Natsume's Gengar... one-shot Darkrai."

"Therefore, the winner of this semifinal is—"

The crowd erupted.

"NATSUME-SENSEI!!!"

"Gengar just annihilated Darkrai!!"

"He taught it Dark Void—this man truly lives and breathes Sleep Tactics!"

"Divine Beast Tamer? More like Divine Beast Slayer!!"

As cheers shook the stadium, Tobias's final Poké Ball darkened on screen.

A perfect 6-0 sweep.

Sirfetch'd and Gengar had each slain legendaries!

"I hereby crown Natsume-sensei the true Divine Beast Tamer!"

"Sirfetch'd should take notes from Gengar! More training needed, duckling~"

Amid the roaring celebration, Tobias approached Natsume for the traditional handshake.

"Good match," Natsume smiled.

Tobias blinked, then chuckled ruefully. "I learned much."

The gap in strategy, training, everything—it was insurmountable.

But at least...

I'm still the reigning PTCG world champion!

His eyes burned with renewed determination. "I hope we can duel in cards next time!"

Natsume froze.

This guy still only cares about the trading card game?!

"Looking forward to it," he replied diplomatically.

And so concluded the Lily of the Valley Conference semifinals—

Natsume-sensei's flawless victory over the Divine Beast Tamer!

That evening, forum discussions exploded over "The Legend-Slaying Duck" and "The Dark Void Gengar."

"You call this a slacker?!"

"Getting wrecked by your own signature move... how embarrassing!"

"Not all Darkrai are equal. I once got one-shot by a Gengar's Dark Void while extremely angry!"

"Onward to finals! Ducky, destroy them all!!"