Chapter 0596: You Call This "Barely Won"?

Empoleon stood tall, its steel blades crossed with a metallic clang as they gleamed coldly.

Facing the intimidating Arcanine, its defiant gaze only grew fiercer—a crimson aura swirling around it!

"Defiant Ability..." Natsume raised an eyebrow. "This is your trump card?"

The Defiant Ability boosted Empoleon's aggression when intimidated—a perfect match for its offensive build.

"No one would dare intimidate Empoleon!"

Hiroki regained his confidence. "Aqua Jet!"

The high-priority move coated Empoleon's blades in water as it surged forward, slashing down with both arms!

CLANG!

Empoleon's expression froze—it felt like striking solid steel!

Yet it pushed through, the blades carving a vicious wound.

"AWOOOO!!" Arcanine's eyes burned crimson, its fighting spirit igniting its mane into flames!

Charge. Charge!

Like an unstoppable tank, Arcanine barreled through the battlefield, the ground trembling beneath its paws.

BOOM—

Empoleon barely landed before whirling around, crossing its blades defensively—

"Arcanine!"

Arcanine smashed into it like a meteor, sending Empoleon hurtling through the air!

Hiroki's face paled.

Even with Defiant, Empoleon couldn't withstand Arcanine's raw power!

CRASH!

Empoleon plummeted, its steel frame embedded in the cracked earth as Arcanine planted a paw triumphantly on its blades.

"Arcanine!"

"Empoleon..." Empoleon struggled—then collapsed.

The arena fell silent.

"Trump card..."

Natsume mused. "That's it?"

The crowd erupted in stifled laughter.

Hiroki trembled. "Arcanine's HP is on the brink!"

Natsume opened his mouth—then closed it.

"Go, Zangoose!" Hiroki threw his next Poké Ball.

The ferocious Zangoose bared its claws, while Arcanine—despite two Flare Blitz recoils—still burned with fury.

"Zangoose, Fury Cutter!"

The slashes came fast and relentless, though barely leaving marks.

But as Zangoose's momentum built, Hiroki's smile faded—

A chill ran down his spine.

"Arcanine." Natsume said calmly. "Outrage."

"Arcanine—!!"

Arcanine pounced like a raging lion, slamming Zangoose into the ground with a devastating headbutt!

BAM!

One hit. Zangoose lay unconscious in a crater.

Hiroki's pupils shrank.

Three Pokémon down... just like that?!

The crowd roared.

"Outrage?! Since when?!"

"He's going for a full sweep!"

"Another one-hit KO!!"

The move embodied brutal elegance—reminiscent of a certain Champion's style.

Flint's mind flashed to Cynthia's crimson-eyed Garchomp, his expression twisting.

Natsume-sensei and Cynthia are becoming scarily alike!

Arcanine's mane billowed, its eyes wild yet regal—a true firestorm monarch.

Hiroki sent out Granbull next—only for the timid Pokémon to freeze in terror before being flattened instantly.

"Battle over in one turn!" The commentator gasped. "Under a minute... Arcanine sets a new record!"

Whispers spread.

This overwhelming battle style couldn't help but remind people of Darkrai's sweeping strategies.

Yet even Darkrai couldn't match the unstoppable force of Arcanine in its Outrage state!

Ash and Paul exchanged glances, seeing mutual astonishment in each other's eyes.

Hiroki was a seeded contestant of the Lily of the Valley Conference.

In a full 6v6 battle, he couldn't even take down Natsume-sensei's first Pokémon?!

As the arena erupted in cheers,

Hiroki's expression stiffened. Watching Arcanine stumble slightly, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Outrage condition had ended - Arcanine was now confused!

This was his chance!

"Go, Magmortar!" Hiroki shouted.

Magmortar's entire body seemed to burn, its patterned markings resembling flickering flames as it raised its blazing cannons toward the confused Arcanine.

The next moment, Hiroki's pupils contracted.

Arcanine's pendant began glowing with crystalline light as a beam of sunlight shone on its mane. Glittering motes fell into its wounds, healing them at visible speed!

"Arcanine used Morning Sun!!" The commentator sounded almost sympathetic to Hiroki's plight.

After all that effort to weaken it, one Morning Sun completely restored it?!

"Tanky, powerful, AND self-healing?!"

"So cheap... I love it!"

"Morning Sun even cures confusion?! Natsume-sensei, that's illegal!"

The effect came from the Sacred Fire within the Rainbow Wing, purging Arcanine's confusion.

(Though Natsume-sensei could have also used "Aura of Ripple" or "The Power of One" -

If Ash's Snarl can cure sleep, then my confusion cure is perfectly reasonable, right?)

As the sunlight faded, Arcanine stood completely healed, smirking smugly.

"Arcanine"

Hiroki: "..."

Hiroki: [Incoherent babbling]

His spirit had been utterly crushed.

He couldn't even outdamage Arcanine's healing... How was this fair?!

The only damage he'd managed to deal came from Arcanine's own Flare Blitz recoil!

"Arcanine!" Like a blazing chariot of war, Arcanine charged at Magmortar.

The fire blasts from Magmortar's cannons stood no chance of stopping it.

Hiroki steeled himself as Magmortar went flying, gripping his last Poké Ball tightly.

At the very least, he had to force Natsume-sensei to switch Pokémon!

"Mismagius, use Perish Song!"

"Your final trump card... is Perish Song?"

Natsume chuckled. "I'm quite familiar with that."

Hiroki paled - his entire strategy seemed childish in this man's eyes.

"Arcanine, Snarl!"

"Arcanine! (｀0′)" The dark pulse disrupted the song before Arcanine pounced with fiery fury!

BOOM!

After the explosion, Arcanine landed gracefully, capping off its performance with one final Morning Sun.

Glittering motes flowed into its body as it shook its fluffy tail triumphantly.

Mission complete!

The arena erupted.

"NATSUME-SENSEI IS UNREAL!!"

Hiroki looked at Arcanine - completely unharmed after six consecutive battles.

This... was what they called a "tanky build"?!

Too cruel... Just too cruel!

Amid the cheers, Natsume shook Hiroki's hand with a warm smile:

"Barely won."

Hiroki: ?

You call a full-health sweep a "barely won"?!

Psychological damage: Maximum.

The once-boastful trainer trudged off the field, utterly defeated.

Natsume patted Arcanine. "Walkies later?"

No good dog could resist walkies!

Arcanine grinned, tongue lolling. "Arcanine!"

Nearby, Infernape watched Arcanine's majestic display with reverence, quietly clenching its fist.

"Let's win our next match," Ash said seriously. "Then face Natsume-sensei in the finals!"

Infernape nodded firmly. "Infernape!"

Meanwhile, Tobias swept back his hair, studying the tournament bracket.

"Next up... Natsume-sensei."

His eyes sharpened. "I must win this."

……

The match concluded with Natsume-sensei advancing to the Top 4.

His complete 6-0 sweep sent shockwaves through the tournament.

"The focus of this year's Lily of the Valley Conference has shifted from 'who will win' to 'who can score even a single point against Natsume-sensei'..."

"Is Natsume-sensei aiming for the Champion League? Maybe challenging Fire-type Elite Four Flint next?"

"Could be Granny Bertha too - she's nearing retirement anyway."

Reading these online comments,

Natsume was utterly baffled.

Champion League? What are they talking about?

Though... the Champion League would indeed be the perfect opportunity to come clean.

After defeating one of the Elite Four and challenging Cynthia - that would be the ideal moment to make the announcement!

But first—

Natsume's eyes scanned the Top 4 contestant list, landing on Tobias's photo.

"Next up... Tobias."

The long-awaited showdown with the Legendary Pokémon user was finally at hand.

Natsume grinned: "After all this waiting... the day has finally come!"