After reuniting with Wester, the st thing Sato had to worry about was food. Every day, they were treated to various gourmet meals, eae prepared with new fvors and teiques.

  After eating, the two began pairing different Pokémon, w oeam synergy. The biggest differeween sitles and double battles was coordination.

  A well-coordieam could double their strength and unleash their full potential, but if they were out of sync, they could end up hindering each other—leading to disaster.

  Everyone uood this cept, but actually achieving it was another matter entirely.

  Especially sio aer only had oo train together, simply avoiding interfereh each other's fighting styles was already a challenge.

  Fortunately, Sato had spent most of his time training in the wild, and both Ariados and Houndoom had extensive experien group battles.

  Ariados was a natural troller and support Pokémoo its bat role, which was a huge advantage.

  Meanwhile, Houndoom's intelligence allowed it to issue ands to allies and make the right tactical decisions.

  However, there were still issues—Ariados' trol and support teiques relied heavily on Sticky oison, which could actally affect its teammates.

  And Houndoom, despite being highly indepe, sometimes made decisions that flicted with the trainer's ands, creating unnecessary plications.

  Through multiple trials, only two binations proved to be ideal for double battles:- Ariados + Skarmory- Houndoom + Xatu

  Simirly, to ensure smooth performan future matches, they also tested Zoroark + Breloom and Gengar + Wester's Houndoom as backup strategies....Whenever he had spare time, Sato would go out and monitor the tour—but his real goal was to track Ghost Ship's activities.

  As a former "senior member (Gold-Rank assassin)" of Ghost Ship, Sato kly how they unicated.

  Even things that seemed normal to others carried hidden meanings—and he could decipher them effortlessly.

  And the truth was clear—Ghost Ship was already in motion.

  Their target had not ged. They were going to assassinate Elite Four Sen!

  Sato felt troubled—even now, he hadn't found a solid solution. What was he supposed to do? Run up to Sen and tell him someone was going to assassinate him?

  But with more and more coded signals appearing, he could feel it—Mahogany Town was about to be engulfed in chaos!....BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Colorful fireworks exploded in the sky, while the enthusiastic voice of the host echoed through the speakers, reag every er of the stadium.

  After a series of formal speeches by important figures, Sen and Yanagi finally took the stage.

  One of them wore a cold, expressionless look, pletely ued by the audience's wild cheers.

  The other had a gentle smile, waving at the crowd with his right hand, aowledging their enthusiasm.

  One id indifferent.

  One warm and charismatic.

  Their trasting personalities only fueled the audience's excitement, making them cheer even louder.

  Sato aer sat in the reserved se for petitors, watg the lively opening ceremony unfold.

  Wester's eyes shoh excitement, as if he were already standing on stage, basking in the spotlight and appuse.

  Meanwhile, Sato sat there in silehe overwhelming shouting and cheering making his ears ring—It was way too loud.

  "I k… I hate these kinds of events."

  "WHAT!?"

  Wester turned his head and shouted directly into Sato's ear.

  "BZZZZZZ—"

  Sato's ears went pletely numb.

  Annoyed, he scratched his ear, then casually shook a Poké Ball, signaling that it was time to start the battle.

  The moment they ehe backstage area, the noisy chaos instantly disappeared.

  Sato let out a deep breath and sat in the waiting room, patiently waiting for their match to begin.

  Even though the preliminary rounds were split i different arenas, he aer had somehow drawn the first matd it was on the main stage!

  Sihe opening ceremony had just ended, most spectators chose to stay in their seats, eager to watch the battle.

  And so—Sato aer stepped into the arena, taking the first match of the tour.

  "The inal pn is celed. Let's go with Houndoom and Xatu for this match."

  "Why?"

  Wester, though fused, obediently put Skarmory's Poké Ball away and took out Xatu's.

  "To be ho, her my Pokémon nor I have ever battled in front of this many people before. Ariados is still young, so I want it to get used to the atmosphere first. e on out, Ariados!"

  "Dos!"

  Ariados waved its front legs aggressively, full of battle i, but quickly realized there was no oppo.

  It turo Sato, puzzled.

  "Skarmory's not feeling well, so Houndoom will go first."

  "…"

  Wester silently took the bme, too zy tue with Sato.

  Ariados blihen turo look at Wester, notig that his expression didn't seem great either.

  In a rare moment of uanding, it him fly.

  Wester pressed his lips together, swallowing his frustration. He couldn't let himself get worked up over a bug—but he definitely wouldn't say that out loud.

  "Just watch from the side for now. You'll go ."

  Sato patted Ariados' head. Its hard exoskeleton wasn't cold—it actually had a strangely pleasaure.

  The battle format was a 2v2 double battle, with each trainer using one Pokémon at a time. The match would end when both Pokémon on one side were incapacitated.

  Across the field, their oppos—two muscur cowboys—visibly rexed when they saw Sato aer.

  The Elite Four Battle Tour had no age restris. Older trainers naturally had more experience, so rookies like Sato were often uimated.

  "Both sides, send out your Pokémon!"

  Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Four bursts of red light fshed—the t figure of Houndoom and the rare sight of Xatu stood ready for battle!

  Their oppos—a Tauros and Slowbro bo. A powerful attacker, paired with a tank and healer!

  Sato g Wester, then made the first move.

  "Houndoom, Fmethrower!"

  A r infered.

  Having just evolved, Houndoom was fierd dominant. The sheer heat distortion in the air blurred the light around it.

  At the same time, Xatu asded into the air, activating Calm Mind to build up power.

  As the raging fmes surged forward, Tauros didn't hesitate—It charged straight through, showing no fear!

  Meanwhile, Slowbro's vat expression didn't ge, but—a soft pink glow shot from the Shellder on its tail, enveloping Tauros.

  Heal Pulse!

  "Again—Dark Pulse!"

  Houndoom dodged Tauros' Zen Headbutt, then unleashed Dark Pulse, maintaining its distance while tinuing to pressure its oppo.

  "Slowbro, use Yawn on Xatu!"

  The first cowboy shifted his focus, aiming for the building threat in the sky.

  "Houndoom, take care of it!"

  A pink bubble floated toward Xatu, carrying a hypnotic effect. Though it moved slowly, it was inescapable, persistently following its target.

  Pop!

  The bubble burst—And Houndoom suddenly wavered, shaking its head drowsily.

  After releasing another Fmethrower to block Tauros' charge, its legs buckled, and it began to colpse!

  "Houndoom, Sleep Talk!"

  Even with its eyes shut, Houndoom's ears twitched—then, suddenly, it lunged forward, jaws crag with electricity—And bit down on Slowbro!