Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 575: Lance: Objection, How Am I Supposed to Win a 2-on-1?!

Chapter 575 - Lance: Objection, How Am I Supposed to Win a 2-on-1?!

"The Youth Masters World Championship, huh?"

In a remote forest of the Unova region, a young man with teal hair and a cap sat quietly on a cliff's edge.

Behind him, a massive black dragon—Zekrom—stood tall, silently gazing down at the swirling mist below.

Around the youth were several playful wild Pokémon: a Pidove perched on his hat, a Deerling and a Cottonee nestled at his sides.

This young man was none other than N, who had escaped Team Plasma and earned the recognition of the Ideal Dragon—Zekrom.

N smiled and held out his hand. The Pidove fluttered down to his finger and proudly dropped a green caterpillar from its beak, chirping eagerly as if offering a gift.

N gave a sheepish smile and turned to Zekrom, silently asking:

"You want it?"

Zekrom: "..."

"ROOOHHH—"

The dragon let out a disgruntled growl and looked away, staring into the sky.

If it were a Caterpie, maybe he'd tolerate it. But a Wurmple? What, is he supposed to vent on Rayquaza's descendant?

N chuckled awkwardly and quickly stuffed the Wurmple back into Pidove's mouth, steering the topic away.

"I heard Johan is in the championship—and made it to the finals?"

[You want to go?]

Zekrom turned back.

It still remembered Johan quite well.

N lowered his eyes. "Yeah... I want to see him."

He had unresolved questions—questions he hoped Johan could answer.

WHRRRRRR—

Zekrom spread its wings and dove off the cliff.

[What are you waiting for?]

N grinned, placed the Pidove gently down, and leapt into the sky after him, vanishing from the sight of the watching wild Pokémon.

They all froze, scurrying to the cliff's edge to peek down—

There, black-winged Zekrom carried N into the horizon.

The Next Day – Clear Skies.

Johan yawned as he sat with Flint, Lucian, and the others, watching Cynthia vs. Lance.

"Didn't sleep?" Lucian asked.

"Nah." Johan waved it off, yawning again. "I was helping Gengar mess with his 'digital pet.'"

...Digital pet?

The others blinked, confused.

Giratina had played a major role in Gengar's development—especially this time, when they were tinkering with the DNA Splicers and Dragon Stone.

With the help of Giratina's ghost energy, Gengar had developed a new trick.

Everyone knew: DNA Splicers = Fusion and Separation.

Gengar had already learned energy fusion from Aaron's Gengar—but this time, he advanced further.

He fused his own ghost energy using techniques from Urshifu's Rapid Strike Style.

Here's the comparison:

Reshiram's Fusion Flare and Zekrom's Fusion Bolt double in power if used after the other.

Normally, you'd need both dragons—or Kyurem, fused with one of them—to use both moves in succession.

Gengar couldn't use those divine moves.

But he could spam Shadow Balls.

One wasn't enough? Try two. Two wasn't enough? Throw three.

If he could stack the move's power, that was enough.

It wouldn't double like the dragons' moves, but he could boost it by 50%. That was already huge.

And Giratina?

Ghost-type energy battery, of course. The best "charger" around.

Johan shrugged. "It's a long story. I'll show you Gengar's 'digital pet' next time."

"Digital... pet?" Lucian squinted. Something about that sounded off.

Before he could follow up, Flint laughed. "C'mon, it's just a pet, and an electronic one at that—"

CLICK.

Johan tapped his phone. Recording saved.

"...Huh? You recorded that?" Flint looked baffled.

"Just documenting something," Johan replied with a smile.

Lucian's eye twitched. Yep, something felt off. He was right to be cautious.

"Next time, let's all visit the 'pet' together." Flint slapped Lucian's and Aaron's shoulders.

Lucian: "..."

"Sure." Johan grinned.

Lucian: Flint, I'll remember this.

"They're starting," Aaron said seriously.

The crowd roared like thunder, waves of cheers cascading toward the arena's center.

BOOM! BOOM!

Under dazzling spotlights and deafening screams, the excitement reached its peak.

"Let's welcome the Dragon Master from Kanto—Lance!!"

He stepped forward, red cape billowing, waving to both sides with stern composure.

"...How many capes does Lance have?" Johan muttered.

The host's voice rose again:

"And now, from Sinnoh, the peerless Miss Cynthia!!"

The cheers were even louder than for Lance.

When the radiant blonde beauty stepped forward, her presence lit the arena on fire.

Objectively, Lance and Cynthia were equals in presence—but Cynthia had the beauty edge.

A woman with queenly might and flawless looks? Total crowd magnet.

"Ka-kaah!!"

Gengar cupped his hands and shouted in support. freewebnσvel.cѳm

He wasn't eager to face Cynthia, but setting that aside—he was loyal to the one who always snuck him treats.

"...That's some terrifying popularity," Johan clicked his tongue.

Lucian shot him a look.

You of all people don't get to say that. Cynthia's popularity might not even top yours.

Behind them, Flint and Aaron had unfurled a banner:

"Boss Lady – Majestic and Mighty, Charge!!"

Johan and Lucian immediately covered their faces in embarrassment.

"...Teacher, who do you think will win?" Steven asked, now relaxed after his match.

Johan shook his head. "Hard to say."

Then added, "If we're going by odds, Cynthia's got a slight edge—60/40."

"Really?"

Steven was surprised.

He'd fought Lance before, but never Cynthia. All he knew was that Lance was incredibly strong—closer in age to Johan and himself than the others.

But Johan wasn't underestimating Lance, despite calling him "Dodo Bird" as a joke.

In the Masters Eight arc of the original timeline, Leon took first, Lance second, Cynthia third.

Of course, Johan didn't think much of that Galar-based Masters Tournament.

Only allowing Dynamax, banning Mega and Z-Moves—it was clearly rigged.

Sure, Leon's Gigantamax Charizard was a beast, but still.

The takeaway? Lance and Cynthia were very close in strength.

But in this tournament, all forms of power-ups were allowed. And the one with the better Mega mattered most.

Lance's Dragonite didn't have Mega. Cynthia's Garchomp did.

That was the key difference.

Yes, Garchomp loses speed when it Mega evolves in-game—but that's game logic.

In reality, Mega Evolution offers major all-around buffs.

Lance's Mega? Probably Charizard or Gyarados. Could be Aerodactyl.

Either way, none match Mega Garchomp's synergy with Cynthia.

Now, the roars grew louder as both trainers readied their Poké Balls.

The second semifinal was about to begin!

Red light flashed. The field shook.

A fearsome Red Gyarados roared onto the stage, its scarlet scales gleaming as it bellowed skyward.

"ROOOOOAAARRR!!!"

"Woahhh!! Lance opens with his Red Gyarados!!"

This was the same Red Gyarados Johan had helped him catch—larger and stronger than any ordinary one.

Starting with such a brutal, aggressive Pokémon earned massive crowd approval.

But Cynthia?

She didn't flinch. She smiled.

"Right on cue," she whispered.

Lance blinked. Did she just say... "Right on cue"?

"Go."

Cynthia tossed her Poké Ball.

SHHHHH—CRACK!

A swirl of dark mist surged into the arena.

"Cynthia's first Pokémon—Spiritomb, the Forbidden Pokémon!!"

"Shhhpaaa!!"

Spiritomb glared intensely, oozing ghostly pressure.

Intimidate? Gyarados's roar had no effect—Spiritomb's presence was overwhelming.

"...Spiritomb?" Flint blinked. "Boss Lady never opens with Spiritomb."

Lucian side-eyed Johan.

He'd "accidentally" eavesdropped yesterday when Johan helped Cynthia prep for Lance.

Johan glanced back.

Lucian quickly cleared his throat, and stated, "Only weak to Fairy, but immune to three types. Versatile and strategic—makes perfect sense as a lead."

"Besides, Lance's Gyarados has no real advantage here."

That was an understatement.

Spiritomb had inherited part of Johan's Gengar playstyle.

Start with Will-O-Wisp to cripple, then throw in Foul Play, Hex, Hypnosis, Pain Split, Destiny Bond—

"Battle, begin!"

"Spiritomb, Will-O-Wisp!"

"Gyarados, Dragon Dance!"

Lance's frustration meter +1

"Spiritomb can at least trade one-for-one. If it takes out Gyarados, that's a win," Johan yawned again.

They served different tactical roles.

Spiritomb was a tank/disruptor.

Gyarados was a main attacker.

Trading one Spiritomb for a core sweeper? Absolute win.

Of course, the match still hinged on how the two performed.

Lance, meanwhile, was realizing something...

This... this is Johan's Gengar's strategy.

Then he remembered Cynthia's earlier whisper.

Suddenly, he understood.

Lance: OBJECTION—How am I supposed to win a 2-on-1?! She's got "Saraphim Jo" backing her!

...Just a joke, of course.

Lance wasn't frustrated—he was pumped.

The stronger the opponent, the more thrilling the battle!

"Spiritomb, Pain Split!"

"Shhhpaaa—!!"

Taught by Johan himself, Spiritomb knew its role well.

The more you suffer, the stronger I thrive!

Lance: "...I swear."

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