(XXXIX) Top 256!

Hanzō bolted across the field, tearing through each afterimage as orange lightning danced around the swirling purple clouds surrounding each Scraggy.

"Get ready! Counter!" The trainer shouted as Scraggy took a defensive stance and Hanzō immediately discerned all the copies from the real one and blitzed toward him.

"Hanzō!!!" Isaac shouted as the Froakie leaped over Scraggy's fierce punch and kicked him in the back causing him to stumble forward.

Scraggy quickly spun as his power surged dramatically thanks to the massive amount of damage dealt by Hanzō and took a step forward to unleash the powerful counter but stumbled to his knee and grabbed himself with his hand and his head sunk.

The referee raised the red flag as the crowd erupted in cheer, screaming loudly after the round between Froakie and Scraggy.

"Froakie managed to pull it off in a narrow victory against Daniel's Ace Pokémon in Scraggy!" Cotton roared into the microphone.

"What an unexpected battle between Daniel, who was estimated to be top 50 in this tournament has been taken out by Dark Horse Isaac without even placing in the top 256!!" Pepper shouted as Daniel returned Scraggy to his pokéball and was reluctant to send his next team member to fight.

"Contestant #72, please send your next Pokémon." The Referee sternly announced as he stared at Daniel.

'I didn't expect this...' Isaac thought and crossed his arms as he gazed fiercely at his opponent, 'I mean, Hanzō will most likely take it out with relative ease thanks to being boosted by both 2 Power-Up Punches and a Dragon Dance and STAB Quick Attack thanks to Protean...'

Daniel raised his hand, his head sulking as he walked off the field while the referee crossed the flags and raised the green one into the air.

"What an unexpected turn of events! Daniel forfeited! Isaac Firenze is the winner!" Cotton shouted.

"Daniel must not have wanted to hurt his Pokémon knowing that Froakie with his boosted power would take it out!" Pepper added as Isaac threw his fist into the air.

Isaac was overwhelmed by the cheer of the crowd and the announcers reviewing the match back as Hanzō dominated yet another trainer and began playing back footage from the previous three matches where Hanzō swept the matches.

Isaac grinned at Hanzō and gave a thumbs up and returned him to his pokéball. As he was leaving he was immediately swarmed by video cameras as Gayle rushed in for an interview.

"Isaac! Isaac! Please just a moment!" She said and quickly ran up to him and hooked her arm around his and pulled him against her and gave a big grin as Cotton and Pepper introduced her and brought them up on the massive screens.

"Thanks, guys! I am here with Isaac Firenze, who was a last-minute entry! How does it feel to make it into the Top 256?" She asked before passing the microphone to him.

"Honestly, I didn't think I would love it as much as I do! It feels great!" Isaac said with a smile and waved calmly as he was shaking inside being on camera and speaking in front of everyone present.

"You and Hanzō make some team! Was he your starter?" She asked pulling the microphone back as she asked her question and returned it to him for his answer.

"No, he isn't." Isaac replied and shook his head, "Believe it or not, he was a Pokémon who refused to listen to his previous trainer and was returned to the Pokémon League."

"He's not? Who is your starter?" She said with a shocked look.

"Ah, I can't tell you all that! But if the trainers in the upcoming matches are strong enough to knock out Hanzō, I may send my starter out!" Isaac said with a smirk.

"Ooh, strong declaration for war there Isaac! What makes you think your Pokémon are better than everyone you've faced until now?"

"I'd say part of is due to our training, we take it very seriously putting in a lot of hours every day, but I'm absolutely certain it's no small part due to their dietary regimen. Each of my Pokémon's diets has been tailored specifically to them by the experts at Hugh's Ranch in Viridian City of Kanto and you can see the results!" Isaac said as the interview continued.

Isaac had returned to the PokéCenter as he was finished with his matches and took advantage of his first free night and rented the Training Room again while handing over Hanzo and asking he be delivered to his room as he entered into the Training Room once more.

Just after midnight he yawned and stretched exiting the Training Room and turning in his Trainer Belt so the rest of his team could rest and grabbed a meal from the café before claiming his team and retiring for the night.

He woke up early and had breakfast with everyone and smiled as Morgana had finally warmed up to the team and would not hide. He still had no clue what was happening and why she was so shy but he did not push it.

He had arrived early the next morning as instructed by the officials after he was dismissed and was directed to a different waiting room. Inside he was met by half of the participants in his bracket.

He approached the posted match-ups. He quickly scanned through and clicked his tongue when he didn't see that snob Petrik in his bracket, "Of course! I bet I'll face him in the finals! Is this a freaking Shonen?" He muttered to himself, shaking his head.

He pulled out his Pokégear and copied down every trainer's name who he may end up facing in the upcoming rounds and picked up a copy of the schedule for the matches today.

"Hmm..." He said to himself as he sat down and stared at the schedule, thinking to himself, 'I won't be participating until later, I guess I'll rest and scout out my competition...' as he looked around the locker room realizing everyone was staring at him.

A young man slid down the bench up next to him with his hand out, "Hey there! I saw your match against Damien and what a great showing! I'm Alex, nice to meet ya!"

Isaac looked at the young man with an odd expression and took his hand, replying coldly, "Isaac. What do you want?"

"Hey now! No need to be like that! Everyone else is already gunning for you since only you and Petrik didn't reveal anyone else on your team and since he isn't here, guess who everyone is ready to tear apart?" Alex said with a smile, "You need friends and I want to be one of those friends!"

"Not interested." Isaac said standing up and exiting the locker room.

He looked down at the schedule as he navigated the corridors while Alex came running after him and threw his arm over Isaac's shoulder.

"Hey! Where are we off to?" Alex said with a smile, his jean coat raising up as his white t-shirt revealed his trainer belt attached to his cargo pants.

"I'm going to do my own thing. I don't care where you're going." Isaac said, sighing loudly as he removed Alex's arm from off his shoulders and tried to go another direction.

"Ah!!! Common buddy, don't be like that, you need me just as much as I need you!" Alex said as he stopped and flung his arms.

Isaac stopped and turned his head slightly, not looking at Alex as he asked, "Why would I need your help?"

Alex grinned wide and ran up throwing his arm around Isaac's shoulder once again as he began leading them, "So, if you haven't noticed, you're a little out of place here. I mean I'm from Unova and even I can tell you're not used to this like everyone else!"

"What's your point?" Isaac said rolling his eyes as he grabbed Alex's hand and took his arm off him once again and sighed exasperatedly.

"I can help you!" Alex said with a grin and placed both of his hands into his jacket.

"What's the catch?" Isaac said as he stopped and looked at him with an annoyed face.

"No catch really! I just want to sign you to my Team!" Alex said with a grin as he pulled open his vest to reveal the logo.

"Not interested!" Isaac said as he shook his head and walked away, "Stop following me!"

Alex chewed on his cheek as he watched Isaac walk away for a moment before he clicked his tongue and chased after him.

Isaac ignored Alex's continuously incessant pitch as he found his way out to the middle of the colosseum and located the field as he sat down and began watching the match against who would become his opponent in the next match.

———

Daily Chapter 2 of 2!

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