Pokémon: A Trainer Who Masters the Six Powers from the Start

Munching on an apple and watching a replay on the TV, Ron began studying his next opponent.

Since the tournament began, Ron had already gone through four battles. If he won the next match, he would make it to the top 64 and unlock the betting phase, marking the moment when his plans would finally bear fruit.

Out of the previous four battles, three had allowed Ron to fully demonstrate Machamp's weaknesses. In the remaining match, his opponent also used a Fighting-type Pokémon, which ended up being utterly dominated by Ron from start to finish.

This strategy wasn't without trade-offs. If Ron's opponent used a melee-based Pokémon, his betting odds would drop significantly. Conversely, if the opponent excelled in ranged combat, his odds could skyrocket to a shocking degree.

Ron had anticipated this dynamic. If he appeared to be marginally stronger than every opponent, it would raise suspicion, making it impossible for him to maximize his profits.

After reviewing his opponent's battle footage, Ron felt satisfied. The opposing Pokémon specialized in ranged attacks, which was perfect for allowing Machamp to put on another convincing performance, thereby driving up the betting odds for his next match.

This time, Ron decided to take things up a notch. He planned to have Machamp take a few inconsequential hits to further agitate the nerves of those planning to bet on the match.

Three hours later, Machamp stood tall on the battlefield, his opponent's Ninetales already incapacitated.

Upon closer inspection, one could spot burn marks on Machamp's body.

Originally, Ron hadn't intended for the battle to end so quickly. However, his opponent had the misfortune of triggering the 10% burn chance when Ninetales' Flamethrower landed on Machamp. This activated Machamp's Guts ability, boosting its attack to five times its usual power. The relatively fragile Ninetales couldn't withstand Machamp's punches and was promptly defeated.

Still, the opponent had done their job—convincing the audience that Machamp's earlier dodging maneuvers were simply due to weaker opponents. As the competition grew tougher, it seemed inevitable that Machamp wouldn't be able to avoid every hit. The spectators were encouraged to place their bets on Ron losing.

By 5 p.m., the top 64 had been finalized, with Ron among them. This milestone meant betting could now officially begin.

Ron's next opponent would be using Raichu, Pikachu's evolved form.

Despite its larger size, Raichu's speed stat actually increased after evolving, though it came at the cost of the agility Pikachu was known for.

Shortly after the battle order was announced, the much-anticipated betting phase commenced.

Arriving at the betting venue, Ron discovered that his odds were set at 1:5, while his opponent Lyle's odds were 1:2.

The high odds were due to this being the first battle in the top 64. Although previous matches had revealed some weaknesses in the competitors, their overall strength remained hard to gauge, leaving room for wide estimations.

As the tournament progressed, the odds would stabilize. Such high odds as 1:5 would become increasingly rare unless there was an enormous skill gap.

Without hesitation, Ron left his room and headed to the betting counter.

Technically, he could have summoned staff to his room to place the bet, but the thrill of wagering over ten million League coins in person was something he couldn't pass up.

Before even entering the betting area, Ron could hear the lively discussions inside.

"Trust me, bet on Lyle! Ron's Machamp is strong, sure, but its weaknesses are glaringly obvious. It struggled against that Ninetales earlier, and there's no way it'll stand a chance against a speedy, long-range attacker like Raichu!"

Bolstered by such arguments, the two dozen or so people at the venue all resolved to bet on Lyle's victory.

As they exited the betting area, they spotted Ron at the entrance. Instead of feeling awkward for talking behind his back, they stared at him intently.

Having placed their bets on Lyle, they were now the ones most invested in Ron's loss. Some even considered sabotaging him to ensure he couldn't perform at his best during the match.

Feeling the hostile gazes, Ron realized that while he had enjoyed orchestrating this elaborate act and stood to gain a fortune, the stakes for those betting against him were equally high. Would someone actually lash out in frustration and stab him in the back?

If it was just one or two people, it wouldn't be a problem. But with so many involved, Ron doubted Ralts' Teleport ability could hold up for long.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Ron made up his mind.

Once the tournament ended, he would start wearing disguises whenever he went out. Ralts, too, would need intensive training to improve its strength and extend the duration of its Teleport.

As for these gamblers? He couldn't be bothered to worry about them. After all, he was one of them—a gambler who used his own abilities to manipulate the game.

"I'm Ron, and I'm betting everything on my win!"

With a bold declaration, Ron handed over his prepared bank card.

Unfortunately, the betting staff weren't particularly impressed by his wager. Earlier, someone else had placed a nearly hundred-million-League coins bet.

"Got it. Would you like the winnings credited to this bank card or a new account?"

Thanks to the efficient system, Ron walked out of the betting area with an empty bank card just one minute later, feeling an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.

After waiting patiently overnight, Ron's match began at 2 p.m. the following day.

"Go, Raichu!"

"Get ready, Machamp!"

Suppressing his excitement, Ron reminded himself that his efforts to conceal Machamp's true strength had brought him this far. But this victory wasn't the endgame—his ambitions extended far beyond this battle.

In this match, Ron's goal was to let Machamp continue hiding its full power, taking multiple hits from Raichu to create the illusion of being weak and vulnerable.

Exchanging a glance with Ron, Machamp understood exactly what needed to be done.

"Machamp, charge!"

Seeing no attack from the opponent, Ron had Machamp charge straight in, taking the initiative for the first time in the tournament.

Lyle waited calmly as Machamp approached, opting not to have Raichu interfere.

After reviewing Ron and Machamp's previous matches, Lyle had noticed a flaw. Ron and Machamp weren't particularly strong; they had simply taken advantage of long-range attacks losing speed and power over distance, eventually finding openings to counterattack.

Learning from this, Lyle planned to wait until Machamp got within a certain range before unleashing a barrage of attacks. If that failed, Raichu could always retreat.

Lyle firmly believed there was no way Machamp could keep up with Raichu's speed.

What Lyle didn't realize was that his strategy would only hasten his defeat.

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