From 30 degrees Celsius to minus 10 degrees, the sudden drop in temperature would cause most people to suffer from hypothermia, and if they weren't careful, it could even lead to death.
Head teacher Frank kept a close eye on Julian, watching without blinking. If anything went wrong, he was ready to step in and rescue him immediately.
However, both Frank and Luis were shocked. Julian, standing in just a short-sleeved shirt, seemed completely unaffected by the biting cold that came from the Blizzard.
Meanwhile, Luis, despite wearing a thick cotton coat, was already trembling, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
The strength granted by Julian's Mega Pallet Town physique gave him extraordinary abilities—greater speed, strength, and quick reactions. On top of that, it allowed him to withstand the harsh effects of elemental attacks such as fire, ice, and electricity.
Even though the temperature had plummeted to more than ten degrees below freezing, Julian could feel the cold, but it was nowhere near enough to harm him. It remained within the tolerable range.
That said, if this were a concentrated attack like an Ice Beam instead of an area-wide move like Blizzard, Julian wouldn't have dared to stand so casually in the midst of it.
"Unbelievable... is he a martial artist?" Luis muttered to himself in disbelief.
It was common knowledge that only certain highly skilled martial artists could withstand such extreme temperatures by relying on their powerful internal energy and strong life force.
"He is indeed a martial artist," Shen said to her friend Kate to Luis's remark, Shen couldn't help but feel proud, "I taught him, after all."
"Froslass, use Ice Shard!"
With her Snow Cloak ability, Froslass moved through the storm with incredible speed. Blizzard gave her the perfect cover, making her seem like a phantom—just like the snow spirits from Babath kingdom's legends.
By now, the entire battlefield was covered with a thin layer of ice from the storm.
"Lucario, locate Froslass," Julian commanded in a calm voice.
Despite Froslass's evasive movements and near-invisibility in the storm, Lucario's aura flared to life.
In the midst of the howling wind and swirling snow, an Ice Shard, hidden by the storm, hurtled toward Lucario. But just as it was about to land, Lucario's eyes snapped open.
"Luca!"
With a swift movement, he crushed the shard with his fist.
Then, in an instant, Lucario vanished.
"Froslass, use Icy Wind!"
Luis shouted, sensing danger.
Icy Wind, boosted by Blizzard, surged across the battlefield. The combination of the two was powerful, but it wasn't easy to control. The energy needed to be balanced perfectly; otherwise, both moves would weaken, or worse, backfire.
Blizzard surged, growing even more fierce, as Icy Wind intertwined with it.
The temperature dropped even further. Ice began to form on Lucario's body, and his movements slowed.
"Sure enough, except for Metagross, although the other Pokémon are powerful, but they are within the acceptable range" Yanis commented, watching Lucario struggle under the freezing conditions.
Tyler, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. He couldn't help but feel envious of Luis's strategy. He had cleverly avoided Metagross and was now successfully putting pressure on Lucario.
He exchanged glances with Yanis, both of them realizing they had underestimated Luis's battle tactics.
"If only I hadn't been the first to face Julian," Tyler muttered with regret. He knew that if Luis had gone up against Metagross instead, things might have turned out differently.
Yanis smirked slightly, knowing full well the tough time Tyler had. His own experience with Metagross had been humbling, but at least he wasn't taken down instantly. Still, he couldn't help but think that if Luis had faced Metagross instead, his Froslass would have been overwhelmed by now.
"Lucario's situation doesn't look good," Kate observed, concerned by Lucario's increasingly sluggish movements.
The freezing cold had begun to take its toll on him, and despite sensing Froslass's location, landing a hit seemed more and more difficult.
"Relax, Lucario's tough," Shen said with confidence, fully trusting in Julian and his Pokémon.
Luis's confidence was growing. He saw the signs of Lucario weakening and believed victory was within reach.
"Froslass, use Frost Breath!"
Blizzard + Icy Wind + Frost Breath—the combination of these three moves dropped the temperature even more, plunging it to a bone-chilling minus 50 degrees.
Luis, well-prepared for this situation, activated the electric heating function in his coat to keep himself warm.
However, amidst the thrill of the moment, a sudden realization struck him.
"Wait… Julian…" Luis muttered, his excitement fading. Julian was still standing out there, only wearing short sleeves.
He had only wanted to win the match—not kill Julian.
But because of the existence of Icy Wind and Frost Breath, Blizzard had become bigger, he could no longer see Julian on the opposite side, and had no idea whether Julian was frozen to death or not.
"Aura Sphere"
Julian's voice cut through the storm, calm and steady. A moment later, Froslass let out a pained cry.
"Froslass!"
Luis shouted in panic. He cursed himself for being an idiot— Metagross was standing right behind Julian, There was no way Julian was in danger with that powerhouse by his side.
Though the Aura Sphere hadn't knocked Froslass out, the damage was done. Blizzard began to lose its intensity, and soon the storm had cleared.
Julian stood unscathed, a faint green barrier surrounding him—the protective handiwork of Metagross.
The temperature may have dropped to minus 50, but Julian could still have relied on Mega Pallet Town physique to resist, but there were many people around. He knew better than to reveal his abilities in such a public setting. As long as they were not idiots, everyone would instantly know something was wrong.
As the storm cleared, Froslass was panting heavily, struggling to stay upright. Lucario, though frosted over, was still standing strong.
"Ice Shard!" Luis shouted, desperate to make a last stand.
"Aura Sphere."
"Boom!"
The two moves clashed, but the result was clear. Froslass, unable to keep up any longer, collapsed.
"Froslass is unable to battle. Lucario wins!"
"Still lost huh.."
Luis recalled his Froslass, his expression a mixture of frustration and respect. He had lost, but he had given it his all.
"Lucario must be your Trump Card, huh? It's ridiculously strong," Luis said, his tone lighter, though still tinged with disappointment. "I threw everything at it, and it barely flinched."
'Huh, Shameless..'
Tyler and Yanis exchanged knowing glances. Both thought to themselves that Luis wasn't fooling anyone. They all knew that Metagross was Julian's true Trump Card.
"Sure, a chance for you to meet my other Trump Card."
Julian found Luis's character quite interesting.
Still, Luis's strength as a Trainer was undeniable. He had skillfully combined Icy Wind and Frost Breath with Blizzard, creating a powerful synergy that could overpower Pokémon ten levels higher than his.
Meanwhile, Yanis, also an ice-type Trainer, didn't seem nearly as impressive in comparison.
Julian's gaze shifted toward Yanis, and it didn't take long for Yanis to catch on. His expression quickly turned awkward.
'What's that look for? You think I'm not as good as him? You're not even comparing the same situations—look at his opponent and then look at mine.'
Metagross was still towering, while Lucario had calmly stepped aside.
"Humph."
Luis walked up to Tyler and Yanis with a smug look on his face. Despite his loss, he acted as though he had just won the battle.
Both Tyler and Yanis were fuming. They couldn't believe his attitude.
After all, while neither of them had managed to even scratch Julian's Metagross, Luis's Froslass had actually caused some damage to Lucario.
And now, he was rubbing it in their faces.
"What's his deal?" Shen asked.
Shen couldn't help but be impressed. It wasn't easy to make Julian's Lucario show any sign of damage.
Even though she hadn't known her new friend, Kate, for long, she knew that Kate had a strong understanding of everyone's backgrounds in the special class. She even knew that Shen came from a martial arts family of Lake City.
"His grandmother is an Ice-type Elite," Kate replied.
"No wonder."
Shen nodded. With a grandmother who was an Elite specializing in ice-types, it was no surprise that Luis was so skilled at using his Froslass. If Shen had been the one against him, even her Trump Card, Machamp, wouldn't have been able to last two rounds against that Froslass.
"And what about you? What's your background? You a descendant of an Elite too?" Shen asked, curiosity piqued.
Everyone in the special class came from prominent families, and Shen was beginning to feel that her background might be one of the least impressive in the group.
"My family has shares in the Penguin Group."
"..."
Well, that explained it. A big local powerhouse, no doubt. Shen wasn't sure how many shares Kate's family owned, but it definitely wasn't a small amount.
"I will go next"
Just then, a burly figure emerged from the crowd.
Standing nearly two meters tall, he towered over everyone.
"My name's Walter. Mind having a match with me? I've got a level 20 Pokémon I want to train."
Shameless.
Tyler, Yanis, and Linda all sneered at Walter. He was clearly taking advantage of the situation.
Such a big man had such little courage.
Level 20 Pokémon were still in the early stages of development. At that level, Pokémon couldn't absorb too many resources, and over-investing would even cause harm.
At the same time, the difference between level 20 Pokémon wasn't typically huge, they all had similar level of power.
Unlike Metagross, who at the same level, no one could defeat.
"Alright"
Julian agreed with a nod. If he wanted to establish himself as the leader of the special class, he had to prove himself by taking on every challenge, one by one.
"Go, Marshtomp!"
Walter sent out his Pokémon—a level 20 Marshtomp, with cyan qualification.
The cyan-qualification was no surprise at all now.
"Aron."
As soon as Julian's Aron appeared on the battlefield, everyone's jaws dropped.
That wasn't a goddamn Aron— if Julian said it was a Aggron with stunted growth, they would all believe it.
'Have you ever seen an Aron-over a meter tall?'
"Is that really an Aron?" someone muttered in disbelief.
"F**k! Did this Aron grow up eating gold bars and Diamonds?"
"And did you notice how shiny its forehead is? The sunlight reflecting off it is practically blinding me!"
"Shen, does Julian even have any normal Pokémon?" Kate asked, staring at the towering Aron.
"No"
Shen replied without hesitation.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, but Walter stood there, lost in thought. His reverse strategy seemed to have backfired.
He realized with an Aron that size, his Marshtomp might get crushed directly.
Marshtomp looked back at his Trainer pitifully.
Marshtomp: I don't wanna fight it… I'll get squashed!
Meanwhile, Aron was full of excitement. Although Julian often took him to battle wild Pokémon, this was his first time battling another trainer's Pokémon.
Aron: Crush my enemy.
Marshtomp: ...
"Don't worry, Marshtomp. The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Walter reassured his Pokémon, though it was clear Marshtomp wasn't convinced.
Marshtomp had decent qualifications, but its timid personality got the better of it. The sight of Aron's massive frame only heightened its anxiety.
Many of the spectators couldn't help but look at him after hearing Walter's pep talk. He seemed to be talking about himself.
Pokémon: Aron (Steel/Rock)
Level: 20
Qualification: Blue
Ability: Heavy Metal
Gender: Male
Moves: Roar, Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Protect, Rock Tomb, Metal Claw
Discs Moves: Earthquake, Sandstorm, Dig, Shock Wave, Rock Slide, Rock Smash
Genetic Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush
Both Aron and Marshtomp were level 20, so there was no clear advantage on that front.
"Marshtomp, use Water Gun!"
Encouraged by Walter, Marshtomp summoned the courage to launch a Water Gun. A stream of water shot toward Aron.
"Aron, Tackle!"
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Aron charged forward, its heavy frame thudding against the ground. Thanks to its Heavy Metal ability, its speed wasn't the fastest, but it moved with unstoppable force, looking more like a small tank than a Pokémon.
The Water Gun splashed harmlessly against Aron's metal armor, as if it were nothing more than a raindrop hitting a stone. It didn't even slow him down.
Marshtomp's eyes widened in panic as Aron closed in.
"Use Mud Shot! Aim for its eyes!" Walter called out.
He had thought about using Dig to dodge the attack, but looking at the massive Aron, it's likely had Earthquake learned through a Disc, he couldn't take the risk. Digging underground would only make things worse.
Mud flew through the air, targeting Aron's face.
"Close your eyes and keep moving," Julian ordered.
There was no need for evasive maneuvers or complicated strategies. Aron could take whatever was thrown at him. After all, his role was simple: to tank.
Mud splattered against Aron, but it didn't matter. He barreled forward without hesitation, getting closer and closer to Marshtomp.
"Jump up when he gets close!"
"It's now!" Walter shouted.
Marshtomp leaped into the air just as Aron was about to collide with him.
"Marshtomp, use Rock Throw!"
Stones appeared mid-air, hurtling down toward Aron, with Marshtomp standing on top of one of them.
"Aron, Heavy Slam!"
Ignoring the falling rocks, Aron used his weight and Heavy Metal ability to turn into a small meteorite, plowing through the stone rain.
Marshtomp: My life is flashing before my eyes…
"Marshtomp is unable to battle. Aron wins!"
"Aron!"
Aron cheered in victory, looking even more eager for another round.
He turned toward Walter with anticipation.
Aron: Go ahead, send out the next one out.
"This feels like an adult fighting kindergarten children."
"This is Totem Pokémon for you—Marshtomp's moves just can't shake it."
"It's not just because it's a Totem Pokémon; Aron's defense is impressive!"
"Its armor shines like diamonds."
A certain girl was fascinated by Aron's armor that sparkled in the sunlight.
The people in the special class recognized Aron as a Totem Pokémon. No one was naïve here. Although most students had never encountered a Totem Pokémon in real life, it was obvious that Aron's massive size was no mere work of just resources and money.
The only conclusion was that Aron was indeed a Totem Pokémon.
"This is the privilege of being the sole heir to the Walker family"
Luis, who also came from a prestigious background himself, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Though he was indeed very talented and his family also gave him preference when allocating resources, but it was impossible to be like Julian, getting all the best things. After all, there were over ten direct family members to consider, and resources had to be shared.
Most of the people here had the same idea, they believed that Julian's Totem Aron was something the Walker family had found for him.
In reality, Aron had indeed been discovered by Julian's father, Jake. However, he hadn't started as a Totem Pokémon; Julian had transformed him into one through the soul of Totem.
When Jake found out that Aron was a Totem Pokémon, he called himself the emperor of luck. After all, He'd stumbled upon a Pokémon rarer than a pseudo-legendary, something beyond lucky.
Standing before Julian, he even bragged that if not for his luck, Julian would have never gotten this Totem Pokémon.
Julian smiled, choosing to remain silent.
-
"Which one of you will go first or should I pick?"
When Walter stepped down from the crowd, the last two challengers exchanged glances.
"I'll go first."
As one of the challenger stepped forward, someone in the audience who knew him muttered, "Julian is in trouble."
"Why, is he that strong?"
"Dragon-type Trainer, you tell me"
Among the eighteen types, Dragon-type Pokémon were synonymous with power, known for their incredible destructive capabilities.
Of course, their numbers were far fewer than other types, and Breeding them required substantial resources.
If breeding a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, a family without considerable wealth would be better off not attempting it at all.
Raising a dragon takes energy, time, and resources, and dragon types are still late bloomers. If you raise a dragon type pseudo-legendary, you might end up being dragged down by the Pokémon.
"He seems famous!" Shen exclaimed, noticing the commotion surrounding the newcomer.
"Ian Drake, heir of the Drake family in the imperial capital. The last Dragon Elite was his grandfather," Kate didn't disappoint, effortlessly sharing details.
"Ah, so he's from the Drake family," Shen said in understanding.
Most ordinary people knew very little about the top families in Drakoria, but the Drake family was an exception. Many recognized their members easily.
The main reason was them using dragon-types and many excellent members even using pseudo-legendaries.
Although not all pseudo-legendary Pokémon were dragon type, but they were the most numerous of all.
"Let's have a battle of dragons," Ian proposed confidently.
Tyler, Yanis: Shameless
Luis, Walter: Plagiarism
"Fine," Julian replied.
He withdrew Aron and sent out his Dragonair.
Looking at the blue and white figure soaring gracefully through the air, Ian said sincerely, "Your Dragonair is really bred well."
"Can I ask, where did your Dragonair come from?" he inquired, genuinely curious.
The qualifications of the Dragonair in front of him were clearly above Cyan—perhaps even above the Blue level. Its eyes, demeanor, and skin color all hinted at its excellence.
Such a Pokémon could not even be found in the Drake family; how had it appeared in the Walker family, known for its Steel-type Pokémon?
"That's confidential"
Julian replied coldly.
Ian felt a flicker of irritation at the dismissal. Without further ado, he released his Pokémon.
"Roar!"
A fearsome creature emerged—a Salamence with blood-red wings and a dark blue body, exuding an aura of intimidation.
Salamence looked up at Dragonair soaring overhead, its wings fluttering slightly. It matched Dragonair's level, its fierce, predatory gaze emanating a sense of danger.
Among the Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries, Salamence, Garchomp, and Hydreigon were notoriously aggressive, especially Hydregion.
In fact, Hydreigon had a history of violent incidents, including one where it killed and ate its own trainer in Celestria.
Salamence: Level 55, cyan qualification.
Pokémon: Dragonair
Level: 54
Qualification: Purple
Ability: Shed Skin
Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance
Discs Moves: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe
Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Shelgon evolves into Salamence at level 50, while Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55.
Julian had also suffered from the late bloomer status of Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries.
Salamence's Intimidate ability didn't diminish Dragonair's attack power. Although Dragonair was one level below Salamence, levels alone didn't define strength.
Ian realized this too, his brow furrowing slightly.
His Salamence was at level 55, while Dragonair hadn't yet evolved into Dragonite, so it's level must be less than 55.
Despite being lower in level, it was not affected by Intimidate.
The possibility was that Dragonair's strength might be comparable to Salamence's—or even surpass it.
Salamence was Ian's starter Pokémon, the strongest among his team, while Dragonair wasn't Julian's starter.
He was also part of a prestigious family, yet his starter Pokémon didn't measure up to Julian's other Pokémon in rank. The disparity gnawed at him.
"Salamence, use Dragon Breath!"
Ian initiated the attack confidently. Being a member of a Dragon family, he was certain he wouldn't lose in a contest of Dragon Pokémon.
The green breath surged forward, charged with powerful Dragon energy.
"Dragon Tail!" Julian commanded.
Dragonair's slender tail swung down, striking Dragon Breath with a sharp snap, instantly dispersing it.
"Salamence, use Dragon Claw!"
Salamence flapped its wings, covering the distance of over a hundred meters in an instant. The air split apart as its claw tore through it, creating a piercing sound.
"Swish!"
Dragon Claw descended, but Dragonair was no longer in the same spot.
"Extreme Speed!"
When Dragon Claw missed, Salamence felt a sudden force slam into its back, sending it spiraling downward.
Thanks to the protective shell covering Salamence's belly from its Shelgon stage, and the Extreme Speed Tackle not dealing critical damage. Otherwise, the blow would have been far worse.
Under Dragonair's Extreme Speed, Salamence crashed straight into the ground, creating a massive pit about seven or eight meters wide. Yet, Salamence wasn't down for the count; in fact, the impact only seemed to fuel its inner rage.
"Roar!"
With bloodthirsty eyes, Salamence glared at Dragonair, who floated gracefully in the air above.
"Extreme Speed... your Dragonair actually inherited that?" Ian said, disbelief clear in his voice.
Extreme Speed was a rare move, and while it didn't give Dragonair a huge advantage yet, once it evolved into Dragonite, it would be a game-changer.
Dragonite was already known for incredible speed, but adding Extreme Speed would eliminate its only real shortcoming.
The thing about Extreme Speed was that Dragonite couldn't learn it through normal means—it had to be passed down genetically.
And the odds of inheriting it were slim, almost like hitting the lottery.
In the wild or among most Pokémon, only a few species could even use Extreme Speed, like Arcanine or Lucario.
Both of them were just as rare as pseudo-legendaries.
So for a Dratini to inherit such a move? It was a jackpot.
Researchers were even studying more about these types of genetic moves.
Ian knew very well how powerful a Dragonite with Extreme Speed Move would be in the future.
How had a family known for Steel-type Pokémon like the Walkers ended up with a Dragonair so superior even to those raised by dragon-specialist families like his own?
For a moment, he doubted whether Julian was a child of the Drake family.
"Dragonair, use Dragon Rush!"
Julian, unfazed by Ian's comments, gave his next command calmly.
"Salamence, Protect!" Ian shouted, quickly reacting.
A green shield enveloped Salamence just in time, blocking Dragonair's rush. The two Pokémon's energies clashed violently, sparks flying as the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air.
"Crack, crack..."
Salamence's protective shield began to fracture under the pressure.
"Hyper Beam!" Ian called out just as Salamence's shield shattered.
A glowing beam burst from Salamence, colliding with Dragonair's Dragon Rush mid-attack.
Protect had already consumed some of the move's energy and The force of the Hyper Beam canceled out the remaining energy from Dragon Rush, leaving both Pokémon momentarily drained.
"This Dragonair is something else"
Ian muttered, realizing Salamence had needed two moves to block one of Dragonair's attacks—one of those moves being a lifesaving Protect.
The sheer power behind Julian's Dragonair was astounding.
"Dragonair, Ice Beam!"
Julian seized the moment.
Salamence was left frozen in place, reeling from the exhaustion of using Hyper Beam.
The stronger the Pokémon the less time it needed to reel in after a Hyper Beam, some really powerful ones might even ignore the effect all together.
But Salamence as of now couldn't do anything.
As the icy blast shot out from Dragonair's horn, the air filled with cold, jagged energy. Icicles formed wherever the beam passed.
"Salamence, dodge!" Ian yelled in desperation.
Not all Trainers were Ash, shout and Pokémon will fight back.
Salamence: I can't move my body, you should have thought this through before letting me use Hyper Beam, you idiot.
But Salamence was still recovering from Hyper Beam, unable to move. Ian could only watch as the Ice Beam struck true.
Ice-type moves were especially devastating to Dragon-types, 4x damage, and Salamence took the full brunt of the attack.
A moment later, Salamence was frozen solid, encased in ice like a statue.
"Salamence is unable to battle! Dragonair wins!"
Seeing that Ian lose, Tyler and Yanis were so happy that they gave each other a high five. After reacting, they felt something was wrong.
"Of course he had to lose, If Ian had won, wouldn't it make us look even worse?" Luis muttered.
The two nodded in agreement.
"It's Evolving"
Someone shouted from the crowd.
In mid-air, Dragonair's slender body was suddenly enveloped in a brilliant white light. Its elegant, serpentine form started to grow rounder, bulkier, as it transformed.
When the light faded, a large, orange dragon with tiny wings and a broad belly appeared—Dragonite.
Gone was the sleek and graceful Dragonair, replaced by a chubby, friendly-looking Dragonite.
Julian couldn't help but laugh at the sight of his newly evolved Pokémon. He gave Dragonite's round belly a playful pat, and it jiggled in response.
"Better watch what you eat, or you'll get even fatter," Julian teased with a grin.
Dragonite:((;???;))
Pokémon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
Level: 55
Qualification: Purple
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance
Move Disc: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe
Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Ian's face fell as he withdrew his Salamence, his mind racing with disbelief. He had not only lost, but he had been completely outclassed. His Salamence, higher in level and a true dragon-type, had been defeated by Dragonair. To make things worse, Dragonair had evolved into Dragonite at the very moment of victory.
It was simply rubbing salt in the wound.
'If Julian's Dragonite becomes famous in the future, some people might say that when it was still Dragonair, it defeated someone named Ian and then evolved into Dragonite.'
"That Dragonite is incredibly strong and its strength should be no less than that of the Metagross. Maybe Dragonite is his real Trump Card," Ian said with a serious face after the match.
Even though Salamence was higher in level, and Ian was from a prestigious dragon family, he had still been soundly defeated. The thought stung.
"Cut the dramatics, Ian," Luis said with a knowing smile. "Lucario is his trump card, not Dragonite."
After all, losing to someone's ace was definitely different from losing to just any Pokémon.
"Actually, it's Metagross"
Tyler and Yanis corrected.
All of them exchanged glances, feeling the weight of their losses.
Even though there was one more challenger who hadn't battled Julian yet they could see what was coming. Each one of them had been defeated with ease, as if Julian was just warming up.
They all looked towards the last challenger.
"Why bother?" Luis said, patting them on the shoulder. "You're going to lose anyway. Might as well save yourself the embarrassment."
Facing Luis's teasing remark, the other trainer didn't even respond. He simply cast a cold glance at him, and that was enough to make Luis freeze in place. A drop of cold sweat ran down his cheek.
"I'll take him down"
Hugo declared, his voice as cold as ice. Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the battlefield.
"Huh, Who is this guy?, That murderous aura, he has definitely killed a lot of people" Luis muttered under his breath, still shaken.
'That stare... it felt like I was being hunted by an Arbok. One wrong move and I'm done for.'
"His name is Hugo. He's the champion of this year's Summer Country Field Fighting Tournament. Rumor has it that nearly a dozen people lost their lives to him during the competition."
Ian, standing beside him, offered some insight, though his tone was uneasy.
"Damn, it turned out to be that fierce guy. I've heard about him... but I didn't expect him to end up as a classmate."
"Yeah, suddenly it feels like my neck's a bit chilly."
Wild fighting tournaments were brutal, no-rules competitions where participants could use any tactic to win—even lethal ones.
These battles weren't just against Pokémon but also against the trainers themselves. It was a game of survival, where killing your opponent was not only allowed but expected in some cases.
There were only champions in wild tournaments, no second or third place, and those who participate and become champions will get very generous rewards.
"Wild fighting?" Tyler whispered. "I thought those were just for desperate people and criminals."
"They usually are," Ian replied grimly. "But the reality is... out in the wild, it's not just Pokémon you need to worry about. Trainers will turn on each other for treasure or to capture rare Pokémon. That's the kind of place Hugo comes from."
As Hugo approached, Julian's expression grew serious. The air around him felt tense, charged with danger.
Even Metagross, who had been calmly standing behind Julian, moved in front, ready to protect its trainer.
"I may not be your rival in a head-on fight," Hugo said, expressionlessly. " But Wild fights are about life and death, not rules."
Julian could hear the excitement in Hugo's tone when he spoke of life and death. He wasn't just a fighter—he was a thrill-seeker, a man who enjoyed danger, who thrived in chaos.
A real madman.
Julian finally knew why the other party gave him a sense of danger. It turned out that he was good at wild fighting, with no rules and the sole purpose of violence.
Julian didn't hesitate, though.
"I accept," he said firmly. He wasn't one to back down, even though he didn't have that much experience of a wild fight.
Seeing that Julian agreed, Frank, the head teacher, shook his head secretly, not optimistic that Julian would be able to beat Hugo in a wild match.
Head-to-head confrontation and wild fighting were two completely different things.
"Alright, you can have your wild match, but no crippling or killing, understood?" His eyes moved from Hugo to Julian, making sure both acknowledged the rule.
As the head teacher, he couldn't watch the two of them have an accident, holding a Poké Ball in his hand, he was ready to stop the match at any time.
They both nodded, though Julian could feel that Hugo was less concerned with the "rules" than he was with winning.
Wild fights were best suited for natural environments, where anything could happen. The battlefield setting limited Hugo's usual tactics, but that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous.
Without wasting any time, Hugo unleashed four Ghost-type Pokémon in rapid succession:
Mismagius, Banette, Sableye, and Dusknoir.
Their eerie presence chilled the air, and the spectators could feel the temperature drop as they appeared.
Ghost-types were known for their tricky, underhanded tactics—perfect for wild fights.
If the strongest Pokémon were considered to be Dragon types, then the most difficult to deal with Pokémon were definitely Ghost types.
Before Julian could even release more of his Pokémon, Hugo launched an attack.
"Mismagius, Astonish!"
"Banette, Curse on Metagross!"
"Sableye, attack the trainer directly!"
"Dusknoir, use Disable on Metagross!"
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
The only Pokémon Julian had out was Metagross, which he had never taken back after the match, and now Hugo's Ghost-types were closing in fast.
In a official match, this would've been illegal, but in a wild fight, anything goes.
Mismagius let out a piercing cry, causing the crowd to cover their ears in pain. Julian, thinking quickly, blocked out the noise with his Psychic abilities.
Sableye, however, was already speeding toward him. Metagross tried to move, but Dusknoir's Disable temporarily locked it in place. Though Metagross broke free a moment later, it was too late—Sableye was already upon Julian, throwing a Shadow Punch aimed straight at his abdomen.
Luis, watching from the sidelines, muttered to himself, "He's done for…"
Frank, the head teacher, had already thrown a Poké Ball, preparing to stop the fight.
"Eat my punch"
But Julian wasn't defenseless. Just before the Shadow Punch landed, he clenched his fists, and a burst of aura energy flared up around it. With precise timing, Julian swung his fist, and it connected with Sableye's face like a hammer.
The impact sent Sableye flying into the air.
"Haa..!"
Julian shouted, channeling his energy once more. He pulled back his hands and launched an Aura Sphere, the size of a football, straight toward Sableye, who hadn't even hit the ground yet.
With the power of Advanced Aura, using Aura Sphere was no longer a dream, though the power was definitely not comparable to Lucario.
The energy ball struck Sableye mid-air, and it came crashing down.
"Lucario, Dragonite, take care of the rest!"
Without missing a beat, Julian released his next two Pokémon.
Dragonite soared into the air, flapping its wings powerfully, and with one swift Dragon Breath, Sableye was down for good.
Lucario, meanwhile, darted across the battlefield, its target locked on Hugo.
Hugo had been counting on his sneak attack to take Julian out, but in just three seconds, he had already lost one of his Pokémon. Most people would've been overwhelmed by the initial onslaught—but Julian wasn't most people.
With advanced aura control, intermediate-level Psychic abilities, and his enhanced physique, Julian was anything but ordinary.
These factors made Julian take down Sableye instead.
Hugo barely had time to react before Lucario was upon him. He hastily ordered Banette and Dusknoir to intercept, but Lucario was too fast.
"Luca!"
With an Aura Sphere in each hand, Lucario struck both Ghost-types, forcing them to retreat momentarily.
That brief delay bought Hugo just enough time to roll out of the way as Lucario lunged for him.
Gengar, hidden in Hugo's shadow, finally revealed itself.
Taking advantage of this sudden reveal, Gengar's eyes glowed, casting a Hypnosis.
Lucario's movements slowed, and it stumbled, its eyelids growing heavy.
"Good job"
Hugo grinned, thinking victory was near.
But before he could finish the thought, a flesh-colored fist appeared in front of him.
"BANG!"
Julian's punch connected with Hugo's face, fracturing his nose. Hugo stumbled back, his vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his skull, causing him to tear up instantly.
"Let's have a wild match?"
"You think you're cool, huh?"
Julian growled, grabbing Hugo by the collar and delivering another punch to his jaw.