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On the day of the match.
Both sides arrived at the battlefield.
The number of onlookers had reached its peak, surrounding the battlefield in layers upon layers. Those who arrived later couldn't even see what was happening inside.
The second-year matches had ended the day before, and these people, having no battles to watch and too lazy to battle themselves, came over to join the excitement.
The school encouraged students to watch and practice more, so naturally, there was no reason to chase them away. As long as they remained quiet and didn't disturb the battle, no one would say anything even if they lay on the ground to watch.
Inside the battlefield.
The participants maintained a safe distance as per the rules.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the sound of the referee reading out the rules and Zhu Huihui's taunts.
Li Xiang couldn't be bothered to deal with this guy. A defeated dog barking to amuse the crowd was all he was. Li Xiang focused on listening to the rules being read out by the referee.
Unlike one-on-one battles, most battles involved switching Pokémon, so the rules were more complicated than usual.
In any case, in most battles, there were a few rules that had to be followed.
1. If the opponent successfully uses a move, you cannot use a PokéBall to switch your Pokémon. Violators will be warned or disqualified depending on the situation.
2. During a battle, the time to switch Pokémon cannot exceed five seconds. Violators will be warned or disqualified depending on the situation.
3. The total time allowed for switching Pokémon is five minutes. Once used up, no further switches are allowed. Violators will be disqualified.
Slightly more complicated than the games, but it also restricted many trainers who wanted to drag out the battle to annoy their opponents.
As well as some low-quality trainers who deliberately didn't send out their Pokémon, waiting for their opponent to be poisoned or burned to death.
Li Xiang listened carefully, while Zhu Huihui rambled on, feeling good about himself, thinking his "speech" had attracted the audience's attention, and feeling smug inside.
Actually.
It was normal for young people to do silly things when they were young. Everyone had embarrassing moments that made them squirm in bed when they thought about them.
But someone like him was rare.
Not to say there weren't any.
As for what Zhu Huihui specifically said, Li Xiang didn't pay much attention. After listening to the important rules, he thought about Torracat's gains from last night.
Sometimes, when luck comes, you really can't stop it.
Torracat had somehow learned Taunt, even though it was supposed to learn Sleep Talk, which had nothing to do with Taunt.
Maybe it was because every time Torracat got beaten up, it would pretend nothing happened and give a cheeky smile?
Li Xiang thought it was possible.
Sometimes even he and Riolu couldn't stand Torracat's smugness, let alone the opponent.
Learning Taunt was perfectly normal.
The key was the timing, which was just too perfect.
Li Xiang had just told them he was worried about Grapploct's Taunt and to be careful not to fall for it, and then Torracat learned Taunt.
Specifically to counter Grapploct.
You Taunt me, I Taunt you! You Taunt me again.
Somehow, another trump card had been added. It was just...
On the other side.
Zhu Huihui, seeing that Li Xiang wasn't paying attention to him, unconsciously raised his voice, accidentally drowning out the referee's voice and earning himself a warning.
Failing to steal the spotlight, this spoiled brat's face immediately darkened, his carefully prepared speech left unsaid, feeling extremely frustrated.
But he really didn't dare to continue. The referee wouldn't indulge him like his mother.
By the time Li Xiang noticed and looked over, Zhu Huihui already had the expression of someone who had eaten something disgusting but couldn't say anything.
This kid is really something...
Not long after.
The rules were finished.
The referee glanced left and right and blew the whistle.
The match begins!
Both sides released their Pokémon at the same time!
Zhu Huihui surprisingly didn't start with Chesnaught, as if guessing Li Xiang would lead with Torracat, and sent out Fletchinder instead.
Unfortunately, Li Xiang chose Riolu.
Fletchinder started with Tailwind, its wings flapping as a cool white airflow surrounded it, significantly increasing its speed. Its move execution was quite fast, showcasing the power of the Gale Wings ability.
Riolu was slightly faster but didn't rush to attack. Instead, it waited for Fletchinder to use its move, then copied it with Mimic, boosting its own speed as well.
Zhu Huihui's eyes turned green with envy, but there was nothing he could do. Fletchinder had no way to lower Riolu's speed, so he could only watch as Riolu was surrounded by a gentle breeze.
But after using Mimic, Riolu didn't take any further action. Instead, it cautiously watched Fletchinder in the sky, slowly moving as if waiting for something.
Sure enough, Zhu Huihui didn't keep Fletchinder on the field, choosing to switch it out and send in Chesnaught instead.
A typical tool bird, a Tailwind tool.
But this was exactly within Li Xiang's plans.
As Chesnaught landed, Riolu's Screech hit right on time, the piercing sound waves wrapping around Chesnaught's ears, causing it to frown deeply as its Defense sharply dropped!
"Defense Curl!"
Zhu Huihui was slightly panicked but still remembered his strategy, having Chesnaught curl into a ball.
Despite Chesnaught's large size, it could actually roll into a ball, though the four spikes on its back might get in the way. But since it rolled sideways, the spikes didn't matter.
Zhu Huihui's strategy was too obvious—Defense Curl plus Rollout. Anyone could see it coming.
But unlike the usual Rollout, this Chesnaught's body was very elastic, allowing it to hit airborne targets.
Remembering Lin Feng's repeated warnings from yesterday, Li Xiang had Riolu use Magnet Rise.
Riolu took advantage of the time before Zhu Huihui issued his next command to use Agility.
Combining the two moves, it was almost like the Buoyancy ability from Dragon Ball, though the latter was faster while the former was slightly slower.
Below.
A yellowish light enveloped Chesnaught, causing this strange-looking ball to spin rapidly sideways. Then, like a pinball, it began bouncing around the battlefield!
Forcing the three people inside to dodge continuously!
Bang bang bang bang!
The continuous collisions caused the wire mesh to shake, and the onlookers stepped back several steps, not daring to get too close for fear the mesh might collapse.
But the wire mesh was definitely strong enough. Even if it dented, it wouldn't collapse.
In fact, not only could it withstand Chesnaught's collisions, it could even bounce it back into the sky!
Squeak—Bang!
In a slightly strange collision sound, Chesnaught flew up in a parabolic arc, heading straight for Riolu in the air!
Riolu was slightly startled but didn't panic, calmly shaking its body and splitting into countless identical copies!
Double Team!
Chesnaught lost its target and had to randomly pick a lucky clone to crash into.
But with this method of attack, it would take Chesnaught ten years to find the real Riolu.
Seizing the opportunity, Riolu used Swords Dance.
Chesnaught landed, but its Rollout was far from over. It changed direction and flew back into the sky!
—Wrong again!
A shadow shattered, and Chesnaught fell helplessly. As it descended, countless Riolu clones pounced on it, their legs burning with intense flames!
Bang!
Only one was real, so there was only one collision sound!
The flames exploded in the air, acting like a booster, speeding up Chesnaught's descent and changing its trajectory, slamming it into the ground!
Smack!
Chesnaught took a super effective hit, crying out in pain!
Zhu Huihui, seeing this, wasn't alarmed but instead delighted, "Roar!"
In the sky.
Riolu frowned upon hearing this, remembering Li Xiang's instructions, and didn't do anything else, just watching as Chesnaught quickly flipped over and roared at it!
The invisible sound waves vibrated its eardrums, and a mysterious force pushed its body, sending it back into the PokéBall on Li Xiang's waist!
Being in the air, Riolu had no way to dodge Roar. By the time it could land and kick Chesnaught again, it would be too late.
Might as well stay put and rest, recovering some strength.
Li Xiang's expression remained unchanged as he silently watched a PokéBall on his waist open, releasing Torracat.
A gentle breeze quickly circled around Torracat, boosting its speed.
On the other side.
Zhu Huihui was overjoyed. For Chesnaught, Torracat, despite being a counter, was the best opponent.
Much better than the troublesome Froakie!
Plus, swapping out Riolu, which had stacked so many buffs, was an absolute win!
"Defense Curl!" he shouted.
"Fake Out."
Torracat landed, starting with the usual trio.
Intimidate, Fake Out, and a boost.
This time, it chose Nasty Plot. After successfully interrupting Chesnaught's Defense Curl, three question marks appeared above its head.
"Meow!"
How dare you boost?
Where did you get the courage to boost?
Who gave you the courage to boost?
Three question marks in a row, sharply increasing Torracat's Special Attack!
The kind little cat thought Chesnaught would understand its good intentions, but it turned out Chesnaught didn't even hear it.
It still used Defense Curl, trying to restore its Defense.
"Meow?!"
Torracat growled in disbelief, then charged toward Chesnaught, the red in its eyes growing more intense.
And when it was less than ten meters away from Chesnaught, who was already preparing to Rollout, its entire body suddenly exploded!
—How dare you!!
How dare you boost right in front of me!
Burning Jealousy blossomed like a lotus, and waves of fire surged toward Chesnaught!
The smile on Zhu Huihui's face gradually turned to shock!
Burning Jealousy!?
Impossible!
Torracat can't know Burning Jealousy! That's a move only Incineroar can learn!
But whether Zhu Huihui believed it or not, the blossoming flames of Burning Jealousy, fueled by the scorching airflow, had already engulfed Chesnaught's massive body!
Chesnaught was overwhelmed, half of its body twisting and struggling in the flames, now burned!
"Roar—"
It couldn't help but cry out in pain.
But Torracat's assault was far from over.
Although Li Xiang had always planned for Torracat to focus on physical attacks, this guy somehow kept learning special moves.
For example.
—Overheat!
Torracat's body exploded again, a wave of heat that distorted the air rushed toward Chesnaught's location!
"Spiky Shield!"
Zhu Huihui shouted urgently. Chesnaught, though burned and disoriented by the flames, still stubbornly raised its arms to block!
A glowing green shield appeared in the scorching airflow, barely holding on!