Qualification Enhancer, This is an asset that cannot be easily acquired with money, and one must possess a certain level of strength to acquire it.
Within the trading section of the Drakorian Trainer APP, aptitude enhancement potions are occasionally available, most of which upgrade yellow aptitudes to green.
Julian, however, has a rare potion capable of advancing green aptitudes to cyan, marking a significant leap from the green pseudo-Elite to the cyan Elite status.
There are approximately 500 registered Elite Trainers in Drakoria, which may seem substantial, but when divided among cities, there are only about two or three in each.
A city typically has at least one million registered Trainers, with larger cities like Lake City housing over five million.
This translates to an average of three million Trainers producing one Elite-level Trainer—not one in a million, but rather one in three million.
You can imagine how challenging it is to become an Elite Trainer.
Now, an opportunity stands before them.
If they can obtain the aptitude-enhancing potion from Julian, their Pokémon could potentially be upgraded from green to cyan, signifying the Elite level.
However, to challenge Julian, a Trainer must at least be at the peak of Advanced or pseudo-elite status, which disqualifies most participants.
The competitors in the wild games are primarily Advanced Trainers; pseudo-elite Trainers typically disregard wild matches unless facing rivals of similar caliber.
Given that those partaking in the wild match are generally Advanced Trainers, it wasn't long before five stepped forward.
"Report the level of your main Pokémon," Julian instructed.
"Nidoking Level 57"
"Vileplume Level 58"
"Clefable Level 58"
"Exeggutor Level 59"
"Flygon Level 59"
After the five reported their levels, Julian pointed to the Trainer with the Flygon.
"You will battle me."
"If you manage to injure me or my Pokémon, there will be extra rewards. However, if you and your Pokémon do not impress me, you can forget about that qualifying potion."
The objective of joining the wild match is to enhance oneself and their Pokémon.
It would be pointless for a Rival to partake if they aren't willing to embrace their own capabilities.
"I hope you won't regret this," Julian added.
A cold glint ignited in Murphy's eyes.
If not for the chance to improve Flygon's qualifications, he would never have agreed to compete against a seasoned Rival like Julian.
Moreover, Julian's condescending tone, treating him merely as a stepping stone, was particularly irksome.
"If you're bold enough to make me regret this," Murphy said.
The two took their positions at opposite ends of the field, while those not chosen by Julian departed begrudgingly, casting annoyed glances at Murphy.
"Flygon, come on out!"
Pokémon: Flygon (Ground/Dragon)
Level: 59
Qualification: Green
Ability: Levitate
Items: None
Gender: Male
Moves: Dragon Claw, Dragon Dance, Crunch, Dragon Pulse, Supersonic, Sand Tomb, Sandstorm, Bug Buzz, Dragon Tail, Earthquake.
Move CD: Hyper Beam, Protect, Dig, Thunder Punch, Flamethrower
Genetic Moves: Quick Attack, Air Cutter, Flail
Flygon evolves from Trapinch, and it only possesses the Dragon typing upon reaching its next form.
Though not classified as a pseudo-legendary, it is regarded as one of the more accessible Dragon-type Pokémon for those who dedicate themselves.
The eggs of Trapinch start at six million.
While Flygon's current qualification is green, its attributes are predominantly close to cyan, indicating that it is merely a step away from achieving that status.
Without an aptitude medication or an exceptional opportunity, this progression may remain out of reach for a lifetime.
"Your Rival is here."
Then Julian unleashed his Pokémon.
A slim figure with sapphire-hued scales, a bright white underbelly, black eyes, a small white horn on its forehead, and two feather-like wings sprouting beside its head emerged.
It was Dragonair, a celebrated Pokémon of the pseudo-legendary class.
While it only achieves true pseudo-legendary status upon evolving into Dragonite, even in its current form, Dragonair possesses attributes that hint at its powerful potential.
Dragonair showcases three crystal blue orbs: one at the base of its neck and two at the tip of its tail, granting it the power to manipulate the weather.
Pokémon: Dragonair
Level: 45
Qualification: Purple
Ability: Shed Skin
Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam
move Discs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe–
Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Dragonair is Julian's first pokemon reward after completing the hidden mission 'first murder' of the system, and the system rewarded him a Dratini's egg.
Whether it is aptitude or genetic Moves, it belongs to the top-level existences.
Dratini evolved into Dragonair some time ago.
Upon revealing Dragonair, the previously vibrant atmosphere turned noticeably colder.
Many dream of having a pseudo-legendary, yet Julian already possessed two.
People couldn't help but wonder what remarkable deeds he must have accomplished in his past life to earn such an extraordinary Pokémon.
They assumed Julian's Dragonair was a familial gift, but the truth was quite different—not even Julian's father could fathom where his son procured a purple-qualified Dragonair.
If it weren't for his pride, Julian's father might have asked for his son's help in acquiring a Pokémon with purple aptitude.
It is not the pseudo-legendary version that mattered; any Pokémon with purple aptitude would suffice.
He chose Flygon as his rival because of its Dragon type.
"Dragonair, use Aqua Tail!"
Julian commanded as he initiated the attack.
Dragonair soared swiftly through the air, its slender form moving gracefully.
As it approached Flygon, the Aqua Tail was prepared, creating a swirling current of water that mixed with the surrounding air.
"Flygon, use Thunder Punch!"
With a fist crackling with electricity, Flygon collided with Dragonair, forcing both Pokémon to stagger back a few meters, seemingly evenly matched.
Murphy tightened his fists, watching intently.
His Flygon was at the peak of the Advanced level, just one step away from becoming a pseudo-elite.
Although the Dragonair facing him was also Advanced, Murphy believed his Flygon held at least a ten-level advantage over it.
Even so, this was no easy fight.
A pseudo-legendary—Murphy's gaze was fixed on the elegantly flying Dragonair above.
Pseudo-Legendaries; Every Trainer dreams of possessing a pseudo-legendary Pokémon; having one suggests that your future achievements will at least reach Elite status.
All pseudo-legendaries, provided they are trained properly, generally exhibit strength at an Elite level.
With exceptional training, reaching the elite peak is entirely feasible.
"Flygon, Flamethrower!"
The intense flames erupted, and due to the lack of an energy shield on the battlefield, the surrounding temperature surged dramatically.
Spectators, standing over ten meters away, worried for their safety from the devastation caused by the clash between the two Pokémon.
In a wild match without an energy shield, both the Trainer and nearby observers are particularly vulnerable to injury.
The flames surged, quickly enveloping half the arena.
Julian could even smell the scorching smell of his hair, and the scorching heat from his skin, which kept stinging his nerves.
Wild matches can be perilous, as the Trainers themselves can suffer serious consequences.
For the first time, Dragonair positioned itself in front of Julian.
"Dragon Breath!" Julian commanded.
The sapphire dragon cleaved through the wall of flames, showcasing the dragon's tremendous energy.
However, the flames didn't vanish but instead fell like raindrops from the sky.
"Don't bother with me!" Julian instructed, halting Dragonair from rushing in to help as several embers descended around them.
"Flygon, Sand Tomb! Target the Trainer!" Murphy declared coldly.
In a wild match, there are no rules; anything goes in the pursuit of victory, including attacking the Trainer with Pokémon.
However, since wild matches are conducted in semi-public settings, killing an opponent Trainer could lead to retribution from their family and friends.
Of course, if the Trainer is a lone wolf, then there's hardly anything to fear.
"This is tough," Julian thought, narrowly dodging the flames from above, only to find that the ground beneath him was rapidly shifting.
In an instant, half of his calf was swallowed by the sand.
The grains acted like a powerful suction, pulling him deeper into the ground, making escape nearly impossible.
This scene elicited a slight smirk from Murphy.
Julian had just mentioned that if he injured or significantly hurt Murphy's Pokémon, he would receive additional rewards alongside the aptitude potion.
The Sand Tomb was so perilous that entering it as a human could prove fatal; even an attempt to escape could result in broken legs.
"Dragon Rush!"
Julian maintained his composure, appearing oblivious to the dangerous sand ensnaring him, as if it were someone else trapped.
Despite Dragonair's urgency, it obeyed Julian's commands, pouring its energy into the attack, empowered by its eagerness to fulfill its Trainer's will.
Flygon, lacking a sense of urgency, suffered from the direct hit of the Dragon-type move, letting out a pained cry as it fell into a ten-meter deep pit, momentarily incapacitated.
While Murphy felt distressed over his Pokémon's injury, he secretly rejoiced at Julian being stuck in the Sand Tomb.
Though Flygon was hurt, Murphy felt victorious.
"Bang~"
However, his satisfaction was short-lived as the Sand Tomb suddenly erupted with a powerful explosion of sand.
"What just happened?"
Murphy gasped, shocked that the sand had burst so violently.
There was a gnawing fear that Julian might have been killed in the blast.
A chill ran down Murphy's spine at the thought; if Julian was truly gone, he and his family might share the same fate.
"Flygon!"
He snapped, glaring at his Pokémon, believing it was responsible for the chaos, imagining it had deliberately tried to harm the Trainer.
In response, Flygon merely looked confused.
Flygon: "(⊙_⊙)"
it seemed to ask.
Murphy paused, realizing that things might not be as he assumed; Flygon wouldn't act against Julian without his orders.
Had Flygon really triggered the sand explosion?
As the airborne particles settled, Julian emerged, slightly disheveled but unhurt.
Brushing the sand from his hair and clothes, he calmly instructed,
"Dragonair, Icy Wind!"
Fortunately, his ability to harness Aura enabled him to manipulate the energy within him, which, though he couldn't form an Aura Sphere yet, helped him survive the blast by dispelling the sand.
Thanks to his control over the Aura energy, the resulting explosion scattered the sand of the Tomb, leaving Julian unharmed.
The chilling Icy Wind cascaded, supplemented by the power of weather manipulation coming from the glowing beads around Dragonair's neck.
This intensified version of Icy Wind would be far more potent than usual.
The ground froze instantly, and Flygon stepped in front of Murphy to act as a shield, knowing the icy gust was aimed at its Trainer.
While Flygon absorbed most of the icy blasts, Murphy shivered from the temperature drop, realizing he needed to act swiftly; otherwise, hypothermia might cost him the match.
"Flygon, Supersonic"
If the opponent utilized an AOE attack, then he will also hit with a similar move, and it is also a sonic attack.
Upon hearing that Supersonic was about to be used, the nearby spectators recoiled in fear, hastily covering their ears.
Without any protective barriers, Supersonic can reach considerable distances.
Thus, in public venues lacking energy shields, the Drakorian Trainer Association forbids the use of high-impact moves like Supersonic, Boom, Draco Meteor, and Earthquake by either side during battles.
Despite Flygon's efforts to control the spread of Supersonic, onlookers still covered their ears and displayed expressions of distress.
Julian, in the front row, felt particularly dizzy.
The recent surge of Aura had drained most of his energy, but fortunately, he still retained some Aura to mitigate the effects of Supersonic.
"Outrage, Dragon Tail!"
Julian pushed through the discomfort and commanded Dragonair.
Thanks to Outrage, Dragonair's attack power surged, launching a powerful Dragon Tail at Flygon's head with tremendous force.
Previously, Flygon had already endured Dragonair's Dragon Rush and Icy Wind—two powerful moves that had dealt double damage.
Now, it was faced with the potent combo of Outrage and Dragon Tail.
As a result, Flygon crashed to the ground, completely unable to continue fighting.
"Impossible! How did your Dragonair avoid confusion? Supersonic connected!"
Murphy exclaimed, staring in disbelief at the downed Flygon.
"Confusion doesn't mean immobility," Julian replied confidently.
"I simply got lucky."
With that, he recalled the slightly disoriented Dragonair.
Murphy's expression darkened in frustration.
It hit him that perhaps his strategies were outdated and he was experiencing a loss of composure.
When a Pokémon is hit by Supersonic, it enters a Status Condition 'confusion', and while in this state, it has two options for using moves.
One option is to execute a move successfully, while the other can result in a fail that causes damage to itself.
The outcome is often a mix of both success and failure.
Julian experienced a stroke of luck this time, managing to have Dragonair successfully perform both Outrage and Dragon Tail.
"I've always had bad luck, but today feels different," he remarked contentedly.
(TL/n: yeah sure, you had bad luck mf)
After recalling his disoriented Dragonair, Julian felt unusually cheerful, not solely because of his victory but because of his luck.
"This guy must be an unfortunate soul. Despite being in confusion, Dragonair managed to pull off two moves in a row," someone commented.
"Stay away from that one in the future; I've heard unfortunate individuals can be contagious," another said.
"Flygon ended up defeating its own unworthy trainer," came another jibe.
Around him, others remarked about unfortunate individuals left and right, while Murphy visibly fumed, frustration evident on his face.
"It turns out there's someone whose luck is worse than mine," Julian mused, realizing that rather than his luck improving, he had simply encountered someone in an even worse predicament.
With this contrast, it's easy to feel fortunate.
Julian approached Murphy, handing him a small qualification potion along with a standard quality Water Stone as a bonus gift.
He felt a sense of urgency after this wild match, especially when caught in Sand Tomb.
Without his skills, he might not have escaped unharmed.
Interestingly, Flygon had shown mercy when trapping Julian in Sand Tomb, likely concerned that it could cause serious injury and trouble for its trainer.
"Your Flygon is impressive,"
Julian said, catching Murphy off-guard.
He thought Julian's praise was casual, yet saw admiration in his eyes for Flygon, who was still attempting to regain its footing.
The combination of Outrage and Dragon Tail was indeed powerful, and the fact that Flygon could react quickly and attempt to stand once more spoke volumes about its perseverance.
Murphy rushed to Flygon without even acknowledging the items Julian had given him, quickly retrieving medicine from his backpack and applying it with urgency.
Despite its challenge in standing, Flygon, being a Dragon/Ground type, seemed to have resilience comparable to a traditional dragon-type Pokémon, and with hasty treatment, it could manage to fly again.
At this moment, Flygon eyed the qualification potion in Julian's hand with interest, sensing its importance.
"This is for you," Julian said, offering both the potion and the Water Stone to Murphy, who finally accepted them.
Onlookers watched with keen interest as Murphy held the qualification potion, some eyes gleaming with envy and intent.
Murphy quickly comprehended their motives, realizing that if he left with the potion, a mob might pursue him for it.
So, he decided to let Flygon consume the potion in front of everyone, knowing that with Julian present, few would dare to snatch it away, as that would be tantamount to insulting Julian.
Julian had no qualms about being a means to an end; he appreciated Murphy's clever maneuver.
As Flygon consumed the potion, its body shuddered, revealing a mix of discomfort and pleasure.
Under Murphy's anxious gaze, about a minute later, Flygon's wings began to flap vigorously, radiating a pseudo-Elite aura.
Julian observed in fascination as Flygon's aptitude shifted from green to cyan, an indication of its newly enhanced abilities.
"Congratulations,"
Julian said, acknowledging the transformation.
With this new cyan qualification, Flygon's strength had reached a pseudo-Elite level.
Unless it faced a really dangerous opponent, a new Elite might emerge from this addition within ten years.
"Thank you,"
Murphy replied, feeling immense gratitude.
He hadn't anticipated the qualification potion would elevate Flygon's abilities so significantly, and although he hadn't tested it with instruments, he instinctively recognized the improvement.
Qualification potions are available for purchase in the market, but this one was incredibly valuable for enhancing Pokémon qualifications with just one potion, especially going from green to cyan.
Julian generously offered Murphy such a rare potion, leaving Murphy filled with gratitude.
"You're welcome,"
Julian replied with a subtle smile, aware that Murphy had misinterpreted his intentions but choosing not to clarify.
The aptitude detector pales in comparison to the Probing Eye.
Despite an 80% green aptitude being close to cyan, the detector will still classify it as green without indicating how near it is to the next level.
Thus, if two green-qualified Pokémon are analyzed—one nearly reaching cyan and the other representing a typical green qualification—the detector will label them both simply as green, providing no further details.
Watching Murphy's Pokémon break through to pseudo-Elite, and looking at Murphy's expression, 80% of them were sure that the Pokémon's qualifications have really been upgraded from green to cyan.
"Young Master Walker, could you share a few bottles of such a remarkable potion with us three brothers?"
A Pokémon egg with cyan qualifications is available on the market for over 100 million, making it nearly impossible for the average person to purchase, even if they are wealthy.
In the presence of Julian's aptitude-enhancing potion, some individuals are contemplating their next steps urgently.
A Pokémon with cyan qualifications has the potential to become an Elite, and consuming this potion could elevate their abilities substantially.
Regardless of the Walker family's formidable reputation, those who succeed could carve out their own path.
Julian gazed at the three brothers, pondering whether they had any sense at all.
"Master Walker, my brothers and I are all pseudo-Elites. I understand that your Metagross has a record of defeating pseudo-Elites, but in a one-on-three scenario, even it would struggle."
"And during battle, you can't be sure of your own safety."
The three brothers were well-known figures on West Street, infamous for their merciless demeanor.
While many regarded them with fear, a significant number cast gloating glances at Julian.
"Master Walker, all we're seeking is a qualification potion. Hand it over, and we'll leave without a fuss," declared the eldest brother of the three, already gripping a Poké Ball in his hand, with his two companions following suit.
It was clear that if Julian refused, they were prepared to be confrontational.
"Frank, don't get yourself in trouble," Murphy warned, standing beside Julian, while Flygon, who had just achieved a promotion, hovered nearby, fixating on the three brothers with intense eyes.
"Murphy, you've just barely reached pseudo-Elite status, and with that injured Pokémon, you think you're a match for us?" retorted frank, dismissing Murphy with a cold laugh as he unleashed his Pokémon.
"Golem!"
"Ursaring!"
"Pinsir!"
Upon seeing their elder brother's Pokémon emerge, the other two brothers released their Pokémon as well.
The atmosphere palpably shifted, growing tense as spectators instinctively backed away, aware that a clash between pseudo-Elites could level West Street.
The three Pokémon glared at Julian, Murphy, and Flygon with menacing hunger, particularly Ursaring, whose eyes seemed to reflect a desire to devour its prey.
These were monsters known for their lethal capabilities, having likely taken lives before.
"Aren't you going to leave?"
Julian questioned, noticing that Murphy had not yet departed.
"There's no need for that, Young Master Walker. Don't you think they can't be dealt with?" Murphy replied calmly, regarding the trio as though they were foolish.
Julian couldn't help but smirk—he was surprised by Murphy's honesty, as most others would have pretended not to know how to handle the situation just to seek his approval.
"Alakazam, I'm counting on you," he instructed.
At his command, a flash of white light erupted, revealing a yellow, bipedal humanoid Pokémon levitating before them.
Pokémon: Alakazam (Psychic)
Level: 80
Qualification: Cyan
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Twisted Spoon
Gender: Female
Moves: Confusion, Teleport, Psybeam, Reflect, Recover, Psyshock, Psycho Cut, Future Sight, Calm Mind, Role Play, Kinesis, Disable
TM Moves: Light Screen, Protect, Hyper Beam, Magic Room, Wonder Room, Ally Switch, Power Swap, Guard Swap, Speed Swap, Stored Power, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball
Genetic Moves: Guard Split, Thunder Punch, Confusion, Psycho Shift
Alakazam stood at the pinnacle of Elite power, edging ever closer to becoming a pseudo-champion Pokémon.
As Julian's bodyguard, Alakazam was a critical asset, allowing him to navigate perilous situations with confidence.
With an IQ of 5000, Alakazam rivaled human intelligence, often serving as a partner to top researchers in elite institutions.
Its acute awareness would determine whether Julian could handle the threat himself.
If it sensed real danger to Julian's life, Alakazam would intervene.
Currently, although the three pseudo-Elite Pokémon could pose a challenge, Julian recognized they wouldn't jeopardize his life.
The reason for summoning Alakazam was simply because; a battle here could endanger innocent lives.
The three brothers were reckless and indifferent to the safety of bystanders, while Julian prided himself on being a responsible citizen.
"I don't know how you three managed to become pseudo-Elites. Don't you realize that family members like me are usually protected by Pokémon?"
Julian remarked, glancing at them like they were fools.
At this moment, Alakazam's Confusion had taken hold of the three and their Pokémon, preventing them from even blinking, while their eyes betrayed their fear.
In a remote area, their fate would have already been sealed.
Suddenly, alarm bells rang out, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Drakoria had two sectors dedicated to catching, interrogating, and imprisoning criminals:
the Prosecutor's Office for non-trainers,
and the Search Bureau targeting Trainers.
This was a response from the Search Bureau, arriving at the scene to protect the son of the gym leader, Jake, who had been reported to be in imminent danger from three pseudo-Elites on West Street.
Frightened, Wes quickly rallied the troops and rushed over.
If Julian had an accident on his site, he would definitely be done for as the person in charge of West Street.
Fortunately, the others were already on West Street and rushed over swiftly.
They found that Alakazam had taken control of three individuals and their Pokémon.
"Are you two alright?"
Wes dashed to Julian, relieved to see he was unharmed, allowing his anxiousness to subside.
He didn't pay any attention to Murphy.
"Mr. Investigator, these three were trying to steal from me and sent their Pokémon to attack, but my Elder's Pokémon subdued them."
"They are now in your hands."
In any country, it is strictly forbidden to steal property or release Pokémon that are pseudo-Elite or stronger in the city, let alone using Pokémon to assault humans.
These two offenses could easily result in the three being imprisoned for 50 years.
"Elder's Pokémon?"
As he observed Alakazam, Wes, a pseudo-Elite Trainer himself, sensed its immense power.
Though it didn't radiate an overwhelming presence, it felt like a bottomless abyss to him.
An Elite—a true Elite, not merely a pseudo.
The power of Alakazam was evident as he looked at the three frozen pseudo-Elite Pokémon.
Wes retrieved Poké Balls from the three, while Alakazam released their captured Pokémon.
Wes's team promptly placed the three individuals in handcuffs, and they showed no intention of resisting.
Once Alakazam appeared, they understood their fate was sealed.
"Please record a statement," said one of the officers, his gaze lingering on Alakazam.
He heard from colleagues that this Pokémon was an Elite, and this was the first time he had seen an Elite Pokémon, they said that Walker Elite had an Alakazam before.
'Maybe the Alakazam in front of me is Walker Elite's Alakazam.'
A total of 36 teams participated in the Yale Provincial High School League, organized into 9 groups with 4 teams each.
From each group, one team qualified to move on to the next round.
Julian and his teammates were placed in Group E, which also included three other teams from different cities within Yale Province.
The team matches would be streamed live on television and online, making them accessible to a wide audience.
Each venue has a seating capacity of 50,000, although this is considered a secondary venue.
The main venue for the finals will host between 400,000 and 600,000 spectators.
The matches in all 9 groups were played simultaneously, which saved time and allowed for a quicker transition to the eagerly anticipated individual competitions.
In the Silver Conference, there are typically 20 secondary venues alongside a main venue.
Ordinary matches utilize the smaller venues, while significant matchups are held in the main venue.
The live broadcast features nine small screens, each displaying different matches.
Viewers can click on any of these screens to focus on the group they wish to watch in greater detail.
"The team competition is so dull; I can't wait for the individual matches," one viewer remarked.
"I'll make a bold prediction: Link Middle School will win the team competition!" another user chimed in.
"You're out of your mind," someone replied.
"No. 1 Middle School from Lake city is the best!" another commented excitedly.
"Hey, check out Group E—this Trainer actually has Lucario and has already defeated three opponents!" someone pointed out.
Within the Group E competition venue, Sam unexpectedly sent up against Julian first.
Having decisively defeated the previous three opponents using Lucario, Julian now faced the fourth challenger.
"I'll take her down; leave the final one to me!" Will shouted from the sidelines, hoping Julian would save one opponent for him.
Nevertheless, Julian was determined to gain experience for Lucario, no matter how small the challenge.
Julian's next opponent was a beautiful girl, whose charm belied her youth.
"Hold on, little brother. Can you take it easy on me? We might have a story to tell in the future," she teased, winking at Julian.
Julian remained unfazed, while Will and the audience found it hard to contain their reactions.
"I think I might be in love," Will muttered, clutching his heart.
The chat exploded with comments:
"High schoolers these days are ruthless!"
"What a feast!"
"Just back out already!"
"What exactly is she doing?" Chase remarked on the girl's playful demeanor, referring to her as a "vixen."
"If you stay quiet, I'll take it as a promise," the girl said.
The girl smiled and elegantly tucked her hair behind her ear, showcasing her sparkling earrings.
"Let Infernape take the stage!" she announced.
As the Pokémon entered, flames erupted around it, fixating its gaze on Lucario.
Known for its fiery temperament, this Pokémon was hard to handle when angered.
"Force Palm!"
Julian commanded.
"Flamethrower!"
The girl shouted in response.
Though the Flamethrower was fast, Lucario moved even quicker.
Before the flames reached him, Lucario's palm struck the Infernape's belly.
The impact sent the fiery creature back over ten meters, and Lucario kept up the pressure.
The girl, caught off guard by Lucario's speed, mistakenly called out,
"Infernape, Fire Punch!"
Unable to regain control while hurtling backward, the Pokémon executed its Fire Punch awkwardly, resulting in a lackluster attack.
"Bone Rush," Julian said.
Lucario summoned a white Bone Club and struck the Pokémon with a relentless flurry.
The overwhelmed Infernape had no strength left to retaliate, and with a final, powerful swing, Lucario landed a blow to its head, rendering it unconscious.
"Infernape is unable to battle, Lucario wins!" declared the referee as he signaled the match's conclusion.
"Hmph, I hope you stay single forever," the girl huffed, withdrawing her defeated Pokémon;
Leaving Julian to contemplate that had he not held back for her sake, Lucario could have finished the fight with just one move instead of two.
-
"Julian, you're unbelievable. How can you possibly end the match in two moves for such a stunning girl? Instead, You should aim for an instant knockout so she realizes your power and starts to idolize you," Will exclaimed.
Shen, who was standing nearby, shot Will a bewildered look. "You really believe what you just said?"
"Absolutely! A decisive victory makes women admire you and fall for you," Will replied confidently.
"Where did you hear that?" Shen asked, curious.
"An emotional influencer on Douyin mentioned it," Will explained.
(T/N: A streaming platform)
"Do you think they're wrong?" Will inquired.
"Definitely!"
Shen scoffed.
Being defeated in two moves in front of so many witnesses is already humiliating, and this guy was talking about a one move K.O., if the other party didn't hate him to death that would be a miracle.
"Next,"
Julian announced, ready for the next challenge.
At that moment, the chat erupted with excitement.
"666, so dominant!" one user chimed in.
"This is definitely a one man show," another added.
"Julian, I'll remember this humiliation you brought upon our school, and I'll make sure to get even," someone else posted.
"How are you going to do that? With just words?" came a sarcastic response.
"Lucario's so cool; I'm in love with him, husband Pokémon!" someone gushed.
(TL/n: no humanxpokemon relations people)
Typically, the final match is where the strongest opponent participates, and while their strength surpassed the previous four challengers, it was still limited.
"Aura Sphere!"
Julian commanded.
"Bang!"
"Mightyena has lost its ability to fight. Lucario wins!" the announcers declared.
The referees couldn't help but view Lucario with newfound respect.
As officials in such a high-profile event, their judgment was critical, yet they found it hard to grasp how Lucario, after five consecutive matches, was still so strong.
Even without injuries, continuous battles would surely take a toll, but Lucario appeared to be in peak form.
'Lucario can easily face off against pseudo-Elite Pokémon, not to mention the Advanced-level Pokémon like the one now standing before him, Lucario can play with them whole day.' thought Julian.
Taking them down felt like a walk in the park.
"I can't believe it—"
The final opponent stared in disbelief at the defeated Mightyena, feeling like Julian was bullying him.
In the previous matches, others at least had a chance to execute a second move, yet against him, Julian ended the match in one move, Wouldn't it make it seem like that he was weaker than the first four.
"Let's go,"
Julian said, returning Lucario to its Poké Ball and feeling a twinge of discomfort from his rival's resentful gaze as he quickly exited the stage.