h
Julian's team successfully advanced from Group E, and shortly after, the final match of the last group concluded.
With that, all nine competition groups had been completed, and nine teams were now assembled, ready to take the stage for the draw that would determine their opponents for tomorrow's matches.
These nine teams will be divided into three groups of three, with the top teams from each group competing for the championship, runner-up, and third place spots.
The team competition will then wrapped up, making way for the individual competition ahead.
When the draw took place, Julian and his team were the first to be called, and Will stepped up to draw their group.
"Group A! The first letter. It signifies we'll be the first," Will said with a grin.
However, an unexpected reaction erupted from the crowd as Will noticed a number of teams wearing "607" uniforms eyeing them with smugness.
He quickly turned to see someone on stage holding a table tennis ball marked with an "A" — evidently, they too had drawn Group A.
What caught Will's attention even more was the name "Lit Middle School" emblazoned across their opponent's jersey.
Lit Middle School was the reigning champion from the previous Yale Provincial College League Team Competition.
In every Yale Provincial High School League, Lit Middle School and Lake Middle School consistently fight for the title, with their two schools dominating 70% of both team and individual championships.
As a result, Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School were rivals in every sense.
Fortunately, fate had kept them apart in the early matchups this time around.
The other teams heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that the fierce competition between the two would lead to only one surviving contender, allowing them to compete for the remaining two spots.
In theory, since both powerful teams would be fighting against each other, the chance of one emerging injured would increase, possibly giving another team a chance to snag the championship title.
With this thought, a sense of delight washed over them.
Now, all the undiscovered teams were hoping to avoid being drawn into Group A, which was widely regarded as the "death group."
Any team that ended up there would face a daunting challenge.
Meanwhile, a sullen-faced competitor selected for Group A appeared as if life had been drained from him, reflecting the challenges ahead.
Sticking to the principle of the unfortunate suffering together, the remaining teams exchanged grateful glances before confidently heading to the stage to draw their own groups.
With the Contest category concluded, the staff announced the match schedule for tomorrow, signaling that it was time for them to disperse.
"Julian, let's check out the Shopping District at the Conference venue,"
Will urged as Julian was headed back to their hotel for some rest.
The Yale Province High School League is a pivotal event each year in Yale Province, creating the liveliest atmosphere in the region during the competition.
Tourists flock from various cities within Yale Province and even from other provinces, with nearly a million visitors descending upon Lake City, boosting the local economy and the city's profile.
Among these millions, most arrive specifically for this competition, and even if they didn't get tickets, it would be good to go to the conference venue to experience the atmosphere of the competition.
The Shopping District on the side of the Conference field is the most visited place by these tourists and contestants.
While Julian wasn't particularly keen on such places, Will, who clearly enjoyed the bustling environment and was eager to vent his energy after not participating in today's match, decided to drag Julian along, suspecting there might be good finds with him around.
In Will's view, having Julian around was a stroke of luck, which is why he decided to take him to the Shopping District.
Seeing Will and Julian head to the Shopping District, Zosh, Han, and Shen grew interested and decided to join them.
Thus, the five main competitors set off for the Shopping District, while the three supporting candidates, Chase and her teammates, shared a knowing glance and followed suit.
They understood their unlikelihood of competing in the next match unless some unforeseen event occurred; given their current skill levels, Coach Sam would undoubtedly overlook them.
Nevertheless, they aimed to compete in the qualifiers where a strong individual performance could earn them extra points for their upcoming college entrance exams.
Additionally, performing well in the main competition might attract attention from universities, possibly leading to early admissions.
The Shopping District at the conference venue is extensive, stretching across four football fields and situated to the south of the venue.
It hosts hotels and department stores, though Julian and his teammates were staying in a hotel west of the conference area.
During this season, the commercial street at the venue offers the largest selection of goods, boasting a remarkable array of products from across Drakoria.
Visitors might even glimpse Pokémon representing different provinces among the small breeding shops.
"Check out this Pancham from Shu Province!"
Shen gasped, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the adorable creature nestled in the shopkeeper's arms, playfully munching on a bamboo leaf.
Pancham is a Pokémon native to Shu Province. While it isn't rare, it's affordable for someone like Shen, who comes from a well-off family.
"Go ahead and buy it if you want,"
Will suggested.
"It's not as easy as grocery shopping! I'm already exhausted managing three Pokémon," Shen retorted, frustration evident in her voice.
She cast a reluctant glance at Pancham.
"What's the issue? Just sleep less, I sleep only five hours a day now," Will replied casually.
Shen was born into a more privileged situation, she didn't have to wake up each day just to provide for her trio of Pokémon like him.
"Please I'm girl; sleep deprivation makes me ugly, and I'm not nearly as energetic as you," she shot back.
She wanted to add that his level of energy was almost unnatural.
"Besides, Julian is so powerful even he's only caught three Pokémon. I won't capture a fourth until I reach the peak of my advanced training," Shen explained.
Julian: Actually, I have four.
Apart from his family, no one, not even Will, knew about Meltan's existence.
"Julian has high standards. Do you really think he's interested in just any Pokémon? At least a Pokémon similar to Lucario would catch his attention," Will remarked as a matter-of-course.
He wasn't envious of Julian; it was merely an observation.
Why does a family thrive for generations? It's not just about rigorous training for their children, but also about selecting the finest Pokémon.
Only the best children and exceptional Pokémon can ensure a family's lasting prosperity.
Julian's team successfully advanced from Group E, and shortly after, the final match of the last group concluded.
With that, all nine competition groups had been completed, and nine teams were now assembled, ready to take the stage for the draw that would determine their opponents for tomorrow's matches.
These nine teams will be divided into three groups of three, with the top teams from each group competing for the championship, runner-up, and third place spots.
The team competition will then wrapped up, making way for the individual competition ahead.
When the draw took place, Julian and his team were the first to be called, and Will stepped up to draw their group.
"Group A! The first letter. It signifies we'll be the first," Will said with a grin.
However, an unexpected reaction erupted from the crowd as Will noticed a number of teams wearing "607" uniforms eyeing them with smugness.
He quickly turned to see someone on stage holding a table tennis ball marked with an "A" — evidently, they too had drawn Group A.
What caught Will's attention even more was the name "Lit Middle School" emblazoned across their opponent's jersey.
Lit Middle School was the reigning champion from the previous Yale Provincial College League Team Competition.
In every Yale Provincial High School League, Lit Middle School and Lake Middle School consistently fight for the title, with their two schools dominating 70% of both team and individual championships.
As a result, Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School were rivals in every sense.
Fortunately, fate had kept them apart in the early matchups this time around.
The other teams heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that the fierce competition between the two would lead to only one surviving contender, allowing them to compete for the remaining two spots.
In theory, since both powerful teams would be fighting against each other, the chance of one emerging injured would increase, possibly giving another team a chance to snag the championship title.
With this thought, a sense of delight washed over them.
Now, all the undiscovered teams were hoping to avoid being drawn into Group A, which was widely regarded as the "death group."
Any team that ended up there would face a daunting challenge.
Meanwhile, a sullen-faced competitor selected for Group A appeared as if life had been drained from him, reflecting the challenges ahead.
Sticking to the principle of the unfortunate suffering together, the remaining teams exchanged grateful glances before confidently heading to the stage to draw their own groups.
With the Contest category concluded, the staff announced the match schedule for tomorrow, signaling that it was time for them to disperse.
"Julian, let's check out the Shopping District at the Conference venue,"
Will urged as Julian was headed back to their hotel for some rest.
The Yale Province High School League is a pivotal event each year in Yale Province, creating the liveliest atmosphere in the region during the competition.
Tourists flock from various cities within Yale Province and even from other provinces, with nearly a million visitors descending upon Lake City, boosting the local economy and the city's profile.
Among these millions, most arrive specifically for this competition, and even if they didn't get tickets, it would be good to go to the conference venue to experience the atmosphere of the competition.
The Shopping District on the side of the Conference field is the most visited place by these tourists and contestants.
While Julian wasn't particularly keen on such places, Will, who clearly enjoyed the bustling environment and was eager to vent his energy after not participating in today's match, decided to drag Julian along, suspecting there might be good finds with him around.
In Will's view, having Julian around was a stroke of luck, which is why he decided to take him to the Shopping District.
Seeing Will and Julian head to the Shopping District, Zosh, Han, and Shen grew interested and decided to join them.
Thus, the five main competitors set off for the Shopping District, while the three supporting candidates, Chase and her teammates, shared a knowing glance and followed suit.
They understood their unlikelihood of competing in the next match unless some unforeseen event occurred; given their current skill levels, Coach Sam would undoubtedly overlook them.
Nevertheless, they aimed to compete in the qualifiers where a strong individual performance could earn them extra points for their upcoming college entrance exams.
Additionally, performing well in the main competition might attract attention from universities, possibly leading to early admissions.
The Shopping District at the conference venue is extensive, stretching across four football fields and situated to the south of the venue.
It hosts hotels and department stores, though Julian and his teammates were staying in a hotel west of the conference area.
During this season, the commercial street at the venue offers the largest selection of goods, boasting a remarkable array of products from across Drakoria.
Visitors might even glimpse Pokémon representing different provinces among the small breeding shops.
"Check out this Pancham from Shu Province!"
Shen gasped, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the adorable creature nestled in the shopkeeper's arms, playfully munching on a bamboo leaf.
Pancham is a Pokémon native to Shu Province. While it isn't rare, it's affordable for someone like Shen, who comes from a well-off family.
"Go ahead and buy it if you want,"
Will suggested.
"It's not as easy as grocery shopping! I'm already exhausted managing three Pokémon," Shen retorted, frustration evident in her voice.
She cast a reluctant glance at Pancham.
"What's the issue? Just sleep less, I sleep only five hours a day now," Will replied casually.
Shen was born into a more privileged situation, she didn't have to wake up each day just to provide for her trio of Pokémon like him.
"Please I'm girl; sleep deprivation makes me ugly, and I'm not nearly as energetic as you," she shot back.
She wanted to add that his level of energy was almost unnatural.
"Besides, Julian is so powerful even he's only caught three Pokémon. I won't capture a fourth until I reach the peak of my advanced training," Shen explained.
Julian: Actually, I have four.
Apart from his family, no one, not even Will, knew about Meltan's existence.
"Julian has high standards. Do you really think he's interested in just any Pokémon? At least a Pokémon similar to Lucario would catch his attention," Will remarked as a matter-of-course.
He wasn't envious of Julian; it was merely an observation.
Why does a family thrive for generations? It's not just about rigorous training for their children, but also about selecting the finest Pokémon.
Only the best children and exceptional Pokémon can ensure a family's lasting prosperity.
Julian's team successfully advanced from Group E, and shortly after, the final match of the last group concluded.
With that, all nine competition groups had been completed, and nine teams were now assembled, ready to take the stage for the draw that would determine their opponents for tomorrow's matches.
These nine teams will be divided into three groups of three, with the top teams from each group competing for the championship, runner-up, and third place spots.
The team competition will then wrapped up, making way for the individual competition ahead.
When the draw took place, Julian and his team were the first to be called, and Will stepped up to draw their group.
"Group A! The first letter. It signifies we'll be the first," Will said with a grin.
However, an unexpected reaction erupted from the crowd as Will noticed a number of teams wearing "607" uniforms eyeing them with smugness.
He quickly turned to see someone on stage holding a table tennis ball marked with an "A" — evidently, they too had drawn Group A.
What caught Will's attention even more was the name "Lit Middle School" emblazoned across their opponent's jersey.
Lit Middle School was the reigning champion from the previous Yale Provincial College League Team Competition.
In every Yale Provincial High School League, Lit Middle School and Lake Middle School consistently fight for the title, with their two schools dominating 70% of both team and individual championships.
As a result, Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School were rivals in every sense.
Fortunately, fate had kept them apart in the early matchups this time around.
The other teams heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that the fierce competition between the two would lead to only one surviving contender, allowing them to compete for the remaining two spots.
In theory, since both powerful teams would be fighting against each other, the chance of one emerging injured would increase, possibly giving another team a chance to snag the championship title.
With this thought, a sense of delight washed over them.
Now, all the undiscovered teams were hoping to avoid being drawn into Group A, which was widely regarded as the "death group."
Any team that ended up there would face a daunting challenge.
Meanwhile, a sullen-faced competitor selected for Group A appeared as if life had been drained from him, reflecting the challenges ahead.
Sticking to the principle of the unfortunate suffering together, the remaining teams exchanged grateful glances before confidently heading to the stage to draw their own groups.
With the Contest category concluded, the staff announced the match schedule for tomorrow, signaling that it was time for them to disperse.
"Julian, let's check out the Shopping District at the Conference venue,"
Will urged as Julian was headed back to their hotel for some rest.
The Yale Province High School League is a pivotal event each year in Yale Province, creating the liveliest atmosphere in the region during the competition.
Tourists flock from various cities within Yale Province and even from other provinces, with nearly a million visitors descending upon Lake City, boosting the local economy and the city's profile.
Among these millions, most arrive specifically for this competition, and even if they didn't get tickets, it would be good to go to the conference venue to experience the atmosphere of the competition.
The Shopping District on the side of the Conference field is the most visited place by these tourists and contestants.
While Julian wasn't particularly keen on such places, Will, who clearly enjoyed the bustling environment and was eager to vent his energy after not participating in today's match, decided to drag Julian along, suspecting there might be good finds with him around.
In Will's view, having Julian around was a stroke of luck, which is why he decided to take him to the Shopping District.
Seeing Will and Julian head to the Shopping District, Zosh, Han, and Shen grew interested and decided to join them.
Thus, the five main competitors set off for the Shopping District, while the three supporting candidates, Chase and her teammates, shared a knowing glance and followed suit.
They understood their unlikelihood of competing in the next match unless some unforeseen event occurred; given their current skill levels, Coach Sam would undoubtedly overlook them.
Nevertheless, they aimed to compete in the qualifiers where a strong individual performance could earn them extra points for their upcoming college entrance exams.
Additionally, performing well in the main competition might attract attention from universities, possibly leading to early admissions.
The Shopping District at the conference venue is extensive, stretching across four football fields and situated to the south of the venue.
It hosts hotels and department stores, though Julian and his teammates were staying in a hotel west of the conference area.
During this season, the commercial street at the venue offers the largest selection of goods, boasting a remarkable array of products from across Drakoria.
Visitors might even glimpse Pokémon representing different provinces among the small breeding shops.
"Check out this Pancham from Shu Province!"
Shen gasped, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the adorable creature nestled in the shopkeeper's arms, playfully munching on a bamboo leaf.
Pancham is a Pokémon native to Shu Province. While it isn't rare, it's affordable for someone like Shen, who comes from a well-off family.
"Go ahead and buy it if you want,"
Will suggested.
"It's not as easy as grocery shopping! I'm already exhausted managing three Pokémon," Shen retorted, frustration evident in her voice.
She cast a reluctant glance at Pancham.
"What's the issue? Just sleep less, I sleep only five hours a day now," Will replied casually.
Shen was born into a more privileged situation, she didn't have to wake up each day just to provide for her trio of Pokémon like him.
"Please I'm girl; sleep deprivation makes me ugly, and I'm not nearly as energetic as you," she shot back.
She wanted to add that his level of energy was almost unnatural.
"Besides, Julian is so powerful even he's only caught three Pokémon. I won't capture a fourth until I reach the peak of my advanced training," Shen explained.
Julian: Actually, I have four.
Apart from his family, no one, not even Will, knew about Meltan's existence.
"Julian has high standards. Do you really think he's interested in just any Pokémon? At least a Pokémon similar to Lucario would catch his attention," Will remarked as a matter-of-course.
He wasn't envious of Julian; it was merely an observation.
Why does a family thrive for generations? It's not just about rigorous training for their children, but also about selecting the finest Pokémon.
Only the best children and exceptional Pokémon can ensure a family's lasting prosperity.
"The young man is still too inexperienced; if you're feeling embarrassed, just watch and see if the streamer feels it too or if it's just you feeling awkward."
"Really? You didn't recognize that high school student?"
"Who is he? Your father?"
"I recognized him a while back; he's the grandson of Walker Elite."
"Wow, it really is him! I saw his video on Vibrato not long ago where he was dominating a pseudo-Elite, he made it look way too easy."
"He has a Silver Metagross, along with Lucario and Dragonair."
"Streamer, hurry up and make your move! Whether you can marry into a wealthy family depends on your strategy."
"I remember that the anchor's family background seems to be good"
"Better than the Walker family?"
Lin Lin was momentarily stunned when she read the comments. She noticed Julian had vanished from the crowd.
Though she didn't intend to pursue him, encountering the grandson of Walker Elite was unexpected.
"Streamer, Julian is wearing a Lake No. 1 middle school uniform. He'll definitely be competing in the team event tomorrow since their competitor is tough; you should broadcast it live!"
A local fan from Lake city chimed in.
"I can't do it tomorrow; I've got plans," Lin Lin replied.
The live stream was merely for fun. She had come all the way from Bash for a significant purpose.
In the team match, the competition was set between nine teams divided into three groups of three, creating a few automatic byes.
Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School got unlucky; they avoided the byes unlike another team that got them.
Sam approached Julian, his demeanor serious as he awaited the five key players.
"Beating Lit Middle School means we clinch the championship."
Among the remaining teams, none posed a real threat—only Lit Middle School could stand up to Lake.
"As long as we win, the other teams will be no match for Lake Middle School."
"Don't worry, with Julian on our side, losing is not an option!" Will said, patting his own chest.
It was a peculiar sentiment; it sounded more like he doubted his own abilities while placing all his trust in Julian.
"Julian is our ace, while their ace is Nolan—he's formidable."
"No matter how strong Nolan is, Metagross can beat him"
"His main Pokémon is Pupitar" Sam looked at Will with a somewhat unfriendly look.
Julian pulled Will's clothes but the guy didn't seem to notice at all, and said in surprise, "Pseudo legendary?, Julian has two pseudo legendaries."
Julian facepalmed, finding Will's lack of awareness baffling.
"Will, didn't you read the information I provided about them? You don't even know if their team has a pseudo-legendary?" Sam nearly shouted in frustration.
Yesterday, he had provided the team with details on their opponents, aiming to ensure everyone had a grasp of the rival trainers and their Pokémon.
Knowing this kind of intel would be vital, all coaches were likely doing the same.
Everyone was supposed to prepare, but now it seemed Will hadn't reviewed the materials at all.
These documents contained not just the types they're skilled in but also their Pokémon's weaknesses and the places that can be targeted.
And these two points are the key to victory.
"Julian didn't check it either,"
When Will saw Sam's expression that he was about to eat him, he panicked and sold Julian directly.
Sam Nott turned his head sharply and looked at Julian.
"I did." Julian replied in a heartbeat.
"I'll take care of you when the match is over. If you lose the match, you're dead." Sam looked at Will fiercely.
He worried that Will might become a blemish on his coaching record if he didn't step it up.
"Han, Zosh, Shen, Will, and Julian will compete in that order. Remember to play to your strengths and avoid putting your Pokémon in harm's way; their future depends on it," Sam cautioned earnestly.
While Pokemon bodies are indeed much tougher than humans', they still compete against other Pokémon.
The more intense the battle, the more likely it is to cause significant injury. Even if some Pokémon recover, they may sustain hidden injuries that will hinder their development.
Every major event sees a few Pokémon sidelined with irreversible injuries, often due to trainers not conceding defeat.
For Sam, prioritizing the health of their Pokémon was far more important than any honor or glory.
Unfortunately, some trainers habitually prioritised the opposite.
As the match commenced, Han made his way to the opposing battlefield, followed closely by his rival Link.
"Julian, what kind of trainer is Han's rival? Surely he's not an Electric-type?" Will asked, concern etched on his face.
Although he and Han hadn't interacted much, that's because of their differing attribute types but their attitude towards each other was still good.
"I don't know," Julian said.
"Didn't you say you read the data?"
Will shot Julian an incredulous look, his eyes wide with disbelief. He was annoyed at Julian for misleading him, as he had assumed Julian actually analyzed the data after their late-night gaming session of King's Glory.
"You Deceived Teacher Sam"
Sam Nott, who was standing in front of Julian, the corners of his mouth kept twitching. These guys regarded him as transparent.
"Old Sam"
Will prepared to report Julian's antics but was cut off when Sam snapped, "Shut up and focus on the match."
Will felt a swell of frustration from the blatant bias, muttering under his breath, "It's amazing if you have strength."
"It's really amazing to have strength," Julian said.
"Keep your mouth shut!" Will retorted angrily.
Julian fell silent, his gaze fixed on the battlefield where Han had summoned his Trump Card, Blastoise, while his opponent sent out a Gengar.
Neither Pokémon had a distinct advantage based on type, but Gengar, being both Poison and Ghost-type, posed a significant challenge.
Ghost-types are notoriously tricky, possessing a wide array of unusual moves. Among the 18 types, the most powerful attackers are certainly Dragon-types, but when it comes to complexity, Ghost-types reign supreme.
Gengar is known in the outside world as the "Ghost King," capable of learning moves from various other types.
Ghost-type Pokémon are often regarded as masters of stealth, akin to assassins in the world of killers, and their partners often belong to the same spooky classification.
Last year, the Ice-type Elite from Drakoria was nearly assassinated by a Froslass, and while the attempt failed, the Elite lost a main Pokémon in the process.
Information like this may remain a secret unknown to the public, or perhaps John let something slip to Julian unintentionally.
Trainers specializing in Ghost-types tend to be fewer than those of other types, as a misstep could lead to their own souls being harmed by their Pokémon.
In terms of level, both Blastoise and Gengar were at level 43, and neither had a clear advantage. Although Ghost-type Pokémon can be tricky to handle, the outcome often comes down to the Trainer's skills—how well they command, observe, and time their moves.
Why do Trainers matter in Pokémon battles? While Pokémon can decide when to attack, dodge, or defend, the Trainer's role is crucial. The battle itself limits a Pokémon's view, while a Trainer can see the whole field.
A skilled Trainer can spot weaknesses in the opponent's Pokémon at just the right moment, leading to a quick victory.
When a Trainer lacks commanding prowess, even powerful Pokémon might struggle to succeed under their direction, which can lead to diminishing trust in the Trainer's commands. This can result in some Pokémon refusing to follow instructions altogether. Ultimately, not everyone can succeed as a Trainer; if one lacks the necessary aptitude, it is often the Pokémon that suffer the consequences.
"Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!" Han called out.
"Gengar, use Shadow Ball!" his rival shouted back.
The Hydro Pump proved more powerful than the Shadow Ball, It broke through the shadowy attack and hit Gengar, causing significant damage. Gengar had a high special attack but was also quite fragile; this blow likely took away half of its health.
"Gengar, use Thunderbolt!"
"Blastoise, protect yourself!"
The Protect shielded Blastoise from Thunderbolt, but Gengar closed in on Blastoise, its red eyes fixed on him.
"Hypnosis!"
"Blastoise, close your eyes!"
Unfortunately, Han was too late. Blastoise was already hit, collapsing onto the ground and falling asleep.
"Dream Eater!" Gengar's trainer smiled, clearly pleased with the turn of events.
Blastoise hadn't learned moves like Sleep Talk, so he was utterly defenseless against the Hypnosis. Gengar opened it's mouth wide and sucked energy from Blastoise, replenishing its own strength.
Blastoise lay there, looking helpless, while Han shouted, "Blastoise, wake up!" in desperation.
Sadly, not everyone can be like Ash and use a move like Snarl to wake a sleeping Pokémon.
"Blastoise, you can do it get up!"
Will, seated nearby, jumped up to offer encouragement but was quickly ushered back by staff and effectively silenced with a glare from the referee.
As he sat down, he grumbled, "As a teammate, I can't even cheer for Blastoise?"
"Nightmare!"
For a sleeping Pokémon, using Dream Eater might not wake them, but using Nightmare definitely would.
Under the influence of Nightmare, Blastoise finally stirred but was in terrible condition. The Dream Eater had drained a lot of his energy, and Nightmare inflicted mental harm as well.
Hypnosis, Dream Eater, and Nightmare are moves that often work together, especially for Ghost-type Pokémon. If an opponent's Pokémon doesn't know Sleep Talk or doesn't have props to avoid sleep effects, getting hit by Hypnosis could lead to disaster.
With his physical and mental strength severely depleted, Blastoise's Torrent ability activated, boosting his water-type moves by 1.5 times.
"Gengar, use Venoshock!"
Gengar let out a chilling laugh as purple poison spewed from its mouth, filling half the arena like a wave.
"Use Hydro Pump at full power!"
Low on stamina, Han chose to go on the offensive rather than defend.
Fueled by Torrent, Hydro Pump surged in strength, shattering Venoshock, yet Gengar suddenly vanished.
"Thunderbolt!"
With a loud crash, the attack hit its target.
"Blastoise is out of the match! Victor: Gengar!"
Han silently recalled Blastoise. Being the first to battle and losing was a blow to the fans supporting Lake No. 1 Middle School.
"That was tough," Julian remarked, observing Han's rival. Han had been on the defensive the entire time, and Gengar's speed gave it a significant edge over bulky Blastoise.
"I'm sorry," Han said, feeling guilty about his defeat.
He had lost, and Gengar still had significant stamina left, thanks to the earlier Dream Eater. The rival Trainer had already left the arena, ensuring Gengar would regain even more energy during rest.
"I'll give you a chance to retaliate; that little Gengar is a joke," Will said, thumping his chest.
Normally, Han would have rolled his eyes at Will's comments, but this time he nodded in agreement.
"It's your turn, Zosh," Sam said, giving the next player a supportive pat on the shoulder.
Even though Han lost, Sam didn't seem too worried.
"Go, Donphan!"
"Golem!"
Seeing Golem on the opposing side, Will exclaimed, "We have an advantage with our types!"
Donphan was a Ground type, while Golem was both Rock and Ground type. Donphan held a type advantage, but Golem was two levels higher, making the match a bit more even.
Donphan was level 41, while Golem was level 43.
"Donphan, use Rollout!"
The battlefield was flat, which played to Donphan's strengths. Rollout would become more powerful the longer it kept rolling.
"Golem, use Rock Throw!"
A shower of rocks soared into the sky, each about a meter long. Although none of them hit Donphan during Rollout, they changed his course, preventing him from getting close to Golem. The rocks also hindered Donphan's attack.
"Golem, use Rock Blast!"
Golem launched a rock the size of a football at the battlefield.
At that moment, the Rock Throws on the ground acted as a shield for Donphan, who hid behind one of the rocks.
"Donphan is in trouble," Julian warned suddenly.
"How can that be? Donphan is hiding behind the rocks!" Will countered instinctively.
But the next second, the rocks exploded, sending Donphan flying.
"Julian, you jinxed us!"
Will's eyes widened in disbelief, realizing that Donphan had been injured, and he blamed Julian for saying it out loud.