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The opponent's third Pokémon was a strange little creature enveloped in a green, viscous fluid.
—The fifth generation defensive Pokémon, Reuniclus, with the Magic Guard ability.
It specialized in endurance and physical defense. Its special attack and special defense relied on Calm Mind, and it could recover with Recover. It could also set up Trick Room to manipulate speed. It was a Pokémon that, once boosted, had the potential to sweep entire teams.
Its weaknesses were opponents with burst damage potential and opponents who had successfully boosted themselves.
Unfortunately for it, Incineroar happened to be a Pokémon that possessed both burst damage and was already fully boosted.
So, Reuniclus's fate was sealed the moment it landed on the field.
"Roar!"
Incineroar let out a thunderous roar, suddenly leaping forward to pounce on its opponent!
A true tiger descending the mountain!
The roar that caused the air to resonate, combined with its wildly arrogant expression, descended like a dark cloud weighing on everyone's hearts!
Reuniclus stared at it in horror, instinctively conjuring a green Protect shield in front of itself, its mind thrown into chaos by Incineroar's bellow.
'What in the world is that move?'
Unfortunately, no one was going to it. What awaited it was Incineroar's blood-red palm chopping down abruptly!
Boom!
Pale gray smoke exploded out, filling the immediate area around the two Pokémon!
"Charm!"
The opponent cried out urgently.
Charm, a move that could sharply lower the target's Attack stat.
It was clear the opponent hadn't given up hope. She wanted to lower Incineroar's damage output, looking for an opportunity for Reuniclus to set up and boost itself.
On another level, it showed she had some confidence in Reuniclus's physical durability, believing it could withstand at least one attack from Incineroar.
If it could survive one hit, that meant there was a possibility of winning.
Within the smoke, the green Protect shield shattered like glass.
Incineroar decisively took a step back, readjusted its center of gravity, and assumed the starting stance for its Explosive Fist.
In front of it, Reuniclus put on an innocent expression, its pair of small, bean-like eyes glistening with a dewy sheen, while tiny pink hearts floated out from around it, drifting towards Incineroar.
If those hearts made contact, its Attack would definitely be lowered.
"Roar?"
Seeing those little hearts, Incineroar was briefly taken aback, then a mocking expression spread across its face. It brought its fingers together, coalescing a black-and-red spiral vortex of energy, and thrust it forward like a spear while leaning its body in!
Throat Chop!
Countless pink hearts vied with each other to be absorbed into its body, but Incineroar completely ignored them!
'Who are you trying to charm, girlie? Brother Incineroar isn't buying this act!'
The energy-clad fist made intimate contact with Reuniclus's throat!
Thump—Thud!
Reuniclus's body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing violently into the chain-link fence!
The fence groaned and shook, bulging outward slightly!
"Oof!"
The strange creature's face contorted in pain, hurting so much it couldn't breathe, struggling even to make a sound... but... it had held on!
There was still a chance!
"Hang in there! Pain Split!"
A voice shouted this command. If this Pain Split connected, it would guarantee Incineroar would be in for a world of hurt.
The Charm had already hit!
However, Incineroar had already charged forward, raising both claws high, laughing maniacally. A pitch-black glow condensed in front of it, forming huge, sharp energy fangs that gleamed under the sunlight!
And as it brought its arms down, these fangs viciously chomped down on Reuniclus!
Crunch!
Just as Reuniclus was about to lunge into Incineroar's embrace, the pitch-black fangs bit into it first!
Boom!
'Split this, you fool!'
Thick smoke once again billowed across the field!
However, the very next second, the smoke was dispersed by a single, powerful, solid arm.
Revealing Reuniclus lying unconscious on the ground, and Incineroar, looking bored as it yawned, its hand movement resembling someone shooing away a fly.
"Beeeeep—!"
The referee blew his whistle with professional promptness and announced the final result of the match.
Incineroar couldn't resist picking its ear.
'This is their level? Even in the fifth round, the strength is only this much, huh. No wonder they never let me on the field before.'
Incineroar finally understood why it hadn't gotten a chance to battle until now.
'What's the point of such boring battles where you win after just a few casual moves?'
'Might as well have let Doublade and the others have the spot. The juniors really need proper training.'
Crack...
A slight cracking sound caught its attention. Incineroar looked over and saw that Reuniclus's trainer had crushed her prayer beads in her hand.
'Heh.. Impotent rage.'
The inflated Incineroar turned its gaze to the surrounding spectators, the corner of its mouth quirking up as it extended a thumb and pointed it downward, its eyes full of disdain and malice.
"Rooaarr!"
It roared again, its Intimidate ability triggering once more.
An invisible aura of terror spread out again!
In the eyes of the onlookers, the expression on this massive black-and-red tiger's face seemed to suggest it could tear through the flimsy chain-link fence at any moment and reduce them to separated bone and flesh!
'Come on, you scrubs! Brother Incineroar has plenty of stamina left!'
Faced with the ferocious Incineroar, not a single person dared to meet its ferocity head-on, all instinctively taking a step back.
"Roar.."
Seeing this, the disdain on Incineroar's face grew even stronger.
It had been annoyed by these guys for a long time. Even though Li Xiang always told it to ignore them, it just couldn't help itself.
'Pointing phones and cameras around all day, what the hell are you filming?!'
'One after another, so weak they don't even get a chance to compete, yet full of nonsense. Pathetic and laughable.'
Seeing that they didn't even dare to talk back, only hiding their faces behind phones and cameras, Incineroar snorted derisively and turned to walk back towards Li Xiang.
Not far away, Li Xiang silently watched Incineroar provoke all the spectators, not stopping it until it walked back. Only then did he say in a teasing tone, "Well, well. You've managed to offend several dozen people all at once."
"Roar?" (So what?)
Incineroar responded with complete indifference. By the fifth round, only a little over a hundred opponents remained.
How many of those who had time to come watch and join the excitement, instead of focusing on improving themselves, were actually any good?
Even if they wanted information on it, they'd just send someone else.
Coming down personally... No one was that foolish. After all, time was everything.
So, calling them all scrubs wasn't wrong at all.
"Alright, alright."
Li Xiang reached out his hand. Incineroar bent down, offering its big head for him to rub. "Regardless, remember that saying."
A great man once said: Despise the enemy strategically, but take him seriously tactically.
"Roar.."
Incineroar let out a soft growl. Don't be fooled by its cocky expression; it was actually very shrewd.
During the previous battle, it hadn't given the opponent a single opening. The timing of each move was perfect, leaving the opponent no room to catch their breath.
That's why the opponent couldn't even use defensive moves.
The pace and initiative were entirely in its hands, the opponent was passive the whole time—how could they possibly win like that?
If that Reuniclus had actually managed to pull off Pain Split, then it would have been screwed.
Li Xiang glanced at the sixth-grade girl. This was her final year. Falling here meant she was completely out of the Junior World Tournament.
It was normal for her to be mentally crushed.
Six years of pursuit gone down the drain in a single day—anyone would be upset.
But there was no helping it. There were only so many spots.
On the path of a trainer, it's your gain or my loss; a state of absolute peace doesn't exist.
"Let's go, Incineroar."
Li Xiang pinched Incineroar's muscles. The latter's chest and arms, hard as marble, instantly softened, and its body shrank slightly.
The effects of Bulk Up had worn off.
Arriving outside the field, quite a few people were still there, staring at Incineroar with complex emotions in their eyes.
Looking at this violent Pokémon, they were filled with envy and inner conflict.
If only their own Pokémon were this strong.
Alas.. they all knew this was nothing but wishful thinking.
"Never mind."
Li Xiang stopped Incineroar from trying to scare these people. If nothing else, causing an overreaction wouldn't be good.
Mainly because they wouldn't be in the right.
In any school, Pokémon were strictly forbidden from attacking anyone.
Special circumstances were a different matter.
...
Afternoon.
Li Xiang was in class for General Studies.
Mathematics was truly murder. Fortunately, most problems just required plugging numbers into formulas.
Put the right formula in and calculate. That's it.
Relatively simple.
"Lucky there's no calculus or anything."
He rubbed his head. It wasn't that the problems were particularly difficult; it was mainly that his mind was full of Pokémon battle strategies, abilities, move effects, and such, leaving no room for math.
He had originally intended to attend class for a change of pace. Never expected it to be even more annoying.
Maybe it was because Song Jie and Gong Xu weren't around?
One had a match, the other had straight-up skipped class.
According to the latter's words, what's the point of this class? Isn't reviewing for a couple of hours before the exam enough?
That blonde was way too arrogant.
Although the statement itself wasn't wrong, some people were naturally dumb when it came to studying.
Just like Tobio Kageyama from Haikyuu!!, who could remember volleyball terms super fast but failed every exam and needed tutoring.
Lin Feng was the classic study-idiot.
Li Xiang could only be considered average. Anyway, his requirements weren't high; passing was enough. The teachers would help pull up his scores.
"Li Xiang, Li Xiang! There are very few posts about you today! Only two! And not many replies either!"
Bai Zhou, sitting next to him, poked his arm.
"Huh?"
Li Xiang shifted his gaze to the phone Bai Zhou handed him.
In the past, posts about him would flood the feed. But after today's thrilling match, there was only one post recording the battle process, and one analysis post.
The analysis post was still written by that same user, [Fan City's Local Hotshot].
They had written a whole long piece, leaving behind one final conclusion.
—『This guy is hacking. Don't even try to compete with him. Signing off.』
Below were rows of agreeing replies.
'Heh, they found me out.'
Li Xiang raised an eyebrow, knowing that the morning's match had successfully shut up those noisy folks.
The vast gap had made them fully recognize Li Xiang's strength, and they no longer opposed the school's decision.
But this was only the fifth round. There were at least three more rounds after this.
' Students these days really have poor mental fortitude. Can't you guys hold out a little longer!'
"These people have finally shut up. Really, why did they always target you?"
Bai Zhou muttered discontentedly. This guy seemed to have become his little fan, firmly standing on his side.
"You'll have to ask them that. I sure don't know."
Li Xiang replied with a smile.
Regardless, having none of those annoying things was definitely for the best.